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1971, San Francisco held off a late charge from the rival Dodgers to win the NL West by a single game. Meanwhile Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Oakland cruised to their division titles. Steve Blass allowed only four hits as the Pirates defeated Baltimore in seven games to become World Series champs in 1971. Roberto Clemente was named World Series MVP as he hit .417 with five extra-base hits. The 1971 Baltimore Orioles had one of the most dominant pitching staffs in baseball history as Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Pat Dobson, and Dave McNally each won 20 games for the Birds. The Athletics had a pretty good staff of their own, led by league MVP and Cy Young winner Vida Blue and 20-game winner Catfish Hunter. In his first season at third base, former catcher Joe Torre led the National League with a .363 average, 230 hits, and 137 runs batted in to win the MVP award. His Cardinals finished in second place in the NL East, 7 games behind the champion Pirates. Milestones and Moments from 1971 Philadelphia pitcher Rick Wise threw a no-hitter and hit two home runs as the Phillies beat Cincinnati 4-0 on June 23…Harmon Killebrew became the 10th player to hit 500 home runs on August 10…A month later, Frank Robinson became the 11th player to reach 500 career homers…Atlanta C/IF Earl Williams slugged 33 home runs to win the Rookie of the Year in the Senior Circuit.

World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates NL over Baltimore Orioles AL 4 games to 3

World Series MVP – Roberto Clemente
Babe Ruth Award – Roberto Clemente

ALCS Baltimore Orioles over Oakland A’s 3 games to 0 
NLCS Pittsburgh Pirates over San Franciso Giants 3 games to 1 

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Awards –

Cy Young Award National League Ferguson Jenkins
Cy Young Award American League Vida Blue

Vida Blue Stats & Facts

Fergie Jenkins Stats & Facts

MVP Awards –
NL Joe Torre
AL Vida Blue

Joe Torre Stats & Facts

Vida Blue Stats & Facts

NL Rookie of The Year – Earl Williams
AL Rookie of The Year – Chris Chamblis 

Roberto Clemente Award – Willie Mays

All-Star Game – July 13th 1971 – A.L. 6 over N.L. 4 , played at Tiger Stadium

AL Starter Vida Blue NL Starter Dale Ellis

MVP Frank Robinson​

National League All-Stars

American League All-Stars

All-Star Managers

All-Star Game Ball Park

The stories that shapped the year:

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

January 7, 1971

Bobby Tolan ruptures his Achilles tendon playing basketball

January 9, 1971

Hall of Fame outfielder Elmer Flick dies at the age of 94

January 11, 1971

John Hiller: Heart Attack Survivor to Detroit’s Save Leader

January 19, 1971

Two former Houston first round draft choices are born on this day

January 21, 1971

No player receives three-fourths of the necessary votes to be elected into the Hall of Fame

January 29, 1971

Pirates and Cardinals make 4 player deal the trade is key to 1971 Championship

January 29, 1971

In accepting the Tris Speaker Award from Houston sportswriters, Roberto Clemente gives a speech which, apart from being called by many of those in attendance “the best talk any baseball player ever made,” is the source of Clemente’s most famous – if oft misquoted – assertion: “If you have an opportunity to accomplish something that will make things better for someone coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.”

January 31, 1971

Special Veterans Committee selects seven men for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame: former players Jake Beckley, Joe Kelley, Harry Hooper, Rube Marquard, Chick Hafey, and Dave Bancroft, as well as executive George Weiss.

February 4, 1971

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces former Negro League players will have a separate wing in the Hall of Fame. Due to the controversy the announcement causes, it is decided inclusion in regular Hall of Fame is more fitting and more of an honor for the former black players.

February 9, 1971

Satchel Paige becomes the first Negro League star selected to the Hall of Fame

February 10, 1971

Bill White becomes the first black play-by-play broadcaster in major league history

February 10, 1971

Los Angeles Dodgers acquire left-handed pitcher Al Downing from the Milwaukee Brewers

February 17, 1971

Yastrzemski signs 500K deal

February 20, 1971

1971 – Former slugger Ted Kluszewski hits a 500-foot three-run single to lead the National League team to a 5 – 3 victory in the annual March of Dimes Old Timers Game.

March 1, 1971

Willie Mays signs a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants for $165,000 per season.

March 1, 1971

Roberto Clemente takes the mound in this 1971 spring training

March 6, 1971

Joe Cronin, the AL president, gives in to A’s owner Charlie Finley’s request to allow three balls, rather than four, to constitute a base on balls during an exhibition game against the Brewers. The experiment, designed to add offense and speed up the game, proves to be tedious for both teams when 19 walks are issued as well as six homers being drilled during the 13-9 spring training victory for Oakland.

March 15, 1971

Female umpire Bernice Gera files a lawsuit against organized baseball

March 21, 1971

1971 – The Kansas City Royals’ new baseball academy is officially dedicated. Its stated purpose is “to provide youth with the dual opportunity to pursue an education and at the same time learn the skills of our national pastime.”

March 27, 1971

Joe Coleman was knocked unconscious by a line drive

March 31, 1971

1971 – In a four-player trade, the New York Mets send 1969 World Series hero Ron Swoboda to the Montreal Expos. Swoboda will go to the Yankees in June.

April 2, 1971

1971 – Dome fans are treated to a 15-inning exhibition “tripleheader” between the Astros, Yankees and Twins. Houston nips New York, 2-1, in the first five-inning game and later tops Minnesota, 5-3, in the finale. In between, the Twins down the Yankees, 4-1. 

April 5, 1971

Senators finale as they move to lone star state

April 5, 1971

In 45 degree weather, the Cincinnati Reds play their first opener at Riverfront Stadium, dropping a 7 – 4 decision to the Braves.

April 5, 1971

Decked out in their bright new uniforms, predominantly orange, the Astros open at home with a 5 – 2 win over the Dodgers. Larry Dierker is the winning pitcher over Bill Singer. Astros outfielders Cesar Gerónimo and Jimmy Wynn make great throws to cut down Dodgers rallies.

April 6, 1971

Willie Mays homers in 4 straight to start season

April 6, 1971

At Fenway Park‚ the Red Sox take their second straight Opener against the Yankees‚ winning 3 – 1. Boston’s Ray Culp allows 5 hits in 9 innings in winning over Stan Bahnsen‚ who gives up 2 runs in 7 innings. Reggie Smith has 3 hits and his throw to the plate in the 8th gets the last out.

April 6, 1971

The Mets win their first opener ever at Shea Stadium‚ beating the Expos‚ 4 – 2‚ in 5 innings. Heavy rain and wind cuts the contest short. Tom Seaver is the winner over Carl Morton.

April 6, 1971

Before 39‚712 chilled fans in Pittsburgh‚ the Pirates win their Opener‚ 4 – 2‚ over the Phils. Dock Ellis is the winner‚ laying down 3 sacrifice bunts‚ and getting help with 4 Phillie errors.

April 6, 1971

Billy Williams clubs a 10th-inning homer off Bob Gibson to give the Cubs a 2 – 1 win over the Cards

April 6, 1971

Claude Osteen wins his 7th straight vs Houston

April 7, 1971

The dismissal of Curt Flood’s suit against Major League Baseball is upheld by a three-judge U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

April 7, 1971

Carlos May misses home plate and loses a homerun

April 9, 1971

Alou Brothers united

April 10, 1971

The Phillies debut in their new $49.5 million Veterans Stadium by beating Montreal, 4 – 1

April 10, 1971

1971 – Chicago great Ferguson Jenkins is sailing along with a four-hit shutout and a 1-0 lead through eight innings when the Astros win without hitting a ball past the infield. Cesar Cedeno’s scratch hit starts it off. Two walks later, Cedeno bluffs a break for the plate which causes Jenkins to balk home the tying run. Jenkins then misplays Roger Metzger’s botched squeeze bunt for an error as Cesar Geronimo scores the game-winner. 

April 11, 1971

Jerry Grote hits a walk-off homer in the 11th inning off Wayne Granger at Shea Stadium. The New York catcher’s game-ending round-tripper accounts for the only run scored in the Mets’ 1-0 victory over Cincinnati.

April 13, 1971

Twins and Royals set record for hit batters

April 13, 1971

Aparicio-Smith-Yaz-Petrocelli-Scott-Josephson-Billy Conigilaro-Griffin-Culp….1971

April 13, 1971

April 13, 1971 – Thurman Munson addresses the crowd after receiving his “Rookie of the Year” award.

April 17, 1971

Atlanta rookie Earl Williams, starting his second straight game in place of ailing third baseman Clete Boyer, hits a double and his first two big league home runs, which — along with additional solo blasts from Orlando Cepeda and Hal King — help Braves starter Ron Reed secure a 6 – 2, complete game decision over Philadelphia. An ironic sidebar to the evolving Williams story is provided by Wayne Minshew in the Atlanta Constitution: “Lost in the glow of Williams’ big day is King’s towering home run in the 7th, which almost reached the upper deck in brand new Veterans Stadium.” The irony will be heightened immeasurably within less than 24 hours, when Williams — who, in two months’ time will lay exclusive claim to the starting catcher’s job King is currently struggling to retain — will erase all memories of King’s prodigious near-miss with the Vet’s bona fide inaugural upper-decker.

April 18, 1971

Less than 24 hours after hitting his first two major league home runs, Atlanta rookie Earl Williams becomes the first player ever to reach the upper deck at Veterans Stadium, depositing a 2-and-1 offering from Philly starter Rick Wise “in the first row of the orange seats (middle section) of the upper deck,” tucked just inside the left-field foul pole. The 4th-inning, bases-empty blast ties the game at 2, combining with a red-hot Orlando Cepeda, who goes 5-for-5 with a double, home run and 3 RBI, to lead Atlanta to a third straight win and a series sweep over the lowly Phils.

April 19, 1971

Legendary broadcaster Russ Hodges dies from a heart attack in Mill Valley, California

April 21, 1971

Willie Stargell hits three home runs, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10 – 2 victory over the Atlanta Braves

April 27, 1971

Stargell hits 11th homerun in April

April 27, 1971

Curt Flood jumps the Washington Senators after 13 games and departs for Denmark, ending his playing career. Flood batted .293 and won seven Gold Glove Awards during his 15-year major league tenure. He will continue his antitrust suit, which will eventually reach the Supreme Court.

April 27, 1971

Braves outfielder Hank Aaron joins Babe Ruth and Willie Mays as the only major league player to hit 600 career home runs. His historic homer, a 350-foot drive over the left field wall, comes off Gaylord Perry in the third inning of a 6-5 ten-inning loss to the Giants at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium.

May 5, 1971

5/5/1971: Jim Spencer of the Angels homered off Pat Dobson at Baltimore in the first inning with one out and no one on base. The game was halted after the first inning by rain.

May 7, 1971

1971 – Joe Morgan raps four hits, steals two bases, scores three times and drives in two to lead the Astros over the Phillies, 8-1, in their first game at Veterans Stadium. Don Wilson strikes the key blow off Jim Bunning, a bunt that found a hole in the artificial turf between third and the pitcher and rolled until two runs were in.

May 8, 1971

Five Player trade helps Oakland to World Series

May 8, 1971

At Philadelphia, Joe Morgan has four hits, steals two bases, and scores three runs to lead Houston to an 8 – 1 win over the Phils. Winning P Don Wilson knocks in two runs with a bunt double that rolls past SS Larry Bowa, who is breaking for third base.

May 8, 1971

Mays and Aaron become first players with 600 homeruns to homer in same game

May 9, 1971

At San Francisco, the Braves and Giants split a pair. After the Giants win the opener, 5 – 2, the Braves take the nitecap, 6 – 5, in 11 innings. Orlando Cepeda connects for a grand slam and solo homer for Atlanta, while Willie McCovey has a three-run home run for San Francisco. The Braves win it in the 10th when Ralph Garr scores after collecting his fourth hit.

May 9, 1971

A gathering of 43,307 fans watches the Orioles drop a twin bill to the A’s at Memorial Stadium, 6-2 and 2-1. The unscheduled doubleheader draws a record walk-in crowd of 31,626 (73%), the largest in Baltimore’s history.

May 10, 1971

At New York, Bud Harrelson’s 2-run single in the 7th beats Houston and Wade Blasingame, 2 – 1. It is Blasingame’s first loss to the Mets after nine wins.

May 11, 1971

Cleveland Indians pitcher Steve Dunning becomes first AL pitcher to hit a grandslam after the DH (it will be 37 years until the next one)

May 12, 1971

Hall of Fame outfielder Heinie Manush dies at the age of 69

May 15, 1971

Fergie Jenkins (7-2) pitches and bats the Cubs to a 6 – 4 win over San Diego. Jenkins hits a two-run home run and finishes his 7th game in eight starts. Billy Williams connects for his 300th home run.

May 15, 1971

Hall of Fame outfielder Leon “Goose” Goslin dies at the age of 70

May 16, 1971

Doug Rader ties the Houston Astros franchise record of six RBIs

May 17, 1971

Roberto Clemente’s two-out, two-run, walk-off triple transforms a frustrating 5 – 4 loss to fifth-place Montreal into a sudden-death 6 – 5 decision, pulling Pittsburgh to within one game of the New York Mets. After failing twice in crucial spots earlier in the game, Clemente clubs Mike Marshall’s 1-1 pitch high off the wall near the 410-foot mark.

May 17, 1971

Tom McCraw of the Washington Senators hits one of the shortest home runs in history

May 19, 1971

In its inaugural season, Riverfront Stadium’s first-ever inside-the-park home run is hit by Roberto Clemente, a smash off Gary Nolan. The ball is hit high off the left-field wall over the reach of Bernie Carbo. The ball bounces high and back toward the infield past Buddy Bradford in center and by the time he is able to retrieve it on the rain-soaked turf, Clemente is rounding third. Clemente adds a triple that drives in a run and comes to score himself, then singles in another run in the 9th inning in a 6 – 1 decision over Cincinnati.

May 20, 1971

Martin Dihigo dies in Cienfuegos, Cuba, at the age of 65. Over the course of his career, Dihigo made seamless transitions between all nine positions and played in several countries. As a hitter, he won both batting average and home run titles; as a pitcher, he won more than 250 games and once defeated Satchel Paige while touring Cuba. He will be elected to the American Hall of Fame in 1977 and also was or will be voted into the Cuban, Mexican and Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame.

May 23, 1971

Denny McLain‚ making his first appearance in Detroit since being traded

May 24, 1971

In Philadelphia‚ the Reds’ Gary Nolan loses a one-hitter to the Phils‚ 2 – 1. The only hit is Denny Doyle’s two-run homer in the 2nd inning.

May 25, 1971

5/25/1971: Two homers were lost due to rain in Baltimore. Frank Robinson homered off Cleveland’s Alan Foster with two out and no one on in the bottom of the first inning. Ken Harrelson hit one in the second with one out and no one on off Oriole Pat Dobson.

May 26, 1971

Al Santorini starts both games of double header

May 28, 1971

Clete Boyer, involved in a dispute with Atlanta Braves general manager Paul Richards and manager Lum Harris is released and retires

May 29, 1971

The Mets feature firepower as Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver combine to strike out 26‚ tying the Mets’ own major league record set on September 9‚ 1970, in a doubleheader sweep of the Padres. Seaver wins the opener‚ 5 – 1‚ with 10 K’s and Ryan cops the nitecap‚ 2 – 1. Mets batters strike out 15 times: the 41 strikeouts ties the major league record.

May 29, 1971

In a great trade for Cincinnati‚ the Giants ship OF George Foster to the Reds for SS Frank Duffy and P Vern Geishert.

May 30, 1971

Willie Mays hits his 638th major league career home run with the Giants franchise, adding in the process his National League record 1,950th run scored.

June 3, 1971

Ken Holtzman pitches 2nd hitter of career and scores games only run

June 4, 1971

At Riverfront Stadium‚ the Reds recover from being no-hit to roll over the Cards‚ 12 – 0. Ross Grimsley pitches his first major league shutout and is backed by a 17-hit attack. George Foster and Tony Perez each have 4 hits.

June 4, 1971

The Red Sox recall P Luis Tiant from Louisville.

June 6, 1971

6/6/1971: In the top of the 4th inning of the scheduled second game, Tiger Gates Brown homered off of the While Sox Joel Horlen. The game was called after it was hit following a 35 minute rain delay. After about an hour the sun was shining, and the Tigers were quite upset the umpires called the game so quickly.

June 6, 1971

Willie Mays his 22nd career extra-inning homer

June 6, 1971

All youngsters attending the Yankee game are given a youth-sized Bobby Murcer model wooden Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger during the team’s annual Bat Day promotion. When the young fans begin banging their bats in unison during the late innings of the Bronx Bombers’ 5-2 victory over Kansas City, pieces of concrete begin to fall into lower levels of the stadium, a harbinger that the Bronx ballpark may be in serious need of repair.

June 7, 1971

1971 – Houston erupts for ten runs in the fourth inning as they pound the Giants, 18-4. Cesar Cedeno and Bob Watson both rap two hits in the inning. Cedeno drives in four for the day on a pair of two-run doubles. Larry Dierker picks up his 12th win and is named to the N.L. All-Star team but declines to appear due to a sore elbow. 

June 8, 1971

At Municipal Stadium, Paul Splittorff earns his first major league victory when Kansas City defeats the visiting Senators, 4-2. In 1969, the 23 year-old left-hander became the first player signed by the Royals to appear on the expansion team’s major-league roster.

June 8, 1971

Danny Goodwin is chosen as the first player in the June draft and turns down a reported $50‚000 offer from the White Sox to attend Southern University

June 13, 1971

Alex Johnson accuses his Angel teammate Chico Ruiz of waving a gun at him in the clubhouse while the game is being played, an eventual 5-2 loss to Washington at Anaheim Stadium. Although Ruiz denies the incident and the club finds no evidence of a gun, Johnson, not known for his diplomacy, adamantly claims he was threatened with a firearm by the infielder during an argument they had after being used as pinch-hitters in the contest.

June 15, 1971

“If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time,” One of the top 10 catches of all time – Roberto Clemente’s fantastic catch of Bob Watson’s line drive in Houston’s Astrodome 

June 16, 1971

One night after beating the Astros with his glove, Roberto Clemente does it with his bat. The Pittsburgh superstar blasts a two-run homer to right field in the 7th inning, snapping a 4 – 4 deadlock and lifting the National League East leaders to a 6 – 4 triumph. The late splurge enables Dock Ellis to make it through the night, surviving a four-run 6th, into which he’d carried a no-hitter. Roberto’s blast, off one of his old favorite bats, comes against Wade Blasingame after Gene Clines’ one-out single; it takes the shape of a line drive to right that keeps rising past Cesar Cedeno, who had first thought he could make the catch before helplessly watching it sail way over his outstretched glove.

June 16, 1971

Oakland A’s hit five solo home runs in a 5-1 victory over the Washington Senators

June 17, 1971

Don Kessinger goes 6-for-6, stroking five singles and a double. The Cubs leadoff hitter’s perfect performance at the plate contributes to the team’s 7-6 ten-inning victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

June 18, 1971

Milwaukee Brewers hosted their first 10-Cent Beer Night

June 19, 1971

At Shea Stadium, the Mets defeat the Phillies, 6 – 5, in 15 innings. Ken Singleton homers in the 14th inning to re-tie the game and Donn Clendenon homers in the 15th to win it.

June 20, 1971

1971 – Four grand slams are hit in the majors, by the Braves’ Earl Williams, the Phillies’ Deron Johnson, the White Sox’s Rick Reichardt, and the Pirates’ Willie Stargell. Williams’ slam comes in a 5 – 4 loss, and the Braves drop a 2nd game, 2 – 0 to the Reds. The Pirates whip Montreal, 7 – 1, and the Sox pummel the Twins, 18 – 8. Johnson’s slam, in the 11th, gives the Phils a split with the Mets.

June 21, 1971

Indians slugger Ken Harrelson announces his retirement from baseball to join the pro golf tour.

June 23, 1971

Rick Wise – One Man show fires no hitter and hits 2 homeruns

June 23, 1971

The Padres’ Bob Miller wins a pair from Houston, relieving in the 9th and pitching four innings in the opener, and then pitching two more innings in the nitecap. The Pads win, 3 – 2 and 4 – 3.

June 24, 1971

The Mets’ Tom Seaver smashes an 8th-inning homer off Montreal’s Bill Stoneman to win his own game, 2 – 1.

June 25, 1971

The Expos trade Ron Swoboda back to New York – the Yankees, that is. The Expos receive OF Ron Woods.

June 25, 1971

Kurt Russell makes his professional baseball debut

June 25, 1971

Cleon Jones ties a National League record by drawing six walks, helping the Mets to a doubleheader sweep of the Expos, 4 – 1 and 4 – 2. Jerry Grote has three doubles in the opener, and Bud Harrelson knocks in three runs in the nightcap. Nolan Ryan (7-4) and Danny Frisella (4-1) are winners.

June 25, 1971

6/25/1971: Brooks Robinson of the Orioles hit a towering flyball to left-center field in the top of the fourth inning off Red Sox pitcher Jim Lonborg which caromed off a light tower behind Fenway Park’s Green Monster and rebounded back on to the field. Second base umpire Bill Haller ruled that the ball hit off the top of the wall and Robinson only got a double. Players in the Baltimore bullpen confirmed that the ball had hit the light tower and should have been a home run.

June 25, 1971

Willie Stargell hits the longest homerun in the history of Veterans Stadium

June 25, 1971

1971 – Talk about getting back at your boss! Backup catcher Jack Hiatt singles home Doug Rader with the winning run as Houston takes a 5-4 victory over Gaylord Perry and the Giants. Hiatt, who was traded from San Francisco the year before, still held a winter job in the Giants’ sales office at the time. 

June 26, 1971

The Brewers’ Marty Pattin gives up 11 hits to Minnesota, but still shuts them out, 5 – 0.

June 26, 1971

California Angels suspend defending batting champion Alex Johnson

June 27, 1971

Roberto Clemente is thus the first of only six players in the 33-year history of Veterans Stadium to reach the centerfield upper deck

June 28, 1971

Vida Blue News Clip from 1971 during his Cy Young and MVP Season

June 29, 1971

Tom Seaver strikes out 13 batters in a 3 – 0 Mets win over the Phillies.

June 29, 1971

At Montreal, the Reds roll over the Expos, 14 – 0, and Tony Cloninger pitches his first complete game since 1969. The Reds collect 23 hits, led by Tommy Helms’ four.

July 1, 1971

The Mets release 2B Al Weis, a World Series hero less than two years earlier.

July 3, 1971

1971 – Jack Hiatt singles home Jim Wynn with the game-winner in a 4-3, 13-inning thriller over Cincinnati at the Dome. The two had also teamed up in the ninth to preserve the tie when Wynn snared a sinking liner in center field then gunned down Buddy Bradford at the plate with Hiatt supplying the tag.

July 4, 1971

Backed by a pair of homers. Mike Cuellar wins his 10th straight for the first-place O’s, beating Detroit’s Joe Coleman, 3 – 2.

July 5, 1971

The Yankees and Red Sox each collect 16 hits, but for the second day in a row the Red Sox hit four homers to win, 12 – 7. The Sox score six in the 6th when Rico Petrocelli hits a bases-loaded triple and George Scottand Joe Lahoud follow with homers.

July 6, 1971

Norm Cash belts a pair of 3-run homers to power the Tigers to a 12 – 7 win over the Yanks. Mickey Lolich goes all the way for the win.

July 7, 1971

At Anaheim, the Red Sox beat the Angels, 5 – 3, in 10 innings despite the loss of manager Eddie Kasko. Kasko gets tossed after feigning a faint over a call at home plate.

July 7, 1971

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces that Negro leagues players elected to the Hall of Fame will be given full membership in the Museum and will not be honored in a separate wing

July 9, 1971

Vida Blue of the Oakland A’s strikes out 17 California Angels in 11 innings

July 9, 1971

Braves SS Leo Foster makes a memorable debut. Against the Pirates, he errs on his first chance, hits into a double play in the 5th, and a triple play in the 7th. Pittsburgh rolls by Atlanta, 11 – 2.

July 9, 1971

Royals’ Freddie Patek completes the cycle with a two-run ninth-inning homer off Minnesota starter Jim Perry. The 5’5″ Kansas City shortstop’s round-tripper breaks a 3-3 deadlock in Kansas City’s eventual 6-3 victory over the Twins at Metropolitan Stadium.

July 10, 1971

The Pirates again top the Braves, 5 – 4, behind Willie Stargell’s 30th home run of the season and his 10th off Braves’ pitching.

July 11, 1971

The Reds win game one against the Mets, 5 – 2, then complete the sweep as Tony Perez drives in all five runs to defeat the Mets, 5 – 3, in the nitecap. Perez puts the Reds ahead with a three-run homer off Tom Seaver in the 8th. Jim McGlothlin strikes out 12 in the game two win.

July 11, 1971

Deron Johnson hits three home runs, giving him four straight over two games, helping the Phils beat the Expos, 11 – 5.

July 11, 1971

Tony Conigliaro, who had gone 0 for 8 with five strikeouts for the Angels during their 20-inning loss two days earlier, calls a five A.M. press conference to announce his retirement. Later tests will show that the sight in his left eye, injured in a 1967 beaning, has deteriorated.

July 13, 1971

Reggie Jackson of the Oakland A’s hits one of the most memorable home runs in All-Star Game history

July 15, 1971

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Diego Padres, 4 – 3, in a marathon thriller. Pittsburgh ties the game in the bottom of the 9th, 13th, and 16th innings before winning it on a Roberto Clemente home run in the 17th.

July 16, 1971

Until today, only three balls have been hit into the 70-foot high RF upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium, and Willie Stargell hit all of them (he’ll hit another on May 31, 1973). Today, Bob Robertson joins Stargell when he connects with a cannon shot off Padres P Steve Arlin in a Bucs victory.

July 16, 1971

Vida Blue boosts his record to 18-3 with a one-hit, 4 – 0, victory over Detroit. Tony Taylor’s single in the 4th is the only hit.

July 16, 1971

Astros turn the first triple play in their history during a 9-4 victory over Nolan Ryan and the Mets

July 17, 1971

Dock Ellis wins his 13th straight as Pittsburgh whips the Padres, 9 – 2.

July 17, 1971

Juan Marichal allows just one hit through eight innings, but the Reds score three in the bottom of the 9th to win, 3 – 2. Tony Perez hits a two-run single to win it.

July 18, 1971

1971 – The Pirates sweep a doubleheader from the Dodgers, 3 – 2 and 7 – 1, to extend their winning streak to 11 games. In the second game, Luke Walker has a no-hitter until Joe Ferguson homers in the 9th inning for Los Angeles. Pittsburgh is now in front by 11 1/2 games, their largest lead of the year.

July 21, 1971

1971 – Is this Roberto Clemente’s long lost 241st home run? Some spotty official scoring and Dave Giusti’s pyromaniacal 9th-inning relief outing conspire to obscure Clemente’s contributions to the Pirates’ performance. Giusti’s silver platter features an RBI single, a walk to load the bases, a game-tying bases-loaded walk to Willie Mays, and a game-winning grand slam served to the Giants’ Willie McCovey, turning Pittsburgh’s come-from-behind 4 – 2 victory into an ignominious 8 – 4 defeat. This debacle, plus an almost equally dispiriting 10-inning, 8 – 7 defeat tomorrow, will turn out to be a preview of theNational League Championship Series, which will have a very different result. Before Giusti’s meltdown, Clemente’s rope to home plate prevents Dick Dietz from even trying to score from second base on a single. Back in the 7th, with the Giants up by one, Clemente leads off with a vicious line drive back through the box that gets to centerfield in an instant and past Mays before he can get a glove on it, affording Roberto a quick tour of the bases before crossing home plate standing. Scored an error, it’s the subject of some choice post-game Mays commentary, as relayed by Giants beat writer Bob Stevens: “It should have been a home run. The error makes no difference to me and I don’t really care if the ruling’s changed. But I was playing Roberto in right centerfield and I had no chance to catch up to it, it was hit so hard. I guess they gave me an error because they thought I touched it. But it was at least a foot away from my glove when it bounced past me.”

July 22, 1971

1971 – The NL West-best Giants take the rubber game a three-game National League Championship Series preview against their NL East counterpart, Pittsburgh. After last night’s final-frame meltdown, the Pirates attempt to return the favor, staging a dramatic four-run, 9th-inning uprising. Unfortunately for the Bucs, their comeback merely ties the game; moments later, San Francisco breaks through in the top of the 10th and holds on for an 8 – 7 nail-biter. As would be expected, the two clubs’ elder statesmen, 40-year-old Willie Mays and 36-year-old Roberto Clemente, each have the day game off following last night’s barn burner. Nonetheless, Clemente does come off the bench long enough to deliver the Bucs’ biggest 9th-inning knock – a pinch-hit laser into the left field corner, good for 2 bases, 2 runs and a 7 – 7 tie.

July 23, 1971

Pat Dobson wins his 10th straight for the Orioles, beating California, 4 – 3.

July 23, 1971

Catfish Hunter is knocked out in the 7th inning, but before he exits he drives in four runs as Oakland beats Detroit and Mickey Lolich, 9 – 7. Sal Bando has two homers, while the Tigers hit 4.

July 27, 1971

Bill Buckner hits his first grand slam as the Dodgers score six in the 7th inning to beat Pittsburgh, 8 – 5. Dock Ellis takes his first loss after 12 straight wins.

July 27, 1971

Hal McRae collects a homer, three doubles and a single to lead the Reds to an 11 – 3 win over the Padres. His four long hits ties a club record.

July 28, 1971

perennial Gold Glove winner Brooks Robinson commits three errors in one game for the first time in his career

July 30, 1971

The Indians, with a 42-61 record, fire manager Alvin Dark. Johnny Lipon takes over, but the team will go 18-41 the rest of the season.

July 30, 1971

Frank Robinson’s home run spoils a no-hit bid by the Royals’ Dick Drago, who loses, 1 – 0, in a rain-shortened game. Play is stopped with one out in the 5th. Robby’s homer is his 493rd, tying him with Lou Gehrig for 11th place on the homer list.

July 30, 1971

John Kennedy comments, ‘Looks like we’ve got our own spaceman,’ when he is unable to get to his locker through the crowd of reporters talking with southpaw Bill Lee about the Apollo 15 moon landing, The Red Sox utility infielder’s nickname Spaceman sticks, a moniker his eccentric teammate never fully embraces, claiming Mother Earth as always been his priority.

July 31, 1971

Orioles’ right-hander Pat Dobson wins his eighth decision of the month, blanking the Royals, 4-0. The shutout is the 12th consecutive victory for the Depew, N.Y native since June 16th.

July 31, 1971

Dave Kingman’s first career homerun is a game winning grand slam

August 1, 1971

After homering yesterday off Dave Giusti, rookie Dave Kingman, in his second major league game, clouts two homers for the Giants to help sweep a pair from the first-place Pirates, 11 – 7 and 8 – 3. Willie McCovey adds a three-run homer and Willie Mays a bases-loaded double. Willie Stargell has a pair of homers for the Pirates to go over the 100 RBI mark.

August 1, 1971

Having two runners on base after scoring three times in the 12th, the Cards file a protest against the Phillies for failing to get the field in playing condition after two rain delays, one 31 minutes and the other 49 minutes. The Phils say their Zamboni broke down and the score reverts to a 3 – 3, 11-inning tie.

August 2, 1971

Bill Lee pitches tremendous relief, allowing just two hits in 8 1/3 innings, and the 2nd-place Red Sox come back to beat the American League East first place Orioles, 7 – 4. The Birds get all their runs off Luis Tiant in the 1st.

August 2, 1971

Don Wilson fires a two-hitter to outduel Ferguson Jenkins and Chicago, 2-1

August 4, 1971

Bob Gibson wins his 200th game, a 7 – 2 victory over the Giants at St. Louis.

August 4, 1971

In a Texas League contest, Tommy Walker hurls a 15-inning no-hitter, beating the Albuquerque Dukes, 1-0. The Dallas-Fort Worth Spur right-hander faces only 47 batters during the minor league game, two over the minimum.

August 5, 1971

The Pirates power to a 7 – 2 win at Montreal, but lose 3B Jose Pagan when his arm is fractured by a pitch in the 5th by John Strohmayer. He will return to be a World Series hero. Pagan, Willie Stargell and Al Oliverhomer for the Bucs and Gene Alley adds two triples.

August 6, 1971

The Yankees kayo Pat Dobson in the 4th, beating the Orioles, 12 – 3. The loss ends Dobson’s win streak of 12 games, his nine consecutive complete games, and his consecutive scoreless inning streak of 23.

August 6, 1971

Nickel Beer Night at the Astrodome ends, appropriately, with a Miller

August 7, 1971

Vida Blue of the Oakland A’s wins his 20th game of the season

August 8, 1971

1971 – Behind Lee May’s 2 homers and 5 RBIs‚ the Reds beat the visiting Montreal Expos‚ 6 – 3. His second homer is a three-run shot in the 9th.

August 9, 1971

The Indians score eight runs in the 5th inning to beat the Cubs, 13 – 5, in the annual Hall of Fame Game. Earlier, the Hall had inducted Satchel Paige and the seven others selected in January.

August 9, 1971

Despite belting six home runs – three by Bill Freehan, two by Willie Horton, one by Aurelio Rodriguez – at Fenway Park, the Tigers lose to the Red Sox, 12 – 11. The Sox have only one homer, a grand slam by Bob Montgomery. Rico Petrocelli’s pinch single with two outs in the 9th drives home the winner.

August 10, 1971

Harmon Killebrew joins the 500-home run club

August 10, 1971

Sixteen baseball researchers at Cooperstown form the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), with founder Robert Davids as president.

August 10, 1971

At San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, Juan Marichal records his 50th career shutout as the Giants blank the Expos, 1-0.

August 11, 1971

Skip Lockwood accounts for the only Brewer tally when he homers off Detroit’s Joe Niekro. Each starter goes 7 innings in Detroit’s 2 – 1 victory. The next homer by a Brewer pitcher will come when Milwaukee is in the National League.

August 11, 1971

Dave Roberts for the Padres and Tom Seaver for the Mets lock up in a classic pitchers duel

August 12, 1971

1971 – Earl Williams, Atlanta’s slugging Rookie of the Year candidate, leads his club to a fourth straight win while reaching some personal milestones. The first four-hit and fifth two-homer game of Williams’ young career, the latter including nos. 20 and 21, helps pull Atlanta — now 26 and 13 since June 29th — to within six and a half games of the division-leading Giants.

August 13, 1971

1971 – Reds pitchers Don Gullett and Wayne Granger combine on a one-hitter, beating the visiting Cubs, 8 – 2. The lone Cub safety is a two-out double by Cleon Jones in the 8th inning. Granger pitches a hitless 9th.

August 14, 1971

Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches the first no-hitter of his career

August 14, 1971

The Braves purchase infielder Tony LaRussa from the Oakland A’s.

August 15, 1971

1971 – Vida Blue raises his record to 22-4 as the A’s beat the Yankees, 6 – 4. Blue scatters 10 hits and scores the tie-breaking run on a wild pitch.

August 16, 1971

1971 – Harmon Killebrew, who has a higher percentage of his hits (28.6%) go for home runs than any other player, collects his annual triple in a 11 – 2 win over the Indians. It marks his 8th season when he will hit exactly one three-bagger.

August 17, 1971

At Tacoma, Tacoma’s Burt Hooton ties a Pacific Coast League record when he strikes out 19 in a 5 – 1 win over Eugene.

August 17, 1971

Houston tops the Pirates, 6 – 5, as Bucs 2B Bill Mazeroski records his 2,000th career hit.

August 17, 1971

After getting hit by a pitch in the third inning by a Steve Arlin fastball, Ron Hunt takes exception to being plunked again two frames later by the Padres pitcher. The combative Expos second baseman, who will be the only player ejected from the San Diego Stadium contest, shows his displeasure by ripping off backstop Bob Barton’s mask and punching the catcher squarely in the face, igniting a bench-clearing brawl.

August 17, 1971

During a visit to the White House, 21 year-old Vida Blue is told by President Nixon that he is the most underpaid player in the game

August 20, 1971

1971 – Ferguson Jenkins wins his 20th, beating Houston, 3 – 2. The win pulls the Cubs to 4 1/2 behind Pittsburgh. But following two losses to Houston, Leo Durocher and the players will square off in a clubhouse meeting on the 23rd. Durocher accuses Ron Santo of demanding that the team give him a day, and the third sacker has to be restrained from going after Leo. Leo will finally lip an “I quit,” but stay on through the season in a frosty relationship with the team.

August 21, 1971

Mickey Lolich allows six hits as Detroit beats the Brewers, 7 – 2. It is Lolich’s 20th win of the year.

August 21, 1971

Pitching in relief, the Reds’ Jim Merritt (1-11) records his only win of the year. A 20-game winner last season, Merritt, started the year with 11 straight losses, one short of the National League record.

August 21, 1971

For the second time in 10 days, Dave Roberts of the Padres and Tom Seaver of the Mets lock up in a pitchers duel, but this time, Seaver comes out on top, 2 – 1. Ed Spiezio hits a solo homer for San Diego in the 3rd, then Cleon Jones triples and comes in to tie the score on a sacrifice fly for the Mets in the 7th. Jones then ends the game with a walk-off home run with two outs on the bottom of the 9th, only the third hit allowed by Roberts. Seaver and Roberts will finish first and second respectively in the National League ERA race.

August 21, 1971

The Connie Mack statue, a fixture in front of the North Philadelphia ballpark since 1957, is rededicated at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue in front of the Phillies’ new home, Veterans Stadium. The team added a plaque to the monument’s pedestal, listing the A’s players chosen between 1978 and 2003 for the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame.

August 22, 1971

1971 – Oakland book ends solo homers to defeat the Red Sox, 2 – 1. Bert Campaneris leads off the game with a shot and, with two out in the 9th inning, Reggie Jackson ends the game with a homer.

August 24, 1971

Braves OF Rico Carty announces he has suffered permanent damage to his right eye from an altercation with three policemen in Atlanta, GA.

August 24, 1971

Padre Ed Acosta makes his major league pitching debut and shuts out the Phillies, 2 – 0. He’s the first Padre to debut with a shutout.

August 24, 1971

At Wrigley Field, Ernie Banks hits the final home run of his career in the Cubs’ 5-4 loss to Cincinnati. Mr. Cub’s 512th round-tripper, tying him for seventh-place on the all-time list with Eddie Mathews, comes in the fourth frame off right-hander Jim McGlothlin, a two-out solo shot to left field that ties the score at 3-3.

August 26, 1971

8/26/1971: Mike Andrews hit a homer in the top of the ninth inning at Baltimore. That hit tied the game for the White Sox and another run scored later in the inning to put them ahead. However, before the half inning could be completed, rain halted play. Since the top half of the inning changed the game result, no records from the ninth counted and the Orioles won, 8-7. The homer came with one out and the bases empty off Eddie Watt when Andrews pinch hit for pitcher Bart Johnson.

August 27, 1971

Detroit’s Willie Horton is struck in the eye by a pitch from Chicago’s Rich Hinton, sidelining him for 28 games. Hinton, in his first major league start, lasts 2 2/3 innings in taking the loss. Joe Coleman wins.

August 27, 1971

Pinch hitter Jimmy Stewart leads the Reds to a win as he hits a 9th-inning bases-loaded triple against the Cardinals, then scores on Pete Rose’s sacrifice fly. The Reds score five in the 9th to win, 8 – 7.

August 28, 1971

Phillies’ pitcher Rick Wise hits two home runs, including a grand slam, en route to his 7 – 3 defeat of the Giants. Five weeks earlier, Wise also hit two round-trippers against the Reds and no-hit the team on the same day, 4 – 0.

August 28, 1971

In his first at-bat in the Little League World Series finale, Lloyd McClendon blasts a three-run homer

August 28, 1971

The Cubs honor their longtime fan favorite with ‘Ron Santo Day’ at Wrigley Field. With 34,988 there to honor the veteran third baseman, he goes 1-for-3 and scores a run, but it isn’t enough when Atlanta spoils the special day, beating Ferguson Jenkins and the hometown team, 4-3.

August 29, 1971

Braves’ outfielder Hank Aaron becomes the first player in the National League to drive in at least 100 runs in eleven different seasons. The future Hall of Famer will collect 2297 RBIs during his 23-year Hall of Fame career to set an all-time major league mark.

August 31, 1971

1971 – The A’s trade Frank Fernandez, along with Adrian Garrett, to the Cubs for Bill McNulty. Fernandez will drive in four runs for the Cubs in September, all on solo homers.

September 1, 1971

Pittsburgh Pirates field the first all-black lineup in major league history

September 1, 1971

At Wrigley Field‚ pitcher Fergie Jenkins leads the Cubs to a 5 – 2 win over Montreal by clouting two home runs and driving in 3 runs. Bill Stoneman takes the loss.

September 2, 1971

Sonny Siebert hits two homeruns and pitches the Red Sox to a 3 – 0 win over the Orioles

September 2, 1971

Cesar Cedeno of the Houston Astros hits a 200-foot inside-the-park grand slam

September 3, 1971

1971 – Owner Phil Wrigley takes out newspaper ads criticizing the Cubs players who want to dump manager Leo Durocher. A postscript adds, “If we could only find more team players like Ernie Banks.” Banks will play his last game on September 26th.

September 5, 1971

Cardinal pitcher Jerry Reuss is a winner, 12 – 5, in a duel with Chicago’s Fergie Jenkins. Jenkins gives up home run to Matty Alou in the contest and now all three Alou brothers have hit dingers off him.

September 5, 1971

The Tigers tie a major-league record by using six pinch hitters in the 7th inning, but lose, 6 – 5, to the Yankees anyway.

September 5, 1971

In his major league debut, J.R. Richard throws a complete game in the Astros’ 5-3 victory over San Francisco at Candlestick Park

September 6, 1971

Boston uses two entirely different 9-man lineups in a doubleheader with New York‚ but neither succeeds. The Yankees prevail, 5 – 3 and 3 – 0.

September 6, 1971

The Cards tip the Phillies‚ 2 – 1‚ as Lou Brock steals 4 bases. It is the second time that Brock has swiped 4 in one game; he’ll do it once more.

September 6, 1971

Seaver dominates with bat and on mound

September 7, 1971

Jim Northrup goes 5 for 5 with two home runs in a 3 – 2, 11-inning Tiger win over Washington.

September 7, 1971

In the resumption of the August 1 protested game, the Cards and Phils resume play with the Cards leading in the 12th, 6 – 3, with two runners on base. Stranding the runners, the Phils then rally for three runs to tie, but St. Louis scores another three in the 13th to win, 9 – 6. Stan Williams wins his first National League game since 1962. The Cards then take the regularly-scheduled game, 7 – 5, in 10 innings.

September 7, 1971

Kansas City’s Amos Otis collects four hits and five stolen bases in a 4 – 3 win over Milwaukee. Darrell Porter’s wild throw on a steal allows Otis to score the winning run.

September 10, 1971

Atlanta’s Earl Williams, zeroing in on NL Rookie of the Year honors, makes his 31st home run one prodigious and almost perfectly symmetrical complement to its April 18th counterpart. Just as Williams’ third home run was the first ever to reach the upper deck in newly opened Veterans Stadium, his third-from-last is the fourth, and what will prove to be final, upper-decker in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (preceded, in order of appearance, by Willie Smith, Willie McCovey and Hank Aaron). The 6th-inning solo shot provides the first run, and Aaron’s 11th-inning walk-off the final two (bridged by Williams’ 8th-inning, game-tying sac fly), in Atlanta’slate/extra-inning, three-time-come-from-behind 7 – 5 win over the division-leading Giants.

September 10, 1971

Houston’s Jack Billingham scores his 2nd straight 1 – 0 victory, beating Cincinnati five days after victimizing San Francisco.

September 11, 1971

Juan Pizarro beats the visiting Cardinals, 7 – 0, with help from Paul Popovich, who clubs his first major league grand slam

September 13, 1971

Frank Robinson 11th man to enter into 500 Homerun Club

September 14, 1971

Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves becomes the National League’s all-time leader in RBIs

September 14, 1971

1971 – The Dodgers beat the first-place Giants, 6 – 5, to climb within one game of first place in the National League West. Bobby Bonds has two homers for SF, but Manny Mota’s pinch-hit double in the 9th drives in three runs.

September 15, 1971

The Giants suffer their 3rd straight loss and their 10th in 11 games, losing to the Reds, 4 – 2. The Giants maintain their 1-game lead in the NL West.

September 15, 1971

Making his debut against the Braves, Astros’ hurler Larry Yount injures his right shoulder on his very first warm-up pitch and will never get another chance to pitch in the bigs. Robin’solder brother’s total major league experience will consist of just one-warm up pitch.

September 15, 1971

At Shea Stadium, Mike Jorgensen hits a 2-out single in the 7th to break Burt Hooton’s no-hit bid, and Ken Singleton follows with a homer to tie the match at 2 – 2. But Billy Williamsclocks a pinch homer in the 9th and Hooton finishes the 3 – 2 victory with 15 strikeouts, notching his first major league win. In the opener of the twi-night doubleheader, Bill Hands beats Jerry Koosman, 6 – 2. Hands starts the Cubs’ scoring with a 2-run single in the 2nd.

September 15, 1971

Astros rookie Larry Yount, making his major league debut, injuries his right shoulder in the ninth inning throwing his very first warm-up pitch of the game. The 21 year-old right-hander, Robin’s older brother, will never get another chance to pitch in the bigs with his only major league experience consisting of that one ill-fated toss to home plate.

September 15, 1971

In just his second major-league start, Cubs rookie Burt Hooton ties a franchise record for a nine-inning game when he strikes out 15 batters, going the distance in the team’s 3-2 victory over New York at Shea Stadium. The 21 year-old right-hander matches the mark established by Dick Drott against Milwaukee in 1957.

September 15, 1971

The Oakland A’s win the American League West Division with their 3-2 victory over Chicago and the Royals’ 6-2 loss to California. The franchise hadn’t won a title since 1931, when Connie Mack managed the team in Philadelphia.

September 15, 1971

Astros rookie Larry Yount, making his major league debut, injuries his right shoulder in the ninth inning throwing his very first warm-up pitch of the game. The 21 year-old right-hander, Robin’s older brother, will never get another chance to pitch in the bigs with his only major league experience consisting of that one ill-fated toss to home plate.

September 15, 1971

In just his second major-league start, Cubs rookie Burt Hooton ties a franchise record for a nine-inning game when he strikes out 15 batters, going the distance in the team’s 3-2 victory over New York at Shea Stadium. The 21 year-old right-hander matches the mark established by Dick Drott against Milwaukee in 1957.

September 15, 1971

The Oakland A’s win the American League West Division with their 3-2 victory over Chicago and the Royals’ 6-2 loss to California. The franchise hadn’t won a title since 1931, when Connie Mack managed the team in Philadelphia.

September 16, 1971

At New York, lefty Juan Pizarro shuts out the Mets and Tom Seaver, 1 – 0. Pizarro does it all, clubbing a solo homer to win his own game. It’s Pizarro’s second shutout in a row and Seaver’s first loss after seven straight wins. Tom’s last loss was August 1st, also to Pizarro.

September 16, 1971

At Candlestick Park, George Foster hits an 8th-inning grand slam to pace the Reds to an 8 – 1 win over the Giants.

September 17, 1971

1971 – The White Sox defeat the Angels, 9 – 4, with each Chicago player in the lineup driving in one run.

September 17, 1971

1971 – Don Wilson fires a one-hitter and drives in two to sink the Reds, 4-1. The Astros make their second triple play of the season as Joe Morgan snares a blooper by Darrell Chaney, flips to Roger Metzger for the force at second, who then throws to John Mayberry at first. Wilson wins his 16th, contributing a suicide squeeze and an RBI single to his own cause. 

September 18, 1971

San Diego’s Clay Kirby allows just one hit – a wind-blown homer in the 8th by Willie McCovey – in beating the Giants, 2 – 1

September 19, 1971

Dodgers Al Downing and Don Sutton hurl shutouts during a 12 – 0, 4 – 0, doubleheader triumph over the Braves

September 19, 1971

Joe Morgan bashes an 11th-inning homer on his 28th birthday to torpedo the Reds, 5-4.

September 20, 1971

American League approves the transfer of the Washington Senators to Texas

September 20, 1971

In the completion of a suspended game started in Cleveland six days ago, the ‘visiting’ Senators beat the Indians in Washington DC, 8-6. The 20-inning victory at RFK Stadium will prove to be the team’s final ‘road’ win before the franchise shifts to Texas next season.

September 21, 1971

Dave McNally wins his 20th game for the fourth consecutive season when he blanks New York at Yankee Stadium, 5-0. The southpaw becomes the first of the four 20-game winners on the club, which will include Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, and Pat Dobson.

September 24, 1971

Wasting a heroic pitching effort by starter Clay Kirby, the Padres lose to the Astros, 2 – 1, in 21 innings. Kirby hurls 15 innings and strikes out 15 men.

September 24, 1971

The Orioles clinch their division as Mike Cuellar wins his 20th game, 9 – 2 over the Indians. In game two of the doubleheader, Pat Dobson cards his 20th win, a 7 – 0 shutout.

September 24, 1971

Honored in pregame ceremonies at Shea Stadium by New York Congressman Herman Badillo and Puerto Rican Senate President Rafael Hernandez Colon, Roberto Clemente responds by driving in the first and last runs in the Pirates’ 3 – 2 win over New York. Willie Stargell provides the second run with his 47th homer, tying him with Atlanta’s Hank Aaron for the league lead. Centerfielder Mike Jorgensen is the Mets’ offense, answering Clemente’s 1st-inning RBI single with one of his own and Stargell’s 6th-inning solo shot with his own bases-empty blast in the bottom of the 7th. Immediately thereafter, however, Clemente doubles in the go-ahead run. This time, the Bucs wise up; when they walk Jorgensen in the 9th, the Mets cannot capitalize.

September 24, 1971

In the top of the fourth inning of a losing effort to Philadelphia, Cubs’ starter Milt Pappas strikes out the side, throwing just nine pitches. Greg Luzinski, Don Money, and Mike Anderson are the victims of the right-hander’s immaculate inning.

September 24, 1971

Al Downing becomes a 20-game winner when he blanks the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, 2-0. The Dodger left-hander, best remembered for giving up Hank Aaron’s historic 715th home run, will compile a 123-107 record during his 17-year major league career.

September 24, 1971

1971 – Gary Ross of the Padres balks home Jesus Alou in the 21st inning as Houston outlasts San Diego, 2-1. But wait. That’s just the opener of the scheduled twinbill. After the 5-1/2-hour first game, the California fog rolls in before the second game ends. The Padres win the “nightcap”, 5-4 in the ninth when Ollie Brown, batting after a 14-minute fog delay, sends a shot to right that Jim Wynn can’t find in the mist.

September 25, 1971

1971 – With rookie C Tim Hosley hitting two homers and driving in five runs, the Tigers trip the Yankees, 10 – 7. Les Cain pitches six innings for the win. Cain finishes with a 10-9 record with 145 innings, but contends he was forced to pitch by Manager Billy Martin while he had a sore arm. Cain later claims that it did permanent damage to his arm and he sues the Tigers. In a landmark decision, the Michigan Bureau of Workman’s Compensation will order the Tigers to pay Cain $111 a month for the rest of his life. A lump sum payment is later agreed upon.

September 26, 1971

Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs plays in his final major league game

September 26, 1971

Jim Palmer becomes the fourth member of the Baltimore Orioles to register 20 wins

September 26, 1971

Washington P Denny McLain loses his 22nd game of the season, dropping a 6 – 3 decision to the Red Sox.

September 26, 1971

Willie Mays hits his 646th and last home run as a member of the San Francisco Giants. It comes off Steve Blateric in the 6th inning of the Giants’ 12 – 5 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium.

September 29, 1971

Expos second baseman Ron Hunt is plunked by a pitch for the 50th time of the season, establishing a big league record. By comparison, the runner-up in the league, teammate Rusty Staub, will be hit by a pitch only nine times.

September 30, 1971

Tom Seaver, for the second time in his career, becomes a 20-game winner when the Mets beat St. Louis, 6-1, at Shea Stadium on the final day of the season. En route to the complete game victory, ‘Tom Terrific’ whiffs 13 Redbirds to end the campaign with a league-leading 289 strikeouts.

September 30, 1971

Willie Montanez sets the Phillies’ rookie home run record when he strokes a two-run round-tripper off Nelson Briles in the team’s 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh at Veterans Stadium. The freshman first baseman’s 30 homers eclipse the mark established by Dick Allen in 1964.

September 30, 1971

Chicago finishes the season by edging the last-place Brewers, 2 – 1, on Bill Melton’s 33rd home run of the year. Melton is the first American League home run leader in Sox history.

September 30, 1971

The Giants win the Western division title by one game over the Dodgers, beating the Pirates, 5 – 1. Juan Marichal allow five hits in the win. The Dodgers’ 2 – 1 win over the Padres leaves them short.

September 30, 1971

The Senators draw 14,000 for their final game in Washington and with two outs in the 9th, fans swarm onto the field, causing the game to be forfeited 

October 3, 1971

Bob Robertson of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits three home runs in NLCS

October 3, 1971

Mcnallly and birds turn A’s Blue

October 4, 1971

1971 – Baltimore wins its second straight game in the American League Championship Series, beating the Oakland Athletics, 5 – 1, on four home runs by Boog Powell (two), Brooks Robinson and Elrod Hendricks against Catfish Hunter.

October 5, 1971

1971 – The Baltimore Orioles overcome two home runs by Reggie Jackson and one by Sal Bando to complete a sweep of the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series with a 5 – 3 victory.

October 9, 1971

The Orioles win the opener of the World Series over the Pirates, 5 – 3

October 11, 1971

Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles sets a World Series record by reaching base five consecutive times against the Pittsburgh Pirates

October 12, 1971

Robertson misses a sign and blasts a 3 run homer in game 3 of 1971 World Series

October 13, 1971

Milt May delivers a clutch pinch hit to give Pittsburgh the win in the first world series night game

October 14, 1971

Nelson Briles of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a two-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles for a 4 – 0 victory which gives the Pirates a 3-2 edge in the World Series.

October 16, 1971

Brooks Robinson drives in Frank Robinson in the 10th inning of Game 6 to give Baltimore a Series-tying 3 – 2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates

October 17, 1971

Clemente caps off MVP performance belting game 7 homerun

October 18, 1971

Dick Williams is named the Associated Press American League Manager of the Year

October 19, 1971

After being swept in the ALCS by the Orioles, the A’s bolster their pitching, obtaining starting pitcher Ken Holtzman from the Cubs in exchange for center fielder Rick Monday. The 26 year-old southpaw, who recorded only nine wins with the Cubs last season, rebounds with a 19-11 record and becomes a mainstay in Oakland’s rotation behind Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter.

October 26, 1971

Vida Blue of the Oakland Athletics wins the American League Cy Young Award by a 98-85 margin over Mickey Lolich 

November 2, 1971

Baltimore right-hander Pat Dobson hurls a 2-0 no-hitter against the Yomiuri Giants

November 3, 1971

In front of a crowd gathered on the U.S. Capitol steps, Pennsylvania lawmakers Hugh Scott and Richard South Schweiker collect their World Series wager made with their fellow senators from Maryland, Charles Mathias Junior and J. Glenn Beall, Jr. As winners of a bet made on the 1971 Fall Classic between the Orioles and Pirates, the two Keystone State senators victoriously ride elephants as the losers lead and feed the pachyderms peanuts while carrying shovels to clean the street, if necessary.

November 3, 1971

Fergie Jenkins wins the National League Cy Young Award

November 3, 1971

1971 – Astros deal utilityman Orlando “Marty” Martinez to St. Louis for catcher Bob Stinson. Martinez had hit .268 in three years of service in Houston. Stinson would bat .171 in 27 games before being sold to the Expos.

November 10, 1971

Joe Torre, who hit 24 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals and led the National League in RBI (137) and batting average (.363), wins the MVP Award over Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates (48, 125, .295). Torre receives 318 points to Stargell’s 222.

November 10, 1971

Oakland Athletics pitcher Vida Blue adds the American League MVP to his list of awards for 1971

November 17, 1971

Vida Blue becomes the youngest player to win the MVP

November 20, 1971

1971 – The Sporting News announces Gold Glove Award winners. Among newcomers are outfielders Amos Otis in the American League and Bobby Bonds in the National League.

November 22, 1971

Cleveland Indians first baseman Chris Chambliss wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award

November 23, 1971

World champion Pittsburgh Pirates name Bill Virdon as manager

November 24, 1971

Earl Williams wins the National League Rookie of the Year honors

November 29, 1971

Multiple Hall of Famers traded November 29, 1971

November 29, 1971

Giants trade Gaylord Perry to Cleveland

November 30, 1971

1971 – The Twins trade SS Leo Cardenas to the Angels for P Dave LaRoche.

December 1, 1971

The Chicago Cubs release longtime star and future Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, ending his 19-year major league career.

December 2, 1971

Major league teams engineer eight trades, involving a total of 30 players

December 2, 1971

First baseman John Mayberry is traded to the Kansas City Royals for reliever Jim York

December 3, 1971

The Minnesota Twins send P Tom Hall to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for P Wayne Granger.

December 3, 1971

The Cubs trade 25 year-old right-hander Jim Colborn, along with Brock Davis and Earl Stephenson, to the Brewers for outfielder Jose Cardenal. Chicago’s newest outfielder will have a productive stay in the Windy City, batting .296 during his six-year tenure with the team.

December 3, 1971

1971 – Lefthander Dave Roberts is acquired from San Diego for infielder Derrel Thomas and pitchers Bill Grief and Mark Schaeffer. Roberts compiles a 47-44 mark in four seasons. His best year is a 17-11 record with a 2.85 ERA and six shutouts in 1973. 

December 6, 1971

1971 – The Reds trade P Milt Wilcox to the Indians for OF Ted Uhlaender. Uhlaender had 13 homers the past 2 seasons‚ and all but one came in Cleveland. He’ll hit none in Cincinnati.

December 10, 1971

Nolan Ryan traded by the New York Mets

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