Major League Season Recap 1983

Major League Season Recap 1983

World Series – Baltimore Orioles AL over Philadelphia Phillies NL 4 games to 1

World Series MVP – Rick Dempsey
Babe Ruth Award – Rick Dempsey

ALCS Baltimore Orioles over Chicago White Sox 3 games to 1 ALCS MVP – Mike Boddicker
NLCS Philadelphia Phillies over Los Angeles Dodgers 3 games to 1 NLCS MVP – Gray Matthews

Awards –

Cy Young Award National League John Denny
Cy Young Award American League Lamar Hoyt

MVP Awards –
NL Dale Murphy
AL Cal Ripken Jr

NL Rookie of The Year – Darryl Strawberry
AL Rookie of The Year – Ron Kittle

Roberto Clemente Award – Cecil Cooper

All-Star Game – July 6th 1983 – A.L. 13 over N.L. 3 , played at Comiskey Park I (AL)
AL Starter D. Stieb NL Starter M. Soto MVP Fred Lynn

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

January 5, 1983

The Cincinnati Reds send pinch-hitter Mike Vail to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitcher Rich Gale.

January 10, 1983

1983 – A preliminary injunction is issued by New York Supreme Court barring the Yankees from playing their opening games against the Tigers in Denver, Colorado. The Yankees sought to move games fearing renovations to Yankee Stadium will not be completed on time.

January 10, 1983

Yankees to important to play home games off site

January 11, 1983

Ellis Burks is drafted and signed in the January free agent draft

January 11, 1983

The New York Yankees name Billy Martin their manager for the third time in eight years. Martin takes over for Clyde King, who is bumped up to the Yankees’ front office. Martin will lead the team to a record of 91-71 this season.

January 12, 1983

Juan Marichal and Brooks Robinson Elected into Hall of Fame

January 17, 1983

Bob Horner agrees to a four-year contract with the Atlanta Braves that will pay him up to $6 million

January 19, 1983

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Ron Cey is sent to the Chicago Cubs for minor leaguers Vance Lovelace and Dan Cataline

January 19, 1983

Ozzie Smith becomes the game’s first $1 million shortstop

January 26, 1983

1983 – The Chicago White Sox trade pitchers Steve Trout and Warren Brusstar to their cross-town rivals Cubs for pitchers Dick Tidrow and Randy Martz, and infielders Pat Tabler and Scott Fletcher.

January 31, 1983

Veteran first baseman Tony Perez signs a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

February 2, 1983

Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers becomes the first player to earn a $1 million salary through arbitration.

February 7, 1983

Seattle Mariners select Cincinnati Reds minor league infielder Danny Tartabull 

February 8, 1983

Mickey Mantle is ordered to sever his ties with Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn

March 3, 1983

Steve Carlton Signs Richest contract in history for a pitcher

March 10, 1983

Veterans Committee announces the election of Walter Alston and George Kell to the Hall of Fame

March 15, 1983

1983 – Cy Young Award winner Pete Vuckovich is found to have a torn rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder that will sideline him for almost the entire 1983 season.

March 24, 1983

1983 – The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee agrees to stage a six-team exhibition baseball tournament as part of the 1984 Olympics to be held in Los Angeles, California.

March 29, 1983

1983 – While some clubs are concerned about low attendance at the start of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers become the first team in major league history to cut off season ticket sales before the start of the season. The Dodgers, with 27,000 season tickets already sold, implement the cutoff so that group sales won’t be impeded and fans will be able to buy tickets for individual games.

April 5, 1983

Tom Seaver returns to Shea for the first time since 1977

April 7, 1983

1983 – Major League Baseball, ABC, and NBC agree to terms on a six-year television package worth $1.2 billion. The two TV networks will continue to alternate coverage of the playoffs, World Series, and All-Star Game through the 1989 season with each of the 26 clubs receiving $7 million per year in return. The last package gave each club $1.9 million per annum.

April 13, 1983

The Phillies, trailing by five runs entering the final frame, beat the Mets, 10-9, when Bo Diaz hits a walk-off bases-loaded home run. The Philadelphia catcher’s ‘ultimate grand slam’, a home run which wins a game when a team is down by three runs in the bottom of the final inning, is tossed by Neil Allen, who faces only the final batter.

April 14, 1983

4/14/1983: Two Rangers lost homers off Rick Sutcliffe to the rain in Cleveland. Mike Richardt homered in the first with one out and no one on. (This would have increased his career total to 5.) Jim Sundberg homered with 1 on in the fourth and no one out.

April 15, 1983

1983 – Detroit Tigers pitcher Milt Wilcox is one out away from a perfect game when pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston singles, and Wilcox settles for a 6 – 0 one-hitter over the Chicago White Sox. This is only the third time in major league history a perfect game bid has been stopped with one out to go.

April 16, 1983

Steve Garvey is National League Iron Man

April 17, 1983

Nolan Ryan fans seven Expos to pass 3,500 strikeouts for his career

April 19, 1983

Pinch-hitter Harry Spilman drills a three-run ninth-inning homer off Tom Hume to stun Cincinnati, 6-5

April 20, 1983

George Brett belts three home runs including game winner

April 24, 1983

Astros beat Cy Young Award Winner Steve Carlton 3-2

April 27, 1983

Nolan Ryan becomes all time leader in strikeouts

April 27, 1983

Nolan Ryan breaks Walter Johnson’s major league record for career strikeouts

April 29, 1983

After a 7-2 loss to L.A. at Wrigley Field, Cubs manager Lee Elia launches into an obscenity-laced tirade, that will become a much-reported media story on the airwaves and in print for days to come.

May 6, 1983

At Tiger Stadium, the California Angels defeat Detroit, 4 – 2, as Rod Carew goes 3 for 4 to raise his batting average to .500 (48 for 96). The Angels’ first baseman will finish the season at .339, second best in the American League as Wade Boggs of the Red Sox leads the league with a .361 pace.

May 6, 1983

Daryl Strawberry makes his debut

May 8, 1983

Darryl Strawberry gets his first major league hit, a single that scores Danny Heep, in a 10 – 5 Mets win over the Reds.

May 9, 1983

1983 – Phil Garner scores the winning run while ex-Astro Danny Heep argues the call of first base ump Terry Tata in a 6-4 victory over the New York Mets. Tata had ruled that Jose Cruz beat Heep to the bag on a roller to first. Nobody calls for time and Garner alertly speeds home. Garner’s double off the third base bag had scored Omar Moreno and Dickie Thon to set up the go-ahead moment. 

May 14, 1983

Ben Oglivie hits three home runs as the Milwaukee Brewers come from behind to beat the Boston Red Sox, 8 – 7, in 10 innings. Oglivie’s third homer ties the score at 6 – 6 in the bottom of the 9th.

May 14, 1983

Toronto Blue Jays pitchers Luis Leal and Roy Lee Jackson combine to one-hit the Cleveland Indians, 8 – 1, allowing only an 8th-inning single to Chris Bando. Starter Leal tosses five hitless shutout innings and is replaced by Jackson after a 1:42 rain delay.

May 16, 1983

Despite six 9th-inning runs on solo home runs by Dave Engle and Bobby Mitchell and two-run shots by Gary Gaetti and Mickey Hatcher, the Twins lose, 7 – 6, to Oakland. Engle’s and Hatcher’s homers are pinch hits.

May 16, 1983

In an 11-4 rout of the Pirates, rookie right fielder Darryl Strawberry hit his first major league home run, a two-run round-tripper off Pittsburgh’s Lee Tunnell at Three Rivers Stadium. The troubled Mets outfielder, the eventual franchise leader with 252 homers, will hit a total of 335 during his turbulent 17-year career with the Mets, Dodgers, Giants, and Yankees.

May 18, 1983

At Memorial Stadium, Rich Dotson of the Chicago White Sox pitches a one-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, but loses, 1 – 0. Baltimore’s lone hit is Dan Ford’s 8th-inning home run. Storm Davis (7 1/3 innings) and Tippy Martinez (1 1/3 innings) combine in the four-hit shutout, with Martinez taking the win.

May 20, 1983

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Steve Carlton passes Walter Johnson to move into second place on the all-time strikeout list

May 22, 1983

Cliff Johnson ties Jerry Lynch’s major league mark when he hits the 18th pinch home run of his career. The eighth inning solo shot comes off Tippy Martinez in the Blue Jays’ 5-0 victory over Baltimore at Exhibition Stadium.

May 25, 1983

Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers Jim Bibby and Jim Winn combine to walk seven straight batters, tying a 74-year-old record.

May 27, 1983

Dave Winfield grabs Oakland A’s catcher Mike Heath by the throat at Yankee Stadium

May 29, 1983

Dodgers pitcher Steve Howe is readmitted to a drug treatment center after suffering a relapse of the cocaine problem for which he had sought treatment after last season. Howe has not allowed an earned run in his 14 appearances this season.

May 31, 1983

American League President Lee MacPhail suspends Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for one week, citing “repeated problems” with the outspoken owner’s public criticism of umpires. Steinbrenner, who was fined $50,000 by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn during spring training for berating some National League umpires, cannot attend games or be in his Yankee Stadium office during the suspension.

June 4, 1983

1983 – Alan Ashby smashes two homers and a double, driving in six, to rout the Reds, 13-0. Mike Scott wins his first game as an Astro. Ray Knight contributes four hits. 

June 5, 1983

Chili Davis is first Giant switch hitter to hit homers from both sides of the plate in the same game

June 6, 1983

1983 – The Minnesota Twins select pitcher Tim Belcher with the first pick in the annual June free-agent draft, but Belcher will reject their $125,000 signing bonus offer and pitch for Team USA in the Pan American Games instead. Belcher will be the first person selected in the January 1984 draft. The Cincinnati Reds select infielder Kurt Stillwell with the second pick and pitcher Roger Clemens is taken with the 19th pick by the Boston Red Sox.

June 7, 1983

Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies surpasses Nolan Ryan in the all-time strikeout chase

June 9, 1983

Morgana kisses Freddy Lynn

June 10, 1983

Dave Kingman cracks a 2-run 2-out home run in the bottom of the 17th inning to give the Mets a 4 – 2 win over the Expos. Kingman has 3 RBI in the game.

June 11, 1983

Cardinals OF Lonnie Smith checks into a drug rehabilitation program‚ joining the Phillies’ Dickie Noles and the Dodgers’ Steve Howe‚ as the third major league player to leave his team because of a substance-abuse problem this season.

June 12, 1983

Charlie Gehringer and Hank Greenberg, recently-elected Hall of Famers, have their uniform numbers retired by the Tigers in a pregame ceremony

June 13, 1983

Gibson breaks up no hitter with roof top blast

June 14, 1983

6/14/1983: Two players lost home runs in a rained out game that lasted only one inning at Comiskey Park. Designated hitter Juan Beniquez of the Angels led off against Floyd Bannister with a homer. In the bottom of the inning, designated hitter Greg Luzinski hit a two run homer off Tommy John with two outs.

June 15, 1983

Cardinals trade Keith Hernandez to Mets

June 15, 1983

Tony Bernazard traded for Julio Cruz

June 17, 1983

6/17/1983: In the top of the second inning, Al Cowens of the Mariners circled the bases on an inside the park home run to left field. However, Cowens was called out on appeal for missing the second base bag during his dash in Kansas City.

June 17, 1983

1983 – Dickie Thon tags two solo homers off Eric Show to give Nolan Ryan all the cushion he needs. Houston dumps San Diego, 4-1. Ryan fans six and is one behind Philly’s Steve Carlton in the all-time strikeout race. 

June 20, 1983

1983 – Yankee outfielder Bobby Murcer retires as an active player.

June 21, 1983

The Reds edge the Giants, 6 – 5, in 16 innings on Ron Oester’s single. Both teams score a run in the 14th.

June 24, 1983

Don Sutton Notches his 3000 strikeout

June 25, 1983

After eight straight losses, Rene Lachemann is fired as manager of the Mariners and replaced by Del Crandall.

June 26, 1983

Baltimore’s Storm Davis holds the Tigers hitless for eight innings, then needs help from reliever Tippy Martinez to complete a 3 – 1 victory. Pinch hitter Rick Leach, who had been in a 3 for 35 slump, breaks up the no-hit bid with his first home run of the year, leading off the 9th.

June 26, 1983

New York Mets ties a major league record by delivering his eighth consecutive pinch-hit

June 27, 1983

6/27/1983 – The Mariners got away with one in this game in the Kingdome against the White Sox. After sixth-place batter Al Cowens flew out to start the second inning, Dave Henderson, who was listed in the eighth spot, also flew out. Then the player listed seventh in the lineup, Jamie Allen, came to the plate and walked. Tony LaRussa said nothing and no runs were scored in the inning. However, the second time through the lineup the Mariners’ hitters batted in the correct order and every one made an out. It was the third time through the lineup in the sixth inning that LaRussa complained. Cowens and Allen both made outs and then Henderson, hitting in the correct spot, singled to center. The protest was now made unsuccessfully since the Mariners were following the lineup card order. Seattle scored two runs in the inning to tie the game at 4-4 but eventually lost, 7-4.

June 28, 1983

1983 – Dickie Thon swats two home runs to carry Houston to a 4-2 victory over Atlanta. He hits a solo shot off Craig McMurtry then a two-run blast off Terry Forster to give the Astros the cushion they need. 

June 29, 1983

Mark “The Bird” announces his retirement

June 30, 1983

The Reds score eight runs in the 1st inning and go on to beat the visiting Giants, 15 – 5. Paul Householder drives in four runs, two on a freak inside-the-park homer. With Ron Oester on first base, Householder hits a shallow fly that LF Chris Smith loses in the sun and it bounces over his head. Smith then slips going after the ball and the two baserunners race around the bases. Oester slides across the plate just ahead of Householder’s slide, which is so close he spikes Oester’s knee.

June 30, 1983

Lance Junker hits two grand slams in the ninth inning of the Redwood Pioneers’ 16-5 victory over the Class-A Padres at Reno’s Moana Stadium. The 23 year-old California League slugger, who comes to bat for the second time in the frame after the catcher drops a two-out pop up in front of home plate, becomes the third professional player to accomplish the feat, joining Ken Myers (1947 – Las Vegas/Sunset League) and Armando Flores (1952 – Laredo Apaches/Gulf Coast League).

July 1, 1983

Arbitrator Raymond Goetz rules that the 43 players who were on the disabled list during the 1981 players’ strike are not entitled to their salaries for that period. The decision saves the club owners about $2.5 million.

July 2, 1983

For the second game in a row, the Reds’ Gary Redus hits a leadoff home run. And for the second game in a row the Reds lose to the Braves. Today it is 4 – 2; yesterday, it was 5 – 2.

July 3, 1983

The Rangers explode for 12 runs in the 15th inning of a 16 – 4 win over the A’s, setting a new major-league record for runs in a single extra inning. Reserve Bobby Jones has five hits in the game, including two doubles in the 15th. Dave Beard is the loser for Oakland, while Odell Jones is the victor.

July 3, 1983

At Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Rangers score 12 times in the 15th inning, making it the most runs scored by a team in extra innings. Texas beats the A’s in the previously tied game, 16-4.

July 4, 1983

Dave Righetti Fires July 4th no hitter

July 6, 1983

Fred Lynn hits the first grandslam in All Star Game on its 50th anniversary

July 10, 1983

The Giants sweep a pair from the Cubs, winning 10 – 8 and 4 – 2. In the nitecap, Giants RF Jack Clark throws out Junior Kennedy at first base. It is the third time in two years Clark has done it: he did on July 30th to Reds P Charlie Puleo and on September 20, 1981 to Nolan Ryan.

July 10, 1983

It takes Milwaukee 4 hours and 11 minutes to beat Chicago, 12 – 9, the slowest 9-inning game in American League history.

July 10, 1983

Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers play the longest nine-inning game in major league history

July 11, 1983

With his club in the National League West cellar, 15 1/2 games behind the Braves, Reds president Dick Wagner is fired by the club’s general partners.

July 11, 1983

Rick Dempsey catches Henderson for the only time in the month of july

July 13, 1983

1983 – Injury call-up George Bjorkman, in his third big league game, swats a three-run homer and drives in five to lead a 9-4 victory over Montreal. But his biggest thrill, he says afterwards, is catching Nolan Ryan. The Express fans five while winning his eighth straight decision. 

July 18, 1983

Despite being in first place in the National League East, the Phillies fire manager Pat Corrales because the team is “not playing up to its potential.” GM Paul Owens will manage the club instead. In Owens’ first game, the Phils drop a 9 – 2 decision as the Astros shell Steve Carlton. It’s Lefty’s 11th loss of the year and drops the Phils into a tie for 2nd place with the Pirates. Owens will be successful in steering the Phils to a division title, however.

July 18, 1983

At Toronto, George Brett is robbed of an apparent triple by his teammate Mike Armstrong. Brett hits a liner down the RF line that Armstrong, sitting in the bullpen, thinks is foul and retrieves. Umpire Bill Kunkel decides to send U.L. Washington, who scored on the play, back to third base, and Brett is sent to second. Brett has a homer off Jim Clancy but Kansas City eventually loses, 8 – 2.

July 20, 1983

Two outs away from a no-hitter against the Astros, Phillies P Charles Hudson gives up a bloop single to Craig Reynolds and back-to-back home runs to Denny Walling and Dickie Thon before settling down for a 10 – 3 victory.

July 20, 1983

Steve Sax’s errant throw on a double play ball helps the Pirates’ cause, as they beat the Dodgers, 7 – 3. For Sax, it his 26th error of the season. He’ll reach 30, then go the last 57 games without a miscue.

July 22, 1983

Angels’ outfielder Brian Downing’s American League record consecutive errorless streak ends at 244 games when he misplays Chet Lemon’s line drive in a 13-11 loss to the Tigers. The ‘Incredible Hulk’ will never win a Gold Glove during his 20 years in the major leagues.

July 22, 1983

1983 – After blowing a 6-2 lead in the eighth inning, the Astros score five in the ninth to topple the Expos, 11-8, in Montreal. Tony Scott and Omar Moreno each deliver two-run singles to reclaim the lead. Bill Dawley nails down the save after Frank DiPino and Dave Smith couldn’t seal the deal. 

July 24, 1983

George Brett and The Pine Tar Game

July 26, 1983

Mookie Wilson walkoff vs Braves

July 27, 1983

1983 – While picking up his first win as a member of the Royals, Gaylord Perry joins Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton as the third pitcher this season to reach 3,500 career strikeouts, fanning four Indians in a 5 – 4 victory to raise his total to 3,501.

July 28, 1983

American League President Lee MacPhail rules in favor of George Brett

July 29, 1983

Steve Garvey’s record playing streak of 1,207 consecutive games comes to an end

July 31, 1983

Juan Marichal, Brooks Robinson, George Kell, and manager Walter Alston are inducted into the Hall of Fame

July 31, 1983

In the nitecap of a doubleheader, Pirates rookie Jose DeLeon holds the Mets hitless for 8 1/3 innings before Hubie Brooks singles, but Mets starter Mike Torrez pitches 11 shutout innings himself and New York goes on to win, 1 – 0, in 12 innings. In his previous start, DeLeon had held the Padres hitless for 6 1/3 innings. Mets reliever Jesse Orosco wins both games with four innings of relief in the 11-inning opener, and an inning in the nitecap.

July 31, 1983

The Indians fire manager Mike Ferraro and replace him with Pat Corrales, who was fired earlier this month by the Phillies.

July 31, 1983

1983 – Astros explode for seven runs in the seventh inning to tattoo the Reds, 9-2. A double by Omar Moreno gets the rally started while a two-run triple by Jose Cruz provides the key hit. 

August 1, 1983

Minnesota pitcher Rick Lysander gives up 11 hits to Oakland, but still shuts out the A’s, 7 – 0.

August 1, 1983

Joe Carter of the Chicago Cubs gets his first major league hit – a single off Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium. The Phillies win, 2 – 1, as Carlton strikes out 12 Cubs batters.

August 3, 1983

Nolan Ryan hurls his 9th one-hitter at San Diego, winning 1-0

August 4, 1983

Dave Winfield accidentally kills a seagull and faces cruelty to animals charge

August 5, 1983

American League president Lee MacPhail suspends Yankees manager Billy Martin for the second time this season because of continuing abuse of umpires. Martin is suspended for two games for calling umpire Dale Ford “a stone liar” after a July 31st game with the White Sox. He earned a 3-game suspension earlier this year for kicking dirt on umpire Drew Coble.

August 6, 1983

Eric Rasmussen throws a 4-0 shutout against the Red Sox in his first American League outing. The Royals starter, who also blanked the Padres as a Cardinal in his first-ever major league game in 1975, becomes the first pitcher to toss a shutout in both his National League and American League debuts.

August 6, 1983

Walt Terrell becomes the first pitcher in five years to homer twice in one game, belting a pair of two-run shots off Ferguson Jenkins to lead New York to a 4 – 1 win over the Cubs.

August 7, 1983

The team honors Bobby Murcer by giving him a day at Yankee Stadium. The popular Oklahoman, who will become a long-time broadcaster for the team, played 13 seasons for the Bronx Bombers, compiling a .278 batting average while in pinstripes.

August 10, 1983

Al Oliver collects his 2,500th career hit

August 13, 1983

1983 – Cincinnati native Jeff Russell makes his major league debut for the Reds and pitches a three-hitter, beating the Padres, 3 – 1. He helps with an RBI double.

August 13, 1983

Royals right-hander Gaylord Perry becomes the third of three major leaguers this season to surpass Walter Johnson’s career strikeout mark of 3,508 K’s, a record that had survived since 1927. Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton reached the milestone, respectively, in April and May. (Ed. note – some websites, including the Baseball Hall of Fame, ESPN, and Baseball Reference, differ with the official MLB stats, crediting the Washington Senator legend with 3,509 career strikeouts, with an extra strikeout recorded in his rookie season accounting for the difference. – LP)

August 14, 1983

8/14/1983: In the bottom of the fifth inning at Comiskey Park, Carlton Fisk hit a ball to left field that third base umpire Greg Kosc ruled a home run. However, plate umpire Jim Evans over-ruled Kosc and ruled the play as fan interference and a double for Fisk. The White Sox lost two runs, manager Tony La Russa was ejected and protested the game. Neither runner scored in the inning and the Orioles won the contest, 2-1.

August 15, 1983

1983 – The Braves’ Bob Horner, who is hitting .303 with 20 home runs and 68 RBI, breaks his right wrist sliding into second base during a 4 – 0 loss to the Padres and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. In Atlanta, the injury is widely attributed to the “Chief Noc-A-Homa Jinx,” which seems to strike whenever the Braves remove their mascot’s outfield teepee in order to sell more tickets.

August 16, 1983

John Mizerock doubles, homers and drives in four to pace an 8-5 triumph over the Reds

August 17, 1983

1983 – At County Stadium, the Brewers’ Tom Candiotti makes his first major league start and pitches a complete game, beating the Red Sox, 5 – 1. Candiotti, who will not throw a knuckler until 1985, will go 4 – 0 in his first four decisions, compiling an 0.84 ERA. He’ll shut out the Angels on August 25th.

August 18, 1983

For nearly twenty years, engineers had debated how well the Astrodome would hold up in a hurricane. With 95-mph winds, Hurricane Alicia passes through Houston and the Dome suffers hardly a scratch. The Astros, on the road in St. Louis, lose as many worry about their families and property back home.

August 18, 1983

Yankees and Royals conclude the pine tar game

August 19, 1983

1983 – The Dodgers trade pitchers Dave Stewart and Ricky Wright to Texas for star pitcher Rick Honeycutt, who is 14-8 with an American League-best 2.42 ERA for the Rangers. Honeycutt will go 2-3 down the stretch for the Dodgers, but still wins the AL ERA title because his 174 2/3 innings pitched were already enough to qualify.

August 20, 1983

1983 – Pittsburgh’s Jose DeLeon takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning for the third time this season, but Cincinnati’s Dan Driessen doubles with two out to spoil the gem. DeLeon finishes with 13 strikeouts in a 4 – 0 two-hitter.

August 21, 1983

On the same day, two minor leaguers, Vince Coleman and Donnell Nixon, break Rickey Henderson’s single-season record by stealing their 131st base of the season.

August 22, 1983

1983 – The Cubs replace Lee Elia with Charlie Fox, a special assistant to general manager Dallas Green who managed the Giants to the National League West title in 1971. Chicago is in 5th place in the NL East with a 54-69 record.

August 23, 1983

At Wrigley Field, Reds rookie Jeff Russell beats Fergie Jenkins and the Cubs, 4 – 2. Russell adds his only career home run. Dave Concepcion is called out on a steal attempt, and then is tossed out for arguing with umpire Dave Pallone. He also gets suspended for three days for allegedly spitting on Pallone during the argument.

August 23, 1983

Kansas City’s Amos Otis notches his 2,000th career hit, a single in a 10 – 2 win over the White Sox.

August 24, 1983

Orioles southpaw Tippy Martinez picks off three runners in the 10th inning vs the Blue Jays 

August 24, 1983

1B Pete Rose does not play in the Phillies’ 5 – 3 loss to the Giants, ending his consecutive games played streak at 745. Manager Paul Owens had planned to use Rose as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning, but Joel Youngblood ends the game with a 2-run home run off Steve Carlton in the bottom of the 9th.

August 24, 1983

Cubs Chuck Rainey is one out away from a no-hitter when the Reds’ Eddie Milner singles to center on the first pitch

August 25, 1983

The Louisville Redbirds become the first minor league team to draw more than a million fans. A total of 1,052,438 people will watch the St. Louis AAA farm team play their American Association rivals at Cardinal Stadium, formerly known as Fairgrounds Stadium.

August 28, 1983

Greg Luzinski becomes the first player to park three home runs onto the roof at Comiskey Park

August 28, 1983

The Indians trade pitcher Len Barker to the Braves for Rick Behenna, cash, and two players to be named later. The two turn out to be OF Brett Butler and 3B Brook Jacoby.

September 1, 1983

Entering the game with 286 strikeouts, Lynchburg right-hander Dwight Gooden strikes out a dozen batters in the first six frames of a scheduled seven-inning against Hagerstown, needing two more in the last frame to record 300 for the season. After the leadoff batter grounds out, the 18 year-old phenom whiffs the next two Suns hitters to secure to the 1-0 victory, reaching the lofty plateau in 191 innings.

September 3, 1983

Indians erupt for 10 runs in the top of the 9th inning and go on to defeat Oakland, 13 – 6

September 5, 1983

1983 – Reds rookie Jeff Russell loses his no-hitter in the 8th inning at Candlestick Park before losing, 3 – 2, on Joel Youngblood’s double and Dave Bergman’s home run.

September 6, 1983

1983 – Welcome to the Bigs. Cincinnati native Skeeter Barnes is twice hit by pitches in his major league debut‚ but his Reds beat the Giants‚ 11 – 1.

September 8, 1983

1983 – Yankees OF Steve Kemp will miss the rest of the season with a fractured cheekbone after being struck in the face by an Omar Moreno line drive during batting practice in Milwaukee. Kemp hit just .242 with 12 home run and 49 RBI in the first year of his 5-year, $5.45 million contract. New York wins today, 6 – 5.

September 9, 1983

Oakland’s first two batters, Rickey Henderson and Mike Davis, line homers off Toronto’s Jim Clancy. It turns out to be the margin of difference in a 7 – 5 win.

September 9, 1983

White Sox Britt Burns pitches a one-hit, 11 – 0, win over the Angels. California’s sole hit is Mike Brown’s single with two out in the 7th. Sox teammates Carlton Fisk, Tom Paciorek, and Greg Luzinski make it easy for Britt by clouting consecutive homers in the 1st inning.

September 11, 1983

LaMarr Hoyt (20-10) becomes the major leagues’ first 20-game winner this season by beating California, 5 – 4 in 10 innings.

September 11, 1983

Los Angeles scores four runs in the bottom of the 9th to beat Atlanta, 7 – 6, and widen their National League West lead over the 2nd-place Braves to three games.

September 13, 1983

Dan Quisenberry breaks John Hiller’s all-time single-season save record, recording the final two outs of the Royals’ 4 – 3 win over the Angels for his 39th save of the season.

September 13, 1983

Oakland’s Rickey Henderson steals three bases in a 6 – 5 win over Texas to give him 101 for the season and a major league-record three consecutive seasons with 100 or more.

September 13, 1983

Mets C Mike Fitzgerald becomes the 48th player in major league history to hit a home run in his first at-bat, connecting for a solo shot off Tony Ghelfi in the 2nd inning of New York’s 5 – 1 win over Philadelphia.

September 13, 1983

Mike Fitzgerald becomes the 48th major leaguer to hit a home run in his first big league at bat. The Mets rookie backstop’s second-inning homer of Tony Ghelfi contributes to a 5-1 victory over Philadelphia at Veterans Stadium.

September 13, 1983

Recording his 39th save, Royals’ closer Dan Quisenberry breaks John Hiller’s single-season record. The submariner gets the last two outs in a 4-3 victory over the Angels.

September 13, 1983

Mike Fitzgerald becomes the 48th major leaguer to hit a home run in his first big league at bat. The Mets rookie backstop’s second-inning homer of Tony Ghelfi contributes to a 5-1 victory over Philadelphia at Veterans Stadium.

September 13, 1983

Recording his 39th save, Royals’ closer Dan Quisenberry breaks John Hiller’s single-season record. The submariner gets the last two outs in a 4-3 victory over the Angels.

September 14, 1983

1983 – Nick Esasky’s 1st-inning grand slam, off Phil Niekro, propels the Reds to a 6 – 4 win over the visiting Braves.

September 15, 1983

1983 – Behind Marty Bystrom’s 5-hit win the Phils sweep the Expos, 9 – 5. Mike Schmidt, Joe Morgan and Len Matuszek (his first in the majors) hit homers to back Steve Carlton’s 298th career win.

September 16, 1983

1983 – Minnesota’s Tim Teufel goes 5 for 5 with a triple and the first two home runs of his major league career in an 11 – 4 win over the Blue Jays.

September 17, 1983

The Chicago White Sox clinch their first-ever American League West championship

September 17, 1983

Johnny Bench Night

September 19, 1983

Denver (American Association) beats Portland (Pacific Coast League), 5 – 4, to give the Tidewater Tides (International League) the championship in the first AAA World Series. Manager Davey Johnson’s Tides won three of their four games in the double round-robin tournament to edge 2nd-place Portland, which finished 2-2.

September 19, 1983

Phillies 2B Joe Morgan celebrates his 40th birthday by going 4 for 5 with two home runs in a 7 – 6 win over the Cubs

September 20, 1983

In the first inning of a 14-1 rain-shortened five-inning victory over the Orioles, the Tigers stroke ten consecutive hits and score 11 runs. Detroit’s opening offense ties the American League record for runs scored to start a game, which was established by the Boston Americans in 1901.

September 20, 1983

Jose Cruz smacks a two-run single and a grand slam to pace a 15-2 demolition of Los Angeles. Alejandro Pena, Burt Hooton and Pat Zachry are torched for 13 runs in the first four innings. Denny Walling chimes in with three hits, including two doubles and three RBIs. Nolan Ryan coasts to his 14th win. 

September 23, 1983

Steve “Lefty” Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies wins his 300th game

September 23, 1983

Troubled Dodger reliever Steve Howe is suspended once again because of his chronic drug problem after missing the club’s flight to Atlanta and refusing to take a urinalysis upon his arrival. Howe, who has 18 saves and a 1.44 ERA despite spending part of the season in a drug rehabilitation program, will not be eligible for post-season play.

September 24, 1983

1983 – In the 9th inning of Atlanta’s 3 – 2 win over Los Angeles, Braves OF Dale Murphy walks, steals second, and scores the winning run on Rafael Ramirez’s single. The stolen base makes him only the 6th player in major league history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season.

September 25, 1983

1983 – Baltimore clinches the American League East title with a 5 – 1 win over Milwaukee, as Storm Davis and Tippy Martinez combine on a six-hitter.

September 26, 1983

Cardinal Bob Forsch pitches his second career no-hitter, beating the Expos at Busch Stadium, 3-0. The 33 year-old Redbird right-hander first accomplished the feat against Philadelphia in 1978.

September 27, 1983

Jim Beattie fires the first one-hitter in Mariners’ history, beating Kansas City. U.L. Washington’s single in the 3rd inning is the only baserunner allowed by Beattie.

September 27, 1983

Tim Raines becomes the first player since Ty Cobb to steal 70 bases and drive in 70 runs in the same season, going 3 for 4 with a home run, a stolen base, and four RBI in Montreal’s 10 – 4 win over St. Louis.

September 27, 1983

Mookie Wilson becomes the Mets’ all-time career stolen-base leader when he swipes second base in the fifth inning of a 4-3 win against Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium. The New York center fielder will add to his franchise-breaking total of 140 in the same frame when he takes third base on the front end of double steal with Darryl Strawberry.

September 28, 1983

1983 – The Philadelphia Phillies become NL East champions with a 13 – 6 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The title clincher is also the 7000th victory for the Phillies in their history.

September 29, 1983

In game which lasts only two hours and twenty minutes, Mike Warren, in his last start of the season no-hits the White Sox, 3-0, in front of 9,058 fans at the Oakland Coliseum. The 22 year-old right-hander from California, who will win only four more games in his three-year career, is the 15th rookie to throw a no-hitter.

September 30, 1983

In a 9 – 4 win over the Mariners, Chicago’s LaMarr Hoyt records his 13th win in a row to raise his record to 24-10, and Greg Luzinski hits his 32nd home run to set a new single-season record for designated hitters.

September 30, 1983

The Dodgers beat the Giants, 4 – 3, and the Padres beat the Braves, 3 – 2, giving Los Angeles the National League West title. Orel Hershiser pitches the final two innings in relief of Fernando Valenzuela to record his first ML save.

October 1, 1983

Carl Yastrzemski retires after 23 seasons

October 2, 1983

Carl Yastrzemski plays in his 3,308th and final game, hitting a single as the team’s left fielder. After the Red Sox’s 3-1 victory over Cleveland, ‘Yaz’ takes one more “final lap” around Fenway Park and will stay to sign autographs on Yawkey Way for over an hour.

October 4, 1983

1983 – In the NLCS opener, Mike Schmidt’s 1st-inning home run and Al Holland’s clutch relief pitching to get out of an 8th-inning bases-loaded jam are enough for Philadelphia to top Los Angeles, 1 – 0.

October 6, 1983

In the second game of the ALCS, Oriole hurler Mike Boddicker throws a five-hitter, beating the White Sox at Memorial Stadium, 4-0. The Baltimore right-hander, whose performance evens the series, establishes a playoff record when he strikes out 14 Chicago batters.

October 7, 1983

Six years to the day of their shocking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third NLCS game, the Philadelphia Phillies defeat Los Angeles, 7 – 2, in Game 3. Charles Hudson pitches a complete game four-hitter. Gary Matthews gets three hits, including a home run, and drives in four runs.

October 8, 1983

the Phillies win the NLCS behind the pitching of Steve Carlton and the power of Gary Matthews’ three-run homer

October 12, 1983

At Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, the Orioles even the series at a game apiece as they defeat the Phillies, 4-1. In a battle between rookie pitchers, Mike Boddicker throws a three-hitter, besting Charles Hudson as John Lowenstein paces the Birds’ offense with three hits, including a fifth-inning home run.

October 13, 1983

Mets hire Davey Johnson

October 14, 1983

At Veterans Stadium, Jim Palmer pitches two innings of scoreless relief and gets the win as the Orioles beat the Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series, 3-2. The Hall of Famer becomes the only pitcher in baseball history to win a Fall Classic game in three different decades.

October 16, 1983

Eddie Murray hits two home runs and Scott McGregor pitches a five-hitter to give the Baltimore Orioles the World Series championship in five games

October 19, 1983

Pete Rose released

October 25, 1983

1983 – Chicago White Sox pitcher LaMarr Hoyt, who led the American League with 24 wins but whose 3.66 ERA was not among the league’s 15 best, wins the Cy Young Award, beating out the Kansas City Royals’ Dan Quisenberry and the Detroit Tigers’ Jack Morris.

November 2, 1983

John Denny wins 1983 National League Cy Young Award Winner

November 8, 1983

Dale Murphy wins consecutive MVP Awards

November 8, 1983

Mets reliever Jesse Orosco garners four votes for the National League Most Valuable Player Award, ending a six-year drought in which not one player on the team received a single vote for the honor

November 9, 1983

University of Alabama first baseman Dave Magadan, who led the NCAA with a .535 batting average last season wins the Golden Spikes Award 

November 15, 1983

Shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles is named the Most Valuable Player in the American League

November 17, 1983

Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin become the first active players sent to prison for drug violations. The judge hands down three-month sentences to the three members of the Royals for attempting to purchase cocaine.

November 21, 1983

New York Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry breaks the Los Angeles Dodgers’ four-year stronghold on the National League Rookie of the Year Award when he becomes the first non-Dodger to win the honor since Bob Horner in 1978. Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Howe, Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Sax had been the previous winners.

November 21, 1983

The Seattle Mariners trade reliever Bill Caudill and a player to be named later (minor leaguer Darrel Akerfelds) to the Oakland Athletics for catcher Bob Kearney and reliever Dave Beard.

November 22, 1983

Ron Kittle of the Chicago White Sox, who hit 35 home runs with 100 RBI, wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award, beating out Cleveland infielder Julio Franco and Baltimore pitcher Mike Boddicker.

November 22, 1983

The Players’ Association fires executive director Kenneth Moffett after barely a year in the job and chooses Donald Fehr as his successor.

December 5, 1983

1983 – The Phillies trade veteran 1B Tony Perez to Cincinnati for a player to be named later.

December 6, 1983

the Pirates trade OF Mike Easler to the Red Sox for lefthanded starter John Tudor.

December 7, 1983

The Royals trade P Mike Armstrong and minor league C Duane Dewey to the Yankees for slugger Steve Balboni and P Roger Erickson.

December 7, 1983

The Reds sign their first major free agent: OF Dave Parker‚ who accepts a two-year contract.

December 7, 1983

The Mariners trade 2B Tony Bernazard to the Indians for OF Gorman Thomas and IF Jack Perconte.

December 7, 1983

In a complicated three-team swap‚ pitcher Scott Sanderson is traded from the Expos to the Cubs. Montreal receives pitcher Gary Lucas from San Diego‚ and the Padres get P Craig Lefferts‚ 1B-OF Carmelo Martinez and 3B Fritzie Connally from Chicago, and IF Al Newman from Montreal.

December 8, 1983

Ill-advisedly, the Dodgers send pitching prospect Sid Fernandez and SS Ross Jones to the Mets in exchange for relief pitcher Carlos Diaz and utility player Bob Bailor.

December 8, 1983

Dr. Bobby Brown, who played 3B for the Yankees before embarking on a successful medical career, is elected president of the American League by the club owners.

December 13, 1983

Forty-year-old Joe Morgan signs a one-year contract with the Oakland A’s – his 5th club since 1979.

December 15, 1983

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends convicted Kansas City Royals Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin, and Dodgers pitcher Steve Howe for one season without pay for their use of illegal drugs

December 16, 1983

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner fires manager Billy Martin for the third time

December 19, 1983

Detroit Tigers sign free agent infielder Darrell Evans

December 19, 1983

Pittsburgh Pirates sign outfielder Amos Otis as a free agent

December 19, 1983

Former Cy Young Award winner Vida Blue is sentenced to 90 days in prison

December 22, 1983

Pete Rose wins a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and is awarded a $36,083 tax refund for 1978.

December 22, 1983

Free agent reliever Kent Tekulve re-signs with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1983 he had 18 saves and a 1.64 ERA for Pittsburgh.

December 28, 1983

Free agent Warren Cromartie signs a reported three-year, $2.5 million contract to play for the Yomiuri Giants 

October 8, 2019

9/12/1983: Carl Yastrzemski hit a home run off Jim Palmer with one on and two out in the first inning of a game at Fenway Park. The game was rained out in the third inning. It would have been Yaz’s 453rd and the last in his career.

October 19, 2019

1983 – Astros deal catcher Alan Knicely to Cincinnati for pitcher Bill Dawley and outfielder Tony Walker. Another in the long line of catching prospects, Knicely bats .197 over parts of four seasons.