On May 20, 1968, California Angels shortstop Jim Fregosi hits for the cycle during a 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The cycle is the second of Fregosi’s career, tying him with several other players for the major league record. In total there are 34 players who have hit for the Cycle more than…
On May 19, 1968, Frank Howard’s home run streak comes to an end. The Washington Senators’ slugger had hit 10 home runs over the last six games, establishing a new major league record. “Hondo” is shut down by Detroit Tigers pitcher Earl Wilson, who defeats the Senators, 5-4. in the first game of a doubleheader….
1968 – Astros take no prisoners in a doubleheader sweep at Los Angeles, 2-1 and 3-1. In the nightcap, while walking down to first, Jim Wynn points out a snake in the basepath. Coach Mel McGaha gets a bat and beats the viper to death. Denny Lemaster and Mike Cuellar hypnotize the Dodgers with complete-game victories.
On May 18, 1968, Washington Senators slugger Frank Howard ties an American League record by homering in his sixth consecutive game. With a pair of home runs against Detroit Tigers ace Mickey Lolich, Howard now has 10 home runs in his last six games, also a record.
Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates plays his 392nd straight game, setting a record for National League second basemen, in an 8 – 3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
1968 – First baseman Rusty Staub visits Larry Dierker at the mound during a 6-0 loss in Los Angeles. Absent-mindedly, he spits on the ball while standing on the hill. Zoilo Versalles has a three-ball count and Staub’s miscue becomes an automatic ball four. Versalles eventually scores.
With his third two-homer game in four games, Senators LF Frank Howard ties the American League record for most home runs (7) in a four-game stretch (at least one in each). Washington wins, 4 – 1, at Cleveland.
In Los Angeles, the Cubs’ Rich Nye tops Don Sutton, 1 – 0, in a “Year of the Pitcher” special.
The first American League game played in Milwaukee since 1901 is a 4 – 2 California win against Chicago before 23,403 fans. Rain shortens the game to five innings. This is the first of the nine games the White Sox will play in Milwaukee this year.
Steve Carlton outduels Steve Blass as St. Louis edges Pittsburgh, 1 – 0, giving the defending World Champs their 4th win in 5 tries and leaving them atop the National League at 20-10, 3 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco. In the next two weeks, the Cards will go into their only significant slump of the season; by May 29th, they’ll have lost 11 of 13 and fallen to 4th place, 3 behind the league-leading Giants.
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