Future Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza is born in Norristown, PA. A 62nd round draft choice in 1988, he will be the lowest-drafted player to be enshrined in Cooperstown after being elected in 2016.
The Dodgers’ Don Sutton allows just three hits and strikes out 12 to beat the Phils, 3 – 0.
In the last Pacific Coast League game played in Seattle, Jim Bouton of the Seattle Angels tops Spokane, 4 – 1.
With Julian Javier hitting a homer in the 10th, the Cardinals defeat the Reds, 1 – 0. Bob Gibson picks up his 12th shutout and 20th win. Gary Nolan pitches the first nine innings for the Reds, with Ted Abernathy taking the loss in relief.
1968 – Denny McLain notches his 27th win of the season beating the Orioles, 7 – 3. McLain helps the Tiger cause by starting a 3rd-inning triple play.
Baltimore’s Dave McNally wins his 10th straight, topping the first-place Tigers, 5 – 1. Paul Blair homers and triples in the win.
Elroy Face ties Senators’ legend Walter Johnson’s major league mark for appearances with one team when he enters a game for the 802nd time for the Pirates, replacing Steve Blass, who remains in the contest in left field. After the reliever retires one batter to equal the record, Blass returns to the mound, and an announcement will be made before the final out is recorded in Pittsburgh’s 8-0 victory over Atlanta that the Bucs’ right-handed veteran has been sold to the Tigers.
Steve Blass gets the first out against the Braves, and then moves to LF as Roy Face relieves. Face retires Felix Millan and ties Walter Johnson’s major-league record of 802 pitching appearances with one club. Blass comes back to pitch and the Pirates go on to win, 8 – 0. Blass will not get credit for the shutout but will still lead the National League in shutouts with 7. Late in the game, the Pirates announce the sale of Face to the Detroit Tigers.
It is a tough month for Mets P Jim McAndrew, as he takes his National League-tying 5th shutout loss. Steve Carlton wins for the Cards, 2 – 0. McAndrew gave up just six runs in the four losses, losing 2 – 0 to Bob Gibson on July 21, and to the Dodgers and Mike Kekich, 2 – 0, on August 4. On August 10 and 17th, he narrowed the margin to 1 – 0 losses, to the Giants and Houston respectively. The four losses are McAndrew’s first major league decisions.
1968 – In the showdown in Detroit, 53,575 fans cheer as P Earl Wilson pitches a 4-hit 9 – 1 victory over 2nd-place Baltimore. Wilson adds four RBIs on two hits, including his 5th home run of the year.