6/11/1970: Frank Howard was rained out of a 2 run homer in Kansas City. It came in the first inning off Bill Butler with 1 out. The game was called in the top of the second.
Vic Davalillo gets two hits during the seventh inning of the Cardinals’ 10-7 comeback victory over San Diego at Busch Stadium. The first of the Venezuelan outfielder’s two singles comes when he leads off the frame as a pinch hitter for Bob Gibson.
1970 – In the June draft‚ the Padres select high school catcher Mike Ivie as the number-one pick and sign him in 3 days to a $100‚000 contract. He’ll play in the major leagues 11 years but catch only 9 games in the Bigs because of a phobia about throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Choosing next‚ the Indians take Stanford P Steve Dunning‚ who will debut in the majors in 10 days. He’s just the second player drafted who will skip the minors. Catchers Barry Foote (Expos) and Darrell Porter (Brewers) go next.
Luis Aparicio and Walt Williams of the Chicago White Sox each collect five hits in a 22 – 13 rout of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Williams also scores five times. Chicago (24) and Boston (16) collect 40 hits, one short of the American League record for two teams in a regular game set in 1950.
On May 31, 1970, Baltimore Orioles star Paul Blair is hit by a pitch thrown by California Angels relief pitcher Ken Tatum. Blair suffers a broken nose and other facial fractures. Although Blair will recover and continue to play for 10 more seasons, he will never hit above .280 over the balance of his career.
All-Star voting is returned to the fans, as computerized punch-card ballots appear in stores and ballparks coast to coast. Since 1958 the All-Star squads had been selected by managers, coaches, and players.
The Orioles’ Mike Cuellar strikes out 4 batters consecutively in the 4th inning of a 2 – 0 win over California. He allows 4 hits and Boog Powell supplies the offense with a two-run homer.
The Reds strand 16 runners in the first 8 innings against the visiting Expos‚ but win‚ 6 – 4‚ on Bobby Tolan’s 9th-inning homer. The Expos have never won a game at Crosley Field.
1970 – Astros erupt for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to surprise the Reds, 10-7. Denis Menke has two hits in the inning and four in the game. Jesus Alou drives in three. Jack DiLauro saves it for Fred Gladding.
Cleveland’s Tony Horton hits 3 home runs versus New York‚ but the Yankees win anyway, 8 – 7, in 11 innings.
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