In the last home opener at Crosley Field‚ the Reds top the Expos‚ 5 – 1

ByThis Day in Baseball

In the last home opener at Crosley Field‚ the Reds top the Expos‚ 5 – 1‚ behind Jim Merritt. It is the first win for manager Sparky Anderson. The Reds have 3 homers in the 4th‚ when Lee May‚ Bernie Carbo and Bobby Tolan connect. It is Carbo’s first major league hit. Joe Sparma takes the loss.

Mickey Lolich

A delayed President Richard Nixon is unable to throw the ceremonial first pitch in the Senators’ home opener at RFK Stadium. David Eisenhower, his son-in-law and the grandson of the former president, throws out the first pitch prior to Washington’s 5-0 loss to the Tigers.

ByBaseball

A delayed President Richard Nixon is unable to throw the ceremonial first pitch in the Senators’ home opener at RFK Stadium. David Eisenhower, his son-in-law and the grandson of the former president, throws out the first pitch prior to Washington’s 5-0 loss to the Tigers.

1970 MLK Game Joe DiMaggio and Campanella

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classicformer New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio manages the East, and ex-Dodger Roy Campanella directs the fortunes of the West

ByThis Day in Baseball

1970 – In this first (and last?) “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classic”, solo home runs by Ron Fairly of Montreal and Ron Santo of the Chicago Cubs, plus a three-run 8th-inning brings the East a 5 – 1 victory over the West. A crowd of 31,694 watches the charity game in Dodger Stadium. Proceeds go to the late Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a memorial center planned for Atlanta. For this initial charity game, former New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio manages the East, and ex-Dodger Roy Campanella, confined to a wheelchair since a 1958 auto accident, directs the fortunes of the West. Jim “Mudcat” Grant of Oakland sings the National Anthem in the pre-game program, and then becomes the victim of a four-hit uprising in the 8th inning that insures the outcome. Al Kaline of Detroit beats out an infield hit to open the frame and moves to second as Tommie Agee drives Hank Aaron to the left field wall. Kaline races home on Lou Brock’s double to left. Brock scores on Roberto Clemente’s double and Clemente comes home on Ken McMullen’s single.

1970 – The Cleveland Indians and Seattle Pilots play an exhibition game with the experimental X-5 ball, which is reported to be five per cent livelier than a regulation ball. The Pilots beat the Indians, 19 – 14. One week later, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders the livelier ball to be discontinued.

ByTom

1970 – The Cleveland Indians and Seattle Pilots play an exhibition game with the experimental X-5 ball, which is reported to be five per cent livelier than a regulation ball. The Pilots beat the Indians, 19 – 14. One week later, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders the livelier ball to be discontinued.