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1974 – Cincinnati fans hurl beer, ice, cups and insults at an injured Bob Watson after the left-fielder crashes head-first into the fence. It happens in the nightcap of a doubleheader loss at Riverfront. Watson’s glasses shatter. He gets twelve stitches to his face at a local hospital.

ByTom

1974 – Cincinnati fans hurl beer, ice, cups and insults at an injured Bob Watson after the left-fielder crashes head-first into the fence. It happens in the nightcap of a doubleheader loss at Riverfront. Watson’s glasses shatter. He gets twelve stitches to his face at a local hospital.

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1974 – Doug Rader’s three-run homer in the 12th lifts the Astros over Pittsburgh, 8-6.  Rookie Dave Parker, substituting for an ejected Richie Zisk, had slammed a solo homer in the top of the inning to give the Pirates a lead before Rader’s blast off Jim Sadowski settles the issue. 

ByTom

1974 – Doug Rader’s three-run homer in the 12th lifts the Astros over Pittsburgh, 8-6.  Rookie Dave Parker, substituting for an ejected Richie Zisk, had slammed a solo homer in the top of the inning to give the Pirates a lead before Rader’s blast off Jim Sadowski settles the issue. 

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Tom Griffin one-hits the Pirates, 2-1, outdueling Dock Ellis for the victory. Milt May triples home Bob Watson with the winning run. 

ByTom

1974 – Tom Griffin one-hits the Pirates, 2-1, outdueling Dock Ellis for the victory. Milt May triples home Bob Watson with the winning run. 

A’s pitcher Paul Lindblad’s major league streak of 385 consecutive errorless games ends when he makes an errant pick-off throw in the first inning of a 6-3 loss to the Orioles. The southpaw will make only six errors during his 14 years in the major leagues, a span that covers over 1200 innings on the mound.

ByTom

A’s pitcher Paul Lindblad’s major league streak of 385 consecutive errorless games ends when he makes an errant pick-off throw in the first inning of a 6-3 loss to the Orioles. The southpaw will make only six errors during his 14 years in the major leagues, a span that covers over 1200 innings on the mound.

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1974 – Astros get an assist from part of the Astrodome crowd as they drop the Cardinals, 4-1. Two female fans run nude through the outfield during the seventh-inning stretch. The distracted Cards give up three runs in the bottom half of the frame. A two-run single by Doug Rader is the key hit. Claude Osteen goes the distance. 

ByTom

1974 – Astros get an assist from part of the Astrodome crowd as they drop the Cardinals, 4-1. Two female fans run nude through the outfield during the seventh-inning stretch. The distracted Cards give up three runs in the bottom half of the frame. A two-run single by Doug Rader is the key hit. Claude Osteen goes the distance. 

Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits three batters during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds
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Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits three batters during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 1, 1974, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits three batters during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds. Ellis hits Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Dan Driessen being his victims. Ellis, who admits to trying intentionally to hit each Reds batter that faced him, throws two pitches behind Tony…

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1974 – Lee May slams a pair of two-run homers in a nine-run sixth inning to spark an 18-2 mauling of Chicago. His two “taters” cap a five-for-five performance by the slugger to pace a 20-hit assault. Manager Preston Gomez gives May the rest of the night off or he might have done more. Winning pitcher Dave Roberts adds a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to the cause. The 18-2 win ties a club record for the largest margin of victory in a game. 

ByTom

1974 – Lee May slams a pair of two-run homers in a nine-run sixth inning to spark an 18-2 mauling of Chicago. His two “taters” cap a five-for-five performance by the slugger to pace a 20-hit assault. Manager Preston Gomez gives May the rest of the night off or he might have done more. Winning pitcher Dave Roberts adds a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to the cause. The 18-2 win ties a club record for the largest margin of victory in a game.