test On September 18, 1976 — Cleveland Indians player-manager Frank Robinson, in his final major league at-bat, strokes a pinch-hit single off Rudy May in a 4-3 loss to Baltimore at Cleveland Stadium. The 41 year-old future Hall of Famer ends his 21-year playing career with a batting average of .294 and 586 home runs,…
The Phillies finally win, topping the host Cubs, 4 – 1, as Jay Johnstone leads with four hits. It is the first-place Phillies’ 6th win in their last 24 games.
Tom Seaver cuts down the Pirates for the second time in six days, this time winning 6 – 2 at Shea Stadium. Dave Kingman belts his 35th homer and Ed Kranepool adds another for the Mets.
At Milwaukee’s County Stadium, 40,383 fans are on hand to celebrate “Hank Aaron Day.” Among those gathered are commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Jack Ford, representing his father Gerald. Hank goes hitless in five at-bats, and the first-place Yankees spoil the night by winning, 5 – 3, in 11 innings. Graig Nettles hits a solo homer in the 11th for the game winner, and an insurance run scores on a suicide bunt. Ed Figueroa tallies his 19th win, and the Yanks pad their lead to 11 games.
Shades of 1964. In Chicago, the faltering Phils lose to the Cubs, 4 – 3, when Champ Summers scores with two out in the 12th.
The Pirates top the Mets, 4 – 1, for their 18th win in 22 games. Doc Medich (7-11) picks up the victory. Since August 24th, the Bucs have shaved 12 1/2 games off the Phillies’ lead.
In the 11th inning at Veterans Stadium, Rick Joseph hits a walk-off grand slam in the Phillies’ 8-4 victory over the Dodgers. Two batters are walked intentionally by Ron Perranoski to face the weak hitting Philadelphia pinch hitter, who responds with his first career home run, which will be his only round-tripper this season.
At Memorial Stadium, Dennis Martinez makes his major league debut, pitching 5.2 innings of shutout baseball in relief to get the win in the Orioles’ 9-7 victory over the Tigers. The Granada native, who will win 245 games, is the first person from Nicaragua to appear in a major league game.
1976 – DH Minnie Minoso singles for the White Sox against the Angels’ Sid Monge. Said to be 53, Minoso is considered the oldest player ever to collect a hit in the major leagues, although he is in reality three years younger than his listed age, as will later be discovered.
ON September 11, 1976– After not playing in a Major League Baseball game for 12 years, 53 year old Minnie Minoso will have 3 plate appearances as a DH for the Chicago White Sox vs. the California Angels at Comiskey Park, Frank Tanana held him hitless but it will make him one of only a handful…
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