In Game 2 of the ALCS with the Yankees trailing 3-2 with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, George Steinbrenner is caught on live national television jumping out of his seat and shouting what appears to be profanities when Willie Randolph is tagged out at home on a relay throw by George Brett. The Yankees’ owner wants third base coach Mike Ferraro fired on the spot, but manager Dick Howser refuses, and the skipper will lose his job when the team is swept in three games by the Royals, despite a first-place finish in the American League East, compiling a 103-59 record.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In Game 2 of the ALCS with the Yankees trailing 3-2 with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, George Steinbrenner is caught on live national television jumping out of his seat and shouting what appears to be profanities when Willie Randolph is tagged out at home on a relay throw by George Brett. The Yankees’ owner wants third base coach Mike Ferraro fired on the spot, but manager Dick Howser refuses, and the skipper will lose his job when the team is swept in three games by the Royals, despite a first-place finish in the American League East, compiling a 103-59 record.

1980 NLCS Nolan Ryan scores in game 2
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Houston tastes their first post-season win, a 7-4 ten-inning victory in Philadelphia

ByThis Day in Baseball

1980 – Houston tastes their first post-season win. It’s a 7-4 ten-inning victory in Philadelphia to even the N.L.C.S. at 1-1. Frank LaCorte pitches out of a jam to send the game into extras at 3-3. Jose Cruz and Cesar Cedeno drive in runs in the tenth before Dave Bergman lashes a two-run triple to put the game out of reach 

Greg Luzinski 1980 NLCS

The first post-season game in Astros history is a 3-1 loss in Philadelphia in Game One of the N.L.C.S.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1980 – The first post-season game in Astros history is a 3-1 loss in Philadelphia in Game One of the N.L.C.S. Houston gets the first run when Gary Woods singles off Steve Carlton to score Jose Cruz. A two-run bomb by Greg Luzinski off Ken Forsch puts the Phillies ahead to stay.

In the 163rd game of the season Joe Niekro defeats the Dodgers, 7-1, in the winner-take-all contest for the NL West

In the 163rd game of the season Joe Niekro defeats the Dodgers, 7-1, in the winner-take-all contest for the NL West

ByBaseball

In the 163rd game of the season, 35 year-old knuckleballer Joe Niekro earns his 20th victory, going the distance to defeat the Dodgers, 7-1, in the winner-take-all contest for the NL West. With the win, the Astros hold on to capture their first title in the 19-year history of the franchise after losing a season-ending three game series to LA, (3-2, 2-1, and 4-3) that forced the one-game playoff.

After the club finishes in last place in each of his first three seasons in the dugout; the Mets extend manager Joe Torre’s contract through the 1982 season. During his five seasons with the team, the future Hall of Fame skipper will compile a 286-420 (.405) record for the struggling franchise.

ByTom

After the club finishes in last place in each of his first three seasons in the dugout; the Mets extend manager Joe Torre’s contract through the 1982 season. During his five seasons with the team, the future Hall of Fame skipper will compile a 286-420 (.405) record for the struggling franchise.

The Yankees break the American League regular season attendance record when 35,879 fans watch the team beat the Tigers, 2-1, in the season finale, bringing the final total 2,627,417. The 1948 Indians previously set the mark when 2,620,627 fans turned turnstiles to watch their Tribe capture the Junior Circuit’s pennant.

ByBaseball

The Yankees break the American League regular season attendance record when 35,879 fans watch the team beat the Tigers, 2-1, in the season finale, bringing the final total 2,627,417. The 1948 Indians previously set the mark when 2,620,627 fans turned turnstiles to watch their Tribe capture the Junior Circuit’s pennant.

Reaching first on a fielder’s choice in the top of the seventh in the 4-0 win over the Twins, Royals’ leadoff hitter Willie Wilson establishes a major league record for the most at-bats in a season with 705. The Kansas City outfielder will collect 230 hits and score 133 runs for the division-winning club.

ByBaseball

Reaching first on a fielder’s choice in the top of the seventh in the 4-0 win over the Twins, Royals’ leadoff hitter Willie Wilson establishes a major league record for the most at-bats in a season with 705. The Kansas City outfielder will collect 230 hits and score 133 runs for the division-winning club.

Brewers’ outfielder Ben Ogilvie becomes the first non-American born player to lead the American League in home runs. On the last day of the season, the 31 year-old Panamanian goes deep off Oakland’s Rick Langford for his 41st homer, which ties Reggie Jackson for the most round-trippers in the Junior Circuit.

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Brewers’ outfielder Ben Ogilvie becomes the first non-American born player to lead the American League in home runs. On the last day of the season, the 31 year-old Panamanian goes deep off Oakland’s Rick Langford for his 41st homer, which ties Reggie Jackson for the most round-trippers in the Junior Circuit.

In a duel between two 19-game winners on the last day of the season, Scott McGregor enters the 20-win circle for the first and only time when he bests Len Barker in the Orioles’ 7-1 victory over the Indians. The Cleveland right-hander, who gives up six runs in five innings to finish the campaign with a 19-12 record, will never again come close to being a 20-game winner.

ByBaseball

In a duel between two 19-game winners on the last day of the season, Scott McGregor enters the 20-win circle for the first and only time when he bests Len Barker in the Orioles’ 7-1 victory over the Indians. The Cleveland right-hander, who gives up six runs in five innings to finish the campaign with a 19-12 record, will never again come close to being a 20-game winner.

1980 – Capping an improbable comeback, the Dodgers beat Houston for the third day in a row to force a one-game playoff for the NL West title. The Dodgers trailed Houston by three games with three games left in the season, and won each game by a single run.

ByBaseball

1980 – Capping an improbable comeback, the Dodgers beat Houston for the third day in a row to force a one-game playoff for the NL West title. The Dodgers trailed Houston by three games with three games left in the season, and won each game by a single run.