1988 – The New York Yankees replace manager Billy Martin with Dallas Green. Martin compiled a 1253-1013 (.553) record piloting the Tigers, Twins, Yankees, Oakland A’s and Rangers during his 19-year managerial career, which is now over.
The Yankees replace manager Billy Martin with Dallas Green. ‘Billy the Kid’ will compile a 1253-1013 (.553) record piloting the Tigers, Twins, Yankees, A’s, and Rangers during his 19-year managerial career.
1988 – Hal Lanier is fired after three seasons. Having won Manager of the Year honors in 1986, Hal closes his run with a 254-232 record.
During the season finale, Mets manager Davey Johnson receives an enthusiastic standing ovation from the Flushing Faithful when he comes to the mound to make a pitching change at Shea Stadium. With today’s 7-5 win over the Cardinals, his NL Eastern Division champs secure their 100th victory of the season.
In St. Louis, Mets’ outfielder Kevin McReynolds establishes a major league record, swiping 21 bases without being caught stealing during the season. The A’s Jimmy Sexton had set the record with 16 stolen bases without being thrown out in 1982.
1988 – Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres goes 2-for-3 to raise his league-leading batting average to .313 but sustains a hand injury during a 6 – 3 victory over the Houston Astros. Gwynn is the first National League batting champion to win the title with an average below .320. Before Gwynn, Larry Doyle’s .320 average was the lowest.
At Wrigley Field, President Ronald Reagan throws out two ceremonial first pitches prior to the Cubs’ 10-9 loss to the Pirates. ‘Dutch’, a former play-by-play announcer, then participates in the broadcast with Harry Caray, spending the first inning and a half in the WGN booth.
Joining Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden, David Cone improves his record to 20-3, becoming the fourth pitcher in Mets history to win twenty games in a season. After his 4-2 complete-game victory against the Cardinals, the 25 year-old right-hander is congratulated by a surprise visitor to the Shea Stadium dugout, former president Richard Nixon.
Dave Stieb is one out away from a no-hitter for the 2nd consecutive game, but falls short again when Jim Traber bloops a single over the head of 1B Fred McGriff. Stieb finishes with his 2nd straight one-hitter, 4 – 0 over the Orioles.
The Red Sox lose to Cleveland, 3 – 2, but clinch the American League East title anyway when 2nd-place Milwaukee loses to Oakland, 7 – 1.
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