April 7, 1976 – Joe Niekro strikes out 5 batters in a single inning, with two of the strikeout victims reaching first base as Niekro’s fluttering knuckleball eludes his catcher. The feat occurs, however, during the final pre-season game of the 1976 season, preventing it, by one day, from becoming a major league record.
1975 – Setting the baseball fashion world on its ear, the Astros introduce the rainbow uniform to major league baseball, humbling the Braves in a 6-2 season opener. Jose Cruz homers in his first game as an Astro.
The Indians break their Opening Day American League attendance record when a crowd of 74,420 watches Gaylord Perry go the distance in the Tribe’s 2-1 victory over Detroit at Cleveland Stadium. The previous mark had been set by the team in 1948 in the season opener against St. Louis.
1971 – The dismissal of Curt Flood’s suit against Major League Baseball is upheld by a three-judge U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The verdict will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
4/7/1971: Carlos May of the Chicago White Sox homered in the top of the first inning of the second game off Rollie Fingers in Oakland. The blow came with two runners on and one out. May did not touch home plate and was out on appeal.
1970 – Pitcher Larry Dierker orders pinch-hitter Norm Miller to belt a homer as he’s leaving the game. Miller delivers with a three-run shot off Gaylord Perry to key an 8-5 Opening Day win at San Francisco. Dierker picks up the victory while Fred Gladding earns the save.
On April 7, 1970, one historic first and one historic last occurred at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. In their ninth try, the New York Mets finally captured their first Opening Day victory, while Forbes Field hosted its final Opening Day after 61 years. The Mets, basking in the glow of their Miracle championship from last year,…
On April 7, 1970, the Milwaukee Brewers play their first home game after their recent relocation from Seattle, where they had played the 1969 season as the Pilots. The Brewers lose to the California Angels, 12-0, as major league baseball returns to Milwaukee after a five-year absence…
On April 7, 1969, Montreal held a parade for their new baseball franchise, the Montreal expos. Over 150,000 people lined the streets, to greet their new team. The next day, the Montreal expos played their first game at Shea Stadium against the NY Mets. The Montreal expos won 11-10. They would go on to play…
On April 7, 1969, Bill Singer of the Los Angeles Dodgers earns the first official save in history. Making his only relief appearance of the season, Singer finishes off Don Drysdale’s 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Thanks to the efforts of sportswriter Jerome Holtzman, the save had become an official statistic during the off-season…
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