On June 13 1973, At Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, in the 4th inning, Dock Ellis walks a batter without ever throwing a pitch to him. After going 2-0 on the Atlanta left fielder Sonny Jackson, the Pirates right-hander is replaced by Ramon Hernandez, who throws two more balls to Dick Dietz, a pinch-hitter for Jackson,…
On a rainy night at Shea Stadium, the seventh-inning line drive off the bat of Atlanta’s Marty Perez strikes Jon Matlack’s forehead so hard that the ball ricochets into the Mets dugout. Fortunately, the 23 year-old southpaw sustains only a hairline fracture of his skull, and will return to the mound on May 19 to blank the Bucs for six innings at Pittsburgh.
In the top of the 11th inning in San Francisco’s 4-3 victory over Atlanta at Candlestick Park, Dave Rader completes an unusual unassisted double play for a catcher. After catching an attempted sacrifice bunt which is popped up with Braves runners on first and second base, the Giants’ backstop races to second base and steps on the bag before Sonny Jackson, who had headed toward third on contact, can get back.
1973 – Cesar Cedeno doubles home Tommy Helms with the winning run in the 13th for a 2-1 Opening Day triumph in Atlanta. It was Cedeno’s third extra-base hit of the game. Jim Wynn’s homer tied it in the sixth.
The Atlanta Braves release former 30-game winner Denny McLain, ending his career at the age of 28. In 1972, the Braves had acquired McLain from the Oakland Athletics in a straight-up swap for first baseman Orlando Cepeda. McLain won the American League Cy Young Award in 1968 and 1969.
On November 30, 1972, major league teams pull off 12 trades involving 36 players. In the biggest deal of the day, the Baltimore Orioles trade onetime 20-game winner Pat Dobson, power-hitting second baseman Dave Johnson, and two other players to the Atlanta Braves for catcher Earl Williams and infielder Taylor Duncan. In another deal, the…
The Braves trade southpaw George Stone and second baseman Felix Milan to the Mets for hurlers Danny Frisella and Gary Gentry, who will combine to win just nine games for Atlanta over the next three seasons. New York’s acquisitions will play key roles in the team’s success next season when their recently acquired infielder hits .290, and their new left-hander posts a 12-3 record along with an ERA of 2.80 for the National League champions.
Dave Downs throws a complete game shutout in his first major league appearance, blanking the Braves, 3-0, in the nightcap of a twin bill at Atlanta Stadium. The 20 year-old Phillies’ right-hander will never win another major league game when he develops a sore arm caused by tendonitis.
Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves breaks Babe Ruth’s record for the most home runs with one team
On August 1, 1972, Nate Colbert of the San Diego Padres sets a major league record by driving in 13 runs during a doubleheader sweep of the Atlanta Braves. Colbert also ties a doubleheader record by clubbing five home runs. In a remarkable coincidence, 8 year old Colbert attended a game at Sportsman’s Park in…
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