On his birthday, Jim Beauchamp of the New York Mets hits his first two home runs of the season. The second one comes in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Houston Astros.

ByBaseball

On his birthday, Jim Beauchamp of the New York Mets hits his first two home runs of the season. The second one comes in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Houston Astros.

Steve Carlton’s consecutive-victory streak ends at 15 dtoping a 2-1 extra innings decision

ByTom

In a complete-game effort at Veterans Stadium, Steve Carlton’s consecutive-victory streak ends at 15 when the Phillies drop a 2-1 decision to Atlanta and Phil Niekro, who also goes the distance. Dusty Baker, who started the 11th inning rally with a two-out double, scores the eventual winning run on Mike Lum’s broken bat flare over the shortstop’s head.

The Connie Mack statue, a fixture in front of the North Philadelphia ballpark since 1957, is rededicated at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue in front of the Phillies’ new home, Veterans Stadium. The team added a plaque to the monument’s pedestal, listing the A’s players chosen between 1978 and 2003 for the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame.

ByBaseball

The Connie Mack statue, a fixture in front of the North Philadelphia ballpark since 1957, is rededicated at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue in front of the Phillies’ new home, Veterans Stadium. The team added a plaque to the monument’s pedestal, listing the A’s players chosen between 1978 and 2003 for the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame.

Pitching in relief, the Reds’ Jim Merritt (1-11) records his only win of the year. A 20-game winner last season, Merritt, started the year with 11 straight losses, one short of the National League record.

ByBaseball

Pitching in relief, the Reds’ Jim Merritt (1-11) records his only win of the year. A 20-game winner last season, Merritt, started the year with 11 straight losses, one short of the National League record.

For the second time in 10 days, Dave Roberts of the Padres and Tom Seaver of the Mets lock up in a pitchers duel, but this time, Seaver comes out on top, 2 – 1. Ed Spiezio hits a solo homer for San Diego in the 3rd, then Cleon Jones triples and comes in to tie the score on a sacrifice fly for the Mets in the 7th. Jones then ends the game with a walk-off home run with two outs on the bottom of the 9th, only the third hit allowed by Roberts. Seaver and Roberts will finish first and second respectively in the National League ERA race.

ByBaseball

For the second time in 10 days, Dave Roberts of the Padres and Tom Seaver of the Mets lock up in a pitchers duel, but this time, Seaver comes out on top, 2 – 1. Ed Spiezio hits a solo homer for San Diego in the 3rd, then Cleon Jones triples and comes in to tie the score on a sacrifice fly for the Mets in the 7th. Jones then ends the game with a walk-off home run with two outs on the bottom of the 9th, only the third hit allowed by Roberts. Seaver and Roberts will finish first and second respectively in the National League ERA race.

Minnesota’s Jim Merritt loses his shutout in the 9th when Mickey Mantle hits a pinch homer, but he wins 3 – 1. It is Mantle’s 534th home run, tying him with Jimmie Foxx for 3rd on the all-time list.

ByBaseball

Minnesota’s Jim Merritt loses his shutout in the 9th when Mickey Mantle hits a pinch homer, but he wins 3 – 1. It is Mantle’s 534th home run, tying him with Jimmie Foxx for 3rd on the all-time list.

Ken Harrelson

Ken “Hawk” Harrelson of the Kansas City A’s becomes baseball’s first free agent

ByThis Day in Baseball

On August 21, 1967, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson of the Kansas City A’s becomes baseball’s first free agent when he is “fired” by team owner Charlie Finley. Harrelson had drawn the wrath of Finley by allegedly referring to him as a “menace” to baseball. Remaining unemployed for only a few days, Harrelson will sign on with…