On April 22, 1980, Barry Foote hits a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Chicago Cubs a dramatic 16-12 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs’ catcher finishes the game with eight RBIs.
With a week to go, Herman Franks resigns as Cubs manager, and is replaced by Preston Gomez, most recently a coach with the Dodgers. After resigning, Franks criticizes a number of Cubs players, including Barry Foote, Mike Vail, Bill Buckner and Ted Sizemore.
Cubs relief pitcher Bruce Sutter strikes out the first six batters he faces including three men in the 9th on nine pitches.
In a wild one at Wrigley Field, the first-place Cubs (6) and Reds (5) combine for 11 home runs to tie the major league record. The Cubs come back four times to win, 16 – 15, in 13 innings in a contest that goes 4 hours and 50 minutes. The Reds lead 6 – 0 to start, beginning with Pete Rose’s leadoff home run, and lead, 15 – 14, near the finish, but Dave Rosello’s RBI single off Jack Billingham wins the game. Rick Reuschel wins his 15th game, and second in two days, pitching just 2/3 of an inning. Going deep are Bill Buckner (2), Bobby Murcer, George Mitterwald (2, including one in the 12th inning) and Jerry Morales for Chicago; Rose, Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey, Mike Lum and Cesar Geronimo homer for the Reds.
On June 25, 1977 At Old-Timers Day in Chicago, the Cubs score four in the 9th inning to edge the Mets, 5 – 4. Larry Biittner doubles in two runs, and Bill Buckner’s wind-blown fly eludes two outfielders for a third double in the frame. With the sacks full, Manny Trillo hits a grounder to third base and beats out the attempted double…
1977 – The Chicago Cubs trade outfielder Rick Monday to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a five-man deal that brings Bill Buckner and Ivan DeJesus to the Windy City. In 1976, Monday gained national fame when he saved an American flag from being burned during a game in Los Angeles. The trade solidifies the Cubs infield for the next five years, and Buckner will hit .300 for the team over the next seven seasons, but the Dodgers will win three National League pennants in that span, with Monday a major contributor.
On September 2, 1971, At the Astrodome, trailing 3-2 to Los Angeles, and with the bases full, Houston Astros outfielder Cesar Cedeno bloops a pitch off Claude Osteen into shallow right field. Bill Buckner and Jim Lefebvre collide while trying to catch the ball and it trickles into the corner. By the time the…
Bill Buckner hits his first grand slam as the Dodgers score six in the 7th inning to beat Pittsburgh, 8 – 5. Dock Ellis takes his first loss after 12 straight wins.
At Houston‚ Claude Osteen allows 4 hits and rookie Bill Buckner’s homer accounts for all the scoring as the Dodgers beat the Astros‚ 2 – 0. Don Wilson takes the loss. Osteen was 6-0 last year against Houston.
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