On June 20, 1973, Cy Acosta of the Chicago White Sox becomes the first American League pitcher to bat in a game since the designated hitter rule went into effect. Acosta comes to bat after DH Tony Muser moves to first base in place of Dick Allen. Acosta strikes out in his one at-bat, which…
On May 17, 1973, At Anaheim Stadium promising California Angels outfielder Bobby Valentine catches his spikes in the wall (chain link fence) and suffers compound fractures of his leg while trying to climb the wall in an effort to catch Dick Green home run during a 5 – 4 loss to the Oakland Athletics…
California’s Nolan Ryan strikes out 12, including the side in the 1st, and hurls his first career no-hitter in beating Kansas City, 3 – 0. For C Jeff Torborg, it is his third no-hitter. SS Rudy Meoli preserves the no-no with a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch in the 8th. It is the first of a record seven no-hitters the “Ryan Express” will throw during his career, including another one in two months.
Richard Nixon becomes the first president to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day in a contest held outside of Washington, D.C. The Commander in Chief does the honors before Nolan Ryan and the Angels beat the Royals at Anaheim Stadium, 3-2.
1972 – In a blockbuster interstate trade good for both teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers send Frank Robinson, Bill Singer, Mike Strahler, Bobby Valentine and Bill Grabarkewitz to the California Angels in exchange for Andy Messersmith and Ken McMullen, who returns to the team that signed him. Next season, Robinson will play 147 games, hitting 30 home runs with 97 RBI and Singer will combine with Nolan Ryan to strike out 674 batters, a 20th Century major league record for two teammates. Messersmith will win 39 games in the next two seasons for the Dodgers and finish second in the Cy Young Award voting in 1974.
On June 27, 1972 Nolan Ryan (8-5) triples and scores the go-ahead run in the 7th as California beats the Twins, 3 – 1. Poor baserunning in the 4th doesn’t help the Twins’ cause: with Harmon Killebrew on third base and Steve Braun on second with no outs, Jim Nettles flies out to Jim Spencer in left field. Killebrew fakes a dash to the plate and Braun…
On May 24, 1972, At Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, California Angels pitcher Don Rose homers on the first pitch he sees in his first major league at-bat against Oakland A’s left-hander Vida Blue. The right-hander’s third inning round-tripper, which will be his only career round-tripper and the last hit by an American League hurler for thirty…
On April 21, 1972, the Texas Rangers play the first home game in franchise history. Veteran slugger Frank Howard hits the first home run at Arlington Stadium, as the Rangers post a 7-6 win over California. The Rangers, formerly the Washington Senators, had moved to Texas after the 1971 season.
On February 9, 1972, former California Angels infielder Chico Ruiz is killed in an auto accident, just 11 days before the start of spring training. The 33-year-old Ruiz had recently signed with the Kansas City Royals. In 1971, Ruiz had been involved in an incident with Angels’ teammate Alex Johnson, in which Ruiz allegedly threatened…
Nolan Ryan becomes and Angel
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