1977 – The Dodgers’ Dusty Baker drives in a team-record five runs in one inning, the 2nd, as Los Angeles whips the Padres, 18 – 4. Los Angeles leads the NL West by 13 1/2 games.
The Braves trade 27 year-old Dusty Baker (.261, 19, 72) along with utility player Ed Goodson to the Dodgers for veteran slugger Jimmy Wynn, Lee Lacy, Tom Paciorek, and Jerry Royster. The hard-hitting outfielder will play a key role for his new team, helping Los Angeles win pennants in 1977 and 1978 and the World Series in 1981.
1973 – With a runner aboard and the Braves already trailing, 2- 0, Dusty Baker makes what The Sporting News will call “the greatest catch in Atlanta Stadium history,” literally climbing the center field fence to prevent Pittsburgh’s Richie Hebner from doubling Atlanta’s deficit with one swing of the bat. Though coming in the fourth inning, the play will later prove pivotal when, thanks to Baker, the three runs finally pushed across by game’s end gives Atlanta a 3 – 2, walk-off win.
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 last-place New York Yankees have the first pick in the free-agent draft and use it to take Ron Blomberg. Blomberg will be the first designated hitter in major league history. In the secondary phase, the Orioles select pitcher Mike Adamson, who will leap directly to the big leagues, debuting on July 1, becoming the first player in draft history to bypass the minors.
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