On July 18, 1980, future Hall of Famer George Brett begins a 30-game hitting streak which boosts his average to .404 by August 18. Brett hits .390 for the season, the highest mark in 39 years.
The Mets play their 3,000th game in franchise history, dropping an 8-3 decision in the nightcap of a twin bill sweep by Cincinnati at Riverfront Stadium. The Amazins have compiled a 1300-1694 (.434) record along with six ties since playing their first game in 1962.
1976 – Ed Herrmann goes 7-for-10 with a homer and seven RBIs in a twinbill sweep of the Expos, 7-6 and 10-1. Herrmann is a perfect 5-for-5 in the ten-inning opener. Greg Gross gets four hits to pace a 22-hit assault in the nightcap. Dan Larson tosses a complete game victory in his major league debut.
After Boston drops eight of its last 11 games, the fifth-place Red Sox (41-45) fire Darrell Johnson, replacing their manager, who led the team to the American League pennant last season, with third-base coach Don Zimmer. Although last year’s AL’s champs, posting a mediocre 41-45 record and trailing the division-leading Yankees by 13 games, climbed above the .500 mark earlier in the month, they couldn’t overcome their poor start, when they lost 15 of their first 21 decisions.
1975 – In a 9 – 3 win over the Kansas City Royals, Boston’s Jim Rice clouts a tremendous homer over the CF wall at Fenway Park, to the right of the flag pole, just the 6th player to accomplish this feat. Owner Tom Yawkey calls it the longest shot he’s ever seen at Fenway. The others: Detroit’s Hank Greenberg, on May 22, 1937; Boston’s Jimmie Foxx, on August 12, 1937; Yankee Bill Skowron, on April 20, 1957; Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski, on May 16, 1970; Brewer Bobby Mitchell, on September 29, 1973.
1972 – A two-run inside-the-park homer by Cesar Cedeno highlights an 11-3 triumph over St. Louis . The young phenom raises his average to .351 with three hits. Jim Wynn drives in three while Jerry Reuss spins a four-hitter and adds two hits of his own.
1972 – San Diego’s Steve Arlin takes a no-hitter against Philadelphia into the 9th inning before settling for a second straight two-hitter. The first hit comes when Denny Doyle hits a two-out bloop single over the head of 3B Dave Roberts, playing in for a possible bunt. During the season, Arlin will notch three two-hitters, a one-hitter, and a 10-inning one-hit stint, yet compile a 10-21 record.
1971 – The Pirates sweep a doubleheader from the Dodgers, 3 – 2 and 7 – 1, to extend their winning streak to 11 games. In the second game, Luke Walker has a no-hitter until Joe Ferguson homers in the 9th inning for Los Angeles. Pittsburgh is now in front by 11 1/2 games, their largest lead of the year.
On July 18, 1970, 39-year-old San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays collects the 3,000th hit of his career – a second-inning single against Montreal’s Mike Wegener. The umpires stopped the game, enabling Mays to be honored in ceremonies that feature Hall of Famer Stan Musial. Mays hit comes in his 2,639th major league game, The…
Milwaukee’s Ted Kubiak has seven RBIs – on a single, double and grand slam – to lead the Brewers to a 10 – 5 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Red Sox blow a 5 – 1 lead, reached when Carl Yastrzemski hits a 3-run homer and Reggie Smith a solo shot. Sparky Lyle is the loser, allowing one run.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!