In the bottom of the sixth at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, 22 year-old Tiger phenom Mark Fidrych gets two quick ground ball outs, before giving up six runs on six consecutive hits and an intentional walk. ‘The Bird’, last year’s Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award runner-up, who has already won 6 of 8 decisions this season, appears to lose all of his effectiveness after throwing a pitch with an unusual motion, and will win only four more games before retiring in 1980 after compiling a 25-11 record before this start.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In the bottom of the sixth at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, 22 year-old Tiger phenom Mark Fidrych gets two quick ground ball outs, before giving up six runs on six consecutive hits and an intentional walk. ‘The Bird’, last year’s Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award runner-up, who has already won 6 of 8 decisions this season, appears to lose all of his effectiveness after throwing a pitch with an unusual motion, and will win only four more games before retiring in 1980 after compiling a 25-11 record before this start.

In the first game of a doubleheader, Chicago outfielder Larry Biittner pitches the last 1 1/3 innings for the Cubs, striking out 3. That’s the good news. The bad news is he allows six earned runs on five hits and a walk as the Expos crush the Cubs, 19 – 3. Two of the three K’s are of the opposing pitcher, Jackie Brown, and the last is Larry Parrish, who had earlier homered on a 1-2 pitch from his former teammate. Biittner also serves up homers to Ellis Valentine and Andre Dawson, each of whom have five ribbies. Biittner is later fined $50 by the National League for throwing a “brush-back” pitch after surrendering the three home runs, but a collection is taken up to pay for his shave. Further bad news for the Cubs in the nitecap is that Bruce Sutter is knocked out for the first time this year, and a massive knot beneath his right shoulder will keep him out of the All-Star Game. The Cubs also lose that game, 7 – 6.

ByBaseball

In the first game of a doubleheader, Chicago outfielder Larry Biittner pitches the last 1 1/3 innings for the Cubs, striking out 3. That’s the good news. The bad news is he allows six earned runs on five hits and a walk as the Expos crush the Cubs, 19 – 3. Two of the three K’s are of the opposing pitcher, Jackie Brown, and the last is Larry Parrish, who had earlier homered on a 1-2 pitch from his former teammate. Biittner also serves up homers to Ellis Valentine and Andre Dawson, each of whom have five ribbies. Biittner is later fined $50 by the National League for throwing a “brush-back” pitch after surrendering the three home runs, but a collection is taken up to pay for his shave. Further bad news for the Cubs in the nitecap is that Bruce Sutter is knocked out for the first time this year, and a massive knot beneath his right shoulder will keep him out of the All-Star Game. The Cubs also lose that game, 7 – 6.

The Boston Red Sox end their nine-game losing streak by walloping a major league-record – since topped – eight home runs, in beating Toronto, 9 – 6 at Fenway Park. Seven of the homers are solo shots, another record. Four home runs (by Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Carl Yastrzemski and George Scott) come in the 8th inning. Only Scott’s is not consecutive. Lynn and Scott each hit two, while Rice, Yaz, Butch Hobson and Bernie Carbo have one apiece. The Sox’s previous high for homers was six and they won’t top that number until 1999.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Boston Red Sox end their nine-game losing streak by walloping a major league-record – since topped – eight home runs, in beating Toronto, 9 – 6 at Fenway Park. Seven of the homers are solo shots, another record. Four home runs (by Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Carl Yastrzemski and George Scott) come in the 8th inning. Only Scott’s is not consecutive. Lynn and Scott each hit two, while Rice, Yaz, Butch Hobson and Bernie Carbo have one apiece. The Sox’s previous high for homers was six and they won’t top that number until 1999.

New York stays a game ahead of the Red Sox by edging Cleveland, 7 – 5. The Yankees get home runs from Chris Chambliss, Roy White, Lou Piniella and Graig Nettles.

ByBaseball

New York stays a game ahead of the Red Sox by edging Cleveland, 7 – 5. The Yankees get home runs from Chris Chambliss, Roy White, Lou Piniella and Graig Nettles.

Tim McCarver

Tim McCarver losses grand slam when he passes teammate Garry Maddox on the basepaths

ByThis Day in Baseball

After hitting an apparent grand slam in the top of the second inning, Tim McCarver is credited with only a three-run single when he passes teammate Garry Maddox on the basepaths in the Phillies’ 10-5 victory over the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium. The other baserunners are allowed to score on the Philadelphia catcher’s ‘grand slam single’ because only the player who passes his teammate is called out and there were less than two outs.

Before 45,000 Twins fans, Eddie Bane, the top collegiate pitcher this year and Minnesota’s top draft pick, makes his major league debut against the Royals. Bane pitches well for seven innings, but the Royals emerge with a 5 – 4 win, beating reliever Ray Corbin. Bane will finish the season 0-5.

ByBaseball

Before 45,000 Twins fans, Eddie Bane, the top collegiate pitcher this year and Minnesota’s top draft pick, makes his major league debut against the Royals. Bane pitches well for seven innings, but the Royals emerge with a 5 – 4 win, beating reliever Ray Corbin. Bane will finish the season 0-5.

Leron Lee singles in the 9th to break up Tom Seaver’s no-hitter, but the Mets shut out the Padres, 2 – 0, in the opener. Seaver strikes out 11. The Pads take the nitecap, 4 – 2, as Nate Colbert hits his 16th homer.

ByBaseball

Leron Lee singles in the 9th to break up Tom Seaver’s no-hitter, but the Mets shut out the Padres, 2 – 0, in the opener. Seaver strikes out 11. The Pads take the nitecap, 4 – 2, as Nate Colbert hits his 16th homer.

Denny McLain makes his National League debut in the second game of a twinbill with the Cubs, called in the 8th inning because of rain. McLain gets no decision in the 3 – 3 tie, but receives a standing ovation at the end from the crowd of 50,597. Atlanta wins the opener, 5 – 1, as Ron Reed beats Juan Pizarro. Paul Casanova’s first National League homer and Mike Lum’s three-run homer in the 7th account for four runs.

ByBaseball

Denny McLain makes his National League debut in the second game of a twinbill with the Cubs, called in the 8th inning because of rain. McLain gets no decision in the 3 – 3 tie, but receives a standing ovation at the end from the crowd of 50,597. Atlanta wins the opener, 5 – 1, as Ron Reed beats Juan Pizarro. Paul Casanova’s first National League homer and Mike Lum’s three-run homer in the 7th account for four runs.