1981 – The Cubs purchase Bobby Bonds from Texas and in his first game for the Cubs‚ Bonds trips on a seam in the field carpet at Three Rivers Stadium and breaks a bone in his right hand. He goes on the 21-day disabled list. The Pirates win‚ 5 – 4‚ in the 10th when Lee Lacy triples and Dale Berra singles him in.
1980 – The Yankees‚ with no picks in rounds one and two‚ select 18-year-old Billy Cannon Jr. with their 3rd round pick in the draft. After protests from at least two other teams‚ Bowie Kuhn rules that all the teams but the Yankees had been misled by a telegram sent by Bill Cannon‚ Sr.‚ saying his son was going to play football. A special draft (excluding the Yanks) in August is won by the Indians‚ who offer the young gun $275‚000. But Cannon elects to play football at Texas A&M. Following in the footsteps of his Heisman dad‚ Cannon will be the number 1 pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1984‚ but a neck injury curtails his career.
At Shea Stadium, Jim Kaat, recently traded from the Yankees, goes the distance when the Cardinal left-hander blanks the Mets in 10 innings, 1-0. The 41 year-old hurler, who didn’t start a game last season, gets the victory thanks to third baseman Ken Reitz’s extra inning solo home run.
Dave Concepcion has 5 hits as the Reds whip the host Cardinals‚ 11 – 2.
Pepe Mangual’s 9th-inning single is the only hit against Andy Messersmith‚ as the Braves down the Expos‚ 2 – 0.
Mets right fielder Dave Kingman, in the team’s 11-0 victory at Dodger Stadium, hits three home runs. Sky King’s two-run dinger and two three-run round-trippers drive in eight runs, a new club record.
At Baltimore‚ the Twins edge the O’s‚ 8 – 6‚ as Minnesota’s Larry Hisle hits for the cycle.
Danny Goodwin‚ picked first in the 1971 amateur draft‚ is picked first again‚ this time by the Angels. The next four picks of this year’s draft‚ including the Padres number 2 pick of pitcher Mike Lentz‚ fail to make the major leagues. Picking 10th‚ Montreal takes SS Art Miles‚ who will break his neck diving into shallow water while celebrating West Palm Beach’s Florida State League win in 1977. The Expos finally pick right‚ taking Andre Dawson on the 10th round‚ the Dodgers picking pitcher Dave Stewart in the 16th‚ and the Braves take Glenn Hubbard in the 20th.
Lee Mazzilli of the Visalia Oaks (California League) ties the minor league record when he steals 7 bases. He will end the year with 49.
On June 4, 1974, the Cleveland Indians hold “Ten-Cent Beer Night” at Municipal Stadium. The promotion results in a near riot, as fans storm onto the field with the score tied in the ninth inning, prompting the umpires to forfeit the game to the Texas Rangers.
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