On May 18, 1968, Washington Senators slugger Frank Howard ties an American League record by homering in his sixth consecutive game. With a pair of home runs against Detroit Tigers ace Mickey Lolich, Howard now has 10 home runs in his last six games, also a record.
Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates plays his 392nd straight game, setting a record for National League second basemen, in an 8 – 3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
1967 – Jim Wynn ‘s first-inning homer off the left-field foul pole ignites a near riot during a 6-2 Astros win. Giants Manager Herman Franks and umpire Shag Crawford nearly come to blows as Franks insists the hit was foul. A voice in the dugout calls Crawford a “meathead” and Ollie Brown gets tossed for it, inciting another feud. Pitcher Gaylord Perry, who gave up the homer, later admits it was he who used the m-word.
1966 – Houston sweeps the Cubs, 5-1 and 4-2, to take sole possession of second place in the NL race. Homers by Lee Maye and Rusty Staub back Dave Giusti in the opener while Robin Roberts notches his 284th career victory in the nightcap. Astros sit 2-1/2 games behind the Giants for first.
May 18, 1962 Mickey Mantle suffers a a knee and thigh injury during a 4-3 loss to the Twins while running to first base. Mantle on crutches after the game will miss a month of the season. Mantle will finish strong and still win the MVP leading the league with 30 homeruns, and hit .320…
On May 18, 1962 At County Stadium Future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn beats the Mets on a 3 hitter. Hank Aaron, Mack Jones and Eddie Mathews homer for the Braves. Gil Hodges knocks one out for the Mets. Mathews makes his debut at first base, After 14 years in organized baseball, Milwaukee’s strong man…
1962 – Ken Johnson gives up a game-tying homer to Willie McCovey in the bottom of the ninth but singles home Carl Warwick in the tenth for a 3-2 victory. Norm Larker also homers for Houston.
Bob Allison and Harmon Killebrew hit grand slams in the 1st inning to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 14 – 3 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ryne Duren posts four strikeouts in the 7th inning against the Chicago White Sox. He strikes out Minnie Miñoso, Roy Sievers, J.C. Martin, and Sammy Esposito to tie a major league record, in the 6 – 4 loss to the White Sox.
The Indians trade southpaw Herb Score to the White Sox for Barry Latman, a right-hander who will post a 35-37 record during his four seasons with Cleveland. The Tribe’s former left-hander, whose promising career was shattered when he was struck by Gil McDougald’s line drive that broke his facial bones and injured his eye, will return to Cleveland in 1964 to begin a 34-year stint as the team’s beloved television and radio play-by-play announcer.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!