1981 – Rafael Landestoy steals a base and scores on a single by Terry Puhl as Houston outlasts the Giants, 8-7, in 14 innings. The Astros blew a lead in the ninth then blew a three-run lead in the 13th before putting this one away. Houston tallies 21 hits in the effort, including three by Joe Niekro.
On May 30, 1980, longtime Detroit Tigers reliever John Hiller announces his retirement. The owner of 125 career saves, Hiller had made a dramatic return to the major leagues in 1972, just one year after suffering a heart attack. Hiller capped off the comeback by leading the American League with 38 saves in 1973.
1978 – J.R. Richard tosses three wild pitches in the seventh inning, wasting his own three-hitter in the process. His last errant one allows Larry Herndon to trot home with the only run in a 1-0 defeat by Bob Knepper and San Francisco. The wild pitches tie a record Richard had already tied once that season.
On May 30, 1977, All-Star voting is returned to the fans, as computerized punch-card ballots appear in stores and all MLB ballparks. Since 1958, the All-Star squads had been selected by managers, coaches, and players.
Dennis Eckersley pitches a no-hitter as the Cleveland Indians beat the California Angels, 1 – 0. Frank Tanana, with three shutouts in his last four games, is the loser.
1976 – The Astros set a team record with 25 hits in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep of the Braves. 23 of the hits are singles in the 16-5 victory. Jerry Davanon delivers three hits and drives in five. Cliff Johnson contributes four. Houston scores eight in the first three frames to cruise to the sweep. Tom Griffin is the winner in the 5-2 opener.
The Astros bang out 25 hits, a franchise high, beating the Braves in the nightcap of an Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium twin bill, 16-5. Twenty-three of Houston’s safeties are singles, a National League record.
A shoving match, after a home-plate collision between Lou Piniella and Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, escalates into an ugly bench-clearing brawl. Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles and Boston’s Bill Lee fight so fiercely that the ‘Spaceman’ suffers a separation of his left shoulder, significantly affecting the remainder of his pitching career.
5/30/1975: Deron Johnson of the White Sox homered in the second inning at Tiger Stadium only to see rain cancel the game before it was official.
Willie Mays hits his 638th major league career home run with the Giants franchise, adding in the process his National League record 1,950th run scored.
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