In a 9 – 7 losing effort against the Giants, Cardinals ace Bob Gibson makes his 242nd consecutive start. It is a new 20th century record, passing that of Red Ruffing, who never pitched in relief the last 10 years of his career.
May 8, 1971 Atlanta Braves vs. San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park | San Francisco first the First time in baseball history two player with 600+ home runs went deep in the same game. Willie Mays hit his 634th home run. Hank Aaron hit his 604th home run. Braves get a 5-2 victory over…
On May 8, 1971, the Oakland A’s trade first baseman Don Mincher, catcher Frank Fernandez, and pitcher Paul Lindblad to the Washington Senators for first baseman Mike Epstein and pitcher Darold Knowles. Epstein and Knowles will help Oakland to its first-ever appearance in post-season play. Mincher, who started his career in the nation’s capital in…
At Philadelphia, Joe Morgan has four hits, steals two bases, and scores three runs to lead Houston to an 8 – 1 win over the Phils. Winning P Don Wilson knocks in two runs with a bunt double that rolls past SS Larry Bowa, who is breaking for third base.
A record 30 home runs are hit by National League players in seven games, including two apiece by each of five players. The 20 MPH wind at Wrigley Field produces nine homers as the Cubs defeat the Reds, 10 – 7, snapping the Reds’ win streak at eight games. Hal McRae and Tony Perez have a pair for the Reds, while Billy Williams has two for Chicago.
1969 – Houston storms back from a 6-1 deficit with three runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to upend the Phillies, 7-6, at Connie Mack Stadium. Jesus Alou has a big night, driving in two runs with a double then producing an RBI single in the two rallies. Johnny Edwards’ two-run single is the game-winner. Fred Gladding quells a Philadelphia threat to save the game for Jack Billingham.
On May 8, 1968, Catfish Hunter of the Oakland A’s pitches a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins. Hunter’s perfect game is the first in the American League during the regular season in 46 years, when White Sox right-hander Charlie Robertson, who accomplished the feat against Detroit in 1922. Don Larsen had pitched a…
Orioles’ outfielder Frank Robinson becomes the first (and only) player to hit a home run completely out of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. The 451-foot wind-assisted blast, which clears the fifty rows of the left-field seats near the foul pole, before rolling to a stop 540 feet from home plate, comes off a fastball thrown by Indians’ starter Luis Tiant, who hadn’t given up an earned run on the season.
The last game is played at Busch Stadium, known for most of its existence as Sportsman’s Park. The 64 year-old ballpark, which served as the home field for the American League’s Browns until the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954, was also the home for the Cardinals from 1920 until today’s final contest, a 10-5 loss to San Francisco.
On May 8, 1966, the San Francisco Giants trade future Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Ray Sadecki. Cepeda, who has been bothered by bad knees, is deemed expendable because of the presence of Willie McCovey at first base. The Giants will regret the deal, as Cepeda will win…
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