4/7/1971: Carlos May of the Chicago White Sox homered in the top of the first inning of the second game off Rollie Fingers in Oakland. The blow came with two runners on and one out. May did not touch home plate and was out on appeal.
On April 5, 1971, the Washington Senators play the final home opener in team history. Dick Bosman beats the Oakland A’s, 8-0, before a crowd of 45,000 at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium. After the season, owner Bob Short will move the Senators to Texas, where they will play under the name “Rangers.”
The A’s Vida Blue no-hits the Twins, 6 – 0, becoming the youngest pitcher to perform the feat since Paul Dean, 36 years ago to the day. The only baserunner against Blue is Harmon Killebrew, who walks in the 4th inning. Bert Campaneris, who helps Blue with a leaping catch on George Mitterwald in the 5th, adds a triple and home run. An Oakland crowd of only 4,284 watches Blue’s 2nd major league start.
On July 3, 1970, Clyde Wright of the California Angels pitches a no-hitter against the Oakland A’s immediately after being inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. Wright, who won only one game in 1969, shuts down the A’s after being honored in pre-game ceremonies at Anaheim Stadium.He throw…
On June 22, 1970, Ted Kubiak, future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, and team captain Sal Bando hit back-to-back-to-back home runs for the Oakland A’s. The power barrage helps the A’s to a 7-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.
In their home opener at the Oakland Coliseum, a 2-1 victory over Milwaukee, the A’s use gold-colored bases. This colorful innovation introduced by team owner Charlie O. Finley will quickly be banned by the MLB’s Rules Committee.
1970 – Pitcher Miguel Fuentes, at age 20, is shot and killed during a bar fight in Loiza Aldea, Puerto Rico. On October 2, 1969, against the Oakland Athletics, Fuentes pitched what will turn out to be the last inning in the history of the Seattle Pilots.
1970 – The Oakland Athletics trade catcher Phil Roof, outfielder Mike Hershberger and pitchers Lew Krausse and Ken Sanders to the Seattle Pilots for first baseman Don Mincher and infielder Ron Clark.
The Tigers tie a club record with six homers, and Denny McLain wins his 19th, beating the A’s at Oakland, 9 – 4. Al Kaline homers in the 7th and 9th off relievers, but the first three Bengal homers come off starter Catfish Hunter.
On July 20, 1969, 19-year-old left-hander Vida Blue makes his major league debut for the Oakland A’s. Blue gives up a pair of home runs and loses a 7-3 decision to the California Angels. Blue will go on to win 209 games during a 17-year career.
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