On July 19, 1982, At Jack Murphy Stadium, 22-year-old Tony Gwynn makes his major league debut for the San Diego Padres. In a harbinger of things to come, the future National League batting champion collects two hits against the Philadelphia Phillies. Gwynn will go 2-4 with a double with a sacrifice fly off Sid Monge…
On June 22, 1982, Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies moves into second place on the all-time hit list with a double against John Stuper of the St. Louis Cardinals. Rose’s hit, which comes as part of the Phillies 3-2 loss, pushes him past Hank Aaron and behind only Ty Cobb on the all-time list….
1982 – Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies goes 5 for 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, tying Max Carey for the most five-hit games in National League history. Rose’s latest five-hit performance helps the Phillies to a 9 – 3 win.
On January 27, 1982, the Chicago Cubs make one of their best trades in franchise history, acquiring infielders Ryne Sandberg and Larry Bowa from the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Ivan DeJesus. Bowa and DeJesús will have a few more productive seasons in the major leagues, but Sandberg, after starting out his career at third…
On December 21, 1981, the Philadelphia Phillies sign future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt to a six-year contract worth $1.2 million per season. During the strike-shortened 1981 season, Schmidt led the National League in home runs (31), RBI (91) and runs (78). During the course of the contract, Schmidt will lead the league in home…
1981 – Bill Giles, Phillies vice president for the past 11 years, heads a group that purchases the club for just over $30 million, the highest price paid to date for a major league club. Giles is the son of long-time National League president and Hall of Fame member Warren C. Giles.
The Expos win the National League Eastern Division when Steve Rogers goes the distance, defeating Steve Carlton and the defending World Champions Phillies at Veterans Stadium, 3-0. Divisional playoffs were devised to salvage the strike-shortened season.
1981 – Steve Carlton fans 12 Expos in 10 innings to break Bob Gibson’s National League strikeout record (Carlton now has 3,128), but the Phillies lose to the Expos, 1 – 0 in 17 innings. Montreal’s Bryn Smith retires just one batter, but picks up his first major league victory.
major league play resumes after a two-month strike
1981 – Pete Rose of Philadelphia singles against Nolan Ryan to tie Stan Musial for the most hits in league history (3,630). Ryan would fan Rose in his final three at-bats before a two-month strike begins the next day. The strike is one day too late for Frank LaCortewho blows a 4-0 lead in a 5-4 Phillies verdict.
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