A’s relief star Darold Knowles breaks his thumb, costing him a chance to pitch in the World Series. Knowles finishes the season with a 5-1 record, 11 saves, and a 1.36 ERA.

A’s relief star Darold Knowles breaks his thumb, costing him a chance to pitch in the World Series. Knowles finishes the season with a 5-1 record, 11 saves, and a 1.36 ERA.

The Red Sox smash four homers to reach a club-record 201 homers in handing the Senators their 10th straight loss, 10 – 1. Winning pitcher Gary Peters hits a 3-run homer, Tony Conigliaro, and George Scott with two homers and five RBIs are the leaders. The previous Sox high for homers was 197 last season.

The Red Sox smash four homers to reach a club-record 201 homers in handing the Senators their 10th straight loss, 10 – 1. Winning pitcher Gary Peters hits a 3-run homer, Tony Conigliaro, and George Scott with two homers and five RBIs are the leaders. The previous Sox high for homers was 197 last season.

The Orioles rally for two runs in the 8th inning to beat the Indians’ Sam McDowell, 4 – 3. Dick Hall wins his 10th game with three innings of hitless relief. He also walks no one and ends the year with more wins than walks – 10 wins and only six walks in 61 innings. Not since Slim Sallee’s 21 wins in 1919 when he walked 20 has a pitcher accomplished this. Bret Saberhagen in 1994 will be the next, winning 14 and walking 13. Before Sallee, Christy Mathewson had two seasons of more wins than walks.

The Orioles rally for two runs in the 8th inning to beat the Indians’ Sam McDowell, 4 – 3. Dick Hall wins his 10th game with three innings of hitless relief. He also walks no one and ends the year with more wins than walks – 10 wins and only six walks in 61 innings. Not since Slim Sallee’s 21 wins in 1919 when he walked 20 has a pitcher accomplished this. Bret Saberhagen in 1994 will be the next, winning 14 and walking 13. Before Sallee, Christy Mathewson had two seasons of more wins than walks.

The Pirates clinch the National League East with a 2 – 1 win over the Mets. A record crowd of 50,469 cheer on the Bucs. It’s New York who draws first blood, capitalizing on Pirate starter Dock Ellis’ 1st-inning wildness. Pittsburgh right fielder Roberto Clemente, whose sprained back has limited him to seven games in September and four in the last 23 days, helps erase the early 1 – 0 deficit. “The two-bagger Clemente rapped to the center-field wall in the 3rd was a key blow,” reports The Cumberland Evening Times. “Tommie Agee, who had a bad defensive series, turned the wrong way on the ball,” writes Jack Hernon of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “When he eyed the ball at the last second, he dropped it.” Dave Cash moves to third on the play and scores on Bob Robertson’s sacrifice fly. Cash’s own sac fly in the following frame will push across the deciding run. This will be the ailing Clemente’s final regular season game this season; though he’ll strap it up for the Championship Series against Cincinnati, he’s clearly just a shell of his normal self. In the game, New York’s Ken Boswell, who had played a record 85 games at 2B without an error, boots a grounder in the 5th for his first miscue in 389 chances.

The Pirates clinch the National League East with a 2 – 1 win over the Mets. A record crowd of 50,469 cheer on the Bucs. It’s New York who draws first blood, capitalizing on Pirate starter Dock Ellis’ 1st-inning wildness. Pittsburgh right fielder Roberto Clemente, whose sprained back has limited him to seven games in September and four in the last 23 days, helps erase the early 1 – 0 deficit. “The two-bagger Clemente rapped to the center-field wall in the 3rd was a key blow,” reports The Cumberland Evening Times. “Tommie Agee, who had a bad defensive series, turned the wrong way on the ball,” writes Jack Hernon of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “When he eyed the ball at the last second, he dropped it.” Dave Cash moves to third on the play and scores on Bob Robertson’s sacrifice fly. Cash’s own sac fly in the following frame will push across the deciding run. This will be the ailing Clemente’s final regular season game this season; though he’ll strap it up for the Championship Series against Cincinnati, he’s clearly just a shell of his normal self. In the game, New York’s Ken Boswell, who had played a record 85 games at 2B without an error, boots a grounder in the 5th for his first miscue in 389 chances.

1969 – Jim Maloney fires a one-hitter in beating Houston, 3 – 0, at Crosley Field. Joe Morgan’s 3rd-inning single is the only safety.

1969 – Jim Maloney fires a one-hitter in beating Houston, 3 – 0, at Crosley Field. Joe Morgan’s 3rd-inning single is the only safety.

At Detroit, Frank Howard snaps a 1 – 1 tie with his 44th homer, and the Senators beat the Tigers, 3 – 1. Howard’s run is his 89th, and he’ll finish the year with that, compiling the most homers in history without scoring 90 runs.

At Detroit, Frank Howard snaps a 1 – 1 tie with his 44th homer, and the Senators beat the Tigers, 3 – 1. Howard’s run is his 89th, and he’ll finish the year with that, compiling the most homers in history without scoring 90 runs.

bob gibson

Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals shuts out the Houston Astros, 1-0, to finish the season with an ERA of 1.12

On September 27, 1968, Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals shuts out the Houston Astros, 1-0, to finish the season with an ERA of 1.12-the second-lowest in modern National League history. Gibson, who finishes the season with 13 shutouts and 28 complete games, will unanimously win the Cy Young Award.

Facing Lee Stange at Fenway Park, Mickey Mantle flies out in his final plate appearance, before being replaced by Andy Kosco. Kosko’s homer ties the score in the 8th and Joe Pepitone’s home run in the 9th gives New York a 4 – 3 win.

Facing Lee Stange at Fenway Park, Mickey Mantle flies out in his final plate appearance, before being replaced by Andy Kosco. Kosko’s homer ties the score in the 8th and Joe Pepitone’s home run in the 9th gives New York a 4 – 3 win.

Facing Lee Stange at Fenway Park, Mickey Mantle flies out in his final plate appearance, before being replaced by Andy Kosco. Kosko’s homer ties the score in the 8th and Joe Pepitone’s home run in the 9th gives New York a 4 – 3 win.

For the 2nd time in two years, the Cards sign free-agent P Barney Schultz to enable him to qualify for pension time. Schultz was released last October 8th.

For the 2nd time in two years, the Cards sign free-agent P Barney Schultz to enable him to qualify for pension time. Schultz was released last October 8th.