The 1970 season would conclude with the Orioles beating the Big red Machine in The Series in five games.
Yes I do miss baseball. Not to mention this would normally be Master's week.
Posted on 04/08/2020 6:50:48 AM PDT by Rummyfan
The 1970 baseball season opened on Monday, April 6, and Tuesday April 7. On the 6th, Washington and Cincinnati held their traditional league openers. The rest of baseball followed on the 7th.
Teams normally send out their best pitcher on Opening Day. 1970 was no exception. The following Hall of Famers pitched their team’s opener: Ferguson Jenkins (Cubs), Phil Niekro (Braves), Gaylord Perry (Giants), Bob Gibson (Cardinals), and Tom Seaver (Mets). Other notable aces who opened included Mickey Lolich (Tigers), Chris Short (Phillies), Jim Perry (Twins), Tommy John (White Sox), Dave McNally (Orioles), and Mel Stottlemyre (Yankees).
There were twelve opening games back then. Five of them produced shutouts. They were hurled by Lolich (against the Senators), Gary Nolan (against the Dodgers), Short (against the Cubs), Jim Perry (against the White Sox), and Andy Messersmith (against the Brewers).
Speaking of Opening Day shutouts, Walter Johnson holds the record for them. He pitched seven shutouts in his 14 openers. They included a one-hitter in 1910, a two-hitter in 1915, an eleven inning shutout in 1916, a three-hitter in 1917, a thirteen inning shutout in 1919, a four-hitter in 1924, and a fifteen inning shutout in 1926, at the age of 38.
In the most exciting opener of 1970, neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. In the last Opening Day game ever at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, Tom Seaver gutted his way through eight innings, and Steve Blass through ten. Both pitchers allowed nine hits and three runs.
The game was decided in the eleventh inning. Mike Jorgenson led off for the defending World Champion Mets with a single. Ron Swoboda bunted. Catcher Jerry May pounced on the ball but his throw to second base pulled Gene Alley off the bag. Wayne Garrett bunted both runners along on a sacrifice. With first base open, reliever Chuck Hartenstein intentionally walked Jerry Grote.
Gil Hodges sent left-handed hitting Ken Boswell to bat for his pitcher, Ron Taylor. Danny Murtaugh countered by bringing in veteran southpaw Joe Gibbon. Hodges countered by having the dangerous right-handed hitting former Pirate Donn Clendenon bat for Boswell.
Pittsburgh fans booed the ex-Buc, but Hodges was on point. Clendenon singled home Jorgenson and Swoboda.
In the bottom of the inning, Hodges brought in ace reliever Tug McGraw to close the game. The home fans had been rowdy throughout the day. Now, they threw debris at Swoboda in right field.
McGraw walked the first man he faced, Roberto Clemente. With litter continuing to pour onto the field, the umpire stopped the game and the grounds crew cleaned up.
McGraw then retired Willie Stargell and Al Oliver on pop ups.
With two out, some teenagers ran onto to the field. The game had to be halted again, as security guards chased the kids.
When play resumed, McGraw struck out Alley to end the game.
It was the Mets’ first Opening Day win in franchise history. However, the Pirates, not the Mets, would go on to win the NL East title in 1970.
The 1970 season would conclude with the Orioles beating the Big red Machine in The Series in five games.
Yes I do miss baseball. Not to mention this would normally be Master's week.
I agree. I miss baseball the most, this week is Masters Week and I live a short drive from Augusta.
And I would probably be finally recovered from celebrating the University of Dayton winning the NCAA tournament on Monday.
I run a baseball website and I’m using the extend time off to update our history section that had lapsed the past few years while I faced other life challenges. This has helped me to stay connected to the game during the lay-off.
My son went to basketball camp there for three years and has a signed basketball from each year. He also has been wearing his UD t-shirt lately.
What could have been?
What is your site? I would love to see it.
I use -
https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-atlanta-braves
https://www.baseball-reference.com/
https://www.sbnation.com/blogs
I run a baseball website and I’m using the extend time off to update our history section that had lapsed the past few years while I faced other life challenges. This has helped me to stay connected to the game during the lay-off.
Sucks that us natives have missed out on our beloved Masters, braves opening day, the Atlanta race, and the biggest buzzkill for me personally, the start of youth baseball on the same field my brother and I grew up playing on where me and my lifelong best friend help coach.
Helps that the stripers are running and the shell cracker are on bed with the full moon.
We been here before. We will rise out of the ashes like we did before.
Resurgens
Hold tight those memories. We will get out of this mess very soon.
I miss baseball the most. One of the last games I ever coached was a rain-delayed game 3x because of lightning. I found out the day before that my wife had her cancer come back again the day before and after the 3rd delay, I told the other coach that I needed to be with my wife and called the game. Instead of giving us a loss, they threw out the game and we made the playoffs.
www.astrosdaily.com
Before you harumph, we have history going all the way back to when the franchise began in 1962 with plenty of audio and video clips baked in.
Interesting, I’ll have to check it out. Almost expanded my bb card collection to Colt 45s, once I got to 97% of Milwaukee Braves. Do still have 45s bobblehead with cowboy hat (and guns?).
Yeah, along with everything else, Dayton has its best season in decades and the tournament gets cancelled. Bummer.
What’s the site?
Monday Night Game... Went to my 1st of 9 consecutive Detroit Tiger Openers the next day... Opening Day = Nothing like it...
Yep. Al Downing was the pitcher for the Dodgers.
I miss baseball too.
Been getting my fix with radio games from 2011. KMOX and the Cardinals radio network started with the August 25th game and will go all the way to game 7 of the WS. Can use the KMOX radio.com site/app which normally is blocked.
Also Fox Sports Midwest aired games from last season but this week are airing the four games the Cards won in the 2011 World Series. Tonight is game 6 so really happy about that. Hope it doesn’t storm and the internet doesn’t keep cutting out. Since my tv only has sound I will record it but will watch it on the Fox Sports Go app on my tablet.
Watched Game 7 of ‘68 Series this a.m... Funny hearing Harry Carey as the color commentator..
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