1977 in baseball

American League National League AVG Rod Carew MIN .388 Dave Parker PIT .338 HR Jim Rice BOS 39 George Foster CIN 52 RBI Larry Hisle MIN 119 George Foster CIN 149 Wins Dave Goltz MIN, Dennis Leonard KCR & Jim Palmer BAL 20 Steve Carlton PHI 23 ERA Frank Tanana CAL 2.54 John Candelaria PIT 2.34 SO Nolan Ryan CAL 341 Phil Niekro ATL 262 SV Bill Campbell BOS 31 Rollie Fingers SDP 35 SB Freddie Patek KCR 53 Frank Taveras PIT 70

American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st New York Yankees 100   62 .617     2nd Baltimore Orioles   97   64 .602   2.5 2nd Boston Red Sox   97   64 .602   2.5 4th Detroit Tigers   74   88 .457 26.0 5th Cleveland Indians   71   90 .441 28.5 6th Milwaukee Brewers   67   95 .414 33.0 7th Toronto Blue Jays   54 107 .335 45.5 West Division 1st Kansas City Royals 102   60 .630     2nd Texas Rangers   94   68 .580   8.0 3rd Chicago White Sox   90   72 .556 12.0 4th Minnesota Twins   84   77 .522 17.5 5th California Angels   74   88 .457 28.0 6th Seattle Mariners   64   98 .395 38.0 7th Oakland Athletics   63   98 .391 38.5

National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win %   GB East Division 1st Philadelphia Phillies 101   61 .623     2nd Pittsburgh Pirates   96   66 .593   5.0 3rd St. Louis Cardinals   83   79 .512 18.0 4th Chicago Cubs   81   81 .500 20.0 5th Montreal Expos   75   87 .463 26.0 6th New York Mets   64   98 .395 37.0 West Division 1st Los Angeles Dodgers   98   64 .605     2nd Cincinnati Reds   88   74 .543 10.0 3rd Houston Astros   81   81 .500 17.0 4th San Francisco Giants   75   87 .463 23.0 5th San Diego Padres   69   93 .426 29.0 6th Atlanta Braves   61 101 .377 37.0

January 1 – Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Danny Frisella is killed in a dune buggy accident in Arizona. January 2 – Not even a full season into owning the Atlanta Braves, Ted Turner is suspended by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn for tampering with the signing of Gary Matthews. In addition, the Braves are stripped of their first round selections in the June 1978 baseball draft. Turner successfully appeals the suspension, and the draft picks are reinstated. January 4 – Mary Shane is hired by the Chicago White Sox as the first woman TV play by play announcer. January 6 – California Angels shortstop Mike Miley is killed in a single car accident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. January 11 – The Chicago Cubs trade pitcher Mike Garman and outfielder Rick Monday to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league pitcher Jeff Albert, first baseman Bill Buckner and infielder Ivan DeJesus. January 19 – The Baseball Writers' Association of America elects Ernie Banks to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. January 20 – The Baltimore Orioles trade outfielder Paul Blair to the New York Yankees in exchange for outfielders Elliott Maddox and Rich Bladt. January 31 – The Special Veterans Committee selects Joe Sewell, Amos Rusie and Al López for the Hall of Fame. February 3 – The Hall of Fame's Special Committee on the Negro Leagues picks versatile Cuban star Martín Dihigo and shortstop John Henry Lloyd for induction. The committee then dissolves, its functions being taken over by the Veterans Committee.

April 6 – The Seattle Mariners open their existence and their home stadium, the Kingdome, with a 7 0 loss to the California Angels. April 7 – In keeping his promise, Frank Sinatra sings the Star Spangled Banner on Opening Day at Dodgers Stadium. Sinatra had made the promise to Tommy Lasorda that he'd sing the song if Lasorda ever became manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Toronto Blue Jays play their first game in franchise history, in the snow, defeating the Chicago White Sox 9 5 at Exhibition Stadium. April 9 – Angered at his teams poor play, San Diego Padres owner Ray Kroc takes to the P. A. system to thank the fans in attendance and call the players out for their poor play. April 12 – The Detroit Tigers trade Willie Horton, who played for the team since 1963, to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Steve Foucault. April 15 – The Montreal Expos play their first game at Montreal's Olympic Stadium before a crowd of 57,592, as the visiting Philadelphia Phillies win 7 2. April 17 – Umpires Terry Tata, Ed Sudol, Dick Stello, and Bruce Froemming, walk off the field in protest after The video screen at Fulton County Stadium shows video of a controversial playing involving Bob Watson of the Houston Astros scoring at home in a close play. The crew returns to the field after they are promised the event will not happen again. April 24 – Canadian Ferguson Jenkins throws the first shutout ever in Exhibition Stadium, as the visiting Boston Red Sox defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 9 0. April 25 – The Cincinnati Reds defeat the Atlanta Braves 23 9. The Reds score 12 runs in one inning and outfielder George Foster scores five runs and drives in seven. April 26 – Before completing his suspension with the Texas Rangers, Lenny Randle is traded to the New York Mets for a player to be named later. April 27 – The New York Yankees acquire Mike Torrez from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitcher Dock Ellis, Larry Murray and infielder Marty Perez. While Torrez would only spend one season in pinstripes, he'd be a part of Yankees lore the following season when he surrendered Bucky Dent's home run that helped the Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox and get into the play offs. Garry Templeton of the St. Louis Cardinals scores five runs in a game, setting a team record as the Cardinals routed the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field 20 3.

May 9 – On a nationally televised ABC's Monday Night Baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds, Al Hrabosky, the "Mad Hungarian", loads the bases in the 8th inning with the score tied 5 5, but then proceeds to strike out George Foster, Johnny Bench, and Bob Bailey to the delight of the fans at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals win 6 5 on a walk off home run by Ted Simmons in the home half of the 10th. The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Seattle Mariners 10 4 at Exhibition Stadium. This marked the first on field meeting between the two expansion teams. May 11 – Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner fires manager Dave Bristol and names himself manager before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Braves lose 2 1, their 17th consecutive loss. Turner is then ordered by National League president Chub Feeney to desist, and soon after, owners are banned from managing. Coach Vern Benson manages the Braves the next night to a 6 1 win, breaking the streak. Meanwhile, Bristol is reinstated as the manager for the remainder of the season. The California Angels trade first baseman Bruce Bochte and pitcher Sid Monge to the Cleveland Indians for pitchers Dave LaRoche and Dave Schuler. May 14 – Jim Colborn throws a no hitter as the Kansas City Royals defeat the Texas Rangers 6 0. Colborn is the first Royal to pitch a no hitter at Royals Stadium, later renamed Kauffman Stadium. May 17 – The Mets ace Tom Seaver pitches his fifth career one hitter, a 6 0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs. Seaver's no hit bid is broken up by Steve Ontiveros on a bloop single in the fifth. May 25 – In a Fenway Park double header, centerfielder Lyman Bostock of the Minnesota Twins ties a major league record with twelve putouts. Recording seventeen putouts over both games, Bostock sets an American League record. May 27 – Mark Fidrych returns from the injured list and pitches a complete game at home for the Detroit Tigers, but loses 2 1. May 28 – The Seattle Mariners purchase the contract of pitcher Tom House from the Boston Red Sox. May 30 – At age 22, pitcher Dennis Eckersley fires a no hitter as the Cleveland Indians top the California Angels 1 0. Eckersley walks one batter and strikes out 12.

October 1 – Despite a 10 7 loss to the Detroit Tigers, the New York Yankees clinch their second straight AL Eastern Division title when the Boston Red Sox are beaten 8 7 by the Baltimore Orioles. October 2 – Dusty Baker of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits his 30th home run of the season off J. R. Richard of the Houston Astros. Baker joins Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith, and Ron Cey as the other Dodgers with over 30 home runs that season, thus making the Dodgers the first team in MLB history to have four players hit over 30 home runs. October 5 – Glenn Burke greets Dusty Baker on the dugout steps to congratulate his Dodger teammate for hitting a grand slam against the Phillies in Game 2 of the 1977 NLCS. The greeting, which consists of the two players extending their right arms above their heads and slapping their hands to make a resounding clap, is considered to be the first 'high five' in baseball history. October 7 – In Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers were down 5 3 with 2 outs in the 9th inning, but the Dodgers catch lightning in a bottle. Pinch hitter Vic Davalillo beats out a 2 strike drag bunt and scores when pinch hitter Manny Mota follows with a long double off Greg Luzinski's glove. Mota reaches 3rd on a throw that Ted Sizemore mishandles. Davey Lopes' grounder hits a seam in the carpet and caroms off Mike Schmidt's knee to Larry Bowa, and the shortstop's throw is ruled late although television replays and a scene from a 1977 Philadelphia Phillies highlight film showed that Lopes was out. Mota scored to tie the game at 5 5. The Dodgers pull out a 6 5 victory when Bill Russell singles home Lopes after Lopes advanced to second on a wild pickoff throw by Gene Garber. October 8 – Tommy John of the Los Angeles Dodgers outduels Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies for a 4 1 win. October 18 – In Game Six of the World Series, Reggie Jackson hits three home runs in three swings to lead the New York Yankees to an 8–4, Series clinching victory. Jackson is named Series MVP. October 20 – Ron Blomberg who was the first designated hitter in the majors, becomes a free agent. October 25 – Earl Weaver of the Baltimore Orioles was named Associated Press American League Manager of the Year by a landslide vote. Weaver received 248 first place votes. Whitey Herzog of Kansas City Royals was second and Bob Lemon of Chicago White Sox was third. October 26 – The St. Louis Cardinals purchase the contract of pitcher Aurelio López from the Mexico City Reds of the Mexican League. October 27 – Calvin Griffith, owner of the Minnesota Twins, rejects manager Gene Mauch's request to resign and take a job as manager with the California Angels. Griffin informed both Mauch and Angels owner Gene Autry that Mauch was under contract to the Twins for three years.

November 2 – Steve Carlton won his 2nd Cy Young Award as his 23 wins helped The Phillies reach the postseason for the 2nd straight year, the first time the Phillies had consecutive postseason appearances. November 9 – George Foster was named the National League MVP after his spectacular 52 home run and 149 RBI season. Greg Luzinski of the Philadelphia Phillies finished second and Dave Parker of the Pittsburgh Pirates finished third. November 11 – Doc Medich signs as a free agent with the Texas Rangers. November 16 – Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins easily beats Al Cowens of the Oakland A's and Ken Singleton of the Baltimore Orioles in a vote to be named American League MVP. November 17 – Ron Blomberg, who missed much of the previous season with an injury, is signed to a huge free agent deal by White Sox owner Bill Veeck. The deal was for $500,000 plus and $80,000 bonus. The deal is a bust as Blomberg bats only .231 in 169 plate appearances. November 21 – Outfielder Lyman Bostock signs with the California Angels as a free agent. Bostock is killed in a shooting 10 months later. November 22 – Andre Dawson of the Montreal Expos wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award by one vote over Steve Henderson of the New York Mets. Dawson hit .282 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, while Henderson had .297, 12, 65. The New York Yankees sign pitcher Goose Gossage to a six year 2.75 million dollar contract. November 30 – Dave Kingman signs with the Chicago Cubs, making the Cubs the fifth franchise he was a part of during the Calendar year. Kingman started the season with the Mets, was traded to the Padres, who later released him. He was then signed by the Angels, played there for a week, and was traded to the New York Yankees, where he finished the season.

December 5 – The Toronto Blue Jays select Willie Upshaw from the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers select Ned Yost from the New York Mets in the 1977 Rule Five Draft. The California Angels trade outfielders Bobby Bonds, Thad Bosley and pitcher Richard Dotson to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for piytchers Chris Knapp, Dave Frost, and catcher/outfielder Brian Downing. December 8 – In an unusual four team, off season trade, the Atlanta Braves sent Willie Montañez to the New York Mets. Then, the Texas Rangers sent Adrian Devine, Tommy Boggs and Eddie Miller to the Braves; Tom Grieve and a player to be named later to the Mets, and Bert Blyleven to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates sent Al Oliver and Nelson Norman to the Rangers, and the Mets sent Jon Matlack to the Rangers and John Milner to the Pirates. The Rangers later sent Ken Henderson to the Mets to complete the trade (March 15, ). The Boston Red Sox acquire second baseman Jerry Remy from the California Angles in exchange for pitcher Don Aase. December 9 – The Oakland Athletics announce a trade of Vida Blue to the Cincinnati Reds for minor leaguer Dave Revering. December 14 – In one of baseball worst trades, the Boston Red Sox trade Ferguson Jenkins a future hall of fame player, to the Texas Rangers for pitcher John Poloni. Jenkins goes on to be a star for the Rangers and Poloni never pitches a game in the majors for the Red Sox.