1973 Baseball Season Highlights

In 1973, Nolan Ryan became part of baseball history when he became the fifth pitcher to hurl two no-hitters in one season. Willie Mays retired holding the record for most career chances by a National League outfielder. Below, you can find more highlights of the 1973 baseball season.

  • Oakland grabs its second consecutive American League flag.
  • Mets win in National League with .509 win pct., lowest ever for major league flag winner.
  • Oakland defeats Baltimore in five games in American League Championship Series, as Catfish Hunter shuts out the Orioles in game five.
  • Mets beat Reds in five games in National League Championship Series, as Mets pitchers post 1.33 ERA.
  • Mets take A's to seven games in 1973 World Series before succumbing.
  • Ken Holtzman wins two 1973 World Series games for Oakland.
  • New York's Rusty Staub tops all batters in the 1973 World Series with 11 hits, .423 BA, and six RBI.
  • The Mets and A's make for first World Series in history without a .300-hitting regular on either team.
  • Oakland's Reggie Jackson is 1973 American League MVP, leading loop in homers (32), RBI (117), runs (99), and SA (.531).
  • Pete Rose cops 1973 National League MVP.
  • Tom Seaver wins 1973 National League Cy Young award although he wins just 19 games, five less than Ron Bryant of Giants.
  • Jim Palmer wins 1973 American League Cy Young Award.
  • Willie Stargell tops majors in homers (44), doubles (43), RBI (119), and SA (.646).
  • Third "Basic Agreement" gives players the right to salary arbitration and to "five and ten" rule with respect to trades.
  • White Sox Wilbur Wood is first pitcher in 57 years to both win and lose 20 games in a season, as he goes 24-20.
  • Ship magnate George Steinbrenner buys the Yankees.
  • On July 20, Wilbur Wood becomes last major league hurler to start both games of a doubleheader; he loses both.
  • Oriole Bobby Grich's .995 FA sets major league record for second basemen.
  • Detroit's John Hiller sets new major league record with 38 saves.
  • Nolan Ryan fans major league record 383.
  • Braves have three men with at least 40 homers -- Dave Johnson (43), Darrell Evans (41), and Hank Aaron (40).
  • Yankee pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson swap wives, families, houses, and dogs.
  • American League adopts designated hitter rule -- pitchers no longer have to bat for themselves.
  • On April 6, Yankee Ron Blomberg becomes first Designated Hitter to bat in major league.
  • National League wins 1973 All-Star Game 7-1 at Kansas City, as a record 54 players participate.
  • Giant Gary Matthews wins the 1973 National League Rookie of the Year Award.
  • Baltimore's Al Bunibry is 1973 American League Rookie of the Year.
  • Steve Busby of Kansas City no-hits Detroit on April 27.
  • Nolan Ryan no-hits KC on May 15.
  • Ryan no-hits the Tigers on July 15.
  • Jim Bibby of Texas no-hits Oakland on July 20.
  • Pete Rose wins National League bat crown (.338) and leads majors in hits (230).

1973 Baseball Season Highlights
Phil Niekro pitched 20 seasons for the Braves.
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  • Rod Carew leads American League in BA (.350) and hits (203), and ties for lead in triples (11).
  • Giant Bobby Bonds just misses becoming first 40/40 player in major league history, as he hits 39 homers and steals 43 bases.
  • Wood ties Bryant for major league lead in wins with 24.
Check out the next page to find more exciting highlights of the 1973 baseball season.

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