1968 Baseball Season

The 1968 baseball season was remarkable for its pitchers. Gaylord Perry and Catfish Hunter hurled no-hitters, and the Tigers' Denny McLain won 30 games. Find other highlights from the 1968 baseball season below:

• Tigers cruise to American League flag by 12-game margin.

• Cards repeat in National League, as Giants finish second for the fourth year in a row.

• Tigers take 1968 World Series in seven games after trailing in the Series three games to one.

• Mickey Lolich wins three 1968 World Series games for Tigers and beats Bob Gibson in the closing contest.

• Gibson sets World Series record in game one when he fans 17 Tigers.

• Lou Brock once again tops all Series batters with .464 BA and record-tying seven steals.

• Al Kaline hits .379 and produces a Series-top eight RBI.

• Detroit triumphs in game seven of 1968 World Series by breaking up scoreless duel with three runs in the seventh inning.

• Detroit's Denny McLain, first 30-game winner in National League since 1934, cops 1968 American League MVP and Cy Young by racking up 31 wins.

• Gibson posts a 1.12 ERA, lowest in the major league since 1914, and is named the 1968 National League MVP and Cy Young winner.

• Gibson has 13 shutouts, most in Major League since 1916.

• The A's move to Oakland and top American League with .240 BA, lowest in major league history by a loop leader.

• Houston beats Mets 1-0 in 24 innings on April 15, the longest 1-0 game in major league history.

• Don Drysdale sets new major league record when he pitches 58 consecutive scoreless innings.

• Carl Yastrzemski wins American League bat crown with .301 BA, lowest in major league history to lead a league.

• Yankees set post-dead-ball record for lowest team batting average when they hit just .214.

• National League attendance is down to 11.7 million.

• National League wins first indoor All-Star Game 1-0 at Houston, as winning run scores on a double-play grounder.

• Willie Mays is first to win two All-Star MVP Awards.

  In 1968, rookie Johnny Bench won the first of ten consecutive Gold Gloves.

• Cincinnati rookie catcher Johnny Bench wins first of ten consecutive Gold Gloves.

• Mickey Stanley of Tigers is awarded 1968 American League Gold Glove as outfielder, but plays shortstop in World Series.

• Luis Tiant strikes out 19 batters for the Indians in a ten-inning game on July 3.

• Player Relations Committee and Players Association hammer out their first "Basic Agreement."

• Cesar Tovar plays all nine positions for Twins on Sept. 22.

• Giant Jim Davenport's record streak of 97 consecutive errorless games at third base ends.

• Hank Aaron hits his 500th homer on July 14.

• On July 29, Senator Ron Hansen performs the first unassisted triple play in major league since 1927.

• George Culver of Cincinnati no-hits Phils on July 29.

• Tom Phoebus of Baltimore no-hits Boston on April 27.

• Gaylord Perry of Giants no-hits the Cards on Sept. 17.

• On September 18, Ray Washburn of Cards no-hits the Giants.

• On May 8, Catfish Hunter of the A's pitches a perfect game vs. Twins, and collects three hits and four RBI in his own cause.

• Washington's Frank Howard tops majors with 44 homers, 330 total bases, and .552 SA.

• Willie McCovey leads National League in homers (36), RBI (105), and SA (.545).

• Juan Marichal tops National League in wins (26), CGs (30), and innings (326).

Continue to the next page to find more of the year's biggest highlights.

To learn more about baseball, see:

• 1967 Baseball Season
• 1969 Baseball Season
• Baseball History
• How Baseball Works
• How the Baseball Hall of Fame Works
• How Minor League Baseball Teams Work
• Babe Ruth
  

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