1968 Baseball Season Highlights
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).
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