1968 Baseball Season

by the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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.

    1968 Baseball Season Highlights
    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.
  • 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.

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