September 2, 1970: Hal King hits grand slam as Hoyt Wilhelm earns final victory of his career
“It was about time we beat ’em here.”1
That’s what 48-year-old2…
July 22, 1978: Nestor Chylak’s Hall of Fame umpiring career ends quietly
On the night of July 22, 1978, a future Hall of Famer’s career…
October 1, 1970: Wrecking ball for Connie Mack Stadium as Phillies play final game
The Philadelphia Phillies had hoped to play their 1970 season…
September 30, 1981: Twins close Metropolitan Stadium with a loss
It was a bad day.
The weather was drab, home plate was missing,…
September 25, 1973: Shea Stadium celebrates Willie Mays Night
Willie Mays returned to New York when the San Francisco Giants…
June 29, 1985: Tigers’ Terrell tops Blue Jays with two-hitter; was this baseball’s final game with zero strikeouts?
Baseball has experienced a dramatic increase of strikeouts over…
August 18, 1986: Tom Seaver strikes out 7 in his last major-league win
When Tom Seaver pitched his last game in a major-league uniform,…
September 17, 1983: Johnny Bench celebrates Riverfront Stadium farewell with final home run, last catching appearance
A packed Riverfront Stadium celebrated future Hall of Fame catcher…
September 30, 1971: Senators forfeit final home game in Washington, DC
“Well, it’s a strange way to lose a ball game,” said…
September 27, 1987: Phil Niekro returns to Braves for final start
Unless they announce their retirement in advance, very few players…
May 9, 1972: Willie Mays pinch-hits in his last game with the Giants
On May 11, 1972, the San Francisco Giants traded Willie Mays.…
July 10, 1972: Hoyt Wilhelm appears in 1,070th and final game
The best baseball players return reliably year after year until…
September 20, 1968: Mickey Mantle’s 536th and final home run marks end of an era
Mickey Mantle had done it 535 times before, so his solo clout…
September 30, 1973: A goodbye for Leo Durocher; a long wait for Hank Aaron
It took a lot to pry the attention of the baseball world away…
June 24, 1970: Reds win final game played at Crosley Field
In the pregame ceremony for the final contest at Crosley Field,…
August 3, 1979: Somebody’s missing: heartbroken Yankees play first game after Thurman Munson’s death
The array of emotions ranged among shock, disbelief, anger, sadness,…
June 28, 1970: ‘Human Locusts Have Their Day’: Pirates play final game at Forbes Field
At 11:00 A.M., the rookie pitcher relaxed in a booth on Forbes…
September 25, 1976: Bob Moose makes final appearance for Pirates before tragic death
A spate of premature deaths between 1970 and 1979 brought baseball…
October 3, 1976: Pirates sweep doubleheader in Danny Murtaugh’s final games as manager
The Pirates’ 1976 season and Danny Murtaugh’s managerial…
July 20, 1976: Hank Aaron hits his 755th and final career home run
It seems appropriate somehow that Henry Aaron’s last moonshot…
June 12, 1977: Tom Seaver wins his final game for Mets
The New York Mets faced the Houston Astros in the final game…
October 1, 1983: Carl Yastrzemski Day at Fenway Park
A sellout crowd packed Fenway Park and then waited 20 minutes…
September 6, 1982: Willie Stargell Day in Pittsburgh
Willie “Pops” Stargell, the captain of the Pittsburgh Pirates,…
September 18, 1977: “Thanks, Brooks” Day in Baltimore
Three teams had been battling all year for the 1977 American…