The 1973 major league baseball season began on April 5 while the regular season ended on October 1. The postseason began on October 6. The 70th World Series then began on began on October 13 and concluded on October 21 with the Oakland Athletics of the American League defeating the New York Mets of the National League in seven games to win their seventh title in franchise history, winning their second of three straight World Series titles, and their second since moving to Oakland in 1968.
The 44th All-Star Game was held on July 24 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, home of the Kansas City Royals. The National League won, 7–1, and was the second win in what would be a 10-win streak that lasted until .
This was the first season of the designated hitter rule in the American League."The Historical Evolution of the Designated Hitter Rule," Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), John Cronin, Fall 2016.
American League umpires began wearing burgundy blazers with blue pants, a change from the navy blue coats and gray pants worn the previous five seasons (–). The burgundy blazers were worn through .
A lockout in the offseason (February 8–25) did not result in any regular season games being canceled, but the start of spring training was delayed.
Schedule
The 1973 schedule consisted of 162 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had 12 teams. Each league was split into two six-team divisions. Each team was scheduled to play 18 games against their five division rivals, totaling 90 games, and 12 games against six interdivision opponents, totaling 72 games. This continued the format put in place since the and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.
National League Opening Day took place on April 5, featuring a game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, while National League Opening Day took place the following day, featuring eight teams. In a scheduling oddity, April 30 saw all teams not play, the last time all teams would be off (aside from All-Star breaks and labor shortages) until June 29, . The American League would see its final day of the regular season on September 30, featuring 10 teams, while the National League would see its final day of the regular season on October 1, featuring four teams. The National League Championship Series took place between October 6 and October 10, while the American League Championship Series took place between October 6 and October 11. The World Series took place between October 13 and October 21.
Rule changes The 1973 season saw the following rule changes: The American League instituted the designated hitter on an experimental basis. The position replaces the pitcher in the batting lineup. It would eventually be made permanent in . It would not be until the season that the National League implemented the rule temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and permanently in . Rules instituting maximum glove dimensions and uniform color on pitcher's gloves were standardized. Decisions regarding protested games shall be finalized by the League President. Guidelines for cumulative performance records were added: Consecutive hitting streaks will continue if a base on balls, defensive interference, hit by pitch, or sacrifice bunt occurs, while a sacrifice fly will end the streak. Consecutive-game hitting streaks will follow the same guidelines as individual hitting streaks mentioned above; if a player has a sacrifice fly and no hits, the streak ends. Consecutive playing streaks end if a player misses an entire game or only appears as a pinch runner. The streak continues if a player has a full at bat or plays a half-inning of defense. If a player is ejected before reaching an of the aforementioned requirements, the streak continues. All actions and performances taken place during the completion of a suspended game will count to the original starting date of the game.
Teams LeagueDivisionTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerEastBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium52,137Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,379Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium76,966Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganTiger Stadium54,226Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium46,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium65,010WestCalifornia AngelsAnaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim Stadium43,202Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisWhite Sox Park44,492Kansas City RoyalsKansas City, MissouriRoyals Stadium40,625Minnesota TwinsBloomington, MinnesotaMetropolitan Stadium45,921Oakland AthleticsOakland, CaliforniaOakland–Alameda County Coliseum50,000Texas RangersArlington, TexasArlington Stadium35,698EastChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field37,741Montreal ExposMontreal, QuebecJarry Park Stadium28,456New York MetsNew York, New YorkShea Stadium55,300Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaVeterans Stadium55,730Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThree Rivers Stadium50,235St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriCivic Center Busch Memorial Stadium50,126WestAtlanta BravesAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta Stadium52,744Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioRiverfront Stadium51,726Houston AstrosHouston, TexasHouston Astrodome44,500Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles, CaliforniaDodger Stadium56,000San Diego PadresSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego Stadium44,790San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco, CaliforniaCandlestick Park58,000
Standings
American League
National League
Tie game 1 tie game (0 in AL, 1 in NL), which is not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and was replayed again) occurred during the season.
National League May 19, Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, tied at 7 following one out in the top of the 13th inning due to rain.
Postseason
The postseason began on October 6 and ended on October 21 with the Oakland Athletics defeating the New York Mets in the 1973 World Series in seven games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerCalifornia AngelsDel RiceBobby WinklesKansas City RoyalsBob LemonJack McKeonPhiladelphia PhilliesPaul OwensDanny OzarkTexas RangersTed WilliamsWhitey Herzog
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston Red SoxEddie KaskoEddie PopowskiDetroit TigersBilly MartinJoe Schultz Jr.Pittsburgh PiratesBill VirdonDanny MurtaughTexas RangersWhitey HerzogDel WilberDel WilberBilly Martin
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Rod Carew (MIN) .350 OPS Reggie Jackson (OAK) .914 HR Reggie Jackson (OAK) 32 RBI Reggie Jackson (OAK) 117 R Reggie Jackson (OAK) 99 H Rod Carew (MIN) 203 SB Tommy Harper (BOS) 54
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Wilbur Wood (CWS) 24 L Stan Bahnsen (CWS) 21 ERA Jim Palmer (BAL) 2.40 K Nolan Ryan1 (CAL) 383 IP Wilbur Wood (CWS) 359.1 SV John Hiller (DET) 38 WHIP Luis Tiant (BOS) 1.085 1 Modern (1901–present) single-season strikeout record
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Pete Rose (CIN) .338 OPS Willie Stargell (PIT) 1.038 HR Willie Stargell (PIT) 44 RBI Willie Stargell (PIT) 119 R Bobby Bonds (SF) 131 H Pete Rose (CIN) 230 SB Lou Brock (STL) 70
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Ron Bryant (SF) 24 L Steve Carlton (PHI) 20 ERA Tom Seaver (NYM) 2.08 K Tom Seaver (NYM) 251 IP Jack Billingham (CIN)Steve Carlton (PHI) 293.1 SV Mike Marshall (MON) 31 WHIP Tom Seaver (NYM) 0.976
Milestones Batters Cycles
Joe Torre (STL): Torre hit for his first cycle and 14th in franchise history, on June 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Other batting accomplishments Willie Davis (LAD): Hit his 2,000th career hit with a home run in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves on June 19. Pete Rose (CIN): Hit his 2,000th career hit with a single in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants on June 19. Bobby Bonds (SF): Breaks the National League record for most leadoff home runs previously set by Lou Brock, by hitting his 22nd leadoff home run against the Cincinnati Reds on June 20. Luis Aparicio (BOS): Recorded his 500th career stolen base in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of a doubleheader on July 1. He became the 22nd player to reach this mark. Willie McCovey (SF): Became the 15th player in Major League history to hit 400 home runs in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 15. Hank Aaron (ATL): Became the second player in Major League history to hit 700 home runs in the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 21. Lou Brock (STL): Recorded his 600th career stolen base in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs on July 30. He became the ninth player to reach this mark.
Pitchers No-hitters
Steve Busby (KC): Busby threw his first career no-hitter and the first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Detroit Tigers 3–0 on April 27. He walked six and struck out four. Nolan Ryan (CAL): Ryan threw his first career no-hitter and the third no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Kansas City Royals 3–0 on May 15. He walked three and struck out 12. Ryan threw his second career no-hitter and the fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Detroit Tigers 6–0 on July 15. He walked four and struck out 17. Jim Bibby (TEX/): Bibby threw his first career no-hitter and first no-hitter in franchise history as a part of the Texas Rangers, by defeating the Oakland Athletics 6–0 on July 30. He walked six and struck out 13. Phil Niekro (ATL): Niekro threw his first career no-hitter and 12th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the San Diego Padres 9–0 on August 5. He walked three and struck out four.
Other pitching accomplishments Bob Gibson (STL): Breaks the record for most consecutive starts previously set by Red Ruffing, by making his 242nd start against the San Francisco Giants. Nolan Ryan (CAL): Simultaneously broke Sandy Koufax's strikeout record and set the Major League record when he struck out his 383rd batter of the season, Rich Reese of the Minnesota Twins, on September 27 in the 11th inning,
Miscellaneous Chicago White Sox: Set a major league record for most runs scored in the 21st inning, by scoring four runs against the Cleveland Indians in a game that began on May 26 and ended in game one of a doubleheader on May 28. Montreal Expos / Cincinnati Reds: Set a National League record for most combined walks in a single game at 25, previously set in and at 23, with the Montreal Expos walking 10 and Cincinnati Reds walking 15, on July 9 in a game that Cincinnati won 11–6.
Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards BBWAA Award National League American League Rookie of the Year Gary Matthews (SF) Al Bumbry (BAL) Cy Young Award Tom Seaver (NYM) Jim Palmer (BAL) Most Valuable Player Pete Rose (CIN) Reggie Jackson (OAK) Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) — Bert Campaneris (OAK)Gold Glove Awards Position National League American League Pitcher Bob Gibson (STL) Jim Kaat (CWS/) Catcher Johnny Bench (CIN) Thurman Munson (NYY) 1st Base Mike Jorgensen (MON) George Scott (MIL) 2nd Base Joe Morgan (CIN) Bobby Grich (BAL) 3rd Base Doug Rader (HOU) Brooks Robinson (BAL) Shortstop Roger Metzger (HOU) Mark Belanger (BAL)Outfield Bobby Bonds (SF) Paul Blair (BAL) César Cedeño (HOU) Amos Otis (KC) Willie Davis (LAD) Mickey Stanley (DET)
Other awards Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Al Kaline (DET) Hutch Award: John Hiller (DET) Outstanding Designated Hitter Award: Orlando Cepeda (BOS) Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Reggie Jackson (OAK)