1973 Major League Baseball season

The 1973 Major League Baseball season was the first season of the designated hitter rule in the American League.[1]

This article is about the 1973 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 1973 in baseball.

1973 MLB season
League	Major League Baseball
Sport	Baseball
Duration	April 5 – October 21, 1973
Draft
Top draft pick	David Clyde
Picked by	Texas Rangers
Regular season
Season MVP	AL: Reggie Jackson (OAK) NL: Pete Rose (CIN)
Postseason
AL champions	Oakland Athletics
AL runners-up	Baltimore Orioles
NL champions	New York Mets
NL runners-up	Cincinnati Reds
World Series
Champions	Oakland Athletics
Runners-up	New York Mets
Finals MVP	Reggie Jackson (OAK)

American League umpires began wearing red blazers with blue pants, a change from the navy blue coats and gray pants worn from 1968-72. The red blazers were worn through 1979.

California Angels ace pitcher Nolan Ryan broke Sandy Koufax's 1965 strikeout record of 382 when he struck out 383 batters during the season.

The Oakland Athletics won their second straight World Series championship in seven games over the New York Mets.

The Kansas City Royals moved their home games from Municipal Stadium to the new Royals Stadium (adjacent to the Chiefs' football facility) and also hosted the All-Star Game on July 24 with the NL defeating the AL 7–1.

The New York Yankees played their final season at the original Yankee Stadium before the stadium closed for remodeling during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.

On June 19, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds and Willie Davis of the Los Angeles Dodgers both collect their 2000th career hit. It is a single for Rose against the San Francisco Giants while Davis hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves.[2]

Awards and honors

• Baseball Hall of Fame
  • Roberto Clemente
  • Billy Evans
  • Monte Irvin
  • George Kelly
  • Warren Spahn
  • Mickey Welch
• Most Valuable Player
  • Reggie Jackson (AL) Oakland Athletics
  • Pete Rose (NL) Cincinnati Reds
• Cy Young Award
  • Jim Palmer (AL) Baltimore Orioles
  • Tom Seaver (NL) New York Mets
• Rookie of the Year
  • Al Bumbry (AL) Baltimore Orioles
  • Gary Matthews (NL) San Francisco Giants
• Gold Glove Award
  • George Scott (1B) (AL)
  • Bobby Grich (2B) (AL)
  • Brooks Robinson (3B) (AL)
  • Mark Belanger (SS) (AL)
  • Paul Blair (OF) (AL)
  • Amos Otis (OF) (AL)
  • Mickey Stanley (OF) (AL)
  • Thurman Munson (C) (AL)
  • Jim Kaat (P) (AL)

Regular season standings

American League AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road Baltimore Orioles 97 65 0.599 — 50–31 47–34 Boston Red Sox 89 73 0.549 8 48–33 41–40 Detroit Tigers 85 77 0.525 12 47–34 38–43 New York Yankees 80 82 0.494 17 50–31 30–51 Milwaukee Brewers 74 88 0.457 23 40–41 34–47 Cleveland Indians 71 91 0.438 26 34–47 37–44 AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road Oakland Athletics 94 68 0.580 — 50–31 44–37 Kansas City Royals 88 74 0.543 6 48–33 40–41 Minnesota Twins 81 81 0.500 13 37–44 44–37 California Angels 79 83 0.488 15 43–38 36–45 Chicago White Sox 77 85 0.475 17 40–41 37–44 Texas Rangers 57 105 0.352 37 35–46 22–59

National League NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road New York Mets 82 79 0.509 — 43–38 39–41 St. Louis Cardinals 81 81 0.500 1½ 43–38 38–43 Pittsburgh Pirates 80 82 0.494 2½ 41–40 39–42 Montreal Expos 79 83 0.488 3½ 43–38 36–45 Chicago Cubs 77 84 0.478 5 41–39 36–45 Philadelphia Phillies 71 91 0.438 11½ 38–43 33–48 NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road Cincinnati Reds 99 63 0.611 — 50–31 49–32 Los Angeles Dodgers 95 66 0.590 3½ 50–31 45–35 San Francisco Giants 88 74 0.543 11 47–34 41–40 Houston Astros 82 80 0.506 17 41–40 41–40 Atlanta Braves 76 85 0.472 22½ 40–40 36–45 San Diego Padres 60 102 0.370 39 31–50 29–52

Postseason

	League Championship Series (ALCS, NLCS)					World Series
	East	Baltimore	2
	West	Oakland	3
						AL	Oakland	4
						NL	NY Mets	3
	East	NY Mets	3
	West	Cincinnati	2

Statistical leaders

Statistic	American League		National League
AVG	Rod Carew MIN	.350	Pete Rose CIN	.338
HR	Reggie Jackson OAK	32	Willie Stargell PIT	44
RBI	Reggie Jackson OAK	117	Willie Stargell PIT	119
Wins	Wilbur Wood CHW	24	Ron Bryant SF	24
ERA	Jim Palmer BAL	2.40	Tom Seaver NYM	2.08
SO	Nolan Ryan CAL	383	Tom Seaver NYM	251
SV	John Hiller DET	38	Mike Marshall MTL	31
SB	Tommy Harper BOS	54	Lou Brock STL	70

References

1. "The Historical Evolution of the Designated Hitter Rule," Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), John Cronin, Fall 2016.
2. June 19 in Baseball. Baseball Reference. Retrieved on June 19, 2019.

External links

• 1973 Major League Baseball season schedule at Baseball Reference