1961–1976
Expansion Era
New cities got clubs, the draft arrived, and a few owners treated the ballpark as a show. Some of what lasted from these years was a trade made in a hurry. Some of it was a promotion that ended with the umpire giving the game to the visitors.
The chapter is the stretch when the sport got larger and a handful of decisions got harder to defend. Brock left Chicago in June. Ryan left New York in the winter. Cleveland sold beer for a dime, and the field did not stay a field.
In this chapter
All 9 entriesNo. 1964.06.15
1964
Brock for Broglio
The Cubs traded Lou Brock to the Cardinals for Ernie Broglio in a six-player deal. Brock finished with 3,023 hits. Broglio won seven games in Chicago.
Chicago Cubs · St. Louis Cardinals
No. 1964.09.21
1964
The Phillies' 1964 Collapse
Philadelphia led the league by 6½ games with twelve to play. Gene Mauch kept running his aces out on short rest. The Phillies lost ten in a row.
Philadelphia Phillies · Cincinnati Reds · St. Louis Cardinals
No. 1965.12.09
1965
Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas
Cincinnati's Bill DeWitt called Frank Robinson an old thirty and traded him to Baltimore. The next year Robinson won the Triple Crown.
Cincinnati Reds · Baltimore Orioles
No. 1971.12.10
1971
Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi
The Mets traded Nolan Ryan and three others to the Angels for Jim Fregosi. Ryan left with seven no-hitters. Fregosi was gone in a season and a half.
New York Mets · California Angels
Ten-Cent Beer Night
Cleveland sold beer for a dime, the limit collapsed, and the crowd stormed the field. The umpires forfeited the game to Texas.
Cleveland Indians · Texas Rangers