1973 Major League Baseball season
| 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) |
The 1973 Major League Baseball season was the first season of play for the designated hitter in the American League. The Kansas City Royals moved their home games from Municipal Stadium to the new Royals Stadium, adjacent to the Chiefs' football facility, Arrowhead Stadium. Royals Stadium also played host to the 1973 All-Star Game on July 24, with the NL defeating the AL, 7–1.
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 New York Yankees played their final season at the original Yankee Stadium before the stadium closed for remodeling during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
Awards and honors
- Baseball Hall of Fame
- Most Valuable Player
- Cy Young Award
- Jim Palmer (AL) Baltimore Orioles
- Tom Seaver (NL) New York Mets
- Rookie of the Year
- 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
|
National League
|
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 |
External links