The 1970 major league baseball season began on April 6, 1970, while the regular season ended on October 1. The postseason began on October 3. The 67th World Series began with Game 1 on October 10 and ended with Game 5 on October 15, with the Baltimore Orioles of the American League defeating the Cincinnati Reds of the National League, four games to one, capturing their second championship in franchise history, since their previous in . Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Mets from the season.
The 41st All-Star Game was held on July 14 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, home of the Cincinnati Reds. The National League won in 12 innings, 5–4, concluding their eight-season win streak.
During spring training, the Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Brewers, being the ninth team since 1953 to relocate, and the fifth of American League teams since them. Due to stadium issues and the team declaring bankruptcy, the team was sold to a Milwaukee-based group and promptly relocated. After having a team for only a single season, Seattle would be without a major league team for seven seasons until the expansion in , with the enfranchisement of the Seattle Mariners. The team was tied with the coincidentally named 1901 Milwaukee Brewers (modern-day Baltimore Orioles) as the shortest-tenured team of the American League.
National League umpires began wearing numbers on the sleeves of their blazers and the new short-sleeved light blue shirts they began wearing (to replace the long sleeved shirts of previous years). The numbers were in alphabetical order (Al Barlick wore #1, Ken Burkhart #2, etc.) and this remained the annual numbering system until the 1979 season when the numbers became permanent regardless of retirements/resignations/firings/etc.
Schedule
The 1970 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 previous season and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.
Opening Day took place on April 6, featuring four teams. The final day of the regular season was on October 1, featuring 22 teams. Each League Championship Series took place between October 3 and October 5. The World Series took place between October 10 and October 15.
Rule change The 1970 season saw the following rule change: A "caveat emptor" amendment was approved by both leagues, regarding player trades. Under the new rule, all trades, once agreed upon, would stand, such that a player could not elect to retire and freeze/cancel a trade as a means to stop it. Now, the trade would occur, and it was up to a team themselves to persuade their players to report to work.
Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueDivisionTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerEastBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium52,137Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,375Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium76,966Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganTiger Stadium54,226New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,000Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium43,500WestCalifornia AngelsAnaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim Stadium43,202Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisWhite Sox Park46,550Kansas City RoyalsKansas City, MissouriMunicipal Stadium34,164Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium45,768Minnesota TwinsBloomington, MinnesotaMetropolitan Stadium45,914Oakland AthleticsOakland, CaliforniaOakland–Alameda County Coliseum50,000EastChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field36,644Montreal ExposMontreal, QuebecJarry Park Stadium28,456New York MetsNew York, New YorkShea Stadium55,300Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaConnie Mack Stadium33,608Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field35,500Three Rivers Stadium*50,500*St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriCivic Center Busch Memorial Stadium49,450WestAtlanta BravesAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta Stadium51,383Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field*29,603*Riverfront Stadium51,500Houston AstrosHouston, TexasHouston Astrodome44,500Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles, CaliforniaDodger Stadium56,000San Diego PadresSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego Stadium50,000San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco, CaliforniaCandlestick Park42,500
Standings
American League
National League
Tie game 1 tie game (1 in AL, 0 in NL), which is not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and was replayed again) occurred during the season.
American League May 11, Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Yankees, tied at 5 in the top of the 10th inning after a 38 minute rain delay; game called at 11:43 p.m.
Postseason
The postseason began on October 3 and ended on October 15 with the Baltimore Orioles defeating the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970 World Series in five games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston Red SoxEddie PopowskiEddie KaskoCincinnati RedsDave BristolSparky AndersonKansas City RoyalsJoe GordonCharlie MetroMilwaukee BrewersJoe Schultz Jr.(Seattle Pilots)Dave BristolMinnesota TwinsBilly MartinBill RigneyPhiladelphia PhilliesGeorge MyattFrank LucchesiPittsburgh PiratesAlex GrammasDanny Murtaugh
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago White SoxDon GutteridgeBill AdairBill AdairChuck TannerKansas City RoyalsCharlie MetroBob LemonSan Francisco GiantsClyde KingCharlie Fox
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Alex Johnson (CAL) .329 OPS Carl Yastrzemski (BOS) 1.044 HR Frank Howard (WAS) 44 RBI Frank Howard (WAS) 126 R Carl Yastrzemski (BOS) 125 H Tony Oliva (MIN) 204 SB Bert Campaneris (OAK) 42
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Mike Cuellar (BAL)Dave McNally (BAL)Jim Perry (MIN) 24 L Mickey Lolich (DET) 19 ERA Diego Seguí (OAK) 2.56 K Sam McDowell (CLE) 304 IP Sam McDowell (CLE)Jim Palmer (BAL) 305.0 SV Ron Perranoski (MIN) 34 WHIP Fritz Peterson (NYY) 1.102
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Rico Carty (ATL) .366 OPS Willie McCovey (SF) 1.056 HR Johnny Bench (CIN) 45 RBI Johnny Bench (CIN) 148 R Billy Williams (CHC) 137 H Pete Rose (CIN)Billy Williams (CHC) 205 SB Bobby Tolan (CIN) 57
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Bob Gibson (STL)Gaylord Perry (SF) 23 L Steve Carlton (STL) 19 ERA Tom Seaver (NYM) 2.82 K Tom Seaver (NYM) 283 IP Gaylord Perry (SF) 328.2 SV Wayne Granger (CIN) 35 WHIP Ferguson Jenkins (CHC) 1.038
Milestones Batters Cycles
Wes Parker (LAD): Parker hit for his first cycle and eighth in franchise history, on May 7 against the New York Mets. Rod Carew (MIN): Carew hit for his first cycle and fifth in franchise history, on May 20 against the Kansas City Royals. Tony Horton (CLE): Horton hit for his first cycle and fifth in franchise history, on July 2 against the Baltimore Orioles. Tommie Agee (NYM): Agee hit for his first cycle and second in franchise history, on July 6 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Jim Ray Hart (SF): Hart hit for his first cycle and 14th in franchise history, on July 8 against the Atlanta Braves.
Other batting accomplishments Ernie Banks (CHC): Became the ninth player in Major League history to hit 500 home runs in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves on May 12. Hank Aaron (ATL): Became the ninth member of the 3,000-hit club with a single in the first inning in game two of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds on May 17. César Gutiérrez (DET): Tied a major league record and set a modern major league record when he hit seven times in one nine inning game against the Cleveland Indians in game two of a doubleheader on June 21. Frank Robinson (BAL): Became the seventh player to hit two grand slams in a single game, in a 12–2 win over the Washington Senators on June 26. Jim Ray Hart (SF): Ties a major league record with six runs batted in during one inning, by hitting a three-run home run and a three-run triple in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves on July 8. Willie Mays (SF): Became the 10th member of the 3,000-hit club with a single in the second inning against the Montreal Expos on July 18. Vic Davalillo (STL): Breaks the National League single-season pinch hitting record and ties the Major League record with his 24th pinch hit of the year on October 1.
Pitchers No-hitters
Dock Ellis (PIT): Ellis threw his first career no-hitter and fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the San Diego Padres 2–0 in game one of a doubleheader on June 12. He walked eight, hit one by pitch, and struck out six. Clyde Wright (CAL): Wright threw his first career no-hitter and second no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Oakland Athletics 4–0 on July 3. He walked three and struck out one. Bill Singer (LAD): Singer threw his first career no-hitter and 18th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 5–0 on July 20. He walked none, hit one by pitch, and struck out 10. Vida Blue (OAK): Blue threw his first career no-hitter and seventh no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Minnesota Twins 6–0 on September 21. He walked one and struck out nine.
Other pitching accomplishments Tom Seaver (NYM): Became the fourth all-time and second modern Major League player to strike out 19 batters for most strikeouts in a single nine-inning game in a 2–1 win against the San Diego Padres on April 22. Hoyt Wilhelm (CHC/): Became the first pitcher to make 1,000 pitching appearances as a member of the Atlanta Braves on May 10.
Miscellaneous Billy Williams (CHC): Set a National League record of 1,117 consecutive games played when he plays his final game of the streak on September 2.
Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards BBWAA Award National League American League Rookie of the Year Carl Morton (MON) Thurman Munson (NYY) Cy Young Award Bob Gibson (STL) Jim Perry (MIN) Most Valuable Player Johnny Bench (CIN) Boog Powell (BAL) Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) — Brooks Robinson (BAL)Gold Glove Awards Position National League American League Pitcher Bob Gibson (STL) Jim Kaat (MIN) Catcher Johnny Bench (CIN) Ray Fosse (CLE) 1st Base Wes Parker (LAD) Jim Spencer (CAL) 2nd Base Tommy Helms (CIN) Davey Johnson (BAL) 3rd Base Doug Rader (HOU) Brooks Robinson (BAL) Shortstop Don Kessinger (CHC) Luis Aparicio (CWS)Outfield Tommie Agee (NYM) Ken Berry (CWS) Roberto Clemente (PIT) Paul Blair (BAL) Pete Rose (CIN) Mickey Stanley (DET)
Other awards Hutch Award: Tony Conigliaro (BOS) Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Brooks Robinson (BAL)
The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the Year Johnny Bench (CIN) — Pitcher of the Year Bob Gibson (STL) Sam McDowell (CLE) Fireman of the Year(Relief pitcher) Wayne Granger (CIN) Ron Perranoski (MIN) Rookie Player of the Year Bernie Carbo (CIN) Roy Foster (CLE) Rookie Pitcher of the Year Carl Morton (MON) Bert Blyleven (MIN) Comeback Player of the Year Jim Hickman (CHC) Clyde Wright (CAL) Manager of the Year Danny Murtaugh (PIT) — Executive of the Year —Harry Dalton (BAL)
Monthly awards Player of the Month
Month National League May Rico Carty (ATL) June Tommie Agee (NYM) July Bill Singer (LAD) August Bob Gibson (STL)
Baseball Hall of Fame
Lou Boudreau Earle Combs Jesse Haines Ford Frick (executive)
Home field attendance