1973 Major League Baseball postseason

1973 Major League Baseball playoffs July 2022 Major League Baseball postseason 1973 October 6–21, 19731973 Major Leagues Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1973-schedule.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 May 20, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220520112838/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1973-schedule.shtml live 4 Oakland Athletics(7th title) New York Mets 17 796670 Rusty Staub (NYM) 4 Bert Campaneris (OAK) 6 Tom Seaver (NYM) 35 Rollie Fingers (OAK) 0.93 Reggie Jackson (OAK) 1972 1974 The 1973 Major League Baseball postseason was the playoff tournament of Major League Baseball for the 1973 season. The winners of each division advance to the postseason and face each other in a League Championship Series to determine the pennant winners that face each other in the World Series. In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles returned to the postseason for the fourth time in the past five seasons, and the Oakland Athletics made their third straight appearance. In the National League, the Cincinnati Reds returned for the third time in the past four seasons, and the New York Mets returned for the second time in the past five seasons. This was the Mets’ last postseason appearance until 1986. The playoffs began on October 6, 1973, and concluded on October 21, 1973, with the Athletics defeating the Mets in seven games in the 1973 World Series. The Athletics repeated as World Series champions. Teams right 10px American League Teams 10px National League Teams 480 360 220 85 10 USA 400 USA 39.33 -76.60 Red pog.svg 80 bottom Orioles USA 37.75 -122.20 Red pog.svg 80 right Athletics USA 40.76 -73.85 Blue pog.svg 80 top Mets USA 39.09 -84.51 Blue pog.svg 80 bottom Reds The following teams qualified for the postseason: American League Baltimore Orioles – 97–65, AL East champions1973 Baltimore Orioles Statistics https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1973.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 March 26, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220326190215/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1973.shtml live Oakland Athletics – 94–68, AL West champions1973 Oakland Athletics Statistics https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/1973.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 May 6, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220506221504/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/1973.shtml live National League New York Mets – 82–79, NL East champions1973 New York Mets Statistics https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1973.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 June 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220627163924/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1973.shtml live Cincinnati Reds – 99–63, NL West champions1973 Cincinnati Reds Statistics https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1973.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 October 12, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211012192313/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1973.shtml live Playoff bracket League Championship Series(ALCS, NLCS) World Series y East Baltimore 2 3 West Oakland East NY Mets West Cincinnati 3 2 AL Oakland NL NY Mets 4 3 American League Championship Series 1973 American League Championship Series Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics Oakland 3–2 Oakland Athletics – 0, Baltimore Orioles – 6 October 6 Memorial Stadium 2:51 41,279 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10060BAL1973.htm 1973 ALCS Game 1 – Oakland A's vs. Baltimore Orioles 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135042/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10060BAL1973.htm live Oakland Athletics – 6, Baltimore Orioles – 3 October 7 Memorial Stadium 2:42 48,425 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10070BAL1973.htm 1973 ALCS Game 2 – Oakland A's vs. Baltimore Orioles 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135044/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10070BAL1973.htm live Baltimore Orioles – 1, Oakland Athletics – 2 (11) October 9 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 2:23 34,367 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10090OAK1973.htm 1973 ALCS Game 3 – Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland A's 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135049/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10090OAK1973.htm live Baltimore Orioles – 5, Oakland Athletics – 4 October 10 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 2:31 27,497 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10100OAK1973.htm 1973 ALCS Game 4 – Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland A's 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135052/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10100OAK1973.htm live Baltimore Orioles – 0, Oakland Athletics – 3 October 11 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 2:11 24,265 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10110OAK1973.htm 1973 ALCS Game 5 – Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland A's 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135055/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10110OAK1973.htm live This was the second postseason meeting between the Orioles and Athletics. They previously met in the ALCS in 1971, which the Orioles won in a sweep before falling in the World Series. This time, the Athletics returned the favor, defeating the Orioles in five games to advance to the World Series for the second year in a row (in the process denying a rematch of the 1969 World Series between the Mets and Orioles). Jim Palmer pitched a five-hit complete-game shutout as the Orioles took Game 1. Catfish Hunter threw seven solid innings as the Athletics took Game 2 to even the series heading to Oakland. The Athletics prevailed in an long extra-inning Game 3 as Bert Campaneris hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the eleventh. In Game 4, the Athletics led 4-0 and were nine outs away from the pennant, then the Orioles rallied - in the top of the seventh, Brooks Robinson got the Orioles on the board with an RBI single, then Andy Etchebarren hit a three-run home run to tie the game at four, and then Bobby Grich hit a solo homer in the top of the eighth to put the Orioles in the lead for good, capping off an improbable comeback to force a fifth game. However, Hunter pitched a five-hit complete-game shutout as the Athletics won 3–0 in Game 5 to secure the pennant. Game 5 was the least attended winner-take-all game in postseason history, drawing only 24,265 fans - half the capacity of Oakland Coliseum.https://thisgreatgame.com/ballparks-oakland-coliseum/ The Ballparks - Oakland Coliseum This Great Game August 28, 2026 Both teams would meet one more time in the ALCS the next year, which the Athletics won in four games en route to completing a World Series three-peat. The Orioles would eventually win the pennant again in 1979 over the California Angels in four games before falling in the World Series. National League Championship Series 1973 National League Championship Series New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds New York 3–2 New York Mets – 1, Cincinnati Reds – 2 October 6 Riverfront Stadium 2:00 53,431 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10060CIN1973.htm 1973 NLCS Game 1 – New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds 11 July 2022 Retrosheet July 12, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210712221940/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10060CIN1973.htm live New York Mets – 5, Cincinnati Reds – 0 October 7 Riverfront Stadium 2:19 54,041 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10070CIN1973.htm 1973 NLCS Game 2 – New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds 11 July 2022 Retrosheet July 13, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210713125913/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10070CIN1973.htm live Cincinnati Reds – 2, New York Mets – 9 October 8 Shea Stadium 2:48 53,967 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10080NYN1973.htm 1973 NLCS Game 3 – Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135047/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10080NYN1973.htm live Cincinnati Reds – 2, New York Mets – 1 (12) October 9 Shea Stadium 3:07 50,786 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10090NYN1973.htm 1973 NLCS Game 4 – Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets 11 July 2022 Retrosheet July 12, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210712221926/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10090NYN1973.htm live Cincinnati Reds – 2, New York Mets – 7 October 10 Shea Stadium 2:40 50,323 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10100NYN1973.htm 1973 NLCS Game 5 – Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets 11 July 2022 Retrosheet July 13, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210713124755/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10100NYN1973.htm live This was the only NLCS between 1970 and 1980 to not feature either team from Pennsylvania. In one of the most shocking upsets in postseason history, the 82-win Mets defeated the defending National League champions, the 99-win Reds, in five games to advance to the World Series for the second time in five years. The Reds narrowly took Game 1 thanks to a walk-off home run from catcher Johnny Bench. In Game 2, Jon Matlack pitched a two-hit complete game shutout as the Mets won 5–0 to even the series headed to Queens. Game 3 was marred by a fight that broke out in the fifth inning, beginning with a tussle between Cincinnati's Pete Rose and New York's Bud Harrelson at second base. Players from both sides joined in a brawl that lasted for several minutes and set off rowdy fan behavior at Shea Stadium. Photographs of the fight, autographed by Rose and Harrelson, are now available at a number of Internet sites. The Mets blew out the Reds in Game 3 to take a 2–1 series lead. The Reds prevailed in a long and frustrating Game 4, thanks to a solo home run from Rose in the top of the twelfth. In Game 5, the Mets blew out the Reds again to clinch the pennant, completing a massive upset. The 1973 Mets' 82-wins remains the lowest of any pennant winner in MLB history. The Reds would return to the NLCS two years later, where they swept their archrival in the Pittsburgh Pirates en route to a World Series title. In 2023, the Mets’ upset of the Reds in the 1973 NLCS was ranked as the fifth biggest upset in postseason history by MLB.com.https://www.mlb.com/news/biggest-upsets-in-mlb-postseason-history Underdogs? Don't tell these playoff teams Castrovince Anthony MLB.com October 12, 2023 November 13, 2024 The Mets would win their next pennant in 1986 over the Houston Astros in six games en route to a World Series title. 1973 World Series 1973 World Series Oakland Athletics (AL) vs. New York Mets (NL) Oakland 4–3 New York Mets – 1, Oakland Athletics – 2 October 13 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 2:26 46,021 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10130OAK1973.htm 1973 World Series Game 1 – New York Mets vs. Oakland A's 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308120612/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10130OAK1973.htm live New York Mets – 10, Oakland Athletics – 7 (12) October 14 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 4:13 49,151 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10140OAK1973.htm 1973 World Series Game 2 – New York Mets vs. Oakland A's 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308062555/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10140OAK1973.htm live Oakland Athletics – 3, New York Mets – 2 (11) October 16 Shea Stadium 3:15 54,817 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10160NYN1973.htm 1973 World Series Game 3 – Oakland A's vs. New York Mets 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 7, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210307200225/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10160NYN1973.htm live Oakland Athletics – 1, New York Mets – 6 October 17 Shea Stadium 2:41 54,817 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10170NYN1973.htm 1973 World Series Game 4 – Oakland A's vs. New York Mets 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308003126/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10170NYN1973.htm live Oakland Athletics – 0, New York Mets – 2 October 18 Shea Stadium 2:39 54,817 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10180NYN1973.htm 1973 World Series Game 5 – Oakland A's vs. New York Mets 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308011459/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10180NYN1973.htm live New York Mets – 1, Oakland Athletics – 3 October 20 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 2:07 49,333 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10200OAK1973.htm 1973 World Series Game 6 – New York Mets vs. Oakland A's 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 7, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210307194416/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10200OAK1973.htm live New York Mets – 2, Oakland Athletics – 5 October 21 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 2:37 49,333 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10210OAK1973.htm 1973 World Series Game 7 – New York Mets vs. Oakland A's 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308160925/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B10210OAK1973.htm live This was the third New York–California matchup in the World Series (1962, 1963).https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-yankees-legends-discuss-classic-world-series-matchups Murti Sweeny Yanks, Dodgers legends dish on historic 1977, '78, '81 World Series showdowns MLB.com October 24, 2024 September 10, 2025https://www.mlb.com/news/1962-world-series-recap 1962 World Series recap MLB.com September 27, 2022 September 10, 2025https://www.mlb.com/news/1973-world-series-recap 1973 World Series recap MLB.com September 28, 2022 September 10, 2025 The Athletics defeated the Mets in seven games to win their second straight World Series title and seventh overall. Game 1 was a pitchers' duel between Oakland's Ken Holtzman and New York's Jon Matlack, which was won by the former as the Athletics prevailed by a 2–1 score. Game 2 was an offensive slugfest which went into extra innings - the game remained tied at six until the top of the twelfth, when the Mets put up four runs to take the lead for good. The Athletics put up one more run in the bottom of the twelfth, but could manage no more as George Stone earned a save and helped the Mets even the series headed home to Queens. Game 3 would be another extra-innings contest, but this time the Athletics would prevail as Bert Campaneris scored Ted Kubiak with a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the eleventh. Game 3 was Willie Mays’ final postseason game. In Game 4, the Mets jumped out to a big lead early and did not relinquish it, as Matlack held the Athletics' offense to just one run scored after eight innings, evening the series at two games each. Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw helped the Mets shutout the Athletics in Game 5 to take a 3–2 series lead headed back to Oakland, now one win away from pulling off an even bigger upset than what they accomplished in 1969. However, their lead would not hold. Catfish Hunter outdueled the Mets' Tom Seaver as the Athletics won Game 6 by a 3–1 score, forcing a seventh game. Game 7 was yet another pitcher's duel between Holtzman and Matlack, who were both on three-days rest, and once again Holtzman prevailed as he and closer Darold Knowles helped the Athletics win by a 5–2 score to repeat as World Series champions. This was the second of four championships the Athletics won during their time in Oakland. The Athletics would successfully pull off a three-peat the next year, defeating their cross-state rivals in the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. The Mets would return to the World Series in 1986, and defeated the Boston Red Sox in seven games after being a strike away from elimination twice in Game 6 and ten outs away from elimination in Game 7. Broadcasting NBC televised all postseason games nationally in the United States. Each team's local broadcaster also televised coverage of LCS games. References External links League Baseball Standings & Expanded Standings - 1973 collapsed Category:Major League Baseball postseason