The following are the baseball events of the year 1976 throughout the world.
Other champions
Winter Leagues
- Baseball Hall of Fame
- Most Valuable Player
- Cy Young Award
- Rookie of the Year
- Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league)
- Gold Glove Award
- (P) Jim Palmer, Baltimore Orioles (AL); Jim Kaat, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)
- (C) Jim Sundberg, Texas Rangers (AL); Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds (NL)
- (1B) George Scott, Milwaukee Brewers (AL); Steve Garvey, Los Angeles Dodgers (NL)
- (2B) Bobby Grich, Baltimore Orioles (AL); Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds (NL)
- (3B) Aurelio Rodríguez, Detroit Tigers (AL); Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)
- (SS) Mark Belanger, Baltimore Orioles (AL); Dave Concepción, Cincinnati Reds (NL)
- (OF) Dwight Evans, Boston Red Sox (AL); César Cedeño, Houston Astros (NL)
- (OF) Rick Manning, Cleveland Indians (AL); César Gerónimo, Cincinnati Reds (NL)
- (OF) Joe Rudi, Oakland Athletics (AL); Garry Maddox, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)
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March
- March 1 – The 1976 Major League Baseball lockout is instated, the second lockout in league history.
- March 2
- March 3 – The Boston Red Sox unexpectedly trade relief pitcher Dick Drago to the California Angels for infielder Dave Machemer and outfielders John Balaz and Dick Sharon. Drago had been a major contributor to the Bosox' 1975 pennant; Machemer, Balaz and Sharon never appear in a Boston uniform.
- March 16 – Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally are officially granted free agency as a result of the December 1975 Seitz decision that struck down the reserve clause.
- March 17 – Major League Baseball's lockout ends as Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn orders team owners to open spring training camps to their players immediately.
- March 20 – Leo Durocher, hired to manage Japan's Yokohama Taiyō Whales of the Central League, is sick with hepatitis and asks for a five-week delay in reporting. Durocher receives a telegram from the Whales stating: "Since the championship starts in 20 days, it's better if you stay home and take care of yourself for the remainder of the season."
- March 26 – The American League officially expands to 14 teams for 1977, approving the purchase of the new Toronto franchise by the Labatt Brewing Company for $7 million. In January, the Junior Circuit added Seattle is its 13th team, then, on March 20, its owners voted 11–1 to draft the Toronto territory.
April
- April 2 – The coming of post-Seitz decision era free agency looms large in a major trade between the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles. Oakland deals outfielder Reggie Jackson and pitchers Ken Holtzman and minor leaguer Bill VanBommel to Baltimore for outfielder Don Baylor and pitchers Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell. Jackson, Holtzman and Baylor will be free agents at the close of the 1976 season; Torrez will opt for free agency a year later.
- April 3 – The Chicago White Sox sign veteran free-agent outfielder Cleon Jones, released by the New York Mets on July 27, 1975. Jones will appear in 12 games for the White Sox, collect eight hits and five bases on balls in 47 plate appearances, and be unconditionally released on May 2.
- April 8 – The Cincinnati Reds begin defense of their world championship by thrashing the Houston Astros 11–5 in the National League's traditional opening game at Riverfront Stadium. The "Big Red Machine" hits no homers, but steals four bases off pitchers J. R. Richard and Elias Sosa. Houston's Joaquin Andujar makes his major league debut as a mop-up man. He will later become a starting pitcher and twice in his career win 20 games or more in a season.
- April 9 – In a classic Opening Day pitchers' duel between future Hall of Famers Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles and Ferguson Jenkins of the Boston Red Sox, who will combine for 552 major league wins, Palmer prevails 1–0.
- April 10
- The Atlanta Braves sign free agent pitcher Andy Messersmith to a "lifetime contract" worth $1 million.
- Don Money of the Milwaukee Brewers hits what appears to be a game winning grand slam off Dave Pagan of the New York Yankees. However, just before the pitch, Yankee first baseman Chris Chambliss had called time. The grand slam is waived off, and Money is ordered to return to the plate. Money then hits a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 9–7. It's not enough and the Brewers lose the game; they later also lose a protest they file with the American League.
- April 14 – At Wrigley Field, Dave Kingman of the New York Mets launches a home run estimated at 550 feet that plunks a house some 530 feet from home plate, but the Chicago Cubs survive to win 6–5.
- April 15 – Newly remodeled Yankee Stadium is jammed with 52,613 fans for Opening Day ceremonies. The 1923 Yankees, the first team to play in "The [original] House That Ruth Built," are honored, and Bob Shawkey, winner of the 1923 opener, throws out the first ball. The Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 11–4 on 14 hits, but the only home run is hit by Minnesota's Dan Ford.
- April 16 – At Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Tommy John throws a pitch in an official MLB game for the first time since Dr. Frank Jobe performed his breakthrough ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on John's injured elbow on September 25, 1974. John faces 24 Atlanta Braves hitters over five innings, and allows five hits, four bases on balls, and three earned runs, absorbing a 3–1 defeat. But he will throw 207 innings in 1976, go 10–10 (3.09), and play 14 more major-league seasons before retiring from the mound at age 46 in 1989. Moreover, he will achieve a measure of immortality when Jobe's procedure is christened "Tommy John Surgery."
- April 17 – With the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field, Mike Schmidt leads the Philadelphia Phillies assault with a single, four consecutive home runs, and eight RBI to overcome a 12–1 deficit after three innings and beat the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings, 18–16. Schmidt becomes the tenth player in Major League history to hit four home runs in a game.
- April 19 – At Busch Memorial Stadium, the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals take 17 innings to decide a game that the Mets win, 4–3, on Del Unser's solo homer off southpaw reliever Mike Wallace.
- April 21
- At Wrigley Field, Tim Foli of the Montreal Expos hits for the cycle, but it takes him two days to do it. Foli has a single, double and triple against the Cubs, but with the Expos ahead 11–3, the game is suspended on account of darkness. When play resumes the next day, Foli will add a home run in the eighth inning.
- In another early-season marathon contest, the Houston Astros down the Los Angeles Dodgers in 16 innings, 1–0 at the Astrodome. J. R. Richard, Ken Forsch and Mike Barlow combine for the shutout, with Barlow claiming the "W".
- April 25
- April 28 – The St. Louis Cardinals prevail in another extra-inning contest, scoring two runs in the top of the 16th, then holding off the San Francisco Giants 4–2 at Candlestick Park. Rookie Doug Clarey provides the winning margin with his two-run homer off Mike Caldwell; the long ball will be Clarey's only major-league hit.
May
- May 1 – In the first game of a double-header and the Phillies 15th tilt of the season, Mike Schmidt hits his 12th home run of 1976, setting an MLB record for the most homers in a team's first 15 games.
- May 2 – In a 16-inning affair, the last-place (in the NL East) Montreal Expos score four runs in the top of the 16th, then hold the first-place (in the NL West) Cincinnati Reds scoreless in the home half to claim an 8–4 triumph at Riverfront Stadium. Barry Foote and Pepe Mangual provide clutch two-RBI hits, while reliever Don Stanhouse (later famed as "Stan the Man Unusual" as a Baltimore Oriole) gets the victory.
- May 5 – The "Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field" play host to another slugfest as the Los Angeles Dodgers outlast the Chicago Cubs 14–12. The Dodgers belt seven home runs, and Cubs rap 21 base hits.
- May 12 – Prized free-agent Andy Messersmith of the Atlanta Braves sees his record fall to 0–4 (5.11 earned run average) with a 6–3 loss to the visiting New York Mets.
- May 15 – Mark Fidrych of the Detroit Tigers wins his first major league start, a complete game two-hit 2–1 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Soon to be famous in the baseball world as "The Bird," Fidrych holds the Indians hitless for six innings, talks to the ball, and tamps down the mound before toeing the rubber each inning.
- May 16 – The Kansas City Royals pick up left-hander Larry Gura, 28, in a trade with the New York Yankees for backup catcher Fran Healy. Currently 15–16 in 68 games for the Yanks and Chicago Cubs, Gura will become an effective member of the Royals' starting rotation, winning 111 games (and losing only 78) for them until he's released on May 18, 1985.
- May 17 – The Montreal Expos trade pitcher Steve Renko and outfielder Larry Biittner to the Chicago Cubs for first baseman André Thornton.
- May 18 – The 17–10 New York Yankees score five runs in the top of the ninth to force a six-all tie with the homestanding Cleveland Indians, then plate another five tallies in the 16th to topple the Tribe, 11–6, and increase their lead in the AL East to 3½ games over the Baltimore Orioles. Reliever Sparky Lyle fires six innings of three-hit, shutout ball to gain the victory.
- May 19 – At Detroit, Carl Yastrzemski hits three home runs and goes 4-for-4 as the Boston Red Sox win 9–2 over the host Detroit Tigers. Yaz's big day comes one day after he passes Ted Williams as having played the most games in a Red Sox uniform.
- May 20 – At Yankee Stadium, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are involved in one of the ugliest on-field brawls in sports history. In the bottom of the 6th inning, New York's Lou Piniella crashes into Boston catcher Carlton Fisk in an attempt to score. Fisk and Piniella begin fighting at home plate and the benches clear. During the brawl, Bill Lee is thrown to the ground. As the fight appears to be subsiding, Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles punches Lee after the two exchange words, re-igniting the brawl. Lee suffers a separated shoulder from the melee and subsequently misses a significant portion of the 1976 season. He keeps pitching until 1982, but will never the same pitcher after the brawl. The Red Sox win the game 8–2.
- May 22 – With four amateur umpires working the game—the regular, unionized National League crew was late to the park because they were reluctant to cross a Three Rivers Stadium picket line set up by striking vendors—the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs engage in another 16-inning tilt. Light-hitting Mario Mendoza (who gave his name to the "Mendoza line") drives in the winning tally with a sacrifice fly in the Pirates' 4–3 victory.
- May 24 – Bert Campaneris of the Oakland Athletics steals five bases in a 12–7 win over the Minnesota Twins.
- May 26 – Journeyman first baseman Terry Crowley returns to the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent after his release from the Atlanta Braves. His second stint in Baltimore lasts through the 1982 season, and he will become known as an ace pinch-hitter and as one of the subjects of a salty, not-meant-for-public-consumption Earl Weaver "Manager's Corner" radio interview.
- May 29 – The only home run hit by pitcher Joe Niekro in his 22-year career comes at the expense of brother Phil Niekro as the Houston Astros tie the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning, then win 4–3.
- May 30 – Veteran right-hander Jim Lonborg of the Philadelphia Phillies improves to 8–0 with a complete-game, 7–1 victory over the Montreal Expos at Veterans Stadium.
June
- June 1
- In another trade driven by the demise of the reserve clause, the Minnesota Twins deal staff ace and future Hall-of-Fame right-hander Bert Blyleven and infielder Danny Thompson to the Texas Rangers for pitchers Bill Singer and Jim Gideon, shortstop Roy Smalley III, third baseman Mike Cubbage, and $250,000. Blyleven has won 99 games for the Twins since his June 1970 debut, but with his looming free agency, Twins' owner Calvin Griffith has already permitted the 25-year-old former All-Star hurler to negotiate a $550,000 contract with the Rangers two days before the trade is finalized.[3]
- Earlier, with Singer starting on the mound for them and lasting 51⁄3 innings, the Rangers go 16 innings to defeat the Chicago White Sox, 6–5, at Comiskey Park. Chicago manager Paul Richards files an unsuccessful protest to the American League, claiming Singer is an ineligible player.
- June 3 – The Boston Red Sox trade outfielder Bernie Carbo, who months earlier had starred for the team in the 1975 World Series, to the Milwaukee Brewers for pitcher Tom Murphy and outfielder Bobby Darwin.
- June 4 – Tom Seaver and the New York Mets defeat the Dodgers 11–0 in Los Angeles on a three home run performance by Dave Kingman. Kingman also sets a Met record with eight RBIs in a single game.
- June 8 – Left-hander Floyd Bannister is selected first overall by the Houston Astros in the 1976 June amateur draft, but the Detroit Tigers enjoy the most fruitful harvest, selecting shortstop Alan Trammell (second round) and right-handed pitchers Dan Petry (fourth round) and Jack Morris (fifth round)—all future stars of their 1984 world champions.
- June 10 – The Tigers purchase the contract of 26-year-old veteran pitcher Milt Wilcox from the Chicago Cubs. Morris, Petry and Wilcox will eventually form the "big three" starting rotation of the 1984 Tigers.
- June 13 – The Atlanta Braves trade slugging third baseman Darrell Evans and shortstop Marty Perez to the San Francisco Giants for four players: first baseman Willie Montañez, second baseman Mike Eden, shortstop Craig Robinson and outfielder Jake Brown.
- June 14 – Jerry Terrell's third-inning single is the only hit that Rick Wise of the Boston Red Sox allows in his complete-game, 5–0 triumph over the Minnesota Twins at Metropolitan Stadium. It's Wise's third career one-hitter (he also fired a no-hitter in 1971) and the first of two one-hitters he will throw in June 1976 alone.
- June 15
- The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles—rivals in the American League East—pull off a ten-player trade that will reshape the Baltimore roster in the coming seasons. The Yankees trade pitchers Scott McGregor, Tippy Martinez, Rudy May and Dave Pagan and catcher Rick Dempsey to the Orioles for pitchers Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman, Grant Jackson and Jimmy Freeman and catcher Elrod Hendricks. Alexander, Holtzman and Jackson will prove key to the Yankees' 1976 pennant drive, but McGregor, Martinez and Dempsey will feature in the Orioles' lineup for the next decade, contributing to the O's 1979 AL pennant and 1983 world championship.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers acquire slugging outfielder Reggie Smith from the St. Louis Cardinals for catcher/outfielder Joe Ferguson, outfielder Bob Detherage and minor-league first baseman Freddie Tisdale. Native Angeleno Smith will be a major piece of the Dodgers' 1977 and 1978 National League champions and their 1981 world champions, and make three NL All-Star teams with them.
- The Houston Astros are "rained out" of their scheduled home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Astrodome. Massive flooding in the Houston area prevents the umpires and all but a few fans from reaching the stadium. Despite both teams having taken pre-game practice, the absence of the umpiring crew forces the game to be called off.
- At Tiger Stadium, the Kansas City Royals build a 20–0 lead through their half of the eighth, before Detroit scores seven runs in the home half. The score is 21–7 with none out in the Royals' ninth when rain washes out the remainder of the official contest. Kansas City strikes for 24 hits, with Tom Poquette getting five and George Brett four. Amos Otis gets five RBI and second baseman Dave Nelson four.
- June 22 – Randy Jones pitches the San Diego Padres to a 4–2 win over the San Francisco Giants, and ties Christy Mathewson's 63-year-old National League record by going 68 innings without a base on balls. Jones receives a standing ovation from the home crowd after striking out Darrell Evans to end the seventh inning. His streak ends when he walks Marc Hill leading off the 8th.
- June 23 – After 2½ seasons, one National League Cy Young Award, 194 games pitched and one pennant, iron-man relief pitcher Mike Marshall's tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers ends when he is traded to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Elias Sosa and infielder Lee Lacy.
- June 25 – The Texas Rangers' Toby Harrah becomes the only shortstop in major league history to go through an entire doubleheader without a fielding chance. At bat, Harrah makes up for the inactivity, collecting six hits including a grand slam in the opener, and another home run in game 2. The Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox in the first game 8–4, but lose the nightcap 14–9.
- June 28 – With a national television audience looking on, Detroit's rookie sensation, Mark Fidrych, now famous as "The Bird", beats the first-place New York Yankees 5–1 at Tiger Stadium. With his seventh straight victory, Fidrych improves his won–lost record to 8–1, lowers his ERA to 2.05, and throws his eighth complete game.
- June 29 – Rick Wise of the Boston Red Sox hurls his second one-hit, complete-game shutout in 15 days, defeating the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park, 2–0. Paul Blair's sixth-inning single is the Orioles' only safety.
Oakland fire sale
- Before the June 15, 1976, trading deadline, Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley, anticipating the impact of free agency, contacts the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. He proposes a trade to the Red Sox that involves Joe Rudi, Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Gene Tenace and Sal Bando in exchange for Fred Lynn, Carlton Fisk and minor league prospects.[4] In trade talks with the Yankees, Finley proposes sending Blue to the Bronx for Thurman Munson along with either Roy White or Elliott Maddox. Finley also offers Rudi for Munson.[4]
- On June 14, Finley is unable to make any trades. He starts contacting other teams about selling his players' contracts. Joe Rudi, Vida Blue, Don Baylor, and Gene Tenace are valued at $1 million each, while Sal Bando can be acquired for $500,000. Red Sox general manager Dick O'Connell is in Oakland, because the Red Sox are due to play the Athletics on June 15. Field manager Darrell Johnson has declared that he is interested in Rudi and Fingers. On June 15, the Red Sox purchase both contracts for $1 million each. Rudi and Fingers cross the field, put on Red Sox uniforms, and sit in the Boston dugout to watch the Athletics beat the Red Sox, 3–2, on Tenace's walk-off home run. In the end, Fingers never plays an official game for Boston; Rudi will appear in 49 games for the 1981 Red Sox and bat only .180.[5]
- O'Connell contacts Detroit Tigers general manager Jim Campbell about purchasing Blue for $1 million to block the Yankees from getting him.[4] Gabe Paul, president/general manager of the Yankees, tells Finley he will pay $1.5 million to acquire Blue, and Finley offers Blue a three-year extension worth $485,000 per season to make the sale more attractive to the Yankees.[4] With the extension, the Yankees agree to purchase Blue.
- Finley also contacts Bill Veeck of the Chicago White Sox about purchasing Sal Bando and the Texas Rangers, who are interested in Don Baylor.[4]
- On June 18, Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn voids the Rudi, Fingers and Blue transactions in the "best interests of baseball." Amid the turmoil, the A's will still finish second in the AL West, 2½ games behind the Kansas City Royals.
July
- July 4 – At the culmination of the July 4 holiday and U.S. Bicentennial celebrations, the major-league standings reveal one truly close pennant race among the four divisions as the 1976 nears its half-way point. It's in the AL West, where the Kansas City Royals (46–29) lead the Texas Rangers (42–32) by 3½ games. The other divisions see the New York Yankees (46–27)—seeking their first postseason berth since 1964—lead the Cleveland Indians (37–36) by nine games in the AL East, the defending world champion Cincinnati Reds (48–31) ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers (43–37) by 5½ in the NL West, and the Philadelphia Phillies (52–22, best in the majors) out in front of the Pittsburgh Pirates (43–31) by nine lengths.
- July 8 – At Wrigley Field, Randy Jones wins his 16th game of the year for the San Diego Padres, a National League record for wins at the All-Star break. He beats the Chicago Cubs 6–3. In the second half of the season, Jones will lose seven games by one run, two of them by 1–0 scores.
- July 9 – In Montreal, the Houston Astros' Larry Dierker no-hits the host Montreal Expos, 6–0. He strikes out eight batters, including the first two in the ninth inning. Dierker had previously thrown two one-hitters.
- July 13 – The National League emerges victorious in the annual All-Star Game by a score of 7–1. George Foster, one of seven Cincinnati Reds position players on the squad, hits a home run with three RBI, and is named the MVP. Rookie pitcher Mark Fidrych gives up two runs and takes the loss. It is the NL's 13th win over the American League in the last 14 games.
- July 19:
- July 20 – Hank Aaron hits the 755th and last home run of his career, connecting off Dick Drago of the California Angels. Aaron's record of 755 home runs would stand until the San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds hit his 756th career home run against the Washington Nationals on August 7, 2007.
- July 22 – Lodged in the basement of the AL West division with a 39–57 mark, the California Angels fire future Baseball Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams. The authoritarian Williams is at odds with third baseman Bill Melton and other players on his roster. The Angels name coach Norm Sherry interim pilot, and he leads them to a 37–29 finish to the season.
- July 23 – In a game against the Taiyō Whales, Sadaharu Oh of the Yomiuri Giants hits his 700th home run, the first player in Nippon Professional Baseball to do so.
- July 24 – In a 17–2 blowout of the Chicago White Sox, Lyman Bostock becomes the fourth Minnesota Twin to hit for the cycle. Batting fourth for the first time ever, he goes four-for-four, with four RBI and four runs scored.
- July 26 – Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox gets his 2,500th hit, a double in the first off of Stan Thomas of the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. The Red Sox lose 9–4.
- July 28 – Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios combine on a no-hitter as the Chicago White Sox top the Oakland Athletics 2–1. For Odom, this is his last major league victory.
August
- August 8 – The first game of today's Royals–White Sox double header at Comiskey Park sees the White Sox appear on the field in shorts. The Sox return to long pants for the second game, after stealing five bases and defeating the Royals, 5–2.
- August 9 – John Candelaria became the first Pirates pitcher in 69 years to throw a no-hitter in Pittsburgh by blanking the Los Angeles Dodgers 2–0. Candelaria's no-hitter came at Three Rivers Stadium. No Pirate ever threw a no-hitter at Forbes Field.
September
- September 3
- September 6 – Dodgers catcher Steve Yeager is seriously injured when the jagged end of a broken bat strikes him in the throat while he is waiting in the on-deck circle.
- September 10 – The California Angels' Nolan Ryan strikes out 18 White Sox hitters in a nine-inning 3–2 victory at Chicago.
- September 11 – Future Hall-of-Famer Orestes "Minnie" Miñoso, 52, appears in his first MLB game since July 5, 1964. Playing at home for the Chicago White Sox, he goes 0-for-3 against Frank Tanana of the Angels. The next day, Miñoso singles off Sid Monge to become the oldest player to hit safely in a Major League game.
- September 16
- September 18 – Player-manager Frank Robinson of the Cleveland Indians inserts himself into the lineup as a pinch hitter in the eight inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles. He singles in what will be his final at-bat as a player. His influence as a manager and executive will continue for decades to come.
- September 21 – In Los Angeles, the Cincinnati Reds clinch the National League West title with a 9–1 pasting of the Dodgers.
- September 25 – The New York Yankees put an end to a six-game losing streak with a 10–6 win over the Detroit Tigers to wrap up the AL East and clinch their first visit to the postseason since the 1964 World Series. Doyle Alexander gets the victory.
- September 26 – In the last big league games at Montreal's Jarry Park, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Expos 4–1 in the first game of a doubleheader to clinch the National League East title. Philly takes the nightcap, 2–1. Following the second game, Dick Allen jumps the team to protest the fact that veteran Tony Taylor is not listed on its postseason roster. Allen is fined by the Phillies and will return five days later, playing in two of the final three regular season games and the playoffs.
- September 28 – After 23 seasons, four World Series triumphs, seven National League pennants, and 2,040 regular-season victories, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Walter Alston, 65, steps down as manager. Third-base coach Tommy Lasorda, 49, is promoted to succeed him. Both Alston and Lasorda (who remains at the helm through June 23, 1996) will be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- September 29 – John Montefusco of the San Francisco Giants no-hits the Atlanta Braves 9–0 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium.
October
- October 3
- October 5 – The St. Louis Cardinals part company with manager Red Schoendienst, who has led the Redbirds for a dozen seasons, compiled a 1,010–925 (.522) record, and won two National League pennants and the 1967 World Series. Schoendienst, a St. Louis legend and future member of Baseball Hall of Fame as a second baseman, will return to the Cardinals as a coach, interim manager and special assistant in 1979.
- October 6 – The Chicago White Sox release player-coach Minnie Miñoso.
- October 7 – Judge Roy Hofheinz sells the Houston Astros to General Electric and Ford Motor Credit Companies.
- October 11 – In the last of the eighth inning, leading the Hanshin Tigers 4–1 with two out and a full count, Sadaharu Oh hits his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth's mark. He finishes the season with 716 HRs and takes aim at Hank Aaron's record.
- October 13 – The Philadelphia Phillies' Danny Ozark, who led his team to the postseason for the first time since 1950, is named the Sporting News Manager of the Year for 1976.
- October 14 – In the deciding Game 5 of the 1976 American League Championship Series, the New York Yankees take a 6–3 lead before the Kansas City Royals' George Brett connects for a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, New York's Chris Chambliss smashes the first pitch off Kansas City's Mark Littell over the right field fence for a 7–6 win, winning the Yankees their first AL pennant and World Series appearance since 1964.
- October 17 – The first-ever weekend night game in World Series history takes place in Cincinnati as the Reds defeated the New York Yankees, 4–3.
- October 21 – In the World Series, the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Yankees 7–2, completing a four-game sweep. Series MVP Johnny Bench has two home runs and five RBI in the Series, and demolishes the Yankees with .533 hitting. Opposing catcher Thurman Munson has six straight singles to tie a World Series mark. The Reds become the first team since the 1969 playoff expansion to go through an entire postseason without a defeat. It is the last World Series to end in a sweep until 1989.
November
- November 2 – San Diego Padres pitcher Randy Jones beats out Jerry Koosman of the New York Mets for the National League Cy Young Award. Jones led the league with 315 innings pitched and posted a 22-14 record for the fifth-place Padres.
- November 5
- New American League franchises in Seattle and Toronto fill up their rosters by selecting 30 players apiece from unprotected players on other AL rosters. Outfielder Ruppert Jones (Seattle) and infielder Bob Bailor (Toronto) are the first choices.
- The Oakland A's trade manager Chuck Tanner, who'd just completed his first and only season in Oakland, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for catcher Manny Sanguillen. Sanguillen plays just one year in Oakland. He returns to Pittsburgh and is part of the 1979 World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. The championship Pirates team is managed by Tanner.
- November 9 – The Oakland Athletics release Billy Williams, ending his career with 2,711 hits, 426 home runs, 1,475 RBI and a .290 average.
- November 10 - Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles was named the 1976 American League Cy Young Award winner, becoming the first American League pitcher to win the honor three times.
- November 16 – New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson wins the 1976 American League MVP Award, becoming the first Yankee to win the award since Elston Howard in 1963. Munson finished with a .302 average, 17 home runs and 105 RBI.
- November 24 – Joe Morgan outdistances Cincinnati Reds teammate George Foster to win his second straight National League MVP Award. Morgan finished with a .320 average, 27 home runs, 111 RBI, 113 runs, 60 stolen bases, and led the NL in slugging percentage (.576) and OPS (1.020). Foster finished with 29 home runs and led the league with 121 RBI.
- November 29
January
- January 2 – Jack Kraus, 57, left-handed pitcher who appeared in 70 career games for the Philadelphia Phillies (1943 and 1945) and New York Giants (1946)
- January 5 – Gene Elliott, 86, outfielder who played in five 1911 games for the New York Highlanders
- January 5 – Ed Sperber, 80, outfielder/pinch-runner who appeared in six contests for the 1924–1925 Boston Braves
- January 9 – Bert Johnson, 70, outfielder for four Negro leagues clubs between 1932 and 1938
- January 16 – Chick Autry, 91, utility first baseman/outfielder who appeared in 81 National League games for Cincinnati (1907 and 1909) and Boston (1909)
- January 17 – Ed Kinsella, 96, pitcher who appeared in 13 games as a member of the 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1910 St. Louis Browns
- January 19 – Otto Ray, 82, catcher who appeared for four Negro National League teams between 1920 and 1924
- January 20 – Tom Dunn, 75, National League umpire from 1939 to 1946; home-plate umpire for 1943 All-Star Game, and worked 1944 World Series and 1,151 league games
- January 29 – Milt Galatzer, 68, backup outfielder who played in 248 games for the 1933–1936 Cleveland Indians and in three contests for the 1939 Cincinnati Reds
- January 29 – Harry Otis, 89, left-handed pitcher (nicknamed "Cannonball") who appeared in five games for the 1909 Cleveland Naps
February
- February 9 – Ziggy Hasbrook, 82, first baseman who got into 11 games during stints with the 1916 and 1917 Chicago White Sox
- February 10 – Eddie Moore, 77, infielder/outfielder who played in 748 games for Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Robins, New York Giants and Cleveland Indians between 1923 and 1934; starting second baseman for 1925 World Series champion Pittsburgh
- February 11 – Johnny Miljus, 80, pitcher who appeared in 127 games for the Pittsburgh Rebels (of the Federal League), Brooklyn Robins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians between 1915 and 1929; appeared in two contests for the losing Pirates in 1927 World Series
- February 16 – Eusebio González, 83, Cuban shortstop who played in three midseason games for the 1918 Boston Red Sox
- February 16 – John Shovlin, 85, infielder who appeared in 18 MLB games for the 1911 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1919–1920 St. Louis Browns
- February 24 – Carey Selph, 74, infielder with St. Louis Cardinals (1929) and Chicago White Sox (1932) who appeared in 141 MLB games
March
- March 1 – George "Rube" Foster, 88, pitcher in 138 games for the 1913–1917 Boston Red Sox; member of 1915 and 1916 world champions; in 1915, won 19 regular-season games and threw two complete-game victories against the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, including the clinching fifth game
- March 6 – Emory Long, 63, infielder in the Negro leagues between 1932 and 1940
- March 11 – Larry Gardner, 89, third baseman for the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians (1908–1924) who was a member of four World Series championship teams (1912, 1915, 1916, 1920) and batted .300 or better five times; longtime coach at University of Vermont
- March 13 – Johnny Pasek, 70, catcher who appeared in 32 career games for the 1933 Detroit Tigers and 1934 Chicago White Sox
- March 17 – Bert Gallia, 84, pitcher in 242 career games for the 1912–1917 Washington Senators, 1918–1920 St. Louis Browns and 1920 Philadelphia Phillies; won 17 games in back-to-back years with the 1915–1916 Senators
- March 18 – Paul Maloy, 83, pitcher in two midsummer contests for the 1913 Boston Red Sox
- March 21 – Heinie Scheer, 75, second baseman who got into 120 games for 1922–1923 Philadelphia Athletics
- March 23 – Walter Murphy, 65, pitcher for the 1931 Red Sox who appeared in two games
April
- April 12 – John Mungin, 71, pitcher for the Baltimore Black Sox and Harrisburg Giants of the Eastern Colored League from 1925 to 1927
- April 12 – Zollie Wright, 66, outfielder for four Negro National League clubs from 1935 to 1941; selected an All-Star in 1936
- April 13 – Mike McCormick, 58, outfielder with Cincinnati Reds (1940–1943, 1946), Boston Braves (1946–1948), Brooklyn Dodgers (1949), New York Giants (1950), Chicago White Sox (1950) and Washington Senators (1951) who appeared in 748 MLB games; played in three World Series (1940, 1948, 1949) and batted .310 in 29 at bats for Cincinnati's 1940 world champions
- April 15 – Floyd Newkirk, 67, pitcher who threw one inning of scoreless relief for the New York Yankees in his only MLB game, on August 23, 1934
- April 15 – George Scales, 75, second baseman and manager in the Negro leagues whose 20-year playing career spanned 1921 to 1946; also a manager in the Puerto Rican winter league
- April 17 – Clay Hopper, 73, Mississippi native and longtime minor-league player and manager between 1926 and 1956 who, as skipper of the 1946 Montreal Royals, was Jackie Robinson's manager when he broke the color line in "Organized Baseball"
- April 22 – Ernie Krueger, 85, catcher who appeared in 318 career games for the Cleveland Naps (1913), New York Yankees (1915), New York Giants (1917), Brooklyn Robins (1917–1921) and Cincinnati Reds (1925); appeared in three games of the 1920 World Series
- April 26 – Alex Ferguson, 79, pitcher who made 257 appearances for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Robins between 1918 and 1929; led American League in games lost (17) in 1924
- April 27 – Ed Durham, 72, pitcher who worked in 143 games for the Red Sox and Chicago White Sox between 1929 and 1933
- April 29 – Joe Berry, 81, second baseman in 15 games for the 1921–1922 New York Giants
May
- May 1 – Luther McDonald, 70, right-hander who pitched for three Negro National League teams between 1927 and 1935; went 13–4 (4.28 ERA) for 1927 St. Louis Stars
- May 2 – Dan Bankhead, 55, first black pitcher in modern National League history (1947, 1950–1951) as a Brooklyn Dodger; homered in first major league at-bat, August 26, 1947; posted 9–5 record with 6.52 ERA in 52 MLB games
- May 3 – Ernie Nevers, 73, who excelled in several sports, including American football, basketball and baseball, where he was a right-handed pitcher who appeared in 44 games for the St. Louis Browns between 1926 and 1928
- May 4 – Bob Cooney, 68, pitcher who got into 28 games for the Browns in 1931 and 1932
- May 10 – Ken Trinkle, 56, pitcher for the New York Giants (1943, 1946–1948) and Philadelphia Phillies (1949), who led the National League in games played by a pitcher in 1946 (48) and 1947 (62)
- May 18 – Marion Fricano, 52, pitcher who appeared in 88 career games for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics between 1952 and 1955; on September 26, 1954, as he nailed down a save in the Athletics' last regular-season game, he threw the final pitch in the 54-year history of the franchise in Philadelphia
- May 25 – Al Lakeman, 57, reserve catcher/first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds (1942–1947), Philadelphia Phillies (1947–1948), Boston Braves (1949) and Detroit Tigers (1954); later a coach for the Boston Red Sox (1963–1964 and 1967–1969)
- May 30 – Max Carey, 86, Hall of Fame center fielder, mainly with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who led NL in steals ten times, holding league career record of 738 until 1974; set NL records for career games, putouts, chances and double plays in outfield, and batted .458 in 1925 World Series; managed Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932 and 1933
June
- June 3 – Paul Chervinko, 65, catcher who appeared in 42 games for the Dodgers in 1937 and 1938; later a minor league manager
- June 3 – Dwight Stone, 89, pitcher for St. Louis of the American League and Kansas City of the Federal League in 1913–1914
- June 5 – Otis Lambeth, 86, pitcher in 43 games for the Cleveland Indians between 1916 and 1918
- June 11 – Chet Covington, 65, left-handed pitcher who appeared in 19 games for the 1944 Philadelphia Phillies
- June 11 – Jim Konstanty, 59, All-Star pitcher who became the first reliever to win the MVP award, with the 1950 "Whiz Kid" Phillies, when he won 16 games, all out of the bullpen, and saved 22 more to lead the National League, setting a then-MLB record for games pitched (74); in 433 career games over 11 MLB seasons (1944–1946 and 1948–1956) with five clubs, posted a 66–48 (3.46) record with 76 saves
- June 15 – Jimmy Dykes, 79, All-Star third baseman during a 22-year playing career (1918–1939) for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox, who went on to become the winningest manager (899 victories between May 9, 1934 and May 24, 1946) in White Sox history; succeeded Connie Mack as skipper of Athletics (1951–1953), and also managed Baltimore Orioles (1954), Cincinnati Redlegs (1958), Detroit Tigers (1959–1960) and Cleveland Indians (1960–1961)
- June 16 – George Dickey, 60, catcher who appeared in 223 MLB games for the Boston Red Sox (1935–1936) and Chicago White Sox (1941–1942; 1946–1947); brother of Bill Dickey
- June 19 – Henry "Prince" Oana, 66, pitcher, outfielder and native of Hawaii, who played in 30 games for the 1934 Philadelphia Phillies and 1943 and 1945 Detroit Tigers; batted .308 in 52 at bats, and went 3–2 (3.77) in 13 mound appearances
- June 20 – Blix Donnelly, 62, pitcher who appeared in 190 games between 1944 and 1951 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves; member of 1944 World Series champion Cardinals
- June 20 – Lou Klein, 57, infielder in 305 games for Cardinals (1943–1944, 1946 and 1949), Cleveland Indians (1951) and Philadelphia Athletics (1951) who spent the prime of his career (1946–1949) under suspension for "jumping" to the Mexican League; later a minor-league manager before becoming a member of the Chicago Cubs' "College of Coaches" (1961–1965); served as Cubs' head coach (manager) for parts of 1961, 1962 and 1965
- June 23 – Lon Warneke, 67, five-time All-Star pitcher who had three 20-win seasons for the Cubs, led National League in victories and ERA in 1932, and won 192 games over 15 seasons for the Cubs and Cardinals; later an NL umpire for seven years (1949–1955)
- June 30 – Firpo Marberry, 77, pitcher for the Washington Senators (1923–1932 and 1936), Detroit Tigers (1933–1935) and New York Giants (1936), who established single-season and career records for both saves and relief appearances; led majors in saves a record five times; also 94–52 as a starter; member of 1924 World Series champions
July
- July 9 – Louis English, 74, catcher who wore the uniforms of Detroit, Nashville and Louisville of the Negro National League and Negro Southern League between 1929 and 1932
- July 9 – Tom Yawkey, 73, owner and president of the Boston Red Sox from 1933 until his death, and vice president of the American League from 1956 to 1973; named to Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee in 1980
- July 21 – Earle Combs, 77, Hall of Fame center fielder for the New York Yankees (1924–1935) who batted .325 lifetime and led the AL in triples three times; batting leadoff, he had eight seasons of 100 runs, and batted .350 over four World Series; won three championship rings as a player and six more as a Yankee coach (1935–1944)
- July 24 – Sam Bankhead, 65, infielder/outfielder for multiple Negro League teams, including the Birmingham Black Barons and Homestead Grays; older brother of Dan Bankhead, who died May 2
- July 26 – Les Howe, 80, pitcher who appeared in 16 games for the 1923–1924 Boston Red Sox
- July 29 – Elmer Myers, 82, pitcher for Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox who worked in 185 games between 1915 and 1922
- July 30 – Jack Knight, 81, pitcher who appeared in 72 games for three National League clubs, principally Philadelphia, in 1922 and from 1925 to 1927; longtime minor-league manager
August
- August 3 – Homer Ezzell, 80, third baseman for the St. Louis Browns and Boston Red Sox between 1923 and 1925
- August 15 – Jim Henry, 66, pitched from 1936 through 1939 for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies
- August 15 – Dick Lajeskie, 50, second baseman who had a six-game audition with the New York Giants in September 1946
- August 16 – George Aiton, 85, outfielder in ten games for the 1912 St. Louis Browns
- August 17 – Bert Tooley, 89, shortstop for 1911–1912 Brooklyn Dodgers who appeared in 196 contests
- August 19 – Johnny Walker, 79, first baseman who played 125 games for the 1919–1921 Philadelphia Athletics
- August 27 – Bill Mizeur, 79, pinch hitter in two games for the 1923–1924 St. Louis Browns; minor-league outfielder who had a 14-year playing career
- August 28 – Bill Hunnefield, 77, infielder in 511 MLB games for the Chicago White Sox (1926–1930), Cleveland Indians (1931), Boston Braves (1931) and New York Giants (1931)
- August 29 – Al Platte, 86, longtime minor-league outfielder who appeared in eight MLB games for the 1913 Detroit Tigers
September
- September 1 – Mike Meola, 70, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns between 1933 and 1936, who was winless in 18 MLB games; posted a record of 20–5 with 2.90 ERA for the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels in 1934
- September 4 – Monroe Mitchell, 74, pitcher who worked in ten games for the 1923 Washington Senators
- September 5 – Jim O'Neill, 83, shortstop and second baseman for 1920 and 1923 Washington Senators; one of four brothers to play in the majors, including Steve O'Neill
- September 6 – Vern Fear, 52, relief pitcher who appeared in four games for 1952 Chicago Cubs
- September 10 – Blackie Carter, 73, outfielder who played in six games for the New York Giants from 1925 to 1926
- September 20 – Luther Gilyard, 66, first baseman for Chicago, St. Louis and Birmingham of the Negro American League between 1937 and 1942
- September 20 – John J. Quinn, 68, front-office executive who spent over 40 years in the majors; general manager of Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1945–1958) and Philadelphia Phillies (1959–1972); son and father of longtime baseball executives
- September 25 – Red Faber, 88, Hall of Fame pitcher who played his entire 20-year career with the Chicago White Sox, winning 254 games and leading AL in ERA twice; his four 20-win seasons included a 25-win campaign for the scandal-decimated 1921 team, which finished 62-92
- September 26 – Buddy Crump, 74, centerfielder who played one MLB game, on September 28, 1924, as a member of the New York Giants
- September 26 – Rip Russell, 61, first- and third baseman who got into 425 career games for the Chicago Cubs (1939–1942) and Boston Red Sox (1946–1947)
- September 28 – Linc Blakely, 64, outfielder who batted .225 in 102 at bats during his 34-game trial with the 1934 Cincinnati Reds
October
- October 1 – Jelly Taylor, 66, three-time All-Star first baseman for the Cincinnati Tigers and Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League between 1937 and 1946
- October 2 – Walter Calhoun, 65, left-hander who pitched in the Negro leagues between 1932 and 1946; selected to 1940 All-Star team while a member of the St. Louis–New Orleans Stars
- October 4 – Ollie Carnegie, 77, outfielder and minor-league slugger who excelled as a member of the Buffalo Bisons over a dozen seasons between 1931 and 1945; member of the International League Hall of Fame
- October 5 – Bill Bagwell, 85, outfielder and pinch hitter who appeared in 92 games for the 1923 Boston Braves and 1925 Philadelphia Athletics
- October 6 – Joe Erautt, 55, Canadian-born catcher who played in 32 games for the 1951–1952 Chicago White Sox
- October 8 – John Bottarini, 68, catcher and 18-year veteran of minor leagues who appeared in 26 MLB games for 1937 Chicago Cubs
- October 9 – Mark Christman, 62, third baseman and shortstop who appeared in 911 games for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators between 1938 and 1949; starting third baseman for 1944 Browns, only St. Louis entry to win an American League pennant
- October 9 – Bob Moose, 29, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1967 to 1976 who threw a no-hitter on September 20, 1969 against the pennant-bound New York Mets and led National League in winning percentage (14–3, .824) that season; posted a 76–71 career record in 289 career games; died in an automobile accident on his birthday
- October 20 – Freddie Muller, 65, infielder who played in 17 career games for the 1933–1934 Boston Red Sox
- October 25 – Claire Merritt Ruth, 79, widow of Babe Ruth, who died on August 16, 1948
- October 26 – Eddie Silber, 62, outfielder for the 1937 and 1939 St. Louis Browns who played in 23 MLB games
- October 29 – Harry Malmberg, 51, second baseman in 67 games for 1955 Detroit Tigers; coach for 1963–1964 Boston Red Sox; longtime minor league manager
- October 29 – Andy Sarvis, 68, pitcher for the Cleveland Bears and Jacksonville Red Caps of the Negro American League between 1940 and 1942
- October 31 – Charles Bernard "King" Lear, 85, Cincinnati Reds pitcher who fashioned a 7–12 record (3.02 ERA) in 57 games during the 1914 and 1915 seasons
November
- November 2 – Regis Leheny, 68, left-handed pitcher for the 1932 Red Sox who worked in two games
- November 2 – Dee Miles, 67, outfielder who appeared in 503 career games for the Washington Senators (1935–1936), Philadelphia Athletics (1939–1942) and Boston Red Sox (1943)
- November 3 – Frank Brazill, 77, first baseman/third baseman in 72 total games for the 1921–1922 Athletics
- November 9 – Bud Culloton, 80, pitcher who hurled in 13 games for the 1925 and 1926 Pittsburgh Pirates
- November 11 – Ken Crawford, 82, first baseman for the 1915 Baltimore Terrapins of the "outlaw" Federal League
- November 11 – Jimmy O'Connell, 75, reserve outfielder for 1923–1924 National League champion New York Giants; suspended for life by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis after he was implicated in an unsuccessful scheme to bribe a Philadelphia player to deliberately lose the final games of the 1924 season
- November 14 – Fred Baczewski, 50, left-hander who went 17–10 (4.45 ERA) in 63 games for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Redlegs from 1953 to 1956; placed sixth in 1953 NL Rookie of the Year balloting
- November 19 – Frank Kellert, 52, first baseman for the St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, getting into 122 career games from 1953 to 1956; member of Brooklyn's 1955 world champions
- November 20 – Les Hennessy, 82, second baseman who played 14 games for the 1913 Detroit Tigers
- November 25 – John André, 53, four-time 20-game-winning pitcher in the minors who received a 22-game trial with the 1955 Cubs
- November 27 – Al Baird, 81, infielder who appeared in 48 total games for the 1917 and 1919 New York Giants
December
- December 1 – George Earnshaw, 76, pitcher who had three 20-win seasons for 1929–1930–1931 AL champion Philadelphia Athletics; later a scout and coach
- December 2 – Danny Murtaugh, 59, manager who over 15 seasons and four stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates won two World Series (1960, 1971) and three NL East titles between August 1957 and his October 1976 retirement; former second baseman for Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves who appeared in 767 total games; led NL in stolen bases as rookie in 1941; Pirates retired his uniform #40 in his memory (1977)
- December 3 – Leo Townsend, 85, left-handed pitcher who worked in eight games for the Boston Braves in 1920 and 1921
- December 6 – Jonathan "Mandy" Brooks, 79, outfielder who played 116 games for the 1925–1926 Chicago Cubs
- December 7 – Duke Maas, 47, pitcher who won 45 games for the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees between 1955 and 1961
- December 9 – Wes Ferrell, 68, All-Star pitcher who had six 20-win seasons for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, with 193 career wins, including a no-hitter; batted .280 in 1,176 at bats, with 38 homers among his 329 hits over his 15-year MLB career (1927–1941), and caught by brother Rick for five seasons; also played for the Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves
- December 9 – Annie Gosbee, 40, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League infielder
- December 9 – Red Haley, 75, lefty-swinging infielder who played for the Chicago American Giants and Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro National League in 1928 and the barnstorming Kansas City Monarchs in 1933
- December 10 – Vic Keen, 77, pitcher for 1981 Philadelphia Athletics, 1921–1925 Chicago Cubs and 1926–1927 St. Louis Cardinals; member of 1926 World Series champions
- December 10 – Danny Thompson, 29, infielder with the Minnesota Twins (1970–1976) and Texas Rangers (1976), who played four seasons after being diagnosed with leukemia; appeared in his last game on October 2, 1976 (as a pinch hitter), and died two months and one week later
- December 10 – Luis Tiant Sr., 70, Cuban-born southpaw and father of the star pitcher of the 1960s and 1970s; three-time All-Star hurler as a member of the New York Cubans of the Negro National League whose playing career encompassed 20 years (1928–1947) in the Cuban and Dominican winter leagues, Negro leagues, and Mexican League
- December 18 – Ned Harris, 60, outfielder for the Detroit Tigers (1941–1943, 1946) who appeared in 262 career games
- December 25 – Bill Skiff, 81, ex-catcher who followed his 22-game MLB playing career with 1921 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1926 New York Yankees with a long tenure as a minor league player and manager, then as a scout for the Yankees' organization
- December 26 – Walt Lynch, 79, catcher in three contests for the 1922 Boston Red Sox
- December 27 – Press Cruthers, 86, Philadelphia Athletics second baseman who appeared in seven games in 1913 and 1914, who later managed in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Green, G. Michael; Launius, Roger D. (2010). Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman. New York: Walker Publishing. p. 247-249. ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0.