1973 Major League Baseball season

This article is about the 1973 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 1973 in baseball.

1973 MLB season
League	Major League Baseball
Sport	Baseball
Duration	April 5, 1973 – October 1, 1973
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.

Regular season standings

American League

AL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Baltimore Orioles	97	65	0.599	—	50–31	47–34
Boston Red Sox	89	73	0.549	8	48–33	41–40
Detroit Tigers	85	77	0.525	12	47–34	38–43
New York Yankees	80	82	0.494	17	50–31	30–51
Milwaukee Brewers	74	88	0.457	23	40–41	34–47
Cleveland Indians	71	91	0.438	26	34–47	37–44

AL West	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Oakland Athletics	94	68	0.580	—	50–31	44–37
Kansas City Royals	88	74	0.543	6	48–33	40–41
Minnesota Twins	81	81	0.500	13	37–44	44–37
California Angels	79	83	0.488	15	43–38	36–45
Chicago White Sox	77	85	0.475	17	40–41	37–44
Texas Rangers	57	105	0.352	37	35–46	22–59

National League

NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Mets	82	79	0.509	—	43–38	39–41
St. Louis Cardinals	81	81	0.500	1½	43–38	38–43
Pittsburgh Pirates	80	82	0.494	2½	41–40	39–42
Montreal Expos	79	83	0.488	3½	43–38	36–45
Chicago Cubs	77	84	0.478	5	41–39	36–45
Philadelphia Phillies	71	91	0.438	11½	38–43	33–48

NL West	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Cincinnati Reds	99	63	0.611	—	50–31	49–32
Los Angeles Dodgers	95	66	0.590	3½	50–31	45–35
San Francisco Giants	88	74	0.543	11	47–34	41–40
Houston Astros	82	80	0.506	17	41–40	41–40
Atlanta Braves	76	85	0.472	22½	40–40	36–45
San Diego Padres	60	102	0.370	39	31–50	29–52

Postseason

	League Championship Series					World Series
	East	Baltimore	2
	West	Oakland	3
						AL	Oakland	4
						NL	New York Mets	3
	East	New York Mets	3
	West	Cincinnati	2

Statistical leaders

American League National League Type Name Stat Name Stat 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 SFG 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 MON 31 SB Tommy Harper BOS 54 Lou Brock STL 70

External links

• 1973 season at Baseball-reference.com