1970 in baseball
The following are the baseball events of the year 1970 throughout the world.
See also: 1970 Major League Baseball season and 1970 Nippon Professional Baseball seasonJuly 14 at Riverfront Stadium: National League, 5-4 (12 innings); Carl Yastrzemski, MVP
All-Star Game
Baseball Hall of Fame
Most Valuable Player
Cy Young Award
Rookie of the Year
Gold Glove Award
January 16 – , Gold Glove former outfielder of the St. Louis Cardinals, files a civil lawsuit challenging Major League Baseball's reserve clause, a suit that will have historic implications. Flood refused to report to the Philadelphia Phillies after he was traded by the Cardinals three months ago, contending the baseball rule violates federal antitrust laws.
Curt Flood
January 19 – The appoint former MLB catcher and field manager Bob Scheffing as vice president and general manager, filling the void left by the January 14 death of Johnny Murphy. Scheffing, 56, previously was a senior special assignments scout for the Mets' organization.
New York Mets
January 20 – is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on 232 of 300 ballots. Ralph Kiner finishes second with 167, 58 votes short.
Lou Boudreau
January 29 – Pitcher , who threw the last pitch for the Seattle Pilots, is shot to death outside of a bar in Loiza, Puerto Rico.
Miguel Fuentes
January 1 –
Gary Wilson
January 2 –
Royce Clayton
January 5 –
Brian Runge
January 6 –
Dan Naulty
January 9 –
T. J. Mathews
January 12 –
Nigel Wilson
January 14 –
Steve Cooke
January 16 –
Ron Villone
January 18 –
Mike Bertotti
January 19 –
Rick Krivda
January 19 –
Ricky Pickett
January 20 –
Marvin Benard
January 21 –
Jeff McCurry
January 23 –
Alan Embree
January 23 –
Sherman Obando
January 23 –
Mark Wohlers
January 26 –
Dan Carlson
January 27 –
Jessie Hollins
January 31 –
Joel Bennett
January 31 –
Chris Pritchett
January 4 – , 65, pitcher who played from 1925 to 1926 for the St. Louis Browns and the Cincinnati Reds.
Brad Springer
January 7 – , 69, 235 lb (107 kg) pitcher for the St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Robins, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves between 1923 and 1934, who led the National League with 19 wins in 1931.
Jumbo Elliott
January 9 – , 82, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1909 to 1915, who later coached at University of Vermont.
Ray Collins
January 10 – , 78, pitcher for the 1921 Philadelphia Athletics.
Harvey Freeman
January 12 – , 72, utility man who played for the 1918 Boston Braves.
Doc Bass
January 12 – , 88, pitcher for the 1908 Detroit Tigers.
Andy Bruckmiller
January 14 – , 61, general manager of the New York Mets from December 1967 until suffering a fatal heart attack, three months after the Mets' 1969 world championship season; formerly a standout relief pitcher for the New York Yankees for a dozen years between 1932 and 1946, who established the career saves record until it was broken in 1962; eight-time World Series champion: seven with Yankees as an active player, and one as GM of the 1969 "Miracle Mets".
Johnny Murphy
January 15 – , 84, second baseman for the 1917 Brooklyn Robins.
Bill Leard
January 17 – , 60, pitcher for the 1940 Boston Red Sox.
Alex Mustaikis
January 18 – , 77, pitcher who played from 1915 to 1916 with the Philadelphia Athletics.
Jack Richardson
January 21 – , 60, catcher who played from 1928 to 1932 for the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds.
Casper Asbjornson
January 21 – , 73, pitcher for the 1921-22 Brooklyn Robins.
Harry Shriver
January 23 – , 71, infielder for the 1923 Washington Senators.
Bill Conroy
January 24 – , 63, pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox in all or parts of five seasons spanning 1927–1932.
Hal McKain
January 25 – , 79, third baseman for the 1912 Cleveland Naps.
Harvey Grubb
January 26 – , 78, pitcher for the 1913 Philadelphia Phillies.
Jim Haislip
January 28 – , 60, pitcher for the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics.
Orie Arntzen
January 29 – , 23, Puerto Rican pitcher for the Seattle Pilots during the 1969 season, who was murdered in a bar fight in his home town of Loíza.