1973 Major League Baseball season

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 SF 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 MTL 31 SB Tommy Harper BOS 54 Lou Brock STL 70

External links

• 1973 season at Baseball-Reference.com