Angels

White Sox

Royals

Brewers

Twins

     Athletics

Orioles

Red Sox

Indians

Tigers

Yankees

Senators

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Locations of teams for the 1970–1971American League seasons
West  East

Braves

Reds

Astros

Dodgers

Padres

  Giants

Cubs

Expos

Mets

     Phillies

Pirates  

Cardinals

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Locations of teams for the 1971–1976National League seasons
West  East

The1971 major league baseball season began on April 5, 1971, while the regular season ended on September 30. Thepostseason began on October 2. The68th World Series began with Game 1 on October 9 and ended with Game 7 on October 17, with thePittsburgh Pirates of theNational League defeating theBaltimore Orioles of theAmerican League, four games to three, capturing their fourth championship in franchise history, since their previous in1960. Going into the season, the defendingWorld Series champions were theBaltimore Orioles from the1970 season.

The42nd Major League Baseball All-Star Game, was held on July 13 atTiger Stadium inDetroit,Michigan, home of theDetroit Tigers. TheAmerican League won, 6–4, and was the first American League win since thesecond game of 1962, and their last until1983.

This was the final season that theWashington Senators would play inWashington, D.C., as the team would relocate to theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex city ofArlington,Texas as theTexas Rangers thefollowing season. Washington would remain vacant of a major league team for 33 seasons until theMontreal Expos relocated there as theWashington Nationals in2005.

This was the final season the majority of MLB teams worewool flannel uniforms. ThePirates andCardinals wore double knit uniforms ofnylon andrayon throughout 1971, and theOrioles gradually phased out flannels, going all-double knit in time for the ALCS. By 1973, flannel uniforms completely disappeared from the MLB scene.

The 1971 schedule consisted of 162 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had twelve teams. Each league was split into two six-teamdivisions. Each team was scheduled to play 18 games against their five division rivals, totaling 90 games, and 12 games against six interdivision opponents, totaling 72 games. This continued the format put in place since the1969 and would be used until1977 in the American League and1993 in the National League.

Opening Day took place on April 5, featuring six teams. The final day of the regular season was on September 30, featuring 18 teams. TheNational League Championship Series took place between October 2 and October 6, while theAmerican League Championship Series took place between October 3 and October 5. TheWorld Series took place between October 9 and October 17.

The 1971 season saw the following rule changes:

• Players on the current hitting team are now required to wear abatting helmet.^[1] Players who previously used a cap liner in1970 could continue to do so.^[2]
• Rules regarding players interacting fans were relaxed, as previously, players could not talk or give autographs once batting practice started. Now, players could interact with players up to 30 minutes before the start of a game.^[2]
• Rule 5.09B was amended to prohibitbaserunners from advancing if the home-plate umpire interfered with acatcher.^[2]
• The disabled list was expanded. Previously, a team could have as many as three players disabled at a time — two for 21 days and one for 60. Now, a team could also disable a nonpitcher for 15 days, making it permissible to have a total of four at a time.^[2]

The postseason began on October 2 and ended on October 17 with thePittsburgh Pirates defeating theBaltimore Orioles in the1971 World Series in seven games.

Three of the four division races were anticlimactic; the only race was in the NL West between old rivals Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. The Giants led by 8.5 games on September 1 but the Dodgers chipped away. In mid September, the Dodgers won 8 in a row, including 5 over the Giants to narrow the gap to one game. But they could get no closer; ultimately both teams won on the final day of the season and the Giants won the division by 1 game.

• Commissioner's Award (Humanitarian):Willie Mays (SF)
• Hutch Award:Joe Torre (STL)
• Sport Magazine'sWorld Series Most Valuable Player Award:Roberto Clemente (PIT)

• Dave Bancroft
• Jake Beckley
• Chick Hafey
• Harry Hooper
• Joe Kelley
• Rube Marquard
• Satchel Paige
• George Weiss (executive)

ThePhiladelphia Phillies leaveConnie Mack Stadium from which they played 33 season and openedVeterans Stadium (with theNFL'sPhiladelphia Eagles), where they would go on to play for 33 seasons through2003.

TheWashington Senators would play their final game atRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium on September 30 against theNew York Yankees, relocating toArlington,Texas atArlington Stadium as theTexas Rangers for the start of the1972 season. The game was even more notable in that, with the Senators leading the Yankees 7–5 in the top of the 9th inning with one out, fans proceeded to storm and vandalize the field, preventing the game from continuing. The Senators were forced to forfeit the game to the Yankees.^[40]

NBC was the exclusive national TV broadcaster of MLB, airing the weekendGame of the Week, theAll-Star Game, both League Championship Series, and theWorld Series.

• 1971 in baseball (Events,Births,Deaths)
• 1971 Nippon Professional Baseball season

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