The 1971 major league baseball season began on April 5, 1971, while the regular season ended on September 30. The postseason began on October 2. The 68th World Series began with Game 1 on October 9 and ended with Game 7 on October 17, with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League defeating the Baltimore Orioles of the American League, four games to three, capturing their fourth championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1960. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Baltimore Orioles from the 1970 season.
This was the final season the majority of MLB teams wore wool flannel uniforms. The Pirates and Cardinals wore double knit uniforms of nylon and rayon throughout 1971, and the Orioles 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-team divisions. 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 the 1969 and would be used until 1977 in the American League and 1993 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. The National League Championship Series took place between October 2 and October 6, while the American League Championship Series took place between October 3 and October 5. The World Series took place between October 9 and October 17.
Rule changes
The 1971 season saw the following rule changes:
Players on the current hitting team are now required to wear a batting helmet.[1] Players who previously used a cap liner in 1970 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 prohibit baserunners from advancing if the home-plate umpire interfered with a catcher.[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]
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.
The Washington Senators would play their final game at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium on September 30 against the New York Yankees, relocating to Arlington, Texas at Arlington Stadium as the Texas Rangers for the start of the 1972 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]
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