Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Oakland Athletics over New York Mets (4–3); Reggie Jackson, MVP All-Star Game, July 24 at Royals Stadium: National League, 7–1; Bobby Bonds, MVP Other champions College World Series: USC Japan Series: Yomiuri Giants over Nankai Hawks (4–1) Big League World Series: Lincolnwood, Illinois Little League World Series: Tainan City, Taiwan Senior League World Series: Taipei, Taiwan Winter Leagues 1973 Caribbean Series: Tigres del Licey Dominican Republic League: Tigres del Licey Mexican Pacific League: Yaquis de Obregón Puerto Rican League: Cangrejeros de Santurce Venezuelan League: Leones del Caracas Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Roberto Clemente Billy Evans Monte Irvin George Kelly Warren Spahn Mickey Welch Most Valuable Player Reggie Jackson (AL) Oakland Athletics Pete Rose (NL) Cincinnati Reds Cy Young Award Jim Palmer (AL) Baltimore Orioles Tom Seaver (NL) New York Mets Rookie of the Year Al Bumbry (AL) Baltimore Orioles Gary Matthews (NL) San Francisco Giants MLB statistical leaders 1 Modern single season strikeout record. Major league baseball final standings American League final standings National League final standings Events January–March January 3 – A group of investors, headed by shipbuilder George Steinbrenner, purchases the New York Yankees from CBS for $10 million. January 11 – Major League Baseball owners vote in approval of the American League adopting the designated hitter position. January 18 – Orlando Cepeda signs with the Boston Red Sox, making him the first player signed by a team as a designated hitter. January 24 – Left-handed pitcher Warren Spahn is elected to the Hall of Fame in his first try on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot, receiving 316 of 380 votes. January 28 – The Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee selects 19th-century pitcher Mickey Welch and Giants first baseman George Kelly, plus umpire Billy Evans, for enshrinement. February 1 – Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces the selection of Monte Irvin for the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. February 27 – Chicago White Sox slugger Dick Allen signs a three-year contract for an estimated $250,000 per year, making him the highest-paid player in major league history. March 5 – New York Yankees teammates Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich arrive at Spring training and announce that wives and families have been swapped. Even the family dogs were traded. March 20 – In a special election held by the Baseball Writers' Association of America,