1976 Major League Baseball season

On March 1, 1976, a majority of AL and NL owners initiated a lockout following the expiration of the league's Basic Agreement, freezing baseball activity. Not every team owner took part in the lockout, such as the Chicago White Sox,^[1] and owners had various levels of strictness regarding freezing activity.^[2][3] A primary issue addressed during lockout negotiations was the longstanding reserve clause and the players' desire to have more freedom to become free agents. The reserve clause was effectively nullified following the Seitz decision on December 23, 1975, which declared that major league players became free agents upon playing one year for their team without a contract.^[4]

Following several proposals by team owners to institute an option year following eight, then six years of major league service time on March 2, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), lead by Marvin Miller, rejected these proposals and argued for an option year after only one year of service time, colloquially dubbed the "one-one rule", the following day. After several meetings, counterproposals, and increasing tensions between the owners and the MLBPA, the ownership group gave a final offer which would include the MLBPA one-one rule on March 16.^[5] However, the Commissioner of Baseball, Bowie Kuhn ordered training camps to be opened immediately on March 17, which effectively ended the lockout, without an agreement in place between the ownership group and the MLBPA. Miller stated that the MLBPA did not vote on the owners' proposal because it did not address issues that were important to the players' union.^[6]

The season began on time for the scheduled April 8 Opening Day.^[7]

The 1976 schedule consisted of 162 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had 12 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 was the last season to use the format by the American League due to the 1977 American League expansion, which saw an adjusted format due to an expansion to 14 teams. The National League would continue to use the 12-team format until 1993.

Opening Day took place on April 8, featuring four teams. The final day of the regular season was on October 3, featuring 20 teams. The National League Championship Series took place between October 9 and October 12, while the American League Championship Series took place between October 9 and October 14. The World Series took place between October 16 and October 21.

The 1976 season saw the following rule changes:

• The experimental designated hitter (DH), which was implemented in the American League in 1973, was made permanent.^[9][10]
  • With the new permanent rules and questions regarding its implementation in the World Series, it was agreed that the DH would be used in even years.
  • It would not be used in All-Star Games (it would eventually be implemented in 1989 when American League teams hosted).
  • The National League (along with other minor leagues) could implement the DH by a simple majority as opposed to the previous three-quarter majority needed.^[10]
• Many rules were expanded upon or clarified:^[10]
  • Pitchers are only allowed to change positions during the same inning. The replacement/relief pitcher will be allowed five warm-up pitches.
  • If a pitcher comes in to relieve an existing pitcher immediately prior to game being suspended, and he has not allowed a baserunner before the end of the half inning, when the suspended game resumes and the pitcher does not start, it will be considered that the pitcher has been substituted and cannot be used for the remainder of the game.
  • A play will proceed even in the case of catcher's interference, to allow a manager to elect to take the play. If the batter misses first base or an existing runner misses the next base, the play will be treated as if the player reached the base.
  • If a runner advances to second base on ball four (forcing the batter to first base and the existing first base runner to second base), and the runner overruns second base, the fielding team has the opportunity to call him out should he not be touching a base when a tag is applied.
  • For an appeal to be considered made to an umpire, the player must clearly indicate either verbally or in an undeniable manner that an attempt to appeal is being made. However, if a fielder has the ball and is stepping on a base, an appeal cannot be made. When an appeal is being made, time is not out.
  • If the umpire calls a pitch a ball and the batter swings a half swing, the manager or catcher may request the plate umpire to ask a partner umpire for help on the call.
  • If a player of the visiting team is in the starting lineup and is substituted before being able to play defensively, he will receive no credit for any defensive statistics unless he actually played the position. However, all such players will be credited with a game played in batting statistics, so long as they are officially announced or listed in the starting lineup.
  • Regarding the calculation of earned run average (ERA) and innings pitched (IP) totals, the IP totals will round to the nearest whole number (such that, for example, 2001⁄3 is rounded to 200 and 2002⁄3 is rounded to 201.
• Specifications regarding materials on baseball bats were expanded to include pine tar.^[10]
• Shoes that have pointed spikes similar to that of track shoes or golf shoes are not allowed.^[10]
• Specifying that making intentional contact with an umpire is something a manager or player cannot do.^[10]
• Regarding a rule implemented in 1975 about players being ejected due to use of tampered bats, the rule was expanded to include batters using or attempting to use a baseball bat that has been altered or tampered for the purposes of improving the distance factor of the ball or adjusting the nature in which the ball leaves the bat after contact. No advancements on the bases will be made on the play and any and all outs made on the play will stand.^[10]

The postseason began on October 9 and ended on October 21 with the Cincinnati Reds defeating the New York Yankees in the 1976 World Series in four games.

Two ballparks were renamed by the start of the season:

• Atlanta Stadium, home of the Atlanta Braves, was renamed to Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium.
• White Sox Park, home of the Chicago White Sox, was renamed to Comiskey Park.

The New York Yankees returned to their longtime home of Yankee Stadium following renovations that caused them to play at their cross-town rival New York Mets' home ballpark of Shea Stadium for two season.

The Montreal Expos would play their final game at Jarry Park Stadium in a doubleheader on September 26 against the Philadelphia Phillies, moving into Olympic Stadium for the start of the 1977 season.

• Nellie Fox had his No. 2 retired by the Chicago White Sox on May 1. This was the second number retired by the team.
• Hank Aaron had his No. 44 retired by the Milwaukee Brewers on October 3. This was the first number retired by the team.

• 1976 in baseball (Events, Movies, Births, Deaths)
• 1976 Nippon Professional Baseball season