Manager Earl Weaver, after getting into an argument with the umpires over a tarpaulin that covered the pitching mound in the Toronto bullpen, pulled the Orioles off the field and forfeited the game to the Blue Jays. The tarp was placed on the mound in the left field corner as protection against light rain that began to fall in second inning.

The Orioles were losing, 4-0, with the Blue Jays coming to bat in the home half of the fifth, when Weaver demanded removal of the cover, contending it was a hazard to players who might go after foul balls. When umpire Marty Springstead, the crew chief, refused to accede, Weaver took the Orioles off the field. Following a 15-minute warning period, Springstead ordered the game forfeited. The Orioles' bullpen mound was not covered. [The Sporting News]



Toronto Blue Jays 4, Baltimore Orioles 0
Game Played on Thursday, September 15, 1977 (Night game) at Exhibition Stadium
Orioles      0  0  0    0  0  -   0  2  0
Blue Jays    0  0  0    4  x  -   4  5  0


Orioles              AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Blue Jays            AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
BATTINGTotals               17   0   2   0     3   4             Totals               14   4   5   3     3   1

Time of Game: 1:05   Attendance: 14,015
Left on Base: Orioles 5, Blue Jays 4
DP: Orioles 0, Blue Jays 0
Doubles: Bumbry (26), Cerone (3)
Sacrifice Hits: Nordbrook (2), Fairly (6)
Sacrifice Flies: McKay (1)


Orioles                IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Grimsley L(13-9)        4     5   4   4   3   1   0  20   4.05
Totals                  4     5   4   4   3   1   0  20

Blue Jays              IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Clancy W(4-6)           5     2   0   0   3   4   0  20   4.98
Totals                  5     2   0   0   3   4   0  20

Wild Pitches: Grimsley (2)

Umpires: HP - Larry Barnett, 1B - Jim Evans, 2B - Vic Voltaggio, 3B - Marty Springstead


ORIOLES 1ST: Bumbry struck out; Dauer walked; Singleton grounded
out (second to first) [Dauer to second]; L. May flied out to
center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Orioles 0, Blue Jays 0.

BLUE JAYS 1ST: G. Woods flied out to left; A. Woods flied out to
right; Howell walked; Rader singled to left [Howell to second];
Fairly forced Rader (shortstop unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2
LOB.  Orioles 0, Blue Jays 0.

ORIOLES 2ND: Murray grounded out (first unassisted); Mora
grounded out (third to first); DeCinces flied out to left; 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Orioles 0, Blue Jays 0.

BLUE JAYS 2ND: Bowling walked; Cerone grounded out (third to
first) [Bowling to second]; Nordbrook out on a sacrifice bunt
(pitcher to first) [Bowling to third]; McKay grounded out (first
unassisted); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Orioles 0, Blue Jays 0.

ORIOLES 3RD: Belanger was called out on strikes; Skaggs singled
to center; Bumbry doubled to left [Skaggs to third]; Dauer
reached on a fielder's choice [Skaggs out at home (shortstop to
catcher)]; Singleton walked [Bumbry to third, Dauer to second];
L. May grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB.
Orioles 0, Blue Jays 0.

BLUE JAYS 3RD: G. Woods struck out; A. Woods popped to third in
foul territory; Howell grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB.  Orioles 0, Blue Jays 0.

ORIOLES 4TH: Murray was called out on strikes; Mora struck out;
DeCinces walked; Belanger flied to right in foul territory; 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Orioles 0, Blue Jays 0.

BLUE JAYS 4TH: Rader walked; Fairly out on a sacrifice bunt
(pitcher to first) [Rader to second]; Bowling singled to third
[Rader to third]; Grimsley threw a wild pitch [Rader scored,
Bowling to second]; Cerone doubled to center [Bowling scored];
Nordbrook singled to left [Cerone to third]; McKay hit a
sacrifice fly to right [Cerone scored, Nordbrook to second]; G.
Woods singled to center [Nordbrook scored]; A. Woods flied out
to left; 4 R, 4 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Orioles 0, Blue Jays 4.

ORIOLES 5TH: Skaggs flied out to right; Bumbry grounded out
(second to first); Dauer grounded out (shortstop to first);
the Orioles forfeit when they refuse to take field because the
umpires would not remove the tarp on the Blue Jays bullpen
mound; Oriole manager Earl Weaver claimed it was a safety issue
for his left fielder; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Orioles 0, Blue
Jays 4.