[TSmith1969]

First Division
In the first season of MLB's new top flight, all six former American League teams finished 1-6, and the former NL teams finished 7-12. The St. Louis Cardinals went from 97-65 in the NL last year to 66-88 in the MLB First Division, as Bob Gibson's record 1.12 ERA ballooned to 4.95. The Orioles ran away with the top flight with dominant pitching, and the Reds and Cardinals were the first teams relegated to the Second Division, and will be replaced in 1970 by the Twins and Dodgers.


1. Baltimore (103-51) won the regular season pennant easily, finishing 13 games ahead of Oakland. The Birds allowed only 524 runs, 100 fewer then the next best team, led by 20-game winners Mike Cueller and Tom Phoebus, league ERA and strikeout leader George Stone (2.25, 181), and league save leader Eddie Watt (33). Boog Powell (.268-44-113) led the third-best offense.

2. Oakland (90-64) was four games out of the playoff spots on July 31, but rode a 38-15 finish into second place. The A's topped the First Division in stolen bases, with five players in double-digit steals, led by Bert Campaneris (55) and Lou Brock, who was traded from St. Louis. The pitching staff was only 6th overall, but featured the best bullpen in the division. The A's were 23-8 in extra innings, and rookie closer Rollie Fingers lead the team with 15 wins to go along with his 25 saves and 2.02 ERA.

3. Detroit (87-67), fresh off their first World Series title in 23 years in 1968. Denny McLain, 31-6, 1.96 the year before, was a huge disappointment (9-17, 4.76) and the and pitching staff was 8th in the league. But the offense ranked 1st in batting and OBP and second in runs, led by 1-2-3 hitters Dick McAuliffe, Bill Freehan, and Norm Cash, who combined for 270 RBIs.

4. Boston (84-70) grabbed the last playoff spot, finishing three games ahead of the Yankees with the most prolific offense. Rico Petrocelli (.329) won the batting title, three points ahead of Pete Rose, and joined Yastrzemski in the 30 HR/100 RBI club.

5. NY Yankees (81-73) -- highest Yankees ERA in seven years, mainly because of Mel Stottlemyre's yearlong slump from 21-12, 2.45, and 1.11 WHIP to 11-14, 4.57, 1.42
6. Cleveland (79-75) -- second best starters ERA, including four with 14+ wins: McDowell, Tiant, Hargan, and Siebert.
7. Atlanta (70-84) -- 35-year-old Hank Aaron (.318-27-78) missed 59 games to injuries but still led Braves in HR and RBI.
8. Chicago Cubs (70-84) -- Breakout year for 32yo Jim Hickman (.286-32-103) who nearly doubled his previous highs in HR and RBI.
9. San Francisco (68-86) -- Willie McCovey (.287-47-117) led league in HR and RBI
10. Pittsburgh (67-87) -- avoided relegation with 7-4 win over Tigers that featured Willie Stargell's 36th HR.
11. St. Louis (66-88) -- RELEGATED -- worst record since 1924, 31 fewer wins than 1968, attendance down 50%.
12. Cincinnati (59-95) -- RELEGATED -- Pete Rose (.326) and Jim Maloney (15-14, 173 K) were only highlights in worst Reds' campaign since 1937.