And finally, the curtain comes down on one of the worst seasons in club history. Our 86 losses are a club "record" and our 6th-place finish is the second-lowest in history. That despite a concerted effort by the group over the closing stages, which sees us go 31-26 since August 1.
I doubt the drama of last season will ever be replicated, and it certainly isn't this year. A monumental and, ultimately, catastrophic collapse by the Yankees sees them overhauled by the Tigers who go on to win the AL in a canter. A similar fate looks certain to befall the Reds, before they show plenty of grit to see off the Dodgers by 4 games for their first WS appearance since 1937 and just third overall.
This was a fascinating season for individual performances very much reflective of what was historically a mid-transition year from the hitting dominance of '61 to the pitching hegemony of the late '60s.
Batting titles to Don Buford and Frank Robinson, the latter of whom finishes podium across the Triple Crown stat cats and drives in a league-high 113. Tony Conigliaro leads the league with 43 HR, while Maury Wills sets a new stolen base record with 99 (the Devs will be pleased).
In the pitching, Bob Gibson wins 24 while Don Drysdale sets a new winning % mark with .880 by going 22-3. Sam McDowell is the King of K with 303, and he also etches a new low by only allowing a 178 BA against him. Jim Merritt's 2.41 was the lowest ERA for the season, and Billy McCool of the Halos led both leagues with 39 Saves.
Coming back to us for the briefest time possible, it's clear that our pitching has slipped from previous years and, without a commensurate jump in offensive productivity to help counteract it, the precariously-balanced gameplan that has brought us so much recent success was left vulnerable. It happens, we have a clear idea of what's necessary from here. Will almost certainly take a number of years to turn things around but we have been expecting this for a while and it hasn't materialised until now. It has been a grand run for this club and I doubt anyone can begrudge us a few fallow years to realign and prepare another assault on the top of the standings.
Final Top 20s and Leaders
Monthly Award Winners
August
American League
- Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 412 / 7 HR / 17 RBI
- Pitcher – Jim Palmer (Orioles): 5-1 / 1.73 / 45 K / 52 IP
- Rookie – Jim Palmer
National League
- Batter – Jimmie Hall (Cubs): 321 / 9 HR / 19 RBI
- Pitcher – Jim Maloney (Reds): 4-1 / 1.98 / 41 K / 50 IP
- Rookie – Fergie Jenkins (Cubs): 4-2 / 2.39 / 35 K / 49 IP
September
American League
- Batter – Boog Powell (Orioles): 312 / 11 HR / 20 RBI
- Pitcher – Luis Tiant (Red Sox): 4-1 / 2.23 / 34 K / 44.1 IP
- Rookie – Ken Holtzman (Red Sox): 3-0 / 2.00 / 29 K / 36 IP
National League
- Batter – Frank Robinson (Reds): 333 / 9 HR / 27 RBI
- Pitcher – Don Drysdale (Dodgers): 5-0 / 1.59 / 33 K / 51 IP
- Rookie – Curt Blefary (Dodgers): 350 / 7 HR / 20 RBI
Milestones and Observations of Note
- 300 HR: Frank Robinson
- 2000 Hits: Henry Aaron, Eddie Mathews
- 300 Saves: Hoyt Wilhelm
- The Halos lose promising young OF Tommy McCraw for the remainder after a beaning leaves him deeply concussed, while gun Phillies rookie Steve Carlton has his season ended early by an elbow injury.
- Chris Zachary, acquired from us by the Sens in the Giusti trade, will be out until 1967 after tearing his UCL late in the season.
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