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KCRoyals15 · 12-19-2024, 11:54 AM

1961

After five successful seasons that saw the Omaha Golden Spikes being lifted from also-ran to back-to-back playoff team, Skipper Jr. decided to move on from Omaha and try his hand in Texas for the first time.

His next stop? An underachieving team in a city exploding in size, whose biggest rival was 50 miles away and dominating the Texas League. Skipper Jr. would be the new boss of the Houston Buffaloes.

In the Northern Conference, the Philadelphia Quakers won the New England League, while the Buffalo Bisons were back in the playoffs for the first time in four seasons after taking second in their first season after moving across town to venerable (and larger) War Memorial Stadium.

The Midwest Association featured a fantastic four-team sprint for the second playoff spot, behind the Chicago Whales. In the end, four teams finished with 89-91 wins, and the Montreal Royals and Chicago Cyclones dueled in a one-game playoff. The Cyclones came out on top, as both Chicago teams made the postseason for the first time, while the Cyclones were in the field for the first time in their five seasons in Chicago.

The Windy City was blown right out of the postseason, as the Whales lose a six-game set to Buffalo, while the Cyclones were knocked off by Philadelphia in five games. The Bisons then swept the Quakers to earn their third conference title in six years.

In the Southern Conference, the Washington Senators posted the Eastern Baseball Federation's best record with a 104-win campaign, while Brooklyn finished second, one game ahead of Atlanta. The Western League saw a tussle between St. Louis and New Orleans, with the Browns coming out one game ahead, with both teams earning postseason spots.

The Senators took care of business, sweeping the Dodgers in the first round, while St. Louis needed all seven games to defeat New Orleans. The Browns were sharper in the finals, though, pulling off a seven-game upset to take down Washington and win the South.

In the Pacific Coast League, Hollywood cruised to a ten-game cushion atop the league, with San Diego, Oakland, and Sacramento filing in behind them, with the Solons edging out Seattle by a game to reach the postseason for the first time in six years.

In the playoffs, Sacramento upset Hollywood in a five-game semifinal, while Oakland took down San Diego in seven games. The Oaks then pulled through in another seven-game tilt, edging the Solons to win their first PCL Championship in 23 years.

Deep in the heart of Texas, El Paso won the North, while Fort Worth won a competitive three-team race for the second playoff spot. The South saw Galveston won their sixth division title in seven years. Meanwhile, Skipper Jr. guided the Houston Buffaloes two games ahead of San Antonio to take second, earning their first playoff bid in a decade.

In October, El Paso edged out Fort Worth in a seven-game set, while Houston upset Galveston in six games to end the Hurricanes' two-year reign atop the Texas League. The Buffaloes then continued their run, taking down El Paso in six games to earn Houston's first Texas League title since 1928—nearly three decades before the TL became a major league.

In the national tournament, the St. Louis Browns (SOU) defeated the Buffalo Bisons (NOR) to kick things off, while the Houston Buffaloes (TL) defeated the Oakland Oaks (PCL) to become the second straight Texas League club to reach the National Championship series. In the end, though, the St. Louis Browns (SOU) defeat the Houston Buffaloes (TL), 4-1 to win their fourth National Championship and their first since 1954.

In the Northern Conference, Indianapolis rookie outfielder Dean Leveck saved his best for first, slashing .332/.413/.565 with 188 hits, 108 runs, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 28 home runs, and 113 RBI to earn Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. Other than being a prolific triples merchant throughout the decade, Leveck set career highs in just about everything else as a rookie.

On the mound, for the second time in five years, Buffalo righty John Bohlen took home Pitcher of the Year. Going 21-12 with a 2.43 ERA, Bohlen led the Northern Conference in wins, starts (36), innings (289.1), complete games (17), and shutouts (7). Just two years later, Bohlen would lose 23 games (his third 20+ loss season) and despite his two POTY trophies, he finished his big-league career with a 158-179 record.

For the second time in three years, the Southern Conference MVP went to Jacksonville second baseman Steve Bishop, who slashed .286/.343/.549 with 177 hits, 112 runs, 23 doubles, 44 homers, 125 RBI, and 32 steals.

St. Louis ace Allen Staub kept his firm grip on the Pitcher of the Year trophy for the fourth year running. Leading the league in wins for the third-year in a row, Staub went 22-9 with a conference-best 2.56 ERA, and also led the most starts (36), innings (284.2), and complete games (19).

For the second time in four years, Los Angeles third baseman Marcus Hale was crowned Pacific Coast League MVP, slashing .304/,356/.579 with 226 hits, 125 runs, 29 doubles, 10 triples, and leading the PCL with 52 homers and 146 RBI.

San Diego right-hander Dusty Richardson started his career off in style, as the 23-year-old rookie went 17-12 with a league-leading 2.65 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 309.1 innings, earning Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.

Hollywood outfielder Danny Quinones cracked his 400th career home runs on September 12, becoming just the second player in USBF history to reach that milestone. Still productive at 38, Quinones his 28 homers, though his streak of 11-straight 100-RBI seasons came to an end.

In Texas, one of Skipper Jr.'s first moves in Houston was trading for late-blooming first baseman Kevin Knotts from El Paso. In his first season as a Buffalo, Knotts slashed .318/.408/.641 with 187 hits, a league-leading 123 runs, 30 doubles, 11 triples, 46 homers, and 124 RBI. Knotts was similarly productive in 1962, but missed half of the season due to two IL trips, then fell off drastically, only playing 100 games twice at the big-league level.

Galveston right-hander Taylor Lloyd enjoyed his second big-league season, as the 24-year-old went 17-7 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 165 over 258.1 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year honors.

In the Northern Conference, a pair of former Manhattan aces earned their call to the Hall of Fame:

RHP Aaron Cutrone (1939-55), 91.9%
RHP Jeremy Keene (1939-50), 77.6%

---

The American Baseball League saw three 100-win seasons, as Tampa and New Haven each won 104 games to dominate the East, while Austin won 101 in the West and Salt Lake City took the second West playoff spot. New Haven beat Austin in six in the first round, then Tampa won seven game series over Salt Lake City and New Haven to win their first ABL crown.

Tampa lefty Ramon Lezama posted a truly dominant season, going 25-6 with a 1.60 ERA, leading the ABL in both categories, and starts (38). He struck out 321 batters in 287.1 innings, earning both Pitcher of the Year and MVP honors.

---

Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Montgomery Generals, 91-63, defeats Jackson (2nd straight)
Colonial League: Pittsfield Colonials, 89-51, defeats Worcester
River Valley League: Toledo Mud Hens, 81-59, defeats St. Joseph
Rocky Mountain League: Pueblo Miners, 65-61, defeats Butte
Coastal League: Augusta Rebels, 99-55, defeats Richmond (2nd straight)
Northern League: Fargo-Moorhead Indians, 86-54, defeats Cedar Rapids
Great Lakes League: Youngstown Steelers, 95-45, defeats Allentown
Southwest League: Long Beach Earthquakes, 90-64, defeats Modesto
Southern Association: Little Rock Travelers, 80-60, defeats Joplin (2nd straight)
Northwest League: Tacoma Mountaineers, 91-49, defeats Stockton
Can-Am League: Waterbury Pipers, 76-50, defeats Portland (5th straight)
Mid-Atlantic League: Greensboro Patriots, 82-58, defeats Roanoke (2nd straight)
Lone Star League: San Angelo Colts, 78-62, defeats Waco
Great Plains League: Thunder Bay Timberjacks, 94-46, defeats Salina
Florida Coast League: Huntsville Stars, 83-57, defeats Daytona

The River Valley League finals between Toledo and St. Joseph were an unusual sight: it was the only RVL final between 1935 and 1974 that did not feature either the Evansville Bees or Peoria Distillers. Evansville did not finish in the top two after doing so in 18 of the last 19 seasons.

12-19-2024, 11:54 AM	#71
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	Meet Me in St. Louis 1961 After five successful seasons that saw the Omaha Golden Spikes being lifted from also-ran to back-to-back playoff team, Skipper Jr. decided to move on from Omaha and try his hand in Texas for the first time. His next stop? An underachieving team in a city exploding in size, whose biggest rival was 50 miles away and dominating the Texas League. Skipper Jr. would be the new boss of the Houston Buffaloes. In the Northern Conference, the Philadelphia Quakers won the New England League, while the Buffalo Bisons were back in the playoffs for the first time in four seasons after taking second in their first season after moving across town to venerable (and larger) War Memorial Stadium. The Midwest Association featured a fantastic four-team sprint for the second playoff spot, behind the Chicago Whales. In the end, four teams finished with 89-91 wins, and the Montreal Royals and Chicago Cyclones dueled in a one-game playoff. The Cyclones came out on top, as both Chicago teams made the postseason for the first time, while the Cyclones were in the field for the first time in their five seasons in Chicago. The Windy City was blown right out of the postseason, as the Whales lose a six-game set to Buffalo, while the Cyclones were knocked off by Philadelphia in five games. The Bisons then swept the Quakers to earn their third conference title in six years. In the Southern Conference, the Washington Senators posted the Eastern Baseball Federation's best record with a 104-win campaign, while Brooklyn finished second, one game ahead of Atlanta. The Western League saw a tussle between St. Louis and New Orleans, with the Browns coming out one game ahead, with both teams earning postseason spots. The Senators took care of business, sweeping the Dodgers in the first round, while St. Louis needed all seven games to defeat New Orleans. The Browns were sharper in the finals, though, pulling off a seven-game upset to take down Washington and win the South. In the Pacific Coast League, Hollywood cruised to a ten-game cushion atop the league, with San Diego, Oakland, and Sacramento filing in behind them, with the Solons edging out Seattle by a game to reach the postseason for the first time in six years. In the playoffs, Sacramento upset Hollywood in a five-game semifinal, while Oakland took down San Diego in seven games. The Oaks then pulled through in another seven-game tilt, edging the Solons to win their first PCL Championship in 23 years. Deep in the heart of Texas, El Paso won the North, while Fort Worth won a competitive three-team race for the second playoff spot. The South saw Galveston won their sixth division title in seven years. Meanwhile, Skipper Jr. guided the Houston Buffaloes two games ahead of San Antonio to take second, earning their first playoff bid in a decade. In October, El Paso edged out Fort Worth in a seven-game set, while Houston upset Galveston in six games to end the Hurricanes' two-year reign atop the Texas League. The Buffaloes then continued their run, taking down El Paso in six games to earn Houston's first Texas League title since 1928—nearly three decades before the TL became a major league. In the national tournament, the St. Louis Browns (SOU) defeated the Buffalo Bisons (NOR) to kick things off, while the Houston Buffaloes (TL) defeated the Oakland Oaks (PCL) to become the second straight Texas League club to reach the National Championship series. In the end, though, the *St. Louis Browns (SOU) defeat the Houston Buffaloes (TL), 4-1* to win their fourth National Championship and their first since 1954. In the Northern Conference, Indianapolis rookie outfielder Dean Leveck saved his best for first, slashing .332/.413/.565 with 188 hits, 108 runs, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 28 home runs, and 113 RBI to earn Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. Other than being a prolific triples merchant throughout the decade, Leveck set career highs in just about everything else as a rookie. On the mound, for the second time in five years, Buffalo righty John Bohlen took home Pitcher of the Year. Going 21-12 with a 2.43 ERA, Bohlen led the Northern Conference in wins, starts (36), innings (289.1), complete games (17), and shutouts (7). Just two years later, Bohlen would lose 23 games (his third 20+ loss season) and despite his two POTY trophies, he finished his big-league career with a 158-179 record. For the second time in three years, the Southern Conference MVP went to Jacksonville second baseman Steve Bishop, who slashed .286/.343/.549 with 177 hits, 112 runs, 23 doubles, 44 homers, 125 RBI, and 32 steals. St. Louis ace Allen Staub kept his firm grip on the Pitcher of the Year trophy for the fourth year running. Leading the league in wins for the third-year in a row, Staub went 22-9 with a conference-best 2.56 ERA, and also led the most starts (36), innings (284.2), and complete games (19). For the second time in four years, Los Angeles third baseman Marcus Hale was crowned Pacific Coast League MVP, slashing .304/,356/.579 with 226 hits, 125 runs, 29 doubles, 10 triples, and leading the PCL with 52 homers and 146 RBI. San Diego right-hander Dusty Richardson started his career off in style, as the 23-year-old rookie went 17-12 with a league-leading 2.65 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 309.1 innings, earning Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. Hollywood outfielder Danny Quinones cracked his 400th career home runs on September 12, becoming just the second player in USBF history to reach that milestone. Still productive at 38, Quinones his 28 homers, though his streak of 11-straight 100-RBI seasons came to an end. In Texas, one of Skipper Jr.'s first moves in Houston was trading for late-blooming first baseman Kevin Knotts from El Paso. In his first season as a Buffalo, Knotts slashed .318/.408/.641 with 187 hits, a league-leading 123 runs, 30 doubles, 11 triples, 46 homers, and 124 RBI. Knotts was similarly productive in 1962, but missed half of the season due to two IL trips, then fell off drastically, only playing 100 games twice at the big-league level. Galveston right-hander Taylor Lloyd enjoyed his second big-league season, as the 24-year-old went 17-7 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 165 over 258.1 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year honors. In the Northern Conference, a pair of former Manhattan aces earned their call to the Hall of Fame: RHP Aaron Cutrone (1939-55), 91.9% RHP Jeremy Keene (1939-50), 77.6% --- The American Baseball League saw three 100-win seasons, as Tampa and New Haven each won 104 games to dominate the East, while Austin won 101 in the West and Salt Lake City took the second West playoff spot. New Haven beat Austin in six in the first round, then Tampa won seven game series over Salt Lake City and New Haven to win their first ABL crown. Tampa lefty Ramon Lezama posted a truly dominant season, going 25-6 with a 1.60 ERA, leading the ABL in both categories, and starts (38). He struck out 321 batters in 287.1 innings, earning both Pitcher of the Year and MVP honors. --- Minor League Champions Southeastern League: Montgomery Generals, 91-63, defeats Jackson (2nd straight) Colonial League: Pittsfield Colonials, 89-51, defeats Worcester River Valley League: Toledo Mud Hens, 81-59, defeats St. Joseph Rocky Mountain League: Pueblo Miners, 65-61, defeats Butte Coastal League: Augusta Rebels, 99-55, defeats Richmond (2nd straight) Northern League: Fargo-Moorhead Indians, 86-54, defeats Cedar Rapids Great Lakes League: Youngstown Steelers, 95-45, defeats Allentown Southwest League: Long Beach Earthquakes, 90-64, defeats Modesto Southern Association: Little Rock Travelers, 80-60, defeats Joplin (2nd straight) Northwest League: Tacoma Mountaineers, 91-49, defeats Stockton Can-Am League: Waterbury Pipers, 76-50, defeats Portland (5th straight) Mid-Atlantic League: Greensboro Patriots, 82-58, defeats Roanoke (2nd straight) Lone Star League: San Angelo Colts, 78-62, defeats Waco Great Plains League: Thunder Bay Timberjacks, 94-46, defeats Salina Florida Coast League: Huntsville Stars, 83-57, defeats Daytona The River Valley League finals between Toledo and St. Joseph were an unusual sight: it was the only RVL final between 1935 and 1974 that did not feature either the Evansville Bees or Peoria Distillers. Evansville did not finish in the top two after doing so in 18 of the last 19 seasons. Last edited by KCRoyals15; 12-19-2024 at 11:56 AM.