The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Not even an untidy dismount that sees us lose 7 of our last 9 games can take the gloss off an outstanding performance by our boys, who easily bring it home for another NL Pennant.





Little change to the formula that has served us so well of late: outstanding pitching backed up by acceptable defence and just enough being done with the bat. Dax Maxvill the only one in the group less than RV. Just a fantastic effort by a champion team as opposed to a team of champions.




I can't let the opportunity pass to mention Camilo Pascual's magnificent year. It is entirely appropriate that he clinches the pennant for us with his 20th win against Sandy Koufax at Dodger Stadium. Bob Veale isn't far behind him, and Bob Friend's first half is another highlight before he runs out of steam a bit down the stretch.


The Tigers and Twins battle it out to the very end before Detroit finishes the stronger of the two to get home by a handful of games.




The dominant pitching persists, with Sandy Koufax's season playing out as I'd hoped to end up one of the best ever (by pWAR, the 5th in fact) as he misses the NL Triple Crown by 0.02 ERA points to teammate Don Drysdale, whose 1.78 is the best in either league:




That's not to say the bats are entirely quiet, with Minnesota's Bob Allison also putting together a sterling campaign. He leads the league with his 49 homers and 124 ribbies, while amassing over 10 bWAR. Harvey Kuenn and Felix Mantilla take the batting titles, while Maury Wills leads with 82 SB. Oh, and Hoyt Wilhelm's 33 saves are the most for the season.


Final Top 20s and Leaders







Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – Bob Allison (Twins): 315 / 11 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Dick Stigman (Orioles): 5-1 / 1.85 / 37 K / 48.2 IP
• Rookie – Mickey Lolich (Tigers): 3-2 / 1.48 / 49 K / 48.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Felix Mantilla (Cardinals): 440 / 6 HR / 32 RBI
• Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 4-1 / 2.15 / 54 K / 50.1 IP
• Rookie – Gaylord Perry (Giants): 4-1 / 2.22 / 33 K / 52.2 IP

September

American League

• Batter – Dick McAuliffe (Tigers): 375 / 4 HR / 14 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Bunning (Tigers): 5-1 / 2.54 / 40 K / 46 IP
• Rookie – Mickey Lolich (Tigers): 3-1 / 2.79 / 25 K / 29 IP

National League

• Batter – Jim Gentile (Reds): 301 / 6 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Don Drysdale (Dodgers): 4-0 / 0.69 / 41 K / 52.1 IP
• Rookie – Sammy Ellis (Dodgers): 3-1 / 1.22 / 44 K / 44.1 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 400 HR: Duke Snider
• Young Yankees reliever Bruce Howard will miss the rest of this and all of next season after he blows out his elbow and a similar injury also ends Johnny Klippstein’s season prematurely.

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[luckymann]

Detroit Tigers (97-65) v Pittsburgh Pirates (96-66)
Best-of-seven, Tigers with the home-field advantage.


DETROIT TIGERS S+ PAGE

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

Two incredibly similar sides meet here in what should be a highly competitive matchup. If anything, we have a slight edge in pitching; as they do on offence along with defence. Their lineup lacks any true masher – in fact, the top HR total on either side this season was Felipe Alou’s 20 – but also has no slot that gives you a break—they are solid top to bottom. I would be taking the under on run totals throughout, that’s for sure.

The series will come down to who does the little things best, especially at the key moment in each game.

This one has the potential to be a classic.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Detroit

Mickey Lolich (17-11, 2.58) v Camilo Pascual (20-5, 1.92)

A cracking start to this series sees 20-game winner Camilo Pascual take on presumptive AL RoY Mickey Lolich, who has wasted no time in making a name for himself with a fine 17-11 / 2.58 debut campaign. So much rests on these early road games for us, I’d gladly take a split.

And we’ll at least have one as the lads in their inimitable style grind out a really tough 4-2 win. Patata gives us 7 quality frames and Gibbon closes it out with 2 scoreless, while Clendenon leads the bats with a homer and 3 ribbies, with his 2-run blast in the 8th proving the decisive blow.

Game 2 in Detroit

Jim Bunning (18-9, 3.55) v Bob Veale (16-6, 2.16)

Pirates lead series 1-0

Two flamethrowers go head-to-head in this one, with Jim Bunning and Bob Veale combining for more than 400 strikeouts this year. My sabermetric mindset means I generally eschew bunting except for when the pitcher is up, but I’ll definitely be much more willing to consider it in this game if a run is one the offing, as I doubt there’ll be many up for grabs.

No real need in the end as we fall behind early and are never in it as they square things up with a dominant 5-1 win. Clendenon has another 2-hit game but we manage just 7 all told with all of them singles, while Veale lets the occasion get to him a bit and walks 7. We expected a fight and, well, now we know we’ve got one.

Game 3 in Pittsburgh

Bob Friend (15-10, 2.42) v Don Larsen (15-7, 3.50)

Series tied 1-1

I spoke with Warrior – who has been our SP2 all season – about switching him and Veale to keep the handedness switch spread out a bit more evenly and he was all for it, although he and I both know his slight drop in form over the latter part of the season played its part in this move being made. A third, more subtle motivation had wedged itself into my grey matter as well, that of our Game 7 pitcher should it go that far. As I preferred Warrior over Veale in this role, the decision ended up being a no-brainer. He’ll take on a wily and experienced campaigner in Don Larsen, who has been here before and knows what is required of him.

And Warrior delivers the goods for us as a 5-run 7th propels us to a fairly comfortable 7-2 win. Bob gives up just the one run on 4 hits over seven, while Pops Stargell’s bases-clearing trip is the big hit for us.

Game 4 in Pittsburgh

Juan Pizarro (8-11, 2.99) v James Ponceroff (5-3, 3.67)

Pirates lead series 2-1

Initials aside, there’s a lot of John Podres in Juan Pizarro. Each can be untouchable on their day but can tend to spread those days too far apart for a Manager’s liking (or hairline or blood pressure), as Juan’s 8-11 season record attests. Granted, as is his way, his second half was better than his first, so let’s hope he keeps that trend going here today. He takes on young James Ponceroff, yet another JP who can run scalding to freezing, according to our scouting reports on him.

A signature Pirates triumph here as the lads drag themselves back from an 0-3 1st-inning deficit to first catch, then run them down late for a gritty and courageous 5-3 win. Pizarro to his credit shakes off that early misstep and eventually goes into the 7th before making way for the colossus of our BP Joe Gibbon, who allows just a walk over the remainder in an 8-out save. Juan also helps himself to a solo home run (just the second of his career, no less), with Clemente and the rampaging Clendenon also going solo yard.

Game 5 in Pittsburgh

Camilo Pascual (1-0, 2.57) v Mickey Lolich (0-1, 3.86)

Pirates lead series 3-1

What have these two aces got for us today with everything on the line? We’ve been here a few times before and know that the last thing you want to be doing is allowing your opponent to head home with a win under their belt and no room for error. I trust the lads understand this and will do everything in their power not to let it happen. Hal Smith in against the lefty for a struggling Blanchard, for whom a win will mean his Pirates career ends today.

This game is everything that one imagined it would be but sadly doesn’t end how we hoped it would end as they dig deep and eke out a 4-2 win that sends us back to Motown.

The game remains scoreless thru 6 before the two sides swap deuces over the next couple and, with both bullpens deployed by this point, they regain the lead with 2 more in the top 9th and close it out without incident. The boys give their all and there’s nothing you can do in games like this where you were simply beaten by a better team on the day than doff your cap and move on.

Game 6 in Detroit

Jim Bunning (1-0, 1.50) v Bob Veale (0-1, 6.14)

Pirates lead series 3-2

No obvious despair among the group, just the usual steely resolve and calm self-assurance I am used to seeing. Bob Veale gets the ultimate chance for atonement after his Game 2 disappointment here and all we expect is for him to make a good fist of it.
Ahhh, it’s not to be I’m afraid as Veale takes another pounding and all you can hope is that this is an experience that he learns from. They get to him early and keep going, controlling the scoreboard and, ultimately, the game with a really professional display of baseball that ends with an 8-3 final scoreline and sends us to a decider.

Game 7 in Detroit

Don Larsen (0-1, 9.00) v Bob Friend (1-0, 1.29)

Series tied 3-3

Well, while I would obviously have preferred not to have tested the theorem, now I can at least take some solace in my machinations with Warrior not having been for nought as he is indeed called into action for a winner-takes-all Game 7.

Won’t lie to you, the group – including yours truly – is a bit edgier than it was 24 hours ago, with the Tiges having all the momentum now. But if a bunch of ballplayers can turn it around from here, ours has as good a chance as any.

Wowowowowowowowowowowowow.

I said in the preview this had the potential to be a classic, and how right that ends up being as we get a Game 7 for the ages. It doesn’t look good for us at all as – how’s this for simulation accuracy – Larsen is perfect thru 6. In fact, we don’t break up the no-no until we’ve made two outs in the 8th when Maz singles, but that goes nowhere and the game remains scoreless entering the 9th.

A one-out Clemente double gives us our first real scoring chance and we capitalise as Matty Alou comes off the bench to deliver the hit of his career, a 97.5 mph dying quail that drops in short RF and scores the run.

With Gibbon on the mound, they respond with a leadoff single to Jim Davenport, but Blanchard’s last meaningful act in a Bucs uniform nails him trying to swipe second and two flyouts give us an unbelievable win behind the aptly-nicknamed Warrior Friend, who gives up just 2 hits and walks none over seven scoreless. Roberto Clemente wins his second MVP award, going 9-for-25 with 2 solo HR.

What a ride, what an unforgettable ride.

PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-3

SERIES MVP: Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh)

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[luckymann]

INS & OUTS

One Manager gets his walking papers: Cincy's Icehouse Wilson.


ROSTER MOVES

We execute Bob Purkey's final contract year. This season's unexpected success makes some tough decisions just that bit easier. So in the end, we only send Mudcat Grant to arbitration. That means Joe Gibbon and Gary Geiger and their outrageously overpriced estimates both walk early, along with the expected exits of Dick Groat, Bill Virdon, Johnny Blanchard and Don Gross. That frees up plenty of salary -roughly $300k or 15% of our $2m 1964 budget - for the next phase of this club's history.


SIM ACCURACY





HANGIN' THEM UP

I will cover Larry in the next post. A slow start left Spahn well shy of his career total with "just" 250 wins, but nevertheless he should still at least get a look-in at C-town.

EDIT: Apologies, only had batters showing in the previous version.

[luckymann]

Larry Doby's retirement brings to an end the presence of any NeL player in the league, so I thought we should have one final look at how these legends of the game squared up.

Hitters by bWAR

Pitchers by rWAR

HoFers*

SS Sam Bankhead
3B John Beckwith
P Barney Brown
P Dave Brown
P Ray Brown
OF Willard Brown
C Roy Campanella
OF Oscar Charleston
P Andy Cooper
P Roosevelt Davis
P Willis Flournoy
P Andrew "Rube" Foster
P Willie Foster
C Josh Gibson
SS Monte Irvin
C Heavy Johnson
P Jose Mendez
P Satchel Paige
P Dick Redding
P Bullet Rogan
OF Turkey Stearnes
P Ted Trent
IF Willie Wells
P Joe Williams
OF Wild Bill Wright

* Will add to this list as recent retirees get their due.

[luckymann]

I realise that I still have a couple trade tickets left and so I shop Gibbon and Geiger around, with my first stop being the Cubbies. After a quick to-and-fro the following deal is consummated.




Lucky I did, then. We'd been at the Cubs all through last year for Pags but they wouldn't bite. Of course, I never threw this haul at them. We'd retained Purkey only for depth and I think we can probably do something with the $40k that goes with him. All's well that ends well, as we have our everyday Catcher sorted out for the foreseeable future on a pretty friendly deal out thru 1965.

[luckymann]

AL 1963 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1963 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


With Mickey Mantle out of the picture - although I don't think his presence would have mattered much - Bob Allison gets just reward for his superb season with his first Wagner-Lajoie, while we get a pair of rare doubles with Sandy Koufax winning both his first Wagner-Lajoie and second Johnson-Waddell Medal, and Mickey Lolich taking the AL pitcher and rookie gongs. Dick "Wampum Walloper" Allen wins the NL Rookie award, with Paige Plates going to Jim Brosnan and Joe Gibbon.


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[luckymann]

OK, so with Blanchard and Geiger off the books we are now 100% compliant with the rule that only IRL Pittsburgh players are eligible for our squad in this save.

We are allowed three exemptions to this rule, with two of those currently taken by Camilo Pascual and Felipe Alou. With my FA ticket for 1964, I allocate the third and final exemption as follows:




We'll actually install Don as our starting 3B for next season, with Arriba moving to CF and Felipe to RF. I just feel Ducky Schofield is more gainfully deployed as one of our roving utility IFs with Jose Pagan.

What Don also gives us is a strong option in the OF, and particularly CF, should the need arise. With Geiger gone we are thin there even now, with the two Alou lads' ratings stubbornly refusing to hitch up at that slot. But both can and will play there in backup roles.

Don is no bargain at 2+1/360, but he should hopefully be a key bat for us these next few years.

[luckymann]

Eight Legacies including a Marquee this time around, with some real characters and iconic figures amongst them.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1964 Season:

Baltimore Orioles: Paul Blair (37.7; 1700)
Boston Red Sox: Luis Tiant (66.1; 238)
Cincinnati Reds: Tony Perez (54.0; 1948)
Houston Colt .45s: Larry Dierker (31.9; 320)
Kansas City Athletics: Bert Campaneris (53.0; 1795)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Wes Parker (22.9; 1288 – one-club player)
Milwaukee Braves: Phil Niekro (95.9; 590) MARQUEE 86%
New York Yankees: Mel Stottlemyre (43.1; 356 – one-club player)

There are 132 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 6 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1963 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Milwaukee Braves (519)
2. Boston Red Sox (472)
3. Cincinnati Reds (531; dice roll)
4. Kansas City Athletics (451)
5. New York Yankees (646)
6. Baltimore Orioles (531; dice roll)
7. Houston Colt .45s (407)
8. Los Angeles Dodgers (611)
9. New York Mets (315)
10. Washington Senators (346)
11. Los Angeles Angels (435)
12. Pittsburgh Pirates (457)
13. Cleveland Indians (488; dice roll)
14. Detroit Tigers (488; dice roll)
15. Chicago Cubs (506)
16. Philadelphia Phillies (537)
17. San Francisco Giants (543)
18. Minnesota Twins (565)
19. St. Louis Cardinals (574)
20. Chicago White Sox (580)


Rounds 2 thru 6

1. New York Mets (315)
2. Washington Senators (346)
3. Houston Colt .45s (407)
4. Los Angeles Angels (435)
5. Kansas City Athletics (451)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (457)
7. Boston Red Sox (472)
8. Cleveland Indians (488; dice roll)
9. Detroit Tigers (488; dice roll)
10. Chicago Cubs (506)
11. Milwaukee Braves (519)
12. Baltimore Orioles (531; dice roll)
13. Cincinnati Reds (531; dice roll)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (537)
15. San Francisco Giants (543)
16. Minnesota Twins (565)
17. St. Louis Cardinals (574)
18. Chicago White Sox (580)
19. Los Angeles Dodgers (611)
20. New York Yankees (646)


Eligible PIT players: 7 position players + 6 pitchers = 13.

Only the loosest of plans entering this Draft, and we end up adding the following to our club:

1. P Steve Blass, 21

• Had there been an ineligible that really appealed to us then we would have taken them, but I was always hoping we’d also get Steve, simply because of how much of a Bucs legend he is, clinching as he did in ’71.

2. OF Willie Crawford, 17 (ineligible)

• A fair bit of strategy at play here with Willie earmarked for the third CC exemption once Don Demeter (or perhaps Felipe Alou) vacates it. He’s a nice corner OF type who should get a moderate CF rating as well. Worst case, he is trade bait.

3. P Clay Carroll, 22

• “Hawk” is a fantastic 3rd-Round pickup and will be a good one for us in a few years’ time.

4. 2B Paul Popovich, 23

• A utility IF type for down the track.

5. P Frank Bork, 23

• Given our current paucity of LHRPs, Frank might actually make it onto the parent club roster at some point this season.

6. Dave Wissman, 22

• AAA filler.

A decent enough if unspectacular haul for us.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

We'll be adding Campy to that NeL list, with Bobby Doerr also in on the first go. Monte Irvin, Sam Bankhead and Charlie Keller all regress a tad and miss out again.

[luckymann]

The official end of the Yankees’ “third dynasty” is rung in as the Cards take them down in a classic seven-gamer for their 7th World Championship after two incredibly tight races that are eventually decided by one game. It would be the last AL pennant for the Bombers until 1976.


AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (99-63)
NL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (93-69)
WORLD SERIES: Cardinals 4, Yankees 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 80-82, 6th in NL

AL MVP: Brooks Robinson (Orioles)
NL MVP: Ken Boyer (Cardinals)

AL CYA: Dean Chance (Angels)
NL CYA: not given

AL RoY: Tony Oliva (Twins)
NL RoY: Dick Allen (Phillies)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. WILLIE MAYS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 121 runs, 171 hits, 21 doubles, 9 triples, 47 home runs, 111 RBIs, 82 walks, 19 stolen bases, .607 slugging percentage.
• Mays was named the first-ever black captain of a major league ballclub and responded with one of his best years yet; he was the only player to score five runs in a game during 1964—and he did it twice.

2. DICK ALLEN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 125 runs, 201 hits, 38 doubles, 13 triples, 29 home runs, 91 RBIs, 138 strikeouts.
• Allen led all players in home runs during spring training, then let pitchers know in his rookie regular season that it was no fluke.

3. RON SANTO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .313 average, 94 runs, 185 hits, 33 doubles, 13 triples, 30 home runs, 114 RBIs, 86 walks, .398 on-base percentage.
• In his fifth season with the Cubs, the 24-year-old Santo emerged as a true Wrigleyville favorite with an all-around year at the plate; he also won his first of five straight Gold Gloves at third base.

4. FRANK ROBINSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 103 runs, 174 hits, 38 doubles, 6 triples, 29 home runs, 96 RBIs, 79 walks, 20 intentional walks, 23 stolen bases.
• After a relatively poor season by his standards, Robinson refreshed—and continued to command respect by leading the NL in intentional passes for the fourth straight year.

5. HANK AARON, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .328 average, 103 runs, 187 hits, 30 doubles, 24 home runs, 95 RBIs, 22 stolen bases.
• A very un-Aaron-like year, as Hammerin’ Hank hit the fewest home runs between his rookie 1954 season and his final year at Atlanta (1974). But when you hit .328 and steal 22 bases, no one’s going to complain.

6. BILLY WILLIAMS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 100 runs, 201 hits, 39 doubles, 33 home runs, 98 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• Forming a terrific one-two punch in Chicago with Ron Santo, the quiet and tireless Williams was hitting .400 as late as June 9 before cooling off into the summer months.

7. RICO CARTY, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 133 games, .330 average, 28 doubles, 22 home runs, 88 RBIs.
• In a great year for rookies, Carty—who played long enough to be managed by Tony La Russa—twice collected five hits in a game, six days apart.

8. KEN BOYER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 100 runs, 185 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples, 24 home runs, 119 RBIs, 70 walks.
• It could be argued that Boyer had better years statistically, but he was never more valuable than in 1964.

9. ROBERTO CLEMENTE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .339 average, 95 runs, 211 hits, 40 doubles, 7 triples, 12 home runs, 87 RBIs.
• Clemente collected a career-high 211 hits and 40 doubles on his way to his second of four batting titles.

10. ORLANDO CEPEDA, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 27 doubles, 31 home runs, 97 RBIs.
• Though he didn’t know it at the time, this would be Cepeda’s last productive year for the Giants; a problematic knee got the better of him a year later and, once healed, he couldn’t unseat Willie McCovey at first base—leading to a 1966 trade to St. Louis.

AL Hitters

1. MICKEY MANTLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 92 runs, 25 doubles, 35 home runs, 111 RBIs, 99 walks, 18 intentional walks, .423 on-base percentage.
• The last great year for the Mick in the Yankees’ final hurrah before the CBS-era gloom kicked in.

2. TONY OLIVA, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .323 average, 672 at-bats, 109 runs, 217 hits, 43 doubles, 9 triples, 32 home runs, 94 RBIs, 12 stolen bases.
• Fast start, gradual fade: Oliva mimicked Vada Pinson with a superb rookie effort followed by a glacial career decline that ultimately made him one of the best players not in the Hall of Fame.

3. BOB ALLISON, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 90 runs, 27 doubles, 32 home runs, 86 RBIs, 92 walks, 10 stolen bases.
• The veteran “play me wherever” Allison split his time between first base and the outfield, but his favorite place to perform certainly had to be at Metropolitan Stadium, where he batted .342 (as opposed to .241 on the road).

4. HARMON KILLEBREW, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .270 average, 95 runs, 49 home runs, 111 RBIs, 93 walks, 8 hit-by-pitches.
• Roger Maris had to wonder how safe his season home run record was after Killebrew hit 28 home runs over the Twins’ first 74 games of the year.

5. BROOKS ROBINSON, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 163 games, .317 average, 82 runs, 194 hits, 35 doubles, 28 home runs, 118 RBIs, 10 sacrifice flies.
• Yankees manager Yogi Berra’s chalkboard fodder wrote of Robinson’s bat fading in the summer, only encouraging the Orioles third baseman to step it up and complete his best offensive stint ever.

6. BOOG POWELL, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 134 games, .290 average, 39 home runs, 99 RBIs, 76 walks, .606 slugging percentage.
• The 23-year-old boomer set a career mark for home runs—and it would have been more had he not missed 29 games, mostly due to a sprained wrist suffered in August.

7. ROCKY COLAVITO, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: .274 average, 89 runs, 31 doubles, 34 home runs, 102 RBIs, 83 walks.
• Having left behind fans in Cleveland and Detroit angered over his being traded, the popular Colavito was in the process of winning over a new group of fans in Kansas City in what would turn out to be his only year with the A’s.

8. DICK STUART, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 27 doubles 33 home runs, 114 RBIs.
• Stuart’s short tenure in Boston came to an end after two years—and while it looked great on paper, continued bad defense and a shaky relationship with manager Johnny Pesky sealed his fate with a trade to the Phillies.

9. JIM FREGOSI, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: .277 average, 86 runs, 22 doubles, 9 triples, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 72 walks.
• In the first 18 years of Angels baseball, there were two instances of a player hitting for the cycle; they both came courtesy of Fregosi, who accomplished his first in 1964.

10. LEON WAGNER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 163 games, .253 average, 94 runs, 31 home runs, 100 RBIs, 14 stolen bases.
• After three years and 91 home runs for the Angels—where he gave himself the nickname “Daddy Wags” because of his friendly disposition toward the press—Wagner took his cheerful act to Cleveland where he continued to pound away.

NL Pitchers

1. DON DRYSDALE, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.18 ERA, 18 wins, 16 losses, 40 starts, 21 complete games, 321.1 innings, 11 wild pitches.
• A dried-up Dodgers offense could only explain Drysdale’s terrific ERA—and ordinary won-lost record.

2. SANDY KOUFAX, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 1.74 ERA, 19 wins, 5 losses, .792 win percentage, 28 starts, 7 shutouts, 223 innings.
• Koufax was on pace to win 25 games and strike out nearly 300 batters when he made what turned out to be his last start of the year in mid-August, bowing to ever-increasing arthritic issues in his pitching arm.

3. JUAN MARICHAL, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.48 ERA, 21 wins, 8 losses, .724 win percentage, 33 starts, 22 complete games, 269 innings, 52 walks.
• Some pitchers just tire themselves out by September. Not Marichal; the major league leader in complete games started eight games from September 2 on—six of them on three days’ rest—and finished all but one of them. He pitched eight innings in the game he didn’t complete.

4. CHRIS SHORT, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.20 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 42 appearances, 31 starts, 220.2 innings, 51 walks.
• Phillies manager Gene Mauch told Short to get aggressive with hitters; the results were telling.

5. BOB VEALE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.74 ERA, 18 wins, 12 losses, 38 starts, 279.2 innings, 124 walks, 250 strikeouts, 18 wild pitches, 33 grounded into double plays.
• To steal from Basil Fawlty, Veale rose from the bullpen and became “Veale-ly good” within an otherwise patched-up Pirates rotation.

6. LARRY JACKSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.14 ERA, 24 wins, 11 losses, .686 win percentage, 38 starts, 297.2 innings, 58 walks.
• Jackson’s 24 wins were the most ever for an eighth-place team.

7. JIM BUNNING, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.63 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, .704 win percentage, 39 starts, 284.1 innings, 46 walks, 14 hit-by-pitches.
• The Phillies’ ace exceeded Juan Marichal (#3 above) in September/October starts with a remarkable 10—but couldn’t make it past the fifth in three of them. It was the first of three straight years in which he won exactly 19 games.

8. JIM O’TOOLE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.66 ERA, 17 wins, 7 losses, .708 win percentage, 30 starts, 220 innings, 51 walks.
• O’Toole’s five-year reign as a top Reds pitcher came to an end with arguably his most efficient set of numbers.

9. BOB BRUCE, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.76 ERA, 15 wins, 9 losses, 35 appearances, 29 starts, 202.1 innings, 33 walks.
• The common pitcher was going to miss Colt Stadium, where he posted a 20-10 record and 2.59 ERA over three years for Houston; he’d go 6-15 over the next three seasons at the Colt .45s/Astros’ new home, the Astrodome.

10. BOB GIBSON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.01 ERA, 19 wins, 12 losses, 40 appearances, 36 starts, 287.1 innings, 245 strikeouts.
• Proving that he was warming up for a superb World Series effort, 11 of Gibson’s 19 wins came over the final two months of the season.

AL Pitchers

1. DEAN CHANCE, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 1.65 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses, .690 win percentage, 4 saves, 46 appearances, 35 starts, 15 complete games, 11 shutouts, 278.1 innings, 31 grounded into double plays.
• Channeling his outspoken anger over not receiving a raise from the Angels, Chance became a man on a mission on the mound; of the 11 shutouts he threw—the most by an American Leaguer since Walter Johnson—his most impressive was a 14-inning, three-hit gem against the Yankees on June 6.

2. WHITEY FORD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.13 ERA, 17 wins, 6 losses, .739 win percentage, 36 starts, 8 shutouts, 244.2 innings, 57 walks, 0 stolen bases allowed.
• Like Mickey Mantle, Ford would bask in the glory of one last great Yankee campaign before it all went south the next season; for the fourth and final time, he didn’t allow a single stolen base.

3. DICK RADATZ, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.29 ERA, 16 wins, 9 losses, 29 saves, 79 appearances, 0 starts, 157 innings.
• At Boston, there was the Green Monster, and then there was simply “The Monster,” Radatz—one of the majors’ best closers at 6’5”, 250 pounds.

4. GARY PETERS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.50 ERA, 20 wins, 8 losses, .714 win percentage, 36 starts, 273.2 innings, 105 walks, 15 wild pitches, 27 grounded into double plays.
• After missing out on 20 wins in his 1963 rookie campaign by losing his last two starts, Peters secured the magic number by winning his last four decisions. Unfortunately, none of his wins came against the Yankees (losing three), a bit of a downer given the White Sox finished just a game behind New York.

5. JUAN PIZARRO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.56 ERA, 19 wins, 9 losses, .679 win percentage, 33 starts, 239 innings, 55 walks.
• The 27-year-old Puerto Rico-born southpaw hit peak with a career-high win total; he’d never win more than eight again despite pitching 10 more years, mostly out of the bullpen.

6. JOE HORLEN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.88 ERA, 13 wins, 9 losses, 32 appearances, 28 starts, 210.2 innings, 25 grounded into double plays.
• On a White Sox staff that produced the AL’s best team ERA (2.72) since 1918, Horlen became the first non-ERA champ with a sub-2.00 number since 1919.

7. WALLY BUNKER, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.69 ERA, 19 wins, 5 losses, .792 win percentage, 29 starts, 214 innings.
• If not for Tony Oliva’s entry splash into the majors, Bunker would have been the AL Rookie of the Year; among his 15 wins were two one-hitters.

8. FRED NEWMAN, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.75 ERA, 13 wins, 10 losses, 32 appearances, 28 starts, 190 innings, 39 walks.
• In his first of only two-full time campaigns as a starter, Newman understood the merits and demerits of pitching at low-scoring Dodger Stadium, posting a 10-4 record and 2.15 ERA at the Angels’ temporary home for one last season before moving to Anaheim.

9. BOB LEE, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 1.51 ERA, 6 wins, 5 losses, 19 saves, 64 appearances, 5 starts, 137 innings.
• As with Newman, the rookie closer was happy at Chavez Ravine—producing a 1.30 ERA. Overall, opposing batters hit just .182 against the right-hander.

10. HOYT WILHELM, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.99 ERA, 12 wins, 9 losses, 27 saves, 73 appearances, 0 starts, 131.1 innings.
• A remarkable stretch began for the 40-year-old Wilhelm with a streak of five straight years authoring a sub-2.00 ERA.

[Brad K]

Nice to get Pagliaroni at age 25. A real life PIrate and a cool name. That's a winner!

[luckymann]

A bit more tinkering with the financials, upping the media contracts a bit as profits were tanking. Will continue to do this along thew way.

A pretty quiet offseason, with the New York teams the most active.

Here are the moves of note:

• P Bob Shaw: Tigers, 6 years / $1564000
• 1B Don Mincher: Athletics, 8 years / $1146800 (extension)
• SS Eddie Bressoud: Yankees, 4 years / $1088000
• C Earl Averill: Mets, 4 years / $992000
• 3B Wayne Causey: Mets, 3 years / $804000
• P Joey Jay: Yankees, 4 years / $640000
• OF Jerry Lynch: Cardinals, 3 years / $572000
• SS Dick Groat: Phillies, 3 years / $522000
• OF Woodie Held: Angels, 3 years / $504000
• P Stan Williams: Twins, 3 years / $432000
• P Steve Barber: Indians, 3 years / $387000 (extension)
• OF Chuck Hinton: Yankees, 4 years / $342000 (extension)
• C Johnny Blanchard: Athletics, 2 years / $248000
• P Don Larsen: Yankees, 2 years / $236000

• 2B Paul Jernigan and SS John Butler from Athletics to Yankees for P Ken Johnson
• P Wayne Carlander and P Paul Seitz from Phillies to Indians for P Charlie Beamon

We go 8-10 in ST with no injuries to worry about. The Cubs lose Jim O’Toole for 6 weeks, the Dodgers Ray Washburn for the season, and Johnny Klippstein announces his retirement.

ALL TRANSACTIONS


The BNN bunch sees a really tight NL race with us only on the fringes of figuring in it, with the Tigers and Twins to fight out the AL again.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Nice to get Pagliaroni at age 25. A real life PIrate and a cool name. That's a winner!

Hoping so. Not a lot of big Bucs bats to choose from in this era.

[luckymann]

As per usual, our team page can be accessed HERE.

After last year's most unexpected title, I am reluctant to make any calls. Little has essentially changed for us, I think we are roughly the same quality we were in '63. That doesn't guarantee us anything, as I do feel the Cubbies are in the ascendancy with the Phils and Cards also looking good. I think BNN has it about right this year. We shall see.

We'll start with Smith as our backup C but Brand is ready. We'll hold Blass and the other pitchers back with Bork the most likely to appear. Grant comes back up for another - his last - chance to earn an extension, with this being his walk year. There's little in the cupboard, so we'll be looking to trade out of any form / injury jams.

[luckymann]

Well I'm sure all of you who play OOTP will agree when I say this doesn't happen anywhere near often enough, but we've had a player fall into our laps like a (modest) gift from God.

Chris Cannizzarro, who IRL played briefly for the Bucs in 1968, gets put up on the WW by the BoSox. Still on the min with a few years of TC left. No OYs of course but that's OK. Given how Hal Smith 1's ratings have nosedived over the break this is most fortuitous indeed and we snap him up to be Pags' backup C.


OK, so as I said earlier we are fully in line with our roster now and have all three CC slots allocated. That means Willie Crawford cannot be promoted until one of those has been vacated.

Pretty neat and tidy on the roster front then, just as I like it. Only these 26 on the Active Roster are on the 40-man! A few guys to lock or lose these next few years and, as you can see, our staff are all out of contract fairly quickly. So we'll need to be smart with how we manage all of this on our small budget.








A couple days into the season, we take in unsigned FA OFs Bobby Del Greco and Bill Virdon on minor option deals. I think we'll use one of them and send Maxvill down but not just yet.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Hoping so. Not a lot of big Bucs bats to choose from in this era.

Your restriction on how many non real life Pirates makes it really rough. More so than my historical rookies setting since you have to go trade for them. I admire you for building a mountain to climb over!

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Tell Alou Harry Walker is a crank and to start swinging for the fences!

Matty Alou

• 1963: 0 HR in 106 AB
• 1964: 2 in 10.

He got the message. Then again, career total of 31 IRL speaks volumes in this regard.

[luckymann]

Braves slugger Eddie Mathews has just the second 4 HR game in MLB history, notching an astonishing 142 GSc in the process.

He never managed this feat IRL, going the closest on 09/27/52 against the Dodgers when he knocked three into the seats.

[luckymann]

No signs of a title hangover and no complaints from me as once again these magic men surprise to the upside, with an 11-game win string in April the backbone of a strong 31-16 opening stanza.




No doubt the most pleasant surprise has been the veritable - by our standards, at any rate - explosion of run production.




While Pops has been at the forefront of this upswing, it has once again been underpinned by an even spread up and down the lineup, with only Cannizarro showing neg bWAR.




Patata has struggled a bit and we've lost Bob Veale for a spell, but the pitching metrics remain strong with WS hero Bob Friend the pick so far, including nabbing the April award. The BP, despite the loss of Gibbon, hasn't missed a beat.


The league is all atizz with what Willie Mays has been doing, just out of this world and his projections are insanity personified.




Off the back of that, the Jints are flying high, while the BoSox and O's have been taking turns with the lead across in the AL.




Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Pete Ward (Athletics): 391 / 5 HR / 11 RBI
• Pitcher – Whitey Ford (Red Sox): 3-0 / 1.08 / 14 K / 25 IP
• Rookie – Luis Tiant (Red Sox): 2-1 / 0.82 / 35 K / 33 IP

National League

• Batter – Willie Mays (Giants): 509 / 9 HR / 19 RBI
• Pitcher – Bob Friend (Pirates): 3-0 / 1.36 / 12 K / 25 IP
• Rookie – Marcelino Lopez (Colt .45s): 1-0 / 0.44 / 12 K / 20.1 IP

May

American League

• Batter – Deron Johnson (Orioles): 392 / 4 HR / 15 RBI
• Pitcher – Mickey Lolich (Tigers): 5-0 / 2.05 / 48 K / 48.1 IP
• Rookie – Mel Stottlemyre (Yankees): 3-0 / 2.42 / 26 K / 52 IP

National League

• Batter – Willie Mays (Giants): 385 / 11 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Chris Short (Phillies): 4-2 / 2.34 / 49 K / 50 IP
• Rookie – Pete Mikkelsen (Reds): 2-2 / 3.20 / 6 SV / 19 K / 25.1 IP

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 400 HR: Willie Mays
• 300 HR: Henry Aaron, Rocky Colavito
• 2500 Hits: Richie Ashburn
• 2000 Hits: Joe Adcock
• The Dodgers lose Closer Jim Dunn for the remainder to a torn labrum, while veteran Harvey Haddix will also miss the rest of this season with the Phillies thanks to a bout of shoulder inflammation.
• More pitching woes as Cleveland starter Ray Culp suffers a labrum tear that sits him for 2 months and Mike McCormick of the A’s is felled by a neck injury that will keep him out thru June.
• An ab strain keeps Washington’s Mack Jones out of action for 5 weeks.

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