The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

A relatively low-key induction of new Legacy Players for 1968, although each of the five incoming is a larger-than-life character for one reason or another.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1968 Season:

Los Angeles Dodgers: Dusty Baker (37.0; 1117)
Oakland Athletics: Rollie Fingers (25.6; 502 GP)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Al Oliver (43.6; 1302)
San Francisco Giants: Bobby Bonds (57.9; 1014)
St. Louis Cardinals: Ted Simmons (50.3; 1564)

Richie Hebner (33.0; 1140 GP) was also eligible for the Pirates, but Oliver’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Hal McRae (27.9; 1837 GP) is another who would have been eligible for the Royals, and…

Don Money (36.5; 1196) falls into the same category for the yet-to-exist Brewers—I mean what are the odds…

There are 110 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1967 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. San Francisco Giants (562; dice roll)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (627)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (500)
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (451)
5. Oakland Athletics (385)
6. New York Mets (377)
7. Houston Astros (426)
8. New York Yankees (444)
9. Cleveland Indians (463)
10. Washington Senators (472; dice roll)
11. Baltimore Orioles (472; dice roll)
12. Atlanta Braves (475)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (506)
14. California Angels (522)
15. Cincinnati Reds (537)
16. Chicago Cubs (540)
17. Chicago White Sox (549)
18. Minnesota Twins (562; dice roll)
19. Detroit Tigers (562; dice roll)
20. Boston Red Sox (568)


Rounds 2 thru 5

1. New York Mets (377)
2. Oakland Athletics (385)
3. Houston Astros (426)
4. New York Yankees (444)
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (451)
6. Cleveland Indians (463)
7. Washington Senators (472; dice roll)
8. Baltimore Orioles (472; dice roll)
9. Atlanta Braves (475)
10. Pittsburgh Pirates (500)
11. Philadelphia Phillies (506)
12. California Angels (522)
13. Cincinnati Reds (537)
14. Chicago Cubs (540)
15. Chicago White Sox (549)
16. Minnesota Twins (562; dice roll)
17. Detroit Tigers (562; dice roll)
18. San Francisco Giants (562; dice roll)
19. Boston Red Sox (568)
20. St. Louis Cardinals (627)


Eligible PIT players: 5 position players + 3 pitchers = 8.


No shortage of decent eligibles for us—too good, most of them, by which I mean there’s little likelihood of them doing too many spins around the block here and falling into our lap.

Which is pretty much how it goes, with our selections as follows:

1. 1B Al Oliver, 21

• The reason we were OK moving Clendenon on. Takes a year or two to blossom, but after that is a real gun.

2. SS Freddie Patek, 23

• Little chance I would have taken him if there were other options. Not that he isn’t a handy add, but he only plays SS and we’ve got Alley holding that slot down. That said, Gene could switch to 2B and Flea could then take short. We’ll see.

3. P Daryl Paterson, 24

• One of just two eligible players left, and easily the pick of the two. All the same he’s not much chop.

4. OF Jarvis Tatum, 20 (ineligible)
5. P John Cumberland, 20 (ineligible)

• AAA filler.

Could have been better, could have been worse.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

While Bob Feller stalls and is down to his final two ballots, the HoF admits another huge name.

[luckymann]

The (in)famous Year of the Pitcher sees runs become as rare as rocking-horse poop and ERAs plummet accordingly. Little did everyone know how much things were about to change. The Cards, led by Bob Gibson, meet the Tigers and their twin towers 30-game winner Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich in a gripping World Series that goes the distance and sees the Tigers prevail for just their third title.


AL CHAMPIONS: Detroit Tigers (103-59)
NL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (97-65)
WORLD SERIES: Tigers 4, Cardinals 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 80-82, 6th in NL

AL MVP: Denny McLain (Tigers)
NL MVP: Bob Gibson (Cardinals)

AL CYA: Denny McLain (Tigers)
NL CYA: Bob Gibson (Cardinals)

AL RoY: Stan Bahnsen (Yankees)
NL RoY: Johnny Bench (Reds)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. WILLIE MCCOVEY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .293 average, 81 runs, 36 home runs, 105 RBIs, 72 walks, 20 intentional walks, .545 slugging percentage.
• McCovey finally was allowed by the Giants—and successfully proved—to hit full-time against lefties, batting a halfway-decent .253 with nine homers against southpaws.

2. BILLY WILLIAMS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 163 games, .288 average, 642-at-bats, 91 runs, 185 hits, 30 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs, 98 RBIs.
• Williams quietly continued to be highly productive and durable, playing every game for the Cubs; for the fifth straight year, he played at least 162 games.

3. HANK AARON, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 84 runs, 174 hits, 33 doubles, 29 home runs, 86 RBIs, 23 intentional walks, 28 stolen bases, 21 grounded into double plays.
• Aaron finished a 10-year stretch in which he stole bases at an 80% success rate (203 of 253). His 28 steals in 1968, at the age of 34, were the second highest total of his career.

4. RICHIE ALLEN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .263 average, 87 runs, 17 doubles, 9 triples, 33 home runs, 90 RBIs, 74 walks.
• The Phillies’ star saved his best for last, hitting three home runs on the season’s final day against Tom Seaver (who gave up the first blast) and the Mets.

5. LOU BROCK, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 92 runs, 184 hits, 46 doubles, 14 triples, 6 home runs, 51 RBIs, 62 stolen bases.
• Brock stole three or more bases four times—one more than he did during his record-breaking 118-steal campaign in 1974.

6. WILLIE MAYS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 84 runs, 20 doubles, 5 triples, 23 home runs, 79 RBIs, 12 stolen bases.
• Though Mays’ numbers weren’t indicative of better times, they were still an improvement over 1967—and given his age (37) and the year-long dominance of pitchers, that was a good sign.

7. PETE ROSE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .335 average, 94 runs, 210 hits, 42 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, .391 on-base percentage.
• Rose defied the pitching madness and became the first switch-hitter to win a NL batting title.

8. JIM WYNN, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: .269 average, 85 runs, 23 doubles, 5 triples, 26 home runs, 67 RBIs, 90 walks, 11 stolen bases, 17 caught stealing.
• Wynn was easily the Astros’ biggest power threat; collectively, the team belted only 40 homers without him, with no one player on the roster collecting more than six.

9. TONY PEREZ, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .282 average, 93 runs, 176 hits, 25 doubles, 7 triples, 18 home runs, 92 RBIs.
• The young Perez showed that he was revving up late for a few thunderous years to follow by batting .326 over his last 73 games.

10. FELIPE ALOU, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 662 at-bats, 72 runs, 210 hits, 37 doubles, 5 triples, 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, 12 stolen bases.
• Déjà bro: For the second time in three years, Felipe led the NL in hits but was upstaged by brother Matty, who produced a higher batting average (.332 at Pittsburgh).

AL Hitters

1. CARL YASTRZEMSKI, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 90 runs, 162 hits, 32 doubles, 23 home runs, 74 RBIs, 119 walks, 13 stolen bases, .426 on-base percentage.
• Yastrzemski’s production drop was indicative of major league hitters in general, but he was still the AL’s toughest out.

2. FRANK HOWARD, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .274 average, 79 runs, 164 hits, 28 doubles, 44 home runs, 106 RBIs, .552 slugging percentage.
• Howard overcame his habit of hitting bad pitches and put up numbers that didn’t belong in 1968.

3. KEN HARRELSON, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .275 average, 79 runs, 35 home runs, 109 RBIs.
• An avid golfer who gave serious consideration to playing in the PGA, Harrelson was among the first to wear batting gloves.

4. WILLIE HORTON, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 36 home runs, 85 RBIs.
• The Tigers slugger hit 26 of his 36 home runs with no one on base; 11 of his bombs came against the Angels alone.

5. BILL FREEHAN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .263 average, 25 home runs, 84 RBIs, 24 hit-by-pitches.
• The 24 plunkings asborbed by Freehan were the most by an American Leaguer since Kid Elberfeld in 1911.

6. FRANK ROBINSON, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 130 games, .268 average, 27 doubles, 15 home runs, 52 RBIs, 73 walks, 12 hit-by-pitches, 11 stolen bases.
• A quick glance at Robinson’s numbers and the first words that would come to mind might be, “off-year.” But look more closely, and you might better understand why he placed fifth in OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).

7. BERT CAMPANERIS, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: .276 average, 642 at-bats, 87 runs, 177 hits, 25 doubles, 9 triples, 4 home runs, 38 RBIs, 62 stolen bases, 22 caught stealing.
• The A’s all-time hit leader led the AL in that category for the only time in his career while stealing at least 50 bases for the fourth straight year, with a personal-best 62.

8. REGGIE JACKSON, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: .250 average, 82 runs, 29 home runs, 74 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, 171 strikeouts.
• In his first full year, Reggie hit 20 of his 29 home runs away from the A’s new home in Oakland—but also only knocked in 37 runs to go with it.

9. JIM NORTHRUP, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .264 average, 76 runs, 29 doubles, 7 triples, 21 home runs, 90 RBIs.
• Two of Northrup’s four grand slams came in back-to-back innings on June 24; he had a shot at a third with the bases loaded that same day, but struck out.

10. ROY WHITE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .267 average, 89 runs, 20 doubles, 7 triples, 17 home runs, 62 RBIs, 73 walks, 20 stolen bases.
• Amid the deadwood in the Yankees offense was White, the only player on his team to hit over .245.

NL Pitchers

1. BOB GIBSON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.12 ERA, 22 wins, 9 losses, .710 win percentage, 34 starts, 28 complete games, 13 shutouts, 304.2 innings, 62 walks, 268 strikeouts.
• Amazingly, for a man who was known for a hard fastball and striking out many an opponent, Gibson led the NL in strikeouts for the first and only time.

2. GAYLORD PERRY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.44 ERA, 16 wins, 15 losses, 1 save, 39 appearances, 38 starts, 291 innings, 59 walks.
• Sign of the times: The Giants scored 22 runs in Perry’s 15 losses.

3. JUAN MARICHAL, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 26 wins, 9 losses, .743 win percentage, 38 starts, 30 complete games, 325.2 innings, 46 walks.
• In Bob Gibson’s shadow for the NL’s top spotlight was, once again, Marichal—even as he himself flirted with winning 30 games. Marichal settled for 30 complete games—the most by a Giant since Christy Mathewson in 1914.

4. STEVE BLASS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.12 ERA, 18 wins, 6 losses, .750 win percentage, 31 starts, 7 shutouts, 220.1 innings.
• The man whose career would be ruined in the 1970s by a sudden inability to throw strikes averaged a career-low 2.2 walks per nine innings.

5. DON DRYSDALE, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.15 ERA, 14 wins, 12 losses, 31 starts, 8 shutouts, 239 innings.
• Lost amid Drysdale remarkable 58.2-inning scoreless streak was a shoulder injury that ended his season in late August; it was the beginning of a quick downfall that would lead to his retirement a year later.

6. TOM SEAVER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.20 ERA, 16 wins, 12 losses, 35 starts, 277.2 innings, 48 walks.
• After a fine rookie year, Seaver kept the pace up as he helped the Mets to their best record yet—at 73-89.

7. FERGUSON JENKINS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.63 ERA, 20 wins, 15 losses, 40 starts, 308 innings, 65 walks, 260 strikeouts.
• Jenkins became this era’s Robin Roberts, a guy who gave up an abundance of extra-base hits—he led the NL in home runs and doubles allowed, with 26 and 51, respectively—but still good enough to put together stellar ERA and win totals.

8. JERRY KOOSMAN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.08 ERA, 19 wins, 12 losses, 34 starts, 7 shutouts, 263.2 innings, 23 grounded into double plays.
• Thrilled a year earlier with Tom Seaver’s arrival, long-suffering Mets fans doubled their pleasure with the debut of Koosman, who tossed a rookie-record seven shutouts.

9. RAY WASHBURN, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 14 wins, 8 losses, 30 starts, 215 innings, 47 walks.
• Washburn’s no-hitter on September 18—a day after his team was no-hit by the Giants’ Gaylord Perry—was the undisputed highlight of his terrific campaign.

10. BOB MOOSE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.74 ERA, 8 wins, 12 losses, 3 saves, 38 appearances, 22 starts, 170.2 innings, 41 walks.
• With a scruffy, slightly pudgy appearance that could have passed him off as a distant relative of John Belushi, Moose ascended from the bullpen in June and put together a fine rookie showing, even if the record didn’t reflect it.

AL Pitchers

1. LUIS TIANT, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.60 ERA, 21 wins, 9 losses, .700 win percentage, 32 starts, 9 shutouts, 258.1 innings, 264 strikeouts.
• Tiant exploded onto the scene with a corkscrew pitching delivery that would be evoked by Hideo Nomo 27 years later.

2. DENNY MCLAIN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 1.96 ERA, 31 wins, 6 losses, .838 win percentage, 41 starts, 28 complete games, 336 innings, 63 walks, 280 strikeouts.
• Along with Bob Gibson, McLain became part of the first pair of pitchers to both win MVPs in the same season.

3. DAVE MCNALLY, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 1.95 ERA, 22 wins, 10 losses, .688 win percentage, 35 starts, 273 innings, 55 walks.
• After averaging 10 wins over the previous four seasons, McNally stepped up to a higher plateau with the first of four straight years averaging 20.

4. WILBUR WOOD, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.87 ERA, 13 wins, 12 losses, 16 saves, 88 appearances, 2 starts, 159 innings, 33 walks.
• Taught the knuckler by veteran teammate Hoyt Wilhelm, Wood set a then-major league record for appearances—all but two of them from the bullpen—and won more games than any White Sox starter.

5. SAM MCDOWELL, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.81 ERA, 15 wins, 14 losses, 37 starts, 269 innings, 110 walks, 283 strikeouts, 10 hit-by-pitches.
• Take away his puzzling inability to throw well against last-place Washington—going 1-3 with a 4.37 ERA over five starts—and McDowell would have won the AL ERA title over teammate Luis Tiant with a 1.42 mark.

6. STAN BAHNSEN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.05 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 37 appearances, 34 starts, 267.1 innings.
• The Yankees hated the idea of the player draft when it began 1965, but it did yield some positive future gains in Bahnsen.

7. DEAN CHANCE, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.53 ERA, 16 wins, 16 losses, 43 appearances, 39 starts, 292 innings, 63 walks, 23 stolen bases allowed.
• The 27-year-old ace had his last productive year, before back injuries permanently curtailed his career.

8. MEL STOTTLEMYRE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.45 ERA, 21 wins, 12 losses, 36 starts, 278.2 innings, 22 grounded into double plays.
• This is how good pitchers had it in 1968: Stottlemyre led the AL in hits allowed (243), and yet opponents batted just .234 against him.

9. TOMMY JOHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.98 ERA, 10 wins, 5 losses, 25 starts, 177.1 innings.
• John’s stellar season came to an early end when he hurt his shoulder in a late-August fight with Detroit’s Dick McAuliffe.

10. JIM HARDIN, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 18 wins, 13 losses, 35 starts, 244 innings.
• His rookie year shortened by, of all things, stepping on a stingray, Jim Hardin transferred his pain against opponents in his one solid year.

[luckymann]

With Patek on board now and Maxvill such a similar type, this deal was too good to turn down.




At 36, Jim is nowhere near the outstanding pitcher he once was. But he's still decent enough and, given the environment for '68 and the agreeable terms, I think the deal is a good one for us.



Sim imitating the IRL here, with him joining the Buccos IRL for this season and next, which is almost certainly what will happen in this timeline. It also lets us go a bit slowly with Blass, who is obviously a touch on the fragile side and can now work from the BP and be our SP6 where needed. JB is currently on 199 career wins, so his first for us will be a nice milestone for him.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

1. 1B Bob Oliver, 21

• Another member of the We Are Family crew comes aboard, which is the reason why we were OK moving Clendenon on. Takes a year or two to blossom, but after that is a real gun.

The link is right but the name is wrong. Al not Bob. Also Al was traded in a complicated four team trade before the We Are Family year.

As you say, he got better with age. He had his best years late 20s on rather than with the Pirates. It would be nice to be able to keep him for those years. It's hard for me to do playing historical rookies. You may have less of a problem with your setup.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

The link is right but the name is wrong. Al not Bob. Also Al was traded in a complicated four team trade before the We Are Family year.

As you say, he got better with age. He had his best years late 20s on rather than with the Pirates. It would be nice to be able to keep him for those years. It's hard for me to do playing historical rookies. You may have less of a problem with your setup.

I sit corrected. Fixed. Thanks BK

Yeah, as a Legacy we get him for 12 seasons (or longer if that's the case IRL) and aren't allowed to trade him. So we'll get him thru '79 but will need to re-up if we want that great 1980-82 stretch he laid down.

[Brad K]

Interestingly he has a slightly higher WAR on BR than Dave Parker. Maybe due to his time in CF. I don't recall how long Oliver can play CF in OOTP.

[luckymann]

Seems like the Cubs traded away their entire squad over the break—here are the moves and signings of note:

• OF Curt Flood: Cardinals, 7 years / $2610000
• OF Mack Jones: Tigers, 4 years / $1336000
• OF Lee Maye: White Sox, 4 years / $1248000
• P Ken Holtzman: Red Sox, 4 years / $1018000 (extension)
• C Don Pavletich: Senators, 3 years / $768000
• OF Jim Northrup: Giants, 4 years / $687000 (extension)
• OF Rick Reichardt: Tigers, 4 years / $670000 (extension)
• P Ray Sadecki: Braves, 3 years / $586000
• 3B Jim Davenport: Indians, 2 years / $532000

• 2B Pete Rose from A’s to Dodgers for 2B Mike Andrews
• OF Rico Carty and OF Norm Miller from Cubs to Astros for P Steve Hargan and 1B Lee May
• P Al Downing and P Charlie Beamon from Cubs to Giants for OF Jim Northrup
• 1B Mike Epstein, 2B Felix Millan and P Tug McGraw from Yankees to Angels for P Dick Tomanek and 1B Nate Colbert
• 1B George Scott from Phillies to Orioles for SS Jerry Adair
• P Mel Nelson and P Wally Bunker from Cubs to Giants for 1B Orlando Cepeda
• P Rudy May and OF Rick Monday from Indians to White Sox for OF Frank Howard
• P Rich Robinson and OF Mike Lum from Mets to Cubs for P Terry Fox and OF Joe Rudi
• OF Amos Otis from Giants to Phillies for P Earl Wilson and OF Wayne Comer
• 1B Eddie Mathews from Braves to Red Sox for P Ray Washburn

A disastrous ST sees us lose both Bob Veale (back) and Ed Kirkpatrick (labrum) for the entire season. It almost seems incidental that we go 10-8.


ALL TRANSACTIONS


Understandably, the loss of Bob and Ed has put a real pall over the joint here at Forbes. The predictions from BNN in no way help lift the spirits as they see us finishing 77-85 and well off the pace. They are tipping a Senators pennant in the AL, which is a little surprising.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Our team page can be accessed HERE.

Whatever good vibes I was feeling entering into the 1968 season have all but dissipated for now, but we must go on. Losing Kirkpatrick is a mere annoyance and slight inconvenience, I doubt I need explain the negative effect having our staff ace miss the Year of the Pitcher in its entirety is likely to have on the team's performance.

We'd signed Don Cardwell on a minors deal but for once have a bunch of guys needing to clear waivers and I don't want to activate him until we see how that process goes, which means he won't appear in this report. Providing all goes according to plan, we'll go with him in the spin to begin with and stick with the softly, softly plan for Blass. If not, we'll have to run Steve at SP5.

Al Oliver has been called up (Bob is nowhere to be seen...) and will fill in at 1B / corner OF on a back-up basis. We are still uncomfortably thin for my liking in the middle of the diamond, so if we look to add someone new, it will almost certainly be in this capacity.

[luckymann]

Just before we talk matters financial, we have now promoted Don Cardwell after all of our waivers made it through safely. We've also picked Maz up on a similar deal, so we might not have seen the last of this club icon at Forbes. For now, however, he's at Wilkes-Barre.

And Jim Bunning's first start for us is a beauty that earns him his 200th career win.

Right, here's how the roster sitch looks at OD, 1968. We've got some really interesting decisions to make this year, as the gap between salaries and our small budget continues to narrow and excess flesh becomes more and more problematic. Most notable among these are Pagliaroni and Hands. I'll be looking for a decent backup C to slot in should we not take up that final year option on Pags, while the biggest issue with Hands is, can we use the CC slot any more productively. We'll need to give all of these decisions plenty of thought and plan things out with military precision.

[luckymann]

A fine day indeed for young Reggie Jackson, who doubles his career HR tally in a DH against the Sens.

[luckymann]

The Yanks and Sens play out a 22-inning near-7-hour monster in D.C, with the visitors eventually sneaking home 3-2.

[luckymann]

The challenging start to our 1968 campaign continues as we lose Gene Alley to a wrist sprain for a fortnight and Mota also picks up two separate niggles, each requiring limited game time for a wee while but no IL stint. Flea Patek gets his first run in the bigs, only to tear a hamstring and have to take a month off. Fortunately this happens just as Alley returns, but we are dicing with death in this game of Russian roulette that is playing out just as we come off the boil a bit after starting strongly yet again. I doubt the two are unrelated.




Given the Veale loss and these various more minor struggles, 27-21 and just 3 GB are wildly acceptable, especially when it doesn't feel like we've used so much juice compared to the same period last year.




After a relatively quiet April, Arriba finds his mojo and wins the hitter award for May. If we can get Bailey to play as we know he can and more out of the Catcher slot, then I think we'll at least stay competitive.




Impossible to really know what to expect on the pitching side of the equation. 3-year recalc will lessen the 1968 effect by some margin, so if the lads can maintain their current level and we can keep them on the park then, once again, I think we'll go OK here.


The Red Sox have made a run for it but with so far to go whether or not they can hold that margin is yet to be seen. Slightly tighter for now in the NL, with the Braves creeping up on a nice win streak currently at 9 games. This middle third will be crucial to the eventual pecking order in both divs.




Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Graig Nettles (Yankees): 327 / 5 HR / 10 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Palmer (Orioles): 5-0 / 0.85 / 33 K / 42.1 IP
• Rookie – Dock Ellis (Senators): 4-0 / 2.18 / 21 K / 41.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Bobby Bonds (Giants): 338 / 6 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Fergie Jenkins (Cubs): 4-0 / 0.20 / 31 K / 44 IP
• Rookie – Andy Messersmith (Mets): 3-1 / 0.77 / 31 K / 35 IP

May

American League

• Batter – Rick Reichardt (Tigers): 390 / 7 HR / 18 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Palmer (Orioles): 5-1 / 1.00 / 45 K / 54 IP
• Rookie – Jim McAndrew (Twins): 4-2 / 2.49 / 37 K / 47 IP

National League

• Batter – Roberto Clemente (Pirates): 349 / 4 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Luke Walker (Braves): 5-0 / 1.54 / 39 K / 46.2 IP
• Rookie – Andy Messersmith (Mets): 2-4 / 2.00 / 55 K / 54 IP

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 300 HR: Willie McCovey
• An elbow sprain suffered in ST keeps Angels star OF Tony Conigliaro off the field longer than expected, with him only making a return in mid-May. A similar story for Phillies veteran reliever Karl Spooner, who is forced to pull the pin on 1968 in order to undergo elbow surgery.
• The Phillies lose SS Gair Alley for the season to a torn labrum, while torn ankle ligaments will keep Indians OF Albie Pearson out of action for 3 months.
• Only early I know, but Jim Palmer (10-1 / 0.93) might prove to be this timeline’s Bob Gibson in 1968.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most RBIs over a 5 year span

[Brad K]

"Impossible to really know what to expect on the pitching side of the equation. 3-year recalc will lessen the 1968 effect by some margin, so if the lads can maintain their current level and we can keep them on the park then, once again, I think we'll go OK here."

With three year recalc batters will get better ratings than 68 alone and pitchers will get worse ratings than 68 alone but the almighty league modifiers will force them in aggregate to 1968 level performance.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

"Impossible to really know what to expect on the pitching side of the equation. 3-year recalc will lessen the 1968 effect by some margin, so if the lads can maintain their current level and we can keep them on the park then, once again, I think we'll go OK here."

With three year recalc batters will get better ratings than 68 alone and pitchers will get worse ratings than 68 alone but the almighty league modifiers will force them in aggregate to 1968 level performance.

League-wide doesn't mean club-specific. Well, not entirely. I know we'll have better pitching and worse offence than we otherwise would, just like every other club. But we might have better hitting and worse pitching than them, or vice-versa, or flip-flop. We shall see. As the super-close family from Deliveranceburg, MS said, "it's all a matter of relativity..."

[luckymann]

So, who is the active leader in the MLB in career triples?

• Willie Mays, SF, 128
• Richie Ashburn, NYM, 121
• Roberto Clemente, PIT, 113
• Vada Pinson, CIN, 100
• Henry Aaron, ATL, 74

All-time leader: Ty Cobb, 281

[luckymann]

Four of our lads get gongs this year, including a surprise nod for rookie Al Oliver, along with an even more surprising snub of the 9-0 / 1.87 Woodie Fryman (who proceeds to lose his first of the season the day after).

American League

• SP Dave Boswell (CLE) - 6-7, 1.98 ERA, 141.0 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 1.8 WAR
• SP Sam McDowell (CLE)* - 11-4, 2.19 ERA, 144.0 IP, 1.03 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 3.8 WAR
• SP Denny McLain (WS2) - 9-4, 2.19 ERA, 135.2 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 3.0 WAR
• SP Gary Nolan (BOS) - 7-7, 2.71 ERA, 142.2 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 3.1 WAR
• SP Jim Palmer (BAL) - 13-4, 1.20 ERA, 158.0 IP, 0.84 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 3.5 WAR (Injured)
• SP Bob Shaw (DET) - 7-0, 1.13 ERA, 63.2 IP, 0.96 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 1.7 WAR
• SP Luis Tiant (BOS) - 13-3, 1.63 ERA, 138.0 IP, 0.91 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 3.2 WAR
• RP George Brunet (DET) - 4-4, 2.31 ERA, 66.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 5.2 K/9, 0.8 WAR
• RP Jim Derrington (DET) - 4-1, 1.44 ERA, 25.0 IP, 1.16 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 0.6 WAR
• CL Jim Brewer (DET) - 1-1, 17 SV, 1.74 ERA, 46.2 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, -0.3 WAR
• CL Bob Locker (BOS)* - 2-1, 24 SV, 1.25 ERA, 36.0 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 0.6 WAR
• C Bill Freehan (DET)* - .299/.381/.453, 214 AB, 7 HR, 162 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
• C Tom Satriano (NYY) - .280/.357/.384, 211 AB, 4 HR, 137 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
• 1B Mickey Mantle (NYY)* - .228/.377/.429, 268 AB, 16 HR, 1 SB, 156 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
• 2B Dick McAuliffe (DET)* - .248/.328/.409, 298 AB, 10 HR, 2 SB, 133 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• 2B Chico Ruiz (BAL) - .283/.338/.343, 251 AB, 1 HR, 9 SB, 110 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
• 3B Ken Boyer (BOS)* - .354/.412/.508, 181 AB, 4 HR, 1 SB, 181 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• 3B Graig Nettles (NYY) - .276/.352/.492, 254 AB, 16 HR, 165 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• SS Bert Campaneris (OAK) - .279/.324/.334, 290 AB, 2 HR, 50 SB, 108 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• SS Rico Petrocelli (BOS)* - .259/.341/.401, 274 AB, 9 HR, 128 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• LF Rick Reichardt (DET)* - .274/.367/.456, 237 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 161 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• CF Paul Blair (BAL) - .307/.358/.409, 303 AB, 4 HR, 8 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• CF Reggie Smith (BOS)* - .318/.376/.433, 289 AB, 4 HR, 21 SB, 155 wRC+, 4.8 WAR
• RF Reggie Jackson (OAK) - .257/.344/.498, 265 AB, 17 HR, 12 SB, 162 wRC+, 4.3 WAR
• RF Al Kaline (DET)* - .264/.350/.416, 231 AB, 9 HR, 3 SB, 140 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
• RF Bobby Murcer (WS2) - .265/.321/.436, 291 AB, 9 HR, 6 SB, 134 wRC+, 3.1 WAR

National League

• SP Fergie Jenkins (CHC) - 11-4, 1.56 ERA, 156.0 IP, 0.90 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 5.5 WAR
• SP Sandy Koufax (LAD)* - 6-6, 2.14 ERA, 143.0 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 5.6 WAR
• SP Juan Marichal (SF) - 8-7, 3.54 ERA, 139.2 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 3.6 WAR
• SP Dave McNally (STL) - 12-3, 1.44 ERA, 150.0 IP, 0.89 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 3.1 WAR
• SP Jim Merritt (NYM) - 5-7, 3.83 ERA, 115.0 IP, 1.15 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 1.5 WAR
• SP Bill Singer (NYM) - 8-4, 1.78 ERA, 131.2 IP, 0.96 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 3.8 WAR
• RP Tom Acker (NYM) - 6-2, 9 SV, 1.84 ERA, 44.0 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 0.5 WAR
• RP Joe Gibbon (PIT) - 6-5, 19 SV, 2.48 ERA, 65.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 0.8 WAR
• RP Dick Hall (CIN)* - 1-2, 2.08 ERA, 21.2 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 2.9 K/9, -0.4 WAR
• RP Bill Monbouquette (CHC) - 3-3, 2.84 ERA, 57.0 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 4.1 K/9, 0.3 WAR
• C Johnny Bench (CIN) - .243/.270/.444, 189 AB, 7 HR, 2 SB, 122 wRC+, 1.0 WAR
• C Joe Torre (ATL)* - .314/.370/.462, 223 AB, 7 HR, 159 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 1B Willie McCovey (SF)* - .243/.327/.437, 284 AB, 15 HR, 2 SB, 138 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
• 2B Julio Gotay (STL) - .312/.342/.361, 263 AB, 2 HR, 2 SB, 117 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 2B Bob Heise (STL)* - .331/.369/.371, 245 AB, 2 SB, 133 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 2B Jim Lefebvre (ATL)* - .232/.299/.359, 220 AB, 6 HR, 1 SB, 103 wRC+, 0.9 WAR
• 3B Dick Allen (PHI)* - .314/.387/.561, 280 AB, 17 HR, 6 SB, 199 wRC+, 5.1 WAR
• 3B Jim Ray Hart (SF) - .280/.354/.412, 279 AB, 8 HR, 145 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• LF Al Oliver (PIT) - .338/.373/.509, 216 AB, 8 HR, 2 SB, 177 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• LF Frank Robinson (CIN)* - .254/.376/.408, 240 AB, 7 HR, 5 SB, 146 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
• LF Willie Stargell (PIT) - .295/.357/.537, 268 AB, 17 HR, 1 SB, 179 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• CF Pete Rose (LAD)* - .340/.400/.461, 282 AB, 2 HR, 6 SB, 167 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• CF Jim Wynn (HOU) - .288/.394/.496, 264 AB, 14 HR, 7 SB, 182 wRC+, 4.4 WAR
• RF Johnny Callison (PHI) - .308/.359/.524, 273 AB, 11 HR, 4 SB, 173 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
• RF Roberto Clemente (PIT)* - .295/.328/.497, 302 AB, 8 HR, 1 SB, 155 wRC+, 3.6 WAR

NY Rookies face off in the HR Derby, with Met Joe Lahoud triumphing over Yankee Graig Nettles 6-5 in the final.

Detroit's Bill Freehan is named MVP as the AL takes the main event 5-2. That makes him just the second multiple winner of this award, behind Hank Greenberg's three.

[luckymann]

Time for us to turn our attention to the great man, who is closing in on Lou Gehrig's all-time HR mark of 571. Mick has 17 so far this season and needs 14 more to edge past the Iron Horse, with Babe Ruth currently the only player between them.




I think Mick should still have a year or two left after this one, but his decline will be pretty steep even with the 3-year smoothing factor. It'd be nice for him to reach 600 and set the chasers - a couple of whom are nearing major milestones of their own - a target. I see Aaron as the most likely to eventually usurp him, but 600 in this save is a BIG number that may even challenge the Juice Crew a few decades down the road.

We'll count them down as they happen until he (hopefully) reaches the summit.

[Brad K]

What are the standings?