Absolute Blockbuster of a Trade in my 42 year old Historical Random Debut

[David Watts]

5/17/1970, Hank Aaron hits number 500 off Blue Moon Odom. Aaron is 36 years old.

[actionjackson]

Should probably wrap this up, as I posted the AL version of these awards and a recap about two weeks ago.

Top ten NL MVP for 1962:

1. Toad Ramsey, 22, CIN, LHSP
2. Tris Speaker, 23, SFG, CF
3. Ted Williams, 24, LAD, RF
4. Andujar Cedeno, 23, CIN, SS
5. Bill George, 23, CHC, LHSP
6. Louis Santop, 21, CIN, C
7. Tom Seaver, 31, CIN, RHSP
8. George Meakim, 27, STL, RHSP
9. Dick Dietz, 26, PIT, C
10. Charlie J Ferguson, 25, STL, RHSP

Top five NL CYA for 1962:

1. Toad Ramsey, 22, CIN, LHSP
2. Tom Seaver, 31, CIN, RHSP
3. Bill George, 23, CHC, LHSP
4. George Meakim, 27, STL, RHSP
5. Bill Foster, 30, SFG, LHSP

Top three NL Mariano Rivera Award for 1962:

1. Ralph Birkofer, 23, HOU, LHRP
2. Donnie Moore, 29, STL, RHRP
3. Kendall Graveman, 27, CHC, RHRP

Top three NL Jackie Robinson Award for 1962:

1. Pedro Guerrero, 21, SFG, RF
2. Marc Krauss, 26, NYM, LF
3. Ralph Birkofer, 23, HOU, LHRP

As sometimes happens in expansion seasons, there was quite a gulf between the first place Cincinnati Reds (102-60), and the last place Philadelphia Phillies (58-104). 44 games to be exact. The San Francisco Giants (100-62) also managed to eclipse the century mark in wins thanks to solid contributions from CF Tris Speaker (league leading .341 AVG with 18 HR, 81 RBI, league leading 106 R, and league leading 9.1 position player WAR), SP Bill Foster (29 GS, 17-3, 2.38), and ROY RF Pedro Guerrero (454 PA, .351/.421/.587/1.008, 184 OPS+, 179 wRC+, 75 R, 23 HR, 93 RBI, and a robust 4.9 position player WAR). The Reds were led by SP Toad Ramsey (18-5 in 34 GS, with the league lead in ERA [1.30], IP [291.0], K [391], WHIP [0.77], K/9 [12.1], most likely ERA+ [295], and pitcher WAR [a whopping 16.8]), SS Andujar Cedeno (.318/.358/.491/.849, 139 OPS+, 141 wRC+, 84 R, 35 2B, 7 3B, 21 HR, and a league leading 131 RBI), C Louis Santop (.313/.366/.564/.930, 161 OPS+, 160 wRC+, 99 R, 37 2B, a league leading 12 3B, 23 HR, 109 RBI, and 20 SB against just 3 CS - his .564 SLG led the NL as well), SP Tom Seaver (34 GS, 24-4 [league lead in W], 2.45 ERA, 278.2 IP, 201 K, 61 BB, 0.99 WHIP, and a league low .243 BABIP), and SP Dick Redding (31 GS, 20-7, 2.46 ERA, 241.1 IP, 218 K, 75 BB, and a 1.11 WHIP).

The NLCS was a cakewalk for the favoured Cincinnati Reds who took the series in five games and outscored the Giants 26-6. That is absolutely stifling defense. The Giants hit a feeble .181 in the series (34 for 188), and were completely unable to get anything going offensively. They did get 13 hits in Game 5, but that was basically two games in one, as the Reds won it 3-2 in 18 innings. 1B Mark Lewis had the series winning RBI in the top of the 18th with a single to score SS Andujar Cedeno. RF Terry Francona had tied the game in the 7th inning. Who knew at that point that it would take a whole extra game to determine a winner? Free baseball for the fans I guess. Toad Ramsey was named MVP of the series with a pair of shutouts (10-0 in Game 1, and 8-0 in Game 4) and a ledger that included 18 IP, 8 H, 5 BB, and 21 K. Unfortunately for the Reds, Dick Redding was injured for the rest of the postseason in Game 5 of the series.

The step down from Dick Redding to Tom Candiotti proved to be too much for the Reds in the World Series against the Twins. AL CYA/MVP Max Lanier was able to outpitch NL CYA/MVP Toad Ramsey in Games 1 & 4, as the Twins managed to win 5-2, and 4-2. Tom Seaver gave up three bombs in his only start, and lost 8-0 to Fred Hutchinson in Game 2, and Candiotti fell to Wes Ferrell in Game 3 5-3. So the Reds were outscored 22-7 in a four game sweep for the Twins. 1B Eddie Robinson was named series MVP in this non-compelling World Series. Hopefully we'll get a better World Series in 1963.

[JaBurns]

How did Ramsey start both Game 1 and 2, rain delays?

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by JaBurns

How did Ramsey start both Game 1 and 2, rain delays?

Oops. Thank you. Corrected.

[italyprof]

Love the award names.

[actionjackson]

With a nod to the title of this thread, I've just seen another blockbuster trade. In the midst of an MVP-type season, the Indians shipped 28-year old 1B Ted Kluszewski to the Twins for 28-year old SP Wes Ferrell, and 23-year old LF Harl V Maggert. Kluszewski is a 3-time All-Star (1957, 1962, 1963), one time Gold Glover (that will probably be his last one - 1960), and 2-time Silver Slugger (1958, 1961). Wes Ferrell is a 7-time All-Star (1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960), who won a Gold Glove in 1958, and won a World Series just last year with the Twins (1962). In case you don't recognize Ferrell, his 4.04 lifetime ERA is probably largely due to playing in one of the most offensive eras in baseball history (he played from 1927 through 1941), but he is thriving in this world where it is 1984 all the time. Ferrell so far in his career is 121-118, with 2 SV, and a 3.27 ERA (119 ERA+). Kluszewski so far in his career has hit .305/.341/.503/.844, 137 OPS+, 135 wRC+, with 622 R, 1,348 H, 240 2B, 197 HR, 248 BB, and 328 K. For such a slugger "Klu" is very proficient at making contact. He has struck out just 328 times in 4,723 career PA. Doesn't walk much either, but I thought that was pretty impressive. Maggert is just fodder I think, but we'll see. This clears the Indians 1B logjam (although Kluszewski was doing very well as a DH), as Johnny Mize now becomes the everyday 1B for Cleveland. Trading from strength. Good on you OOTP AI. Good on you.

[David Watts]

Just curious if any of y'all at the same as me. I feel injuries are a huge part of baseball, so I play more often than not with the injury setting set to high(realistic). But, man can injuries take the wind out of a season. Last night, I had Hank Aaron go down and out for the 1970 season. Aaron was off to an incredible start leading the league in home runs and RBI. His team, the Alexandria Aces are in second place two weeks into June and losing Aaron is pretty much a death blow. They still have Joe DiMaggio, but Joe is still battling the one year recalc war years, so he's not really Joe. I guess it will be up to Jim Presley to keep the Aces in the race...Ugh!

I love injuries, but I hate them. In the end, I know the higher injury setting is right for me, because I simply don't enjoy looking at a leagues stats when every single player only missed the required fatigue games. Plus, for me, injuries ensure I will never grow bored with the game. This play through, Aaron may be a little injury prone, while the next one he may be an ironman. Keeps things fresh........at least that's what I keep telling myself

[JaBurns]

I usually use the same setting for injuries because, as you said, this adds flavor to the game. The only I question is that it seems to same players getting hurt all the time, do you see the same? I know that the player's have realistic injury ratings but too many players seem to be constantly be hurt not just in one season but season after season.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Just curious if any of y'all at the same as me. I feel injuries are a huge part of baseball, so I play more often than not with the injury setting set to high(realistic). But, man can injuries take the wind out of a season. Last night, I had Hank Aaron go down and out for the 1970 season. Aaron was off to an incredible start leading the league in home runs and RBI. His team, the Alexandria Aces are in second place two weeks into June and losing Aaron is pretty much a death blow. They still have Joe DiMaggio, but Joe is still battling the one year recalc war years, so he's not really Joe. I guess it will be up to Jim Presley to keep the Aces in the race...Ugh!

I love injuries, but I hate them. In the end, I know the higher injury setting is right for me, because I simply don't enjoy looking at a leagues stats when every single player only missed the required fatigue games. Plus, for me, injuries ensure I will never grow bored with the game. This play through, Aaron may be a little injury prone, while the next one he may be an ironman. Keeps things fresh........at least that's what I keep telling myself

Injuries are how you make sure the maximum number of players who actually played in the major leagues get a chance to play in my/your dynasty, which is important. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Oscar Charleston started off extremely injury prone in mine, but it seems like he outgrew this tendency after about four seasons or so, and wound up winning the NL MVP in 1955.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Injuries are how you make sure the maximum number of players who actually played in the major leagues get a chance to play in my/your dynasty, which is important. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Oscar Charleston started off extremely injury prone in mine, but it seems like he outgrew this tendency after about four seasons or so, and wound up winning the NL MVP in 1955.

Aaron actually started out injury prone in mine, but came out of it for a long stretch of great health. He's now 36/37 and is starting to get banged up again. He was limited to 89 games in 1968 and will play in even less in 1970, now that he broke his hand.

[actionjackson]

The 1963 regular season is in the books. Here are the final standings, batting stats (sorted by BatR), and pitching stats (sorted by pitcher WAR):

[actionjackson]

...And because I know what a sharp cookie you are JaBurns...I can't believe Red Porter's proficiency either. I'll post Red Porter's Predicted Stats here: .180/.251/.422/.673 slash line with 34 HR. He's absolutely standing on his head every year. I've run out of superlatives.

[actionjackson]

Also this is for David Watts. Please seek medical attention should you have an aneurysm when looking over these offensive stats. Yes it is OOTP16. Yes I did have one hitter above .370 (almost at .380!), one hitter above .360, and one hitter above .350, with 4 40+ HR hitters (highest 47) in 1963. 11 total 30+ HR hitters (including the 4 40+ HR guys), 7 200+ Hit guys (highest 243), 12 100+ RBI guys (highest 142), 10 100+ R guys (highest 141). Nothing out of the ordinary in terms of league wide stats, but lots of big individual seasons. I guess the expansion from 16 to 18 teams in 1960-1961, and from 18 to 20 teams in 1961-1962 could've created conditions that are ripe for super seasons. We'll see in the seasons to come.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Also this is for David Watts. Please seek medical attention should you have an aneurysm when looking over these offensive stats. Yes it is OOTP16. Yes I did have one hitter above .370 (almost at .380!), one hitter above .360, and one hitter above .350, with 4 40+ HR hitters (highest 47) in 1963. 11 total 30+ HR hitters (including the 4 40+ HR guys), 7 200+ Hit guys (highest 243), 12 100+ RBI guys (highest 142), 10 100+ R guys (highest 141). Nothing out of the ordinary in terms of league wide stats, but lots of big individual seasons. I guess the expansion from 16 to 18 teams in 1960-1961, and from 18 to 20 teams in 1961-1962 could've created conditions that are ripe for super seasons. We'll see in the seasons to come.

One or two seasons like that is a cool thing. Guys have hit .370. Batting races have had more than one or two over .350. It just shouldn't happen every single year. Imagine if that season you just played was using 18. We'd be discussing 3 guys hitting .425, one with 279 hits etc. From past experience, I do know expansion can really blow things up. So, I think what you're seeing is normal and will even itself out. Well at least till you get to 69. Wait till you get to 77. Of course, by then, you may be using 19, so who knows. I'm not anti offense, I just know way back when George Brett flirted with .400 one year and it was a huge deal.

[David Watts]

Do y'all leave storylines on? I do and last night I had a strange one. Zach Grienke reaches down to pick up his kid, whammo, he's out for 3-4 months with some undisclosed injury.

[G-Force]

Dang this thread has gotten long lol...good stuff though. I love the mixing of eras, pretty much the only way I play!

GH

[David Watts]

Fort Worth, winners of the last two Southern League crowns, are looking like they are well on their way to a threepeat. Approaching the end of July they have a sizable lead over the rest of the league and barring disaster should earn their slot in the championship series. Meanwhile, there are 3 teams bunched together fighting for the 2 wildcard slots. Shreveport, Alexandria and Mobile. Birmingham and Baton Rouge are on the fringe, but need to become more consistent to be given a real chance. Alexandria looked like they were a sure thing for second place, but Hank Aaron going down for the season, may change that.

Ken Griffey Jr. (Fort Worth) suffered an injury early in the season and missed a few weeks. Since then he's been on fire, coming all the way back to be among the league leaders in home runs (20+) and RBI. Griffey is also hitting right around .400 for the season. Fort Worth is becoming a mini Cincinnati, with Pete Rose, Ken Griffey Jr. and this year they added an aging Tony Perez.

[G-Force]

My Alltime Baseball League dynasty (a sort of random debut, but I've generated the player list and draft classes myself rather than the game doing it) is in its final week of its second season and I've got 3 of 4 divisions still undecided. Very excited I've gotten back into this game after a few years away.

I've never done the full random/historical thing though. Maybe someday.

GH

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Do y'all leave storylines on? I do and last night I had a strange one. Zach Grienke reaches down to pick up his kid, whammo, he's out for 3-4 months with some undisclosed injury.

Always off for me. I don't need guys retiring to hit the PGA tour or whatever else. I just want to play baseball. Not an insult to those that created them. They did a wonderful job, but it's my game, I'll play it my way thanks!

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by G-Force

Dang this thread has gotten long lol...good stuff though. I love the mixing of eras, pretty much the only way I play!

GH

I love it though. This is the hangout for the geeky random debut historicals gang!