The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[Scottiedog43]

Nice read……keep it coming
I’m looking forward to the 1970’s.
I’m a Reds fan and love to watch and/or read about their rivalries back then.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Scottiedog43

Nice read……keep it coming
I’m looking forward to the 1970’s.
I’m a Reds fan and love to watch and/or read about their rivalries back then.

Thanks bud - your boys are looking strong this year, Del Crandall going off - let's see if they can keep it going for once, as they are one of just three clubs (along with the Cards and Indians) still looking for their first title, to set them up nicely for the BRM.

[luckymann]

I use my second trade ticket for 1960 in fairly uninspired fashion, more out of necessity than anything else after an injury to Seth Morehead leaves us short of LHRP - a situation I attempt to remedy thusly.




Fred Green played all but 5 of his games for the Buccos in a short and pretty nondescript career. he's no long-term solution but should at least plug the gap for this year and hopefully the next as well, and is cheap. I don't like single trades given my house rule limit, but this was needed and others weren't doable right now for a fair price.

[luckymann]

Just three Bucco Boys this year, including a first appearance for Vern Law.




Willie McCovey beats Jerry Lynch to win the HR Derby, while Mickey Mantle checks another one off the to-do list with an ASG MVP despite the NL winning 6-4.

[luckymann]

We make some more inroads with our roster management program by consummating our third and final trade for the season.




A roughly cash-neutral deal for what's left of this year, it also moves on Johnny Rose, who is getting expensive and is superfluous to our present needs. It is Klaus's walk year, and the other three are guys we expected no use from other than organisational filler.

In return, well.. we get two guys who are upcoming FAs that will need to be extended for this deal to have any future benefit for us.

Lee Walls basically only played one full season for Pittsburgh in 1956, although he did also play for us in his rookie 1952 season before spending the time in-between at the Hollywood Stars. Given our concerns about Andre Rogers moving forward and with Lemon's tenure with us nearly up, he should prove a handy IF / OF corner utility.




Dick Hall is a solid RH reliever who might also give us some spot starts these next couple years. He actually spent the first part of his IRL career at Pittsburgh as an outfielder before converting to the mound, although that didn't play out in this save with him a pitcher pretty much from his debut in 1955.

[luckymann]

Not exactly smooth sailing for us these past two months, but once again our rivals seem reluctant to take charge and so we are still well in it.




We go basically 500 for the sectional and, as our -3 Pythag attests, have just lacked our usual spark this year - Piersall's absence no doubt having plenty to do with it, despite Geiger continuing to surprise on the upside.




As we enter August at the 100-game mark, Roberto Clemente is still flirting with 400 and looks destined to be in the Wagner-Lajoie mix come award season.




Our staff is, by and large, still struggling for consistency. Most noticeably, our usually watertight BP has sprung a few leaks that are proving nearly impossible to plug. Face is the latest to get the wobbles, to the point of losing the Stopper role, making Nunn the third this year to fill that slot.




As you can see, this stretch run promises to be one for the ages, with all but a handful of teams in the mix. For a while, it looked like the Yanks were going to run away with the AL only for them to regress heavily these past few weeks.


News, Leaders and Top 20s








Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

• Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 311 / 10 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Mike McCormick (Athletics): 5-1 / 1.47 / 38 K / 49 IP
• Rookie – Ed Rakow (Athletics): 3-0 / 3.11 / 22 K / 37.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Jim Gentile (Reds): 384 / 10 HR / 28 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim O’Toole (Cubs): 5-0 / 2.74 / 35 K / 49.1 IP
• Rookie – Bob Will (Dodgers): 352 / 1 HR / 14 RBI

July

American League

• Batter – Norm Cash (Tigers): 374 / 7 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Frank Lary (Tigers): 4-0 / 1.55 / 30 K / 40.2 IP
• Rookie – Dick Stigman (Orioles): 4-1 / 2.13 / 38 K / 42.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Willie McCovey (Giants): 451 / 5 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim O’Toole (Cubs): 5-0 / 1.86 / 37 K / 48.1 IP
• Rookie – Chris Short (Phillies): 4-2 / 3.35 / 21 K / 45.2 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 300 HR: Willie Mays
• A big loss for the defending Champs when Willard Nixon is ruled out for the remainder with a torn RC, and another as Reds tyro Frank Robinson goes down for 6 weeks with a fractured finger.
• The season of O’s catcher Jack Shepard ends prematurely thanks to a PCL tear, as does that of Dodgers outfielder Marty Keough after he suffers the same injury.
• The Orange Birds will also be without pitcher Dick Donovan for the remainder courtesy of a UCL tear, while veteran White Sox outfielder Dick Kokos goes down for the year with a broken elbow.
• The Cards’ dreadful season is compounded by a serious arm injury to Bob Gibson, who is done for the year.
• Ted Williams takes sole possession of third on the all-time home run list, passing Mel Ott with his 538th.
• Finally, Cubs pitcher Jim O'Toole is having a superb 1960, currently 16-2 / 2.16 including wins in his last 11 decisions.

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[luckymann]

Most Seasons Between Hits

[luckymann]

All-time leader is Satchel Paige with 4496.

[luckymann]

A simply stunning turn of events this past fortnight.

Until that point, it seems the inconsistency and streakiness that has plagued us all year is going to be our undoing. We slip 7 back and into 4th place in early September and look done for.

But then, just when we need to most, we catch fire. A series of late, dramatic and occasional walkoff wins ensues and, suddenly, with 10 games remaining we trail the Cubs by 3 and the Reds by 2.

A road sweep at Cincy, who are hamstrung by the successive losses to injury of Frank Robinson and Tony Thomas, moves us past them and into second, although we've only made up one of the three games on the Cubs with 7 to play. That series forms the middle part of an 8-game win streak, our longest of the year.

Meanwhile, the Cubs have completely stopped in their tracks. We briefly get our noses in front but by Game 151 as we go into our final series, this is how things stand:




The Braves, despite sitting a few games behind us in the standings, have given us problems the past few years and are 11-8 head-to-head so far this season, so we know we've got a mountain to climb, even with the games at home.

It plays out as follows:

Friday, September 30




Another day like this one and we are home.


Saturday, October 1




We can NOT get a Stopper to save our lives this year, as Nunn implodes - not for the first time. Thankfully, the Cubs' slide continues and we are now at least guaranteed a share of first. Let's not go there, though.


Sunday, October 2




While we don't end up needing it as the Cubs end a 10-18 run from the start of September (while we go 17-9) with another loss, the lads clinch an unlikely 33rd NL Pennant for the club in fine style behind a sublime Podres 4-hitter.


We'll be facing off against the Athletics, who do it fairly comfortably in the end across in the AL and get to watch all of this drama unfold from the cushy vantage of an early clinch.




A mighty effort indeed from the group, who simply don't know how to lie down.




Looking at those metrics, you have to say we deserve to be where we are. Inarguably the most rounded performance by our group in recent times, and very even across the season, as the fact that we do not win one of the monthly awards all year attests.


While it might not be quite up there with Pafko's a few years back, Roberto Clemente's stretch run - and, indeed, his entire season, is something to behold. He is a bona fide superstar now.



He gets plenty of help, though, with Maris, Maz and Gary Geiger most prominent among the rest.


Another standout season from Pascual, while Podres and Friend go OK despite struggling to hold their form throughout and Law has been much improved.



Despite the problems I have mentioned, the BP is far from a disaster. With relievers most prone to being unprotected for the upcoming Expansion Drafts, we face a real challenge to keep this area of our staff up to snuff.


Arriba destroys the competition with his 383 the 17th highest BA in league history. Washington's Jackie Brandt wins the AL title, his first. Willie McCovey belts 40 HR to lead either league, and Rocky Colavito's 126 ribbies are also the most.

KC's Mike McCormick leads with 21 wins and, while I suspect it will be of scant consolation right now, a special mention to Cubs hurlers Jim O'Toole and Toothpick Sam Jones, each of whom wins 20 and has a career-best year. O'Toole, in fact, leads two of the three TC categories (including an MLB-low 2.71 ERA), while our own Camilo Pascual finishes on the podium for all three without leading any. Sandy Koufax is the King of K once again, ahead of teammate Don Drysdale, while
Hoyt Wilhelm's 29 saves not only lead the MLB this season but leave him tied at 196 with Bill Sayles atop the all-time career list.


Final Top 20s and Leaders







Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – George Altman (Athletics): 357 / 4 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Dave Hillman (Athletics): 5-1 / 1.75 / 21 K / 36 IP
• Rookie – Jim Brewer (Indians): 3-1 / 1.93 / 4 SV / 21 K / 18.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Willie McCovey (Giants): 330 / 9 HR / 27 RBI
• Pitcher – Jack Kralick (Dodgers): 5-0 / 1.42 / 34 K / 50.2 IP
• Rookie – Don Nottebart (Cubs): 2-0 / 2.95 / 5 SV / 11 K / 18.1 IP

September

American League

• Batter – George Altman (Athletics): 374 / 6 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Frank Lary (Tigers): 4-1 / 2.11 / 19 K / 47 IP
• Rookie – Ron Piche (Tigers): 3-1 / 1.93 / 3 SV / 13 K / 14 IP

National League

• Batter – Eddie Mathews (Braves): 349 / 8 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Don Drysdale (Dodgers): 4-2 / 2.25 / 41 K / 48 IP
• Rookie – Tony Gonzalez (Phillies): 349 / 8 HR / 20 RBI

Milestones and Observations of Note

• A setback for the Cinderella Sens as they lose key reliever Joe Landrum for the year to a UCL tear. They also lose gun OF Floyd Robinson in their very last game to a knee injury that will see him miss the early stages of next year.
• Veteran Ted Williams has a resurgent 1960 and will enter what might well be his final season in the game needing 23 HR to pass Lou Gehrig's 571 all-time record.

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[luckymann]

Kansas City Athletics (90-64) v Pittsburgh Pirates (86-68)
Best-of-seven, Pirates with the home-field advantage.


KANSAS CITY ATHLETICS S+ PAGE

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

Plenty of excitement in the air as the playoffs go the furthest west they’ve ever been. The Athletics do as their IRL counterparts could not, and would come into this series pretty confident of finishing the job. Rightly so, too—they have a top-notch squad with very few obvious shortcomings. In fact, the two groups are incredibly similar and we know we’ve got a real fight on our hands against these guys.

They have plenty of offensive weaponry at their disposal, with Colavito and Altman the biggest of the bunch, while their pitching is rock solid and features a couple of our former clubmen.

If there is one huge factor in our favour it is experience, with the A’s not having been here since the old Philly days in 1939 and few of their players with post-season experience under their belt. Still, they will take a world of beating all the same.

Can we mirror our real-world triumph? Will it be drama-filled? Soon we shall see.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Pittsburgh

Camilo Pascual (17-8, 3.00) v Mike McCormick (21-8, 3.11)

Straight into this series with the presumptive 1960 Johnson-Waddell Medallists getting us underway. McCormick is one of those aforementioned ex-Buccos, and a real talent. We’ve won three titles since trading him, so I won’t say I would take it back but he’s a quality arm that we’d certainly still like to have on our books. He’s going to need to show all those skills in this one, as Camilo Pascual has time and again shown himself a big-game pitcher. We’ll be running a full platoon at CF, as Geiger has just been too good to swap out, but Piersall will start here against the lefty and also come in as a defensive sub in close games.

We come out swinging and as usual it is Clemente in the thick of things, going 3-for-5 with a late homer as we cruise to a strong 9-1 win. Walls also belts one out, Power has three hits and Pascual never really looks in trouble over his 6+. Just the start we were looking for.

Game 2 in Pittsburgh

Bob Friend (14-12, 3.73) v Bennie Daniels (14-11, 4.05)

Pirates lead series 1-0

Not one of Bob Friend’s better seasons in recent years but he is a gun and we are confident he’ll rise to the occasion and give us his best stuff. I’m a big fan of his opponent here, Bennie Daniels, who I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see in black and gold at some future point.

He is almost unhittable early as they go ahead with a 3-run 3rd, but we eventually find our range and leapfrog them in the 6th with a 5-spot and go on to win it 6-3. Friend goes the distance, allowing just that early concession, while Blanchard and Alou each drive in a pair.

Game 3 in Kansas City

Dave Hillman (17-10, 2.86) v Johnny Podres (13-10, 3.55)

Pirates lead series 2-0

Another really interesting matchup here as we visit Kansas City for the first time ever. Dave Hillman kind of came out of nowhere this year, earning double-digit wins for the first time in his career and looks a tricky customer indeed. A lot of what happens tonight will come down to which Johnny Podres we get – the top-notch ace or the erratic version we saw far too much of this year.

In the end we get both as he gives up a slam to John Romano in the 1st and, try as we might, we just cannot bridge the gap. We give it the old college try, as is usually the case with this bunch, and as Podres finds his groove and the bats slowly chip away, the Athletics show plenty of stones to hang on for a 5-4 final. A big, confidence-boosting win for them and we expect to really have our hands full now.

Game 4 in Kansas City

Ed Rakow (11-6, 3.87) v Vern Law (13-10, 3.32)

Pirates lead series 2-1

If Dave Hillman has come out of nowhere, then Vern Law’s arrival has been long-awaited indeed. Mind you, it’s not like he has absolutely killed it this year, but the improvement has been substantial and much appreciated. He’ll be facing Ed Rakow, a late change from the expected Glen Hobbie and a guy we know little about. Not sure if it is injury-related but I’m always wary when this sort of thing happens. It is as often the opposing Skipper seeing something and making a strategic switch as it is out of necessity. We shall see soon enough, I guess.

Problems in the 1st inning again and a constant bleeding of runs throughout and, just like that, the series is all square. They take an early 3-0 lead and we just never really look in it from there, scratching together 8 hits in a generally lacklustre showing from our boys, which is highly unusual and of particular concern. Maris and Lemon with just 4 RBI between them and we need that to change quick smart.

Game 5 in Kansas City

Mike McCormick (0-1, 7.71) v Camilo Pascual (1-0, 1.42)

Series tied 2-2

Well we’ll find out how badly the boys want it now with the momentum having done a complete 180 and the A’s certainly with their tails up and all the running. I highly doubt we’ll get another free pass from McCormick so those big bats must wake up and make something happen.

This one is everything you’d hope for in a World Series Game 5—except, in our case, a win. Both pitchers are at their best but it is McCormick who is just that little bit better as they lead from the front for a hard-fought 3-2 win. Just 8 hits again from our boys and a key error that leads to what proves the winning (unearned) run as things are getting just that little bit raggedy at our end. We’ve a day to think about it now then two home games to turn things around.

Game 6 in Pittsburgh

Bob Friend (1-0, 2.00) v Bennie Daniels (0-1, 9.00)

Athletics lead series 3-2

Not sure either of these guys have had a more important assignment as our Game 2 combatants take the hill once again. Our club is renowned for its fighting spirit and ability to somehow figure a way to win these sorts of games, but neither of those things count for anything when the umpire calls “Play Ball!”. Only what you do on the field matters. Walls comes in for Lemon, who just hasn’t done a thing all series.
Boy, oh boy, we leave this one way too late for my liking but indeed do show all of that Buccos pride to finally blow it open with a big finish to force a Game 7.

They once again take control of the game early and lead 4-1 at the 7th inning stretch, but the mini-break perhaps gives them too much time to think about how close they are to the title and we come roaring past them with 2 in the bottom 7th and 6 more in the next to eventually win it 9-4. Groat, who is one of the game’s truly underrated heroes, has 5 hits and Clemente belts his third jack and drives in 3.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow, this one will be added to our list of most famous wins.

Game 7 in Pittsburgh

Johnny Podres (0-1, 6.43) v Dave Hillman (1-0, 5.14)

Series tied 3-3

What an amazing showcase this series has been ahead of the league’s first expansion and nobody can argue that whoever ends up on top today doesn’t deserve the accolades. 35000 packed into Forbes hoping that team will be ours.

And they pile out happy as we come home with a wet sail, applying scoreboard pressure early and sticking to the task until it is done, with the final scoreline a fairly decisive 9-3. Podres is great, going the full nine, and the bats are back to their inexorable best with 12 hits, 6 walks and just 8 LOB. Arriba caps off a season for the ages with the Series MVP Award and a shoutout to our BP, which doesn't concede an earned run. No Game 7 home run for Maz but I'm sure he's OK with that.

PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-3

SERIES MVP: Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh)

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[luckymann]

Ft. Worth triumphs in a tough 5-gamer over Newark, who earned their place with a tiebreak game win over our Wilkes-Barre boys. It is the Cats' 4th AAA Championship.

[luckymann]

Obviously the expansion is the big news, with the old Senators franchise off to Minnesota and new franchises for LA and a replacement in the nation’s capital. More on that later when we discuss the Expansion Draft that takes place the day after the Rookie Draft in mid-December.

Three skippers lose their jobs: Ray Cunningham from the Phillies, George Myatt of the Cubs and the Dodgers’ Babe Ganzel.

Just two players off to arbitration: Felix Mantilla and Rocky Bridges. Lew Burdette and Don Gross both walk.

Retirees include Warren Hacker, Mel Parnell, Jim Hearn, Johnny Groth, Bill Wight, Carl Furillo, Del Ennis, Ewell Blackwell and Billy Martin.

[luckymann]

AL 1960 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1960 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Mickey Mantle wins his sixth straight Wagner-Lajoie and eighth overall, breaking the tie with Honus Wagner and Rogers Hornsby and giving him sole possession of the most wins. Our own Roberto Clemente is given his first unanimously. A first Johnson-Waddell for both Jim O'Toole and Mike McCormick, while Jim Brewer and Fred Green are also debutant winners of the Paige Plate. And finally, RoYs this year to Floyd Robinson and Willie Davis.


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[luckymann]

Another strong group of 7 Legacies – including one for one of our new friends – as well as 1 of the biggest Marquee names we'll ever see.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1961 Season:

Boston Red Sox: Carl Yastrzemski 96.5; 3308 – one-club player) MARQUEE
Baltimore Orioles: Boog Powell (39.1; 1763)
Chicago White Sox: Wilbur Wood (50.0; 286 GS)
Cleveland Indians: Sam McDowell (41.8; 346 GS)
Detroit Tigers: Bill Freehan (44.8; 1774 – one-club player)
Los Angeles Angels: Jim Fregosi (48.7; 1429)
St. Louis Cardinals: Lou Brock (45.3; 2289)

With the expansion and things already a bit thin, I have added another 60 historical MiLBers for depth purposes. Including them, there are 173 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 9 rounds of 18.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1960 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round), with the Expansion Clubs picking at the top, but behind Legacy Clubs in Round 1:

Round 1

1. Boston Red Sox (422)
2. Chicago White Sox (565)
3. Los Angeles Angels (N/A)
4. St. Louis Cardinals (558)
5. Detroit Tigers (461)
6. Cleveland Indians (494)
7. Baltimore Orioles (578)
8. Washington Senators (N/A)
9. Kansas City Athletics (377)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (383)
11. Chicago Cubs (390)
12. Cincinnati Reds (435)
13. Minnesota Twins (474)
14. San Francisco Giants (513)
15. Los Angeles Dodgers (532)
16. Milwaukee Braves (571)
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (617)
18. New York Yankees (630)


Rounds 2 thru 9

1. Washington Senators (N/A)
2. Los Angeles Angels (N/A)
3. Kansas City Athletics (377)
4. Philadelphia Phillies (383)
5. Chicago Cubs (390)
6. Boston Red Sox (422)
7. Cincinnati Reds (435)
8. Detroit Tigers (461)
9. Minnesota Twins (474)
10. Cleveland Indians (494)
11. San Francisco Giants (513)
12. Los Angeles Dodgers (532)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (558)
14. Chicago White Sox (565)
15. Milwaukee Braves (571)
16. Baltimore Orioles (578)
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (617)
18. New York Yankees (630)


Only 7 eligible players all told for us in the Draft and not many of those really what we’re looking for, so we go into it with an open mind and will have to be content to grab some unusable trade bait and pure organisational filler if needs be.
We end up with the following new additions:

1. OF Mack Jones, 22 (ineligible)

• A strong player picked only for the flip in a year’s time.

2. P Al McBean, 22

• Perhaps could have waited a round for Al but didn’t want to risk it, especially given the available players didn’t exactly blow our hair back. He might develop into a spot starter but is for all I&P a reliever.

3. C Jimmy Schaffer, 24 (ineligible)

• Another for the trade bait pile.

4. IF John Butler, 18 (ineligible)
5. P Arturo Cacheux, 26 (ineligible)
6. P Harvey Alex, 20 (ineligible)
7. P Bill Pleis, 23 (ineligible)
8. P Ed Hobaugh, 26 (ineligible)
9. P John Papa, 20 (ineligible)

• Organisational pieces.

We’re going to have to get used to the fact that more Drafts than not are going to go this way.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

So I settled on the following rules for this year and next year's EDs:

• 40 Rounds, serpentine
• 16 protected players
• Auto-protect < 2 years
• Maximum 5 picked from any team

For 1961, after much deliberation, we protected the following players:




The purpose of this exercise is, of course, to allow the new entrants to fill their roster with the best players on offer. We know we'll lose some good guys, most likely early, but nothing can be done about that.

Surprisingly, they take more relievers than we expected or had planned for, and as a result we lose 3 CCs in the process - Vern Law, Roy Face and Dick Hall - along with Vic Power and Jim Lemon.

Here are the first 9 Rounds:

[Brad K]

Looks like there's a necessity from an overall standpoint to protect real life Pirates in next year's draft even though they might not be as good as some other players.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Looks like there's a necessity from an overall standpoint to protect real life Pirates in next year's draft even though they might not be as good as some other players.

Yes and no. Because eventually I'll have an excess of eligible players vs those I can protect. The rule I need to apply is that all Legacy / Marquee players MUST be protected.

I kind of expected them to take Law, who has been a bit of a bust even though he was better last year and we almost certainly would eventually have extended him. We'll look at getting him back if it fits down the track. Face was somewhat of a surprise and Hall was a complete shock. With the 5 player limit I thought they'd take Mantilla and O'Connell ahead of these guys.

It doesn't really hurt us but does leave extra work needing to be done to get the roster composed with enough eligible players.

[luckymann]

Johnny Mize gets his plaque on the third try and Luis Tiant goes oh so close but misses out on his tenth.

[luckymann]

With another unexpected title under our belt and the pressure off for a bit, I'm seeing something of a knockdown window here in order to get the roster in line with the new rules.

In the shadows of 1960, we make our one FA signing:



We nail Bill - who had a long IRL stint with the Buccos - down on a 3/150 deal. With Maris only with us until next year and Geiger another who will be off soon enough, Bill is a bit of a twofer for us: an excellent CF / RF and a LHB, both of which we'll eventually be thin on.


Two ineligibles were taken off our hands in the ED, and we offload two more (King is eligible) and bring two into the CC fold with this deal in early Jan:




Gene will take over everyday 1B duties and offers 2B / 3B service in a pinch. He's locked down for this season and next on a friendly deal, which fits in nicely with our longer-term plans if they come to fruition. Gene started his IRL career at the club in 1954 and came back for a second tour in the mid-60s. His brother George also played in the bigs, mainly just for us in 1955. In this timeline, however, he never made it past AAA and is now retired.




George is an interesting type that we'll have to coddle until he hopefully hits his straps in a couple years time. He's low on OYs, so we'll probably have to stow him in mop-up patrol for a year. He's also just finishing up a long IL stint that cut his 1960 in half. Unlike Gene, his IRL tenure at our club was brief and right at the end of his career.