The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Another year with Expansion clubs means another season of odd results. At the pointy end, the Yanks hold off a dogged Twins outfit, then get to sit back and watch the old foes go at it in new surrounds as the Dodgers and Giants need a 3-game playoff to decide the NL winner. The Giants prevail, but lose out to the Bombers in an epic seven-gamer.


AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (96-66)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Giants (103-62)
WORLD SERIES: Yankees 4, Giants 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 93-68, 4th in NL

AL MVP: Mickey Mantle (Yankees)
NL MVP: Maury Wills (Dodgers)

AL CYA: not given
NL CYA: Don Drysdale (Dodgers)

AL RoY: Tom Tresh (Yankees)
NL RoY: Ken Hubbs (Cubs)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. FRANK ROBINSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .342 average, 134 runs, 208 hits, 51 doubles, 39 home runs, 136 RBIs, 76 walks, 16 intentional walks, 11 hit-by-pitches, 18 stolen bases, .421 on-base percentage, .624 slugging percentage.
• Despite producing better overall numbers than his MVP effort of a year earlier—and despite hitting .370 at home and .390 with runners in scoring position—Robinson settled for fourth place in this year’s vote, in part because a whole of other players were much better, too.

2. WILLIE MAYS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 130 runs, 189 hits, 36 doubles, 5 triples, 49 home runs, 141 RBIs, 78 walks, 18 stolen bases.
• Mays, who was not this year’s MVP, was very active when it came to the Giants crossing home plate; he set career highs in both runs scored and runs knocked in.

3. HANK AARON, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .323 average, 127 runs, 191 hits, 28 doubles, 6 triples, 45 home runs, 128 RBIs, 15 stolen bases.
• Aaron was both tenacious—producing a career-tying 25-game hit streak—and brutal, bashing his longest-ever home run (483 feet) over the faraway center-field wall at New York’s Polo Grounds against the expansion Mets.

4. TOMMY DAVIS, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: .346 average, 120 runs, 230 hits, 27 doubles, 9 triples, 27 home runs, 153 RBIs, 18 stolen bases.
• The 23-year-old Davis was averaging over one RBI per game into early August before slightly leveling off; he still broke (and still owns) the all-time Dodgers record—not bad for a guy who never knocked in more than 89 runs in any of 17 other seasons.

5. ORLANDO CEPEDA, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 105 runs, 191 hits, 26 doubles, 35 home runs, 114 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• A nice follow-up to his prodigious 1961 campaign, resettled into his customary position as Willie Mays’ sidekick.

6. FRANK HOWARD, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 25 doubles, 6 triples, 31 home runs, 119 RBIs.
• The young Goliath (6’7”, 255 pounds), somehow unable to rack up massive home run totals in two previous years at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, got on track in the first season at pitching-friendly Dodger Stadium; his 31 homers were the most by a Dodger between 1958-73.

7. MAURY WILLS, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 165 games, .299 average, 695 at-bats, 130 runs, 208 hits, 13 doubles, 10 triples, 6 home runs, 48 RBIs, 104 stolen bases, 13 caught stealing.
• Not Robinson, not Mays; it was the speedy Wills, who broke the all-time season stolen base mark, who also nabbed the NL MVP—though in later years, he’d always be needled by Mays on who really should have won it. (Guess who Willie thought should have won it instead.)

8. BILL WHITE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .324 average, 93 runs, 199 hits, 31 doubles, 20 home runs, 102 RBIs.
• The first baseman and future NL President became a worthy complement to Ken Boyer in the Cardinals’ lineup (to say nothing of a fortysomething Stan Musial), hitting for a personal-best batting average.

9. EDDIE MATHEWS, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .265 average, 106 runs, 25 doubles, 6 triples, 29 home runs, 90 RBIs, 101 walks.
• Although he had gained a reputation for home runs first, all other hits second, Mathews interestingly had two of three career three-double games and one of two career two-triple games in 1962.

10. FELIPE ALOU, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .316 average, 96 runs, 177 hits, 30 doubles, 25 home runs, 98 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• Though he wasn’t the first Dominican major leaguer (Ozzie Virgil beat him to it by a year and a half), Alou emerged as the first true star from the baseball-mad island country.

AL Hitters

1. MICKEY MANTLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 123 games, .321 average, 96 runs, 30 home runs, 89 RBIs, 122 walks, .486 on-base percentage, .605 slugging percentage.
• Mantle missed a month in the spring to injury and still won his third MVP award—and rather easily.

2. NORM SIEBERN, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 162 games, 114 runs, 185 hits, 25 doubles, 6 triples, 25 home runs, 117 RBIs, 110 walks.
• Siebern was that rarest of players, a former Yankee who came alive after being traded to Kansas City—not vice versa.

3. FLOYD ROBINSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 89 runs, 187 hits, 45 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs, 109 RBIs, 72 walks.
• No relation to Frank, Floyd Robinson gave Chicagoans hope that his star was on the rise, though his career was peaking in just his second year.

4. HARMON KILLEBREW, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .243 average, 85 runs, 48 home runs, 126 RBIs, 106 walks, 142 strikeouts.
• Killer smashed 31 home runs after the All-Star Break and, on the flip side, broke the AL season record for strikeouts set just a year earlier by Jake Wood—and to be reset again the following year by Dave Nicholson.

5. ROCKY COLAVITO, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .273 average, 90 runs, 164 hits, 30 doubles, 37 home runs, 112 RBIs, 96 walks.
• Among the year’s highlights for Rocky was producing the first seven-hit game in Tigers history (granted, in a 22-inning marathon against the Yankees), and a home run hat trick at Cleveland in front of Indians fans who longed for his return. (They’d have to wait three more years.)

6. BOB ALLISON, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .266 average, 102 runs, 24 doubles, 8 triples, 29 home runs, 102 RBIs, 84 walks.
• Like his teammate Killebrew, Allison surged in the season’s second half, hitting 23 of his 29 homers after July 1.

7. AL KALINE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 100 games, .304 average, 78 runs, 16 doubles, 6 triples, 29 home runs, 94 RBIs.
• Kaline never hit 30 home runs in his Hall-of-Fame career, but he would have easily gotten there—and perhaps even past 40 as well—had he not broken his collarbone and missed 54 games.

8. CARL YASTRZEMSKI, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 99 runs, 191 hits, 43 doubles, 6 triples, 19 home runs, 94 RBIs, 27 grounded into double plays.
• Marketed as Ted Williams’ heir in Boston—where he chose the Red Sox over the Reds because Fenway Park was closer to his Long Island home—Yastrzemski thrived in his sophomore campaign.

9. NORM CASH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .243 average, 94 runs, 39 home runs, 89 RBIs, 104 walks, 13 hit-by-pitches.
• Opposing pitchers provided some possible payback for Cash using a corked bat in 1961 (if they knew, of course) by hitting him an AL-high 13 times. Still, Cash nearly powered out 40 homers again—though his average collapsed by over 100 points from his .361 mark of a year earlier.

10. RICH ROLLINS, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .298 average, 96 runs, 186 hits, 23 doubles, 5 triples, 16 home runs, 96 RBIs, 75 walks.
• Every bit as good a rookie as any other in the AL, Rollins not only didn’t get Rookie of the Year honors—he didn’t even get a single vote while five others did.

NL Pitchers

1. DON DRYSDALE, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 25 wins, 9 losses, .735 win percentage, 43 appearances, 41 starts, 314.1 innings, 232 strikeouts, 11 hit-by-pitches.
• Drysdale’s quick start got him to 20 wins faster than any NL pitcher since Hippo Vaughn in 1918.

2. BOB PURKEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.81 ERA, 23 wins, 5 losses, .821 win percentage, 37 starts, 288.1 innings, 64 walks, 14 hit-by-pitches.
• The Reds (98-64) barely failed to repeat as NL champions, despite the peak-year, knuckleball success of Purkey, who learned the pitch from Branch Rickey.

3. WARREN SPAHN, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 3.04 ERA, 18 wins, 14 losses, 34 starts, 22 complete games, 269.1 innings, 55 walks.
• The 41-year-old southpaw was never more at home than in 1962, gathering 13 of his 18 victories (losing just three) at County Stadium.

4. BILLY O’DELL, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 3.53 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 43 appearances, 39 starts, 20 complete games, 280.2 innings, 66 walks, 30 grounded into double plays.
• A chance for a 20th victory was denied with O’Dell was removed from a 1-1 tie in the seventh against the expansion Colt .45s in his final start of the year. (The Giants ended up winning the game, 2-1.)

5. SANDY KOUFAX, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.54 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses, 26 starts, 184.1 innings, 216 strikeouts.
• Missing two months late in the season deprived Koufax of possibly becoming the first modern-era NL pitcher to top 300 strikeouts; he’d get another chance soon enough. In the meantime, he had to settle for his first of five straight ERA titles, his first of four career no-hitters, and an 18-K effort on April 24 against the Phillies to tie the then-major league record co-owned by Bob Feller…and himself.

6. BOB GIBSON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.85 ERA, 15 wins, 13 losses, 30 starts, 5 shutouts, 233.2 innings, 95 walks, 11 wild pitches, 10 hit-by-pitches, 23 grounded into double plays.
• While he wasn’t quite there yet, Gibson continued to trend toward greatness in his second full season in the Cardinals’ rotation.

7. JACK SANFORD, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 3.34 ERA, 24 wins, 7 losses, .774 win percentage, 38 starts, 265.1 innings, 23 grounded into double plays.
• Much was made of Billy Pierce’s 12-0 record at Candlestick Park, but Sanford was pretty sharp himself at the Giants’ home base, with a 14-1 mark; at one point, he won 16 straight decisions overall.

8. BOB FRIEND, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.06 ERA, 18 wins, 14 losses, 39 appearances, 36 starts, 5 shutouts, 261.2 innings, 53 walks, 28 grounded into double plays.
• “Warrior” shook off a wobbly first half—itself on the wake of a 19-loss campaign the year before—and went 10-5 with a 2.12 ERA from mid-July on.

9. BOB SHAW, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 2.80 ERA, 15 wins, 9 losses, 38 appearances, 29 starts, 225 innings, 45 walks.
• With veteran Lew Burdette blowing a tire he’d never recover from, Shaw picked up the slack and became Sidekick of the Year to Warren Spahn.

10. JUAN MARICHAL, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 3.36 ERA, 18 wins, 11 losses, 36 starts, 262.2 innings.
• Would the emerging Giants ace have loved to pitch full-time at the team’s former home at the Polo Grounds? Marichal began a three-year run in which he went 6-0 with a 0.55 ERA at the old yard. (Of course, the awful infant Mets were the opponents, so consider the source…)

AL Pitchers

1. HANK AGUIRRE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses, 3 saves, 42 appearances, 22 starts, 216 innings.
• The eighth-year reliever was elevated to full-time rotation duty after continuously impressing in spot starts—leading to a surprise ERA crown.

2. JIM KAAT, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 3.14 ERA, 18 wins, 14 losses, 39 appearances, 35 starts, 5 shutouts, 269 innings, 13 wild pitches, 18 hit-by-pitches, 34 grounded into double plays.
• Four times, Kaat pitched into extra innings—including three starts in a row in early August, two of those on three days’ rest.

3. RALPH TERRY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.19 ERA, 23 wins, 12 losses, 2 saves, 43 appearances, 39 starts, 298.2 innings, 57 walks.
• Terry may have given up a Yankees-record 40 home runs, but it didn’t seem to affect his overall performance, as he mastered the curve taught to him by pitching coach (and fellow 20-game winner) Johnny Sain.

4. DEAN CHANCE, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.96 ERA, 14 wins, 10 losses, 8 saves, 50 appearances, 24 starts, 206.2 innings, 24 grounded into double plays.
• The 21-year-old was one of the primary reasons the second-year Angels were surprisingly competitive; he lost his shot at a first career no-hitter on September 10, giving up his first knock with one out in the eighth at Minnesota.

5. RAY HERBERT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.27 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses, .690 win percentage, 35 starts, 236.2 innings, 27 grounded into double plays.
• Herbert, who hadn’t pitched above .500 in over 10 years, was the season’s most surprising 20-game winner; collecting W’s in each of his last six starts helped get him to the milestone.

6. CAMILO PASCUAL, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 3.32 ERA, 20 wins, 11 losses, 33 starts, 18 complete games, 5 shutouts, 257.2 innings, 59 walks, 206 strikeouts.
• The Cuban native, in his ninth year with the Senators/Twins, finally hit his pinnacle with his first of back-to-back 20-win campaigns, to go along with his third year over the last four pacing the AL in shutouts.

7. WHITEY FORD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.90 ERA, 17 wins, 8 losses, 37 starts, 257.2 innings.
• Though his numbers seemed to pale against those of teammate/1962 workhorse Ralph Terry, Ford remained the Cadillac of AL pitchers.

8. EDDIE FISHER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.10 ERA, 9 wins, 5 losses, 5 saves, 57 appearances, 12 starts, 182.2 innings, 45 walks.
• The arrival of Fisher from San Francisco as their top reliever eased the pain of giving up 1950s ace Billy Pierce to get him.

9. ROBIN ROBERTS, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.78 ERA, 10 wins, 9 losses, 25 starts, 191.1 innings, 41 walks.
• Following dismal numbers (1-10, 5.85 ERA) in his last season with the Phillies, Roberts signed with the Yankees, never played, was released and considered quitting—but the Orioles rescued him, and he responded with an unusually taut and successful campaign.

10. DICK DONOVAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.59 ERA, 20 wins, 10 losses, 34 starts, 5 shutouts, 250.2 innings, 47 walks, 26 grounded into double plays.
• Donovan received a welcomed exile from Washington to Cleveland and earned the 20 wins he should have got the year before when he won the AL ERA title.

[luckymann]

We’re not far off the league’s first million-dollar contract, with a couple registering in the 900k range. Good to see the Mets being aggressive, while the World Champs lock down a key infielder for a long time indeed.

Here are the key transactions:

• 2B Don Buddin: Tigers, 8 years / $938000
• P Billy O’Dell: Yankees, 6 years / $916000
• OF Jackie Brandt: White Sox, 6 years / $766000
• C Elston Howard: Dodgers, 4 years / $600000
• C Ed Bailey: Cardinals, 5 years / $522000
• P Whitey Ford: Red Sox, 4 years / $496000
• P Jack Sanford: Mets, 5 years / $440000
• 1B Joe Adcock: Cardinals, 3 years / $384000
• P Turk Farrell: Mets, 4 years / $368000
• P Bobby Shantz: Yankees, 3 years / $336000
• OF Richie Ashburn: Braves, 4 years / $326000
• P Billy Hoeft: Braves, 3 years / $312000
• P Early Wynn: Cubs, 3 years / $222000
• OF Jim Landis: Cubs, 3 years / $207400 (extension)
• C Earl Battey: Twins, 3 years / $194600 (extension)
• P Don Cardwell: White Sox, 3 years / $193800 (extension)
• OF Wally Post: Mets, 2 years / $168000

• 2B Bob Aspromonte, P Howie Reed and P Joe Schaffernoth from Orioles to Angels for P Roy Face
• P Dick Hall and P Johnny Ison from Angels to Braves for OF Mike Hershberger
• P Lew Krausse jr from Yankees to Orioles for OF Norm Siebern
• P Luis Arroyo and P Bobby Bolin from Red Sox to Orioles for OF Earl Robinson

The lads go a surprisingly frisky 13-5 in ST and do not suffer any injuries of note.


ALL TRANSACTIONS


The Senators 1.0 / Twins have been knocking on the door these past few years and the BNN crew sees them finally gaining admission this year, with the Dodgers their pick in our division and us ensconced in the middle bunch, which lines up with how we are seeing things playing out. One element of their predictions that jumps off the page for us is how bullish they are on Roberto Clemente this year - tipping him to hit 365 with 24 HR. Another is the total absence of Roger Maris from the same section.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Deep divers, you know to go HERE for your fill.


Look, we're not at all certain how things are going to go for us this season but certainly have moderate expectations. These past couple years have been a bit of a whirlwind and we're just looking to spend a season or two recalibrating and trying to shape our club for the long-term. While our pitching remains among the league's best and deepest squads, we are thin across our position player group and I'll almost certainly need to deploy my remaining two trade tix in that facet of our squad.

We've decided to give Felipe Alou the everyday CF job despite his lack of experience there, and will cover him with Virdon as a defensive sub when necessary. Jose Pagan gets the call-up with Rodgers and Walls gone and will split IF utility duties with Ducky Schofield.

Our shorthandedness in the LH relief slot has led us to start Juan Pizarro out of the BP for now, but that is certainly not how we intend things to be longer-term. We will, until further notice be running a 13-13 squad.

I think we'll be a bit more of a feature in calculations than the prognosticators do, but not sure we are the Giants' match this year - they look mighty strong.

[Brad K]

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (196-66)

Lots of double headers in that schedule.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (196-66)

Lots of double headers in that schedule.

They had a big barnstorming schedule that year.

Amended, churr.

G

[luckymann]

Big trade winds blow through as I use my second ticket for the year on a deal firmly with the long-haul in mind.




Fair to say my patience has run out with Roger and I wanted to move him on while he still had some residual value in his walk year. He has started this season dreadfully, not driving in his first run until the 11th game, and not homering until the day after that. I've given my thoughts on him previously and at length; it just isn't meant to be and we wish him all the best in Minnesota. Should be fun there with him and Killer in cahoots.

Howie is another ineligible now off our books.

The return for this is a club favourite from the corresponding IRL period, and we'll shift Pops out to LF and put Donn in as our starting 1B.

[luckymann]

The very next day, we play - and win - this marathon against the Dodgers.

It's Pops' world now, the rest of us are just living in it...

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Ouch. Didn't see this coming, as Camilo Pascual endures four of the most hellish outings I have ever seen from an elite pitcher, culminating in today's non-outing in which he gives up 7 ER without retiring a batter.




Which leaves his season-to-date line looking like it was written by Poe.

[luckymann]

Hoo boy, talk about white-knuckle rides - I reckon I've aged a decade in 6 weeks' play. Welcome to Expansion Era Baseball, I'm your host, Nik Hill...

We've pretty much had a bit of everything in these first 40-odd games (the signs were ominous something was afoot early after the Mets (!??) gave us an absolute flogging in our first series against them), and yet you mightn't think it looking at our metrics entering June as the good old Black and Gold Bucco Brigade just keeps getting it done regardless.




Looks remarkably like most of these recaps over the past decade, really - below average hitting, above average pitching, solid D around the d. The IL situation is your first hint of trouble. Pops is almost back with us after a three-week IL stint for a hammy twinge. Before that, he homered on debut and was utterly dominant:




Virdon isn't too far off a return either, but he has never really hit his straps in a secondary role for us and now finds himself getting squeezed out with Matty Alou joining big bro at the parent club and Pops the LF of choice. McBean looked sharp in AAA last year and did OK before going down - he will be missed.




Arriba has been back to his exhilarating best, while Maz has been his usual reliable self. Other than that we've been flat with the bat, especially in Pops' absence. Pagan has been a nice surprise in that roaming UT infield role.




I've spoken about Patata, but the numbers you see have been heavily skewed by a few major blowouts including a 0-11 shocker just a couple days ago by Pizarro. He is back in the spin after we scored Don Gross on a minors option deal and called him up to give us an extra left arm. We did manage to lock him down long-term, as we did with Warrior Friend - but they didn't come cheap, around $100k AAV per man. Last season's exits and the Maris move will cover them, but we have a big decision ahead of us with young Bob Miller. He is arb eligible again next year but that's it for team control and he knocked back a L/T deal at the max we can justify for a reliever, so I think that's him done for us and we will almost certainly look to move him on before he runs out of juice. Such a shame - he looks a ripper once he matures fully. Oh, and props to Bob Purkey, who has - along with a resurgent Johnny Pod - been our best arm to this point.




You can see what I mean with those blowouts: 7 games above 500 with an RD of +7. We have got our hands full this year - that top group in the NL is about as competitive as I remember it being. It is red hot up there. At the other end of the spectrum, the second wave of talent dilution sadly means the NL Expansion Clubs are copping it hard.


Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Jerry Lynch (Twins): 403 / 10 HR / 29 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Bunning (Detroit): 4-1 / 2.97 / 35 K / 39.1 IP
• Rookie – Pete Ward (Athletics): 318 / 4 HR / 17 RBI

National League

• Batter – Bill White (Phillies): 430 / 4 HR / 14 RBI
• Pitcher – Gary Peters (Giants): 4-0 / 1.06 / 27 K / 34 IP
• Rookie – George Alusik (Mets): 406 / 4 HR / 15 RBI

May

American League

• Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 298 / 6 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Bennie Daniels (Athletics): 5-1 / 2.51 / 21 K / 43 IP
• Rookie – Bobby Bolin (Orioles): 1-0 / 0.48 / 4 SV / 21 K / 18.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Rocky Colavito (Cubs): 337 / 10 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 5-0 / 2.53 / 61 K / 57 IP
• Rookie – Ed Charles (Cubs): 378 / 6 HR / 16 RBI

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 3500 hits: Stan Musial
• 2000 Hits: Nellie Fox
• A knee injury knocks White Sox OF Dick Kokos out of the game until next year, as does a labrum tear to young Giants ace Gary Peters.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most Wins without Starting a Game

[luckymann]

What a way to make your mark in the bigs. In just his 18th game, Matty Alou hits for the cycle - a natural, no less - including his first MLB home run as we account for the Colt .45s 11-4.

[Brad K]

Wow, Matty Alou hitting .324 and he hasn't even met Harry Walker yet.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Wow, Matty Alou hitting .324 and he hasn't even met Harry Walker yet.

Ahhh "The Hat". Brother of the infamous Dixie, I believe.

[Brad K]

You seem to know all the trivia but maybe this is one you don't. After being traded to the Bucs and following Walker's advice Alou raised his BA 111 points and won the batting championship, the biggest year to year increase of any batting champ.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

You seem to know all the trivia but maybe this is one you don't. After being traded to the Bucs and following Walker's advice Alou raised his BA 111 points and won the batting championship, the biggest year to year increase of any batting champ.

I did not know there was such a direct correlation. I knew Hat was his skipper at this time (although not for long, was it?) and that he really came on big time (150 BA or so a few seasons earlier?).

Thanks for the share. I find myself going back and checking your thread each season now to compare and contrast our moves (but never in advance).

[luckymann]

Early Wynn becomes the 29th player in history to make it to 250 career wins. In his age-42 season and IRL a bit of a late marvel although this was his final year in the game at this level. In this timeline he might squeeze another couple out and is actually under contract with the Cubbies thru 1964.

Talk about the model of consistency - not a season since his rookie year with a negative pWAR. That said, he's never quite reached the heights he did in the historical. All the same, amazing stuff.

[luckymann]

Four Bucs get the nod this year - all of them pitchers.




Don Mincher of Kansas City takes out the HR Derby and Woodie Held leads the NL past the AL by a score of 9 to 4.

[luckymann]

Well, we have had pretty much everything thrown at us and yet we still find ourselves close enough if good enough as we enter the stretch.




+5 v Pythag. 29-13 in one-run and extra-inning games. Once again, we are fighting above our weight in general and especially in the clinch.




Despite some good stretches, our problem is once again a lack of runs. We are 63-44 yet our run diff sits at just +43 and we are near the tail in almost every offensive stat cat, BA excluded. Felipe Alou's improvement continues and he wins the monthly hitting prize.




Of course, this slack has once again been taken up by our staff. We've suffered some regular blowouts, too, which of course is a direct hit on RD particularly when you don't return the favour very often. Everyone playing their part to varying degrees, although the loss of Tommie Sisk late will test us, with Bob Miller given another chance to show us he has what it takes at the top level.




Chances aplenty in both divs. The A's-Twins battle has been a beaut for some time now and looks set to continue to the bitter end. Both the Phils and the Cubs seem to be picking up steam as the season progresses and each looms as a legitimate threat here.


News, Leaders and Top 20s








Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

• Batter – Jerry Lynch (Twins): 297 / 12 HR / 39 RBI
• Pitcher – Claude Osteen (White Sox): 6-0 / 2.81 / 20 K / 48 IP
• Rookie – Bob Veale (Senators): 3-0 / 3.09 / 19 K / 43.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Vada Pinson (Reds): 426 / 7 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Joe Nuxhall (Reds): 5-1 / 0.95 / 26 K / 47.1 IP
• Rookie – Denis Menke (Mets): 330 / 3 HR / 8 RBI

July

American League

• Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 389 / 8 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Art Mahaffey (Yankees): 6-0 / 1.65 / 26 K / 49 IP
• Rookie – Denny Lemaster (Red Sox): 3-2 / 2.59 / 31 K / 41.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Felipe Alou (Pirates): 369 / 6 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Don Drysdale (Dodgers): 5-1 / 2.04 / 38 K / 53 IP
• Rookie – Lee Stange (Phillies): 4-0 / 3.27 / 27 K / 41.2 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• A few significant milestones reached: Early Wynn with 250 Wins and Curt Simmons with 200, while Minnie Minoso gets his 2000th career Hit.
• The Mets lose rookie outfielder George Alusik for the remainder to a bone break in the elbow, and another first-year player in Washington pitcher Dave Giusti is also done for the year courtesy of a meniscus tear.
• The Orange Birds will have to make the Series if they want to have any hope of seeing gun reliever Steve Hamilton in action after he suffers some rotator cuff inflammation, while the Phils lose boon rookie reliever Dick Radatz for 2 months to a hamstring strain.
• Another key reliever is bitten by the injury bug as KC’s Ron Perranoski has his season ended by a back injury, and Detroit lose veteran Don Buddin for the remainder thanks to a broken elbow bone.
• The Dodgers get their roster juiced up for what promises to be a tough stretch run by trading away a passel of minor-leaguers to the Sens for classy veteran OF Gene Woodling.
• Jerry Lynch of the Twins cools off a tad in July, but remains on pace for 54 HR and what would be a record 168 RBI.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most PAs without a Walk (Does not include pitchers)