The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

One more NeLer onto the C-Town pile as Sam Bankhead squeaks in on his final ballot. Charlie Keller misses out on his.

[luckymann]

Led by a rampaging and Triple Crown-winning Frank Robinson, seeking revenge and redemption after being unexpectedly traded from Cincy, the O’s bring Bawlmer its first title in a dominant sweep over the Dodgers as Sandy Koufax takes his leave of the game.


AL CHAMPIONS: Baltimore Orioles (97-63)
NL CHAMPIONS: Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)
WORLD SERIES: Orioles 4, Dodgers 0

Pittsburgh Pirates: 92-70, 3rd in NL

AL MVP: Frank Robinson (Orioles)
NL MVP: Roberto Clemente (Pirates)

AL CYA: not given
NL CYA: Sandy Koufax (Dodgers)

AL RoY: Tommy Agee (White Sox)
NL RoY: Tommy Helms (Reds)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. RICHIE ALLEN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 112 runs, 165 hits, 25 doubles, 10 triples, 41 home runs, 110 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, .632 slugging percentage.
• Despite a shoulder injury that would keep him out for nearly a month, Allen became the first Phillie to hit 40 homers since Chuck Klein.

2. HANK AARON, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 117 runs, 44 home runs, 127 RBIs, 76 walks, 21 stolen bases.
• The Braves’ move to Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium—a.k.a., The Launching Pad—enriched Aaron’s power game, matching his uniform number for the third time with 44 homers.

3. ROBERTO CLEMENTE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 105 runs, 202 hits, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 29 home runs, 119 RBIs.
• Clemente caught the homer bug with a career-high 29, but failed to win a batting title for the only time in a four-year stretch; his overall numbers were still got enough to grab his lone MVP award.

4. WILLIE MCCOVEY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 85 runs, 26 doubles, 6 triples, 36 home runs, 96 RBIs, 76 walks.
• McCovey was part of a trio of Giants (along with Willie Mays and Jim Ray Hart) to each belt 30-plus homers, the third such accomplishment in four years at San Francisco.

5. WILLIE MAYS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .288 average, 99 runs, 29 doubles, 37 home runs, 103 RBIs, 70 walks.
• Mays became, for the moment, the NL’s all-time home run king; at age 35, he’d never hit more than 30 in a season again.

6. WILLIE STARGELL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 140 games, .315 average, 84 runs, 30 doubles, 33 home runs, 102 RBIs.
• Pops set a career mark in batting average, part of a Pittsburgh outfield that overall hit .318 (back-ups included).

7. RON SANTO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 93 runs, 175 hits, 21 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs, 94 RBIs, 95 walks, .412 on-base percentage.
• Santo’s outstanding year included a 28-game hitting streak, the Cubs’ longest until 1989.

8. FELIPE ALOU, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 666 at-bats, 122 runs, 218 hits, 32 doubles, 6 triples, 31 home runs, 74 RBIs, 12 hit-by-pitches.
• Alou wasn’t just second in the NL in hitting—he was second within his own family, as the Pirates’ Matty Alou put together a .342 figure. His 31 homers—17 hit while leading off—were easily the most accumulated in one season among he and his brothers, neither of whom ever reached double figures.

9. JOE TORRE, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .315 average, 83 runs, 172 hits, 36 home runs, 101 RBIs.
• Along with Aaron and Alou above, the Braves’ arrival at the Launching Pad also pumped up the home run totals for Torre, who set a career high.

10. DONN CLENDENON, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 80 runs, 171 hits, 22 doubles, 10 triples, 28 home runs, 98 RBIs, 142 strikeouts.
• The gifted athlete who was once scouted by football’s Cleveland Browns and basketball’s Harlem Globetrotters had a career year, mostly on the road—25 of his 28 home runs came away from Forbes Field. It was surely enough to impress his ‘big brother’ back at Morehouse College: Martin Luther King Jr.

AL Hitters

1. FRANK ROBINSON, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: .316 average, 122 runs, 182 hits, 34 doubles, 49 home runs, 122 RBIs, 87 walks, .410 on-base percentage, .637 slugging percentage, 24 grounded into double plays.
• One frustration in an otherwise flawless campaign: Robinson went homerless in his final eight games to miss out on reaching 50.

2. HARMON KILLEBREW, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .281 average, 89 runs, 27 doubles, 39 home runs, 110 RBIs, 103 walks, 18 intentional walks.
• Never, ever to be confused as a batting champ, Killebrew (career batting average: .256) stunningly placed fifth in the AL batting race with a .281 mark—the second highest of his 22-year major league lifespan.

3. AL KALINE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 142 games, .288 average, 85 runs, 29 doubles, 29 home runs, 88 RBIs, 81 walks.
• After Frank Robinson and Tony Oliva, you had to reach down to Kaline to find the AL’s third highest batting average—at .288.

4. TONY OLIVA, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 99 runs, 191 hits, 32 doubles, 7 triples, 25 home runs, 87 RBIs, 13 stolen bases.
• Oliva didn’t capture his third batting title in as many years—only Frank Robinson got in the way—but he did pace the AL in hits for a third straight time.

5. BOOG POWELL, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 140 games, .287 average, 34 home runs, 109 RBIs.
• In a strong comeback performance, Powell notched the most RBIs in a single 1966 game by a position player. (Pitcher Tony Cloninger knocked in nine in his double-grand slam effort to lead all players.)

6. NORM CASH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 98 runs, 168 hits, 32 home runs, 93 RBIs.
• In the long and empty search to duplicate his sensational 1961 numbers, Cash had about as fine a complete season since.

7. TOMMIE AGEE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .273 average, 98 runs, 172 hits, 27 doubles, 8 triples, 22 home runs, 86 RBIs, 10 hit-by-pitches, 44 stolen bases.
• After a series of hand injuries suppressed his progress to the majors, a healthy Agee finally busted out as an all-around threat and AL Rookie of the Year.

8. DICK MCAULIFFE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 124 games, .274 average, 83 runs, 16 doubles, 8 triples, 23 home runs, 56 RBIs.
• The typically light-hitting (.247 career average) shortstop hit a personal-best .274.

9. TONY CONIGLIARO, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .265 average, 26 doubles, 7 triples, 28 home runs, 93 RBIs.
• The 21-year old’s team-leading 28 homers gave him 82 through his first three years—just two behind Mel Ott’s record for the most by a player before turning 22.

10. WILLIE HORTON, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .262 average, 22 doubles, 6 triples, 27 home runs, 100 RBIs.
• For the second time in two everyday seasons, Horton knocked in 100 runs; he wouldn’t do it again until 1979 for the Seattle Mariners.

NL Pitchers

1. SANDY KOUFAX, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 1.73 ERA, 27 wins, 9 losses, .750 win percentage, 41 starts, 27 complete games, 323 innings, 77 walks, 317 strikeouts.
• Koufax went out on top, but ever so painfully.

2. JUAN MARICHAL, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.23 ERA, 25 wins, 6 losses, .806 win percentage, 36 starts, 307.1 innings, 36 walks.
• Once again, Marichal had to settle for second fiddle in Koufax’s wake; his 14-inning shutout of the Phillies on May 26 was the second longest of his career, behind his famous 16-inning blanking of the Braves and Warren Spahn in 1963.

3. BOB GIBSON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.44 ERA, 21 wins, 12 losses, 35 starts, 280.1 innings, 12 wild pitches.
• The Cardinals scored only 16 runs in the 12 losses Gibson suffered.

4. GAYLORD PERRY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.99 ERA, 21 wins, 8 losses, .724 win percentage, 35 starts, 255.2 innings, 40 walks.
• After throwing wildly the year before, Perry cut down on the walks—but perhaps not the Vaseline—in winning over 20 for the first time.

5. CLAUDE OSTEEN, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.85 ERA, 17 wins, 14 losses, 38 starts, 240.1 innings, 65 walks, 13 intentional walks.
• In his second year with the Dodgers, Osteen gave up just six home runs.

6. MIKE CUELLAR, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.22 ERA, 12 wins, 10 losses, 38 appearances, 28 starts, 227.1 innings, 52 walks.
• Beginning his fourth season as, once again, a reliever, Cuellar was given the chance to start at the end of April and fired two complete-game wins, allowing a total of one earned run; that convinced the Astros that his days in the bullpen were done.

7. JIM BUNNING, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.41 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 41 starts, 314 innings, 55 walks, 252 strikeouts, 19 hit-by-pitches, 22 stolen bases allowed.
• Bunning failed to win either of his last two starts, finishing with 19 triumphs for the third straight year.

8. PHIL REGAN, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 1.62 ERA, 14 wins, 1 loss, .933 win percentage, 21 saves, 65 appearances, 0 starts, 116.2 innings, 24 walks.
• In no other year did Regan more appropriately deserve his nickname of “The Vulture,” as few who came within his path at the plate were spared.

9. BOB VEALE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.02 ERA, 16 wins, 12 losses, 37 starts, 268.1 innings, 102 walks, 27 grounded into double plays.
• The 30-year-old southpaw remained the rock of the Pittsburgh rotation with his third straight (16 or more)-12 record.

10. AL JACKSON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 13 wins, 15 losses, 36 appearances, 30 starts, 232.2 innings, 45 walks.
• After four years and a 40-73 record with the terrible Mets, a 13-15 ledger with the Cardinals probably felt like nirvana for Jackson—even if he deserved better with a 2.51 ERA.

AL Pitchers

1. JIM KAAT, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.75 ERA, 25 wins, 13 losses, 41 starts, 19 complete games, 304.2 innings, 55 walks, 24 grounded into double plays.
• For Kaat, who succeeded with Warren Spahn’s recipe for 20 victories—winning at least four games a month—it was as easy done as said.

2. GARY PETERS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.98 ERA, 12 wins, 10 losses, 30 appearances, 27 starts, 204.2 innings, 45 walks.
• Peters’ 12 wins were the fewest by an AL ERA leader with a sub-2.00 mark since Ed Siever went 8-11 on 1.91 for Detroit in 1902.

3. TOMMY JOHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.62 ERA, 14 wins, 11 losses, 33 starts, 5 shutouts, 223 innings, 22 grounded into double plays.
• John helped ease the pain of White Sox fans who still missed Rocky Colavito—the man John was traded for.

4. SONNY SIEBERT, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.80 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses, .667 win percentage, 32 starts, 241 innings, 12 caught stealing/picked off.
• Siebert’s second straight 16-8 season included the majors’ only no-hitter of the year—and the only one of his career.

5. STEVE HARGAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.48 ERA, 13 wins, 10 losses, 38 appearances, 21 starts, 192 innings, 45 walks.
• Among Hargan’s first 16 appearances—all in relief—was a 10-inning gem out of the bullpen in which he allowed just one run, picked up the win and convinced the coaching the staff that he could adapt well to a spot in the rotation. Which, in the season’s second half, he did.

6. JACK AKER, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 1.99 ERA, 8 wins, 4 losses, 32 saves, 66 appearances, 0 starts, 113 innings, 28 walks.
• Aker became the latest reliever to raise the bar on record saves for a season, breaking Ted Abernathy’s mark from just the year before.

7. EARL WILSON, BOSTON-DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.07 ERA, 18 wins, 11 losses, 37 starts, 264 innings, 27 grounded into double plays.
• An early-season trade to the Tigers—an ill-fated one from the Red Sox’ perspective—not only led to Wilson being one of Detroit’s better pitchers, but one of its better hitters; in 64 at-bats, he hit five home runs with 17 RBIs.

8. JIM PERRY, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.54 ERA, 11 wins, 7 losses, 33 appearances, 25 starts, 184.1 innings.
• No longer the better known of the Perry brothers with the emergence of Gaylord in San Francisco, Jim continued a slow renaissance back to form after a wobbly 1961-64.

9. SAM MCDOWELL, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.87 ERA, 9 wins, 8 losses, 3 saves, 35 appearances, 28 starts, 5 shutouts, 194.1 innings, 102 walks, 225 strikeouts.
• Arm issues limited McDowell’s rotation duty in late spring, part of why he won just nine games—but five of those were by shutout, with two of those back-to-back one-hitters early in the season.

10. DENNY MCLAIN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.92 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 38 starts, 264.1 innings, 104 walks.
• Proof that no one gave a damn about pitch counts back in the 1960s: One of McLain’s 20 victories was a 6-3 win at Baltimore in which he struck out 11, walked nine and threw 229 pitches.

[luckymann]

Just the one move for this offseason, as we offload one ineligible for another that I feel is better use of the newly-vacated CC slot 3:




We've been safely swaddled in the cocoon of a young and talented staff that it has sort of snuck up on me how we're on the eve of having to turn a lot of them over in upcoming years. Pizarro, Kline and Brunet are gone, Friend is nearly so, Pascual is entering his next-to-last year with us on his current contract and is doubtful to be renewed. Veale is the big re-up for us this year but even he is only a medium-term proposal. So we really have to start squirrelling players away from this point on.

Hands is the first step in this program; a really nice prospect with plenty of cheap years left. We'll throw him into the spin straight off and see if he's up to the task.




We also picked up Orlando Pena on a minor league deal without an option attached. A cheap insurance policy.

[luckymann]

The price for quality Catchers remains high as John Roseboro lands a big contract, and plenty of quality players will be starting the new season in a new home in a busy trade market. George Brunet, who was looking for $160k per or thereabouts to re-up with us gets plenty more than that from the World Champions.

Here’s where they all landed:

• C John Roseboro: White Sox, 5 years / $1610000
• P George Brunet: Tigers, 5 years / $1464000
• P Denny McLain: Senators, 5 years / $989000 (extension)
• P Al Downing: Cubs, 4 years / $972000 (extension)
• P Dean Chance: Dodgers, 3 years / $906000
• P Whitey Ford: Astros, 3 years / $800000
• 2B Jerry Adair: Orioles, 3 years / $722000
• OF Floyd Robinson: Giants, 3 years / $574000
• P Ray Washburn: Red Sox, 3 years / $456000
• C Smoky Burgess: Dodgers, 2 years / $420000
• P Ralph Terry: Yankees, 3 years / $372000
• P Bob Miller: Phillies, 3 years / $356000
• P Don Newcombe: Braves, 1 years / $216000

• SS Denis Menke from Mets to Indians for 2B Nate Oliver, P Ken Sanders and SS Hal Lanier
• OF Jimmie Hall from Cubs to White Sox for P Dave Wickersham
• 1B Ed Kranepool and OF Cap Peterson from Yankees to Athletics for P Ron Perranoski
• 3B Wayne Causey from Mets to Cardinals for 3B Ken McMullen
• 3B Dalton Jones and OF Jim Gosger from Cubs to Indians for P Steve Barber
• C Gene Green, OF Willie Horton and OF Alex Johnson from Braves to Red Sox for OF Adolfo Phillips
• P Joe Sparma, OF Larry Stahl and P John Gelnar from Senators to Athletics for OF Tom Tresh
• OF Frank Howard from Indians to Braves for OF Albie Pearson
• SS Julio Linares from Twins to White Sox for SS Luis Aparicio
• P Tug McGraw from Indians to Astros for P Johnny Rutherford and P Larry Jaster
• 2B Mark Belanger from Cubs to Astros for P Sammy Ellis and 3B Phil Linz
• OF Mickey Stanley from Cardinals to Orioles for P Steve Hamilton and P Dave McNally
• P Ray Culp and 1B Boog Powell from Orioles to Athletics for P Masanori Murakami and OF Lee May

The Astros name Stan Musial as their new Manager and I only just realised Satchel Paige is currently the GM at Cincy, which sent me down the rabbit-hole to see who else is loitering in the Front Office around the league:

• Braves: Thornton Lee (BC); Wilson Redus (1BC)
• Orioles: Nellie Fox (BC)
• Red Sox: Vinegar Bend Mizell (PC); Heliodoro Diaz (AAA Mgr)
• Cubs: Johnny Mize (AAA Mgr)
• Indians: Pete Runnels (HC)
• Astros: Bobby Avila (BC); Yogi Berra (PC); Billy Pierce (3BC)
• Athletics: Goose Curry (Scout)
• Twins: Bill Dickey (Mgr)
• Yankees: Mickey Cochrane (Mgr); Hack Wilson (1BC); Danny Murtaugh (Scout)
• Mets: Minnie Minoso (BC)
• Phillies: Hank Thompson (1BC)
• Pittsburgh: Paul Waner (HC)
• Giants: Goose Goslin (BC); Bump Hadley (PC)
• Cardinals: Red Rolfe (3BC); Orville Riggins (Scout)
• Senators: Frank Thomas (HC)

The way coolest part of that is that Mickey Mantle’s Manager is now the guy he was named after!


We go 12-6 in ST with only a few niggles to show for it.

ALL TRANSACTIONS


The BNN boffins have pegged us for bang on 500 and we’ll take that. They see another season of super-tight races with the Dodgers, Phillies, Tigers and O’s in the thick of it.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

One can, as always, deep dive at one’s leisure HERE.

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day… Well, not quite but plenty of new faces coming through the ranks after a long period of stability and low turnover. Nothing else to add, I know about as much as you do how we’re going to fare. Suffice to say expectations are moderate.

[luckymann]

So Bill Hands takes the third CC slot for now. Once again we have some tough decisions to make this year that will very much be dependent upon asking price and situational circumstances. We have a predetermined hierarchy of players we'll be trying to adhere to throughout the process.

[luckymann]

We've started strongly enough but this will test us.

[luckymann]

Ahh, you gotta love simulated timelines with their reduced level of faulty body parts and chronic disease or ailments like arthritic elbow. The Dodgers are banking on Sandy's form holding out well past his historical stats. Will be interesting to see if they get burned - and, if so, how badly - by doing so. I hope not, as I'm really interested in seeing what a full Sandy Koufax MLB career looks like rather than the IRL abbreviated version.

[luckymann]

Heavy going for us in this first stanza of '66 and an abject reminder to yours truly and anyone else listening about how quickly things can get away from you in this caper. This is especially so with the house rules I have in place, which also make the quick turnaround from here a near impossibility.





We're still without Felipe Alou and his return date remains uncertain. We've just a day or so ago also lost rookie Bobby Tolan, so Bill Virdon is back up in his place. And yet it is only because of our hitting that we're as close to 500 as we are.



Clendenon has been superb (leading the MLB with 14 HR), with strong support from Clemente and Pagliaroni. Far from perfect still, however, with inconsistency still a major issue - we are kept scoreless for more than 30 innings in a row over one stretch.




Our pitching has come to earth with a bone-rattling thud, with a number of guys slipping badly so far this season. Friend has dropped off the cliff and won't be with us past this season. Pascual will be, but is going to need to be closer to the guy we saw last year than this. Our staff is bisected by a clear line: those past their prime and those yet to reach it, with really only Veale straddling it. We extend him by 4 years for a cool mil, with a few others also locked down for next year and one or two cheapies stashed away for a rainy day.


Both divisions remain close with this next period looking to be key in this year's races.




Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Joe Pepitone (Twins): 355 / 6 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Denny McLain (Senators): 3-0 / 1.08 / 30 K / 33.1 IP
• Rookie – Stan Bahnsen (Twins): 2-1 / 2.74 / 12 K / 23 IP

National League

• Batter – Frank Robinson (Reds): 443 / 5 HR / 16 RBI
• Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 3-0 / 1.06 / 37 K / 34 IP
• Rookie – Mel Queen (Astros): 3-1 / 0.64 / 1 SV / 9 K / 14 IP

May

American League

• Batter – Harmon Killebrew (Twins): 313 / 11 HR / 27 RBI
• Pitcher – Joe Nuxhall (Indians): 6-1 / 1.87 / 35 K / 53 IP
• Rookie – Dave Baldwin (Tigers): 4-0 / 5.02 / 2 SV / 7 K / 14.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Billy Williams (Cubs): 381 / 7 HR / 30 RBI
• Pitcher – Gary Peters (Giants): 5-1 / 0.69 / 35 K / 52.1 IP
• Rookie – Fritz Peterson (Cubs): 5-1 / 2.20 / 33 K / 49 IP

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2500 Hits: Willie Mays
• Sandy Koufax is 8-1 / 1.06 to this point.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most Pitching Wins for a Losing Team

[luckymann]

The Jints are in the mix finally this year, although the Dodgers have skipped off and made a run for it. Hopefully this will give them some momentum to close the gap.

[luckymann]

Three of our guys get the nod - nice to see Mudcat Grant among them for the first time, he's been really good in our BP this year.

American League

• SP Jim Bunning (DET) - 10-4, 2.81 ERA, 141.0 IP, 0.95 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 3.2 WAR
• SP Mike Cuellar (BAL) - 8-8, 2.26 ERA, 147.1 IP, 1.07 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 4.1 WAR
• SP Pat Jarvis (WS2) - 4-5, 2.49 ERA, 115.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 3.0 WAR
• SP Sam McDowell (CLE)* - 3-8, 2.35 ERA, 130.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 4.0 WAR (Injured)
• SP Denny McLain (WS2) - 9-3, 1.84 ERA, 141.2 IP, 0.85 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 3.3 WAR
• SP Sonny Siebert (WS2) - 9-5, 2.46 ERA, 128.0 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 2.8 WAR
• SP Mel Stottlemyre (NYY) - 8-7, 2.74 ERA, 148.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 5.0 K/9, 2.6 WAR
• RP Wally Bunker (CWS) - 2-2, 1.04 ERA, 43.1 IP, 0.90 WHIP, 5.2 K/9, 1.2 WAR
• CL Bob Locker (MIN)* - 4-4, 15 SV, 1.74 ERA, 46.2 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 1.3 WAR
• CL Jim McGlothlin (CWS) - 1-3, 8 SV, 1.62 ERA, 55.2 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 1.6 WAR
• CL Masanori Murakami (BAL) - 0-1, 22 SV, 1.77 ERA, 35.2 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 1.5 WAR
• C Paul Casanova (WS2) - .277/.287/.566, 159 AB, 11 HR, 152 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
• C Bill Freehan (DET) - .258/.293/.360, 225 AB, 4 HR, 1 SB, 94 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
• C John Romano (KC1)* - .202/.286/.394, 193 AB, 10 HR, 104 wRC+, 1.1 WAR (Injured)
• 1B Norm Cash (DET)* - .295/.387/.559, 288 AB, 21 HR, 2 SB, 176 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
• 1B Harmon Killebrew (MIN) - .260/.394/.505, 281 AB, 20 HR, 163 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• 1B Don Mincher (KC1) - .300/.391/.563, 263 AB, 16 HR, 2 SB, 177 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• 2B Pete Rose (KC1)* - .307/.369/.428, 290 AB, 3 HR, 3 SB, 137 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
• 3B Clete Boyer (NYY)* - .277/.341/.476, 267 AB, 13 HR, 3 SB, 146 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• 3B Brooks Robinson (BAL)* - .283/.321/.478, 314 AB, 15 HR, 3 SB, 139 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• SS Rico Petrocelli (BOS) - .253/.326/.458, 277 AB, 14 HR, 124 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• LF Bob Allison (MIN) - .315/.431/.709, 127 AB, 14 HR, 1 SB, 237 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• LF Rick Reichardt (BOS)* - .258/.303/.457, 267 AB, 13 HR, 5 SB, 123 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
• LF Carl Yastrzemski (BOS)* - .259/.350/.440, 282 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 132 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• CF Mickey Mantle (NYY) - .257/.389/.654, 136 AB, 17 HR, 1 SB, 206 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• RF Al Kaline (DET)* - .279/.345/.490, 298 AB, 15 HR, 1 SB, 149 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• RF Rusty Staub (BAL) - .335/.397/.511, 284 AB, 8 HR, 1 SB, 168 wRC+, 2.8 WAR

National League

• SP Bob Gibson (STL) - 8-7, 3.52 ERA, 143.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 2.6 WAR
• SP Sandy Koufax (LAD)* - 13-3, 1.19 ERA, 151.0 IP, 0.78 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 5.3 WAR
• SP Jim Maloney (CIN) - 9-6, 2.34 ERA, 142.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 3.6 WAR
• SP Jim Merritt (NYM) - 6-6, 2.23 ERA, 145.0 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 3.7 WAR
• SP Don Sutton (LAD) - 9-4, 2.04 ERA, 150.1 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 2.7 WAR
• SP Don Wilson (HOU) - 9-5, 2.44 ERA, 136.2 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 3.7 WAR
• RP Mudcat Grant (PIT) - 3-1, 2.72 ERA, 49.2 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 4.2 K/9, 0.9 WAR
• RP Jose Santiago (LAD)* - 2-1, 4.98 ERA, 21.2 IP, 1.34 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, -0.1 WAR
• CL Bill Henry (CIN) - 5-3, 16 SV, 1.85 ERA, 39.0 IP, 0.92 WHIP, 3.9 K/9, 0.4 WAR
• CL Jay Ritchie (NYM) - 5-5, 12 SV, 3.00 ERA, 54.0 IP, 1.24 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 1.1 WAR
• C Tim McCarver (STL) - .293/.346/.422, 249 AB, 3 HR, 7 SB, 126 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
• C Joe Torre (ATL)* - .271/.337/.446, 240 AB, 11 HR, 135 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
• 1B Donn Clendenon (PIT) - .297/.364/.532, 310 AB, 17 HR, 5 SB, 166 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• 1B Willie McCovey (SF)* - .338/.424/.631, 225 AB, 17 HR, 4 SB, 214 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
• 2B Joe Morgan (CIN)* - .249/.416/.423, 265 AB, 7 HR, 8 SB, 149 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• 3B Dick Allen (PHI) - .295/.378/.555, 281 AB, 14 HR, 5 SB, 171 wRC+, 4.4 WAR
• 3B Jim Ray Hart (SF) - .318/.378/.557, 296 AB, 17 HR, 2 SB, 177 wRC+, 4.8 WAR
• 3B Ron Santo (CHC)* - .302/.397/.630, 281 AB, 23 HR, 1 SB, 202 wRC+, 5.4 WAR (Injured)
• SS Zoilo Versalles (LAD)* - .282/.330/.397, 252 AB, 3 HR, 7 SB, 107 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
• LF Curt Blefary (LAD) - .248/.391/.496, 262 AB, 17 HR, 161 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• LF Gates Brown (PHI) - .284/.345/.516, 275 AB, 15 HR, 2 SB, 151 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
• LF Rico Carty (CHC) - .314/.375/.488, 303 AB, 12 HR, 7 SB, 154 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• CF Willie Davis (LAD) - .325/.361/.488, 295 AB, 6 HR, 13 SB, 153 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• CF Tony Gonzalez (PHI) - .344/.407/.512, 291 AB, 7 HR, 3 SB, 176 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
• CF Billy Williams (CHC)* - .362/.406/.641, 287 AB, 18 HR, 1 SB, 208 wRC+, 5.2 WAR
• RF Roberto Clemente (PIT)* - .326/.362/.432, 301 AB, 6 HR, 2 SB, 127 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• RF Frank Robinson (CIN)* - .346/.416/.675, 246 AB, 23 HR, 2 SB, 216 wRC+, 3.8 WAR (Injured)

Yet again, the game canned the HR Derby.

Bill Freehan is named MVP as the AL wins the game 6-3.

[luckymann]

The lads are trying hard but this looms as another underwhelming season with us mid-standings going into August at 50-53.




I have a half-hearted look at some form of Deadline trade, but we ain't got much to hock and I'm not sure what we need so it passes without activity on our part.




We do have one too many starting OFs, but that is more an offseason job as we need to ensure we get good returns from any player(s) we offload. Pops is the latest to go for an IL stint in a season that has been tough on us in this regard.




It's on me, the parlous state of our staff right now, and it's definitely lesson learned for yours truly. Failure to take some mild intermittent pain means a serious ailment will come for you eventually, as it has for us last season and this with our pitching.




It certainly looks set to be an eventful stretch run, with the top two teams in each division clear to a degree but certainly not out of reach of the trailing pack. In no way can either race be declared "head-to-head" just yet.


News, Leaders and Top 20s











Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

• Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 264 / 12 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Joe Sparma (Athletics): 5-1 / 1.58 / 35 K / 45.2 IP
• Rookie – Jim Cosman (Athletics): 2-0 / 0.64 / 4 SV / 6 K / 14 IP

National League

• Batter – Frank Robinson (Reds): 319 / 9 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Maloney (Reds): 6-0 / 1.46 / 40 K / 49.1 IP
• Rookie – Jim Nash (Mets): 3-0 / 1.09 / 29 K / 41.1 IP

July

American League

• Batter – Al Kaline (Detroit): 307 / 15 HR / 29 RBI
• Pitcher – Tommy John (White Sox): 5-1 / 1.75 / 30 K / 51.1 IP
• Rookie – Ron Reed (Senators): 3-0 / 3.26 / 27 K / 30.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Billy Williams (Cubs): 374 / 9 HR / 27 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Merritt (Mets): 6-0 / 0.57 / 40 K / 47.2 IP
• Rookie – Don Sutton (Dodgers): 3-2 / 1.57 / 45 K / 46 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• Harmon Killebrew belts his 300th career home run.
• While Sandy Koufax has cooled just a tad, he is still on track for the NL pitching Triple Crown, while Cub Billy Williams is there or thereabouts on the hitting side of things.
• The Indians lose ace Sam McDowell for the season (the game tried to end his career (BTW, anyone else seeing way too much of this in v24? Especially with Storylines OFF, it’s gotten a bit out of hand) to a UCL tear.
• And finally, a number of Deadline trades of note:

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most Plate Appearances without Starting a Game

[luckymann]

This one is going to be touch and go, as Mickey Mantle becomes just the fifth player to reach 500 career home runs. IRL, he has what's left of this year plus the next two seasons to play. With no RATH and 3-year recalc, I reckon Mick makes it to like 1970 but the slide is fairly steep, ratings wise. So if he can get 50 more by end 1968 (he got 40 IRL in '67 and '68 combined) then he just might catch Gehrig's 571. But, like I said, it'll be a close-run thing. Same goes with both Mays and Aaron. This simply isn't a high-HR save and I think you'll find the final leader will be in the 600s rather than the 700s.

[luckymann]

Detroit's Bob Shaw gives us our first no-hitter of the 1966 season in a 2-0 win over the Red Sox.

Bob never had one IRL.

[luckymann]

Utica locks down its 3rd AAA title in four games over Ft. Worth.

[luckymann]

We keep our streak alive by racking up 87 losses to "top" last season's 86. Amazingly, we outdo our Pythag by 7. It is just the second time ever and the first since 1923 that we have finished 7th.

Meanwhile, the Twins end up doing it relatively easy, while the Giants can add another choke to their impressive list as they falter down the stretch yet again and the Dodgers take the NL by three games.




Batting titles to Pete Rose and Tony Gonzalez, with Ron Santo narrowly leading the league with 40 HR and Billy Williams' the only player to reach triple figures with 105 RBI.

Sandy Koufax misses the Triple Crown by 1 win to Gaylord Perry's 21, with his 1.86 ERA and 292 K the highest in either league. Masanori Murakami is the MLB saves leader for this year with 39, just one more than Hal Reniff.


And then there's the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club - read 'em and weep...









Look, we have been poor this year - I'll not argue that fact. But we have also been unlucky with injuries and sequencing and various other things - as so often tends to happen when you are playing poorly. We still have a strong core group at our disposal, and that gives us something to work with so all is not lost by any measure.

Clearly it is our pitching that needs most work, and yet if there is one stat that is, for mine, most emblematic of this season it is the 1.8 runs per game we scored in support of Bill Hands, and the 5-15 / 3.61 record it left him with. We just haven't delivered when we needed to, again a clear sign of a group low on confidence.

It goes without saying I have a busy offseason ahead of me. Likely the two or three to follow that one, as well. We are a bit of a mess and I have set myself the goal of having us back being competitive by the time me move to our new Three Rivers Stadium for the 1970 season.


Final Top 20s and Leaders







Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – Deron Johnson (Senators): 406 / 8 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Catfish Hunter (Athletics): 6-0 / 1.86 / 24 K / 48.1 IP
• Rookie – Dave Baldwin (Tigers): 1-0 / 1.26 / 6 SV / 5 K / 14.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Ron Santo (Cubs): 344 / 10 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Nash (Mets): 5-2 / 2.47 / 39 K / 54.2 IP
• Rookie – Jim Nash

September

American League

• Batter – Jose Cardenal (Angels): 368 / 6 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Mike Cuellar (Orioles): 5-0 / 1.54 / 38 K / 52.2 IP
• Rookie – Stan Bahnsen (Twins): 3-1 / 2.27 / 16 K / 31.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Rico Carty (Cubs): 400 / 3 HR / 11 RBI
• Pitcher – Larry Dierker (Astros): 4-1 / 1.90 / 30 K / 42.2 IP
• Rookie – Steve Blass (Pirates): 3-0 / 1.80 / 23 K / 40 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2000 Hits: Dick Groat
• There's no doubt the loss in early August of Giants OF Jim Ray Hart to a fractured finger is a key factor in how the NL race pans out.
• Senators rookie pitcher Pat Jarvis has his season curtailed by a bout of shoulder inflammation.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Another stunningly accurate season replication by this amazing game. These are the indicators I make this judgement by, more so than those on the Sim Accuracy report.




Bravo! to all concerned.

[luckymann]

Los Angeles Dodgers (96-66) v Minnesota Twins (92-70)
Best-of-seven, Dodgers with the home-field advantage.


LOS ANGELES DODGERS S+ PAGE

MINNESOTA TWINS S+ PAGE

For the second year in a row, it seems injuries will play a big part in the outcome of this series, with the Twins missing their gun DP combination of Cesar Tovar (ab tear) and Luis Aparicio (broken leg ), while the Dodgers are pretty much at full strength. A real shame, too, because this loomed as a fascinating matchup pitting the Twins big bats led by “Killer” Killebrew against Sandy K and the best staff in all of baseball.

I’d still have tipped LA without the injuries, but now I feel they’ll do it a fair bit easier and win this in five. The two combatants each ether this contest with 3 Championships and 7 Pennants to their name.