It will be quite awhile before we know how the West was won.
Just two months into the 1970 season, the National League West features the tightest pennant race of all.
Four teams are within a game and a half of each other. Los Angeles (Marcus F.) and Houston (Dan V.) are tied for first place with identical 29-21 records. Atlanta (Mike F.) is just one game back, while Cincinnati (Tim L.) stands 1.5 games out.
Meanwhile, the National League East features the Pittsburgh Pirates (Paul F.) sporting the Senior Circuit's top record at 33-17.
In the American League, the Oakland A's (Bob B.) boast the best record in baseball at 35-16. Baltimore (Dan V.) leads the East at 34-16.
Diamond Notes: Atlanta slugger
Hank Aaron won the May NL Player of the Month Award while Kansas City outfielder
Lou Piniella took the AL honors . . . Pittsburgh's
Dock Ellis (pictured below) was the NL selection for Pitcher of the Month . . . The AL chose Oakland's
Vida Blue . . . Braves' knuckle-ball artist
Phil Niekro pitched 7.1 innings of no-hit ball before
Jose Cruz of the Cardinals singled. Niekro wound up with a one-hit, seven-strikeout performance . . .
Steve Carlton of St. Louis and
Joe Coleman of Washington each twirled two-hitters. Coleman struck out a Joy in Mudville-high 15 Brewers in a 5-0 Washington victory . . .
Luis Aparicio (White Sox),
Lou Piniella (Royals),
Art Shamsky (Mets) and
Bernie Allen (Senators) all had five-hit games during the month . . . Add
Jim Northrup to the Tigers' disabled list. The center fielder sprained his hamstring and will miss at least four weeks . . . It looks like Boston will finally get left-hander
Bill Lee off the DL in the coming days. Lee has yet to throw a pitch for the Red Sox this season . . .
The inaugural amateur draft is June 15. A list of all eligible draftees is posted later in this thread. GM/managers: Check the email that was sent out for further instructions.
Major League 1970 06-01-1970
Standings Report | |