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07/31/1961
Checking in on the 1961 season as I sit this one out waiting for the Mets, the Orioles and Braves are leading the league, while the Reds sit in second 5 1/2 games out. I can't help but notice my former first baseman Gus Triandos hitting .345 with 31 home runs, or Roberto Clemente leading the AL with a .359 batting average. It's pretty amazing that the expansion Angels traded a 26 year old hitting .361 at the time to the Royals in exchange for a reliever, Dolan Nichols, who was 6-7 with a 4.71 ERA, at the age of 31.
I keep wondering what the AI is missing about Clemente, who is hitting .311 for his career with 79 home runs, and is decent defensively. Surely he's more valuable than a middle reliever that isn't even pitching well.
But Clemente will join Hank Aaron in Kansas City, who had a 20 game hitting streak this year and is hitting .307 with 14 home runs.
George Kell of the Red Sox picked up career hit number 2500, while Eddie Yost of the Twins got his 2000th hit.
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