1973: Awards
The voters had two great hitting performances to choose from: Hawkes Bay 1B Pat Gardner and Wellington RF Alan Webb. Gardner, big on the home runs, the walks, and the strikeouts vs Webb, who hit more for contact (though home runs and walks weren't exactly uncommon)
Between the two of them they put up the two best seasons by OBP / SLG / OPS so far in the short history of the league so far. Webb, with the better slashline: .388/.502/.759 and 23 home runs with 54 RBIs and Gardner with some of the more eye popping counting stats: .308/.490/.719 with 33 home runs and 71 RBIs. That batting average by Webb, a full .0329 higher than the second best in history (Matthew Currier's .3550 in 1971).
To further Webb's claim: a 33 game hit streak that started last season and finally put to an end in the end of June. Ultimately though, Webb's poor defense at RF and 15 games missed in the season to injury got Webb a shot at the title.
Instead, the honours went to Pat Gardner. 33 home runs over the season was a full 7 dingers over anyone else. The 26 year old has been steadily improving in all four seasons of his career. The Moonshots have such faith in him that they started the season off by signing him up to a $571k/8yr extension to keep him in Moonshot colours until 1981. The biggest contract given out in Whittakers Peanut Slab Baseball to date.
Edward Sherry is not an imposing figure. 171cm / 78kg (5'7" / 172lbs) but when he steps on the mound he is certainly feared.The 28 year old has turned it on the last two seasons for the Wellington Bees as he backs up an impressive 1972 with an even better 1973.
Sherry kicked the season off with a no-hitter and never looked back. His no-hitter was about as close to a perfect game you can get with just one walk given up in the 5th, he immediately followed that up by inducing the double play in the next pitch so that he still faced the minimum 27 batters over just 102 pitches.
Sherry's most devastating pitch is the changeup which has allowed him to lead the league in strikeouts and WHIP for the the last two seasons in a row.
One week before being announced as Pitcher of the Year, Sherry signed a big $348k/6yr contract.
His main competition was his teammate Chris Fairbanks, and last season's Pitcher of the Year: Hawkes Bay's Scott Kennedy.
Rookie of the Year: LF Bobby Harmon (Southland Stags)
This is bound to go down as one of the best rookie seasons of all time. The 23 year old went .350/.433/.576 with 17 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases over all 80 games with the 29-51 Stags. So good, that he finished 3rd in MVP voting.
The scary thing is that most scouts don't even consider Harmon a finished product.
Harmon was the first overall pick in 1972 and was identified quickly as someone to fast track to the big time. He introduced himself strongly in just game three of the season when he went 5-5, got a stolen base and nailed an incredible double play when he caught the fly ball and then threw the speedy Otago CF Clyde King out at home who was trying to come home from third base.
This guy should be a pretty big deal. Let's see if he can shine on the Stags.
Reliever of the Year: Casey Ogilvie (Wellington Bees)
The fourth straight Reliever of the Year prize for Ogilvie in probably his worst season of work.
For one he gave up a home run. He went three years straight not giving up a single home run. His very first batter of the season (Canterbury C Charlie Milligan), narrowly edged the ball over the wall in the top of the 11th. The Bees will go on to win the game in the bottom of the 12th but Ogilvie was furious.
His 1.32 ERA was his worst ever (though he had 1.31 in 1970), his K/9 remained strong but his BB/9 (his only weakness) creeped up over the previous seasons. Only 7 earned runs over the year though. So don't think anyone in Wellington was complaining.
Initially he signed a one year deal but quickly signed a three year extension soon after so he'll be in Bee colours for a while longer.
Cheese Roll Award for Best Hitters by Position
P Konrad Zaiter (Waikato Morepork)
C Bert Cameron (Bay of Plenty Steam)
1B Pat Gardner (Hawkes Bay Moonshots) *
2B Ray Dickerson (Otago Penguins) **
3B Alexander Gibbs (Bay of Plenty Steam)
SS Toby Teague (Bay of Plenty Steam)
LF Bobby Harmon (Southland Stags)
CF Clyde King (Otago Penguins)
RF Alan Webb (Wellington Bees)
Mince Pie Award for Best Defense by Position
P Derril Buzzo (Southland Stags)
C Brian Graley
1B Eddie Hallet (Waikato Morepork) *
2B Jay Hall (Wellington Bees)
3B Damien Cowling (Wellington Bees) *
SS Toby Teague (Bay of Plenty Steam) *
LF Rhys Morley (Auckland Sharks)
CF Marcus Thompson (Taranaki Thunder)
RF Kieron Matthias (Auckland Sharks) *
Mince & Cheese Pie Award for Best Overall Defense: Toby Teague (Bay of Plenty Steam) *
Batting Champion: Alan Webb (Wellington Bees) .388
Home Run Champion: Pat Gardner (Hawkes Bay Moonshots) 33
RBI Champion: Rhys Howarth (Auckland Sharks) 73
Stolen Base Champion: Clyde King (Otago Penguins) 37
OPS+ Leader: Alan Webb (Wellington Bees) 237
ERA Crown: George Furlong (Manawatu Vikings) 1.85
Wins Champion: Scott Kennedy (Hawkes Bay), Edward Sherry (Wellington) 15
Saves Champion: Casey Ogilvie (Wellington Bees) 16
Strikeout King: Edward Sherry (Wellington), Chris Fairbanks (Wellington) 158
WHIP Leader: Edward Sherry (Wellington Bees) 0.87
FIP Leader: Scott Kennedy (Hawkes Bay Moonshots) 2.33
10/10 Club (10 Home Runs & 10 Stolen Bases)
SS Toby Teague (Bay of Plenty Steam) 10 HR / 22 SB
LF Bobby Harmon (Southland Stags) 17 HR / 13 SB