The Keystone League: one more time

[Big Six]

With the baseball season once more among us, I got the urge for some OOTP, and some OOTP dynasty writing, too.

If you've been a forum member for a while, you might remember my Keystone League story. It was based on a 12-team fictional league with teams in small Pennsylvania cities, and I had a lot of fun with it a few years back.

I had some problems when I tried to move it from one version of OOTP to another (I forget which transition jacked it up), so I set it aside. I started to revive it once...I think it was last year...but I messed around with the settings and created some screwy stats.

Well, I've decided to bring the Keystone League back one more time. Since I have a cool league logo that says "EST. 1960," I'll start the league in that year once again. This time, I'll play 10-15 seasons to make sure I have the settings like I want them, and then I'll pick up the story in depth. I'll post short summaries of each season, beginning in 1960, so you'll have some historical perspective.

The Keystone League is divided into two divisions. The Mathewson Division and the Wagner Division are each named for baseball legends who were born in Pennsylvania. Since Matty was from Factoryville, in northeastern Pennsylvania, and Honus was born and played in the Pittsburgh area, Mathewson Division teams tend to be from the eastern part of PA, and Wagner Division clubs from the western part.

Each division has six teams, and each team has an affiliate in a developmental league. Here are the teams and their affiliates:

MATHEWSON DIVISION           AFFILIATE
Bethlehem Steelers           Easton Bulldogs
Lancaster Red Roses          Ephrata Blues
Lewisburg Profs              Danville Stars
Pottsville Brewers           Hazleton Hawks
Reading Coal Heavers         Lebanon Cedars
York White Roses             Hanover Knights

WAGNER DIVISION              AFFILIATE
Altoona Mountaineers         Huntingdon Hornets
Gettysburg Cannons	     Chambersburg Pioneers
Johnstown Johnnies           Somerset Golden Eagles
State College Hillclimbers   Bellefonte Bobcats
Washington Generals          Waynesburg White Sox
Williamsport Millionaires    Lock Haven Lions

I'm working on a couple of ideas that would add some interactive possibilities for you, our faithful readers. I'll post more about them when I get them worked out.

I hope we'll all enjoy following the teams and players of the Keystone League once more.

P.S. I'm still planning to continue my "What Might Have Been" thread, too.

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Reading         96  64  .600  --       
Pottsville      94  66  .588   2
York            86  74  .537  10
Bethlehem       76  84  .475  20
Lewisburg       75  85  .469  21
Lancaster       74  86  .463  22

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB
Washington      95  65  .594  --
State College   92  68  .575   3
Altoona         73  87  .456  22
Gettysburg      69  91  .431  26
Williamsport    69  91  .431  26
Johnstown       61  99  .381  34

The inaugural season of the Keystone League featured a tight pennant race in each division. The Reading Coal Heavers and the Washington Generals outlasted their competition to earn berths in the first Governors' Cup Series, which the Mathewson Division champion Coal Heavers won in six games.

Outstanding Batter Award: Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading Coal Heavers.
Dave led the league with a .373 average and drew an incredible 152 walks, giving him an OBP of .531. He hit 11 home runs, drove in 81 runs, stole 79 bases, and scored 131 runs.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: Jeremiah "Sparky" Lindsey, RHP, State College Hillclimbers.
Sparky went 17-6 for the Wagner Division runners-up, striking out 224 batters while walking only 44. His sparkling 1.70 ERA and 0.99 WHIP were best in the league.

Rookie of the Year: Tom Shirley, C, Johnstown Johnnies.
Tom, a 22-year-old out of Mobile, Alabama, smacked 28 homers, drove in 88 runs, batted .250, and made the All-Star team in his debut season.

Top Ten Players:
1. Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading
2. Chris Turner, 2B, York (.270-30-101)
3. Ernesto Naut, RF, State College (.284-30-102)
4. Michael Simpson, 3B, State College (.273-25-92)
5. Jay McCarley, 3B, Lewisburg (.290-30-102)
6. Marcos Cabanas, 3B, Washington (.322-21-92)
7. DeWitt Cameron, LF, Washington (.300-3-18; injured rib cage muscle on April 21 and missed rest of season)
8. Lyle Butler, LF, Reading (.283-28-143)
9. Jose Murillo, RF, Altoona (.280-25-111)
10. Benedict Parker, C, Johnstown (.280-12-65)

Top Ten Pitchers:
1. Jeremiah Lindsey, State College
2. Stanley Edmonds, York (9-8, 2.82, 14 saves, 112 K/120 IP)
3. Buddy Bentley, Pottsville (13-13, 3.38, 213 K/221 IP)
4. Dave Gray, Gettysburg (12-19, 2.98, 277 K/263 IP)
5. Joe Andrews, Altoona (16-13, 3.10, 195 K/258 IP)
6. Mark Rogers, Pottsville (18-7, 3.49)
7. John O'Reilly, Washington (17-13, 2.97)
8. James Reece, Bethlehem (21-9, 2.43)
9. Reginald Hodges, Williamsport (11-20, 3.40, 209 K/272 IP)
10. Edward Davidson, Williamsport (16-11, 2.89, 169 K/195 IP)

Top Five Prospects:
1. Andy Henderson, 22, CF, Bethlehem
2. Chris Blackett, 18, CF, Williamsport
3. Vincent Croteau, 21, C, Williamsport
4. Bobby West, 21, C, York
5. John O'Connor, 18, C, Bethlehem

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Pottsville      94  55  .588  --
Reading         88  72  .550   6
Lewisburg       84  76  .525  10
York            77  83  .481  17
Lancaster       71  89  .444  23
Bethlehem       58 102  .362  36

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB
Washington      93  67  .581  --
State College   89  71  .556   4
Gettysburg      81  79  .506  12
Altoona         79  81  .494  14
Johnstown       78  82  .487  15
Williamsport    68  82  .425  25

For the second straight year, the Washington Generals edged the State College Mountaineers for the Wagner Division championship, only to lose the Governor's Cup to the Mathewson Division winner. This time the Generals' nemesis was the Pottsville Brewers, who won the Cup in seven games.

Outstanding Batter Award: Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading Coal Heavers.
Kennedy took home his second straight OBA prize, hitting .351 and drawing 154 walks, good for a .510 OBP. He also scored 129 times, hit nine homers, drove in 74 runs, and stole 94 bases.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: Buddy "Cheese" Bentley, RHP, Pottsville Brewers.
Buddy's sterling 22-2 record and 1.65 ERA, along with 222 strikeouts in 234 innings, earned him a pitching Triple Crown and the MOP award.

Rookie of the Year: Robert Logan, P, Gettysburg Cannons.
Robert, 23, went 15-13 with a 3.39 ERA.

Top Ten Players:
1. Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading
2. Ernesto Naut, LF, State College (.335-32-117)
3. Chris Turner, 1B, York (.288-25-97)
4. Michael Simpson, 3B, State College (.286-31-102)
5. DeWitt Cameron, LF, Washington (.304-19-84)
6. Pat Lowry, SS, Washington (.371-10-62)
7. Andy Henderson, CF, Bethlehem (.288-26-104)
8. Jose Murillo, RF, Altoona (.333-33-110)
9. Jay McCarley, 3B, Lewisburg (.343-20-102)
10. Lyle Butler, LF, Reading (.310-30-153)

Top Ten Pitchers:
1. Stanley Edmonds, York (11-13, 3.12, 194 K/219 IP)
2. Buddy Bentley, Pottsville
3. Jeremiah Lindsey, State College (17-8, 2.43, 200 K/244 IP)
4. Joe Andrews, Altoona (13-18, 3.43, 173 K/243 IP)
5. Dave Gray, Gettysburg (15-12, 3.53, 207 K/226 IP)
6. James Reece, Bethlehem (10-14, 3.26)
7. Mark Rogers, Pottsville (15-10, 3.12, 176 K/193 IP)
8. Paul Miller, Bethlehem (11-18, 3.65, 193 K/236 IP)
9. John O'Reilly, Washington (19-10, 2.70)
10. Jonathan Doyle, Washington (19-8, 2.83, 219 K/261 IP)

Top Five Prospects:
1. Chris Blackett, 19, CF, Williamsport
2. Henry McGregor, 17, 2B, Williamsport
3. Freddie Herring, 19, P, Johnstown
4. Mike Wilson, 18, P, Gettysburg
5. John O'Connor, 19, C, Bethlehem

[NYY #23]

Good to see you back. I'll definitely be following along, and looking forward to this since I'm living in PA now.

I'll be rooting for Lancaster, who look like they could use all the help they can get!

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Pottsville      97  63  .606  --
Lancaster       91  69  .569   6
Lewisburg       91  69  .569   6
Reading         90  70  .563   7
Bethlehem       75  85  .469  22
York            69  91  .431  28

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB
Washington     100  60  .625  --
Altoona         80  80  .500  20
Williamsport    74  86  .463  26
State College   73  87  .456  27
Johnstown       62  98  .388  38
Gettysburg      58 102  .362  42

The third time was the charm for the Washington Generals. They became the first Keystone League team to win 100 games and captured the Wagner Division crown once again. The Generals faced the Mathewson Division champion Pottsville Brewers in a rematch of the '62 Governor's Cup Series. The Brewers had to fight off a pack of three strong contenders, while the Generals' closest competitor finished 20 games back.

This time, the Generals were victorious, beating the Brewers in five games.

Outstanding Batter Award: Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading Coal Heavers
Another typical Kennedy season: .347/.485/.525, 137 BB, 125 R, 45 doubles, nine homers, 102 steals. Slugging Altoona outfielder Jose Murillo gave Kennedy a real run for his money this time. This is Dave's third straight OBA award, and he's only 25 years old.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: Jonathan Doyle, RHP, Washington Generals
Jonathan went 18-8 for the Governor's Cup champions, posting a 2.43 ERA and leading the league with 264 strikeouts in 268 IP.

Rookie of the Yeear: Mike Hines, 1B, York White Roses
Mike, 23, hit a solid .322 with 15 homers, 76 RBI, and a .527 slugging percentage. He was named the Oustanding Batter in the Keystone Developmental League in 1960.


Top Ten Players:
1. Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading
2. Andy Henderson, CF, Bethlehem (.333-23-73)
3. Chris Turner, 2B, York (.285-29-94)
4. Michael Simpson, 3B, State College (.288-20-89)
5. Ernesto Naut, LF, State College (.306-23-89)
6. Jose Murillo, RF, Altoona (.350-41-134)
7. DeWitt Cameron, LF, Washington (.273-24-92)
8. Carl Tatum, CF, Pottsville (.323-4-75)
9. Vincent Croteau, C, Williamsport (.293-23-83)
10. Jay McCarley, 3B, Lewisburg (.326-13-71)

Top Ten Pitchers:
1. Stanley Edmonds, York (13-11, 3.18, 203 K/232 IP)
2. Buddy Bentley, Pottsville (11-7, 3.15, 134 K/157 IP)
3. Jeremiah Lindsey, State College (14-10, 2.20, 168 K/221 IP)
4. Dave Gray, Gettysburg (14-13, 3.84, 221 K/224 IP)
5. Paul Miller, Bethlehem (16-14, 2.70, 202 K/243 IP)
6. Mark Rogers, Pottsville (19-6, 3.03, 184 K/219 IP)
7. John O'Reilly, Washington (18-11, 2.71)
8. James Reece, Bethlehem (15-12, 3.68)
9. Joe Andrews, Altoona (10-15, 3.93)
10. Jonathan Doyle, Washington (!!)

Top Five Prospects:
1. Chris Blackett, 20, CF, Williamsport
2. John O'Connor, 20, C, Bethlehem
3. Mike Wilson, 19, P, Gettysburg
4. Freddie Herring, 20, P, Johnstown
5. Leon Garcia, 18, P, Bethlehem

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Good to see you back. I'll definitely be following along, and looking forward to this since I'm living in PA now.

I'll be rooting for Lancaster, who look like they could use all the help they can get!

The Red Roses won 20 more games in 1962 than they had in '61. It's amazing what some fan support can do for a ballclub, isn't it?

Lancaster 1B Tom Brooks

Lancaster's best player is Tom Brooks, a husky, hard-hitting first baseman who hit .330-20-97 in 1962 and has driven in at least 93 runs in each of the last three years. Exciting young 2B Antonio Martinez hit .302 at age 23 and drove in 71 runs in 109 games.

Enrique Jaramillo went 12-10 with a 2.70 ERA as a 21-year-old rookie, but he has already suffered two torn back muscles in his young career. Hopefully he'll be able to recover fully and live up to his considerable potential.
Kevin Stewart went 14-10 in 1962, but he's walked more batters than he's struck out in each of the past three years.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Big Six

The Red Roses won 20 more games in 1962 than they had in '61. It's amazing what some fan support can do for a ballclub, isn't it?

Lancaster 1B Tom Brooks

Lancaster's best player is Tom Brooks, a husky, hard-hitting first baseman who hit .330-20-97 in 1962 and has driven in at least 93 runs in each of the last three years. Exciting young 2B Antonio Martinez hit .302 at age 23 and drove in 71 runs in 109 games.

Enrique Jaramillo went 12-10 with a 2.70 ERA as a 21-year-old rookie, but he has already suffered two torn back muscles in his young career. Hopefully he'll be able to recover fully and live up to his considerable potential.
Kevin Stewart went 14-10 in 1962, but he's walked more batters than he's struck out in each of the past three years.

I feel like such a good luck charm. 1963 is our year!

[ryanivr]

I live in State College, so I think you know who I'll be rooting for!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by ryanivr

I live in State College, so I think you know who I'll be rooting for!

Unfortunately, the Hillclimbers look like they're sliding downhill, rather than working their way toward the playoffs.

Sparky Lindsey, veteran ace of the State College staff

The team's biggest star is ace righthander Jeremiah "Sparky" Lindsey, who has pitched to a 2.10 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over his first three seasons in the league, and has a 48-24 record. Unfortunately, Sparky is 36 years old, and there's a big, big gap between him and the rest of the staff.

Outfielder Ernesto Naut and 3B Michael Simpson are both complete hitters who get on base frequently and hit for power but, like Lindsey, are both over 30. Simpson, at 34, could be beginning to decline before long.

The Climbers' farm system ranks sixth in the league, and the team needs some good young arms. If they materialize before Father Time overcomes Lindsey, Naut, and Simpson, State College fans could be cheering on a contender once again.

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Reading         98  62  .613  --
Pottsville      92  68  .575   6
Bethlehem       86  74  .537  12
York            77  83  .481  21
Lancaster       71  89  .444  27
Lewisburg       68  92  .425  30

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB
State College  102  58  .637  --
Washington      85  75  .531  17
Williamsport    78  82  .487  24
Altoona         74  86  .463  28
Johnstown       68  92  .425  34
Gettysburg      61  99  .381  41

From out of nowhere, the State College Hillclimbers roared in and grabbed the Wagner Division pennant out of the Washington Generals' firm grasp. Winners of a new league record 102 games, the Climbers faced the Reading Coal Heavers in the Governor's Cup Series. The Coal Heavers, who won the first Series in 1960, defeated the Hillclimbers, 4 games to 1.

Outstanding Batter Award: Ernesto Naut, LF, State College Hillclimbers
Ernesto locked in his power stroke, hitting .358/.427/.672 with 45 doubles, 46 home runs, and 128 RBI. His home run total set a new league record, as did his SLG, his OPS, and his 409 total bases.

Naut beat out Reading's dynamic duo of Dave Kennedy (157 BB, .518 OBP, 100 SB) and Lyle Butler, who set a new RBI record, as well as his own teammate, CF Anastasio Ramirez, who won the batting title (.365).

Outstanding Pitcher Award: Buddy Bentley, RHP, Pottsville Brewers
Buddy won his second OPA, on the strength of an 18-6 record, a 1.95 ERA, and 210 strikeouts in 239 IP.

Rookie of the Year: Juan Machado, LF, Lancaster Red Roses
Juan, 22, batted .332 with 216 hits, 45 doubles, and 60 steals in his 1963 debut. He was the Red Roses #1 pick in the 1960 draft, and the fifth overall selection.

Top Ten Players:
1. Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading (.358-14-96)
2. Ernesto Naut, LF, State College
3. Andy Henderson, RF, Bethlehem (.308-10-47, 78 games)
4. Michael Simpson, SS, State College (.282-32-109)
5. Lyle Butler, LF, Reading (.341-30-155)
6. Carl Tatum, CF, Pottsville (.329-7-76)
7. Chris Turner, 2B, York (.285-17-78)
8. Vincent Croteau, C, Williamsport (.279-24-107)
9. Tanner Burns, 1B, Altoona (.352-18-95)
10. DeWitt Cameron, LF, Washington (.257-20-106)

Top Ten Pitchers:
1. Buddy Bentley, Pottsville
2. Stanley Edmonds, York (14-10, 2.50, 207 K/238 IP)
3. Troy Patterson, Johnstown (12-9, 2.76, 256 K/237 IP)
4. Paul Miller, Bethlehem (14-15, 2.78)
5. Dave Gray, Gettysburg (12-15, 3.64, 222 K/234 IP)
6. Mark Rogers, Pottsville (17-7, 2.95)
7. Jeremiah Lindsey, State College (16-9, 2.99)
8. John O'Reilly, Washington (15-9, 3.02)
9. John Griffin, State College (19-8, 3.16)
10. Alex Montoya, Gettysburg (11-18, 4.05, 191 K/240 IP)

Top Prospects:
1. Chris Blackett, 21, LF, Williamsport
2. Millard Skinner, 18, P, Gettysburg
3. Dennis Horne, 22, 3B, Lancaster
4. Kenny Smith, 22, P, Reading
5. John O'Connor, 21, C, Bethlehem

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Lewisburg       94  66  .588  --
Bethlehem       93  67  .581   1
Lancaster       87  73  .544   7
Reading         83  77  .519  11
York            78  82  .487  16
Pottsville      64  96  .400  30

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB
Washington      97  63  .606  --
State College   80  80  .500  17
Williamsport    76  84  .475  21
Johnstown       73  87  .456  24
Altoona         69  91  .431  28 
Gettysburg      66  94  .412  31

This year, fans of the Mathewson Division were treated to a great three-team pennant race for much of the summer. Lancaster fell of the pace in early September, but Bethlehem and Lewisburg dueled to the wire before the Profs completed a worst-to-first run.

Washington returned to its customary perch atop the Wagner Division standings, cruising to an easy win over State College.

Lewisburg put the finishing touches on its magical season with a 4-1 Governor's Cup Series win over the Generals.

Outstanding Batter Award: Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading
After a one-year hiatus, Dave captured his fourth OBA prize on the strength of a .332/.490/.518 line, 38 doubles, 11 triples, 12 homers, 82 RBI, 114 runs scored, and 104 steals.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: Paul Miller, RHP, Bethlehem
Paul's 95 MPH fastball propelled him to a 20-9 record, a 2.65 ERA, and 228 strikeouts in 241 innings.

Rookie of the Year: Mike Walker, P, Lewisburg
The Governor's Cup champions got a 14-8 record and a 3.41 ERA out of this 26-year-old righthander. The #4 overall pick in the 1960 rookie draft, Mike was the Keystone Developmental League's Outstanding Pitcher in '63, when he went 20-5, 2.05 for Danville.

Top Ten Players:
1. Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading
2. Andy Henderson, RF, Bethlehem (.320-30-96)
3. Michael Simpson, SS, State College (.287-20-114)
4. Ernesto Naut, LF, State College (.311-15-89)
5. Chris Turner, 1B, York (.274-20-63)
6. Jose Murillo, RF, Altoona (.297-19-62, 78 games)
7. Lyle Butler, CF, Reading (.308-28-134)
8. Antonio Martinez, 2B, State College (.332-7-87)
9. Vincent Croteau, C, Williamsport (.277-18-76)
10. Tanner Burns, 1B, Altoona (.352-11-79)

Top Ten Pitchers:
1. Buddy Bentley, Pottsville (11-12, 3.47, 216 K/218 IP)
2. Stanley Edmonds, York (12-11, 2.72, 188 K/218 IP)
3. Troy Patterson, Johnstown (16-8, 2.27, 201 K/174 IP)
4. Paul Miller, Bethlehem
5. Mark Rogers, Pottsville (11-12, 4.30)
6. Mike Wilson, Gettysburg (5-9, 3.41, 97 K/126 IP)
7. John O'Reilly, Washington (16-10, 3.09)
8. Dave Gray, Gettysburg (14-12, 3.34, 194 K/253 IP)
9. Denny Williams, Lewisburg (15-12, 2.86)
10. Alex Montoya, Gettysburg (10-8, 3.01, 131 K/149 IP)

Top Five Prospects:
1. Danny Henry, 19, CF, Gettysburg
2. Dennis Horne, 23, 3B, Lancaster
3. Millard Skinner, 19, P, Gettysburg
4. Wilton Adams, 19, SS, Lancaster
5. Brit Calvert, 20, C. Johnstown

[Big Six]

Let's look at the five-year standings now. P = division pennants won; C = Governor's Cup Series won.

MATHEWSON        W    L    PCT  P  C
Reading         455  345  .569  2  2         
Pottsville      441  359  .551  2  1
Lewisburg       412  388  .515  1  1
Lancaster       394  406  .492  0  0
Bethlehem       388  412  .485  0  0
York            387  413  .484  0  0

The Mathewson Division champion has won four of the five Governor's Cups, divided between the top three teams. All six of the division's teams have usually been competitive, however.

WAGNER           W    L    PCT  P  C
Washington      470  330  .588  4  1
State College   436  364  .545  1  0
Altoona         375  425  .469  0  0
Williamsport    365  435  .456  0  0
Johnstown       342  458  .427  0  0
Gettysburg      335  465  .419  0  0

The Washington Generals have consistently dominated the Wagner Division, but they've only won the Series once. Look how many Wagner teams are 25 or more games below .500..

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON       W   L    PCT  GB     
Lancaster       90  70  .563  --
Lewisburg       89  71  .556   1
York            85  75  .531   5
Bethlehem       82  78  .512   8
Reading         82  78  .512   8
Pottsville      76  84  .475  14

WAGNER         W   L    PCT   GB
Washington     93  67  .581   --
State College  80  80  .500   13 
Williamsport   79  81  .494   14
Altoona        77  83  .481   16
Johnstown      67  93  .419   26
Gettysburg     60 100  .375   33

Once again, the Mathewson Division race went down to the wire, as the lead changed hands five times in the final two weeks of the season. When Lancaster beat Pottsville and Lewisburg lost to Reading on the last day of the regular season, the Red Roses clinched their first division title ever.

The Wagner Division was, once again, a cakewalk for the Washington Generals. State College finished right at .500 for the second straight year, which was good for second place again.

For all their regular season success, however, the Generals just can't get it done in the Governor's Cup Series. They won the first two games of the series, and were up 3-1, but the Red Roses won Games Five, Six, and Seven and took the Cup back to Lancaster.

Outstanding Batter Award: Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading
Dave gave Reading fans a great story to follow as he pursued a .400 average into the season's final weeks. On September 1, his average stood at .410, but a .286 September dropped his final mark to .395. Still, it's the best single season average in KL history, and his 170 walks and .562 OBP also establish new standards. Oh, he also stole 104 bases--his fourth straight year in triple digits.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: Jonathan Doyle, RHP, Washington
Jonathan, who also won the OPA in '62, spun a 20-12 record, a 2.88 ERA, and 247 strikeouts in 268 innings. With 93 wins, he's the second winningest pitcher in KL history, trailing only his teammate John O'Connor, who has exactly 100 career wins.

Top Ten Players:
1. Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading (.395-8-91)
2. Vincent Croteau, C, Williamsport (.268-22-86)
3. Andy Henderson, RF, Bethlehem (.340-27-94)
4. Ernesto Naut, LF, State College (.319-31-97)
5. DeWitt Cameron, LF, Washington (.303-22-102)
6. Chris Turner, 1B, York (.259-29-108)
7. Carl Tatum, CF, Pottsville (.281-5-69)
8. Chris Blackett, LF, Williamsport (.274-15-78)
9. Tanner Burns, 1B, Altoona (.344-20-84)
10. Jose Murillo, RF, Altoona (.295-32-103)

Top Ten Pitchers:
1. Troy Patterson, Johnstown (8-9, 2.54, 170 K/166 IP)
2. Stanley Edmonds, York (15-8, 2.43, 194 K/244 IP)
3. Buddy Bentley, Pottsville (13-8, 2.55, 192 K/215 IP)
4. Paul Miller, Bethlehem (15-12, 2.54, 206 K/255 IP)
5. Mark Rogers, Pottsville (7-13, 3.85, 178 K/231 IP)
6. Denny Williams, Lewisburg (14-11, 2.62)
7. John Griffin, State College (15-9, 3.89)
8. Alex Montoya, Gettysburg (9-15, 3.80, 202 K/232 IP)
9. John Campbell, Williamsport (16-10, 3.01, 215 K/232 IP)
10. Mike Wilson, Gettysburg (8-18, 3.79)

Top Ten Prospects:
1. Roger Collins, 21, RF, Pottsville
2. Michael Gilbert, 19, 1B, Gettysburg
3. Millard Skinner, 20, P, Gettysburg
4. Brit Calvert, 21, C, Johnstown
5. Danny Henry, 20, CF, Gettysburg

[Jestor]

The Cannons sure aren't what they were in the first version of the Keystone League.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Jestor

The Cannons sure aren't what they were in the first version of the Keystone League.

These Cannons haven't found an ace pitcher like Clarence Flippen or Bobby Fite, for one thing.

They do have the league's best developmental system, the result of accumulating lots of early draft picks.

1B Michael Gilbert was the #2 overall pick in the 1965 draft. He's a tremendous hitting prospect who could one day be a batting champion, a home run king, or both.

The Cannons chose CF Danny Henry first overall in 1964, and he made his Cannons debut in '65. He's a classic leadoff man with good on-base skills, a touch of gap power, and lighting speed; he hit .274 and stole 63 bases as a 20-year-old rookie.

Millard Skinner, the #1 overall pick in '63, is the league's top pitching prospect. Like many young hurlers, he struggles with his control, but once he clears this hurdle he'll be off and running. Millard features a 93 MPH fastball, and he should develop outstanding command.

Things could, therefore, be looking up for the Cannons.

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Lancaster       99  61  .619  --
York            93  67  .581   6
Bethlehem       89  71  .556  10
Pottsville      85  75  .531  14
Lewisburg       80  80  .500  19
Reading         77  83  .481  22 

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB
Johnstown       85  75  .531  --
Altoona         78  82  .487   7
Washington      76  84  .475   9
Williamsport    71  89  .444  14
State College   68  82  .425  17
Gettysburg      59 101  .369  26

The Johnstown Johnnies and Pottsville Brewers each finished the 1966 season with 85 wins and 75 losses. That level of performance earned the Brewers fourth place in the Mathewson Division. It was good for a Wagner Division pennant for the Johnnies.

Johnstown earned its first trip to the Governor's Cup Series by outlasting Altoona and Washington, both of whom faded down the stretch. The defending Governor's Cup champ, the Lancaster Red Roses, had their hands full getting back to the Series, finally shaking loose their archrivals, the York White Roses.

Johnstown became only the second Wagner Division team to win the Series when they beat Lancaster, four games to three.

Outstanding Batter Award: Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading Coal Heavers
Stop me if you think you've heard this one before. Dave has proven it's possible to be a true offensive force without hitting home runs. His .337 average was 18 points below his career mark, but he led the league in walks (140) and OBP (.484) for the seventh consecutive year. Put it together, and it's good for DK's sixth OBA in seven years.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: Paul Miller, RHP, Bethlehem Steelers
The Steelers' first pick in the 1960 inaugural draft, Paul has done nothing to make his team regret their choice. This year was his finest yet: 19-10, 2.26 ERA, and 211 strikeouts in 267 innings.

Rookie of the Year: Jake King, 1B, Williamsport Millionaires
1966 wasn't a great year for freshmen, and King, 23, slammed 13 homers and drove in 74 runs to take the prize. He hit only .243, however, and actually ended the season with a VORP of -2.9.

Top Ten Players:
1. Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading (.337-12-84)
2. Chris Blackett, LF, Williamsport (.292-27-95)
3. Vincent Croteau, C, Williamsport (.281-20-92)
4. Andy Henderson, RF, Bethlehem (.324-30-107)
5. Chris Turner, 1B, York (.290-29-131)
6. Tanner Burns, 1B, Altoona (.366-14-94)
7. Carl Tatum, CF, Lewisburg (.293-6-78)
8. Dennis Horne, SS, Lancaster (.289-10-77)
9. Bob Sanders, 3B, Lancaster (.325-23-131)
10. Jose Murillo, RF, Altoona (.283-33-117)

Top Ten Pitchers:
1. Stanley Edmonds, York (14-9, 2.05, 217 K/214 IP)
2. Buddy Bentley, Pottsville (17-6, 3.17, 185 K/204 IP)
3. Troy Patterson, Johnstown (17-9, 2.18, 250 K/235 IP)
4. Paul Miller, Bethlehem
5. John Campbell, Williamsport (18-9, 3.17, 202 K/249 IP)
6. Denny Williams, Lewisburg (13-13, 4.03)
7. John Griffin, State College (15-19, 4.20)
8. Alex Montoya, Gettysburg (13-16, 4.24, 200 K/237 IP)
9. Jonathan Doyle, Washington (17-10, 3.24, 219 K/236 IP)
10. Myron Cain, York (16-10, 3.48)

Top Five Prospects:
1. Roger Collins, 22, RF, Pottsville
2. Wilton Adams, 21, 3B, Lancaster
3. Jack Sawyer, 18, 2B, Altoona
4. Brit Calvert, 22, C. Johnstown
5. Mike Lacy, 18, RF, Williamsport

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Bethlehem       98  62  .613  --
Lancaster       90  70  .563   8
Pottsville      80  80  .500  16
Reading         78  82  .487  20
York            73  97  .456  25
Lewisburg       72  88  .450  26

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB
Williamsport    89  71  .556  --
Johnstown       85  75  .531   4
State College   83  77  .519   6
Gettysburg      73  87  .456  16
Altoona         71  89  .444  18
Washington      68  92  .425  21

Another new king was crowned in the Wagner Division this year, as the Williamsport Millionaires took the lead in late May and held it the rest of the way. For most of the season, the Millionaires held a lead of at least eight games; Johnstown's late surge made the race seem closer than it actually was.

The Bethlehem Steelers lalso enjoyed their finest season to date, and earned their first trip to the postseason by easily holding off Lancaster. Then, in a terrific seven-game Series, the Steelers beat the Millionaires to secure the Governor's Cup. 1967 marked the third straight year in which the Series went the full seven games.

Outstanding Batter Award: Andy Henderson, RF, Bethlehem Steelers
Steelers fans dubbed Henderson "The Kid" when he made his Steelers debut as a 21-year-old in 1960. The name stuck, and now Andy is one of the league's most popular and productive stars. In 1967, he hit .345/.429/.597, with 31 homers and 121 RBI, to earn his first OBA.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: Paul Miller, RHP, Bethlehem Steelers
The Steelers swept the two major awards this year, as Miller won his second straight OPA prize. Paul led the league with a 22-7 record, pitched to a 2.28 ERA, and punched out 231 batters in 265 innings.

Rookie of the Year: Bill Stanford, 1B, Williamsport Millionaires
A sweet-swinging 22-year-old, Bill has nevertheless modeled the uniforms of four different KL teams since the Altoona Mountaineers made him their second round pick in the '62 draft. A consistent .300 hitter in the developmental league, Bill added more pop as he graduated to the Show, and hit .329/.378/.551, with 13 homers and 69 RBI in 98 games for Williamsport.

Top Ten Players                            AVG  HR RBI
1  Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading              .374  12  81
2  Chris Blackett, LF, Williamsport       .319  21 101
3  Andy Henderson, RF, Bethlehem          .345  31 121
4  Vincent Croteau, C, Williamsport       .255  27  96
5  Chris Turner, 1B, York                 .271  22  96
6  Roger Collins, RF, Pottsville          .292  22  96
7  Carl Tatum, CF, Lewisburg              .296   5  51
8  Bob Sanders, 3B, Lancaster             .298  27  93
9  Anastasio Ramirez, LF, State College   .376  15  96
10 Tanner Burns, 1B, Lewisburg            .327  15 102

Top Ten Pitchers                           W-L    ERA  K/IP
1  Stanley Edmonds, York                  10-13  3.16  184/222
2  Troy Patterson, Johnstown              16-9   3.05  242/227  
3  John Campbell, Williamsport            19-10  2.12  225/262
4  Paul Miller, Bethlehem                 22-7   2.28  231/265
5  Denny Williams, Lewisburg              12-14  4.10  121/241
6  Alex Montoya, Gettysburg               14-12  3.18  191/237
7  Buddy Bentley, Pottsville              22-8   2.58  167/244
8  Millard Skinner, Gettysburg            13-16  3.68  147/218
9  John Griffin, State College            18-12  3.49  175/260
10 Kenny Smith, Reading                   14-12  3.95  117/214

Top Ten Prospects
1  Tim Williams, 19, 1B, Gettysburg
2  Jack Sawyer, 19, 2B, Altoona
3  Don Fields, 24, 3B, Lancaster
4  Michael Gilbert, 21, C, Gettysburg (note position change!)
5  Carlos Suarez, 22, SS, State College

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Reading         98  62  .613  --
Lancaster       92  68  .575   6
Bethlehem       87  73  .544  11
York            83  77  .519  15
Lewisburg       82  78  .512  16
Pottsville      78  82  .487  20

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB        
Williamsport    88  72  .550  --
State College   74  86  .463  14
Washington      74  86  .463  14
Gettysburg      71  89  .444  17
Johnstown       71  89  .444  17
Altoona         62  98  .388  26

For two weeks in June and July, all six Mathewson Division teams had winning records, and all six Wagner Division clubs had losing records. Indeed, by the end of the season, only the Wagner titleist Williamsport Millionaires had pushed their record north of .500.

The Reading Coal Heavers and Lancaster Red Roses waged a dandy fight for the Mathewson pennant. The Heavers, who managed to produce a trainload of runs without much power, outlasted the Reds to win their third division championship.

Reading, the only team to win two Governor's Cups, then became the only team to win three, as they defeated the Millionaires in seven games.

Outstanding Batter Award: Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading Coal Heavers
Now 31, Dave is going as strong as ever, as evidenced by his .369/.524/.545 line. He won his fourth batting title, and he has posted the league's highest OBP in each of the KL's nine seasons. Dave drove in 100 runs for the first time, and stole 97 more bags.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: John Campbell, RHP, Williamsport Millionaires
The ace of the Williamsport staff has won 16, 18, 19, and 20 games in consecutive seasons; his 20-8 record, 2.60 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 270 IP earned him this year's top pitching honor. John, whose younger brother Luke pitches for Johnstown, led the league in innings pitched and strikeouts and was second in WHIP (1.05).

Rookie of the Year: Carlos Suarez, SS, State College Hillclimbers
Carlos, 22, is considered one of the best five-tool prospects in the league, and he demonstrated enough of his skills this year to earn the ROY prize. He batted .259 with 36 doubles and 13 homes, drove in 66 runs and scored 69 more, and played Gold Glove shortstop, making only three errors all year.

Top Ten Players                        AVG  HR RBI
1  Chris Blackett, LF, Williamsport   .318  28 104
2  Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading          .369   7 102
3  Roger Collins, RF, Pottsville      .315  20  92
4  Andy Henderson, RF, Bethlehem      .330  27 116
5  Don Fields, SS, Lancaster          .270  11  77
6  Carl Tatum, CF, Lewisburg          .314   5  71
7  Vincent Croteau, C, Williamsport   .240  22  84
8  Dennis Horne, 2B, Lancaster        .270  14  70
9  Bob Sanders, 3B, Lancaster         .287  26  96
10 Jacob Rigney, RF, Reading          .343   2 116

Top Ten Pitchers                       W-L    ERA  K/IP
1  Stanley Edmonds, York              12-11  2.59  182/233
2  Millard Skinner, Gettysburg        12-17  3.03  197/258
3  Troy Patterson, Johnstown          15-13  2.88  222/222
4  Paul Miller, Bethlehem             18-7   2.63  203/215
5  Luke Campbell, Johnstown           9-9    3.40  202/222
6  Kenny Smith, York                  14-9   2.83  132/229
7  Denny Williams, Lewisburg          13-11  3.35  151/236
8  John Campbell, Williamsport        20-8   2.60  226/270
9  Alex Montoya, Gettysburg           18-10  4.21  183/230
10 Myron Cain, Altoona                13-14  4.02  125/214

Top Five Prospects
1  Pete Petersen, 22, LF, Altoona
2  Michael Gilbert, 22, 1B, Gettysburg
3  Jack Sawyer, 20, 2B, Altoona
4  Reginald Saint, 18, CF, Lewisburg
5  Sean O'Neil, 19, 1B, Altoona

Mountaineers fans: look at all the young studs that could be coming your way in the coming years!

[Big Six]

MATHEWSON        W   L   PCT  GB
Reading         90  70  .563  --
Bethlehem       89  71  .556   1
Lancaster       87  73  .544   3
Pottsville      79  81  .494  11
Lewisburg       72  88  .450  18
York            69  91  .431  21

WAGNER           W   L   PCT  GB
Williamsport    92  68  .575  --
State College   90  70  .563   2
Altoona         81  79  .506  11
Gettysburg      71  89  .444  21
Washington      71  89  .444  21
Johnstown       69  91  .431  23

With a week to go in the season, it looked like the Governor's Cup champion Reading Coal Heavers were going to be able to cruise into the Series once again; they held a five-game lead over the Bethlehem Steelers in the Mathewson Division race. However, the Coal Heavers' engine began to stall just as the Steelers poured on the gas, and Bethlehem nearly stole the division crown away from them.

In the Wagner Division, Williamsport got a much tougher fight from State College this time around, but the Millionaires managed to hang on for a two-game victory and, like the Heavers, defend their playoff spot.

Many observers believed Williamsport, who roared into the Series on a roll that saw them win nine of their last 11 games, would take care of the slumping Reading club with ease. However, it was the Coal Heavers who swept the Series in four games. They became the first team to win two straight Governor's Cup Series.

Outstanding Batter Award: Roger Collins, RF, Pottsville Brewers
A few years ago, Roger was hailed as the best prospect in the league, and it looks like he's begun to fulfill his potential. The former #1 overall pick (1965) hit .339/.491/.659, with 31 home runs, 89 extra base hits, 142 walks, and 102 RBI. He also stole 45 bases and played solid defense, proving he's a true five-tool player.

Outstanding Pitcher Award: John Campbell, RHP, Williamsport Millionaires
For some strange reason, the "experts" didn't list Campbell among the league's ten best pitchers, even though he posted an 18-10 record, a 2.69 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 207 strikeouts. Nevertheless, John won his second consecutive OPA.

Rookie of the Year: Javier Fajardo, P, Pottsville Brewers
Javier, a 24-year-old southpaw, went 15-14 for the last-place Brewers and struck out 212 batters in 250 innings. He was Pottsville's first round pick in 1966.

Top Ten Players:                       AVG  HR RBI
1  Chris Blackett, LF, Williamsport   .345  27  96
2  Dave Kennedy, 3B, Reading          .384  12  89
3  Roger Collins, RF, Pottsville      .339  31 102
4  Don Fields, SS, Lancaster          .335  13  69
5  Andy Henderson, CF, Bethlehem      .317  27  96
6  Vincent Croteau, C, Williamsport   .269  27 121
7  John O'Connor, C, Bethlehem        .342  10  74
8  Bob Sanders, 3B, Lancaster         .304  31 128
9  Bill Stanford, 1B, Williamsport    .320  21 138
10 Wilton Adams, 1B, Lancaster        .350  12 116

Top Ten Pitchers:                      W-L   ERA   K/IP
1  Millard Skinner, Gettysburg        16-12  2.30  214/266
2  Stanley Edmonds, York              16-13  3.74  148/224
3  Troy Patterson, Johnstown          5-21   3.97  205/231
4  Luke Campbell, Johnstown           14-5   2.58  153/160
5  Paul Miller, Bethlehem             18-14  3.01  199/251
6  Kenny Smith, York                  13-10  3.49  128/211
7  Alex Montoya, Gettysburg           13-9   3.27  223/234
8  Denny Williams, Lewisburg          13-11  4.45  142/222
9  Myron Cain, Altoona                15-14  4.17  149/238
10 Jonathan Doyle, Washington         15-13  4.46  223/238

Top Ten Prospects:
1  Carlos Alvarez, 18, P, Altoona
2  Ray McFadden, 18, P, Gettysburg
3  Reginald Saint, 19, CF, Lewisburg
4  Matthew Lane, 20, RF, Bethlehem
5  William Riley, 24, RF, State College

Next up: the Keystone League Team of the 1960s.

[Big Six]

Since the Keystone League played its first season in 1960, the end of the '69 campaign marked its first full decade. Let's meet the Keystone League Team of the 1960s.

One player will be chosen at each position, with the exception of pitcher. I'll choose a four-man starting rotation, plus a closer.

The players will be chosen primarily on the basis of their value over the course of the decade.

First up, the All-Sixties Team's infielders. For each player, I'll provide his career "slash stats" (BA/OBP/SLG), home runs, and RBI, as well as any postseason honors he's received.

CATCHER: Vincent Croteau
Williamsport Millionaires, 1960-present
.264/.370/.473; 224 HR, 866 RBI
All-Star Selections: 9

Ever since Williamsport made him their Round 2 pick in the league's inaugural draft, this strapping Canadian has been a fixture behind the plate for the Millionaires. One of the league's most popular players, Vincent is a durable receiver with a strong throwing arm.

Since he made his KL debut at age 20, Vincent will be only 30 when the new season begins. He's shown very little sign of slowing down, so he should remain productive well into the next decade.


FIRST BASE: Tanner Burns
Altoona Mountaineers, 1960-1967
Lewisburg Profs, 1967-present
.336/.425/.503; 163 HR, 913 RBI
Gold Gloves: 2
All-Star Selections: 7

He might lack the big-time power usually associated with star first basemen, but Burns hits for a high average, produces tons of extra base hits, and fields his position gracefully. Tanner is the league's all-time leader in hits (2025), total bases (3035) and doubles (461).

At age 36, Tanner's best years are behind him, so catch his act while you still can.


SECOND BASE: Marcos Cuellar
Lewisburg Profs, 1960-present
.287/.377/.440; 131 HR, 665 RBI
Gold Gloves: 1
All-Star Appearances: 6

A versatile player who does several things well, Marcos overcame a rash of injuries early in his career and developed into a durable, reliable player. He has developed an especially sharp eye, and gets on base enough to consistently score 100 runs a year.

According to VORP, 1969 was Cuellar’s best season yet, so Profs fans are expecting more good things from him as he moves into his mid-thirties.


THIRD BASE: Dave Kennedy
Reading Coal Heavers, 1960-present
.361/.513/.537; 106 HR, 847 RBI
Outstanding Batter Awards: 7
All-Star Appearances: 9


The Coal Heavers selected Dave with the first pick in the 1960 inaugural draft, and they’ve done nothing but smile since. He is the league’s most popular star, and he holds a number of KL career records including batting average, OBP, OPS, runs scored (1279) and stolen bases (964). His seven Outstanding Batter Awards might never be equaled.

Kennedy has led the Coal Heavers to four Governor’s Cup Series wins and, at age 33, he’ll enter the Seventies in command of his full set of skills.


SHORTSTOP: Marcos Gonzales
Reading Coal Heavers, 1960-present
.290/.414/.395; 34 HR, 571 RBI
All-Star Appearances: 3

Gonzales won the nod as the KL’s supreme shortstop of the 60s on the basis of his consistent contribution to the league’s most dominant team. His ability to get on base helps key the Coal Heavers’ potent attack, and he’s scored 1042 runs and drawn 1126 walks in his ten-year career. Marcos is nothing special defensively, but when you get on base over 40 percent of the time, some defensive shortcomings usually get ignored.

Marcos will turn 34 during the 1970 season. He’s lost a step, especially in the field, but he’s still getting on base and contributing offensively.