The Mustache Gang: Charlie Finley's Oakland A's

[PhillieFever]

National League Pitching Leaders
July 1st, 1969

[PhillieFever]

MLB Rookies Of The Month
June 1969

[PhillieFever]

MLB Batters Of The Month
June 1969

[PhillieFever]

MLB Pitchers Of The Month
June 1969

[PhillieFever]

Tuesday July 1st, 1969

Richie Repeats He Won't Play For Phils Again

Philadelphia- Rich Allen hinted today that he might play baseball in Japan or South America or even go live on a farm with a few horses rather than return to the Philadelphia Phillies. The 27 year old Allen from Wampum, Pa., one of the great hitters in baseball, was suspended indefinitely June 24th for failing to show up for a doubleheader against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. He reacted by saying he would never play for the Phillies again.
Allen has refused to talk with most writers and the broadcast media, but tonight sold his thoughts to a local television station (WHPL Channel 17) in a copyrighted half hour program. Channel 17 sports director Al Meltzer asked Allen: "Who is going to make the first move...because this is a stalemate?" Allen replied: "Well, I made the first move when I came home. They (Phillies) made a move when they suspended me without knowing if I was laying on the highway dead or what. They made the move, not me. "The man (Manager Bob Skinner) suspended me. Even if I get there I can't play." Skinner has said the he is ready to reinstate Allen on the manager's terms and that it would take several talks and a few days or more before he would send Allen back to first base. Allen's business manager, Clem Capozzoli, has been trying to arrange a meeting between the two, so far unsuccessfully.
"Do you want them (the club) to make the next move?" Allen was asked. "No I don't want them to do anything. No. I don't want nobody to do nothing."
"You'll sit for the rest of the season." it was suggested. "So?" He replied. Based on his reported $80,000 a year salary Allen is being docked almost $500 a day. He said he wasn't worried about money. Money isn't all. I've lived from 1 to 18 without it. So if I'm going to make a living why not make $105 a week somewhere and live in the country with a few horses and forget it and live in peace.
"I don't have to worry about you asking me questions, not that guy with the camera, not this guy shooting pictures, or this guy asking for your autograph." Allen said that going into some other business was a possibility, but didn't elaborate. "Maybe I'll play in Caracas, Venezuela or Japan somewhere. Everybody might get a laugh, but I might in another line of business be able to make more money.

[captaincarl]

As a side track, here is a story involving Dick Allen.

He was with the White Sox and they were on the road in Boston against the Red Sox. Allen hit a screaming line drive 3/4 of the way up the "green monster" that was hit so hard that it took one hop off the wall back to shortstop Rico Petrocelli. Petrocelli almost threw him out at first base since Allen wasn't running hard down the line.

[PhillieFever]

Originally Posted by captaincarl

As a side track, here is a story involving Dick Allen.

He was with the White Sox and they were on the road in Boston against the Red Sox. Allen hit a screaming line drive 3/4 of the way up the "green monster" that was hit so hard that it took one hop off the wall back to shortstop Rico Petrocelli. Petrocelli almost threw him out at first base since Allen wasn't running hard down the line.

The shame of it all is that if Richie(or Dick) could have cast his personal demons aside, he undoubtedly would be in the Hall Of Fame today.

[PhillieFever]

Thursday July 3rd, 1969

Mays Blasts 600th!
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Mays Clouts 600th Career Homer Off Padres' Tommie Sisk

San Diego(AP) Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid who developed in the elder statesman of slugging became the second man in Major League history to hit 600 home runs, unfortunately though the Giants lost the game 7-2 to the Padres. Only Babe Ruth's 714 tops to homer record of the Wondrous Willie.
Mays says he thrives on pressure, but he felt relieved to have some of it lifted from his back here when he became the first National League player to ever hit 600 home runs. "The pressure had been building up, I was trying too hard to hit home runs," said the 38 year old after the game. "The bad thing is we lost a game we really needed to win."
The milestone smash earned Mays a $12,500 sports car and one share of stock for each foot the homer traveled. The blast off of Padres veteran righty Tommie Sisk was estimated to have traveled 390 feet. A small crowd of 5,178 gave Mays a standing ovation and the entire San Francisco bench was waiting at home plate as Willie rounded the bases on a gimpy knee injured several weeks ago in a home plate collision with Chicago's Randy Hundley. "It was a thrill to see all my teammates waiting at home plate, that's something you don't see very often," Mays said. It was on June 22nd that Mays hit No. 599 off Atlanta knuckleballer Phil Niekro, and the pressure for waiting for No. 600 was like the pressure he felt in 1966 when he was striving for the National League record of 512. "After I hit 599 I knew I'd hit 600," he grinned "but I beginning to wonder when. That's the way it was with No. 512, I waited eight or nine days to get it." It's a homer he remembers well. "It was off Claude Osteen of the Dodgers at Candlestick," he said.
Mays also remembers his first big league homer and so does Bill Rigney, a former teammate and big league manager who is now a Giants announcer. "He hit his first one off Warren Spahn in 1951," Rigney said, "and it went over the roof at The Polo Grounds."
Mays, slowed by age and injuries, doesn't even consider the possibility of catching the all-time home run leader, Babe Ruth who hit 714 round trippers. Ruth was the only other big leaguer ever to hit as many as 600. "I don't know how much longer I can go," says Mays, "but I know I'll hit some more home runs if I can stay healthy, that's been my trouble. When I'm out of the lineup for a couple of weeks I have trouble getting my timing back." Mays has 19 hits in his last 54 at bats(.352) and has driven in 11 runs during the stretch. He says he thrives on the kind of excitement the Reds, Astros, Giants, Braves and Dodgers are generating in their five way battle for Western Division supremacy.

Willis Mays' Career Stats

[PhillieFever]

A couple of things, first off, it's going to be very interesting to see how close Mays actually comes to Ruth, as of now he's already ahead of his real life pace where he didn't hit number 600 until late September. The next day(of the sim) Mays blasted 2 more homers giving him 15 for the season, and 602 for his career. From the looks of it he should be productive for the next two and a half years, before his rapid decline in 72 and 73. 700 homers is a stretch but doable I think. Next up is Aaron, who's sitting right now at 533 and having an MVP type season, batting .325 with 23 homers and 73 RBI.....on July 3rd.

[Big T]

Originally Posted by captaincarl

As a side track, here is a story involving Dick Allen.

He was with the White Sox and they were on the road in Boston against the Red Sox. Allen hit a screaming line drive 3/4 of the way up the "green monster" that was hit so hard that it took one hop off the wall back to shortstop Rico Petrocelli. Petrocelli almost threw him out at first base since Allen wasn't running hard down the line.

Wow, it amazes me when you and Philliesfever continue to remember these interesting tidbits of the era...... Keep em up, I love em.

[Big T]

Originally Posted by PhillieFever

A couple of things, first off, it's going to be very interesting to see how close Mays actually comes to Ruth, as of now he's already ahead of his real life pace where he didn't hit number 600 until late September. The next day(of the sim) Mays blasted 2 more homers giving him 15 for the season, and 602 for his career. From the looks of it he should be productive for the next two and a half years, before his rapid decline in 72 and 73. 700 homers is a stretch but doable I think. Next up is Aaron, who's sitting right now at 533 and having an MVP type season, batting .325 with 23 homers and 73 RBI.....on July 3rd.

He must be on roids.....

I just checked my dynasty to see when he hits number 600, he gets it on September 15th, 1969...

Aaron hit his 600 in real life April 12th, 1971, he hit his 600th in my dynasty in May of 1971, so he is a little behind ..

[PhillieFever]

Originally Posted by Big T

He must be on roids.....

I just checked my dynasty to see when he hits number 600, he gets it on September 15th, 1969...

Aaron hit his 600 in real life April 12th, 1971, he hit his 600th in my dynasty in May of 1971, so he is a little behind ..

Yeah since I'm not using R/L lineups, Mays is playing more in my dynasty than he did in real life.

[PhillieFever]

Beginning in 1970, I'm going to abandon this thread for a 1970's dynasty encompassing the whole league. It'll be mainly a week to week thing with breaking news being reported as it happens. I'm still kicking around ideas about how to go about it, but my hope is that it makes you feel as though you're a fan following Major League Baseball throughout the decade of the 70's.

[PhillieFever]

At
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, Ca.
July 1st to 3rd, 1969

Tuesday July 1st: Athletics 12 Pilots 0
A three run triple by Larry Haney and a two run double by Danny Cater were the key blows in a seven run 2nd, while a Reggie Jackson grand slam topped off a five run 5th, as the Athletics destroyed the expansion Pilots 12-0. Starting pitcher Chuck Dobson became the first A's pitcher to pass double digits in wins, allowing just 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 9 in the route going victory.
WP: Chuck Dobson(10-6) LP: Fred Talbot(3-5) HR: Oak, Reggie Jackson(17)

Wednesday July 2nd: Athletics 1 Pilots 0
Starting pitcher Blue Moon Odom picked up right where Chuck Dobson left off yesterday, allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 8, as Oakland slipped past Steve Barber and the Pilots 1-0. A first inning RBI single by Dick Green proved to be the lone run of the ballgame for the A's who managed just 5 hits off of sore luck loser Steve Barber.
WP: Blue Moon Odom(9-5) LP: Steve Barber(6-6) HR: None

Thursday July 3rd: Athletics 15 Pilots 11
In a game that saw the teams combine for 34 hits, 26 runs, 5 stolen bases, and 3 errors, it was the Athletics who came out on top, defeating the Seattle Pilots by the score of 15-11, completing the three game sweep. Leadoff man Bert Campaneris had a tremendous ballgame for the A's, going 4 for 6 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and 4 runs scored, but left the game in the top of the 9th with an apparent hand injury. The A's also lost reserve outfielder Mike Hershberger to a possible separated shoulder. For the Pilots, CF Tommy Harper went 5 for 5 with a double, 3 stolen bases, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
WP: Marcel Lachemann(3-1) LP: Gene Brabender(3-11) HR: Oak, Reggie Jackson(18) Sea, Don Mincher(15)

Athletics News

In the 15-11 win over the Pilots, the Athletics lost SS Bert Campaneris to a broken finger, and reserve OF Mike Hershberger to a separated shoulder. Both players were placed on the 21 day disabled list. Taking their places on the roster were 30 year old OF Jose Tartabull, and 22 year old OF Bill McNulty.

[PhillieFever]

Right now, I'm at a bit of a crossroads and I don't know how I'm going to proceed. I'm thinking I may sim through the rest of the 1969 season and start fresh in 1970 with an all new format, this one just feels tired to me and I'm losing interest. I'm going to begin the new dynasty the day after the 1969 World Series with the announcement of the new champion, but from there things will be different. I have several ideas of how I want to portray the 1970's and I really think you guys will like it. I just hope you have the patience to put up with my whims

[PhillieFever]

Monday July 14th, 1969

Transactions For The Week

7/7/69: The Washington Senators have shipped pitcher Camilo Pascual to the Cincinnati Reds for cash.

7/8/69: The Seattle Pilots have sold pitcher Darrell "Bucky" Brandon to the Minnesota Twins for cash.

7/9/69: The Oakland Athletics have placed LF Tommie Reynolds on the 21 day DL.

7/11/69: The Seattle pilots have purchased infielder Ron Clark from the Twins for cash.

The Seattle Pilots have placed 3B Rich Rollins on the 60 day disabled list, and activated CF Dick Simpson from the DL

The Montreal Expos have placed CF Don Bosch on the 60 day disabled list.

7/12/69: The Oakland A's have traded CF Joe Nossek to the St Louis Cardinals for veteran infielder Bob Johnson.

This Week's News

[PhillieFever]

I've decided to finish out the season in this fashion.

[PhillieFever]

Monday July 21st, 1969

MLB Transactions For The Week

July 14th: Tigers 2B Dick McAuliffe has been ruled out for the season following knee surgery this past week, he's been placed on the club's 60 day disabled list.

Expos 2B Gary Sutherland has been placed on the 21 day DL with a broken nose.

July 15th: The Chicago White Sox have traded 27 year old 1B Cotton Nash to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later.

July 16th: The Cincinnati Reds will be without the services of pitcher George Culver until at least September due to hepatitis. He's been placed on the team's 21 day disabled list.

The Pirates have signed amateur free agent pitcher Kent Tekulve.

July 18th: Already down several players, the Oakland Athletics have now lost pitcher Jim Nash, who's been placed on the DL due to shoulder problems.

Pirates catcher Jerry May will be out for a month with hip and arm problems. May's hip was injured in a game, he suffered the arm injury when the ambulance he was riding in had an accident.

Indians 3B Max Alvis has been placed on the disabled list with a wrenched knee.

White Sox pitcher Don Secrist will miss about three weeks thanks to a broken hand suffered in batting practice.

July 19th: White Sox 3B Woodie Held and Phillies RF John Callison have both been activated from the disabled list.

July 20th: Astros LF Jesus Alou has been activated from the disabled list, and should be ready to play following this week's all-star game.

Reds 2B Tommy helms will be out for about three weeks following an emergency appendectomy.

Angels OF Lou Johnson suffered a broken wrist and has been placed on the DL. He's expected to be out until early September.

This Week's News

[PhillieFever]

The 1969 Major League Baseball All-Stars

[PhillieFever]

Tuesday July 22nd, 1969

Ruth And DiMaggio "Greatest"

Washington, D.C.- Baseball paused here Monday night on the eve of it's 40th All-Star game and announced that the greatest player in it's first 100 years was Babe Ruth.
Joe DiMaggio, like Ruth a former slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees, was named the greatest living player.
The selections, made by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, were announced at a dinner commemorating the 100th anniversary of professional baseball and held in conjunction with the All-Star game to be played here Tuesday night. Ruth's widow accepted the handsome trophy from Col. Frank Borman, commander of the first Apollo flight around the moon. She said: "Thank you, The Babe would have loved this." Joe DiMaggio, now a coach with the Oakland Athletics, said in his acceptance speech: "To play this wonderful game that I enjoyed so much would have been enough. I never thought I'd be honored this way for playing it. I was sitting back, relaxed, thinking naturally that it would be one of the old timers. I never dreamed it would be me."
DiMaggio was one of three living players named to the all-time All-Star team. The others, pitcher Lefty Grove, and third baseman Pie Traynor were also on hand.
Those honored were:
Left Handed Pitcher: Living: Lefty Grove, All-Time: Grove
Right Handed Pitcher: Living: Bob Feller, All-Time: Walter Johnson
Catcher: Living: Bill Dickey All-Time: Mickey Cochrane
First Baseman: Living: Stan Musial, All-Time Lou Gehrig
Second Baseman: Living: Charlie Gehringer, All-Time: Rogers Hornsby
Third Baseman: Living: Pie Traynor, All-Time: Traynor
Shortstop: Living: Joe Cronin, All-Time: Honus Wagner
Left Field: Living: Ted Williams, All-Time: Ty Cobb
Center Field: Living: Joe DiMaggio, All-Time: DiMaggio
Right Field: Living: Willie Mays All-Time Babe Ruth

Casey Stengel was honored as the greatest living Manager and John McGraw as the greatest Manager of all-time. Stengel acknowledged his selection by saying: "I want to thank you for being what I was, and all the ballplayers who helped me. They're the ones who did the job."
Willie Mays, in acknowledging his selection, admitted that he had played right field "two or three times." He ordinarily is employed in center. Among a list of speakers which included baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, comedian Alan King, and assorted mayors and congressmen, there was little doubt who stole the show from the lectern. That was Col. Borman who commented on a recent visit to Russia. "The Mayor of Moscow told me his soccer team was doing badly but that he was going to build a domed stadium so they could get more practice," Borman said. "I told him it hand't quite worked out that way in Houston."
"That brought all kinds of replies, including that they had put a monkey in space to do the job I had done. The only thing I could think of to say was that I had lasted five days longer than the damned monkey."
Baseball's centennial celebration was perhaps the most auspicious occasion in the history of the sport, with practically everybody who had ever done anything or been anything in the game represented. The affair lasted the better part of five hours.