MLB Replay....A new History

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by rjl518

maybe my mets will draft well in 1966!!

They did!

[rjl518]

oh boy...can't wait to see...please show me!

[George_Bell]

1965-66 Offseason News and Notes

The Philadelphia Phillies are not happy. They have lost 3 straight World Series' to the same Detroit Tigers. So, in another attempt to get past the Tigers, the Phillies have acquired a star in his prime.

Carl Yastrzemski is the newest Phillies outfielder. Good for them going out and trying to better their team. Looking at their depth chart, Yaz will play first, and Pete Rose becomes a super utility player. The offensive talent on this team is staggering.

Following the 1964 season, the Braves reached an agreement to move the team to Atlanta for the 1965 season. However, Bud Selig a local used car salesman, and minority Braves stockholder sued to block the move. Selig argued that a baseball team owed it to its community to remain loyal, and not seek new homes, because the loss of a baseball team meant the loss identity. A judge would grant an injunction forcing the Braves to stay in Milwaukee for one more season, but in the end the move to Atlanta was not going to be stopped. The Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta, to become the Atlanta Braves for the 1966 season.

That didn't last too long!

Normally, I’d be all over drafting Reggie Jackson if I had the chance, but he just doesn’t look as impressive as Tom Seaver, who the Mets did draft first overall. I’m a fan of Reggie, so saying that hurts a bit. Tom Seaver is ready right now to start opening day at Shea…

Noguchi is baseball's all-time wins leader. That's kind of a no-brainer, and he is enshrined in baseball's Hall of Fame!

A look at the top single game strikeout's by a pitcher in MLB history.

[George_Bell]

1966 MLB Preview

Top Player

Top Pitcher

[rjl518]

joe morgan and now TOM SEAVER!!! lets go mets!!!

[rjl518]

i just looked at that draft again...the Cleveland Indians selected Joe Niekro, one of the best knuckleballers ever, not really a HOF, but IMO a good pitcher.

Joe Niekro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by rjl518

i just looked at that draft again...the Cleveland Indians selected Joe Niekro, one of the best knuckleballers ever, not really a HOF, but IMO a good pitcher.

Joe Niekro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ya, it's a nice pick for late in the first round. He ended up making the team, and starting 24 games for them in his rookie year.

[George_Bell]

1966 Regular Season

Time to give Orlando Cepeda a little love. The 28 year old Pirate just blasted his 300^th career home run. Getting to 300 before 30 is a big deal to me. That’s not easy, and it gives you a chance to set records during the 2^nd decade of your career. Cepeda has never been mentioned by me, and obviously deserves more recognition. He was originally drafted by the Athletics, and traded to Pittsburgh less then a year later. Maybe that's one of the reason's the A's have never won a World Series...

Cepeda

Mickey Mantle returned from injury after more then a year away from the game. After hitting 8 home runs during a month long rehab stint in Buffalo, the 34 year old inspired the Tigers to a 19-7 run, regaining 1^st place after a mediocre start. Mantle hit .372 over his first 26 games, with 14 home runs and 27 RBI’s! His 19 walks give him a OBP of .478!

Mantle

30 year old Harmon Killebrew has joined the 500 home run club. That’s an elite group that includes only Babe Ruth, Mule Suttles, Josh Gibson, and the all-time leader, Lou Gehrig. Killebrew is 129 home runs off the lead. So, I ask, do you think he ends up the record holder? and can this man get to 755?

Mr. Killebrew again has the Phillies in 1^st place heading into September, but it’s going to be a race to the finish. The Giants are just half a game behind, while the Braves, Cardinals, Reds, and Cubs are all within striking distance. A lot of NL games are going to matter in September.

The Tigers had a bad August, which has resulted in a 3 game lead falling to a 4 game deficit. The Boston Red Sox lead the AL. Their star Willie McCovey missed a month, and is set to return this week. That’s a huge boost. The Twins trail by 3.5 games, so they are in better shape than the Tigers. Passing of the torch time?

McCovey

The Tigers don’t have enough, and their run is over. The Boston Red Sox win 9 of their last 12 games to pull away from Detroit and Minnesota to win their first pennant in years. They will face the Philadelphia Phillies, who win the NL for the 4^th straight season.





Sadaharu Oh wins the AL triple crown, while Sandy Koufax sets the single season strikeout record with 454! He breaks his own record, which he set last year, and I missed.

[George_Bell]

The star studded Phillies return to the World Series for the 4^th year in a row. First year Phillie, Carl Yastrzemski had an excellent year, and Harmon Killebrew continued to slug away. Pete Rose and ace Joey Jay will miss the series due to injury. Boston lost the 1959 series to the Dodgers. That’s their only pennant since winning the title in 1945. In the era of the pitcher, Willie McCovey dominated. He should win the MVP, as no other team relied on a hitter the way the Sox rely on McCovey. (Yes, I realize Oh won the triple crown, but the Angels finished 7th. The Red Sox aren't playing for a championship without McCovey!)

[HerbertMcHoover]

Harmon Killebrew will definitely reach 700 homers. I think he can get close, if not pass 750 as well.

The Angels finished under .500 with Oh winning the Triple Crown (what a career, by the way!) and a strong season by Lou Piniella (was he drafted second round or what?)

Once this dynasty ends, we are going to look back at the Phillies and say that they are the most disappointing franchise. They lost so many times in the 1920s-1930s to the Yankees in the peak of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Suttles' careers. They only managed to win the series once this decade as well. I would like to see the total amount of World Series championships and appearances by each time soon. The Phillies had to have been there the most (with the Dodgers, Reds and Cubs/Browns? close by).

Either way, I just love this dynasty and can't wait for the other expansion teams to come, which means more players/records!

[rjl518]

Tom Seaver leads the NL in Ks, Kosco, 3rd in the NL in RBI and my Mets finish at .500. Best year yet!! You better get ready, Major League Baseball, HERE COMES THE NEW YORK METS!!

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

The Angels finished under .500 with Oh winning the Triple Crown (what a career, by the way!) and a strong season by Lou Piniella (was he drafted second round or what?)

Piniella is a really nice looking outfielder. He's got 19 contact, 17 gap, and 16 avoid k's right now. If i was running a team, i'd be trying to get him. He was drafted in the 2nd round, 33rd overall in the 1961 draft. He spent a few years in the minors before making his MLB debut halfway through the 64 season, where he's hit over .300 ever since.

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

Once this dynasty ends, we are going to look back at the Phillies and say that they are the most disappointing franchise. They lost so many times in the 1920s-1930s to the Yankees in the peak of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Suttles' careers. They only managed to win the series once this decade as well. I would like to see the total amount of World Series championships and appearances by each time soon. The Phillies had to have been there the most (with the Dodgers, Reds and Cubs/Browns? close by).

Either way, I just love this dynasty and can't wait for the other expansion teams to come, which means more players/records!

More then any other team, they have gone for it with bold trades, but yes, you think they should have won more titles. I will recap World Series wins and appearances in the offseason. Good idea!

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by rjl518

Tom Seaver leads the NL in Ks, Kosco, 3rd in the NL in RBI and my Mets finish at .500. Best year yet!! You better get ready, Major League Baseball, HERE COMES THE NEW YORK METS!!

Big improvement. Seaver was outstanding. Sutton was the number 2 starter, but hurt is shoulder, which ended his season early. Andy Kosco has turned into the Mets big bat so far. He hit 29 homer's this year.

[rjl518]

tell me we drafted well again in 1967..please!!!

[HerbertMcHoover]

Originally Posted by George_Bell

Piniella is a really nice looking outfielder. He's got 19 contact, 17 gap, and 16 avoid k's right now. If i was running a team, i'd be trying to get him. He was drafted in the 2nd round, 33rd overall in the 1961 draft. He spent a few years in the minors before making his MLB debut halfway through the 64 season, where he's hit over .300 ever since.



More then any other team, they have gone for it with bold trades, but yes, you think they should have won more titles. I will recap World Series wins and appearances in the offseason. Good idea!

Are you thinking about posting second round picks soon? Maybe around 1969 or when there's more and more good players out there?

Thanks! Cannot wait to see the teams without a WS championship.

[George_Bell]

Don Drysdale out pitches Dave Morehead in a game 1 pitching duel. The Winning run came courtesy of an error on Harmon Killebrew in the sixth inning. Final score: Boston 3, Philadelphia 2.

Gaylord Perry allows 4 hits in his complete game shutout win. Hank Aaron homer’s twice, and Brooks Robinson goes 4/5. Phillies take game two, 7-0.

Kaz Inao pitches well, but it really doesn’t matter, as his team goes a 2^nd full game without scoring a run. AAAA pitcher John Tsitouris pitches a 7 hit shutout, while Brooks Robinson goes 3/4 with a solo first inning home run. 3-0 Phillies.

Boston scores twice, courtesy of a Bobby Tolan 2 run home run in the fifth. Problem is that cut the Phillies lead to 4-2. Yastrzemski and Killebrew homer, while Brooks Robinson goes 3/5. The Phillies take it, 7-2.

The Phillies score 5 runs in the second inning, capped off by Hank Aaron’s mammoth Grand Slam into the right field bleachers. Boston gets a 2 run home run from Willie McCovey, but trail 9-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth…..


WOW. It might end up not meaning anything, but this is the greatest World Series comeback/collapse we have ever seen. The Red Sox live to fight another day.

Boston, riding the emotion of the great game 5 comeback, jumps out to a 2-0 lead when pitcher Kaz Inao hits a 2^nd inning two run shot. Al Kaline doubles in Harmon Killebrew, while Brooks Robinson scored on a sac fly, and after six innings, the Phillies have tied the game at 2.

In the eighth inning, Robinson leads off with a single, Killebrew is walked, and both score when Gene Green hits a 2 out single. Phillies close Ron Perranoski gets 3 outs in the ninth, and the Phillies have won the World Series!!

[George_Bell]

Note, missing from this photo, AL Kaline and Pete Rose, who were injured and did not play in the series.

[rjl518]

congrats to the Phillies!!! it has been a while for them!

[HerbertMcHoover]

I was wondering if the Phillies were gonna choke again after that game five. Fun series.

[rjl518]

oh yeah...forgot to mention...congrats to Brooks "The Human Vacuum Cleaner" Robinson