The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

No joy for the BoSox this year as they look set to finish in the second division, but Tommie Davis will always remember this season fondly for this career highlight.

[luckymann]

The two dominant teams for the year play our an epic five-gamer, with the Scranton Miners prevailing to notch their 6th AAA title.




This time a year ago, I mentioned Ken Hubbs' unbroken 40-game hitting streak. He has spent the entirety of 1962 with the parent club, so it remains in stasis for now.

[luckymann]

I reckon The Man has two, maybe three seasons left to catch Tris.

[luckymann]

A fascinating and highly-competitive 1962 season comes to an end with the Dodgers and Twins getting home in, if not decisive, then at least uncomplicated fashion. While a horrid first part of August kills us off quick smart, the lads hang in there and keep our amazing streak of winning seasons alive (none since 1945, just six in total), finishing at 86-76. The two noobs each lose 100, although the Mets are slightly less pathetic than their IRL counterparts with "only" 107 losses.




I've not got much to add for once. We play well, albeit neither as well as we have in recent years nor as well as we need to in order to challenge. A near-constant run of injuries doesn't help, nor does a regression in our run scoring.




We are in a transition phase and I see some more downside before we get to turn things around. With a few of our NL rivals in the ascendancy, that likely means mid-standings finishes for the next few years. While good pitching remains the basis of our game strategy, there's no doubt we need to add some lumber to the group.




Very even across the board, with only Sullivan providing less than replacement value. Groat's sectional is superb as once again he punches above his apparent weight. Only one more year for him, and Freese will walk now, so it is around the diamond we need reinforcing. Our outfield is looking fantastic.




An "off" year for Patata, but 305 BABIP may mean bad luck played a part - 56 points up on the previous season and well above his usual. Another stellar season by the BP, led again by Joe Gibbon.


Mickey Mantle wins another batting title, while Vada Pinson hits 350 to nab his first. Jerry Lynch tails right off and in the end only Henry Aaron even hits 40 HR, and him on the dot. Lynch's 124 RBI also lead either league.

Fair to say Sandy Koufax has hit his peak, or taking a massive step toward it at any rate, with an MLB-best 2.26 ERA and 291 strikeouts. Joe Nuxhall's 22 wins are well ahead of his nearest rival - nobody else wins 20 - and Yankee Bill Henry leads both leagues with 32 Saves.


Final Top 20s and Leaders







Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – George Altman (Athletics): 381 / 6 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Kaat (Twins): 4-0 / 1.50 / 38 K / 42 IP
• Rookie – Denny Lemaster (Red Sox): 4-2 / 1.73 / 45 K / 52 IP

National League

• Batter – Vada Pinson (Reds): 348 / 6 HR / 19 RBI
• Pitcher – Tom Sturdivant (Giants): 6-0 / 1.63 / 28 K / 49.2 IP
• Rookie – Bo Belinsky (Reds): 3-2 / 2.93 / 24 K / 46 IP

September

American League

• Batter – John Romano (Athletics): 395 / 8 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Larry Jackson (Twins): 4-1 / 1.13 / 29 K / 47.2 IP
• Rookie – Don Lock (Angels): 337 / 6 HR / 19 RBI

National League

• Batter – Ken Boyer (Cardinals): 362 / 9 HR / 15 RBI
• Pitcher – Don Drysdale (Dodgers): 4-0 / 2.05 / 35 K / 44 IP
• Rookie – Denis Menke (Mets): 410 / 6 HR / 13 RBI

Milestones and Observations of Note

• A herniated disc puts Washington tyro Dean Chance out of action for a month or so, while Minnesota loses Barry Latman until next year with a ruptured one and Al Downing of the Cubs suffers a similar fate to have his season curtailed.
• It happens well after they have dropped from calculations for another year, but the Yanks are without Mickey Mantle for the final few weeks after he suffers torn ankle ligaments.
• A bunch of milestones reached:
  
  

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[luckymann]

Minnesota Twins (97-65) v Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)
Best-of-seven, Dodgers with the home-field advantage.


MINNESOTA TWINS S+ PAGE

LOS ANGELES DODGERS S+ PAGE

History to be made whatever the outcome here, with this the first WS appearance for either club in their current location—and it pre-empts the 1965 IRL meeting between the two by a few years. For long-term fans of the Senators-Twins franchise, this has been a while in coming – nearly 40 years, in fact, since their last appearance in 1924. They won it all in 1912 and 1919.

They have a strong enough chance to do so again here on what, on paper, looks a classic pitching v hitting matchup. The Dodgers’ 1-2 punch of Koufax and Drysdale gives them the distinct edge in this facet of the game, although in Jim Kaat and ex-Bucco Larry Jackson the Twins rotation is far from shabby as well.

Countering that is the Minnesota version of Murderer’s Row, with Maris, Killebrew and Allison each mashing 30+ taters this season. As did Lynch, but he has apparently fallen out of favour and finds himself on the bench. A nice pinch option indeed. The Dodgers can’t match them for raw power, but run like the wind and can still groove balls out if presented with the opportunity.

What an intriguing contest. Twins in six for mine.

[luckymann]

The 1962 World Series marks this save's move to v23, with another move to v24 slated in a few seasons' time.

The newer versions have plenty to live up to, accuracy-wise. I keep pretty close tabs of my own for sim accuracy, and the results for 1962 were simply astonishing, especially given it was an Expansion year. (Top is the historical, bottom the simulated.)

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Los Angeles

Sandy Koufax (15-10, 2.26) v Larry Jackson (11-6, 2.20)

This is the first-ever WS game on the country’s western coast, and what a beauty it shapes up to be. Hard to believe that Sandy Koufax gets to face the only starting pitcher in the league this season with an ERA less than his, although an early injury meant Larry Jackson didn’t qualify. This is just two quality arms trying to set the tone for an evenly-balanced series and give their team an early advantage.

The Twins show the sort of heart you want at this stage in the season to record a crucial 6-4 road win. The starters hold sway early, before the bats finally find their range and after 6 it is tied 4-4. The Twins get their noses in front on an RBI single to Bob Allison in the 7th and get an insurance run they end up not needing when Maris goes solo yard in the 9th. A huge result for Minnesota, who almost would have presumed they’d be 0-2 down heading home.

Game 2 in Los Angeles

Don Drysdale (17-11, 3.45) v Jim Kaat (18-5, 3.05)

Twins lead series 1-0

Suddenly the pressure flips 180-degrees onto the broad shoulders of Don Drysdale, who’ll need to deliver here if the Dodgers want to avoid heading to Minnesota deep in the hole. Jim Kaat has been impressive with a 46-29 record over the past three seasons and should prove a formidable opponent in this one.

As he is indeed, delivering six innings with just 2 runs on 4 hits conceded, and once again Closer Jim Umbricht holds his nerve and the bats do just enough to get the Twins another priceless away victory, this time by 4 to 3. Floyd Robinson and Earl Battey each put one in the seats and the Twins have a super chance here to celebrate the first playoff series in the city of Minneapolis with a home clinch.

Game 3 in Minnesota

Ray Herbert (18-13, 3.73) v Jack Kralick (18-7, 3.70)

Twins lead series 2-0

Two hurlers with almost identical season records face off here and it goes without saying the Dodger bats need to warm up pronto or else they look doomed.

And they don’t let the side down, exploding here for a whopping 19 hits and powering LA to an emphatic 12-4 win. Elston Howard leads the way with 4 including a double and a triple, while no fewer than six players each drive in a pair of runs. That’s more like it.

Game 4 in Minnesota

John Buzhardt (14-11, 4.30) v Ralph Terry (16-13, 3.27)

Twins lead series 2-1

A couple underrated albeit inconsistent guys up on duty in this one. Bob Purkey has definitely been working hard on his game and the dividend for that has been reaped with a much-improved showing this year. We are expecting that to continue and a strong performance here will do his hopes in that regard the world of good. Rookie Cisco acquitted himself very well in his maiden season and we are prepared for more of the same here.

This ends up being almost two different games merged into one as the early innings continue the tight, pitching-dominant theme before the bats comes alive. They go ahead 4-0 in the 5th only for us to get back on level terms in one swing as Gene Freese smacks a slam. They then erase all 4 of those runs over the ensuing two innings and square the series at 2 with a 9-4 win. Kaline leads the way for them with 4 hits including a homer and 2 RBI. Game. On.

Game 5 in Minnesota

Larry Jackson (1-0, 5.68) v Sandy Koufax (0-1, 7.50)

Twins lead series 3-1

Still so much work for the Twins to do if they are to get their prize, with Koufax – and then Drysdale, if he gets the chance – standing in the way. Some sides need to feel the wall against their back to play at their best, and perhaps this LA outfit is one of them. If the Twins can repeat their game one feat and get 5 off Koufax here, I reckon they are home.

Well they go close, getting 3, but unfortunately give up a few more and this series is headed back west. Sandy K is a bit nervy early, but the Twins fail to capitalise and pay the price, for as soon as he gets some runs to play with – in this case, 3 in the 4th – he settles right down. The Dodgers offence keeps going just to be sure of it, torching Jackson for 8 in 6+, with Howard again the driving force to get the Dodgers a return ticket home for at least one more game.

Game 6 in Los Angeles

Don Drysdale (0-1, 5.14) v Jim Kaat (1-0, 3.00)

Twins lead series 3-2

Everything looks so much simpler on paper, but let me assure you this series is now on a knife-edge. A repeat of Game 2 will get the Twins their trophy, a reversal sends us to a decider.

The latter it is as the Dodgers pull out all the stops for an incredibly gutsy 6-3 win willed on by 30000 Angelenos. Maris and Lynch each belt their 3rd jack of the series, but that’s about all the offence they get as LA just keeps plugging away until the end. It never really looked like we were going to go the distance, but it seems only fitting given how much these two clubs want this title.

Game 7 in Los Angeles

Jack Kralick (18-7, 3.70) v Ray Herbert (18-13, 3.73)

Series tied 3-3

Needless to say this is the biggest start in either Jack Kralick or Ray Herbert’s career and it just goes to show how important rotational depth is. Complicating matters for the Twins in yesterday’s loss is the niggle that Bob Johnson picked up, and after much deliberation he is left out of the lineup.

And still, without him and on the road, the Twins pull off the miracle win, and with much ease as well. A 7-run 4th inning pretty much decides the matter there and then, with Battey and then Allison going deep to break LA’s hearts. Herbert is magnificent, going the distance for the win, while that trade we did with the new World Champs proved a winner for them as Roger Maris is named MVP.

MINNESOTA WINS SERIES 4-3

SERIES MVP: Roger Maris (Minnesota)

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[luckymann]

INS & OUTS

Just one Skipper again losing his way of life this year: Charlie See of the White Sox.


ROSTER MOVES

We execute Ron Kline's final contract year and send Bob Miller, Johnny Blanchard and Gary Geiger to arbitration. A big step up in salaries this year as Free-Agency rules expand (in reality because of the switch to v23, even with me defraying this over two seasons). Gene Freese will be allowed to walk.


SIM ACCURACY





HANGIN' THEM UP

A new version means new ways of sharing things, so here are the players leaving the game this year, listed by JAWS.




Larry Doby is last NeL man standing with Jack's retirement. As I spoke to earlier, it's nice to get a glimpse into what a more complete career would have looked like for early integration guys like JR. He gets nearly double the PAs here compared with the historical, and makes the most of them with a career that should see him into Cooperstown first go.




Some nice careers among the rest, though none I see as plaque-worthy.

[luckymann]

AL 1962 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1962 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Yet another Wagner-Lajoie for the incomparable Mickey Mantle to make it a nice even 10, while Vada Pinson wins his first. A rare RoY / Johnson-Waddell double for Boston's Denny Lemaster, with Sandy Koufax getting his first pitcher gong and Ed Charles the NL Rookie award. Paige Plates to first-time winners Bobby Bolin and Barney Schultz.


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[luckymann]

After this left Juan Pizarro with a "foot contusion" we have immediately and henceforth banned all players from being members of either the Stonemasons or an affiliated gang. Need to keep those tricky ritualistic handshakes out of our clubhouse...

[JackOnAMacYT]

Originally Posted by luckymann

After this left Juan Pizarro with a "foot contusion" we have immediately and henceforth banned all players from being members of either the Stonemasons or an affiliated gang. Need to keep those tricky ritualistic handshakes out of our clubhouse...

I swear that sometimes the game comes up with the most random stuff to get players injured for...

[CubMariner]

Originally Posted by JackOnAMacYT

I swear that sometimes the game comes up with the most random stuff to get players injured for...

I haven't seen it yet...but I'm hoping this is coded in somewhere: https://bluejayhunter.com/2012/08/fl...lls-freak.html

[Brad K]

They're short on types of off field injuries since drugs and violence can't be used anymore.

[luckymann]

Some fantastic Legacies coming in and a logjam along with some decisions falling a certain way means the all-time hits leader will be up for grabs.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1963 Season:

Boston Red Sox: Rico Petrocelli (39.1; 1553 (one-club player))
Chicago White Sox: Tommy John (61.6; 219 GS)
Cincinnati Reds: Joe Morgan (100.4; 1032)
Detroit Tigers: Mickey Lolich (48.0; 496 GS)
Houston Colt .45s: Jim Wynn (55.7; 1426)
New York Mets: Cleon Jones (18.0; 1201 conceded)
Philadelphia Phillies: Dick Allen (58.7; 1070)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Gene Alley (24.2; 1195 (one-club player))
San Francisco Giants: Jim Ray Hart (24.9; 1001 conceded)


Tommy John (61.6; 203 GS) was also eligible for the Yankees, but the White Sox have the higher pick.

Joe Morgan (100.4; 1154) was also eligible for the Colt. 45s, but I decided to give him to Cincy so Wynn could go as a Legacy to Houston.

Pete Rose (79.6; 2722) was also eligible for the Reds, but Morgan’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Willie Horton (26.4; 1515) was also eligible for the Tigers, but Lolich’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 135 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 6 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1962 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Cincinnati Reds (605)
2. Chicago White Sox (525)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (503)
4. Houston Colt .45s (400)
5. Detroit Tigers (528)
6. Boston Red Sox (475; dice roll)
7. San Francisco Giants (624)
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (578)
9. New York Mets (250)
10. Chicago Cubs (364)
11. Washington Senators (373)
12. Kansas City Athletics (444)
13. Baltimore Orioles (475; dice roll)
14. Cleveland Indians (494)
15. St. Louis Cardinals (519)
16. Milwaukee Braves (531; dice roll)
17. Los Angeles Angels (531; dice roll)
18. Minnesota Twins (562)
19. New York Yankees (593)
20. Los Angeles Dodgers (618)


Rounds 2 thru 6

1. New York Mets (250)
2. Chicago Cubs (364)
3. Washington Senators (373)
4. Houston Colt .45s (400)
5. Kansas City Athletics (444)
6. Baltimore Orioles (475; dice roll)
7. Boston Red Sox (475; dice roll)
8. Cleveland Indians (494)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (503)
10. St. Louis Cardinals (519)
11. Chicago White Sox (525)
12. Detroit Tigers (528)
13. Milwaukee Braves (531; dice roll)
14. Los Angeles Angels (531; dice roll)
15. Minnesota Twins (562)
16. Pittsburgh Pirates (578)
17. New York Yankees (593)
18. Cincinnati Reds (605)
19. Los Angeles Dodgers (618)
20. San Francisco Giants (624)


Out of the 135 players in this pool, only 6 are eligible for us – 4 position players and 2 pitchers. That makes the fact that we get a Legacy a bit of both blessing and curse.

Here's how it plays out for us:

1. SS Gene Alley, 22

• Vic Davalilo would possibly have been our first choice were he still available and Gene wasn't a Legacy. But with Dick Groat's departure imminent, we now have a candidate ready to fill his shoes.

2. C Ron Brand, 22

• Very much on the fringe but the self-imposed restrictions certainly improve his chances of MLB action no end.

3. P Chris Zachary, 18

• 3-for-3 with eligibles to this point, which greatly surprises me. Chris is a fairly handy reliever who will no doubt be part of our BP at some point in the future.

4. P Tom Parsons, 23

• Yet another eligible player, although if Tom ends up in our squad either he has improved greatly or we have regressed by an even bigger amount.

5. 2B Jack Damaska, 25 (ineligible)
6. P Jay Dahl, 17 (ineligible)

• Ineligibles and at any rate AAA filler only.

Not the unmitigated disaster we were braced for.


FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

Nothing doing at C-Town this year, with both Monte Irvin and Sam Bankhead just missing out.

[luckymann]

Not far to go now to get our roster in line, and we hook a big one here, although it takes a well-baited line to do so.

Johnny Pod won 116 games for us and was briefly under consideration for the third nominated CC spot, but they pushed for him in this trade along with Mack, saved for a swap just like this, and so we went with it. Sullivan makes it two down, two to go with ineligibles now.


Bob had a decent enough rookie season and remains under team control thru 1966. We'll be looking to lock him down long-term before then.

[luckymann]

In a not-so-gentle foregrounding of an end to the Yanks’ dominance, the Dodgers – led by a devastating and finally harnessed Sandy Koufax – sweep them aside in four straight after each had notched relatively straightforward pennant wins.


AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (104-57)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Giants (103-62)
WORLD SERIES: Los Angeles Dodgers (99-63

Pittsburgh Pirates: 74-88, 8th in NL

AL MVP: Elston Howard (Yankees)
NL MVP: Sandy Koufax (Dodgers)

AL CYA: not given
NL CYA: Sandy Koufax (Dodgers)

AL RoY: Gary Peters (White Sox)
NL RoY: Pete Rose (Reds)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HANK AARON, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 121 runs, 201 hits, 29 doubles, 44 home runs, 130 RBIs, 78 walks, 31 stolen bases, .586 slugging percentage.
• Aaron never won a triple crown, but he came closest to one in 1963, finishing seven batting points behind NL leader Tommy Davis. He homered on the season’s final day to grab a co-share of the NL crown (with Willie McCovey), and hit a whopping .414 with runners in scoring position.

2. WILLIE MAYS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 115 runs, 187 hits, 32 doubles, 7 triples, 38 home runs, 103 RBIs.
• With all the power surrounding him in the lineup (Cepeda, McCovey, et al), why bother to steal bases? Mays’ eight swipes were far below the average of nearly 30 over his previous eight seasons.

3. ORLANDO CEPEDA, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .316 average, 100 runs, 183 hits, 33 doubles, 34 home runs, 97 RBIs, 10 hit-by-pitches.
• The Baby Bull raged to the finish, hitting .370 with 15 homers after July 31.

4. WILLIE MCCOVEY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .280 average, 103 runs, 19 doubles, 5 triples, 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, 11 hit-by-pitches.
• In the ongoing tussle over who got to play first base for the Giants, McCovey deferred to Cepeda, took the outfield and went about leading the NL in home runs for the first of three times; 15 of his blasts took place during a 24-game hit streak, the majors’ longest in 1963.

5. VADA PINSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .313 average, 96 runs, 204 hits, 37 doubles, 14 triples, 22 home runs, 106 RBIs, 27 stolen bases.
• With a fifth outstanding season to begin his career, Pinson’s path to the Hall of Fame looked to have little or no potholes—but barely age 25, this was as good as it got for him.

6. BILL WHITE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .304 average, 106 runs, 200 hits, 26 doubles, 8 triples, 27 home runs, 109 RBIs.
• The first baseman was the most prolific force on a Cardinals’ roster that hit (by far) a major league-best .271 and seemed immune to the big drop in offense due to the expansion of the strike zone.

7. BILLY WILLIAMS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 87 runs, 175 hits, 36 doubles, 9 triples, 25 home runs, 95 RBIs.
• Williams finally gave Ernie Banks some long-sought protection—alas, just as Banks to begin the downhill slide of his career.

8. FRANK ROBINSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 140 games, .259 average, 79 runs, 21 home runs, 91 RBIs, 81 walks, 20 intentional walks, 14 hit-by-pitches, 26 stolen bases.
• Even an off-year like the one tolerated by Robinson would have been a good one for so many other major leaguers.

9. JOHNNY CALLISON, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .284 average, 96 runs, 178 hits, 36 doubles, 11 triples, 26 home runs, 78 RBIs.
• On a Phillies team turning the corner toward pennant contention, the young Oklahoman became one of the more trusted bats in the lineup; he achieved the Phillies’ only cycle between 1934-94.

10. DICK GROAT, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 85 runs, 201 runs, 43 doubles, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 73 RBIs.
• Groat flourished in St. Louis after a trade from the Pirates—who said they couldn’t win another pennant with him.

AL Hitters

1. BOB ALLISON, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .271 average, 99 runs, 25 doubles, 35 home runs, 91 RBIs, 90 walks.
• In a year where three Twins (Allison, Harmon Killebrew and Jimmie Hall) hit at least 33 homers but couldn’t knock in 100, Allison managed to be the closest to just scoring 100 runs in the entire league; it’s the first time no AL player plated triple-digits since 1906.

2. AL KALINE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 89 runs, 172 hits, 27 home runs, 101 RBIs, 12 intentional walks.
• Kaline didn’t miss a beat a year after suffering the first major injury of his career.

3. CARL YASTRZEMSKI, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 91 runs, 183 hits, 40 doubles, 14 home runs, 68 RBIs, 95 walks, .418 on-base percentage.
• Yaz didn’t yet possess the power numbers to scare the pants off opposing pitchers, but he kept them wary in so many other ways.

4. HARMON KILLEBREW, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 142 games, .258 average, 88 runs, 45 home runs, 96 RBIs, 72 walks, .555 slugging percentage.
• Not so surprisingly given his home run-to-RBI ratio, 27 of Killer’s 45 homers were of the solo variety.

5. TOM TRESH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .269 average, 91 runs, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 25 home runs, 71 RBIs, 83 walks.
• After taking Rookie of the Year honors the season before, Tresh stayed fresh for a worthy (and arguably better) sophomore effort.

6. DICK STUART, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .261 average, 81 runs, 160 hits, 25 doubles, 42 home runs, 118 RBIs, 24 grounded into double plays.
• The former Pirate set career highs in homers and RBIs at Boston while leading all first basemen in errors for the sixth time in six years—which is why he is was sarcastically nicknamed “Dr. Strangeglove.”

7. PETE WARD, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 80 runs, 177 hits, 34 doubles, 6 triples, 22 home runs, 84 RBIs.
• In a year of dueling White Sox rookies, Ward receiving The Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year award while teammate Gary Peters was similarly honored by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

8. JIMMIE HALL, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .260 average, 88 runs, 33 home runs, 80 RBIs.
• The rookie who finished third in the BBWAA vote to Ward and Peters blasted 26 of his 33 homers after July 1; his power totals would gradually diminish over the next five years before crashing to low single-digits by 1968.

9. ELSTON HOWARD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 135 games, .287 average, 28 home runs, 85 RBIs.
• Though other players had better offensive numbers, Howard gained the AL MVP for his Yogi Berra-like productivity at the plate and behind it—and because he filled the power void emptied out by an injured Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.

10. ALBIE PEARSON, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 92 runs, 176 hits, 26 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 47 RBIs, 92 walks, 17 stolen bases.
• Pearson continued to give the Angels a lot of legitimacy at the top of the order, even if the same couldn’t be said for those batting behind him.

NL Pitchers

1. SANDY KOUFAX, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 1.88 ERA, 25 wins, 5 losses, .833 win percentage, 40 starts, 20 complete games, 11 shutouts, 311 innings, 58 walks, 306 strikeouts.
• The expanded strike zone was music to the ears of Koufax, not to mention most others on this list—all of whom loved firing the high strike. Among the Sandman’s highlights was a consecutive scoreless-inning streak of 33, the longest of his career.

2. DICK ELLSWORTH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.11 ERA, .688 win percentage, 22 wins, 10 losses, 37 starts, 290.2 innings.
• Ellsworth’s stellar season highly contrasted his seven other years at Chicago, from which he combined for a 62-100 record.

3. JUAN MARICHAL, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.41 ERA, 25 wins, 8 losses, .758 win percentage, 40 starts, 321.1 innings, 61 walks, 248 strikeouts.
• It could be debated what the more impressive feat for Marichal in his bust-out season was: Throwing his lone career no-hitter (and the first by a Latino major leaguer), or his 16-inning shutout over Warren Spahn and the Braves.

4. BOB FRIEND, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 17 wins, 16 losses, 38 starts, 268.2 innings, 44 walks, 29 grounded into double plays.
• As usual, Friend had to fight for every victory as the 3.4 runs per start was as low as any of his earlier years with the Bad News Bucs of the 1950s.

5. WARREN SPAHN, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 2.60 ERA, 23 wins, 7 losses, .767 win percentage, 33 starts, 22 complete games, 7 shutouts, 259.2 innings, 49 walks, 35 grounded into double plays.
• One last great hurrah for the 42-year-old Spahn, whose knees would finally betray him the following year; he led the NL for the seventh straight year in complete games. Last note: Spahn’s first game included Mel Ott and Paul Waner in the lineup; his last, in 1965, included Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

6. LARRY JACKSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.55 ERA, 14 wins, 18 losses, 37 starts, 275 innings, 54 walks, 28 grounded into double plays.
• Despite a career-low ERA, Jackson recorded his first sub-.500 ledger since his 1955 rookie year; it didn’t help that he lost his last seven decisions.

7. CURT SIMMONS, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.48 ERA, 15 wins, 9 losses, 32 starts, 232.2 innings, 48 walks.
• Like Spahn, one of the few remaining active major leaguers who began his career in the 1940s, Simmons posted his best ERA over a 20-year life in the bigs.

8. DON DRYSDALE, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.63 ERA, 19 wins, 17 losses, 42 starts, 315.1 innings, 57 walks, 25 grounded into double plays.
• The guy demoted to Koufax sidekick status was deprived of what should have easily been a second straight 20-win campaign because his run support collapsed from 5.7 in 1962 to 3.4 in 1963. (The Dodgers averaged less than two runs every time he lost.)

9. JIM MALONEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.77 ERA, 23 wins, 7 losses, .767 win percentage. 33 starts, 6 shutouts, 250.1 innings, 19 wild pitches, 265 strikeouts.
• Only Sandy Koufax allowed a lower opposing batting average than the hard-throwing Maloney’s .202 figure.

10. RON PERRANOSKI, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 1.67 ERA, 16 wins, 3 losses, .842 win percentage, 21 saves, 69 appearances, 129 innings.
• Even if any team could knock Sandy Koufax out of the box, they likely would have had to next contend with reliever Perranoski; sometimes, that was the harder task.

AL Pitchers

1. GARY PETERS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.33 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, .704 win percentage, 41 appearances, 30 starts, 243 innings.
• Officially a rookie despite four straight years of late-season call-ups, Peters let the White Sox know what they’d been missing.

2. JIM BOUTON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.53 ERA, 21 wins, 7 losses, .750 win percentage, 40 appearances, 30 starts, 6 shutouts, 249.1 innings.
• The breakout campaign of future Ball Four author Bouton made him, for now, more celebrated than notorious.

3. WHITEY FORD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.74 ERA, 24 wins, 7 losses, .774 win percentage, 37 starts, 269.1 innings, 56 walks, 30 grounded into double plays.
• Ford ran his record in the three-year Ralph Houk era (to date) to 66-19 as his walk rate, once an issue, was diminished down to a career low 1.87 per nine innings.

4. CAMILO PASCUAL, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.46 ERA, 21 wins, 9 losses, .700 win percentage, 31 starts, 18 complete games, 248.1 innings, 10 wild pitches, 202 strikeouts.
• No one was happier at the Met than Pascual, who was 11-3 with a 1.89 ERA when starting at Metropolitan Stadium.

5. JUAN PIZARRO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.39 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses, 32 appearances, 28 starts, 214.2 innings.
• White Sox were enjoying life in the Pizarro World before shoulder pains put a halt to the Puerto Rico native’s season at the end of August—thus robbing him of a shot at 20 wins.

6. AL DOWNING, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.56 ERA, 13 wins, 5 losses, .722 win percentage, 22 starts, 175.2 innings.
• A stellar career start for the 22-year-old New Jersey kid, who joined the Yankees from the minors in early June and tossed a two-hit shutout in his first start at Washington.

7. STEVE BARBER, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.75 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 36 starts, 258.2 innings, 28 grounded into double plays.
• The 25-year-old southpaw became the first Oriole to win 20 games since the team relocated from St. Louis 10 years earlier.

8. RAY HERBERT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.25 ERA, 13 wins, 10 losses, 33 starts, 7 shutouts, 224.2 innings, 35 walks, 28 grounded into double plays.
• The first five victories of the year for Herbert were all shutouts—including four in a row, resulting in a streak of 38 consecutive scoreless innings thrown.

9. DICK RADATZ, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.97 ERA, 15 wins, 6 losses, .714 win percentage, 23 saves, 66 appearances, 132.1 innings, 13 intentional walks.
• The prototypical 1960s closer, Radatz was often called not to finish the last inning but the last two; his 11.0 Ks per nine innings, especially from a reliever, were impressive for the time.

10. RALPH TERRY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.22 ERA, 17 wins, 15 losses, 40 appearances, 37 starts, 18 complete games, 268 innings, 39 walks.
• Terry’s brief reign as workhorse peaked by leading the AL in starts for the second straight year.

[luckymann]

While I am so looking forward to the budget and payroll becoming close enough to be a factor in decisions without needing house rules to govern behaviour, the vast differential in financial between v22 and v23 is rather clunky. So I have split the difference in the hope of somewhat smoothing the gradient over the next few years. Still, it is impossible to ignore the vast difference in newly-signed and previously-signed contracts.

So it is little surprise that we do indeed see our first million-dollar contract, with Jim O’Toole gleaning that honour. By the end of an otherwise uneventful offseason, there had been 4 signed above that mark led by Roger Maris’s deal with the BoSox.

Here are the key transactions:

• OF Roger Maris: Red Sox, 7 years / $1588000
• C John Romano: Athletics, 5 years / $1292000 (extension)
• P Jim O’Toole: Cubs, 5 years / $1248000 (extension)
• 1B Bill White: Phillies, 4 years / $1118000
• 1B Norm Siebern: Braves, 5 years / $980000
• OF Felix Mantilla: Cardinals, 4 years / $816000
• P Harvey Haddix: Phillies, 3 years / $600000
• 3B Frank Malzone: Yankees, 4 years / $592000
• 3B Hank Thompson: Giants, 3 years / $580000 (extension)
• 3B Al Smith: Phillies, 4 years / $544000
• SS Ron Hansen: Giants, 5 years / $524000 (extension)
• OF Frank Howard: Indians, 4 years / $467000 (extension)
• C Clay Dalrymple: White Sox, 4 years / $434000 (extension)
• P Jack Kralick: Dodgers, 3 years / $387000 (extension)
• OF Bob Skinner: Colt .45s, 3 years / $345000
• P Don Mossi: Red Sox, 2 years / $320000
• 3B Bob Johnson: Twins, 4 years / $217800 (extension)

• SS Gair Allie and P Wayne Carlander from Indians to Phillies for C Jesse Gonder and P Gerry Arrigo
• 2B Ken Hubbs from Cubs to Mets for P Lindy McDaniel

Another strong ST for our group at 12-6 with no injury news of note. Sadly that is not the case for a few other clubs, with the following key losses sustained:

• Athletics - SS Tom Tresh (concussion), season
• Braves - P Tom Borland (elbow), season
• Orioles - P George Perez (UCL), season

ALL TRANSACTIONS


The BNN boffins picked the quinella last year and have put us on top narrowly, along with the Tigers in the AL. They see The Mick giving that HR record a decent rattle as well, a feat I see as more likely than us topping the NL standings, I'm afraid.


FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

You know it - the Buccos' page is HERE.


No doubt we'll be competitive as usual, but again I do think we're a step behind a few of our rivals - the Jints, Dodgers and Cubs in particular, with the Phils also looking like they are headed in the right direction.

The plan is to just let Blanchard play out his final year and walk, unless we can swing a worthwhile deal for him. We need a long-term catcher to replace him, whatever the case.

3B is another weakness, but we're just going to have to make do as we have Schofield, Pagan and now Alley on the books, along with Maxvill at AAA. Sweating on Felipe Alou to improve defensively at CF. For this season, he and Pops will both be getting switched out late in close games for Geiger and Virdon. Both of these guys, however, are in their final contract year with us so we again need a longer-term fix if Flip doesn't come to the party.

I'm neither playing it cagily cool nor lowering expectations strategically when I say that we will be satisfied with anything above 500 this season.

[luckymann]

So just Blanchard and Geiger to go now.






We now have both Hal Smith the catchers on our books after picking up the 1960 home run hero version off the WW and we immediately installed him as the backup catcher at the parent club, with Daley off to AAA. We'll be looking to use some of our excess pitching to plug those other gaps I mentioned, if possible. Otherwise the Draft beckons.