History of Baseball - OOTP19 version

[JaBurns]

Just thinking no Mickey Lolich or Denny McLain with the ‘68 Tigers to repeat that classic World Series.

[Tiger Fan]

Originally Posted by JaBurns

Just thinking no Mickey Lolich or Denny McLain with the ‘68 Tigers to repeat that classic World Series.

I was just going to write a sentence or two on Lolich and McLain but those who follow this dynasty know there are not too many short comments on a player or team from me. I got carried away once again here with a deeper comparison of the 1968 Tigers in real-life and what they have in the sim, so here it is.



Bottom line is without those two arms and, to a lesser extent, a pair of bats this is a completely different team. They had no control over McLain who started with a different organization but they traded away Lolich in his rookie pro season and dealt away Mickey Stanley as well. The other key piece missing is Norm Cash but he began the sim as White Sox property so Detroit can't be faulted here.


Unfortunately it is looking next to impossible for 1968 to be the Tigers year. The strength of the team that year was the pitching led by McLain and Lolich, with McLain having an incredible 31-6 season. The Tigers primarily used a 4-man rotation and of the four only Joe Sparma, the ex-Ohio State quarterback, remains a Tiger in the sim.

In real life McLain began his career in the White Sox organization but in 1962 was selected by Detroit in a type of Rule V draft at the time when the Sox chose to protect Bruce Howard and Dave DeBusschere instead of McLain. In the sim it looks like the Harlan Smokies - McLain's first pro team - show up as unaffiliated so his contract was immediately purchased by the St Louis Cardinals. As a result, McLain is a Cardinal and not a Tiger in this sim. I am using 3-year recalculate so we will see what happens next year but after an 8-16 season in 1967, 31-6 seems a long ways off for McLain in 1968. As a sidenote, if McLain gets a big ratings jump the Cardinals could suddenly be very good next season with a rotation that includes Bob Gibson, McLain, Nelson Briles, Mel Stottlemyre and a young Steve Carlton.

So while the Tigers never really got a shot at McLain in the sim, they basically gave away Mickey Lolich. In June of 1959, Lolich's first pro season, the then 18 year old Lolich was dealt to Washington along with fringe major leaguer Harlan Calkins in exchange for 25 year old 3B Jim Davenport. Davenport would start 4 seasons for the Tigers and be a reserve for 2 more before being dealt to the expansion version of the Senators in 1966. He is now 33 and still active as a lifetime .265 hitter in 1261 career games. Lolich, meanwhile, is a 3-time all-star and the 1966 Cy Young winner after going 20-8 with an AL best 1.71 era a year ago. This season, the now 26 year old was 18-6 with a 2.37 era to help lead the Twins to the World Series.

The Tigers #3 starter in '68 was Earl Wilson. The real life Wilson had won a career best 22 games in 1967 but would go just 13-12 in 1968. In real life he began as Boston property and was dealt to Detroit in June of 1966 for Don Demeter so it is no surprise the sim Tigers never had a shot at him. The sim Wilson got released as a minor leaguer by the Red Sox at a young age, signed with Pittsburgh and then was drafted twice in the expansion draft - by the Senators in 1961 and the Mets the following year. He had a few relief appearances with Pittsburgh and Washington but did not become a major league regular until 1962 with the Mets. He is now 33 years old in 1967 and coming off an 11-13, 3.43 year for the Mets and is 55-71 for his big league career.

My sim 1967 Tigers do still have Joe Sparma, the #4 starter on the real life 1968 team. Sparma, is 25 and coming off of a 13-9, 3.60 season in 1967 in the sim, his first in as a member of the Tiger rotation. Instead of McLain and Lolich, the top end of the Tigers rotation in the sim consists of the following:

Sonny Siebert - The 30 year old was 16-11 this year and is 60-44 over his 5 year major league career with the Tigers. Detroit picked him up from Cleveland in 1961 in a deal that sent aging slugger Vic Wertz to the Indians. Wertz played 2086 games and hit 262 homeruns in his career, but it was played entirely with the White Sox. The Sox released the 36 year old after the 1961 season. Detroit signed him a week later and dealt him to Cleveland for Siebert that off-season and he retired a month later leaving the Tribe with nothing for Siebert. The real-life Siebert had some decent years through the early 1970's so is a welcome addition to the Lolich and McLainless (if that's a word) Tigers.

George Burnett - The Tigers #2 starter also came in a deal as a minor leaguer from Cleveland. He missed much of 1966 in the sim with arm troubles but was 13-17 with a 3.40 era as a 31 year old this season.

Other than those two and Sparma there is not much in the way of starting pitching. Joe Bierly went 6-12 for the 1967 Tigers and has had a good major league career with the Mets and Kansas City before Detroit signed him as a free agent last winter - the A's had cut him loose after an 11-12, 3.07 season. You have not heard of the real life Bierly because his pro career consisted of 19 appearances for the 1956 Aberdeen Pheasants before disappearing from the game. A quick google search turned up his obituary and it seems Joe spent 33 years as a high school teacher and baseball coach. His minor league career ended after one season as he was drafted into the army.

Detroit still has youngsters Pat Dobson, John Hiller and Jon Warden, who were relievers on the real life 1968 team. They also retain Bob Bruce in the sim. In real life Bruce was dealt to Houston in 1961 but in the sim he has remained with Detroit is 82-78 in his career, 7-14 with a 5.10 era in 1967 as a 34 year old.

Offensively the Tigers are much the same as the real life 1968 club. Bill Freehan is still the catcher, Jim Northrup, Al Kaline and Willie Horton patrol the outfield, Dick McAuliffe and Don Wert man second and third. However, 25 year old centerfielder Mickey Stanley and veteran first baseman Norm Cash are long gone. Shortstop Ray Oyler and his .135 batting average is also missing (he is playing AAA in the Braves system in the sim) but has been replaced by Tommy Helms, who was cut loose by Cincinnati and signed by the Tigers as a minor leaguer a few years back.

Norm Cash is especially missed by the Tigers. The now 32 year old began his real life career with the White Sox before coming to Detroit in 1960. In the sim the White Sox never dealt him and Cash is coming off a 27 homerun season. The 2-time all-star and 3 time gold glove winner in the sim is now 32 and a lifetime .271 hitter with 265 homeruns. In his place the sim-Tigers have 29 year old Deron Johnson. Labelled the "Next Mickey Mantle" in real life (nothing worse for a young player then that kind of pressure) when the Yankees signed him out of high school, Johnson has bounced around in the sim just like in real-life, but has been Detroit's first baseman the past three seasons. This year he hit just .224 with 11 homeruns in 159 games.

Also gone is Mickey Stanley. Stanley was a backup outfielder in real life to start the 1968 season but he ended up playing 153 games because Al Kaline suffered a broken arm during the year. The sim Kaline has remained very healthy so far and is an 8-time all-star plus a winner of the 1958 MVP award. Kaline is now 32 and coming off of a .292,33,97 season to give him 2,561 career hits and 323 homeruns- putting him ahead of real life pace ( 2,228 and 304 at this point). The sim Stanley just made his major league debut this season (turning 25 years of age 3 months ago) and hit .241 with 6 homers in 52 games for the Pirates. Pittsburgh acquired the then teenage Stanley from Detroit in 1962 in exchange for pitcher Bob Purkey. Purkey is now retired but did win 17 games for the Tigers in 1963 and remained with the club through the 1965 season.

So in summary, I feel very safe in predicting there will be no World Series in 1968 for my Tigers. There are some lean years coming I am afraid. I just have to hope the Tigers don't deal the young talent coming in the mid-to-late 1970's (Tram, Whitaker, Morris, Parrish etc) and we can still celebrate around 1984.

[Tiger Fan]

WORLD SERIES GAME 3- TWINS RESPOND IN A BIG WAY

If there was any concern about the Minnesota Twins ability to rebound from two heart-breaking walk-off losses to start the World Series, the club put an end to doubters early in game three of the 1967 World Series. Minnesota scored 5 runs in the third inning and won a laugher by a 10-2 score over the Los Angeles Dodgers to cut the Dodgers lead in the Series to 2 games to one.

Playing the first ever World Series game at Metropolitan Stadium, the Twins rode the bats of their middle infielders and the arm of twenty-game winner Jim Kaat to victory. Second baseman Rod Carew had a 4-hit game and scored twice while shortstop Zoilo Versalles was 3-for-3 with 2 rbi's and a run before giving way to John Donaldson, who also had a hit. The 28 year old Kaat, who was a career best 20-4 during the season, allowed just 4 Dodger hits in going the distance. Meanwhile, Minnesota bats had a field day beating up young Dodger righthander Don Sutton, who looked nothing like the 19 game winner he was during the season. Sutton lasted just 4 innings, allowing 10 runs on 14 hits.

Minnesota slugger Harmon Killebrew set the tone for the Twins with a homerun to lead-off the second inning. It came after Sutton retired the first three Twins in order in the first inning including back to back strikeouts of Carew and Reggie Smith. Killebrew, who hit a major league leading 46 homeruns during the season, but was 0-for-7 in Los Angeles during games 1 and 2, made a statement with a 462 foot monster shot that landed well past the centerfield fence. Although Sutton got out of the inning with no further damage, the blast clearly rattled the 22 year old pitcher and Minnesota pounced on him the next inning, scoring 5 times to take complete control of the game.

It is now up to the Dodgers to try and respond from the 16 hit beating they took at the hands of the Twins when they meet tomorrow for game four.

[Tiger Fan]

WORLD SERIES GAME 4
DODGERS ANSWER WITH GAME 4 BLOWOUT WIN

After getting their hats handed to them in Game Three the Los Angeles Dodgers proved they can pack an offensive punch of their own with a 9-1 drubbing of the Minnesota Twins in Game Four of the 1967 World Series. The Dodgers, after being embarrassed in a 10-2 loss yesterday, responded with a big offensive effort today allowing them to take a commanding 3 games to one lead in the Series.

The Dodgers jumped on Minnesota starter Jim Merritt right from the first pitch - literally- as lead-off man Willie Davis slapped Merritt's initial offering into right field for a single. One out later Roberto Clemente plated Davis with a double and then Clemente would trot home on Frank Howard's first of two homeruns on the day. The Dodgers would score two more runs in the second and were leading 7-0 when Merritt exited the game in the fifth inning.

Los Angeles starter Bill Singer, who was 18-8 during the season and making his first career World Series start, made it one to remember with a complete game 4-hitter. The only blemish on his day came in the 7th inning when, comfortably ahead 8-0, Singer allowed Joe Foy to rip a triple down the line. Foy would score on Zoilo Versalles ground out. It was likely a case of Singer letting up a bit after retiring Harmon Killebrew for the third time one batter before. Killebrew, who lifted the Twins with a big homerun yesterday, didn't get a ball out of the infield on this day, until he slapped a harmless single up the middle in the ninth inning for the Twins final hit of the day.

After Killebrew got the Twins going yesterday, it was Frank Howard's turn today. The Dodgers slugger homered twice in the contest, adding a 9th inning shot to go with his first inning blast. It was a fitting response from Howard, who won't admit it but is often thought to have a chip on his shoulder whenever the name Harmon Killebrew comes up. The two have been forever linked since each was named rookie of the year in their respective leagues in 1958 with both being projected as top power hitters pencilled into the number four spot in the order on their respective teams. Howard has been very good in Los Angeles but his numbers pale in comparison to what Killebrew has done for the Twins (formerly Senators) organization.

Both are 31 year old sluggers with 10 years major league experience. Killebrew has much better numbers: 6 all-star appearances, 376 career homers and a lifetime .295 batting average compared to Howard's single all-star berth, 220 homeruns and a .269 batting average. Each had an outstanding season this year with Howard (.291,31,101) setting career bests in homers and rbi's. Killebrew (.295,46,130) led the American League in homers for the 4th time in his career and rbi's for the first time.

Plenty of other Dodgers joined Howard in putting up good numbers on this day. Lead-off man Willie Davis was 4-for-5 with 3 runs scored while Clemente had 3 hits. Wes Parker, who had 5 hits in the first two games, has cooled a little but still added a hit today and drove in a pair of runs to give him a Series leading 6 rbi's. Parker is batting .467 and has at least one hit in each of the 4 games.

[Tiger Fan]

WORLD SERIES GAME 5
TWINS STAY ALIVE WITH 6-1 WIN

The Minnesota Twins live to play at least one more game after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 at home today to cut the Dodgers lead in the 1967 World Series to 3 games to two. It looked like this might be the end of the line for the Twins as Dodgers hurler Don Drysdale rolled through the first 5 innings with a 1-0 lead but the Twins bats finally came alive with 3 runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings to put the game away.

Although he did not factor in the decision, Minnesota starting pitcher Mickey Lolich was outstanding, allowing just 3 hits through 5 innings but left for a pinch-hitter trailing 1-0 thanks to a John Roseboro homerun. Meanwhile, Drysdale was holding the Twins off the scoresheet until things fell apart for the veteran in the sixth inning. It was a death by thousand cuts as Minnesota scored 3 runs on 5 singles that barely left the infield and a walk. Pat Kelly started the rally with a lead-off single and then proceed to steal both second and third base. After Rod Carew struck out, Reggie Smith hit a bloop single just out of the reach of Dodger first baseman Wes Parker to plate Kelly with the tying run.

From there things went from bad to worse for the Dodgers as the Twins loaded the bases on a walk to Harmon Killebrew and an infield single from Joe Foy. The turning point came when the Dodgers, trying to keep the game tied, elected to play the infield in. Zolio Versalles and Pablo Mitchell each singled through the drawn in infield to put Minnesota up 3-1. Both hits appeared to have been easy double play balls had the Dodgers not drawn the infield in. Minnesota sent 9 men to the plate in the inning and the damage could have been much worse but they left the bases loaded thanks to a questionable decision to let Camilo Pascual hit for himself. In hindsight it was the right move as Pascual got through 2 scoreless innings before turning the ball over to Kenneth Dyson to complete the victory.

The normally stoic Drysdale became completely unnerved in the bottom of 7th after allowing a lead-off single to Pat Kelly for the second inning in a row. Drysdale then walked Rod Carew and hit Reggie Smith with a pitch to load the bases. After he walked Killebrew to bring in a run and make the score 4-1, Drysdale's day was done. Before reliever Phil Ortega could get out of the jam the Twins had plated two more runs, both charged to Drysdale, to make it 6-1.

After a travel day tomorrow the series shifts west to Los Angeles for Game Six and, if necessary, Seven.

[JaBurns]

Thank you for the detail on the Tigers. I thought that might inspire a response but I had no idea of all the detail. First MLB game I ever attended was in Tiger Stadium in 1968 against the Twins. I vividly remember the game and amount of devastation from the riots near the stadium. I also remember Dave DeBusschere as New York Knick and I think as a member of the White Sox.

[Tiger Fan]

Originally Posted by JaBurns

First MLB game I ever attended was in Tiger Stadium in 1968 against the Twins. I vividly remember the game and amount of devastation from the riots near the stadium. I also remember Dave DeBusschere as New York Knick and I think as a member of the White Sox.

Nice. First MLB game I went to was also at Tiger Stadium but not until ‘75. Speaking of riots, I worked in radio for awhile and had a press pass for all 3 games of the 84 series in Detroit. Was driving out of the city when they were burning police cars after the final game. Did a 30 second sound bite from in my car describing it that made the wire and got picked up by stations across Canada for newscasts. Got a cheque for it too. Think it was about $5. Little scary in the car myself getting out of there as a 20 year old but well worth it to be at all 3 games. Still have a press pass somewhere signed by Sparky, Dick Williams and Tony Gwynn.

[JaBurns]

Find and frame that signed press pass.

[Tiger Fan]

WORLD SERIES GAME 6
TWINS WIN TO FORCE A 7th GAME

The Minnesota Twins forced a Game Seven with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Six of the 1967 World Series. The Twins will now attempt to complete a comeback from a 3 games to one deficit by winning tomorrow and if successful it will be the franchise's first World Championship since 1938. Dave Boswell and reliever Camilo Pascual combine to hold the Dodgers to 1 run on 3 hits as they outpitched Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax and the LA bullpen. Koufax finished with no decision after allowing 1 run on 4 hits through 7 innings.

It marks the third straight World Series elimination game that Koufax pitched in but the Dodgers failed to win. Koufax did not get a decision in this one as the loss went to reliever Turk Farrell but the two previous times Koufax pitched with the World Series title on the line he lost. In 1964 he came up on the losing end of a 1-0 score against the Yankees Whitey Ford in Game Five but teammate Don Drysdale won the next game to give the Dodgers the series in 6. That 1-0 games was one of the best pitched by both teams in World Series history. Koufax and Ford each went the distance allowing 4 hits with the only run coming on an Oscar Rodriguez rbi single in the top of the ninth. Koufax had much less success three years early in the 1961 series, when trailing 3 games to one to the same Yankees, Koufax lasted just 3 innings, giving up 7 runs in a 7-4 loss to give New York the series in 5. Despite a 194-119 career record and 3 Cy Young Awards, Koufax is just 2-4 in 10 World Series appearances.

You can't blame Koufax for this loss though. He and Boswell were both dominant early as the game was scoreless through 6 innings. The Dodgers failed to capitalize on a 2-out triple by Roberto Clemente in the first inning and the Twins missed an opportunity to score with runners on the corners and one out in the fourth. Other than that both pitchers cruised through the first 5 innings. In the bottom of the sixth Twins starter Dave Boswell struck out the side.

Boswell was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 7th and that hitter, Tony Taylor worked Koufax for a walk to load the bases with two out. Pat Kelly followed with a Texas Leaguer to score Joe Foy and break the scoreless tie. Koufax struck out Rod Carew with the bases still loaded but the Twins now led 1-0 heading to the bottom of the 7th.

Camilo Pascual, who pitched two scoreless innings the last game, took over on the mound for Minnesota and was immediately greeted with a lead-off homerun from Bernie Allen to start the home half of the seventh and tie the game at 1. Pascaul retired the next three batters but not without some excitement as Billy Grabarkewitz lifted a long fly ball that Reggie Smith hauled in at the wall to keep the game tied.

Turk Farrell took over for Koufax to start the 8th with the heart of the order coming up for the Twins. Like Pascaul, Farrell was greeted with a lead-off homerun as Reggie Smith gave the Twins a 2-1 lead. The lead would be 3-1 by the time the inning was over as Ernie Banks hit a key single to score Graig Nettles and give the Twins some insurance. It was nice to see Banks redeem himself a bit for his error that helped cost the Twins Game Two.

Pascual pitched a 1-2-3 8th and the Twins were now just 3 outs away from forcing a seventh game. First up for the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth was Roberto Clemente, who had tripled in the first. Pascual got him to fly out to left field for the first out. He then struck out Frank Howard before getting Bernie Allen to fly out to centerfielder Reggie Smith and end the game, giving the Twins a 3-1 win and forcing a Game Seven.

GAME SEVEN
The Dodgers must be feeling the pressure now having missed two opportunities to clinch the series with veterans Drysdale and Koufax on the mound. Now the question is do they go with 22 year old Don Sutton, who was 19-8 with a 2.01 era during the season but got rocked for 10 runs and 14 hits in 4 innings of Game Three or do they give the ball to a slightly tired 23 year old Bill Singer, 18-8, 2.12 during the season, and won Game Four 9-1 with a complete game 4-hitter. The Twins will counter with 28 year old Jim Kaat, who was 20-4 with a 2.41 era during the season and allowed only 4 Dodger hits in a 10-2 win in Game Three.

[Tiger Fan]

TWINS WIN GAME 7!

Jim Kaat pitched a complete game shutout to lead the Minnesota Twins to a World Series championship over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Twins, who trailed 3 games to one in the series before winning 3 straight, capped the comeback with a 2-0 victory in Game Seven despite only being able to get 4 hits in the contest. Both Minnesota runs came in the top of the seventh inning on a 2-run single off the bat of Pablo Mitchell. It was Kaat, who was 20-4 during the regular season, that was the real hero of the game. He scattered 7 hits, striking out 4 and walking one for his second victory of the series.

For his efforts Kaat was rewarded with the Series MVP award. In addition to the win in Game Seven, Kaat went the distance in Game Three - won 10-2 by Minnesota. The World Series win was the first for the team based in Minnesota, just it's third overall and first since 1938. For the Dodgers it is another season of disappointment, especially hard due to the fact they blew a 3-games to one lead. Despite averaging 97 wins over the past seven seasons the Dodgers have just 1 World Series title and 3 pennants to show for it.

Kaat and Dodger starter Bill Singer both pitched extremely well although Singer nearly got into big trouble in the first inning as the Twins threatened when Rod Carew singled and moved to third on a 2 out double from Harmon Killebrew but Singer got out of the jam unscathed. The Twins survived a scare in the third with runners on the corners and one out Kaat got Wes Parker to ground into an inning ending doubleplay to keep the game scoreless. In the bottom of the sixth the Dodgers had runners on first and second with one out but Jim Kaat struck out Frank Howard and Johnny Wehas to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

The Twins opened the seventh inning with a Harmon Killebrew single followed by a double from Joe Foy to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Graig Nettles came in the game to pinch-hit but grounded out to second base against a drawn in infield, which forced the runners to hold. However, Pablo Mitchell followed with a sharp single to score both runners and put the Twins ahead 2-0. Turk Farrell relieved Singer and ended the inning with no further damage.

Kaat now took the mound in the bottom of the 7th having his first lead of the game. He retired the Dodgers in order in the 7th and got through the 8th inning allowing just a single to Willie Davis. After the Twins failed to extend their lead in the top of the ninth, Kaat returned to the mound for the bottom half of the inning just 3 outs away from winning the World Series.

Frank Howard led off the ninth for the Dodgers and lifted a lazy fly ball to left field that Pablo Mitchell hauled in for the first out. Johnny Werhas lined out to first baseman Killebrew for the second out leaving it all up to John Roseboro. Roseboro kept the Dodgers hopes alive with a single up the middle to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of pinch-hitter Ted Sizemore. Sizemore hit a sharp grounder down the third base line but Joe Foy snagged it and made the quick throw to second base to force Roseboro and end the game giving the Twins the World Series.

[DreamTeams]

Great series Tiger fan. Was hoping my Dodgers would pull through, but man did they choke. Nice comeback by the Twinkies.

[Tiger Fan]

Originally Posted by DreamTeams

Great series Tiger fan. Was hoping my Dodgers would pull through, but man did they choke. Nice comeback by the Twinkies.

I wish the Dodgers had let Koufax pitch longer in Game Six. Pinch-hitting for him in the 7th might have been the difference in the series. Funny how he has been so dominant all along through the regular season but just 2-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 10 World Series appearances (9 starts) and LA lost each of the last 3 elimination games he pitched. Although he was 0-1 and and gave up just 1 run in each of his two no decisions.

It was a great comeback by the Twins and capped quite a season for Jim Kaat. 20-4 with a 2.41 era and 2-0 in the Series.

[JaBurns]

On to 1968, don’t look back someone may be catching you, to steal a phrase.

[Tiger Fan]

A bit of a stats dump here for anyone interested. Final 1967 standings as well as all players who had enough at bats to qualify for batting title and stats for all pitchers with at least 5 victories.

For anyone reading this who doesn't know, you can click on the image and open it in a new window at full size - which will make it much easier to read.

[Tiger Fan]

1967 AWARD WINNERS

Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax was named both the National League Cy Young Award winner and Most Valuable Player. It was the fourth Cy Young, and second in a row, for the 31 year old lefthander who also claimed the third MVP award of his career. Koufax led the NL in all 3 pitching triple crown categories going 20-8 with a 1.96 era and 285 strikeouts. Koufax has led the league in strikeouts 11 straight season and now has 3116 for his career, good for third all-time and just 144 k's shy of Walter Johnson's record 3260.

Koufax was a unanimous choice for the Cy Young, getting all 20 first place votes. Dodgers teammates Don Sutton and Bill Singer finished second and third. Here are the Cy Young voting results for the National League:

NAME		TM  1stPlace  Total PTS
Sandy Koufax	LA    20      140
Don Sutton	LA     0       79
Bill Singer	LA     0       57
Luis Tiant      PIT    0       38
Bob Gibson	STL    0       15
Juan Marichal   SF     0       10
Dave Giusti	HOU    0	1

Dick Allen of Philadelphia, who hit .304 with 32 homers and 106 rbi's finished second behind Koufax in the NL MVP voting. Here are the results:

NAME		TM  1stPlace  Total PTS
Sandy Koufax	LA     15 	239
Dick Allen	PHI	5	184
Joe Torre	Atl	0	139
Don Sutton	LA	0	123
Bill Singer	LA	0	 77
Jim Ray Hart	SF	0	 73
Frank Howard	LA	0	 67
Lou Brock	CHI	0	 61
Hank Aaron	ATL	0	 59
Pete Rose	CIN	0	 43
Joe Morgan	HOU	0	 42
Luis Tiant	PIT	0	 31
Bob Gibson	StL	0	 12
Juan Marichal	SF	0	 11
Ron Santo	CHN	0	  7
Rico Carty	ATL	0 	  5
Tom Seaver	NYM	0	  3
Dave Guisti	HOU	0	  2
Wes Parker	LA	0	  1
Mike Cuellar	HOU	0	  1

World Series champion Harmon Killebrew, who led the majors in homeruns with 46 and rbi's with 130, was named the Most Valuable Player in the American League. The 31 year old first baseman hit .295 for the Minnesota Twins and won the award for the firt time in his career. Killebrew recieved 11 out of 20 first place votes. Cleveland pitcher Sam McDowell received the other 9 first place votes. McDowell won the Cy Young Award for the second time in his career. The 25 year old Indians lefthander was 25-8 with a 1.80 era while leading the major leagues with a career best 300 strikeouts. Here are the American League MVP and Cy Young voting results.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
NAME		 TM  1stPlace  Total PTS
Harmon Killebrew MIN	11	235
Sam McDowell	 CLE	 9	209
Reggie Jackson	 OAK	 0	131
Willie Horton	 DET	 0	129
Al Kaline	 DET	 0	119
Don Lukaszewski  CLE	 0	 78
Mickey Lolich	 MIN	 0	 65
Reggie Smith	 MIN	 0	 59
Duke Sims	 CLE	 0	 56
Carl Yastremski  BOS	 0	 54
Joe Foy		 MIN	 0	 19
Tommie Agee	 CLE	 0	 10
Tony Conigliaro  BOS	 0	  5
Orlando Cepeda	 BOS	 0	  4
Jim Kaat	 MIN	 0	  3
Jim Fregosi	 CAL	 0	  2
Pablo Mitchell	 MIN	 0	  1
Mack Jones	 CLE	 0	  1

AMERICAN LEAGUE CY YOUNG AWARD
NAME		TM  1stPlace  Total PTS
Sam McDowell	CLE	20	140
Mickey Lolich	MIN	 0	 80
Jim Kaat	MIN	 0	 60
Steve Hargan	CLE	 0	 36
Dave Boswell	MIN	 0	 15
Dean Chance	BAL	 0	  8
Jim Merritt	MIN	 0	  1

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Outfielders Carlos May of the California Angels and Danny Walton of the Houston Astros were named rookies of the year in their respective leagues. The 19 year old May hit .272 in 136 games for the Angels with 9 homers and 62 rbi's. He was a unanimous winner with Roy White of the Yankees finishing second. The National League race was tighter as Walton, who hit .226 with 19 homers and 60 rbi's edged out Pittsburgh infielder Richie Hebner and Reds catcher Johnny Bench for the award. Hebner hit .258 with 10 homers and 51 rbi's while Bench batted .252 with 13 homeruns and 49 rbi's.

Here are results of each vote:

AMERICAN LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
NAME		TM  1stPlace  Total PTS
Carlos May	CAL	20	100
Roy White	NYY	 0	 60
Roger Freed	BAL	 0	 16
Dave Nelson	CHA	 0	  2
Richard Haines	NYY	 0	  1
Tom Phoebus	BAL	 0	  1

NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
NAME		TM  1stPlace  Total PTS
Danny Walton	HOU	12 	73
Richie Hebner	PIT	 6      60
Johnny Bench	CIN	 2	46
Ted Simmons	STL	 0       1

NOTABLE PLAYERS TO MAKE THEIR PRO DEBUT FOR 1968
Here are some of the newcomers who have signed their first professional contract. Most are still a few years away from the major leagues.
Thurman Munson Yankees
Greg Luzinski Phillies
Tim Foli Mets
Bobby Valentine Dodgers
Bill Buckner Dodgers
Joe Ferguson Dodgers
Doyle Alexander Dodgers
Gary Matthews Giants
Milt Wilcox Reds
Lynn McGlothlen Red Sox
Cecil Cooper Red Sox
Bill Lee Red Sox
Ken Forsch Astros


TRADES OF NOTE OVER THE WINTER MEETINGS
A couple of big deals highlighted the winter meetings with the largest seeing the Philadelphia Phillies send 29 year old outfielder Tony Oliva (.250,11,57) to the Cardinals in exchange for 26 year old pitcher Mel Stottlemyre (12-14, 2.78).

Meanwhile the Los Angeles Dodgers made a couple of moves that saw them give up some of their youth. Los Angeles sent promising minor league pitcher Alan Foster and 22 year old second base prospect Davey Lopes to the White Sox in exchange for 30 year old pitcher Joe Horlen (11-15, 3.88) and minor league infielder Marty Perez. Next, the Dodgers added 37 year old reliever Don McMahon from Atlanta for minor league outfielder Angel Macias. McMahon was 5-10 with 18 saves for the Braves this past season. Finally, Los Angeles shipped 17 year old Bill Buckner to the Mets for veteran shortstop Luis Aparicio (.236,0,9).

The White Sox signed free agent reliever Hoyt Wilhelm after he was released by Cincinnati and then promptly dealt him to Minnesota in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers in 18 year old Rick Dempsey and 19 year old Steve Braun. The 45 year old Wilhelm was 3-6 with 7 saves and a 4.54 era for the Reds in 28 games this past season. Braun was later flipped by the White Sox to the Yankees along with AAA pitcher Gary Waslewski for minor leaguers Mike Ferraro, a 23 year old 3B and 20 year old pitcher Steve Kline.

Finally, San Francisco sent catcher Tom Haller (.241,7,35) to Baltimore for 30 year old first baseman Pete Ward (.244,19,63) and rookie Roger Freed (.180,8,31).

NEXT UP
My Hall of Fame ballot and bios of the first time eligible candidates who are: Gus Bell, Ned Garver, Jackie Jenson, Sherm Lollar, Sal Maglie, Kent Peterson, Red Schoendienst, Bobby Shantz, Bobby Thomson and Eddie Yost.

[crawdad5000]

Originally Posted by Tiger Fan

Last update for the night. Just watched Bill Singer and the Dodgers blank the Mets 4-0 only to see that the Giants kept pace with a 5-4 win over Philadelphia.

The National League regular season ends in a tie and tomorrow we will get Sandy Koufax vs Gaylord Perry with a berth in the World Series on the line.

Here are the box scores from today's games.

Looking at your box score, and Ken Singleton in CF, I can only assume that Tommie Agee is still on the Whitesox? Did you know that Agee and Cleon Jones were boyhood friends in Mobile Alabama?

[crawdad5000]

Originally Posted by Tiger Fan

Speaking of Koufax, he also threw his first career no-hitter this season. The only other one so far this year came from Kansas City Athletics rookie Fred Norman.

Norman, a 24 year old, has been a huge surprise for the A's. He was called up September 1st and won his major league debut 10-2 over Detroit before no-hitting the Indians in just his second career start. He followed that up with a complete game, 4-hit shutout of Minnesota before beating California 4-2 two days ago. At 4-0 with a 1.06 era, 3 complete games with 22 strikeouts vs 10 walks, the A's are hoping Norman could develop into a future star but it is more likely just an anomaly as Norman's minor league numbers are not overly impressive.

I live outside of Dayton Ohio, work for the Dragons, check my avatar. What's cool about Fred Norman is he just got elected to the Reds hall-of-fame. The last starting pitcher from the big red machine of the mid 70's to have been elected.

[Tiger Fan]

Originally Posted by crawdad5000

Looking at your box score, and Ken Singleton in CF, I can only assume that Tommie Agee is still on the Whitesox? Did you know that Agee and Cleon Jones were boyhood friends in Mobile Alabama?

At work now so not able to double check but I am almost 100% certain Agee is with Cleveland.

[Tiger Fan]

HALL OF FAME BALLOT

Here are the first time eligible players. Unlike last year when Ted Williams made his debut on the ballot there is no sure fire Hall of Fame candidate to be inducted on the first ballot but there are players worthy of consideration.

GUS BELL
The 4-time all-star spent all but the final season of his 15 year major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bell broke with the Bucs playing 13 games in September 1948 as a 19 year old and became a fixture in the Pirates outfield the following season. He would play 1818 career major league games with all but the last 14 of those contests in a Pirates uniform. Pittsburgh released him in spring training 1962 and he would play briefly with the Kansas City Athletics that season but spent most of the year - his final in baseball - in the Pacific Coast League. The Pirates were the worst team in the National League for much of his tenure with the organization.

Bell won 2 gold gloves for his work in leftfield and 5 silver slugger awards. He finished with a career .300 batting average. He led the National League in batting in 1952 when he hit .350, retiring with 2083 career hits and 224 homeruns. In real life Bell hit .281 for his career with 1823 hits and 206 homers in 1741 games. Like in the sim he was a 4-time all-star in real life.

VERDICT - A solid outfielder but certainly falls well short of Hall of Famer quality.


NED GARVER
The righthander spent almost his entire career as a reliever. He made his major league debut with the Indians in 1947 and spent his entire big league career in Cleveland, finishing with a 66-76 record and 46 saves. Garver's only individual accolade came in 1956 when he was selected to the American League all-star team. He was on back to back pennant winning teams in 1950-51 but the Indians lost to the Phillies both times in the World Series. In 1951, Garver started two games in the Series but lost both of them to Robin Roberts by 2-0 and 4-2 scores with Roberts pitching 4-hit complete games in both.

In real life Garver started 330 of his 402 career major league appearances, going 239-257 with a 3.73 era. He was an all-star once in real, just as was the case in the sim.

VERDICT - No idea how he even got included on the ballot. Certainly not Hall of Fame quality.

JACKIE JENSEN
Jenson was American League rookie of the year in 1951 when he hit .304 in 150 games playing right field for the Boston Red Sox. He would also win a gold glove, 2 silver slugger awards and be named to the all-star team 4 times in his career. Jensen spent 8 and a half years with the Red Sox before being traded to the Phillies for 3 players in 1959. His career was over 3 years later, lasting just 1,564 games. He was a lifetime .274 hitter with 1,585 career hits including 197 homeruns. A solid player, Jensen hit over 20 homeruns in a season 6 times.

The real life Jensen was an All-American in both baseball and football at the University of California winning the College World Series and playing in the Rose Bowl. He signed with the Oakland Oaks in 1949 and his contract, along with Billy Martin's, was sold to the Yankees the following season. He was a 3 time all-star and named the American League MVP in 1958 but retired prior to the 1960 season in a large part due to an intense fear of flying. He had a brief comeback in 1961 before retiring for good. In 1.438 games Jsensen hit .279 with 1,463 hits and 199 homeruns.

VERDICT - A solid but short career leaves Jensen on the outside when I cast my Hall of Fame ballot.

[Tiger Fan]

HALL OF FAME CANDIDATES (continued)

SHERM LOLLAR
Hard to be a much more decorated player than Lollar as the long time Indians catcher was a 13-time all-star, won 8 gold gloves, 5 silver slugger awards and was named American League rookie of the year in 1944. He also appeared in 6 World Series with the Indians, but was on the winning team for just one of them. He played in 36 World Series games but hit just .169 with 3 homers and 11 rbi's in them. Lollar stayed with the Indians and was their starting catcher until age began to catch up with him 1961, when he appeared in just 79 games for Cleveland. Exposed in the expansion draft, he was the second player selected by the Houston Colt 45s and finished his career by playing one season with the new National League entry.

Lollar never led the league in any offensive category but was a career .267 hitter, playing 2,213 games while getting 2,058 hits including 243 homeruns. Only Mickey Cochrane and Rick Ferrell, with 9 each won more gold gloves at catcher than Lollar. Cochrane is in the Hall of Fame and Ferrell maybe should be.

The real-life Lollar was a 9-time all-star and won 3 gold gloves but was often overshadowed by Yogi Berra (unlike in the sim as for much of it Berra was a National Leaguer). Lollar played less games in real life, just 1.752 but hit .264 with 1415 hits and 155 homeruns.

VERDICT - The gold gloves alone at catcher make a huge case for his selection. I am not sure I would consider him a first ballot hall of famer (if one is going to reserve the first ballot induction for the true superstars) but I think he certainly did enough to be worthy of election at some point. He will get my vote.



SAL MAGLIE
Maglie is one of a bunch of guys (some who played back in the twenties) that suddenly appeared for the first time on the ballot. All are pitchers and none of whom are Hall of Fame material. Maglie for example was 106-118 in a career that saw him make 2 all-star teams but his only award was a gold glove in 1955. He only won as many as 15 games in a season once in his career and only had 7 seasons of 10 or more wins. He also never pitched in a post-season game. I won't do a detailed bio on him unless someone wants it.

Others like him that showed up on the ballot for the first time but retired before the sixties began include:

Ballplayer Burham - a guy who went 133-182 from 1919-30 for the Reds. No awards
Watty Clark - Was 124-145 with no awards for 3 teams between 1924-37
Hooks Dauss - pitched from 1911-1929 for 7 teams winning a reliever of the year award. Had a long career as an average pitcher.
Bill Doak- 1910-27 for 5 teams, was 133-193 with 1 gold glove award and 1 World Series title
Mel Harder - 1928-47 for 4 teams. Did win 203 games but lost 277. 2 gold glove awards
C Holmes - 1933-46. Was 108-130 for the Dodgers and Braves
Jing Johnson- 1916-30. 86-1133 for 5 different times. Did win a World Series
Charlie Schmutz- 1910-27. Pitched for 10 teams and was rookie of the year when he went 16-22 for the 1910 Braves. 12 year career saw him finish with a 149-189 career record.
Al J Smith - 1934-45. 125-83 over a career with the Cubs and Red Sox. Did make 1 all-star team and won a World Series.
Tully Sparks - 1896-1912 - 139-230 over his career with 5 teams.
Ed "Satchelfoot" Wells- 1924-1935 Was 91-80 for 3 major league teams



Not sure why they are appearing. Perhaps there is a minimum number of names that most show on the ballot and there are not enough current retiring players that meet the minimum standards. Anyway, back to the actual first time qualifiers.


KENT PETERSON
Peterson retired in 1961 after a 13 year career with the Reds but has no business being on the ballot. He led the National League in saves with 24 in 1960 and pitched on a World Series winner that season but the bulk of his career saw him average about 40 innings a year as a reliever. He broke in 1946 and was 10-12 as a starter that season and followed it up with a terrific 18-5, 2.99 campaign in 1947 at the age of 21 but after going 6-13, 3.74 the following season he was banished to the bullpen for the remainder of his career. I will not include his career stats image because there really isn't much of value.

VERDICT - Does not belong on the ballot.

RED SCHOENDIENST
Maybe better known for his managerial career with the Cardinals than as a player the real life Hall of Famer had a solid sim career. The second baseman won 3 gold gloves after breaking in with the Cardinals in 1944. He hit .331 that season and was named National League rookie of the year. After 10 seasons that included 5 pennants and 3 World Series titles with the Cardinals, Schoendienst was dealt to the Phillies in exchange for Gus Zernial and Turk Farrell.

He would play 5 seasons in Philadelphia, winning another pennant before being released in 1959 at the age of 36. He joined the Kansas City Athletics briefly in 1960 and also played a few games with the Cardinals and Twins in 1962 before retiring. The final numbers for Schoendienst are 2,160 career major league games, a .302 lifetime average with 2,615 career hits and 88 homers. He won 3 Silver Stick awards and was a 3-time all-star as well as a member of 3 World Series winners and played in 6 World Series, hitting .292 in 35 games. He ranks 53rd all-time in regular season hits and 90th in career games played. He also ranks 28th in career World Series hits and 35th in World Series games played.

His real life numbers were 2,216 games played over 19 years. He had 2,449 career hits with 84 homers and a .289 lifetime average. Schoendienst was a 10 time all-star in real life and won 2 World Series rings.