AGE 30-Who Was the Best of the Big 3?

 

TRIVIA WINNER: The answer to last weeks question was 77-77 or .500 as the average of course for wins and losses in a league must be equal. The Prize: 40 points toward the person's total.

NEW TRIVIA CONTEST: You will still be required to enter the drawing as usual. However,  through the end of 2024 you will get points depending on the complexity of the questions. Enter each week and correct answers will get those points-one guess per person per week. The reader with the most points after the years final column will get a $50 Starbucks Gift Card. Ties will be placed into a drawing. Questions will be worth anywhere from 10-25 points depending on degree of difficulty. Questions will be more difficult as the year goes on, so you are never really out of the mix. Tell your friends and sports fans who like trivia. We will keep track of your points. - YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN.

NEW TRIVIA QUESTION:  How many times did Cy Young win or lose at least 20 games in a season?  Hint: A season in which he won and lost 20 or more counts as two. Total 10 Points.

Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays or Hank Aaron? At age 30 they were all in the middle of their great careers. Some would say they were at the beginning of the end. Maybe so. Here is the breakdown, In the final analysis, Year 30 belonged to Mantle; Hands Down.

The Yankee slugger turned 30 during 1962 and while he played in fewer games he was named the MVP of the American League. He only batted 377 times and smacked 30 homers while driving in 89 Runs and Scoring 96 more, he did hit .321. He also led the league in OB%, Slugging % and OPS. The Yankees won the pennant that year and beat the Giants and Mays in the World Series.

Mays on the other hand turned 30 in 1961 and had one of his better seasons in the 1960s. He batted .308 while batting 572 times and scoring a league leading 129 Runs. He cracked 40 homes and drove in 123. It was the season before he got to face Mantle in the World Series. He chipped in with 176 hits and 32 doubles.

For Aaron it was a down season in the midst of several 40 homer years. He only hit 24 in his 30th year which was 1964. He did bat .328 while going to the plate 570 times. He scored 103 rungs, had more hits than the other two with 187 but only drove in 95 RBI. Aaron would have many better seasons in later years, as it just turned out 1964 when he turned 30, for him it was an off season. It would be a "career year" for average players.

Thirty was the traditional benchmark year for players in the 60s, and if they lasted until 35, it was mainly as a hanging on pinch-hitter. These three however, made their mark in great fashion.

TRIVIA CONTEST; Enter via the following email. Send 1) your answer to the trivia question at the top of the column, 2) your name, address and email so where we know where to send the card if you win 3) any comment you have on the column. One winner will be selected at the end of the calendar year based on the total points acquired via weekly contests.

                              brillpro@gmail.com 
 ==========================================================
I've written more than a dozen books including at least two sports books. You can find these at my Amazon page or at my own website www.bobbrillbooks.com. Please take a look at the sports books, the western novel series or the "Tattoo Murder," which is a crime book set in Ventura, CA.

Use PayPal to brillpro@prodigy.net or contact us at the same email for other payment. 

Thank you to those of you who purchased my books after reading this column.  

Just a note to add; If you look at the top right hand corner of the side bar you will see a link to daily sports scores. We made an agreement with Baseball 24 in a mutual sharing situation. Hope its helpful to fans of several sports.

 

Pete Mikkelsen - Rent A Pitcher

 

TRIVIA WINNER: The answer to last weeks question was Bob Brill, as an 11 year-old in his first year in the majors in San Fernando Little League, struck out his first 12 times he came to the plate. His 13th time up he got an infield hit, stole second, scored a run and also had an assist playing third base in the field. It was a tough season. Two of you got the correct answer. The Prize: 40 points toward the person's total.

NEW TRIVIA CONTEST: You will still be required to enter the drawing as usual. However,  through the end of 2024 you will get points depending on the complexity of the questions. Enter each week and correct answers will get those points-one guess per person per week. The reader with the most points after the years final column will get a $50 Starbucks Gift Card. Ties will be placed into a drawing. Questions will be worth anywhere from 10-25 points depending on degree of difficulty. Questions will be more difficult as the year goes on, so you are never really out of the mix. Tell your friends and sports fans who like trivia. We will keep track of your points. - YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN.

NEW TRIVIA QUESTION:  In 1950 five Major League teams won 90+ games. What was the average won-loss record for MLB that season?  Total 30 Points.

 The 1964 New York Yankees did everything right except win the World Series, falling to the Cardinals and Ken Boyer. It would be the last season of the Yankee Dynasty, winning 99 games for Yogi Berra. The big three cracked 88 home runs between them, led by Mickey Mantle's 35, Roger Maris had 26 and Joe Pepitone added 28. But this story is not about the top players, it's about a relief pitcher who became a rent-a-player.

                                 

Pete Mikkelsen was the closer for the Yankees with 12 Saves. In the World Series he pitched in four games, finished three and did not Save any. He did lose his only decision and had a 5.79 ERA, giving up a three run homer to Tim McCarver as the low-light of his WS experience. He would play most of one more season in New York, and started three games while making making 41 appearances. As the Yankees started their slide into oblivion, he was sent to Pittsburgh which needed relief help.

In the off season he was dealt for long-time Pirate Bob Friend. The season was one in which the Pirates blossomed as a phenomenal hitting team. Unfortunately for Buc fans, there was very little pitching.  Mikkelsen became the Closer, Saving 14 games with a 3.07 ERA. The next season he was let go during the year and was picked up by the Cubs. He would pitch in only 11 games before he was traded to the Cardinals in a four player swap involving Jack Lamabe. 

When the season ended he was dealt to the Dodgers where he finished out his career. In his short lived Cardinals season he pitched 16 innings in five games with an ERA of 1.13. He found a home in Los Angeles, pitching in four seasons and finished 24-17, and in two of those years his ERA was under 3.00, with 20 total Saves. 

He never made it back to the post season and died in 2006 at the age of 67. While his career was never of All-Star caliber he'll be remembered as a player who contributed, especially in Pittsburgh.

TRIVIA CONTEST; Enter via the following email. Send 1) your answer to the trivia question at the top of the column, 2) your name, address and email so where we know where to send the card if you win 3) any comment you have on the column. One winner will be selected at the end of the calendar year based on the total points acquired via weekly contests.

                              brillpro@gmail.com 
 ==========================================================
I've written more than a dozen books including at least two sports books. You can find these at my Amazon page or at my own website www.bobbrillbooks.com. Please take a look at the sports books, the western novel series or the "Tattoo Murder," which is a crime book set in Ventura, CA.

Use PayPal to brillpro@prodigy.net or contact us at the same email for other payment. 

Thank you to those of you who purchased my books after reading this column.  

Just a note to add; If you look at the top right hand corner of the side bar you will see a link to daily sports scores. We made an agreement with Baseball 24 in a mutual sharing situation. Hope its helpful to fans of several sports.