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The Underdog World Series Winners

TRIVIA QUESTION: While the 1969 Orioles and the 1961 Yankees went into the World Series with seasonal records of 109 wins, which "favored" team went into a Series in the 1960s with the least number of wins?
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN:  The Seattle Pilots only played the one season in the big leagues and only three players hit home runs in double figures. Don Mincher, a renown power hitter belted 25, Wayne Comer banged 15 and Greg Goosen smacked 10. Of the 125 the club hit 40 % were hit by these three.

In the decade of the 1960s, six of the ten years the underdog (based on wins and losses during the regular season) actually overcame the odds and became World Champions. With the current series between the Washington Nationals (93 wins) and the Houston Astros (107 wins) we chose to explore those who overcame the odds to win baseball's ultimate prize.

In 1960 no one expected the Pittsburgh Pirates to beat the super powerful Yankees. Statistically it should not have been. The Bucs hadn't won a World Series in 35 years (1925 over the then Washington Senators). The last time Pittsburgh played in a World Series was 1927 when they were swept in four games by the Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig led Yanks. That New York team is still considered the "greatest team of all time." 

(In this video despite the announcer saying "Art Ditmar throws" it was Ralph Terry)

New York outscored Pittsburgh, out homered Pittsburgh (10-4) and in the three wins they beat the Pirates 16-3, 10-0 and 12-0. They even had the World Series MVP in second baseman Bobby Richardson (the only team to lose the Series and have the MVP). But the Battlin' Bucs would not go away and with a fluke play or two in the final game, the stage was set for the Greatest Walk Off Home Run ever. In the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 9-9, the other second baseman (who already hit one homer in the series and hit two of the four homers the Pirates had in the Series) belted the second pitch he saw over the left field score board for the game winner 10-9 and the Bucs Seven Game victory.

In 1962 it was the Yankees turn to come from underdog status. The San Francisco Giants won 103 games to the Yanks 96. Again the Series went seven games and it was MVP Ralph Terry who was the hero. He'd split two decisions going into Game 7 and hurled a 4-hit 1-0 shutout of the powerful Giants. The lone run scored when in the fifth Tony Kubek came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. He rolled into a double play and the run scored without an RBI.

The Yankees were victims again in both 1963 & 1964. In '63 they faced the Dodgers behind the marvelous pitching of Sandy Koufax, who allowed only three runs in winning games one and four while going the distance in both. Don Drysdale pitched a shutout for another win and Johnny Podres went eight and a third in the other. New York scored four runs on 22 hits and the only homers came from Mickey Mantle and Tom Tresh. The team BA was .171. The Dodgers weren't much better at .214 and three home runs.

In 1964 it was the St. Louis Cardinals turn to turn the tide on New York. This series went seven games and Bob Gibson (2-1) getting the MVP. He clinched Game 7 with a 7-5 win, while New York's Jim Bouton won two for New York. The Series perhaps turned on Game 5 with the teams each winning two. Gibson was masterful in going the distance in the 10-inning duel, giving up only two unearned runs on six hits while striking out 13. Mantle hit three homers in his final World Series.

The 1965 World Series was a first for the Minnesota Twins who rode power and pitching and the MVP status of shortstop Zoilo Versalles to 102 wins versus the Dodgers 97 wins. It was an amazing series with the home team winning each of the first six games. In game seven in Minnesota it was Ace and Series MVP Sandy Koufax against 18 game winner Jim Kaat. 

The lone runs in the 2-0 win for the Dodgers came in the fourth when Sweet Lou Johnson led off with his second homer of the series. He hit only 12 all year. After Ron Fairly doubled, Wes Parker singled him home and the rest was up to Koufax. He pitched a 3-hit shutout, walked no one and struck out 10. The Twins hit six homers but batted only .195 against Dodger pitching. 

The final underdog team in the 1960s to win the World Series were, like the Pirates to open the decade, REAL underdogs to close the decade. The New York Mets with 100 wins were no match on paper for the 109 win Baltimore Orioles. The Mets took pitching, defense, timely hitting by utility players and some good old fashioned determination and enthusiasm as well as "destiny" to win the Series in five games.

Baltimore won the first and the Mets swept the final four with MVP Donn Clendenon's two run homer (his third of the series) setting the stage as the Mets won 5-3.

"NEW SPECIAL OFFER"
Need to get out of a baseball hitting slump, or a golf swing slump? Order my new book "Beating the Slump; An athlete's guide to a better career." See it on Amazon for only $5.99. That is for the Paperback, you can also order Kindle on that link. You can also order paperback copies directly from me via the email below for my other books.

You can get a signed paper back copy of the above book

"Tales of My Baseball Youth - a child of the sixties"

for $15 Shipping Included 

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 book after reading this column.

Also: Please check out our new Western Short Film. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/iron-gun-western-feature-film/#/
 
Please share this blog with your friends and colleagues and leave a comment at the bottom of the blog if you have one. Thank YOU VERY MUCH!! Please pick up a copy of my book "Tales of My Baseball Youth; A Child of the 60's" at www.bobbrillbooks.com, or on Amazon.     

Seattle Losers in 20 Innings

TRIVIA QUESTION: Only three Seattle Pilots hit homers in double figures. Who were they?
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN:  The 1969 Mets were full of home grown players including a powerful and future star pitching staff of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Nolan Ryan. Only one pitcher hit a home run for the Mets in 1969's regular season and that was former Cardinal, Phillie and Pirate, Don Cardwell who retired after the 1970 season. Cardwell was no stranger at the plate. In his 14 seasons he hit 15 home runs including five during the 1960 season.

 It wasn't bad enough the Pilots spent only one horrendous year in Seattle before moving to Milwaukee to become the Brewers, but on July 27, 1969 they endured one of the most unlikely finishes a team could handle. Twenty innings of baseball, probably the best baseball this team ever played, only to lose after almost six hours in front of less than 10-thousand fans. Sick Stadium was a ghost town long before it ended.

    (This video is a condensed version of the game.)
 
When Ray Culp took the mound for the Red Sox against Marty Pattin that summer day on the northwest grass field, few figured it would be a marathon. The Pilots had just beaten the Sox the night before 8-5 with Jim Bouton getting his second win and Bobby Locker his 9th save. The day game following was a getaway game for Boston.

The game was scoreless until the seventh with Pattin matching Culp pitch for pitch. Reggie Smith's 21st homer of the season to right field off Pattin made it 1-0. It didn't take the Pilot's long to tie it up. In the eighth Tommy Harper doubled and scored on a single by Steve Hovley. For Harper this was one of his better games. 

The Pilots lead off man would add a single in the 12th for his second hit. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Culp would toss 10 strong innings, giving up only 6 hits and two walks along with the lone run. Relieved in the 11th, a string of pitchers followed. Seven more Red Sox pitchers would hold the Pilots scoreless until Jim Lonborg broke the string in the 19th.

For the Pilots, Pattin went eight innings giving up only four hits and walking one before giving way to six other Seattle pitchers including Bouton and Locker, who both pitched just hours earlier. Steve Barber gave up a double to Carl Yastrzemski with a man on to put the Red Sox ahead 2-1. In the bottom of the inning however, it was Lonborg's turn to give in. Jim Pagliaroni singled to drive in Hovley to tie it at two runs each.

Locker was called on to pitch the 20th and maybe he was overworked after pitching the night before. He opened the 20th inning by committing the cardinal sin. He gave up a single to the opposing pitcher, Lonborg. A failed bunt put Rico Petrocelli on first and Joe Lahoud came to bat. Lahoud blasted a homer giving the Red Sox a 4-2 lead. 

It wasn't over yet, by a long stretch. After George Scott singled Garry Roggenburk was called in to relieve Locker. Just 30 days earlier the Pilots had purchased Roggenburk from the Red Sox and here he was in an epic battle with his ex-team. He promptly uncorked a wild pitch. One out later Russ Gibson singled home Scott and it was a 5-2 game. 

When Seattle came to bat in the bottom of the 20th there were not more than a handful of fans left but they were treated to a mini-show. Lonborg struck out Gordy Lund and pitcher Gene Brabender pinch hit for Roggenburk. He struck out too. Harper came up and blasted his 6th homer of the year pulling the Pilots to within two runs. When John Donaldson walked it looked like this game might be headed for more innings. Up came Hovley again and this time Lonborg got him to ground out to third, preserving the Red Sox 20-inning 5-3 win.

Locker took the loss. Harper had three hits in nine at bats. Of the eight runs, half were scored on homers.

Roggenburk actually played five seasons in the big leagues but this was his last. He was 6-9 lifetime with a 3.64 ERA. Hovley's career also lasted five seasons but this was his first. The Seattle Rookie would hit .278 in 1969 with three of his lifetime eight homers coming that year. He'd end up with Kansas City and a lifetime .258 BA. 

Harper was much more successful albeit with several teams equally over 15 seasons. His good seasons included the Reds, the Red Sox and the Pilots/Brewers. The speedy Harper led the AL in steals with 73 in 1969 and Runs Scored with the Reds in 1965 with 126. He later would be atop the stolen base leaders with the Sox. His lifetime BA was .257 and he retired with 408 stolen bases. Culp spent 11 years as a big league pitcher with two 17-win seasons (1969-1970) and retired with a record of 122-101, adding 22 shutouts.
 

"NEW SPECIAL OFFER"
Need to get out of a baseball hitting slump, or a golf swing slump? Order my new book "Beating the Slump; An athlete's guide to a better career." See it on Amazon for only $5.99. That is for the Paperback, you can also order Kindle on that link. You can also order paperback copies directly from me via the email below for my other books.

You can get a signed paper back copy of the above book

"Tales of My Baseball Youth - a child of the sixties"

for $15 Shipping Included 

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 book after reading this column.

Also: Please check out our new Western Short Film. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/iron-gun-western-feature-film/#/
 
Please share this blog with your friends and colleagues and leave a comment at the bottom of the blog if you have one. Thank YOU VERY MUCH!! Please pick up a copy of my book "Tales of My Baseball Youth; A Child of the 60's" at www.bobbrillbooks.com, or on Amazon.     

1969 Mets Utility Keys

TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was the only Mets pitcher to hit a home run during the regular season in 1969?
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN:  There have only been three tie games in the World Series in the modern era (starting in 1903) and the New York Giants played in two of them. In 1907 the Cubs and Tigers played a tie game in a series won by Chicago 4-0-1. In 1912 the Red Sox beat the Giants in eight games including the tie while in 1922 the Giants were victorious over the Yankees in five games 4-0-1.  

The thing which made the 1969 World Series so interesting, aside from the fact the METS had finally won something, were the players who were key in the clutch. While the Mets played through the regular season with mostly home grown talent, in the World Series it was a handful of cast offs who made the difference.

The regular season Mets won 100 games with mostly players brought up through the system. They may not have been spectacular players but they led the way. Jerry Grote was acquired from Houston and kept the pitching staff in stride all season long from behind the plate. Tommy Agee was picked up from the White Sox (who got him from Cleveland) and he led the club in homers with 26 and batted .271.

Of the 109 homers the club hit, 69 were by guys the team acquired via trade or waivers. Agee led the team in RBI with 76 and as a whole the team batted a lowly .242, good for seventh in the National League. Art Shamsky did hit .300 in a limited role, playing in 100 games.

When it came to the World Series some of the keys were Donn Clendenon (acquired from Montreal after being left unprotected in the expansion draft by Pittsburgh), Ed Charles the former KC A's third baseman, Al Weis who was an all around utility player with the White Sox, Shamsky who once hit four consecutive home runs with the Reds, J.C. Martin of the White Sox and Don Cardwell who pitched for several teams before joining the Mets.

Of those cast offs who led the Mets to the Series win over the Baltimore Orioles, there is no doubt Weis and Clendenon were the biggest contributors. Weis, a career .219 hitter, stroked .455 with a homer and three RBI on five hits. Clendenon, who once hit 28 homers in Pittsburgh, had five hits while batting .357. But what hits he had, including a double and three home runs while driving in four and scoring four.

It was Weis and Clendenon who personally beat the O's in Game Two as the Mets edged Baltimore 2-1. Clendenon had a solo homer and Weis drove in the winning run with a single to back the pitching of Jerry Koosman. Clendenon's two run blast and a solo shot by Weis provided the difference in the Mets Game Five Series clincher, 5-3.

While it was a total team effort (who can forget Ron Swoboda's diving catch) with the Mets pitching being superb, there is no denying Donn and Al were to become folklore heroes. Clendenon would close out his career in 1972 with the Cardinals. He hit 159 homers and had a .274 BA lifetime. His biggest problem was his strikeout ratio. Five times he struck out over 100 times (this was huge in the 1960s), twice leading the league.

Weis retired after the 1971 season. His lifetime .219 batting average coupled with only seven homers during the regular season over a 10 year career, wasn't much to write home about. He came to the Mets in the Tommy Agee trade.

"NEW SPECIAL OFFER"
Need to get out of a baseball hitting slump, or a golf swing slump? Order my new book "Beating the Slump; An athlete's guide to a better career." See it on Amazon for only $5.99. That is for the Paperback, you can also order Kindle on that link. You can also order paperback copies directly from me via the email below for my other books.

You can get a signed paper back copy of the above book

"Tales of My Baseball Youth - a child of the sixties"

for $15 Shipping Included 

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 book after reading this column.

Also: Please check out our new Western Short Film. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/iron-gun-western-feature-film/#/
 
Please share this blog with your friends and colleagues and leave a comment at the bottom of the blog if you have one. Thank YOU VERY MUCH!! Please pick up a copy of my book "Tales of My Baseball Youth; A Child of the 60's" at www.bobbrillbooks.com, or on Amazon.