Baseball in the 1960's

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Brooks the Iron Man

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TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Steven Tighe of Bridgeville, PA, who correctly identified Lew Krause as the Oakland A's pitcher to start the very first A's home game in Oakland April 17, 1968. The Prize this week: Starbucks Gift Card.

NEW TRIVIA CONTEST: IF YOU ANSWER THE TRIVIA QUESTION CORRECTLY YOU WILL BE ENTERED INTO A WEEKLY DRAWING FOR A Starbucks Gift Card. YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN. DON'T FORGET TO PUT YOUR MAILING ADDRESS IN WITH THE ANSWER SO WE CAN SEND YOUR GIFT IF YOU WIN.

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TRIVIA QUESTION: In what year did Brooks Robinson win the MVP of the Major League All-star game?

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: The Oakland A's pitcher who started the A's first home game in the bay area was Lew Krause. The A's opened at home in game six on April 17th, losing to Baltimore and Dave McNally 4-1. They also lost their Road opener to Baltimore on April 10, 3-1

The fact Brooks Robinson was destined to be a Hall of Famer, is a well known fact. Few doubt he is among the best fielding third basemen ever. He was a clutch hitter and a team leader. Four times in his career he either hit above .300 or flirted with it. Six times he cranked at least 20 homers in a season in an era where 20 was considered an accomplishment. What you may not realize is that he was truly an iron man.

(Brooks and Frank in the 1966 World Series)

From 1961-1968 he played in every single game of the season in four of the eight years. In 1963 he played in 161 of the 162. All five times he either led or tied for the league lead in games played. In two of those years he played in 163 games when the schedule called for 162. That in itself may be a record.

In 1961 he led the AL in at bats with 668 while in 1964 he led the league in RBI with 118. It was his finest season batting .317 and banging 28 homers. All three were career highs. For his efforts he was voted the American League's Most Valuable Player. The team finished over .500 but fourth in the AL, 18.5 games behind the Yankees.

When 1966 rolled around and he was teamed with Frank Robinson under Hank Bauer, there was no stopping the Birds. The first World Series against the Dodgers showed complete dominance over a very strong Dodger club.

For all his cat like reactions on the field he left all of that behind on the base paths. Not built for speed he owns the record he wished he did not; hitting into four triple plays in a career, two in one season. Twice he led the league in double plays grounded into. No one said he could run, but he could field, oh how he could field. The 1970 World Series, won by the Orioles over the Reds was a Robinson clinic on fielding.

If ever there was any doubt he belonged at the top of the fielding charts for third basemen, they were erased in that series.

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Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Hunter Makes the Grade in Final KC Home Game

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TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Dave Hubert of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, who correctly identified Bobby Shantz as the former 24-game winner who was tossed in the deal for Lou Brock with Ernie Broglio. The Prize this week: Starbucks Gift Card.

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TRIVIA QUESTION: While Jim Catfish Hunter as you expect started the Opening Day game for the 1968 Oakland A's, who started the first Home Game for the 1968 Oakland A's (it was not Hunter)?

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: The Cubs sent Lou Brock to the Cardinals for a few players but mainly Ernie Broglio but few remember the Cubbies also got former 24 game winner Bobby Shantz in the deal. Shantz, who won 24 years earlier with Philadelphia never came close again in his career.

The final game the Kansas City Athletics ever played at home showed off what the future would hold for a future Hall of Famer. Jim Catfish Hunter took the mound on September 27, 1967 before a robust crowd of the faithful in Kansas City's Municipal Stadium against the Chicago White Sox. Only 5,325 people showed up to say good-bye to Charlie Finley's A's who would move on to Oakland after wrapping up the season on the road against the Yankees in New York. But this day belonged to the Hunter.

(Jim Catfish Hunter at his Best)

Backed by a line-up of guys who at the time were less than spectacular at the plate, Hunter had to be at his best and he was. With lead off man Ted Kubiak carrying a .149 average to the plate along with John Donaldson, Mike Hershberger, Ramon Webster, Rick Monday, Jim Gosger, Sal Bando and Phil Roof, Hunter knew runs would be scarce. While Monday and Bando would go on to have "careers," the others were like the fifth card in a poker hand when you have four Aces. They were place holders.

The Catfish didn't allow a hit until the fifth when Ron Hansen singled. Don Buford singled in the 6th and Tommy McCraw doubled in the 7th. Aside from walks to Buford and Ken Berry, that was it for the White Sox. When Tommie Agee, Ken Boyer and McCraw weekly hit the ball into the air for outs in the ninth, it was all over in KC.

Fortunately, the A's bats came into play. And it was Jim Hunter who got it started. Facing a scoreless duel between himself and Sox Ace Joel Horlen, Hunter led off the 6th with a single. Kubiak singled and Donaldson singled home Hunter who was running for all he was worth to score any run. It was 1-0. That would have stood up, but the A's were inspired.

After Hershberger grounded out moving up the runners, Webster singled in two more, 3-0. Knuckle-baller Wilbur Wood replaced Horlen to face Monday. Monday hit a ground ball to second which Buford muffed. Gosger singled but Ken Berry, playing right field this day instead of center, rifled a throw to the plate to cut down Webster to save a run.

Bob Locker replaced Wood and sent a pitch which the catcher could not handle for a passed ball and Monday scored the unearned run to finish the scoring at 4-0. And it all started and ended with Jim Catfish Hunter. Make no mistake about it, the A's finished 62-99, 29.5 games out of first and last in the American League but their last game in KC was one of their best.

Hunter would complete the shut out to go 13-16, striking out two, walking two and allowing only three hits. He would lose the final game of the season for the KC A's, the final game ever for the KC A's, a few days later in New York, 4-3. He finished the season 13-17. He would go on to win 131 more games with the Oakland A's, reeling off four straight 20 win seasons, before signing with the Yankees and winning 23 in his first season there.

Hunter would finish 224-166 with a 3.26 ERA in an even 500 games. His lifetime WHip was 1.13 which is pretty solid. the Hall of Famer died in 1999 at the age of 53 of Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

1963 Cubs: Lovable Losers Crazy Season

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TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Tim Nathan of Berkley, MI, who correctly identified Woody Fryman and Don Money as the future All Stars Pittsburgh send to Philadelphia in the Jim Bunning trade. The Prize this week: Starbucks Gift Card.

NEW TRIVIA CONTEST: IF YOU ANSWER THE TRIVIA QUESTION CORRECTLY YOU WILL BE ENTERED INTO A WEEKLY DRAWING FOR A Starbucks Gift Card. YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN.

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TRIVIA QUESTION: The Cubs traded Lou Brock to the Cardinals in a six player deal mainly for Ernie Broglio. However, few remember the Cubs also got a former 24 game winning left handed pitcher in the deal. Who was he?

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: The Pittsburgh Pirates sent future All-Star players Don Money and Woodie Fryman to the Phillies in exchange for 19 game winner Jim Bunning in a trade which did not work out for the Bucs.

After 16 straight losing seasons the Chicago Cubs became an enigma of sorts when they finished the 1963 season over .500. Oh, don't be wowed too much. After finishing with an 82-80 record the Cubs would go on a losing streak again for the next three years before finally turning things around and becoming winners. Still, they finished 1963 as winners but were 7th out of 10 teams in the National League, 17 games out of first place.

The season was an enigma because the man who had for so long led the Cubbies had his worst season. Ernie Banks, now playing first base, finished with only 18 homers and a .227 average, limited to just 130 games. On the other hand, starting pitcher Dick Ellsworth had his best season. Ellsworth went 22-10 with a 2.11 ERA and never again even came close. He never won more than 16 in any other season.

Ace reliever Lindy McDaniel picked up 13 wins and Saved 22 in 56 games (88 innings). After Ellsworth no Cub regular starter finished .500. Larry Jackson at 14-18, and Bob Buhl, 11-14 handled the bulk of the starts. The rest of the starters and bullpen were so-so at best.

The club did shine with the bats of two sluggers. Billy Williams and Ron Santo stood out while Banks slumped. They each belted 25 homers and approached 100 RBI. Santo had 99 while Williams drove in 95. Santo hit .297, Williams clocked .286.

It was the year two other players served the Cubs for such a short time. Ken Hubbs, the second baseman who would be killed in a plane crash in the off season was on the verge of stardom at second base, while Lou Brock was set to break out. The 24 year old Brock would lead the team in stolen bases on his way to the Hall of Fame with 24 and a .258 average. Hubbs hit .235 and would participate in 96 double plays at second base. He was just 21. The 1963 season was his second full year and his last.

The 1963 season was Brock's last full year in Chicago before being traded to St. Louis after 52 games into 1964 for Ernie Broglio in one of the most famous "bad moves" ever made in baseball history. Batting only .251 when the trade happened, Brock hit .348 the rest of the way for the Cards.

The Cubs did have some of the best "utility" players in the business but it just proved you can't win with just a bunch of guys who are pedestrian at best, but capable of playing multiple positions. Andre Rodgers, Jimmy Stewart and John Boccabella were three guys who would be valuable on any club. Having all three was not an advantage for the Cubbies or manager Bob Kennedy.

However, they never lost more than six straight but never won more than six straight and never, ever led the NL during the season. The sad thing is even the lovable Cubs failed to draw a million fans, with just over 979,000. It was the year after the rotating manager situation and Kennedy got the full time gig. As for GM John Holland who traded Brock - he stuck around for a number of years after that. Cubs fans never forgave him.

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Jim Bunning = 4 X 19

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TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Nils Westholm, of Springfield, IL, who correctly identified Buzzie Bavasi as the General Manager of the San Diego Padres in 1969 when the team came into existence. The Prize this week: Starbucks Gift Card.

NEW TRIVIA CONTEST: IF YOU ANSWER THE TRIVIA QUESTION CORRECTLY YOU WILL BE ENTERED INTO A WEEKLY DRAWING FOR A Starbucks Gift Card. YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN.

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TRIVIA QUESTION: The Pittsburgh Pirates sent two future All-Stars to the Phillies in what turned out to be an ill-fated trade for Jim Bunning. Who were those two players?

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: Buzzie Bavasi was the GM of the new San Diego Padres in 1969 and his son Peter was the Scouting Director on a team loaded with former Dodger players and execs.

Few pitchers in baseball history can make the claims Jim Bunning could. The future US Senator from Kentucky and baseball Hall of Famer was one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1960s. He never 20 twenty games during the decade; he did that in 1957 (20-8). He did however have four years out of five where he came as close as a pitcher can ever come; four times in five years he won 19 games. The saddest mark coming in the final stretch of 1964 (see final paragraph below).

(Jim Bunning's Perfect Game Final Out - K)

Bunning was an amazing pillar of consistency. From 1960-69 he only failed to win in double figures once which turned out to be the worst season of his career. It was the year the Pirates, looking to bolster a sagging starting staff to back it's Lumber Company powerhouse, acquired Bunning for four players. Bunning left them cold with injuries and was 4-14 in his only full year in Pittsburgh. The Bucs shipped him off to the Dodgers in mid-1969 where he ended with a 13-10 record.

In the 1960's he averaged 259 innings a season, 15 wins, with an ERA mostly in the 2.60 range and strong WHIP. In 1962 he was 19-10 with the Tigers. Two years later the Phillies acquired Bunning and from 1964-1966 he was one of the top right-handers in the big leagues. In those three years he was 57-31 and his WHIP was an amazing 1.03 (approximate), winning 19 games each season.

Bunning struck out 739 batters and walked only 163, in 889 innings. He was an intimidator, leading the league four times in Hit Batsman. He plunked 45 in those three years. It wasn't as if Bunning was wild. He was calculated, pitching inside. He had amazing control while at the same time leading the league in hitting batters was pretty much "I own the plate, don't even try it." The fact he is 13th All Time in hitting batters while striking out nearly three times as many batters as he walked, showed how hitters respected Bunning, or were forced to.

Known for throwing no-hitters in each league, Bunning was dominant pretty much through all of his career. The seven time all-star spent 17 seasons in the big leagues. He finished with 224 wins and 184 losses. A total of 51 of those losses came in his final four seasons as he was playing out the string and hanging on. He still managed to 32 games during that stretch. So if you were to discount those final four years he'd have finished 192-133, or 59 wins over the .500 mark.

(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)

Did we forget to mention he was an outstanding fielding pitcher who four times led his league in fielding his position? In a key modern day statistic, eight times he finished in the top 10 at his position in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) and is 196th overall in the category. On top of that he served six terms in the United States Congress and Two terms in the US Senate. Bunning, who died in 2017, is the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame to serve in the Senate.

Unfortunately, he never got a taste of the post season. The year he came closest was the 1964 Phillies collapse. In that stretch, Bunning won no. 18 but the Phils dropped the next 10 games (three losses going to Bunning) before Bunning won his 19th on the final day of the season and the Cardinals captured the NL title.

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