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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Lou Brock Set the Tone from the Start

 

FOR MORE GENERAL TRIVIA CHECK OUT MY YouTube Channel ! 

 TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Steve Wade of McKinney, TX who correctly named the Dodgers and Braves as the two teams which drafted Tom Seaver, but who eventually after some legal wrangling, signed with the Mets and became a legend. The Prize: 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: While Lou Brock was not considered a "slugger"he did strike out an inordinate number of times for a lead off hitter for the time period. How many times did Brock "K" at least 100 times in a season during his career?  
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: The Dodgers and Braves were the two teams which drafted but were unable to secure the rights to Tom Seaver who eventually signed with the NY Mets.

You might say Lou Brock set the tone for a Hall of Fame career almost as soon as his trade from the Cubs to the Cardinals was complete. The date of the trade which sent Brock to St. Louis, essentially for Ernie Broglio was June 15, 1964. Brock would arrive that same day and fail as a pinch-hitter in the Cards 9-3 loss to Houston. However, he was ready the following day.


Brock started in right field against the Colt 45's and proceeded to show off the speed the Cardinals so sorely lacked at the time. Batting second in the order behind Curt Flood, Brock drew a walk, but was left stranded there when Bill White lined into an inning ending double play.

After failing to get aboard in the third he got a single to center in the fifth. His speed allowed him to move up, over to third on an error and a ground out. Ken Boyer slashed a triple to bring him home for his first run as a Cardinal. The very next inning Brock slashed his own triple to left but wasn't able to score.

In the eighth he drew a walk and stole second for his first as a Cardinal and 11th of the season. Again his St. Louis teammates could not bring him home. As St. Louis closed out Houston 7-1 Brock finished two-for-three, two walks and a stolen base. Not bad for his full time debut. 

Brock would finish the season with a flourish hitting .315 on 200 hits, 11 triples, 14 homers and 43 steals and 111 runs scored as the Cards won the pennant. He was on his way to 938 SBs, a .293 lifetime BA and 1610 runs scored.

TRIVIA CONTEST; After reading this column you can enter the weekly trivia contest for a chance to win a Starbucks Gift Card. 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 random each week based on correct answers with the odds being based on the number of correct entries.  Please cut and paste or enter the following email into your email system.
                             SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO; brillpro@gmail.com  
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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. 
 

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Tom Seaver's Debut; Few Fans Saw It

 

FOR MORE GENERAL TRIVIA CHECK OUT MY YouTube Channel ! 

 TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Thomas Streib of Vero Beach Fl who correctly named the 1960 San Francisco Giants as having the worst of the Giants NL records during the 1960s with 79 wins. The Prize: 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: Two teams drafted Tom Seaver before he eventually signed with the Mets. Name at least one of those teams who drafted him but failed to sign him.  
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: The Giants worst season in the 1960s when it came to their win-loss record was 1960 when they only won 79 games.

From the very beginning watching Tom Seaver pitch was a joy, even for fans of opposing teams. The smooth, yet dominant and controlled style of the master of the Mets, was truly something to behold. You knew Seaver, coming out of USC was something special. 


His debut came on April 13th, 1967 in front of ONLY 5,005 fans in New York. The Mets usually drew a lot more but this was a Thursday Day Game and New Yorkers were at work.  

While Seaver didn't get his first Win until his second game, his first game was one Matty Alou of the Pirates gave the young pitcher fits. It was the second game of the 1967 season when the Pirates came a'calling to Shea Stadium. Alou, the 1966 batting champ led off the game with a double. Welcome to the big leagues Mr. Seaver. Seaver got through the inning with a walk to Wilver Stargell and his first strike out of his career; Donn Clendenon to end the first. 


A Jerry Buchek two-run homer off Woody Fryman gave Seaver his first lead, 2-0. It would be all he would get, but not what he would need.

He would strikeout Bill Mazeroski and Gene Alley in the second but in the third was exposed again to Alou. Alou, the middle of the famous Alou brothers, led off with a walk. Maury Wills singled him to second and Roberto Clemente singled him home. The first earned run Seaver gave up was to another Hall of Famer. It was 2-1. Stargell and Clendenon were strike out victims.

In the fourth, Alley and Fryman were strikeout victims but here again Alou was Seaver's nemesis. With two out and a walk to Jesse Gonder, Seaver hit Alou with a pitch to put runners at first and second. Wills tied the game with a single, 2-2.

A walk in the fifth was all he allowed and he struck out Alley for a third time, sending the all-star shortstop back to the dugout shaking his head. The sixth however, was Seaver's downfall and again it was Matty Alou. He gave up a one out double to opposing (and good hitting pitcher) Vern Law before plunking Alou again with a pitch. Manager Wes Westrum had seen enough of his young ace-to-be and brought in Chuck Estrada.

The Mets went on to rally behind Estrada who picked up the win 3-2. Seaver's first game line was pretty impressive. He went 5.1 innings gave up 6 hits, 4 walks only 2 runs and struck out 8 Pirates. He also got a hit in his only official AB and drew a Walk in his first plate appearance. Not bad for the 22-year old future star. Seaver could not be blamed for having issues with Alou. He would finish the season .338 but of his six times being Hit by Pitch, two were issued by Seaver that first start.

His next start was impressive. It was exactly a week later on April 20th and again a small crowd in New York saw him win no. 1. Only 5379 fans were at Shea that day. Seaver went 7.1 innings, allowing 8 hits, 0 Walks, and only one run in striking out 5 on his way for his rookie season 16-13 record and ROY honors. He completed 18 of 34 starts with a 2.76 ERA with 170 K's in 251 innings. It was the start of something BIG.

TRIVIA CONTEST; After reading this column you can enter the weekly trivia contest for a chance to win a Starbucks Gift Card. 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 random each week based on correct answers with the odds being based on the number of correct entries.  Please cut and paste or enter the following email into your email system.
                             SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO; brillpro@gmail.com  
 ==========================================================
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. 
 
  

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

The Decade of the Giants

 

             FOR MORE GENERAL TRIVIA CHECK OUT MY YouTube Channel ! 

 TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Tim Fealy of Punta Gorda Fl who correctly identified Gene Oliver as the player traded for Bob Uecker by the Braves to Philadelphia. The Prize: 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: The Giants of the 1960s only won fewer than 85 games once. What was the year? 
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: The Atlanta Braves traded journeyman catcher/first baseman/outfielder and slugger Gene Oliver to the Phillies for Bob Uecker.

The San Francisco Giants were without a doubt, one of the most successful teams in the 1960's. In the 10 years of the decade they won 902 games or more than 90 wins per season, topping out with 103 in 1962. They lost the World Series to the Yankees in seven games. Despite their aforementioned success, it would be the club's only World Series appearance in the decade.

The team was always known for its sluggers. Willie Mays blasted 350 home runs in the 1960's while Willie McCovey hit 300 more. In the mid-1960's Jim Ray Hart came on the scene and added extra power twice hitting over 30 homers, while during the entire run the club had solid defensive players such as Jim Davenport and Hal Lanier.



Pitching really stood out however, led by the incredible Juan Marichal. Aside from a few social miscues Marichal was as dominant as his Los Angeles counterpart, Sandy Koufax. During the decade of the 1960's three times pitched 300 innings (299.2 in one of them), he won 191 games including 26 in 1968. He won 20 six times and 25 twice. His record in those three best years was 72-24 for an incredible .750 winning percentage.

There was Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry too. He won in double figures multiple times including a 21 win season. He pitched over 300 innings in a season in 1969 and twice tossed more than 290. Bobby Bolin had a career with the Giants. Tom Haller held up the catching duties and was strong behind the plate. 

There were other key players such as the Alou brothers who played in the same outfield for the Giants. Perhaps the Giants were too good and had too many good players. They shipped Felipe Alou off to Milwaukee/Atlanta where he enjoyed an all-star career. They sent Matty to Pittsburgh where he won the batting title in his first year there hitting .342. Jay was eventually moved to Houston.

 
Orlando Cepeda slugged his way around the bigs but couldn't play the outfield and wasn't going to move McCovey off first base. He was dealt to St. Louis where he won the MVP Award in leading the Cardinals to World Series twice.  

Still they finished second five straight years to close out the '60's.  In 1962 they put it all together though. Cepeda blasted 34 homers, McCovey had 44 and Mays hit 38 while Felipe Alou added 20. Mays and Cepeda both hit over .300 while utility man Harvey Kuenn whacked .290. Marichal won 25, Jack Sanford 16 and Billy O'Dell 14 while a bullpen by committee shared 30 saves among 10 pitchers. Bolin and Billy Pierce shared the honors for the most with seven each.

TRIVIA CONTEST; After reading this column you can enter the weekly trivia contest for a chance to win a Starbucks Gift Card. 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 random each week based on correct answers with the odds being based on the number of correct entries.  Please cut and paste or enter the following email into your email system.
                             SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO; brillpro@gmail.com  
 ==========================================================
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. 
 
 

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

UECKER For the Hall - OOPS he's already there!


                   FOR MORE GENERAL TRIVIA CHECK OUT MY YouTube Channel ! 

 TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Rich Klein of Plano, TX who correctly identified Daryl Patterson and Pat Dobson as the two players who led the Detroit Tigers in Saves in their 1968 Championship Season. 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: When the Braves traded for Bob Uecker during the 1967 season, which player did they send to Philadelphia for the future Hall of Fame broadcaster?. 
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: Daryl Patterson and Pat Dobson were the two Detroit pitchers who led the Tigers in Saves in 1968.

Bob Uecker would never make the Hall of Fame for his playing days, he never managed and he certainly wasn't an executive contributor. For his "contributions," the elevation and the "fun" of baseball he certainly should be. Besides that, the lifetime part time, .200 hitting catcher who holds the dubious distinction of being in the Top 10 all time for Passed Balls in a season despite only playing 76 games, Bob Uecker homered off of Hall of Famer, Sandy Koufax.

In his later days as a broadcaster (which is why he is in the Hall), comedian, and ambassador as Mr. Baseball, Uecker often joked the homer he hit off Koufax that day could have kept the Dodger Ace out of the Hall of Fame. Not likely, but as one of the 14 home runs Uke hit in his career, it was an important one, if only for a day.

It was a beautiful and balmy July 24th evening game in 1965 when the St. Louis Cardinals invaded Dodger Stadium. The Cards were a .500 club, the Dodgers were a game up in first place in the National League. L-A's best pitcher was on the mound facing Ray Sadecki in a battle of lefties. The house was nearly full with a pair shy of 49,000 fans in attendance. It was Dodger baseball at its best. 


A pair of sacrifice flies by Lou Johnson and Ron Fairly gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead into the fifth. With two out in the fifth, Uecker approached the plate as he always did knowing he was unlikely going to get a hit. Add the blazing Koufax on the mound and Uke figured a third out was a sure bet. He couldn't have even felt bad if the Dodgers walked off the field (ala Satchel Paige) and let Koufax do it all on his own. That didn't happen, but what did happen was pure magic.

Uecker found a pitch to his liking, or maybe Koufax let one slip (nah, for fun's sake we'll let Uecker play Super Man here). Uecker took Sandy deep to left and outta here for a home run. As Uecker rounded the bases he was probably in more shock than anyone of the 48,998 fans in the park. The score was now 2-1. 

Curt Flood would later hit a sac fly to tie it up and after nine it was still tied 2-2. Don Drysdale pinch hit for Koufax and Ron Perranoski came in to pitch the 10th. A muffed fly ball by centerfielder Willie Davis brought home the unearned run and the Cards went on to win 3-2 in 10 innings. 

As it figured Uecker's home run was the only hit which drove in a run in the entire game. Three sacrifice fly balls and an error on another fly ball confirmed the other runs scored. A moment of "greatness" for Uecker? Sure why not. Although the year before he did get two hits off Koufax in a game, so maybe he had Sandy's number. Nah. 


That milestone for Passed Balls? In 1967 he caught 59 games for Atlanta and allowed 10 Passed Balls. It can be argued he was the catcher for Phil Niekro and his knuckleball. He often joked
the best way to catch a knuckleball was to wait until it stopped rolling and pick it up. That season he was traded to the Braves by Philadelphia and finished the season with 76 games played and a league leading 27 Passed Balls!

For the record Uecker hit .200 lifetime, 14 homers, 74 RBI with his best season being 1966 with Philadelphia. He only hit .208 but drove in 30 runs (almost half his lifetime total and whacked 7 of his 14 career homers. And he fielded one of his best seasons .985 allowing only four Passed Balls. Unfortunatley he only threw out 12 of 44 base runners for a miserable 27%. It wasn't his worst in that category either.

 And YES -- He still belongs in the Hall and it is a show of the best of humanity that he IS in Baseball's Shrine.

TRIVIA CONTEST; After reading this column you can enter the weekly trivia contest for a chance to win a Starbucks Gift Card. 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 random each week based on correct answers with the odds being based on the number of correct entries.  Please cut and paste or enter the following email into your email system.
                             SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO; brillpro@gmail.com  
 ==========================================================
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.