Archives for February 2019

The Cowboy Who Helped the Dodgers Win the 1966 NL Pennant

On this date (February 28) in 1966, Los Angeles Dodger pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale began what it arguably the most notable holdout in MLB history. The pair refused to report to Spring Training unless the Dodgers signed them to a $1 million, three-year contract – with each receiving $167,000 annually. The hurlers also said neither would sign separately, the deal was to be a two-fer.  Remember, this was at a time when player bargaining rights were considerably restricted – a strong reserve clause, no free agency and no arbitration.  Further, Willie Mays was MLB’s highest-paid player at $125,000 annually and no pitcher had ever made a six-figure salary.

KoufaxNow, Koufax and Drysdale did have some bargaining power. The year before, the two had led the Dodger to the NL pennant and a World Series Championship. During the 1965 season, Koufax had gone 26-8, with a 2.04 earned run average and 382 strikeouts in 335 2/3 innings. The lefty had led the NL in wins, winning percentage, earned run average, complete games, innings pitched and strikeouts.  Drysdale, meanwhile, had gone 23-12, 2.77, with 210 whiffs in 308 1/3 innings – leading the NL in starts, finishing third in victories and placing in the top ten in nearly every pitching category.  Koufax had also won his second Cy Young Award and finished second to Willie Mays in the MVP voting.  The pair would not sign until March 30 – and only after a noted television cowboy (no not Gene Autry) had ridden in to help save the day. The haggling had gone back and forth and the pair of hurlers had even signed on to appear in a movie (with actor David Janssen) – with filming slated to start about a week before the season opener – to make clear their willingness to sit out the season. Reports indicate that Chuck Connors – star of the hit television series The Rifleman – played a key role setting up the late March meeting  between Buzzie Bavasi and Drysdale (at Nicola’s, a popular restaurant near Dodger Stadium) that led finally broke the impasse – with Koufax signing for $125,000 and Drysdale for $100,000.

What followed the signings was a combination of good news and bad news.

  • The Good News was that Koufax and Drysdale did help the Dodgers repeat as NL Champions. The Bad News was that Los Angeles lost the World Series to Baltimore in four games.
  • The Good News was that Koufax delivered a 27-9, 1.73 season. The Bad News was that Drysdale went 13-16, 3.42.
  • The Good News was that, in 1966, Koufax won his third Cy Young Award and led the league in wins (27), ERA (1.73), starts (41), complete games (27), shutouts (5), innings pitched (323) and strikeouts (317).  The Bad News was that, due to an arthritic elbow, that spectacular season would be Koufax’ last.  Note: Drysdale pitched for the Dodgers until 1969 – going 45-48, 2.92 over his final four seasons.
The Rifleman - 1958-63 - was one of televisions most popular westerns.

The Rifleman – 1958-63 – was one of televisions most popular westerns.

Now back to the television cowboy – Kevin Joseph “Chuck” Connors was much more than a TV sod buster. Yes, he was the as star of the successful TV western series The Rifleman and had roles in such classic movies as Old Yeller and television presentations like Roots (which earned him an Emmy nomination).

The 6’5” left-hander, however, also played first base for the Chicago Cubs (and made one pinch-hitting appearance for the Dodgers), took the courts as a forward and center for the Boston Celtics, and was drafted by the Chicago Bears.

Here are a few other Connors tidbits:

AS AN ACTOR

  • In 1959, Connors won a Golden Globe Award (Best Television Performer) for his work in The Rifleman.
  • Connors starred in four television series: The Rifleman; Arrest and Trial; Branded; and Cowboy in Africa.
  •  In 1984, Connors was honored with a “star” on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
  • Connors made guest appearances on television shows ranging from Gunsmoke to Spenser for Hire to the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
  • Connors’ movie credits include such films as Pat and Mike; Old Yeller; Geronimo, Flipper; The Big Country; Solyent Green; and Airplane II.
  • Connors is a member of the Western Performers Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

AS AN ATHLETE

  • In a four-season span at AAA (1948-51), Connors’ batting averages were: .307; .319; .290 and .321.
  • In 1951, Connors hit .321, with 22 home runs and 77 RBI in just 98 games for the Triple A Los Angeles Angels.
  • Connors was known to turn cartwheels while circling the bases after a home run.\
  • Connors is credited with shattering the first NBA glass backboard ever, during a November 1946 Celtics’ pregame warm-up.

chuck

 

For the full story on Chuck Connors, click here.

Primary Resrouces:  Baseball-Reference.com; “Fifty years ago, Dodgers’ Sand Koufax and Don Drysdale engaged in a salary holdout that would change baseball forever” – Los Angeles Times, March 28, 20166;  OurChuckConnors.com; Society for American Baseball Research.

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A New Deal for Cuban Baseball – A Safer Path to The Diamonds to the North

The Cuban Baseball Federation, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association in December reached an agreement that would provide a smoother and safer path to major league franchises for Cuban players – who have been facing often nightmare-ish hardships (smuggling, extortion, kidnapping and banishment from the ball fields of their home land) in pursuing their major league dreams.

Saint Paul,Minnesota-based Ballpark Tours is planning its third Cuban baseball adventure for this fall and recently posted an article on the deal, its implications and the hazards Cuban players have been facing – and they even threw in an All-Cuban-Defector MLB All Star team.  A good read.

To get the full story, just click here.

Baseball Roundtable Trivia Teaser … Walk – Don’t Run (but put a run on the board)

A Baseball Roundtable Trivia Teaser to celebrate

the opening of Spring Training workouts.

 

 

VenturesWho is the only player to collect two bases-loaded walks in a single World Series game?

Hint:  Sandy Koufax may have considered him a spoiler.

 

 

Answer:

PalmerThe only player to draw two bases-loaded walks in a World Series game is Orioles’ pitcher Jim Palmer, who walked with the sacks full in the fourth and fifth innings, as the Orioles topped the Pirates 11-3 on October 11, 1971.  Notably, Palmer walked only three times in 116 1971 regular season plate appearances. Palmer, in fact, never walked more three times in any of his 19 MLB seasons.

For those interested in details the walks were were issued by

  • Bruce Kison in the bottom of the fourth.  It was a tough inning for the Pirates.  Bob Johnson started on the mound and, after an inning-opening ground out by Oriole’s 1B Boog Powell, gave up a single to RF Frank Robinson, hit C Elrod Hendricks with a pitch, walked 3B Brooks Robinson and gave up a two-run single to 2B Davey Johnson. Bruce Kison was brought on in relief and walked SS Mark Belanger to load the sacks and then issued a free pass to Palmer to force in a run.
  • Bob Veale in the bottom of the fifth. By the time Palmer batted in the bottom of the fifth, the Orioles had a 7-0 lead and had already collected five hits and a walk in the inning. Veale had come on to replace Bob Moose and immediately walked Belanger to load the bases with one out. Palmer batted next and drew his second bases-loaded walk of the game.

The Orioles drew seven walks and had 14 hits in the contest. Palmer, however, did not exhibit any greater control.  He pitched eight innings of three-run ball, but walked eight (and surrendered seven hits).

We’ll take a deeper look at Jim Palmer later in this post (and reveal the story behind the Koufax hint), but first a few more base-loaded free-pass tidbits.

A little more on base-loaded free passes …

  • The record for bases-loaded walks in a single game (and a single inning) is eight – all by the White Sox  in a 20-6 victory over the Kansas City A’s on April 22, 1959. In the seventh inning of that game, the White Sox drew eight bases-loaded walks, while scoring eleven runs on just one hit. (For a full accounting of the inning, click here.)
  • In the above April 22, 1959 White Sox/A’s game, Nellie Fox had a record two bases-loaded walks in a single inning.
  • Ellis Burks holds the record for bases-loaded walks in game. On, September 2, 2000 – as his Giants beat the Cubs 13-2 – Burks drew three bases-loaded walks (in the first and second innings off Reuben Quevedo and in the sixth off Felix Heredia). The Giants drew five bases-loaded free passes in the contest.

INTENTIONAL BASES-LOADED WALKS

Only six players have been intentionally walked with the bases loaded (Baseball-Almanac.com):

Abner Dalrymple, Chicago (NL), August 2, 1881

Napoleon Lajoie, Philadelphia (AL), May 23, 1901

Del Bissonette, Brooklyn (NL), May 2, 1928

Bill Nicholson, Chicago (NL) July 23, 1944

Barry Bonds, San Francisco (NL), May 28, 1998

Josh Hamilton, Texas (AL), August 17, 2008

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A FEW JIM PALMER TIDBITS …

  • In 1971, Palmer was one of four twenty-game winners on Orioles. Palmer went 20-9. 2.68; Dave McNally went 21-5, 2.89; Pat Dobson went 20-8, 2.90; and Mike Cueller went 20-9, 3.08. The only other MLB team to boast four twenty-game winners was the 1920 White Sox (Red Faber, 23-13, 2.99; Lefty Williams, 22-14, 3.91; Dickey Kerr, 21-9, 3.37; and Eddie Cicotte, 21-10, 3.26).
  • On October 6, 1966 – at age 20 – Jim Palmer became the youngest pitcher ever to pitch a World Series complete-game, shutout – topping the Dodgers (and Sandy Koufax) 6-0. Palmer gave up four hits and three walks, while fanning six.

EXPLAINING THE KOUFAX SPOILER HINT …

On October 6, 1966, when Jim Palmer – at age 20 – became the youngest pitcher ever to throw a World Series, complete-game shutout, there was plenty more going on. (As I’ve noted before, in baseball “There is always something.”  So often, when looking into one baseball fact or event, even more of interest emerges.) 

In this case, Palmer was coming off just his second MLB season (after going 15-10, 3.46 with six complete games in 30 starts and recording 147 strikeouts in 208 1/3 innings). His opponent was 30-year-old Sandy Koufax, about to win his third Cy Young Award – after a season in which he went 27-9, 1.73, with 27 complete games in 41 starts and 317 whiffs in 323 innings. In the regular season, Koufax had led all of MLB in wins, earned run average, games started (tie), complete games, shutouts (tie), innings pitched and strikeouts.  What fans didn’t realize at the time – particularly given Koufax’ 1966 performance:

            That 1966 match-up against Palmer – which ended in a loss for Koufax –

would be Koufax’ last major league appearance.

Chronic arthritis in his pitching arm would lead Koufax to retire before the 1967 season.

A couple of other interesting bits of trivia from that game:

  • Koufax gave up four runs in six innings, but three were unearned – largely the result of Dodgers’ center fielder Willie Davis’ World Series’ record of three errors in one inning (the fifth). It was clearly a bad day for Davis, who also went zero-for-four at the plate and was the victim of two of Palmer’s six strikeouts.
  • In addition, Palmer’s shutout was part of a World Series’ record for offensive futility – the Dodgers scored just two run (both in Game One, which they lost 5-2) in the entire World Series. The Dodgers, in fact, did not score after the third inning of Game One – a World Series’ record 33 straight innings without touching the plate. Games Three and Four both went to the Orioles by 1-0 scores.
  • Jim Palmer won more games in the 1970’s (186) than any other pitcher.
  • Jim Palmer is the only pitcher to win World Series games in three decades – 1960’s-70’s -80’s.

Jim Palmer, a solid all-around athlete – was a high school all-stater in baseball, basketball and football.

  • Jim Palmer was a three-time Cy Young Award winner and six-time All Star and four-time Gold Glover.
  • Jim Palmer led his league in wins three times (and won 20 or more games in eight seasons); winning percentage twice; innings pitched four times; complete games once; shutouts twice; earned run average twice.

Jim Palmer, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990, finished his career with a 268-152 record, a 2.86 earned run average, 211 complete games, 53 shutouts and 2,212 strikeouts in 3948 innings pitched.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

 

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Baseball Roundtable’s All Polish-American Team

If are Milwaukee-born (particularly into the Karpinski family), you are very likely to be a baseball fan and proud of your Polish heritage.  (I learned a great deal about both from my Aunt Irene.)  With that in mind, this post will be dedicated to my personally selected Polish-American MLB All Star squad – one player at each position in the field, two starting pitchers (a lefty and a righty) and two relievers (again, a right-hander  and a southpaw).

The team I came up with looks pretty competitive. The twelve players played a combined 204 major leagues seasons (none fewer than nine). The lineup includes six MLB Hall of Famers.  Together, this dozen major leaguers garnered 79 All Star selections, 24 Gold Gloves and 12 batting titles.  They also can point to four Most Valuable Player Awards and one Triple Crown. In addition, eleven of the twelve have been inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan.

Note: For a look at an All Star squad picked on the basis of

the ability to handle Nolan Ryan’s heat, click here

We’ll go through the All Star Squad first, but there are a couple of special mentions (detailed at the end of the post): 1) Moe Drabowsky – The best-ever major leaguer actually born in Poland; and Art “Pinky” Deras – the Polish-American youngster acknowledged as the Best Little League Player Ever (there’s even a documentary about him).  So, let’s get to it.

PlayersNew

—–THE BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE  POLISH-AMERICAN ALL STAR TEAM—– 

Catcher – A.J. Pierzynski

AJ OneI’ve got a special spot in my heart for the catcher on my All Polish-American squad – a hard-nosed player who started his MLB career with my Minnesota Twins.  A.J. Pierzynski was a consistent and quality performer who always came to win

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If you played against him, you hated him.  If you played with him, you hated him a little less …. He’s worth the work because he always shows up for you.”

                                           Ozzie Guillen, Manager, Chicago White Sox

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Pierzynski, signed by the Twins out of high school in 1994, made his MLB debut with Minnesota (as a 21-year-old) in 1998. The 6’3”/250-pound, left-handed hitter (right-handed thrower) played in 19 MLB seasons – for the Twins (1998-2003); Giants (2004); White Sox (2005-2012); Rangers (2013); Red Sox (2014); Cardinals (2014); and Braves (2015-16).

A.J.

Pierzynski was a two-time All Star.  He collected 2,043 hits in 2,059 games (for a .280 career average), hit 188 home runs and drove in 909.  His best season came with the Twins in 2003, when he hit .312, with 11 home runs and 74 RBI (although he did hit a career-high 27 home runs for the White Sox in 2012).  He ranks eighth all time in games played at catcher. He holds the AL record for most consecutive games (by a catcher) in a season without an error at 117 in 2005 (tied with Buddy Rosar, Athletics, 1946).  Pierzynski was about as steady at the plate as you can get.  For his career, he hit .280:

  • .283 at home – .277 on the road
  • .282 in the first-half of the season; .278 in the second half.
  • .287 with runners on base; .287 with runners in scoring position; .275 with the bases empty.

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First Base – Ted Kluszewski

KluTed “Big Klu” Kluszewski was a rare breed – a true power hitter who also practiced exceptional plate discipline.  In 1954, for example, Kluszewski hit .326, with 49 home runs and 141 RBI – a season made even more remarkable by the fact he struck out only 35 times (versus 78 walks). I doubt if we’ll ever see another player top 40 home runs without reaching 40 whiffs.  Kluszewski, in fact, had a streak of four seasons (1953-56) when he hit over .300, drove in 100+ runs, bashed 35+ home runs – and struck out no more than 40 times in any season.  In those four seasons, Kluszewski hit 171 home runs – and fanned 140 times (average 43 HR’s and 35 whiffs a season). It should also be noted that Kluszewski led NL first baseman in fielding percentage every year from 1951 through 1955.  Unfortunately, a back injury in 1956 hampered his performance in the later years of his career (he played until 1961). He played for the Reds (1947-1957); Pirates (1958-59); White Sox (1959-60);  and Angels (1961).

Kluszewski – a big man for his time at 6’2”/225-pounds – is also noted for adding a bit of flair to the game, making his own intimidating fashion statement. Big Klu complained that his uniform jersey was too tight for his large and powerful biceps. He went on to have the sleeves cut from his jersey – exposing his bare arms from the shoulder.  (This was considered a bold move at that very conforming time in the game’s history.)

Klu

Kluszewski only appeared in one post-season – hitting .391, with three homers and ten RBI in the 1958 World Series (for the White Sox).  True to his form – Big Klu did not strike out even once (25 plate appearance) in the Series.

Big Klu was an Angel

Taken by the Angels in the 1960 expansion draft, Kluszewski hit the first-ever home run for the expansion team (a two-run shot in the first inning of the Angels’ first game – April 11 versus the Orioles). He added a punctuation mark, by hitting the Angels’ second–ever home run (a three-run shot) the very next inning. The Angels won 7-2 and, of course, Kluszewski did not strikeout.

The big left-hander hit .298 over his 15-season MLB career, with 279 home runs and 1,028 RBI. The four-time All Star topped .300 in seven seasons, drove in 100+ runs  in four seasons and hit 40 or more long balls in three campaigns.  His best season was 1954, when he hit .326-49-141.  Ultimately, however, Big Klu is best remembered for those sleeveless jerseys, muscular arms and exceptional bat control.

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Second Base – Bill Mazeroski

MazpicConsidered the best fielding second baseman of all time by many, Bill Mazeroski was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.He played 17 MLB seasons – all with the Pirates – hitting .260, with 138 home runs and 853 RBI.  It was, however, his glove the earned him a spot on this squad. “Maz” was a seven-time All Star and an eight-time Gold Glover at the keystone sack.  He led NL second baseman in assists nine times, putouts five times and double plays turned eight times. (He is the all-time career leader in double plays by a second baseman, fifth in assists, seventh in puts and tenth in games played at the two-bag. The 5’11”/183-pound right-hander’s best season at the plate was probably 1962, when he hit .271, with 14 home runs and 81 RBI.

Maz

Bill Mazeroski is best remembered for two things – his unmatched skill at turning the double play and his walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game Seven of the 1960 World Series – which gave the Pirates a 10-9 win and an unlikely World Championship.  In the Series, the Yankees outhit the Pirates .338 to .256, out-homered the Pirates 10 to four and outscored Pittsburgh 55 to 27. Mazeroski hit .320 in the seven-game set, smacked two of the Pirates’ four home runs and drove in five tallies.  Bobby Richardson of the losing Yankees hit .367 and drove in 12 runs to win the Series MVP Award – still the only player on a losing team to take home the World Series MVP Trophy.

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Third Base – George Kurowksi

whitgeypicGeorge “Whitey” Kurowski played in nine MLB seasons (1941-49), all for the Cardinals.   In the six seasons that he played at least 100 games, he was an All Star four times. In the three seasons from 1945 to 1947, Kurowski hit .311, with 62 home runs and 295 RBI.  For his career, he hit .286 (in 916 games), with 106 home runs and 529 RBI. He led NL third baseman in putouts in three seasons, as well as in assists and doubles plays once each. He finished in the top ten in home runs in the league five times, RBI four times and batting average three times. His best season was 1947, when he hit .310, with 27 home runs, 104 RBI and 108 runs scored.

Whitey Kurowski had to overcome the effects of a childhood injury and osteomyelitis in his right (throwing) arm in his quest to reach the major leagues. The surgery required to save his arm left his right wing about three inches inches shorter than his left.  His determination is reflected in the fact that he made the major leagues as a third basemen – a position the demands a strong throwing arm. Arm problems most likely shortened his career. (The Society for American baseball Research reports Kurowski “underwent 13 operations on the arm so he could continue playing.)

Whitey

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Shortstop – Alan Trammell

TrampicThe shortstop selection for this team – Alan Trammell – was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.  The 6’/165-pound Trammell (a right-hander) was a Tigers’ second round draft pick right out of high school in 1976.  He made his MLB debut in September of 1977 and went on to play 20 MLB seasons – all for the Tigers.

Trammell was a six-time All Star and a four-time Gold Glover. Over his career, he collected 2,365 hits (.285 average), with 185 home runs, 1,003 RBI, 1,231 runs scored and 236 stolen bases.  He hit over .300 seven times (a high of .343 in 1987), hit 20 or more home runs twice, scored 100+ runs in three seasons and stole 20 or more bases three times.  His best season was 1987, when Trammell hit .343, collected 205 hits, knocked 28 home runs, drove in 105 and scored 109.

Trammell

Allen Trammell (SS) and Lou Whitaker (2B) played together for 19 seasons – MLB’s longest every SS-2B teammates run.

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Honorable Mention at Shortstop – Troy Tulowitzki

Troy Trevor Tulowitzki earns honorable mention here with his glove (a two-time gold Glover) and bat (topping 20 home runs in seven of 12 MLB seasons). Still active, “Tulo” may someday take Alan Trammell’s spot in this lineup.  Tulowitzki has played for the Rockies (2006-2015) and Blue Jays (2016-17). He missed the 2018 season (ankle surgery) and signed with the Yankees for 2019.

Tulowitzki is a five-time All Star, whose best season was 2014, when he hit .340 with 30 home runs and 105 RBI for the Rockies.  For his career, he is .290 (in 1,286 games), with 224 home runs and 779 RBI.  His numbers would be even stronger if not for the injury bug. His past injuries include: a torn left quadriceps, fractured wrist, groin surgery, fractured rib, hip surgery, cracked shoulder blade.

Troy Tulowitzki … Rare Feats

Troy Tulowitzki is one of only two players to both hit for the cycle and turn an unassisted triple play (the other is John Valentin).

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Outfield – Stan Musial

stanpicYou can’t go wrong with Stan “The Man” Musial on your team. One of the greatest players in MLB history (inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1960), Musial played 22 MLB seasons (all for the Cardinals) between 1941 and 1963 (he missed 1945 to military service).

Musial was an All Star in 20 of his 22 seasons and a three-time NL Most Valuable Player. He won seven batting titles and led the NL in hits six times, runs scored five times, RBI two times, doubles eight times and triples five times. He also topped the NL in total bases, on base percentage and slugging percentage six times each.

Stan

Stan Musial hit .347 in 1944 – missed the 1945 season due to military service – and came back to hit .365 in 1946. 

Musial hit over .300 in 17 full seasons and over .350 in five campaigns (a high of .376 in 1948). He topped 20 home runs ten times, with a high of 39 in 1948. He also hit 50 or more doubles twice, 20 triples twice, had 200 or more hits in six seasons, 100+ RBI in ten seasons and 100+ runs scored in 11.  For his career, Musial had 3,630 hits (.331 average), 475 home runs and 1,951 RBI. and 1,949 runs scored. He is in MLB’s top ten all time in games played, hits, runs scored, runs batted in, doubles and  total bases.

How good was Stan Musial?  He was good enough to take your breath away.

                                                                                              Vin Scully

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Outfield – Al Simmons (Szymanski)

simmonspicAl Simmons is the second Hall of Famer in our Polish-American All Star outfield – and he put up Musial-like numbers (Musial-lite?).  However, Simmons did not enjoy as notable a nickname as “Stan the Man.”   Due to his unusual batting style (front foot pointed toward third base), he became known as “Bucketfoot Al.”   (Note: It’s reported Simmons went with Simmons over Szymanski because of the difficulty people had pronouncing Szymanski.)

Simmons played 20 MLB seasons (1924-41, 1943-44) and ended just 73 hits shy of 3,000 – with a .334 career average and 307 home runs. Simmons played for the Athletics (1924-32, 1940-41, 1944), White Sox (1933-35); Tigers (1936), Senators (1937-38), Braves (1939), Reds (1939) Red Sox 1943)

Simmons was a two-time batting champ, who hit over .300 in 13 seasons – and over .380 in four campaigns. The 5’11”/190-pound righty also led his league in hits twice, and had 200 or more hits six times. In addition, he led his league in runs scored once, and RBI once.  He hit 30 or more home runs in three seasons, drove in 100+ runs in 12 and scored 100 or more runs in six.   Simmons’ best season was 1930, when he hit .381, with  36 home runs, 165 RBI and 152 runs scored.In the seven seasons from 1925 through 1931, Simmons averaged .372 (never hitting below .341).

Al Simmons holds the MLB record for hits in a season by a right-handed batter – 253 in 1925, when he hit .387  at age 23, in (in just his second MLB season.)

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Outfield – Carl Yastrzemski

YazpicCarl Yastrzemski enjoyed a 23-season MLB career (1961-83) – all with the Boston Red Sox. The Baseball Hall of Famer was an All Star in 18 seasons, a seven-time Gold Glover and the 1967 AL Most Valuable Player (when he won the batter’s Triple Crown – Avg.-HR-RBI).

Yastrzemski was a three-time batting champ and topped .300 in six seasons. He had 100+ RBI in five campaigns, 100+ runs scored in three and 40 or more home runs in three. He led the AL in runs scored three times, doubles three times, hits twice and home runs and RBI once each.  His best year was 1967, when he won the AL Triple Crown with a .326-44-121 stat line. Yaz finished his career with 3,419 hits (.285 average), 452 long balls and 1,944 RBI. He also hit .369-4-11 in 17 post-season contests. He is among MLB’s top ten (career) in games played, at bats, hits, total bases, doubles and walks.YazIn 1968 – known in baseball lore as “The Year of the Pitcher” – Carl Yastrzemski won the American League batting title with a .301 average  – the lowest ever for a league leaders.

Side Note:

I have my own memories of Yaz.  With two games left in the 1967 season, my Twins went into Boston with a one-game lead over the Red Sox and lost two games (and the pennant) to Boston by scores of 6-4 and 5-3.  All Yaz did was go 7-for-8 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and six RBI.  Ouch-ski!

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RH Starting Pitcher – Phil Niekro

NiekropicPhil Niekro spent 24 seasons on the MLB mound: Braves (1964-83, 1987); Yankees (1984-85); Indians (1986-87); Blue Jays (1987).  During that time, Niekro earned 318 wins (16th all time) versus 274 losses – and put up a 3.35 ERA.  The 6’1”/180-pound knuckleballer won 20 or more games three times and 15 or more in 13 seasons.  His nickname was “Knucksie,” but I would have preferred “Knuck-ski.”

Niekro led the National League in wins in 1974 (20) and 1979 (21)  He was also the league leader once each in earned run average (1.87), winning percentage (17-4, .810 in 1982 – at age 43) and strikeouts (262 in 1977). Working with the tireless ease of a knuckleballer, he also led the NL four times each in games started, complete games and inning pitched. Niekro’s best season was 1974, when he went 20-13, 2.38 – leading the NL in wins, complete games (18) and innings pitched 302 1/3.

Niekro

Phil Niekro Trivia …

Phil Niekro is the last MLB pitcher to lead his league in both wins and losses in the same season – going 21-20, 3.39 in 1979.  That season, he also led the league in starts (44), complete games (23) and innings pitched (342).

Phil Niekro and his brother Joe Niekro hold the record for the most MLB wins by brothers, with 539. Phil went 318-274, while Joe went 221-204.

In 1979, Phil and Joe Niekro tied to the NL lead in victories with 21 each.

On May 29, 1976, Joe Niekro hit the only home run of his 22-season (1,165 plate appearances) MLB career.  The opposing pitcher? His brother Phil.

On August 5, 1973, Phil Niekro threw the first no hitter for the “Atlanta” Braves – defeating the San Diego Padres 9-0.

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LH Starting Pitcher – Ed Lopat (Lopatynski)

LopatpicEddie Lopat pitched in 12 MLB seasons – for the White Sox (1944-47), Yankees (1948-55) and Orioles (1955).  He went 166-112, with a 3.21 earned run average.  It’s reported that Eddie used Lopat over Lopatynski because the latter did not fit into a box score.  Lopat also picked up the nickname “The Junkman,” because of his ability to both change speeds and deliver a wide range of breaking pitches.

The 5’10’/180-pound southpaw was an All Star with the Yankees in 1933, when he went 21-9, 2.91 (his only 20-win season – although from 1947 through 1953, he won 15 or more games in six of seven seasons). In 1953, again with the Yankees, Lopat went 16-4 and led the American League in winning percentage (.800) and ERA (2.42).

Lopat

In seven World Series starts, all with the Yankees, Lopat went 4-1, 2.60 with three complete games.

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RH Reliever – Jim Konstanty

JimKpicJim Konstanty has the distinction of being the first MLB relief pitcher to win a league MVP Award. He accomplished the feat in 1950, when he was called on in relief a league-leading 74 times by the Phillies. Konstanty won 16 games (seven losses) and led the league with 22 saves.  That season, the Phillies won the NL pennant with a 91-63 record – which means Konstanty won or saved 42 percent of Philadelphia’s wins.

In his eleven MLB seasons, the 6’1”/202-pound righty went 66-48, 3.46 and saved 76 games (152 innings pitched in relief).  By the way, James was Konstanty’s middle name – his first name was Casimir.

Konstsanty

A Man for All Seasons …

In his senior year in high school, Jim Konstanty was captain of the Arcade High School basketball, baseball and football teams.  Then, at Syracuse University, he lettered in baseball, basketball, soccer and boxing.

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LH Reliever – Ron Perranoski

RonPpicRon Perranoski – a 6’/180-pound southpaw – went 79-74, 2.79 with 178 saves in 13 MLB seasons. He played for the Dodgers (1961-67, 1972); Twins (1968-71); Tigers (1971-72); and Angels (1973).

Perranoski led his league in games pitched in three seasons and games saved twice (with a high of 34 saves for the 1974 Twins). In 1963, he led the NL in winning percentage at .842 – picking up 16 wins (three losses) and 21 saves, all in relief.    Add in his 1.67 earned run average and it is clearly his best season.

Perrastats

 

————————-A COUPLE OF SPECIAL MENTIONS ———————

Moe Drabowsky – Best Polish-Born Major Leaguer

MoepicMiroslav Drabowsky was born in Ozano, Poland on July 21, 1935, to a Jewish (American citizen) mother and a Polish father.  His family moved to the United Stars in the late 1930’s, as Adolf Hitler was gaining momentum in Eastern Europe.  Growing up in Connecticut, Drabowsky played high school baseball at Loomis Chaffee School and college baseball at Trinity College in Hartford.  He signed with the Cubs in July of 1956 and made his MLB debut on August 7 of that year (at age 21).

The 6’3”/190-pound righty was a starter his first four seasons, going 29-40, 3.81, with 22 complete games in 83 starts. Drabowsky switched to the bullpen in 1960 (seven starts in 32 appearances) and made a name for himself coming in from the pen.  From 1960-72, he went 59-65, 3.66, with 54 saves (421 appearances in relief, 71 starts).

In 17 MLB seasons, Drabowsky went 88-105, 3.71 with 54 saves. He struck out 1,162 batters (702 walks) in 1,641 innings.  Drabowsky pitched for the Cubs (1956-60); Braves (1961); Reds (1962); Athletics (1962-65); Orioles (1966-68, 1970); Royals (1969-70); Cardinals (1971-72); and White Sox (1972).

Moe Drabowsky, a member of the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (NPASHOF), gave up the 3,000th hit of Stan Musial (another NPASHOF inductee).

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Art “Pinky Deras – Best-Ever Little Leaguer

PinkypicArt “Pinky” Deras was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame  in 2011 – recognizing his exploits as a 12-year-old Little Leaguer  – leading the Hamtramck, Michigan team to the 1958 Little League National  Championship.   Now, Deras was big for his age, six-feet tall and 135 pounds as a 12-year-old.  He was also a dominant force – going 18-0 on the mound (16 shutouts and ten no-hitters) and whiffing 298 batters in 108 innings.  That means 92 percent of his outs came via the strikeout.  He also hit a resounding .641, with 33 home runs and 112 RBI.

Deras signed a contract with the Cardinals right out of high school, declining of football scholarship to Michigan State. He played five minor league seasons, hitting .243, with 32 home runs in 518 games. He did not pitch in professionally ranks.

 

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Primary resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Society for American Baseball Research; National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. 

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