So the Veteran's Committee is soon going to vote on who will make the Hall Of Fame. This years candidates are many that I have written about before, or peak my interest.
Dick Allen
Dick was somewhat of a malcontent, a player who did not all get along with other players, his manager, or anyone else around. He was also a member of the ill-fated 1964 Philadelphia Phillies. It was next year that his antics aledgedly got Frank Thomas (no relation to The Big Hurt) traded. For that, he was booed by his hometown fans, yet Allen hit a memorable home run to silence them. Well, for the moment.
Dick Allen
Dick was somewhat of a malcontent, a player who did not all get along with other players, his manager, or anyone else around. He was also a member of the ill-fated 1964 Philadelphia Phillies. It was next year that his antics aledgedly got Frank Thomas (no relation to The Big Hurt) traded. For that, he was booed by his hometown fans, yet Allen hit a memorable home run to silence them. Well, for the moment.
On July 8th, 1965, the Phillies took on San Francisco at home in a double-header. In the opener, it was Allen and his 'mates on the wrong side of a 10-2 loss. Dick went 0-4 and K'd twice. But in the nightcap, Allen came to the dish in the bottom of the first with John Briggs, Cookie Rojas and Johnny Callison on and nobody out. Dickie hit a tape measure blast that might still be travelling it was hit so high and hard. The ovation was deafening, and the grand slam was needed. For, later in the game, solo home runs by Willie Mays and Willie McCovey made it a close finish. Philly won, 4-2.
Ken Boyer
Kenny also hit a memorable grand slam, but it was in the World Series of '64. Kenny's St. Louis Cardinals came back from 6 1/2 games back to win the pennant. There was only 13 games to play. The Phillies also had a lead of 6 1/2 with 12 to play over Cincinnati, who were also ahead of the Cards.
Kenny also hit a memorable grand slam, but it was in the World Series of '64. Kenny's St. Louis Cardinals came back from 6 1/2 games back to win the pennant. There was only 13 games to play. The Phillies also had a lead of 6 1/2 with 12 to play over Cincinnati, who were also ahead of the Cards.
In the 1964 World Series, Ken was 1-13 and the Phillies were behind 3-0 in game four. Their opponents, the New York Yankees, also led the Fall Classic, two games to none. A win here, and it would be a tremendous uphill climb back. Boyer's grand slam in the top of the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium gave St. Louis a 4-3 lead. They held on for the win, then took two of the next three games for a Fall Classic triumph.
But it was in game seven when Ken did something amazing. Actually, he was part of something amazing. Having singled and scored, doubled and scored earlier, Kenny was having quite a game. So were the Cardinals. Up 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Kenny added to that with a home run. But in the top of the ninth, Kenny's younger brother Clete also went yard, and they became the only brothers to hit home runs in the same series game! It was a nice end to a season where Boyer had been MVP of the National League and led in RBIs.
Gil Hodges
Gil had several great World Series performances for Brooklyn in the 1950s, but also failed to get a hit in the 1952 affair. In 1956, he had 8 RBIs in only seven games. His home run in game four of the 1959 World Series won the game for the Dodgers, 5-4. Only, they were now the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But it was as manager of the 1969 New York Mets where he did something very smart. The Mets were ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, three games to one. But they trailed game five, 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth. Cleon Jones of the Mets said he had been in the foot by a pitch, but umpire Lou DiMuro disagreed. Hodges then had an idea. Not, "If the shoe fits," but rather, he showed the umpire some shoe polish on the ball. Ah! That got Jones to first. When Don Clendenon followed with a home run, the Mets were back in business. Al Weiss tied it the next inning with a solo home run. Two more runs in the bottom of the eighth brought New York a World Championship!
Jim Kaat
Jim Kaat actually pitched for the original Washington Senators in 1959, before they moved to Minnesota. He pitched forever, won 16 Gold Gloves, 283 games, and even hit a respectable 16 home runs. Kaat: The pitcher who could do it all, forever!
It would be difficult to single out one moment from a career that lasted a quarter of a century. But how about his pitching in the 1965 World Series. In game two, he won 5-1. Oh, he beat Los Angeles Dodger Sandy Koufax. In the bottom of the eighth, with Sandy out of the game, he knocked in two runs with single. Minnesota won, 5-1. But Kaat lost games five and seven to Koufax. His World Series ring would have to wait until 1982.
Minnie Minosa
You know? This guy never quite left the game. I should tell you something about him. In 2003, he appeared in game for the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League. He drew a walk. Age? 83!
You know? This guy never quite left the game. I should tell you something about him. In 2003, he appeared in game for the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League. He drew a walk. Age? 83!
Tony Oliva
Oliva was a teammate of Kaat's on the 1965 Twins. His birth name, by the way, is actually Pedro Oliva. He used his older brother's passport to come from his native Cuba to United States. When he signed on to the Twins, they had no idea how great he'd turn out.
Consider this:
3 Batting Titles
4 times leading the league in doubles
5 times leading the league in hits
1 Gold Glove (1966)
1964 Rookie Of The Year
Oliva, hit a home run in the top of the sixth inning of game four of the 1965 World Series. It was off the other great Dodger pitcher, Don Drysdale. That cut the Los Angeles' lead to 3-2. But a four-run uprising in the bottom of the sixth ended Minny's hopes.
But when I think of Tony-O, I think of a very special home run he hit. It was the first of it's kind.
On opening day of 1973, it was Oliva Twins vs. Catfish Hunter's Oakland A's. In the top of the first with run in, Tony took Hunter out of the park with Rod Carew on to make it 3-0. But the home run itself was something special. It was the first by a Designated Hitter.
Billy Pierce
Pierce is another lefty like Kaat. But what an ERA in 1955, 1.97. Prior to Herb Score's arrival in 1955, Pierce had led the American League in K/9 in 1953 and 1954. He also lead the league in complete games from 1956 to 1958. He played on two pennant winners. One in each league. Chicago, 1959 for the junior circuit and San Francisco for the National League in '62.
For me, it's the '62 Fall Classic. Amazingly enough, Pierce did not get any starts or decisions (despite three appearances) in '59. In 1962 vs. the New York Yankees, he took the hill in game three with the Series tied 1-1. He pitched so well. But a sequence in the bottom of the seventh led to the end.
Battling the Yankees Bill Stafford in a scoreless duel, Pierce came undone. First, it was AL Rookie Of The Year Tom Tresh with a single. Then, AL MVP Mickey Mantle singled to left. Both runners then advanced an extra base on an error on the play. When Roger Maris got a single to right, it was 2-0. Pierce was removed for Don Larsen. Maris then scored himself on a fielder's choice as the Giants failed to turn two. It proved to be crucial, as San Francisco scored twice in the top of the ninth, only to lose, 3-2.
But in game six, back in San Francisco, Billy was matched against Whitey Ford, who had won the opener and gotten a no-decision in game four. Ford had a nice 10-6 lifetime record in the Fall Classic. But Pierce was out to extend this thing to a seventh game.
And he did just that. Ford was battered and knocked out of the game after 4 2/3 innings. He had allowed five earned runs. His bullpen stopped the Giants the rest of the way, but it was too late. A Maris home run in the top of the fifth and a Tony Kubek single in the top of the eighth (with the Giants up 5-1 at the time) was all the mighty Yankees could muster. Pierce not only won the game (But New York won 1-0 in game 7, alas) but Whitey Ford had lost! Whitey, amazingly enough would lose his next three Fall Classic starts for good measure, never again getting another World Series win!
Luis Tiant
Tiant is one of my favourites who I never got to see. But in 1968, he won 21 games and posted a 1.60 ERA to lead the American League. Some (Not me, as proven by a posting I did a few years back) say he was actually better than Denny McLain, who won 31 games that year, but posted a higher ERA (1.96) on a pennant-winning team. His Cleveland team won 86 games that year compared to (McLain's) Detroit Tigers winning 103.
After stumbling back after that, he joined the Boston Red Sox in 1971. Tiant only won 1 game that year (1-7, was his record), but came back the next year to win 15 and lead the league again in ERA. And again it was less than 2 (1.91).
In 1975, Tiant was only 18-14, and his ERA was over 4. But he nonetheless started game one of the American League Championship Series vs. the three-time defending champion Oakland A's. All Tiant did was toss a three-hitter and give up just one run. He got the win, and the Red Sox won the next two games for good measure, and the sweep!
So then, Tiant went out to the mound in game one of that year's World Series vs. the great Cincinnati Reds. Cincy was, The Big Red Machine at this point. All Tiant did was go out and shut them out, 6-0. But the game was close and Luis had to be good, as Don Gullett matched zeros with him until the bottom of the seventh. Their, Tiant himself got things going with a single. He ended the inning by popping out to first. But the Red Sox scored all six of their runs in that frame. Tiant had become the first pitched since game seven of the 1971 Fall Classic to go the distance! Tiant added a win in game four on 163 pitches. He even started game six (That's the game that ends with the Carlton Fisk home run) and held Cincinatti at bay until he tired in the fifth.
Maury Wills
Wills sort of pioneered the stolen base back to the Ty Cobb Era in baseball. But the truth is, it was Luis Aparicio who brought the stolen base back. But Willis ran with it. In 1959, he played in only 83 games in the season and stole only 7 bases. But in the World Series, against Billy Pierce, Luis Aparicio and the Chicago White Sox, he helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win it all. He even matched Aparicio in the stolen base category with one each!
Beginning in 1960, Wills led the league in stolen bases six times. It was in 1962 that he stole 104 basesb (breaking Ty Cobb's record of 96, set in 1915) and was only thrown out 13 times. He stole 94 more in 1965. His thefts earned him the MVP in 1962. He was also tough to catch, as Maury was in the top ten in stolen base percentage from 1960 to 1965, and again in 1967 and 1968. He added defence to his arsenal, as he won gold gloves 1961 and 1962 at shortstop.
His lifetime batting average was .281, although his On-Base Percentage is surprising low, only .330. But Aparicio's is only .327. so he's got some company.
But for me, it's game 2 of the 1963 World Series that shows you Maury Wills. The Dodgers, behind Koufax, had won game one over the New York Yankees, 5-2. Wills led off game 2 with a single. But Al Downing, the Yankee (lefty) starter, made a great pickoff move towards first after Wills took off too soon. Pepitone, perhaps disbeliving the speed of the man at short, fired the ball as fast as he could, but his throw was a little too high and Wills reached. Wills eventually scored the game's first run, and Los Angeles did not relinquish the lead. The Dodgers only stole two bases the whole World Series, but their speed and pitching allowed them to sweep the mighty Yankees!
Burns, Ken, director. Ken Burns' Baseball. PBS, 1994. DVD.Ward, Geoffrey C., and Ken Burns. “A Whole New Ballgame.” Baseball, season 1, episode 8, PBS, 27 Sept. 1994.
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Golenbock, Peter. Fenway: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1992. Print.rk: Galahad, 1992. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Shalin, Mike, and Neil Shalin. Out By A Step: The 100 Best Players Not In The Baseball Hall Of Fame. Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.
Consider this:
3 Batting Titles
4 times leading the league in doubles
5 times leading the league in hits
1 Gold Glove (1966)
1964 Rookie Of The Year
Oliva, hit a home run in the top of the sixth inning of game four of the 1965 World Series. It was off the other great Dodger pitcher, Don Drysdale. That cut the Los Angeles' lead to 3-2. But a four-run uprising in the bottom of the sixth ended Minny's hopes.
But when I think of Tony-O, I think of a very special home run he hit. It was the first of it's kind.
On opening day of 1973, it was Oliva Twins vs. Catfish Hunter's Oakland A's. In the top of the first with run in, Tony took Hunter out of the park with Rod Carew on to make it 3-0. But the home run itself was something special. It was the first by a Designated Hitter.
Billy Pierce
Pierce is another lefty like Kaat. But what an ERA in 1955, 1.97. Prior to Herb Score's arrival in 1955, Pierce had led the American League in K/9 in 1953 and 1954. He also lead the league in complete games from 1956 to 1958. He played on two pennant winners. One in each league. Chicago, 1959 for the junior circuit and San Francisco for the National League in '62.
For me, it's the '62 Fall Classic. Amazingly enough, Pierce did not get any starts or decisions (despite three appearances) in '59. In 1962 vs. the New York Yankees, he took the hill in game three with the Series tied 1-1. He pitched so well. But a sequence in the bottom of the seventh led to the end.
Battling the Yankees Bill Stafford in a scoreless duel, Pierce came undone. First, it was AL Rookie Of The Year Tom Tresh with a single. Then, AL MVP Mickey Mantle singled to left. Both runners then advanced an extra base on an error on the play. When Roger Maris got a single to right, it was 2-0. Pierce was removed for Don Larsen. Maris then scored himself on a fielder's choice as the Giants failed to turn two. It proved to be crucial, as San Francisco scored twice in the top of the ninth, only to lose, 3-2.
But in game six, back in San Francisco, Billy was matched against Whitey Ford, who had won the opener and gotten a no-decision in game four. Ford had a nice 10-6 lifetime record in the Fall Classic. But Pierce was out to extend this thing to a seventh game.
And he did just that. Ford was battered and knocked out of the game after 4 2/3 innings. He had allowed five earned runs. His bullpen stopped the Giants the rest of the way, but it was too late. A Maris home run in the top of the fifth and a Tony Kubek single in the top of the eighth (with the Giants up 5-1 at the time) was all the mighty Yankees could muster. Pierce not only won the game (But New York won 1-0 in game 7, alas) but Whitey Ford had lost! Whitey, amazingly enough would lose his next three Fall Classic starts for good measure, never again getting another World Series win!
Luis Tiant
Tiant is one of my favourites who I never got to see. But in 1968, he won 21 games and posted a 1.60 ERA to lead the American League. Some (Not me, as proven by a posting I did a few years back) say he was actually better than Denny McLain, who won 31 games that year, but posted a higher ERA (1.96) on a pennant-winning team. His Cleveland team won 86 games that year compared to (McLain's) Detroit Tigers winning 103.
After stumbling back after that, he joined the Boston Red Sox in 1971. Tiant only won 1 game that year (1-7, was his record), but came back the next year to win 15 and lead the league again in ERA. And again it was less than 2 (1.91).
In 1975, Tiant was only 18-14, and his ERA was over 4. But he nonetheless started game one of the American League Championship Series vs. the three-time defending champion Oakland A's. All Tiant did was toss a three-hitter and give up just one run. He got the win, and the Red Sox won the next two games for good measure, and the sweep!
So then, Tiant went out to the mound in game one of that year's World Series vs. the great Cincinnati Reds. Cincy was, The Big Red Machine at this point. All Tiant did was go out and shut them out, 6-0. But the game was close and Luis had to be good, as Don Gullett matched zeros with him until the bottom of the seventh. Their, Tiant himself got things going with a single. He ended the inning by popping out to first. But the Red Sox scored all six of their runs in that frame. Tiant had become the first pitched since game seven of the 1971 Fall Classic to go the distance! Tiant added a win in game four on 163 pitches. He even started game six (That's the game that ends with the Carlton Fisk home run) and held Cincinatti at bay until he tired in the fifth.
Maury Wills
Wills sort of pioneered the stolen base back to the Ty Cobb Era in baseball. But the truth is, it was Luis Aparicio who brought the stolen base back. But Willis ran with it. In 1959, he played in only 83 games in the season and stole only 7 bases. But in the World Series, against Billy Pierce, Luis Aparicio and the Chicago White Sox, he helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win it all. He even matched Aparicio in the stolen base category with one each!
Beginning in 1960, Wills led the league in stolen bases six times. It was in 1962 that he stole 104 basesb (breaking Ty Cobb's record of 96, set in 1915) and was only thrown out 13 times. He stole 94 more in 1965. His thefts earned him the MVP in 1962. He was also tough to catch, as Maury was in the top ten in stolen base percentage from 1960 to 1965, and again in 1967 and 1968. He added defence to his arsenal, as he won gold gloves 1961 and 1962 at shortstop.
His lifetime batting average was .281, although his On-Base Percentage is surprising low, only .330. But Aparicio's is only .327. so he's got some company.
But for me, it's game 2 of the 1963 World Series that shows you Maury Wills. The Dodgers, behind Koufax, had won game one over the New York Yankees, 5-2. Wills led off game 2 with a single. But Al Downing, the Yankee (lefty) starter, made a great pickoff move towards first after Wills took off too soon. Pepitone, perhaps disbeliving the speed of the man at short, fired the ball as fast as he could, but his throw was a little too high and Wills reached. Wills eventually scored the game's first run, and Los Angeles did not relinquish the lead. The Dodgers only stole two bases the whole World Series, but their speed and pitching allowed them to sweep the mighty Yankees!
References
Burns, Ken, director. Ken Burns' Baseball. PBS, 1994. DVD.Ward, Geoffrey C., and Ken Burns. “A Whole New Ballgame.” Baseball, season 1, episode 8, PBS, 27 Sept. 1994.
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Golenbock, Peter. Fenway: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1992. Print.rk: Galahad, 1992. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Shalin, Mike, and Neil Shalin. Out By A Step: The 100 Best Players Not In The Baseball Hall Of Fame. Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.
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