Highlighted Year: Russ Ford, 1911

Pitcher, New York Highlanders

Age:  28 (April 25)

2^nd season with Highlanders

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1911:

A native of the Canadian province of Manitoba, Ford moved with his family to Minnesota. After high school he played for several minor league teams. Following a season in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in which he was with Springfield and Cedar Rapids, he broke out with an outstanding season for Cedar Rapids in 1906 in which he produced a 22-9 record. Moving on to the Atlanta Crackers of the Class A Southern Association in 1907 he compiled a 15-10 tally. Reliant on his spitball (a legal pitch at the time), in 1908 he began experimenting with a scuff ball, roughening the ball’s surface to cause it to dip oddly. Still with Atlanta he went 16-14 and was drafted by the Highlanders in 1909. Ford appeared in one game with New York in 1909 and pitched poorly, causing him to be sent to the Jersey City Skeeters of the Eastern League where he worked on his scuff pitch, concealing an emery board in his glove. His record for Jersey City was 13-13 with a 2.41 ERA and 189 strikeouts over 276 innings. He returned to the Highlanders in 1910 with far better results, posting a 26-6 tally with a 1.65 ERA, 29 complete games, 8 shutouts, and 209 strikeouts over 299.2 innings. In addition to his spitter and scuff ball, Ford threw a fastball and knuckleball.

1911 Season Summary

Appeared in 37 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 37 [11, tied with Bob Groom]

Games Started – 33 [4, tied with Joe Wood]

Complete Games – 26 [3, tied with Jack Coombs]

Wins – 22 [7]

Losses – 11 [20, tied with four others]

PCT - .667 [7]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1 [19, tied with twenty others]

Innings Pitched – 281.1 [4]

Hits – 251 [6, tied with Tom Hughes]

Runs – 119 [8, tied with Walter Johnson]

Earned Runs – 71 [20, tied with Hippo Vaughn & Doc White]

Home Runs – 3 [19, tied with nine others]

Bases on Balls – 76 [11, tied with Joe Wood]

Strikeouts – 158 [5]

ERA – 2.27 [7]

Hit Batters – 4

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5 [19, tied with eight others]

Midseason Snapshot: 11-5, ERA – 2.30, SO - 69 in 133 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 9 IP) at Cleveland 5/15, (in 9 IP) vs. St. Louis Browns 9/30

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Detroit 5/11

Batting

PA – 112, AB – 102, R – 10, H – 20, 2B – 2, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 8, BB – 3, SO – 31, SB – 2, CS – N/A, AVG - .196, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 91

Put Outs – 16

Assists – 70

Errors – 5

DP – 0

Pct. - .945

Awards & Honors:

18^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Jack Barry, PhilA (3 points – 5% share)

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The Highlanders went 76-76 to finish sixth in the AL, 44 games behind the pennant-winning Philadelphia Athletics. The pitching staff led the league in fewest shutouts (5). The Highlanders entered June at 18-21, having lost four straight games to the Athletics and Washington. A seven-game June winning streak (including one by Ford) pulled them up to third place, where they remained until July 8. The streaky club languished in fourth and stayed around .500 until they closed out the season with five straight losses.

Aftermath of 1911:

Ford slumped in 1912 and went 13-21 with a 3.55 ERA, 30 complete games, and 112 strikeouts over 291.2 innings. He topped the American League in the negative categories of earned runs surrendered (115) and home runs surrendered (11). His ERA dropped to 2.66 in 1913 but his won-lost record was a mediocre 13-18 as he dealt with a sore arm. Jumping to the Federal League in 1914, Ford produced a 21-6 tally and 1.82 ERA for Buffalo. With the emery pitch banned by the Federal League in 1915, his record dropped to 5-9 and a 4.52 ERA prior to being released in late August. He pitched for two more years in the minors before his playing career came to an end. For his major league career, Ford produced a 100-71 record with a 2.59 ERA, 126 complete games, 15 shutouts, 8 saves, and 710 strikeouts over 1487.1 innings. With the Highlanders/Yankees his totals were 74-56 with a 2.54 ERA, 100 complete games, 10 shutouts, 2 saves, and 553 strikeouts over 1112.2 innings. He died in 1960 at age 76. Ford was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. His brother Gene briefly pitched for the Detroit Tigers in 1905. Thanks to his mastery of the scuff ball, Ford was an outstanding pitcher with the Highlanders for a short time.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20), pitching wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10), or have been participants in the annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category will also include Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Ken Boyer, 1966

Third Baseman, New York Mets

Age:  35 (May 20)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1966:

A Missouri native, Boyer was one of 14 children (two of his brothers, Cloyd and Clete, also played major league baseball). Capable of playing in the infield or outfield, he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals out of high school in 1949. With Lebanon of the Class D North Atlantic League, he was utilized as a pitcher thanks to his strong throwing arm and was 5-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 12 games. As a hitter, he had a .455 average with three home runs. Moving to Hamilton of the Class D Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York (or Pony) League in 1950, Boyer was given the opportunity to play at third base and impressed with his defensive skills. He also batted .342 with 9 home runs, thus ending the pitching experiment. Promoted to Omaha of the Class A Western League in 1951, Boyer continued to hone his batting and defensive play at third. He hit .306 with 28 doubles, 7 triples, and 14 home runs. Drafted into the Army in 1951 he spent 1952 and ’53 in the military. Returning to baseball in 1954, Boyer was next assigned to the Houston Buffaloes of the Class AA Texas League where he hit .319 with 21 home runs and 116 RBIs. He played winter ball in Havana until suffering a severe concussion due to a beaning. The Cardinals traded starting third baseman Ray Jablonski to open a spot for Boyer in the lineup for 1955. He had a solid rookie season, appearing in 147 games and hitting .264 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .311 on-base percentage. Boyer improved to .306 with 26 home runs, 98 RBIs, a .347 OBP, and a .494 slugging percentage in 1956 and was an All-Star for the first time. He shifted to centerfield in 1957 to make room for rookie Eddie Kasko at third and to add some batting punch to the outfield. The shift caused no defensive lapse as he led all NL outfielders in fielding percentage (.996). He also hit .265 with 19 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .318 OBP. With Kasko injured in 1958 together with the arrival of centerfielder Curt Flood, Boyer returned to third base and earned his first Gold Glove. He also hit .307 with 21 doubles, 9 triples, 23 home runs, 90 RBIs, a .360 OBP, and a .496 slugging percentage. It was more of the same in 1960 as he batted .304 with 26 doubles, 10 triples, 32 home runs, 97 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .562 slugging percentage. In 1961 the numbers were .329 with 26 doubles, 11 triples, 24 home runs, 95 RBIs, a .397 OBP, and a .533 slugging percentage. The Cardinals contended in 1963 when Boyer was one of four St. Louis infielders who started for the NL (along with 1B Bill White, 2B Julian Javier, and SS Dick Groat). Boyer went on to bat .285 despite a midseason slump with 28 doubles, 24 home runs, 111 RBIs, a .358 OBP, and a .454 slugging percentage. He received another Gold Glove and placed thirteenth in league MVP voting. In 1964 the Cardinals came from behind to win the NL pennant with the help of an epic September collapse by the Philadelphia Phillies. Boyer, the team captain, spearheaded the charge as he hit .295 with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 24 home runs, a league-leading 119 RBIs, a .365 OBP, and a .489 slugging percentage. In the World Series against the New York Yankees, where he was matched up against his brother Clete, the starting third sacker for the Yanks, he provided the winning runs in a pivotal 4-3 win with a grand slam at Yankee Stadium as St. Louis went on to take the Series in seven games. Afterward he was named National League MVP. 1965 was a down year for the Cardinals and Boyer, who battled a back injury, batted .260 with only 13 home runs and 75 RBIs. In the offseason he was traded to the Mets for LHP Al Jackson and third baseman Charley Smith.

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 136 games

3B – 130, PH – 8, 1B – 2, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 534

At Bats – 496

Runs – 62

Hits – 132

Doubles – 28 [10, tied with Gene Alley & Rusty Staub]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 61

Bases on Balls – 30

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 64

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .266

OBP - .304

Slugging Pct. - .415

Total Bases – 206

GDP – 15 [12, tied with Rico Carty & Ernie Banks]

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 7 [5, tied with Denis Menke, Deron Johnson & Rico Carty]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 15, HR – 8, RBI - 34, AVG - .275, OBP - .315

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Pittsburgh 8/11

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 4

Most home runs, game – 1 on fourteen occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Chi. Cubs 4/26

Pinch-hitting/running – 2 for 7 (.286) with 1 R & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 426

Put Outs – 113

Assists – 292

Errors – 21

DP – 33

Pct. - .951

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The Mets went 66-95 to finish ninth in the NL, 28.5 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1129), fewest hits (1286),fewest doubles (187), fewest home runs (98), fewest total bases (1837), lowest batting average (.239), lowest OBP (.277), and lowest slugging percentage (.342). With West Westrum in his first full year as manager, the roster was sorted out during the season that got off to a 3-6 start. 35-48 at the midway point, a seven-game July winning streak propelled them to a winning month and the club went on to escape the NL cellar for the first time ever, finishing 7.5 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs. It was also the first time the Mets lost fewer than 100 games in a season. The club continued to draw well at Shea Stadium, pulling in 1,932,693 fans, many of which were called the “New Breed”.

Aftermath of 1966:

Boyer started the 1967 season with the Mets and was dealt to the Chicago White Sox, who were in the midst of a torrid pennant race, in July. Altogether, he appeared in 113 games and hit .249 with 7 home runs and 34 RBIs. Released by the White Sox early in the 1968 season, Boyer signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers to provide veteran bench strength and finished up his career with LA in 1969. Overall, for his major league career Boyer batted .287 with 2143 hits that included 318 doubles, 68 triples, and 282 home runs. He also accumulated 1141 RBIs, scored 1104 runs, and produced a .349 OBP and .462 slugging percentage. With the Mets he hit .258 with 171 hits, 35 doubles, 4 triples, 17 home runs, 74 RBIs, a .312 OBP, and a .400 slugging percentage. He was an 11-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove recipient. Following his playing career, Boyer became a coach and managed in the Cardinals’ and Orioles’ farm systems. He replaced Vern Rapp as manager of the Cardinals during the 1978 season and stayed until he was let go in 1980, having compiled an overall record of 166-190. He died of lung cancer in 1982 at the age of 51. The Cardinals retired his #14. Boyer was elected to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Ed Kranepool, 1965

First Baseman, New York Mets

Age: 20

3^rd season with Mets

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 205 

Prior to 1965:

A New York City native from the Bronx, Kranepool’s father was killed in World War II action in France a few months before he was born. Raised by his widowed mother he began playing Little League baseball at age 10. At James Monroe High School he reached his full height and filled out physically while excelling at baseball and basketball. He hit a total of 19 home runs as a varsity baseball player, setting a school record with 9 in his senior year. Preferring baseball to basketball, Kranepool turned down college scholarship offers to sign with the expansion Mets as a 17-year-old, who were attracted to the idea of bringing a native New Yorker into the fold. His contract included an $80,000 bonus. Joining the Mets for a week, he was farmed out to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League where he hit poorly and was demoted to Knoxville of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League. A week later he was with Auburn of the Class D New York-Pennsylvania League where over the course of 20 games Kranepool batted .351 with 18 RBIs and a .446 on-base percentage which earned him a September call-up to the floundering Mets. He got to start at first base in the club’s final home game and doubled for his first major league hit. Following an offseason of winter ball, Kranepool started the 1963 season with the Mets and was hitting only .190 in July when he was sent back to the International League, this time with the Buffalo Bisons where he batted .310 with 9 doubles, 8 triples, 5 home runs, 33 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .507 slugging percentage. Returning to the Mets in September he hit .274 for the month and finished with major league totals of .209 with 16 extra-base hits, 14 RBIs, and a .256 OBP. During spring training in 1964 Kranepool was criticized by manager Casey Stengel after pulling a hamstring (implying that the 19-year-old was not in shape) and the press for a lack of hustle. Once again off to a poor start at the plate, Kranepool was sent down to Buffalo in May, where his batting stroke recovered over 15 games and he returned to the Mets as the starting first baseman and went on to hit .257 with 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. Having shown improvement, Kranepool entered 1965 with a secure spot in the lineup.

1965 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

1B – 147, PH – 12

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 575

At Bats – 525

Runs – 44

Hits – 133

Doubles – 24

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 10

RBI – 53

Bases on Balls – 39

Int. BB – 7

Strikeouts – 71

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .253

OBP - .303

Slugging Pct. - .371

Total Bases – 195

GDP – 13

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 8 [4, tied with Hank Aaron]   

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 18, HR - 7, RBI - 37, AVG - .287, OBP - .334

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Chi. Cubs 5/31

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 6

HR on road – 4

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at San Francisco 4/24

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 3 on six occasions

Pinch-hitting – 4 for 11 (.364) with 1 R, 1 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 1480

Put Outs – 1375

Assists – 93

Errors – 12

DP – 116

Pct. - .992 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Mets went 50-112 to finish tenth (last) in the NL, 47 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1129), fewest runs scored (495), fewest hits (1202),fewest triples (27), fewest stolen bases (28), fewest walks drawn (392), fewest total bases (1780), lowest batting average (.221), lowest OBP (.277), and lowest slugging percentage (.327). The Mets were in last place by the end of May at 6-10. They were 31-64 in July when a broken hip ended Casey Stengel’s managerial career. Under his successor Wes Westrum, the club finished out at 19-48, but with the help of some young pitchers they perked up slightly in September. The team continued to draw well at Shea Stadium, despite their losing ways, where they drew 1,768,389 fans.

Aftermath of 1965:

In 1966 Kranepool occasionally saw action in the outfield as Jim Hickman and veteran first sacker Dick Stuart occasionally played at first, but he led the club, which didn’t finish in the NL cellar for the first time, with 16 home runs while batting .254 with 15 doubles, 57 RBIs, and a .316 OBP. Playing exclusively at first base in 1967, Kranepool hit .269 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .321 OBP. The Mets showed progress in 1968 thanks to the leadership of manager Gil Hodges and the development of promising young talent, especially among the pitchers. Hitting remained a problem during what was a pitcher-dominated season in major league baseball and Kranepool’s batting production dropped to .231 with 13 doubles, 3 home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .271 OBP. 1969 brought the advent of divisional play and the Mets topped the new NL East, catching and outlasting the Chicago Cubs with a 100-win season. The arrival of right-handed power-hitting Donn Clendenon in June led to his being platooned with Kranepool, who went on to hit .238 with 9 doubles, 11 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .307 OBP. He played in all three games of the NLCS sweep of the Braves but drew only one start during the five-game World Series upset of the Baltimore Orioles. He homered in the 5-0 Game 3 win. With his playing time dwindling in 1970, the Mets waived Kranepool in June and when there were no takers for his servces, the team, unwilling to release him, optioned him to Tidewater of the Class AAA International League. He considered retirement to fall back on his off-field jobs as a licensed stockbroker and operating a Long Island restaurant he co-owned with Mets teammate Ron Swoboda but accepted the demotion and batted .310 with a .408 OBP in 47 games. Called up to the Mets in August he was utilized almost exclusively as a pinch-hitter and finished with a major league average of .170 with a .250 OBP. The player known as “The Krane” and “Steady Eddie” was back as a starting first baseman for the Mets in 1971, although still splitting time with Clendenon, and had his finest offensive season, hitting .280 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .340 OBP, and a .447 slugging percentage. Still the primary first baseman in 1972, Kranepool batted .269 with 15 doubles, 8 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .336 OBP. The 1973 Mets caught fire late in the season following a sluggish start and narrowly won the NL East title. Kranepool found himself displaced at first base by power-hitting John Milner, and he appeared as an outfielder and pinch-hitter. Playing in 100 games he hit .239 with 15 extra-base hits, 35 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. He started the deciding Game 5 of the NLCS vs. Cincinnati and contributed a two-run single as the Mets won the series. In the seven-game World Series loss to the Oakland Athletics, he went hitless in three at bats. By 1974 Kranepool was a reserve first-baseman and outfielder, who was especially effective as a pinch-hitter, a role in which he batted .486 with a .526 OBP. Overall, he hit .300 with 11 doubles, 4 home runs, 24 RBIs, and a .350 OBP in 237 plate appearances. He remained an effective fill-in and pinch-hitter in 1975, batting .323 with 4 home runs, 43 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a pinch-hitting average of .400 in 20 at bats. Kranepool stayed on until 1979, with his relationship with the front office steadily deteriorating and his playing time dwindling. Having indicated that 1979 would likely be his last year, he was released in the offseason. For his long career, spent entirely with the Mets, Kranepool batted .261 with 1418 hits that included 225 doubles, 25 triples, and 118 home runs. He scored 536 runs and compiled 614 RBIs, a .316 OBP, and a .377 slugging percentage. As a pinch-hitter he batted .277 with 16 doubles, one triple, 55 RBIs, and a .343 OBP. Kranepool appeared in 9 postseason games and hit .238 with a home run and 4 RBIs. 1965 marked his only All-Star selection. A diabetic, he promoted diabetes awareness in the years following his playing career in addition to charitable activities. Kranepool was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1990. He died in 2024 at age 79.  

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Vic Power, 1962

First Baseman, Minnesota Twins

Age:  34

1^st season with Twins

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 186 

Prior to 1962:

A native of Arecibo in Puerto Rico, Power was born Victor Felipe Pellot and had his surname accidentally changed to Power by his first grade teacher. He played sandlot baseball and was signed to play for Caguas of the Puerto Rican Winter League at age 15 for $100 per week. Mentored by former Negro League player Quincy Trouppe he went to Quebec, Canada in 1949 to play for the Drummondville Cubs of the independent Provincial League where he drew the interest of a scout for the New York Yankees and signed a contract. Assigned to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League in 1951, Power batted .294 with 22 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .350 on-base percentage. Moving on to Kansas City of the Class AAA American Association in 1952, he played out of position in the outfield and at third base due to the presence of first baseman Bill Skowron. A line-drive hitter to all fields out of his low crouching stance, he batted .331 with 40 doubles, 17 triples, 16 home runs, 109 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .553 slugging percentage. Agile, with excellent reflexes, and flashy in the field, he would make one-handed catches with a sweeping motion and was labeled a “showboat” or “hot dog” for his style. Power had another strong season with Kansas City in 1953, leading the league in batting (.349) and hits (217) while also producing 39 doubles, 10 triples, 16 home runs, 93 RBIs, a .380 OBP, and a .521 slugging percentage. His flashy style of play continued to draw criticism and Yankee GM George Weiss referred to him as “impudent” (he responded to rude criticism with sarcasm) and inappropriate in his conduct for dating white women. In the offseason he was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics as part of a multi-player swap. Utilized in the outfield as a rookie in 1954 Power batted a disappointing .255 with 17 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a .287 OBP. With the move of the franchise to Kansas City in 1955, Power returned to the city where he had his most impressive minor league seasons and was now stationed full-time at first base. He was an All-Star for the first time as he hit .319 with 190 hits, 34 doubles,10 triples, 19 home runs, 76 RBIs, a .354 OBP, a .505 slugging percentage and defensively he led AL first basemen with 130 assists. He placed ninth in league MVP voting. The arrival of veteran first baseman Eddie Robinson in 1956 had Power appearing in 47 games at second base and still receiving an All-Star nod as he batted .309 with 21 doubles, 5 triples, 14 home runs, 63 RBIs, a .340 OBP, and a .447 slugging percentage. Primarily playing at first base in 1957, Power continued to excel defensively as he put together a 69-game errorless streak and committed only two miscues all year for a .998 fielding percentage while also leading the league’s first sackers with 99 assists. Nevertheless, his batting production dipped to .259 with 15 doubles, 14 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .291 OBP. Still maligned for being temperamental and a malcontent (although not by teammates), he was traded to the Cleveland Indians during the 1958 season along with outfielder Woody Held for three players that included up-and-coming outfielder Roger Maris. Hitting .302 and In the midst of a 22-game hitting streak at the time of the deal, he ended up batting .312 with 37 doubles, a league-leading 10 triples, 16 home runs, 80 RBIs, a .332 OBP, and .490 slugging percentage. Two of his three steals were of home in the same game against Detroit, a rare feat and highlighted that he was a smart baserunner if not an especially fast one. He received a Gold Glove for his play at first base although he also saw significant time at second base with Cleveland. With the Indians contending in 1959, Power went on to another Gold Glove performance at first base but, following a fast start offensively, he finished at .289 with 31 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .334 OBP, and a .412 slugging percentage. He performed well again in 1960, hitting .288 with 26 doubles, 10 home runs, 84 RBIs, a .313 OBP, and a .395 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star and Gold Glove recipient once again. In 1961 Power’s average dropped to .268 with 34 doubles, 5 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .309 OBP, although he remained a Gold Glove performer at first base. Just prior to the 1962 season Power was dealt to the Twins along with LHP Dick Stigman for RHP Pedro Ramos. He proved to be a stabilizing influence with his outstanding defense that saved many errant throws from the club’s young infielders from becoming errors.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 144 games

1B – 142, PH – 3, 2B – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 650

At Bats – 611 [14]

Runs – 80

Hits – 177 [11]

Doubles – 28 [16, tied with Tito Francona]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 16

RBI – 63

Bases on Balls – 22

Int. BB – 0

Strikeouts – 35

Stolen Bases – 7

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .290 [14, tied with Lee Thomas]

OBP - .316

Slugging Pct. - .421

Total Bases – 257 [20]

GDP – 14 [18, tied with six others]

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 11 [5, tied with Ralph Terry]

Sac Flies – 3 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, HR - 9, RBI - 33, AVG - .296, OBP - .321

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Cleveland 9/14

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 9

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. LA Angels 6/23

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. KC A’s 5/13

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 3 (.667) with 1 R & 1 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 1337

Put Outs – 1193

Assists – 134

Errors – 10

DP – 133

Pct. – .993

Awards & Honors:

Gold Glove

21^st in AL MVP voting, tied with Jim Bunning, Det., Dick Radatz, Bos. & Zoilo Versalles, Min. (8 points – 3% share)

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The Twins went 91-71 to finish second in the AL, 5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees, while leading the league in OBP (,338) and fewest stolen bases (33). The Twins were surprise contenders from the start and stuck close behind the Yankees through April, May, and June. 7 games back on August 1, they whittled their way closer until time ran out in September.

Aftermath of 1962:

Power played very deep at first base and encouraged the infielders to throw to the base rather than to him directly. While his fielding remained solid in 1963 his batting production dropped to .270 with 28 doubles, 10 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. He started the 1964 season with the Twins but was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in June. Hitting .244 in September he was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies who had a pressing need for a veteran first baseman down the stretch as they attempted to nail down the NL pennant. For the year Power batted .239 with 17 RBIs and a .269 OBP. Reacquired by the Angels in the offseason, he was strictly a part-time player in his final major league season in 1965, hitting .259 with a .281 OBP while appearing in 124 games. For his major league career, Power batted .284 with 1716 hits that included 290 doubles, 49 triples, and 126 home runs. He scored 765 runs and compiled 658 RBIs, a .315 OBP, and a .411 slugging percentage. With the Twins he batted .278 with 333 hits, 151 runs scored, 58 doubles, 4 triples, 26 home runs, 116 RBIs, a .305 OBP, and a .398 slugging percentage. Power never appeared in the postseason. A six-time All-Star, he was awarded seven consecutive Gold Gloves. Following his playing career he returned to Puerto Rico where he conducted youth baseball clinics, managed a team, and scouted for the Angels. He died in 2005 at the age of 78. Baseball historians continue to recognize Power for his defensive excellence at first base.  

 

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Camilo Pascual, 1962

Pitcher, Minnesota Twins

Age: 28

9^th season with Senators/Twins

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 

Prior to 1962:

A native of Havana, Cuba, Pascual and his brother played sandlot baseball in his youth until joining the amateur Club Ferroviario as a teenager. At 18 he went professional in the Cuban winter league with Mariano for the 1952-53 season until traded to the Cienfuegos Elephants in a much-maligned deal because Pascual proved to be an outstanding pitching talent with his excellent curve. He became the ace of the Cienfuegos staff and would continue to pitch there over the coming winters with outstanding results, especially in combination with RHP Pedro Ramos, who also was a teammate in America. Having already seen action in the Border and Sooner State Leagues in 1951 due to having signed with the Washington Senators, he also pitched with Tampa and Havana in the Class B Florida International League in 1952 and ’53. Moving up to the Senators in 1954, the 20-year-old was primarily utilized out of the bullpen and posted a 4-7 record with a 4.22 ERA, 3 saves, and 60 strikeouts over 119.1 innings pitched for the sixth-place club. Used more as a starter in 1955 (16 starts in 43 appearances), his tally slipped to 2-12 with a miserable 6.14 ERA and 82 strikeouts over 129 innings. With his command of his fastball and formidable curve improving in 1956 Pascual started in 27 of his 39 appearances and went 6-18 for the lowly Senators with a 5.87 ERA, 6 complete games, and 162 strikeouts over 188.2 innings. He also surrendered a league-leading 33 home runs. Suffering from lack of run support in 1957, Pascual finished at 8-17 with a 4.10 ERA, 8 complete games, and 113 strikeouts over 175.2 innings. He also wore down during the season’s second half, causing him to forego winter league pitching in the offseason. Pascual continued his development in 1958 with an 8-12 tally, 3.15 ERA, and 146 strikeouts over 177.1 innings. Pascual enjoyed a breakout season in 1959, posting a 17-10 record while leading the AL in complete games (17) and shutouts (6). His ERA was 2.64 and he recorded 185 strikeouts while accumulating 238.2 innings. In addition to being an All-Star for the first time, he placed nineteenth in league MVP voting and was also the circuit’s best hitting pitcher as he batted .302. In 1960, a midseason shoulder injury cost him about a month of action, but he still was an All-Star who managed a 12-8 tally and 3.03 ERA with 143 strikeouts over 151.2 innings. The franchise moved and became the Minnesota Twins in 1961. Dealing with a sore shoulder during the first half of the season, Pascual was 8-12 in August before going 7-4 the rest of the way to finish at 15-16 with a 3.46 ERA. He led the league with 221 strikeouts and his 8 shutouts made him co-leader with Baltimore’s Steve Barber. He was an All-Star for the seventh-place Twins. 1962 would prove to be a better season for Pascual and the Twins.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 34 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 34

Games Started – 33 [10, tied with Bill Stafford, Gene Conley & Chuck Estrada]

Complete Games – 18 [1]

Wins – 20 [2, tied with Dick Donovan & Ray Herbert]

Losses – 11 [20, tied with four others]

PCT - .645 [10]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 5 [1, tied with Dick Donovan & Jim Kaat]

Innings Pitched – 257.2 [4, tied with Whitey Ford]

Hits – 236 [8]

Runs – 100 [16, tied with Bill Monbouquette]

Earned Runs – 95 [9, tied with Chuck Estrada]

Home Runs – 25 [10]

Bases on Balls – 59

Strikeouts – 206 [1]

ERA – 3.32 [10]

Hit Batters – 2

Balks – 1 [6, tied with thirty-three others]

Wild Pitches – 6 [15, tied with Bennie Daniels, Mike Fornieles & Tom Cheney]

League-leading complete games were +2 ahead of runners-up Jim Kaat & Dick Donovan

League-leading strikeouts were +22 ahead of runner-up Jim Bunning

Midseason Snapshot: 12-5, ERA – 3.73, SO - 110 in 147.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 12 (in 9 IP) at NY Yankees 6/26, (in 9 IP) vs. Cleveland 9/16

10+ strikeout games – 5

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. Baltimore 9/30

Batting

PA – 103, AB – 97, R – 9, H – 26, 2B – 4, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 19, BB – 6, SO – 8, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .268, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances - 61

Put Outs – 28

Assists – 32

Errors – 1

DP – 4

Pct. - .984

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

15^th in AL MVP voting (14 points – 5% share)

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The Twins went 91-71 to finish second in the AL, 5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (53), strikeouts (948), and fewest walks allowed (493). The Twins were surprise contenders from the start and stuck close behind the Yankees through April, May, and June. 7 games back on August 1, they whittled their way closer until time ran out in September.

Aftermath of 1962:

In 1963 Pascual led the AL in strikeouts for the third straight season with 202 while again topping the circuit in complete games (18) as he compiled a 21-9 record and 2.46 ERA despite missing 35 days due to a shoulder ailment. He placed twelfth in league MVP voting. In 1964, Pascual’s record slipped to 15-12 but with a still-respectable 3.30 ERA,14 complete games, and 213 strikeouts over 267.1 innings. The Twins won the AL pennant in 1965 but, after winning his first eight decisions, Pascual’s performance began to drop off due to shoulder soreness that resulted in minor surgery in August. He returned to finish with a 9-3 tally and 3.35 ERA over 27 starts and 156 innings. His strikeout total was 96. He lost his only start in the World Series against the Dodgers. Pascual’s performance in 1966 dropped to 8-6 and a 4.89 ERA with only two complete games and 56 strikeouts over 103 innings pitched. In the offseason he was traded to the expansion Washington Senators. Back in the city where his major league career began, he topped the mediocre club in wins with his 12-10 record while posting a 3.28 ERA and 106 strikeouts over 164.2 innings until he suffered a broken leg while baserunning in a September game, thus ending his season. Pascual again topped the lowly Senators in wins in 1968 with his 13-12 tally to go with a 2.69 ERA, 8 complete games, and 111 strikeouts over 201 innings. A poor start in 1969 led to his being dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in July, where he did nothing to help that club’s pitching issues, and he ended up with a combined record of 2-5 with a 7.04 ERA. Released by the Reds in 1970, he caught on with the Dodgers for ten relief outings with no decisions and was let go in August. His career finally came to an end in 1971 when he was released by the Cleveland Indians after nine appearances that included one start. For his major league career, Pascual posted a 174-170 record with a 3.63 ERA, 132 complete games, 36 shutouts, 10 saves, and 2167 strikeouts over 2930.2 innings pitched. With the Senators/Twins his record was 145-141 with a 3.66 ERA, 119 complete games, 31 shutouts, and 1885 strikeouts over 2465 innings. In his lone World Series appearance, he was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and no strikeouts in 5 innings of work. A seven-time All-Star, he was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. Following his playing career he acted as a pitching coach and scout. His brother Carlos briefly pitched for the Senators in 1950. The two are often incorrectly referenced with the nicknames “Potato” for Carlos and “Little Potato” for Camilo which was the result of a poor translation of colloquial Spanish. 

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Clyde Milan, 1911

Outfielder, Washington Senators

Age: 24

5^th season with Senators

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 168 

Prior to 1911:

A native of a small Tennessee village, Milan (pronounced Millin) was an avid hunter while growing up and had limited exposure to baseball until 1905 when he joined up with a semipro team in Blossom, Texas. When the North Texas League disbanded he moved on to the South McAlester Miners who were located in Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma).Back in Indian Territory with Shawnee of the South Central League in 1906, Milan batted .356 before the team disbanded. Frustrated by the vagaries of professional baseball, Milan considered quitting before the Wichita Jobbers of the Western Association reached out to him. Hitting just .211 in 67 games, he came back to Wichita in 1907 and batted .304 with 38 stolen bases over a full season. The American League Senators purchased his contract from Wichita for $1000 on the same scouring trip that brought future all-time great RHP Walter Johnson, who became his friend, roommate, and hunting companion, to Washington. Quiet and reserved, Milan was nicknamed “Zeb”, which was a common monicker for young players from small towns at the time. Joining the Senators in August, the 20-year-old Milan started in center field and batted .279 over 48 games with 9 RBIs, 8 stolen bases, and a .323 on-base percentage. His batting production dropped off in 1908 to .239 with 10 doubles, 12 triples, 32 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, and a .304 OBP. After his average dropped to .200 in 1909 with 12 doubles, 4 triples, 10 steals, and a .268 OBP, manager Joe Cantillon wanted to send him back to the minors but the cash-deficient club couldn’t afford a replacement. The arrival of new manager Jimmy McAleer in 1910 turned Milan’s career around. Mentored by McAleer, Milan broke out by batting .279 with 17 doubles, 6 triples, 44 stolen bases, and a .379 OBP thanks to drawing 71 walks. With great speed that allowed him to play a shallow center field and become a top base stealer he earned the nickname “Deerfoot”. A selective batter with little power, he proved adept at drawing walks and getting on base.

1911 Season Summary

Appeared in 154 games

CF – 154

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 709 [1]

At Bats – 616 [1]

Runs – 109 [4, tied with Sam Crawford]

Hits – 194 [5]

Doubles – 24 [16, tied with Steve Yerkes]

Triples – 8

Home Runs – 3 [15, tied with seventeen others]

RBI – 35

Bases on Balls – 74 [2, tied with Doc Gessler]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 40

Stolen Bases – 58 [2]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .315 [15, tied with Hal Chase]

OBP - .395 [15]

Slugging Pct. - .394

Total Bases – 243 [9, tied with Harry Lord]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 7 [16, tied with Jack Barry, Amby McConnell & Alva Williams]

Sac Hits – 8

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading plate appearances were +9 ahead of runner-up Donie Bush

League-leading at bats were +24 ahead of runners-up Frank Baker & Ty Cobb

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 11, HR – 2, RBI – 13, SB – 26, AVG - .318, . OBP - .405

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Detroit 7/8, (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis Browns 8/9, (in 6 AB) at Detroit 8/25, (in 4 AB) vs. Chi. White Sox 9/19

Longest hitting streak – 16 games

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 1

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 5 AB) at Chi. White Sox 5/11, (in 3 AB) vs. St. Louis Browns 6/15, (in 3 AB) vs. Bos. Red Sox 9/13

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 2 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 396

Put Outs – 347

Assists – 33

Errors – 17

DP – 1

Pct. - .957

Awards & Honors:

9^th in AL MVP voting (10 points – 16% share)

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The Senators (aka Nationals) went 64-90 to finish seventh in the AL, 38.5 games behind the pennant-winning Philadelphia Athletics while leading the league in fewest doubles (159), fewest triples (54), and fewest home runs (16). The Senators struggled from the start and an 8-game May losing streak mired them deep in the second division where, despite a good August record, they remained.

Aftermath of 1911:

Durable as well as fleet of foot, Milan set an American League record with 88 stolen bases in 1912 while also batting .306 with 19 doubles, 11 triples, 105 runs scored, 79 RBIs, and a .377 OBP. Defensively he placed second among AL outfielders with 31 assists (after having led the league the previous two seasons) and was third in putouts with 326. In 1913 he again topped the AL in stolen bases with 75 while hitting .301 with 18 doubles, 9 triples, 3 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .367 OBP. Milan married Margaret Boerts in the offseason, a woman he had met during his brief minor league stint in Texas and had courted ever since. A broken jaw suffered in an outfield collision cost him six weeks during the 1914 season, but he still finished with 38 steals while batting .295 with 19 doubles, 11 triples, 39 RBIs, and a .346 OBP. Detroit’s Ty Cobb eclipsed Milan’s stolen base record in 1915 but he still stole 40 bases while hitting .288 with 13 doubles, 7 triples, 2 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a .353 OBP and he remained a top defensive performer. Milan’s production stayed strong in 1916 at .273 with a .343 OBP and 34 stolen bases. He appeared regularly with the Senators until 1921 with a high batting average of .322 in 1920 and a high OBP of .371 in 1919. His stolen base totals dwindled in his last few seasons but he remained effective in the outfield. In 1922 he was named Washington’s player/manager which significantly reduced his playing time and which also didn’t agree with him as he suffered ulcers and was criticized for being “too easy-going” as the club finished in sixth place. Fired after the season he was a player/manager for minor league teams until 1926 after which he concluded his playing career. For his major league career, which was spent entirely with the Senators, Milan batted .285 with 2100 hits that included 240 doubles, 105 triples, and 17 home runs (with never more than three in a season). He scored 1004 runs and compiled 617 RBIs, 495 stolen bases, and a .353 OBP while drawing 685 walks. He received MVP votes following four seasons. After his playing career, Milan managed in the minor leagues and had two coaching stints with the Senators, where he was known as an outstanding storyteller and source for newspaper interviewers and a lively presence who provided counsel to young ballplayers. He died from a heart attack during spring training in 1953 at age 65. His brother Horace had a long minor league career and was an outfield teammate with the Senators in 1915 and 1917. Another brother, Frank, was a successful Broadway actor.

 

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Tommy Harper, 1970

Third Baseman/Second Baseman/Outfielder, Milwaukee Brewers

Age: 29

2^nd season with Pilots/Brewers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 165 

Prior to 1970:

Born in Louisiana, Harper moved with his family to Alameda, California at age 4. An excellent all-around athlete, in addition to baseball, he was a star quarterback at Encinal High School, captained the basketball team, and was a track & field sprinter. Following high school he enrolled at San Francisco State to pursue a physical education degree. After his first year, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1960. Initially assigned to Topeka of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League, the 19-year-old second baseman batted .254 with 22 extra-base hits, 26 stolen bases, and drew 76 walks to give him a .429 on-base percentage. Still with Topeka in 1961, Harper hit .324 with 27 doubles, 11 triples, 15 home runs, 65 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and a .488 OBP thanks to his drawing 136 walks. In addition to being the league’s all-star second baseman, Harper was named MVP as well. He started the 1962 season with the Reds, but when his hitting slumped he was sent down to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he batted .333 with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 26 home runs, and 84 RBIs. He also stole 22 bases, drew 105 walks, produced a .450 OBP, and a .569 slugging percentage. Harper was back with the Reds in 1963 where he was shifted to the outfield. Appearing at all three outfield positions, he hit .260 with 10 home runs, 37 RBIs, 12 stolen bases in 13 tries, and a .335 OBP. He was named a Topps Rookie All-Star. Platooned primarily in left field in 1964, Harper had a disappointing season, batting .243 with 11 extra-base hits, 22 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, and a .326 OBP. In the offseason he did reserve duty at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Playing regularly in left field in 1965, where he proved to be a good fit defensively, Harper displayed more power by hitting 18 home runs with 64 RBIs while batting .257 and drawing 78 walks for a .340 OBP. He also scored a league-leading 126 runs and stole 35 bases, but his 127 strikeouts were a cause of concern. He performed a different sort of service in the offseason, teaching sports to boys in detention at the Montgomery County Family Court Center in Dayton. In 1966 Harper had hitting streaks of 17 and 24 games but a late-season slump combined with poor hitting on the road (he batted .231 on the road and .327 at home) left him at .278 with a .348 OBP. His home run total dropped to 5, along with 22 doubles and 5 triples and he stole 29 bases while drawing 57 walks and whiffing 85 times. In 1967 a broken right wrist cost Harper two months of action and, limited to 103 games, he ended up hitting .225 with 7 home runs, 22 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and a .306 OBP. In the offseason he was traded to Cleveland for three players. Platooned once again with the Indians (much to his displeasure), he hit .217 in 1968 with 15 doubles, 6 home runs, 26 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, and a .295 OBP. Left unprotected in the AL expansion draft, Harper was chosen by the Settle Pilots, who had him starting the 1969 season at second base, although he would end up playing an equal number of games at third. He went on to lead the AL with 73 stolen bases while batting .235 with 10 doubles, 9 home runs, 78 runs scored, 41 RBIs, and a .349 OBP that was boosted by drawing 95 walks. The bankrupt Pilots moved to Milwaukee four days prior to the start of the 1970 season and were renamed the Brewers.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in 154 games

3B – 128, 2B – 22, LF – 7, CF – 5, RF – 3, PH – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 692 [9]

At Bats – 604 [12]

Runs – 104 [5]

Hits – 179 [6]

Doubles – 35 [4]

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 31 [7]

RBI – 82 [15, tied with Vada Pinson & Jim Fregosi]

Bases on Balls – 77 [13, tied with Al Kaline]

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 107 [7, tied with Bill Melton]

Stolen Bases – 38 [2]

Caught Stealing – 16 [2, tied with Pat Kelly]

Average - .296 [12, tied with George Scott & Roy White]

OBP - .377 [10, tied with Al Kaline]

Slugging Pct. - .522 [5]

Total Bases – 315 [3]

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 4

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – 4 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 25, HR – 17, RBI – 42, SB – 28, AVG – .311, OBP – .379,  SLG – .540

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Boston 4/25, (in 4 AB) vs. Oakland 5/19, (in 5 AB) vs. California 7/2, (in 5 AB) at Boston 7/17

Longest hitting streak – 13 games

HR at home – 18

HR on road – 13

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. California 7/2, (in 4 AB) vs. California 9/21

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 2 (.500) with 1 2B

Fielding (3B)

Chances – 422

Put Outs – 123

Assists – 275

Errors – 24

DP – 23

Pct. - .943

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

6^th in AL MVP voting (78 points – 1 first place vote, 23% share)

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The relocated and rechristened Brewers went 65-97 to finish tied for fourth with the Kansas City Royals in the AL Western Division, 33 games behind the division-winning Minnesota Twins. With an infusion of new talent, the Brewers were somewhat more respectable than they were the previous year in Seattle. A six-game August losing streak stuck them in fifth place in the AL West, but two wins at Oakland to finish the season pulled them up a notch. They drew 933,690 fans to County Stadium which included a young group known as the “Brew Crew” who regularly sat in the left field bleachers and generated much enthusiasm.

Aftermath of 1970:

Harper got off to a slow start in 1971 and his batting average bottomed out at .155 in May. His hitting improved when he was moved from third base to left field and he finished at .258 with 14 home runs, 52 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, 65 walks drawn, and a .333 OBP. Following the season he was dealt as part of a major multi-player trade with the Boston Red Sox. Regularly playing in center field, in 1972 Harper hit .254 with 29 doubles, 14 home runs, 92 runs scored, 49 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and a .341 OBP. With Carl Yastrzemski moving to first base in 1973, Harper was shifted to left field and, following a slow start, he went on a batting tear from July onward to finish at .281 with 17 home runs, 71 RBIs, a .351 OBP, and a league-leading 54 stolen bases. He placed 13^th in AL MVP voting. Despite his fine performance, Harper entered the 1974 season dealing with much uncertainty. Having made some major offseason trades and with some talented outfielders making their way through the minors, the Red Sox had some questions regarding where the 33-year-old veteran fit in. Hindered by injuries, he made 61 appearances in left field and 51 as Designated Hitter to end up batting .237 with 15 doubles, 5 home runs, 24 RBIs, a .312 OBP, and 28 stolen bases. Dealt to the California Angels in the offseason, he was utilized primarily as a DH in 1975 and was hitting .239 when he was sold to the Oakland Athletics in August. He finished with a combined .254 average with 5 homers, 38 RBIs, a .337 OBP, and 26 stolen bases. Oakland topped the AL West and Harper saw his only taste of postseason action in the ALCS loss to the Red Sox, drawing a walk in his only plate appearance. Released by the A’s in the offseason, Harper spent one last major league season with the Baltimore Orioles in 1976, mostly appearing as a DH, pinch-hitter, or pinch-runner and batting .234. Waived by the Orioles and failing to make the A’s in 1977, Harper became a minor league instructor and scout with the New York Yankees. For his major league career he batted .257 with 1609 hits that included 256 doubles, 36 triples, and 146 home runs. He scored 972 runs and compiled 567 RBIs, 408 stolen bases, drawing 753 walks and posting a .338 OBP. With the Pilots/Brewers he batted .264 with 456 hits, 261 runs scored, 71 doubles, 9 triples, 54 home runs, 136 stolen bases, and a .354 OBP. A one-time All-Star, he received league MVP votes on four occasions, with his highest finish being sixth in 1970 with the Brewers. Following his time with the Yankees organization, Harper worked in several different capacities for the Red Sox, sometimes laced with controversy due to issues pertaining to racial discrimination. He also coached for the Montreal Expos. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2010.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20), pitching wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10), or have been participants in the annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category will also include Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.