Highlighted Year: Jimmy Sheckard, 1903

Outfielder, Brooklyn Superbas

Age: 24

6^h season with Superbas (5^th complete)

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 175 

Prior to 1903:

Born into a Pennsylvania Dutch family, Sheckard learned baseball when his family moved to Columbia, Pennsylvania where he played on the town team. The 17-year-old outfielder played for four minor league teams in 1896, totaling 65 games. Moving on to Brockton of the New England League in 1897 he was shifted to shortstop and batted a league-leading .373 with 53 stolen bases. Joining Brooklyn late in the season, he performed poorly at shortstop although he hit a promising .386 in 13 games and was back in left field in 1898. He hit .277 with 17 doubles, 9 triples, 4 home runs, 64 RBIs, and a .349 on-base percentage. In a shift of personnel thanks to dual ownership between Brooklyn and the  Baltimore Orioles (then an NL team) in 1899, Sheckard went to the Orioles where he saw more playing time and hit .295 with 18 doubles, 10 triples, 3 home runs, 75 RBIs, a league-leading 77 stolen bases, and a .380 OBP. He also accounted for 33 assists and set an NL record for double plays by an outfielder with 14. Returning to Brooklyn as a backup outfielder in 1900 he hit .300 with 19 doubles, 10 triples, a home run, 39 RBIs, 30 steals, and a .416 OBP. With the departure of outfielder Fielder Jones, who jumped to the American League in 1901, Sheckard started in left field in the reconfigured outfield and led the NL with 19 triples and a .534 slugging percentage a to go along with 29 doubles, 11 home runs, 104 RBIs, 35 stolen bases, a .354 average, and a .409 OBP. Along the way he hit two grand slams. In 1902 he initially jumped to Baltimore of the American League but returned to Brooklyn after four games. He had a lesser season back in the NL, hitting .265 with 20 doubles, 10 triples, 4 home runs, 37 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, a .349 OBP, and a .372 slugging percentage. An excellent baserunner with a keen batting eye, he rebounded at the plate in 1903.  

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 139 games

LF – 139

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 621 [4]

At Bats – 515 [11]

Runs – 99 [7]

Hits – 171 [6]

Doubles – 29 [7, tied with Jake Beckley & Johnny Kling]

Triples – 9 [16, tied with four others]

Home Runs – 9 [1]

RBI – 75 [8]

Bases on Balls – 75 [5, tied with Sammy Strang]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 48 [13, tied with Joe Stanley & George Barclay]

Stolen Bases – 67 [1, tied with Frank Chance]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .332 [7]

OBP - .423 [4]

Slugging Pct. - .476 [7]

Total Bases – 245 [5]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 6 [17, tied with five others]

Sac Hits – 20 [4, tied with Roy Thomas, Kid Gleason & Doc Casey]

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading home runs were +2 ahead of six runners-up

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, 3B – 4, HR – 2, RBI - 22, SB – 34, AVG - .301, OBP – .384, SLG – .406

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Most hits, game – 4 on six occasions

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

HR at home – 6

HR on road – 3

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. Bos. Beaneaters 9/9

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Bos. Beaneaters 5/9, vs. St. Louis Cards 8/17, vs. Phila. Phillies 8/27

Pinch-hitting – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 368

Put Outs – 314

Assists – 36

Errors – 18

DP – 7

Pct. - .951

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The Superbas went 70-66 to finish fifth in the NL, 19 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates while leading the league in stolen bases (273), walks drawn (522), and OBP (.348). The Superbas stumbled through April but finished May at 20-18 and were never in contention the rest of the way.

Aftermath of 1903:

Sheckard, a favorite of the Brooklyn fans, followed up with a disappointing performance in 1904, batting .239 with 23 doubles, 6 triples, one home run, 46 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a .317 OBP. Although his batting performance rebounded in 1905 to .292 with 20 doubles, 11 triples, 3 homers, 41 RBIs, 23 steals, and a .380 OBP, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in the offseason for four players and $2000. His arrival in Chicago aided the club’s leap to the top of the National League as manager Frank Chance placed him in leftfield and shifted Frank Schulte to right with Jimmy Slagle between them in centerfield. Emerging as a team leader, Sheckard further contributed to the 116-win season by batting .262 with 27 doubles, 10 triples, one home run, 45 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, and a .349 OBP. He accounted for 24 assists as he continued to be a capable defensive outfielder. Taking on the cross-town Chicago White Sox in the World Series, he bragged that he would hit .400 against the vaunted White Sox pitching staff but instead went hitless as the Cubs fell in six games. The Cubs repeated as NL champs in 1907 and Sheckard hit .267 with 25 extra-base hits that featured 23 doubles, 36 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and a .373 OBP boosted by 76 walks. The club swept the Detroit Tigers in the World Series and Sheckard was somewhat more successful at the plate than he was against the White Sox, hitting two doubles and knocking in a pair of runs. While the Cubs won a third straight pennant in 1908, Sheckard nearly lost sight in his left eye due to a fight with teammate Heinie Zimmerman in which Zimmerman threw a bottle of ammonia at him that hit Sheckard between the eyes and broke, soaking his face in ammonia. The incident resulted in Sheckard missing a few weeks of action and, limited to 115 games, he batted .231 with 18 doubles, 2 home runs, 22 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and a .336 OBP assisted by drawing 62 walks. In the World Series rematch with the Tigers that Chicago won in five games, he contributed five hits that included two doubles. Off the field he sang baritone in a barbershop quartet with Cub teammates. He also became known for oddball behavior both on and off the field. The club finished a strong second in 1909 and Sheckard contributed by hitting .255 with 29 doubles, 5 triples, one home run, 43 RBIs, 15 steals, and a .346 OBP. Adept at drawing walks, which helped to make him a productive leadoff hitter, he accumulated 72 bases on balls. Chicago returned to first place in 1910 and Sheckard batted .256 with 27 doubles, 6 triples, 5 home runs, 51 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, and a .366 OBP thanks to his 83 walks. In the World Series loss to the Philadelphia Athletics he hit a solid .357 and produced the game-winning RBI in Chicago’s only win. In 1911 he led the league with 121 runs scored and a .434 OBP and also set an NL record by drawing 147 walks (the record lasted until 1945). He also hit .276 with 26 doubles, 11 triples, 4 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases. Despite having put on considerable weight, Sheckard remained productive in 1912, again leading the NL in walks drawn (122) while batting .245 with 22 doubles, 10 triples, 3 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .392 OBP. Sold to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1913, he was hitting .199 with a .388 OBP when he was waived in July and finished the season with the Cincinnati Reds. His combined batting totals in 99 games played were .194 with a .368 OBP in what proved to be his last major league season. For his major league career, Sheckard batted .274 with 2084 hits that included 354 doubles, 136 triples, and 56 home runs. He scored 1296 runs and drew 1135 walks while compiling 810 RBIs, 465 stolen bases, a .375 OBP, and a .378 slugging percentage. With Brooklyn the totals were .295 with 566 runs scored, 966 hits, 160 doubles, 73 triples, 36 home runs, 420 RBIs, 212 stolen bases, 381 walks drawn, a .376 OBP, and a .424 slugging percentage. Appearing in 21 World Series games with the Cubs he hit .195 with 5 RBIs and a .303 OBP. After the end of his major league playing career he played for the Cleveland Bearcats of the American Association in 1914 and also played for some independent teams. After coaching for the Cubs in the run-up to American entry into World War I in 1917, he became athletic director at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Following the war he managed wemipro teams in the Columbia, Pennsylvania area and later managed the Lancaster Red Roses of the Class D interstate League. He also was baseball coach at Franklin & Marshall College. Encountering hard times during the Depression, Sheckard worked as a truck driver and gas station attendant until his death in 1947 at age 68 from the effects of being struck by a car. The city of Lancaster later erected a monument in his memory.

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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: Billy Moran, 1962

Second Baseman, Los Angeles Angels

Age: 28

2^nd season with Angels

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 185 

Prior to 1962:

Born in Alabama, Moran moved with his family to the Atlanta area, where he played shortstop at Russell High School. Following graduation in 1952, Moran signed with the Cleveland Indians. Initially assigned to the Green Bay Bluejays of the Class D Wisconsin State League, the 18-year-old shortstop batted .277 in 63 games with 19 extra-base hits, 33 RBIs, and a .372 on-base percentage. In 1953 he moved up to the Spartanburg Peaches of the Class B Tri-State League where his batting production improved to .285 with 17 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 50 RBIs, a .362 OBP, and a .446 slugging percentage. Moving to Reading of the Class A Eastern League in 1954 his average dropped to .242 with 19 doubles, 8 triples, 4 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .296 OBP along with a .332 slugging percentage. Moran missed the next two seasons due to service in the Army, where he played baseball and took classes at Georgia Tech. Resuming his professional baseball career in 1957, he was assigned to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. Shifted to second base he batted a miniscule .211 with 25 doubles, 4 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .254 OBP. Despite his lack of batting production, Moran made it to the Indians in 1958 where he split time between second base and shortstop and hit .226 in 115 games with 11 doubles, a home run, 18 RBIs, and a .262 OBP. Cleveland acquired veteran second baseman Billy Martin in 1959 and Moran saw little action for the Indians before returning to San Diego where he batted .247 with 18 doubles, 5 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .298 OBP. Moran was out of the majors completely in 1960 as he was still in Class AAA, this time with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League. Manager Mel McGaha helped him with his batting technique and he hit .242 with 14 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .300 OBP. Cleveland having sold his contract to Toronto, Moran got off to a strong start at the plate in 1961 and was batting .300 with a .346 OBP in June when he was dealt to the expansion Angels. Given the opportunity to start at second base, where, until shelved by a back injury late in the season, Moran hit .260 with 10 extra-base hits, 22 RBIs, and a .328 OBP and proved to be a capable fielder.  

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 160 games

2B – 160

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 721 [3, tied with Rich Rollins]

At Bats – 659 [2]

Runs – 90 [14, tied with Rocky Colavito & Bill Bruton]

Hits – 186 [6, tied with Rich Rollins]

Doubles – 25

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 17

RBI – 74

Bases on Balls – 39

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 80 [17]

Stolen Bases – 5

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .282

OBP - .324

Slugging Pct. - .407

Total Bases – 268 [13]

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 4

Sac Hits – 14 [2]

Sac Flies – 5 [20, tied with twelve others]

Midseason snapshot: HR - 11, RBI - 45, AVG - .287, OBP - .326

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Washington 5/23, (in 5 AB) at Chi. White Sox 6/15, (in 6 AB) at Boston 6/28, (in 5 AB) at Cleveland 7/31

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

HR at home – 9

HR on road – 8

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. NY Yankees 8/23 – 13 innings

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. KC Athletics 6/10

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 912

Put Outs – 422

Assists – 477

Errors – 13

DP – 103

Pct. - .986 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started at 2B for AL, second game)

13^th in AL MVP voting (28 points – 10% share)

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In their second season, the Angels went 86-76 to finish third in the AL, 10 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. Shifting to Dodger Stadium where they improved their home attendance to 1,144,063, the Angels started well and were alone in first place on July 4, a stay that didn’t last long although they drew much attention. Under the guidance of manager Bill Rigney and pitching coach Marv Grissom, who managed the bullpen effectively, the club remained in the first division for the remainder of the season, despite sagging in September.

Aftermath of 1962:

Moran and the Angels had a lesser season in 1963, although his production was a solid .275 with 29 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, 65 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. In 1964 he lost his starting job at second base to young Bobby Knoop and was shifted to third, an unfamiliar position. In June he was part of a three-team trade that sent him back to Cleveland. Moran appeared in 70 games with the Indians and finished the season with combined batting totals of .241 with 16 doubles, 21 RBIs, and a .304 OBP. He started the 1965 season with Cleveland until being sent down to the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in June where he played well until being recalled to the Indians in July. He ended up appearing in a total of 22 games for the Indians, mostly as a pinch-hitter. He hit .125 and in the offseason was granted permission to seek a deal with another club that would be willing to pay the waiver fee for his services. Targeting the newly relocated Atlanta Braves, he failed to reach a deal and retired at age 32. For his major league career, Moran batted .263 with 545 hits that included 88 doubles, 10 triples, and 28 home runs. He scored 242 runs and compiled 202 RBIs, a .308 OBP, and a .355 slugging percentage. With the Angels he batted .275 with 200 runs scored, 448 hits, 71 doubles, 10 triples, 26 home runs, 172 RBIs, a .318 OBP, and a .379 slugging percentage. An All-Star in 1962 only, he never appeared in the postseason. It took a long time for him to achieve major league success, and that success proved to be fleeting. After baseball he worked in the insurance industry for many years and died at age 87 in 2021.  

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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 McBride, 1962

Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels

Age:  27 (Aug. 12)

2^nd season with Angels

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1962:

Born in Alabama, McBride grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where he excelled in basketball and baseball at West High School. Following his graduation from high school in 1953, he pitched for a semipro team before being signed by the Boston Red Sox for a $500 bonus. He was first assigned to Bluefield of the Class D Appalachian League in 1954 where he performed well with an 18-8 record and 2.53 ERA with 178 strikeouts over 210 innings. Spending most of 1955 with Corning of the Class D Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York (or Pony) League he produced a 10-9 tally and 3.81 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 170 innings. He finished the season with Greensboro of the Class B Carolina League, where he played in 1956. He tossed a no-hitter on his way to a 9-7 record and 2.64 ERA with 9 complete games, and 86 strikeouts over 177 innings pitched. Plagued by injuries in 1957 with Oklahoma City of the Class AA Texas League, McBride was limited to 19 games and produced a 2-2 tally with a 4.70 ERA and 24 strikeouts and 21 walks issued over 44 innings, mostly out of the bullpen. Sent to Memphis of the Class AA Southern Association in 1958, his record was 9-10 with a 3.58 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 156 innings while he started in 21 of his 31 games pitched. He had a strong season in 1959 with Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association and was 11-5 with a 2.79 ERA when he was sold to the Chicago White Sox on August 1. With a fine sinker to go along with a fastball and curve, he made two starts among his 11 appearances for the White Sox, who were in the midst of a pennant race which they won. He showed promise in going 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Sent to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1960, he put together an 11-14 tally and 3.23 ERA with 131 strikeouts over 198 innings before finishing up with another short stint with the White Sox. Left exposed in the AL expansion draft, McBride was chosen by the Angels and became part of the starting rotation for the 1961 inaugural season. His 1961 record was 12-15 with a 3.65 ERA, 11 complete games, and 180 strikeouts over 241.2 innings. He was selected as an All-Star.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 24 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 24

Games Started – 23

Complete Games – 6

Wins – 11 [20, tied with five others]

Losses – 5

PCT - .688 [4]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [4, tied with Bill Monbouquette]

Innings Pitched – 149.1

Hits – 136

Runs – 66

Earned Runs – 58

Home Runs – 9

Bases on Balls – 70

Strikeouts – 83

ERA – 3.50 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 9 [7, tied with Dan Pfister]

Balks – 0

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

Midseason Snapshot: 8-3, ERA - 3.87, SO - 56 in 111.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 8 (in 6 IP) at Boston 5/20

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 7 IP) at Minnesota 6/24

Batting

PA – 55, AB – 55, R – 6, H – 9, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 0, SO – 23, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .164, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 63

Put Outs – 20

Assists – 41

Errors – 2

DP – 7

Pct. - .968

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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In their second season, the Angels went 86-76 to finish third in the AL, 10 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The pitching staff led the league in shutouts (15), saves (47), fewest complete games (23), and fewest home runs allowed (118). Shifting to Dodger Stadium where they improved their home attendance to 1,144,063, the Angels started well and were alone in first place on July 4, a stay that didn’t last long although they drew much attention. Under the guidance of manager Bill Rigney and pitching coach Marv Grissom, who managed the bullpen effectively, the club remained in the first division for the remainder of the season, despite sagging in September. McBride was part of the club’s success until a cracked rib and bout with pleurisy prematurely ended his season.

Aftermath of 1962:

The Angels dropped in the standings in 1963 but McBride remained an All-Star with his 13-12 record, 3.26 ERA, 11 complete games, and 147 strikeouts over 251 innings. Appreciated for being classy, he was a well-liked player. His sinker was highly effective when he was at his best, but he lacked consistency. Two starts into the 1964 season, an arm injury led to a 4-13 record and 5.26 ERA with 66 strikeouts over 116.1 innings. The situation was no better in 1965, and McBride was demoted to San Jose of the Class A California League after having produced an 0-3 mark and 6.14 ERA after eight appearances. His ERA was 11.57 in three starts for San Jose and he retired. For his major league career, which was primarily spent with the Angels, McBride posted a 40-50 record and 3.79 record with 28 complete games, 7 shutouts, and 503 strikeouts over 807.2 innings pitched. A three-time All-Star, physical problems derailed a promising career. Following his playing career, he was briefly a minor league manager and pitching coach for the Milwaukee Brewers. He later was CEO of a construction company. 

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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: Dick Drago, 1971

Pitcher, Kansas City Royals

Age: 26 (June 25)

3^rd season with Royals

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1971:

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Drago started out playing youth baseball prior to lettering in basketball and bowling, in addition to baseball, at that city’s Woodward High School. His varsity pitching record was 18-3, including two no-hitters. Accepting a baseball scholarship to the University of Detroit, Drago signed with the Detroit Tigers following his sophomore year in 1964. Initially assigned to the Florida Instructional League, in 15 relief appearances he produced a 1-2 record and 2.19 ERA with 14 strikeouts and 12 walks over 37 innings. With Daytona Beach of the Class A Florida State League and Rocky Mount of the Carolina League in 1965 Drago, utilized primarily as a starting pitcher, had a combined tally of 5-14 with a 3.36 ERA, 105 strikeouts and 58 walks over 142 innings pitched. Back with Rocky Mount in 1966 his record was a far more agreeable 15-9 with a 1.79 ERA, 14 complete games, 7 shutouts, and 151 strikeouts over 186 innings. He pitched a seven-inning no-hitter and was a league All-Star. He finished the season with an appearance with the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League although he spent 1967 with the Montgomery Rebels of the Class AA Southern League. He duplicated his Class A win total by achieving a 15-10 tally with a 3.27 ERA, 12 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 134 strikeouts over 179 innings. Drago spent 1968 in Class AAA back in his hometown with Toledo and was once more a 15-game winner with his 15-8 record and 3.36 ERA with 9 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 146 strikeouts over 182 innings. With a repertoire of both a sinking and rising fastball, a slider, and a changeup, and appearing ready for the major leagues, he was exposed to the 1969 expansion draft and was taken by the Royals. Overcoming a midseason slump, Drago posted a respectable 11-13 tally and 3.77 ERA with 10 complete games that included two shutouts, and 108 strikeouts over 200.2 innings for the new club. Both he and the Royals had a more difficult season in 1970, with Drago’s record coming in at 9-15 with a 3.75 ERA, 7 complete games, and 127 strikeouts over 240 innings.

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 34

Complete Games – 15 [12, tied with Jim Kaat & Steve Kline]

Wins – 17 [11, tied with Jim Perry]

Losses – 11

PCT - .607 [14]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [7, tied with ten others]

Innings Pitched – 241.1

Hits – 251 [8]

Runs – 84

Earned Runs – 80

Home Runs – 14

Bases on Balls – 46

Strikeouts – 109

ERA – 2.98 [16]

Hit Batters – 9 [3, tied with Tom Murphy]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 4 

Midseason Snapshot: 9-5, ERA - 3.44, SO – 60 in 117.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 8 (in 9 IP) at California 7/1

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 5 (in 9 IP) vs. Baltimore 7/20

Batting

PA – 92, AB – 77, R – 3, H – 10, 2B – 3, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 8, SO – 44, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .130, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 7, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 51

Put Outs – 7

Assists – 42

Errors – 2

DP – 9

Pct. - .961

Awards & Honors:

5^th in AL Cy Young voting, tied with Andy Messersmith, Cal. (1 point – 1% share)

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The Royals went 85-76 to finish second in the AL Western Division, 16 games behind the division-winning Oakland Athletics. The pitching staff led the league in saves (44) and fewest home runs allowed (84). The Royals, in their first full season under manager Bob Lemon, got off to an 11-11 April start and played consistently well throughout the season. The addition of shortstop Freddie Patek significantly improved the infield defense and he combined well with veteran second baseman Cookie Rojas, who was in his first full season in Kansas City.

Aftermath of 1971:

Following his fine 1971 season, Drago faltered in 1972 and produced a record of 12-17, which was nearly the exact opposite of his ’71 tally, along with a respectable 3.01 ERA, 11 complete games, and 135 strikeouts over 239.1 innings. 1973 was a more disappointing season for Drago, if not the Royals, as his ERA rose to 4.23 to go along with a 12-14 record, 10 complete games, and 98 strikeouts over 212.2 innings. In the offseason he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for RHP Marty Pattin. Utilized as both a starter and reliever with his new club in 1974, Drago was at his most effective out of the bullpen and finished at 7-10 with 3 saves, a 3.48 ERA, 8 complete games (out of 18 starts), and 90 strikeouts over 175.2 innings. Almost exclusively a reliever in 1975, he recorded 15 saves along with a 2-2 tally in 40 appearances along with a 3.84 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 72.2 innings. The Red Sox topped the AL East and Drago picked up two saves in the ALCS triumph over Oakland. He made two more appearances in the seven-game World Series loss to the Cincinnati Reds where he was credited with the loss in Game 2 but finished with a 2.25 ERA over 4 innings. In the offseason, Drago was dealt to the California Angels, a team on the rise after being cellar dwellers for two years. In 1976 his 6 saves were enough to lead the team. In addition he compiled a 7-8 record in 43 relief appearances along with a 4.42 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 79.1 innings. Midway through the 1977 season, Drago was on the move again, this time to the Baltimore Orioles who were seeking to keep up with the Yankees in the AL East. Having appeared in only 13 games with the Angels, he pitched in 36 games out of the bullpen for the Orioles and finished with an overall record of 6-4 with 5 saves, a 3.41 ERA, and 35 strikeouts over 60.2 innings. As a free agent in the offseason, Drago returned to the Red Sox. In 1978 the Red Sox started strong and had a 14.5-game lead in the AL East before collapsing in the season’s second half and needing a late rally to end up tied with the Yankees, who defeated them in a one-game playoff to decide the division title. Drago appeared in 37 games (one start and the remainder in relief), splitting bullpen duty with righthanders Bob Stanley and Tom Burgmeier. His record was 4-4 with 7 saves, a 3.03 ERA, and 42 strikeouts over 77.1 innings. The club endured another second-half collapse on the way to third place in 1979. Drago made 53 appearances and remained a solid performer out of the bullpen with a 10-6 tally, 13 saves, another 3.03 ERA, and 67 strikeouts over 89 innings. A notorious bench jockey who relentlessly needled opposing players, off the field he regularly visited children in hospitals, bringing gifts and signing autographs. In 1980 he started in seven of his 43 appearances, one of them a complete game on his way to a 7-7 record with 3 saves, a 4.14 ERA, and 63 strikeouts over 132.2 innings. Just before the 1981 season Drago was dealt to the Seattle Mariners where he was back to being a full-time reliever and endured a disappointing season where he went 4-6 with 5 saves in 39 appearances, posting a career-worst 5.53 ERA. He was released by the Mariners prior to the 1982 season, thus concluding his playing career. For his major league career, Drago pitched in 519 games, 189 of them starts, and produced a 108-117 record with 58 saves, a 3.62 ERA, 62 complete games, 10 shutouts, and 987 strikeouts over 1875 innings. With the Royals he made 182 appearances, including 160 starts, and was 61-70 with one save, 53 complete games, all 10 shutouts, and 577 strikeouts over 1134 innings pitched. Drago pitched in 4 postseason games, all with Boston, and had a 0-1 record with 2 saves and a 1.04 ERA. Never an All-Star Drago proved to be a capable pitcher as both a starter and reliever, but 1971 marked the only season in which he received an award vote. Following his baseball career, he became entangled in legal problems stemming from his two divorces and child support payments. He died at age 78 in 2023.

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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: Dick Farrell, 1965

Pitcher, Houston Astros

Age: 31 (April 8)

4^th season with Colt .45s/Astros

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 1965:

A Massachusetts native, Farrell, the son of an amateur athlete known as “Big Turk” came to be known as “Turk”, a lasting nickname. A polio victim before he was two, he wore a leg brace until age six. Overcoming the disease after many hospital treatments, he walked with a slight limp for the remainder of his life. He still managed to become an accomplished athlete at St. Mary’s High School in Brookline, excelling in football and basketball as well as baseball, where his pitching record from sophomore to senior years was 45-5. Farrell passed on college scholarship offers to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school. Initially assigned to the Schenectady Blue Jays of the Class A Eastern League in 1953, the big 19-year-old posted a 7-3 record with a 3.39 ERA. Reassigned to Schenectady in 1954, Farrell went 11-15 for a last-place team while recording 115 strikeouts in 216 innings pitched. Moving up to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League in 1955, Farrell posted a 12-12 tally with a 3.94 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 185 innings pitched. He also hit a league-longest 475-foot home run at MacArthur Stadium in Syracuse. During the winter he pitched in the Venezuelan Association, where he performed well, including a one-hitter in the Caribbean Series. Unable to crack Philadelphia’s pitching staff in the spring of 1956, he found himself back in the International League with the Miami Marlins. “Turk”, after recovering from a broken ankle that cost him the first two months of the season, went 12-6 with a 2.50 ERA. Along the way he lost 2-0 while throwing a two-hitter due to allowing 10 walks. Receiving a late-season call-up to the Phillies, he lost his only start but stuck with the parent club in 1957 as a reliever, despite typically having started during his minor league career. Farrell went on to excel as a rookie, appearing in 52 games and compiling a 10-2 record with 10 saves, a 2.38 ERA, and 54 strikeouts in 83.1 innings pitched. With his excellent fastball, he was an All-Star for the first time in 1958, although his second half performance tailed off, likely due to overwork and the weakening effects of a severe hay fever allergy. He finished with an 8-9 tally and 11 saves in 54 relief appearances and a 3.35 ERA. The Phillies were a last-place club in 1959 and Farrell took blame as a hard-partying ringleader of the so-called “Dalton Gang” of carousers and whose pitching performance dropped to 1-6 with 6 saves and a 4.74 ERA in 38 appearances. Along the way he was briefly demoted to Buffalo of the International League. Training diligently prior to the 1960 season, he returned to good form, appearing in 59 games and posting a 10-6 record with 11 saves and a 2.70 ERA. With the team in full rebuilding mode, Farrell became a desirable trade asset but started the 1961 season with the Phillies. A poor start damaged his trade value, but he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in May. He continued to struggle and became prone to surrendering walks and home runs. For the year he pitched in 55 games and went 8-7 with 10 saves and a 5.20 ERA. Left unprotected by the Dodgers in the expansion draft for the two new National League entries for 1962, Farrell was chosen by Houston, who converted him back into a starting pitcher. He responded with a 10-20 record although he endured tough defeats due to an offense that had difficulty scoring runs. His ERA was a respectable 3.02 and he compiled 10 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 203 strikeouts over 241.2 innings. He was also the first All-Star representative in franchise history. Houston remained strong in pitching and weak in producing runs again in 1963. Farrell reproduced his 3.02 ERA while posting a winning record of 14-13, compiling 12 complete games and 141 strikeouts. In 1964 he got off to a hot start and was 10-1 at the All-Star break. The run production dropped off in the second half and “Turk” finished at 11-10, although with a still respectable 3.27 ERA and 117 strikeouts over the course of 198.1 innings.

1965 Season Summary

Appeared in 33 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 33

Games Started – 29

Complete Games – 8 [19, tied with Dick Ellsworth, Bob Friend & Warren Spahn]

Wins – 11

Losses – 11 [18, tied with four others]

PCT - .500

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 3 [11, tied with Al Jackson & Bill Faul]

Innings Pitched – 208.1

Hits – 202

Runs – 94

Earned Runs – 81

Home Runs – 18

Bases on Balls – 35

Strikeouts – 122 [20, tied with Ray Sadecki]

ERA – 3.50 [19]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 1

Midseason Snapshot: 7-2, ERA - 2.30, SO - 75 in 125 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 5 IP) at NY Mets 9/1

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 5 (in 9 IP) on four occasions

Batting

PA – 77, AB – 74, R – 2, H – 10, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 1, SO – 27, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .135, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 2, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 42

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 30

Errors – 3

DP – 3

Pct. - .929

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The renamed Astros went 65-97 to finish ninth in the NL, 32 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitching staff led the league in fewest complete games (29, tied with the New York Mets) and fewest walks (388). The Astros moved into baseball’s first domed stadium and drew 2.151,470 fans, many coming to see the impressive new Astrodome rather than the unimpressive Astros. Granted, the spectacular venue was not without kinks to be worked out and proved immediately to be a poor hitters’ park. The club was seeking to build on youth, some of which produced impressively. Following a 10-6 April start, they crashed in May and never recovered. Both manager Luman Harris and GM Paul Richards were dismissed in the offseason.

Aftermath of 1965:

Appearing to have lost some zip on his fastball, the Astros entertained trade offers for Farrell in the offseason. While no longer a carouser, “Turk” was accused of throwing occasional spitballs. He remained with Houston in 1966, starting in just 21 of his 32 pitching appearances as he was relegated to the bullpen. His record was 6-10 with a 4.60 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 152.2 innings pitched. He also showed a propensity for giving up the long ball, surrendering 23 home runs. Farrell returned to the Phillies in May of 1967. Once again almost exclusively a reliever, he posted a 10-6 mark for the ’67 season along with 12 saves and a 2.34 ERA. He was at his best with the Phillies, combining with another veteran, Dick Hall, to solidify the bullpen. Farrell started off well in 1968 but slumped to end up at 4-6 with 12 saves and a 3.48 ERA in 54 appearances. Following a poor season in 1969 he was released, thus ending his major league career, although he tried to catch on with other teams over the next couple of seasons, seeing action in the Mexican League as well. For his major league career, Farrell compiled a 106-111 record with a 3.45 ERA, 41 complete games, 5 shutouts, 83 saves, and 1177 strikeouts over 1704.2 innings pitched. With Houston he went 53-64 with a 3.42 ERA, 41 complete games, 5 shutouts, 8 saves, and 694 strikeouts in 1015 innings pitched. He was a five-time All-Star. Following his retirement from baseball Farrell worked in the oil and gas industry until his death due to an auto accident in England at age 43 in 1977. Years later it was revealed that he was the biological father of Richard Dotson, who pitched primarily with the Chicago White Sox in the 1980s. A fiercely competitive power pitcher and off-field prankster, Farrell led a talented Houston pitching staff in the franchise’s early years.

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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: Hal Woodeshick, 1964

Pitcher, Houston Colt .45s

Age:  32 (Aug. 24)

3^rd season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Left

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1964:

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Woodeshick moved to that state’s Beaver County at a young age. He became a high school pitching star in the town of Monaca, where he once pitched a perfect game. Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at age 17, he appeared in one game with Carbondale of the Class D North Atlantic League in 1950 before being sent to a New York Giants affiliate, the Kingsport Cherokees of the Appalachian League in 1952, where he posted a 13-6 record and 4.54 ERA along with 169 strikeouts and 140 walks over 216 innings. Woodeshick spent the next two years in the Army before moving on to the Danville Leafs of the Class B Carolina League in 1955 where he went 14-8 with a 3.55 ERA and 140 strikeouts with 103 walks over 180 innings. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers he next played for Charleston of the Class AAA American Association in 1956 where, despite an elbow injury that cost him a month of action, he produced a 12-5 tally and 2.75 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 157 innings. Called up to the Tigers in September, which forced him to postpone his wedding, his performance was unimpressive after a strikeout of star catcher Yogi Berra in an initial outing against the Yankees. A winter pitching in Cuba failed to adequately improve his curveball and he appeared to be overweight when he arrived for spring training in 1957. Returning to Charleston, he had a disappointing season, posting a 5-9 record and 4.89 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 61 walks over 116 innings. Along the way he was accused of throwing spitballs. Demoted all the way to Class A, Woodeshick was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the offseason. Assigned to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League to start the 1958 season, he had a 10-2 tally and 2.54 ERA when he was called up to the Indians by new manager Joe Gordon, who had replaced the fired Bobby Bragan. Woodeshick got off to a strong start with Cleveland, hurling three complete game wins in four starts. His performance dropped off thereafter and he was relegated to the bullpen, where he finished the season strongly. For the season with Cleveland he went 6-6 with a 3.64 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 71.2 innings. With the Indians hoping he could be their best lefthanded option out of the bullpen in 1959, Woodeshick struggled during the spring with his weight and performance and was sent down to Toronto of the Class AAA International League where he performed acceptably as a starter before being dealt to the Washington Senators in late May. Utilized almost exclusively as a reliever by the Senators, the chronic worrier experienced difficulties in the early going but went on to make 31 appearances and produce a 2-4 record and 3.69 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 61 innings. 11 pitchers started games for the Senators in 1960 and Woodeshick started 14 times among his 41 appearances, compiling a 4-5 tally and 4.70 ERA along with 4 saves and 46 strikeouts over 115 innings. With the move of the Senators to Minnesota for 1961, Woodeshick was taken in the expansion draft by the replacement Washington Senators franchise. Moving into the starting rotation for the new club, he had a 3-2 mark and 4.02 ERA when he was traded back to the Detroit Tigers in June. He performed poorly as a reliever for the contending Tigers, resulting in a demotion to Class AAA Charleston of the International League which allowed him to be close to home in West Virginia during his wife’s pregnancy and to help with relief efforts following devastating flooding. In the offseason he was sold to the expansion Colt .45s. Inserted into the starting rotation he put together a 5-16 record that included picking up the win in the first shutout victory in franchise history (with RHP Dick Farrell picking up a save). His ERA was 4.39 and he struck out 82 batters over a career-high 139.1 innings. He would never again start a game after the 1962 season. Previously reliant on his fastball, he finally gained command of his curve and added a slider which would help him come into his own as a reliever in 1963. The result was an 11-9 tally and 10 saves in 55 appearances. His ERA was 1.97 and he finished 39 games while striking out 94 batters over 114 innings. He was Houston’s lone All-Star representative. Heading into 1964, Woodeshick, whose career had been nondescript until 1963, was sought after by contending teams.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 61 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 61 [7, tied with Bob Shaw]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 48 [4]

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 2

Losses – 9

PCT - .182

Saves – 23 [1]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 78.1

Hits – 73

Runs – 32

Earned Runs – 24

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 32

Strikeouts – 58

ERA – 2.76 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 7 [7, tied with Bob Purkey, Ken Johnson & Bob Sadowski]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 7 [16, tied with four others]

League-leading saves were +2 ahead of runners-up Al McBean & Jack Baldschun

Midseason Snapshot: 1-5, ERA - 2.61, G – 29, SV – 16, SO - 33 in 38 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 4 (in 2.1 IP) at St. Louis 4/24, (in 3 IP) at St. Louis 6/24, (in 2.2 IP) vs. San Francisco 7/12

10+ strikeout games – 0

Batting

PA – 13, AB – 10, R – 0, H – 0, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 2, SO – 5, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .000, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 33

Put Outs – 5

Assists – 23

Errors – 5

DP – 0

Pct. - .848

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The Colt .45s went 66-96 to finish ninth in the NL, 27 games behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals. The pitching staff led the league in fewest complete games (30), fewest shutouts (9), and fewest walks (353). The Colt .45s stayed just a few games under .500 until midseason and were at 32-34 on June 21 following a four-game sweep of the Braves at Milwaukee, but the club floundered the rest of the way to settle into ninth place once again and finishing 13 games ahead of the NL’s other third-year team, the Mets. While desired by contenders, Woodeshick remained with Houston and, despite a midseason slump, topped the NL in saves (not yet an official statistic).

Aftermath of 1964:

The Colt .45s were renamed the Astros and moved into their new domed stadium, the Astrodome in 1965, but Woodeshick would not remain with the club for very long. In June he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, who were desperate to shore up their bullpen, as part of a four-player deal. Woodeshick performed ably for the Cardinals and finished with a combined record of 6-6 with 18 saves in 78 appearances, a 2.25 ERA, and 59 strikeouts over 92 innings pitched. A shoulder injury suffered during 1966 spring training dropped Woodeshick’s workload to 59 games, although he remained effective and produced a 1.92 ERA and 2-1 tally with 4 saves and 30 strikeouts over 70.1 innings. He further proved to be a valuable mentor to the club’s rising cadre of young pitchers. The Cardinals won the NL pennant in 1967 and Woodeshick was part of a remarkably well-balanced and capable bullpen that included lefthanders Joe Hoerner (the closer) and Al Jackson and righties Ron Willis and Jack Lamabe. He appeared in one game during the World Series against the Boston Red Sox and finished the Game 6 loss by inducing Boston slugger Carl Yastrzemski to ground out. The Cardinals won Game 7 and Woodeshick earned a World Series championship ring. Released in the offseason, he chose to retire at age 35 even though several clubs expressed interest in him. For his major league career Woodeshick pitched in 427 games, 62 of them starts, and produced a 44-62 record and 3.56 ERA with 61 saves, 7 complete games, and 484 strikeouts over 847.1 innings. With Houston he appeared in 174 games, 62 of them starts, with a 3.16 ERA, 36 saves, 2 complete games, and 256 strikeouts over 364 innings. A poor fielder, he had particular difficulty with throwing to first base. Following his playing career, Woodeshick moved to Houston and coached and tutored in youth baseball. Back where he had first demonstrated his baseball talent, he was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He died in 2009 at age 76. His younger cousin, Tom Woodeshick, was an NFL running back, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles, from 1963-72.

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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: Al Kaline, 1961

Outfielder, Detroit Tigers

Age: 26

8^th season with Tigers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 175 

Prior to 1961:

A Baltimore native, Kaline was the son of a semipro baseball player. Coached by his father to be a pitcher, he developed a strong throwing arm while also dealing with the effects of osteomyelitis that forced him to run on the side of his left foot. As a freshman at Southern High School, he excelled at basketball and the baseball coach developed him into a center fielder. A .333 hitter as a freshman, he continued to hit impressively, including .469 as a junior and .488 as a senior. as he became an excellent fielder. Drawing the interest of major league scouts, Kaline signed with the Tigers soon after graduating high school in 1953 for a three-year contract at $20,000 plus a $15,000 bonus. The 18-year-old Kaline immediately joined the Tigers and went on to appear in 30 games and batted .250 with a home run and .300 on-base percentage. After playing winter ball in Cuba he became the starting right fielder for the Tigers in 1954 and hit .276 with 18 doubles, 4 home runs, 43 RBIs, and a .305 OBP. More esteemed for his defense at this point, he broke out in a big way as a hitter in 1955 as he became the youngest AL batting champion at age 20 by hitting .340 with a league-leading 200 hits that included 24 doubles, 8 triples, and 27 home runs. He also accounted for 102 RBIs, a .421 OBP, and a .546 slugging percentage. Possessing poise beyond his years while a graceful hitter with a much admired batting form that delivered line drive power, plus great speed and defensive ability, Kaline was an All-Star for the first time and placed second in league MVP voting. Pressing at the plate in 1956, he got off to a slow start but came on strong after the All-Star break to finish at .314 with 32 doubles, 10 triples, 27 home runs, 128 RBIs, a .383 OBP, and a .530 slugging percentage. Prior to the 1957 season Kaline became embroiled in a contract dispute with the Tigers which led to some bad publicity and made the naturally introverted player become wary of the press.. On the field he got off to another slow start and batted .295 with 29 doubles, 23 home runs, 90 RBIs, a .343 OBP, and a .478 slugging percentage with the aid of a strong second half. He received a Gold Glove for his play in right field in the first year that they were awarded. Receiving another Gold Glove in 1958 after topping AL outfielders with 23 assists, Kaline also hit .313 with 34 doubles, 7 triples, 16 home runs, 85 RBIs, a .374 OBP, and a .490 slugging percentage. In 1960 Kaline was shifted to center field due to an injury to Harvey Kuenn, the starting player at that position. Kuenn took over in right field upon his return to the lineup. Kaline also exhibited toughness by returning to action soon after being struck in the cheek by a bad pitch. The move to center field did not keep him from winning another Gold Glove and his batting production did not suffer with the change in position as he hit .327 with 19 doubles, 27 home runs, 94 RBIs, a .410 OBP, and a league-leading .530 slugging percentage. The arrival of power-hitting Rocky Colavito in 1960 kept Kaline in center field and he had an uncharacteristically erratic season at the plate. He was hampered by an ankle injury and there were concerns about his being distracted by off-field business interests in combination with ice hockey star Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings. For the year he batted .278 with 29 doubles, 15 home runs, 68 RBIs, a .354 OBP, and a .426 slugging percentage, although he swiped a career high 19 stolen bases. He still was an All-Star if not a Gold Glove recipient. New manager Bob Scheffing shifted Colavito to left field in 1961, clearing the way for Kaline to return to his preferred spot in right field.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

RF – 141, CF – 22, PH – 5, 3B – 1, LF – 1

 [Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 665 [15]

At Bats – 586 [14]

Runs – 116 [5]

Hits – 190 [3]

Doubles – 41 [1]

Triples – 7 [7, tied with five others]

Home Runs – 19

RBI – 82 [17, tied with Minnie Minoso]

Bases on Balls – 66 [19, tied with Jackie Jensen & Ron Hansen]

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 42

Stolen Bases – 14 [11]

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .324 [2]

OBP - .393 [7]

Slugging Pct. - .515 [9]

Total Bases – 302 [7]

GDP – 16 [14, tied with Roger Maris, Norm Cash & Jackie Jensen]

Hit by Pitches – 4 [16, tied with fourteen others]

Sac Hits – 4

Sac Flies – 5

League-leading doubles were +3 ahead of runners-up Brooks Robinson & Tony Kubek

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 20, 3B – 5, HR - 10, RBI - 48, AVG - .299, OBP - .358, SLG - .487

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. NY Yankees 6/17, (in 4 AB) at Boston 9/7, (in 4 AB) vs. NY Yankees 9/16

Longest hitting streak – 22 games

HR at home – 8

HR on road – 11

Most home runs, game – 1 on nineteen occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. NY Yankees 6/17

Pinch-hitting – 3 for 5 (.600) with 2 2B, 1 3B & 4 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 391

Put Outs – 378

Assists – 9

Errors – 4

DP – 3

Pct. – .990

Awards & Honors:

Gold Glove

All-Star (Started for AL in RF, second game)

9^th in AL MVP voting (35 points – 13% share)

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The Tigers went 101-61 to finish second in the AL, 8 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in runs scored (841), triples (53), batting (.266), and OBP (.347). The Tigers started off fast and were in first place from April 29 until June 6 and then again from June 17 through July 6. They were in first or second for the remainder of July but in second to stay through August and September. After losing three straight to the Yankees in New York to start September, they continued to lose until the string reached eight to end any pennant hopes.

Aftermath of 1961:

Kaline got off to a strong start in 1962 and was batting over .336 in May when he suffered a broken collarbone while making a diving catch at Yankee Stadium. He missed eight weeks and 57 games as Detroit lost ground in the pennant race and he finished the season at .304 with 16 doubles, 29 home runs, 94 RBIs, a .376 OBP, and a .593 slugging percentage. Iin 1963 Kaline was hitting well until hindered by a knee injury and ended up batting .312 with 24 doubles, 27 home runs, 101 RBIs, a .375 OBP, and a .514 slugging percentage. Foot, ankle, and knee injuries hindered Kaline in 1964 and he hit .293 with 31 doubles, 5 triples, 17 home runs, 68 RBIs, a .383 OBP, and a .469 slugging percentage. He was still an All-Star (although he skipped the game due to injury) and received a Gold Glove for his sterling defensive play. His batting production remained below par in 1965 due to chronic injuries and appearing in 125 games, he finished at .281 with 18 doubles, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .388 OBP, and a .471 slugging percentage. Following foot surgery in the offseason, in 1966 Kaline was able to run with his customary speed again and was batting a league-leading .325 at the All-Star break. Further minor injuries and the distractions of two managers having to step down due to health issues caused both Kaline and the entire club to dip in the second half and he finished at .288 with 29 doubles, 29 home runs, 88 RBIs, a .392 OBP, and a .534 slugging percentage. An All-Star as usual, he also placed seventh in league MVP balloting and won his ninth Gold Glove. The Tigers were strong contenders in a wild AL pennant race in 1967 and, although Kaline missed 26 games after suffering a broken thumb due to slamming his bat back in the rack following a strikeout in a June game against Cleveland (an uncharacteristic display of temper), he still contributed mightily to Detroit’s pennant chase by batting .308 with 28 doubles, 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, a .411 OBP, and a .541 slugging percentage. The Tigers narrowly missed the pennant but they didn’t fall short in 1968, winning the American League pennant by 12 games. Kaline suffered a broken arm in late May and played in a reduced role upon his return due to Jim Northrup’s good play in right field in his place. Primarily used at first base and as a pinch-hitter during the season’s second half, he still contributed key hits as the club nailed down the pennant. Appearing in 102 games he hit .287 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .392 OBP. While one of his previously stated career goals was to play in a World Series, he suggested to manager Mayo Smith that he didn’t deserve the opportunity at this point. Smith adjusted the lineup for the Series against the St. Louis Cardinals by moving center fielder Mickey Stanley to shortstop, Northrup to center field, and installing Kaline in right field. The Tigers fell behind three-games-to-one but won three straight games and the World Series. Kaline batted .379 with two homers in the seven games. Back in his regular spot in right field in 1969, Kaline hit .272 with 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, a .346 OBP, and a .447 slugging percentage. The Tigers finished second in the AL East in the new divisional alignment, unable to gain ground on the first-place Baltimore Orioles. Al Kaline Day was celebrated at Tiger Stadium in 1970 and the aging star split time between right field and first base on his way to batting .278 with 24 doubles, 16 home runs, 71 RBIs, a .377 OBP, and a .450 slugging percentage. In 1971 he reached the $100,000 salary level, played regularly in right field, and hit .294 with 15 home runs, 54 RBIs, a .416 OBP, and a .462 slugging percentage for the resurgent Tigers. 1972 marked his twentieth season, as he achieved another of his stated career goals. Dealing with an injured left leg throughout the season, he came on strong down the stretch and knocked in the winning run in the game that clinched the AL East title for the Tigers. Overall, in 106 games he batted .313 with 10 home runs, 32 RBIs, a .374 OBP, and a .475 slugging percentage. Detroit lost the ALCS to the Oakland Athletics in five games in which Kaline hit .263 with a home run. He played two more seasons until 1974, when he was used almost exclusively as a Designated Hitter, batting .262 with 28 doubles, 13 home runs, 64 RBIs, and a .227 OBP. He was also an All-Star for the eighteenth and last time. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Tigers, Kaline batted .297 with 3007 hits that included 498 doubles, 75 triples, and 399 home runs. He scored 1622 runs and compiled 1582 RBIs, 137 stolen bases, a .376 OBP, and a .480 slugging percentage. Appearing in 12 postseason games, he hit .333 with 3 homers and 9 RBIs. In addition to being an 18-time All-Sar, he finished in the Top 10 in AL MVP voting nine times and received 10 Gold Gloves. Following his playing career he became a commentator on Tigers telecasts for 25 years. He also served the team as a spring training instructor. The modest star was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Tigers retired his #6. “Mr. Tiger” died in 2020 at age 85. At his Hall of Fame induction he summed up his career by saying “if there is one accomplishment of which I am particularly proud, it is that I have always served baseball to the best of my ability, never have I deliberately done anything to discredit the game, the Tigers, or my family.” The quiet man of dignity led by example and was esteemed by fans and contemporaries.

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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.