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. 

Highlighted Year: Gary Sheffield, 1993

Third Baseman, San Diego Padres/Florida Marlins

Age:  24

2^nd season with Padres

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 190 

Prior to 1993:

A native of Tampa, Florida, Sheffield grew up with his uncle and future major league star pitcher Dwight Gooden, who was just four years older. His Little League team reached the finals of the 1980 Little League World Series. Having developed a rough personality while living in a rough neighborhood, Sheffield engaged in bullying behavior. He also sought to emulate his uncle’s success as a pitcher and posted a 1.81 ERA as a senior at Hillsborough High School in 1986. Better as a hitter, that same year he batted .500 with 14 home runs and 31 RBIs over the course of 22 games. His exploits earned him recognition as the Gatorade National High School Baseball Player of the Year. Chosen sixth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1986 amateur draft. The 17-year-old signed and was sent to the Helena Gold Sox of the Rookie-level Pioneer League where, over the course of 57 games he played shortstop and led the league with 71 RBIs while hitting .365 with 12 doubles, 15 home runs, 14 stolen bases, a .413 on-base percentage, and a .640 slugging percentage. An offseason arrest back home in Tampa resulted in Sheffield being put on probation. Advancing to Stockton of the Class A California Legue in 1987, he batted .277 with 23 doubles, 17 home runs, 103 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, a .388 OBP, and a .448 slugging percentage. Sheffield split 1988 between El Paso of the Class AA Texas League and Denver of the Class AAA American Association and hit a combined .327 with 28 doubles, 8 triples, 28 home runs, 119 RBIs, 13 steals, a .395 OBP, and a .579 slugging percentage. Called up to the Brewers, he took over at shortstop in place of the injured Dale Sveum as the club finished strong and contended in September. Sheffield hit .238 in his first taste of major league action with 4 homers, 12 RBIs, and a .295 OBP. With expectations high for Sheffield in 1989, a misdiagnosed broken foot bone hindered his performance and he encountered problems defensively at shortstop and at the plate. Sent down to Denver in July, he continued to hit poorly and when he returned to the Brewers in September he was moved to third base, much to his chagrin, due to the fine performance of fellow rookie Bill Spiers at shortstop. For the major league portion of the 1989 season, Sheffield hit .247 with 18 doubles, 5 home runs, 32 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and a .303 OBP. Having been a poor clubhouse presence as well as a disappointing performer on the field, Sheffield remained at third base in 1990 and improved his batting average to .294 and his OBP to .350 to go along with 30 doubles, a disappointing 10 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases before a shoulder injury finished his season in September. Wrist and shoulder injuries limited Sheffield to 50 games in 1991 and he batted .194 with 16 extra-base hits (only two of them homers), 22 RBIs, and a .277 OBP. Having antagonized the organization with his complaints and criticisms, he was traded to San Diego prior to the 1992 season. Sheffield had an excellent season with his new team in ’92, contending for the Triple Crown for most of the season and winning the NL batting championship at .330 to go along with 34 doubles, 33 home runs, 100 RBIs, a .385 OBP, and a .580 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star for the first time, placed third in league MVP voting, and was named MLB Player of the Year by The Sporting News. In 1993, with the Padres shedding payroll and doubtful of their ability to retain Sheffield once he reached free agency, he was traded to the expansion Marlins in June.  

1993 Season Summary

Appeared in 140 games (SD – 68 / FLA – 72)

3B – 133, PH – 6, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 557 (SD – 282/ FLA – 275)

At Bats – 494 (SD – 258/ FLA – 236)

Runs – 67 (SD – 34/ FLA – 33)

Hits – 145 (SD – 76/ FLA – 69)

Doubles – 20 (SD – 12/ FLA – 8)

Triples – 5 (SD – 2/ FLA – 3)

Home Runs – 20 (SD – 10/ FLA – 10)

RBI – 73 (SD – 36/ FLA – 37)

Bases on Balls – 47 (SD – 18/ FLA – 29)

Int. BB – 6 (FLA)

Strikeouts – 64 (SD – 30/ FLA – 34)

Stolen Bases – 17 (SD – 5/ FLA – 12)

Caught Stealing – 5 (SD – 1/ FLA – 4)

Average - .294 (SD – .295/ FLA – .292)

OBP - .361 (SD – .344/ FLA – .378)

Slugging Pct. - .476 (SD – .473/ FLA – .479)

Total Bases – 235 (SD – 122/ FLA – 113)

GDP – 11 (SD – 9/ FLA – 2)

Hit by Pitches – 9 [6, tied with Kevin Young & Carlos Garcia] (SD – 3/ FLA – 6)

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 7 [20, tied with eleven others] (SD – 3/ FLA – 4)

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, HR - 13, RBI - 42, AVG - .298, SLG – .482, OBP – .358

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. NY Mets 5/1

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 10

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis 4/18, (in 4 AB) at Pittsburgh 8/14

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. St. Louis 4/18

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 4 (.250) with 1 R & 2 BB

Fielding (Combined)

Chances – 338

Put Outs – 79

Assists – 225

Errors – 34

DP – 15

Pct. - .899

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started for NL at 3B)

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The Padres went 61-101 to finish seventh (last) in the NL Western Division, 43 games behind the division-winning Atlanta Braves, while leading the league in fewest triples (28, tied with the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers). With the club dumping payroll (including the in-season trades of Sheffield and first baseman Fred McGriff) and alienating the fan base, the Padres dropped into the NL West cellar following a seven-game losing streak in August and following a brief uptick, settled into last place to stay in mid-September. They finished with the both the league’s lowest payroll and attendance.

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In their inaugural season, the Marlins went 64-98 to finish sixth in the NL Eastern Division, 33 games behind the division-winning Philadelphia Phillies, while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1054) and fewest runs scored (581), fewest doubles (197), lowest batting average (.248, tied with the New York Mets), fewest home runs (94), and fewest total bases (1897). The Marlins were nearly at .500 with a 30-31 record on June 13, after a four-game sweep of Pittsburgh. They then dropped 11 of 15 to close out the month. A 4-16 finish to the season solidified their hold on sixth place. They drew 3,064,847 fans to Joe Robbie Stadium.

Aftermath of 1993:

Sheffield was signed to a four-year, $22.45 million contract extension with the Marlins prior to the end of the 1993 season.  He was shifted to right field in 1994 and put in the extra work to learn the position. During the strike-shortened season he batted .276 with 16 doubles, 27 home runs, 78 RBIs, a .380 OBP, and a .584 slugging percentage. While remaining outspoken and dogged by occasional off-field problems, Sheffield became generous in philanthropic giving in Miami. On the field in 1995 he was limited to 63 games after tearing ligaments in his left thumb. He came back strong late in the season and ended up hitting .324 with 16 home runs, 46 RBIs, a .467 OBP, and a .587 slugging percentage. Sheffield, who was highly-regarded for his outstanding bat speed and controlled swing that cut down on strikeouts, started off fast in 1996 with 11 home runs in April on his way to batting .314 with 33 doubles, 42 home runs, 120 RBIs, a league-leading .465 OBP thanks to drawing 142 walks, and a .624 slugging percentage. Along the way he once again courted controversy by publicly unleashing his anger on the Marlins organization, primarily general manager Dave Dombrowski, who had indicated that the club would be concentrating on a youth movement and might be looking to deal the temperamental slugger after the season. He remained with the team in 1997, and the Marlins reached the postseason as a wild card entry and went on to win the World Series. Sheffield, who received a six-year, $61 million contract extension early in the season, had a far less productive year, hitting only .250 with 21 home runs, 71 RBIs, a .424 OBP, and a .446 slugging percentage. In his first taste of postseason action he hit .321 with three homers, and 7 RBIs and walked 20 times in 71 plate appearances for a .521 OBP. The Marlins gutted the roster in the offseason while seeking to reduce salary. Sheffield started the 1998 season with Florida but was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in May. While his home run total was a rather modest 22 (16 following the trade), his other combined totals were .302 with 27 doubles, 85 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .428 OBP, and a .524 slugging percentage. Moved to left field in a reshuffled outfield in 1999, he became the first Dodger since Duke Snider in 1955 to bat over .300 with at least 30 home runs and 100 walks drawn, RBIs, and runs scored in a season with totals of .301, 34 homers, 101 RBIs, and 101 walks. His OBP was .407 and he had a slugging percentage of .523 and he was an All-Star for the fifth time. Sheffield, newly married to gospel singer DeLeon Richards, duplicated his feat in 2000 by batting .325 with 43 home runs, 109 RBIs, 101 walks drawn, a .438 OBP, and a .643 slugging percentage. In 2001 he feuded with the Dodgers organization and outfield teammate Shawn Green in and was hindered by a torn finger ligament on his left hand. He hit .311 with 28 doubles, 36 home runs, 100 RBIs, a .417 OBP, and a .583 slugging percentage. In the offseason he was dealt to the Atlanta Braves for three players. Back in right field with the Braves in 2002, Sheffield, dealing with some injuries, hit .307 with 26 doubles, 25 home runs, 84 RBIs, a .404 OBP, and a .512 slugging percentage. The Braves won the NL East with the league’s best record but lost to the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS with Sheffield managing just one hit in 16 at bats, although he drew 7 walks. Sheffield put together a stronger season in 2003, batting .330 with 37 doubles, 39 home runs, 132 RBIs, a .419 OBP, and a .604 slugging percentage. He placed sixth in league MVP voting and received a Silver Slugger in addition to being an All-Star. Despite his denials of ever using performance enhancing drugs, after the season it was reported that he had likely used a steroid-based cream and used injectable PEDs. As a free agent in the offseason he signed with the New York Yankees for three years and $39 million. Although bothered by a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery, Sheffield had another excellent season in 2004 as he hit .290 with 30 doubles, 36 home runs,121 RBIs, a .393 OBP, and a .534 slugging percentage. He was again a Silver Slugger recipient and finished second in AL MVP balloting. Sheffield continued with his highly productive hitting in 2005 by batting .291 with 27 doubles, 34 home runs, 123 RBIs, a .379 OBP, and a .512 slugging percentage. In addition to the previous awards he placed eighth in league MVP voting. Off to a strong start in 2006, Sheffield suffered a left wrist injury that required surgery. Limited to 39 games he hit .298 with 6 home runs and 25 RBIs. Activated for the postseason, he managed a hit in 12 at bats in the ALDS loss to Detroit. In the offseason he was dealt to the Tigers for three minor league players. Always more valuable for his hitting than fielding, he was used primarily as a Designated Hitter in 2007. In the middle of a deep and productive batting order, Sheffield hit .265 with 25 home runs, 75 RBIs, and a .378 OBP. In the same role with Detroit in 2008 he was plagued by injuries and batted a mere .225 with 19 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a .326 OBP. Released by the Tigers prior to the 2009 season he signed with the New York Mets where the 40-year-old slugger returned to the outfield, and over the course of 100 games hit .276 with 10 home runs, 43 RBIs, and a .276 OBP in what proved to be his last season. As a free agent, he sat out the 2010 season and announced his retirement in 2011. For his major league career, Sheffield batted .292 with 2689 hits that included 467 doubles, 27 triples, and 509 home runs. He scored 1636 runs and compiled 1676 RBIs, 253 stolen bases, a .393 OBP, and a .514 slugging percentage. He drew 1475 walks as opposed to striking out 1171 times. With the Marlins he batted .288 with 365 runs scored, 538 hits, 98 doubles, 7 triples, 122 home runs, 380 RBIs, 74 stolen bases, a .426 OBP, a .543 slugging percentage,424 walks drawn, and 290 strikeouts. Appearing in 44 postseason games he hit .248 with 6 home runs, 19 RBIs, and a .401 OBP. A six-time All-Star, he was awarded 5 Silver Sluggers and was in the Top 10 in league MVP voting six times. Following his playing career Sheffield became a player agent for several years and also acted as an analyst for TBS. Following a highly productive career filled with controversies including steroid allegations, Sheffield thus far has failed to gain selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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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: Wally Moon, 1959

Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  29 (April 3)

1^st season with Dodgers

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 169 

Prior to 1959:

A native of Bay, Arkansas, Moon was named by his sports-loving father after Wallace Wade, the successful Univ. of Alabama head football coach at the time. He excelled in American Legion baseball as well as high school basketball and received an offer from the Pittsburgh Pirates which he passed up to go to college at Texas A & M. An All-Southwest Conference outfielder, he signed with the Cardinals for a $6000 bonus while continuing his education. In his first pro season in 1950, Moon batted .315 in 82 games with Omaha of the Class A Western League. Returning to school to complete his master’s degree, he played for Omaha briefly in 1951 and for a full season in 1952, hitting .255 with 10 home runs. Advancing to the Rochester Red Wings of the Class AAA International League in 1953, Moon batted .307 with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 12 home runs, and 61 RBIs. After playing winter ball in Venezuela, he played well with the Cardinals in spring training in 1954 and gained a starting job in the outfield after veteran Enos Slaughter was traded just before the start of the season. Overcoming the pressure of succeeding a popular veteran player, Moon homered in his first plate appearance and went on to hit .304 with 29 doubles, 9 triples, 12 home runs, 76 RBIs, a team-leading 19 stolen bases, a .371 on-base-percentage, and a .435 slugging percentage. He was named NL Rookie of the Year. The serious and ever-hustling Moon, a slashing hitter with some power and good speed, followed up in 1955 by splitting time between first base and the outfield and batted .295 with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 19 home runs, and 76 RBIs. Continuing to play in the outfield and at first base in 1956, Moon hit .298 with 11 triples, 16 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .390 OBP. A devout Methodist, Moon avoided alcohol and foul language. On the field in 1957, he played at all three outfield positions and batted .295 with 24 home runs and 73 RBIs. Moon had a down year in 1958 due to an elbow injury, hitting just .238 with 7 home runs and 38 RBIs. In the offseason he was traded to the Dodgers as part of a three-player deal.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 145 games

LF – 125, CF – 4, PH – 4, 1B – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 637 [15]

At Bats – 543 [19]

Runs – 93 [10]

Hits – 164 [15]

Doubles – 26 [17, tied with Don Blasingame]

Triples – 11 [1, tied with Charlie Neal]

Home Runs – 19 [17, tied with Charlie Neal & Gus Bell]

RBI – 74 [16, tied with Ed Bouchee]

Bases on Balls – 81 [3]

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 64

Stolen Bases – 15 [8, tied with Bill White & Don Blasingame]

Caught Stealing – 6 [11, tied with six others]

Average - .302 [11, tied with Bill White]

OBP - .394 [3]

Slugging Pct. - .495 [10]

Total Bases – 269 [10]

GDP – 9

Hit by Pitches – 3 [19, tied with seventeen others]

Sac Hits – 8 [10, tied with Norm Larker & Don Drysdale]

Sac Flies – 2

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, 3B – 5, HR - 5, RBI - 37, AVG - .298, OBP – .379, DLG – .438

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Mil. Braves 6/16, (in 6 AB) at Mil. Braves 7/9 – 13 innings

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 9/11

HR at home – 14

HR on road – 5

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Pittsburgh 7/28

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 3 (.667)

Fielding

Chances – 241

Put Outs – 224

Assists – 13

Errors – 4

DP – 2

Pct. - .983 

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. Chi. White Sox)

PA – 25, AB – 23, R – 3, H – 6, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .261, OBP - .320, SLG - .391, TB – 9, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started for NL in LF in both games)

4^th in NL MVP voting (161 points – 4 first place votes, 48% share)

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The Dodgers went 86-68 to finish tied for first in the NL with the Milwaukee Braves, which necessitated a season-extending best-of-3 playoff. The Dodgers won the first two games to clinch the NL pennant with a final record of 88-68. They led the league in stolen bases (84) and walks drawn (591). The acquisition of Moon buttressed the lineup. During the season Moon was especially productive down the stretch in a tight pennant race, slugging six homers in six games at one point. Of his 19 home runs, 14 of them were “Moon shots” at the spacious LA Coliseum. The Dodgers were 4.5 games behind the first-place Braves when newcomers who made a further impact joined the team, such as shortstop Maury Wills and pitchers Roger Craig and Larry Sherry. A three-team battle for first ensued with the San Francisco Giants joining the fray and taking the lead for all but two days over the remaining 10 weeks before dropping to third as the Dodgers and Braves deadlocked at the end to force the playoff. Won World Series over the Chicago White Sox, 4 games to 2 and Moon hit a two-run home run in the deciding sixth game.

Aftermath of 1959:

While the Dodgers had a lesser season in 1960, Moon hit .299 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs, receiving his only career Gold Glove for his play in left field, where he accounted for 15 assists. He remained a solid contributor in 1961, leading the league in OBP (.434) while batting .328 with 17 home runs and 88 RBIs. A victim of LA’s youth movement, Moon split time at first base and the outfield in 1962, hitting .242 with just four home runs. Effective in a utility role as the Dodgers topped the NL in 1963, Moon hit .262 over the course of 122 games with 8 home runs and 48 RBIs. He lasted two more years as a veteran backup and pinch-hitter in 1964 and ’65, retiring after playing for another World Series-winning club. A useful and dedicated player, for his major league career Moon batted .289 with 1399 hits that included 212 doubles, 60 triples, and 142 home runs. He scored 737 runs and compiled 661 RBIs and a .371 OBP. With the Dodgers he batted .286 with 649 hits, 337 runs scored, 99 doubles, 24 triples, 64 home runs, 330 RBIs, and a .377 OBP. Appearing in 8 World Series games (all with the Dodgers), he hit .240 with a home run and two RBIs. Following his playing career, Moon coached baseball collegiately and was hitting coach for the expansion San Diego Padres in 1969. He later served as a hitting instructor in the Baltimore Orioles organization and died in 2018 at age 87.

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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.