Highlighted Year: Duke Snider, 1963

Outfielder, New York Mets

Age:  37 (Sept. 19)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 179 

Prior to 1963:

A California native, Edwin Snider was tagged with the nickname “Duke” by his father due to his self-assured manner. A fine natural athlete, he was active in football, basketball, and track, as well as baseball, at Compton High School in the Los Angeles area. Following a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he signed for $250 per month with a $750 bonus and impressed the front office as a 17-year-old in spring training in 1944 with his strong throwing arm, speed, and power hitting. The club was less impressed by his temperamental attitude. Assigned to Newport News of the Class B Piedmont League he batted .294 with 34 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, 50 RBIs, a .364 on-base percentage, and .438 slugging percentage. He also accounted for 25 assists in the outfield. Following the season, Snider joined the Navy and missed the 1945 season and some of 1946. Joining the Fort Worth Cats of the Class AA Texas League in ’46, he appeared in 68 games and hit .250 with 13 doubles, 5 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .320 OBP. Graceful in the outfield and a speedster on the basepaths, he started the 1947 season with the Dodgers, where he was united with Jackie Robinson, who he admired from his days as a star athlete in the Los Angeles area, and who he appreciated for his courage in breaking baseball’s color barrier as well. In a reserve role Snider appeared in 40 games and batted .241 with a .276 OBP before being sent down to St. Paul of the Class AAA American Association in July, having gained a reputation for moodiness and immaturity although impressive in the outfield. In 66 games with St. Paul Snider hit .316 with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .584 slugging percentage. Following intensive work to improve his strike zone judgment in the spring with batting coach George Sisler, Snider started the 1948 season with the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League. He was batting .327 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .403 OBP, and a .644 slugging percentage when he was called up to the Dodgers in August. In 53 games he hit .244 with 17 extra-base hits that included 5 homers, 21 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. Named the starting center fielder in 1949, Snider struck out a league-leading 92 times while batting .292 with 28 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .361 OBP, and a .493 slugging percentage. The left-handed pull hitter found Ebbets Field’s dimensions to be most conducive. Defensively, he ranked second among NL center fielders with 11 assists and a .984 fielding percentage and third with 355 putouts. In his first taste of World Series action against the Yankees he batted only .143 in five games and struck out 8 times. Brooklyn narrowly failed to repeat as NL champ in 1950, but Snider showed improvement as he cut down on strikeouts and led the circuit in hits (199) and total bases (343) while batting .321 with 31 doubles, 10 triples, 31 home runs, 107 RBIs, a .379 OBP, and a .553 slugging percentage. Along the way he had a three-home run game against the Phillies. He remained formidable in center field, was an All-Star for the first time, and placed ninth in league MVP voting. Snider was an All-Star again in 1951 as he got off to a strong start along with the rest of the club. But he slumped during the second half and finished at .277 with 26 doubles, 29 home runs, 101 RBIs, a .344 OBP, and a .483 slugging percentage. His strikeouts also increased and the Dodgers were tied atop the NL by the surging Giants, which necessitated a playoff that the Giants won in dramatic fashion. Prematurely gray in his mid-20s, Snider was criticized by teammates for his moping and complaining and he also had an often-contentious relationship with sportswriters. Benched for a time in 1952, he surged down the stretch as the Dodgers regained the NL pennant and ended up hitting .303 with 25 doubles, 21 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .368 OBP, and a .494 slugging percentage. He eliminated 20 strikeouts from his 1951 total and continued to be a top performer in center field. In the seven-game World Series loss to the Yankees, Snider hit .345 with 4 homers and 8 RBIs. 1953 was another pennant-winning season for the Dodgers and “the Duke of Flatbush” contributed by leading the NL in runs scored (132), slugging (.627), and total bases (370), while batting .336 with 38 doubles, 42 home runs, 126 RBIs, and a .419 OBP. The only criticism of his defensive play was his not charging ground balls in the outfield, causing baserunners to frequently go for an extra base on balls hit toward Snider despite his strong throwing arm. The Dodgers again fell to the Yankees in the World Series despite another strong showing by Snider at the plate where he hit .320 with a home run and 5 RBIs. His performance on the season resulted in a third-place finish in league MVP balloting. The Dodgers ended up second in 1954 and Snider tied for the NL lead in runs scored (120) and he also topped the circuit in total bases (378) while contending for the batting title at .341 along with 39 doubles, 10 triples, 40 home runs, 130 RBIs, a .423 OBP, and a .647 slugging percentage. At the end of May he added to his reputation for making outstanding defensive plays with his leaping catch of a long fly ball by Philadelphia’s third baseman Willie Jones at the Connie Mack Stadium fence to preserve a Brooklyn win in the twelfth inning. He later received a trophy from Dell Baseball Annual for the catch that was judged to be the most spectacular defensive play of the 1954 season. Snider and the Dodgers got off to a strong first half in 1955 on the way to the NL pennant and he started in center field for the NL in the All-Star Game. When his performance slowed following the All-Star break, he was booed by Brooklyn fans and blasted them in the press. Further booing became cheers again when Snider returned to form and the club went on to not only win the pennant, but for the first time ever, the World Series as well. For the season, Snider topped the league in runs scored (126) and RBIs (136) while batting .309 with 34 doubles, 42 home runs, a .418 OBP, and a .628 slugging percentage. In the World Series, won in seven games against the Yankees, he hit .320 with 4 home runs and 7 RBIs. For his overall performance he was named major league Player of the Year by The Sporting News, although he finished a close second to teammate Roy Campanella in league MVP balloting. The Dodgers won the pennant again in 1956 and Snider led the NL in home runs (43), walks drawn (99), OBP(.399), and slugging (.598) while batting .292. He was the batting star of the pennant-clinching win against Pittsburgh, to cap off the regular season. Snider placed tenth in league MVP voting and in the seven-game World Series loss to the Yankees he hit .304 with one home run and 4 RBIs. The Dodgers dropped to third in 1957 but Snider hit 40 home runs (giving him 40 or more for the fifth straight season) and batted .274 with 92 RBIs, a .368 OBP, and a .587 slugging percentage. With the club’s move to Los Angeles in 1958, Snider was leaving Ebbets Field, a ballpark well suited to his talents, for the oddly contoured LA Coliseum, with a spacious right field that hampered his home run power. A knee injury suffered in a spring car accident also hampered his performance and he batted .312 with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .371 OBP, and a .505 slugging percentage. As a native of the Los Angeles area, Snider became popular and prominent with the club’s new fans and had his own daily radio program. The Dodgers rebounded to win the NL pennant in 1959 and Snider contributed by batting .308 with 23 home runs, 88 RBIs, a .400 OBP, and a .535 slugging percentage. In a crowded outfield situation with young talent entering the picture, Snider split time in center and right field with Don Demeter and Ron Fairly. In the World Series triumph over the Chicago White Sox, he hit .200 with a home run and two RBIs. Recurring knee trouble limited Snider to 101 games in 1960 and he batted .243 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, a .366 OBP, and a .519 slugging percentage. In 1961 a broken right elbow held Snider to 85 games in which he hit .296 with 16 home runs, 56 RBIs, a .375 OBP, and a .562 slugging percentage. Honored for his 16 seasons with the Dodgers in 1962, Snider was named team captain. He accounted for the first Dodger hit at the new Dodger Stadium, but otherwise did not contribute significantly while appearing in 80 games and connecting for only 5 home runs while hitting .278. Rumored to be on his way out in the offseason, he was sold to the Mets during spring training in 1963.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in 129 games

RF – 63, LF – 35, PH – 34, CF – 11

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 415

At Bats – 354

Runs – 44

Hits – 86

Doubles – 8

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 45

Bases on Balls – 56 [14, tied with Dick Groat]

Int. BB – 9 [10, tied with Billy Williams, Bill White & Stan Musial]

Strikeouts – 74

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .243

OBP - .345 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .401

Total Bases – 142

GDP – 2

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 4 

Midseason snapshot: HR - 12, RBI - 28, AVG - .230, OBP - .349

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Most hits, game – 3 (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 5/3, (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis 8/7

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 5/3

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. San Francisco 5/3, vs. Cincinnati 5/12, vs. St. Louis 6/7, at San Francisco 7/25

Pinch-hitting – 6 for 29 (.207) with 4 RBI & 5 BB

Fielding

Chances – 146

Put Outs – 139

Assists – 5

Errors – 2

DP – 0

Pct. - .986 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Mets went 51-111 to finish tenth (last) in the NL, 48 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1078), fewest hits (1168), fewest doubles (156), and lowest batting average (.219). In their second season, the Mets remained a collection of aging veterans, such as Snider, and young talent. An 0-8 start sent them quickly into the cellar and while a five-game May winning streak pulled them into sixth place, they were back in tenth to stay by July 4, finishing only marginally better than in their inaugural season. They still drew 1,080,108 fans in their last season in the Polo Grounds. Snider was a nostalgic favorite with the New York fans, with many of the Met fans having previously been supporters of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Aftermath of 1963:

Having appeared in his most games since 1957, Snider requested a trade to a contending team and was dealt to the San Francisco Giants (the club that had been a perpetual rival to the Dodgers) in 1964. Utilized primarily as a pinch-hitter in his final season, he appeared in 91 games and batted .210 while adding four home runs to his career total. For his major league career, Snider batted .295 with 2116 hits that included 358 doubles, 85 triples, and 407 home runs. He scored 1259 runs and compiled 1333 RBIs, a .380 OBP, and a .540 slugging percentage. Appearing in 36 World Series games, he hit .286 with 11 home runs and 26 RBIs. An eight-time All-Star, he finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting six times. The Dodgers retired his #4 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. Following baseball, he pursued his dream of owning an avocado ranch, which he sold within a few years. He scouted and managed in the minor leagues for the Dodgers and became a broadcaster for the San Diego Padres for three years. After serving as a part-time hitting instructor for the Montreal Expos, he encountered health and legal problems and died in 2011 at age 84. Criticized during his career for his temperamental nature and for controversial comments to the effect that he only played baseball for the money, Snider was also recognized as an outstanding hitter and defensive outfielder who significantly contributed to winning teams.

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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 will also include Misc. players who don’t otherwise qualify but received MVP votes or were contributors to teams that reached the postseason. 

Highlighted Year: Frank Thomas, 1962

Outfielder, New York Mets

Age:  33 (June 11)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1962:

The son of Lithuanian immigrants (the original family name was Tumas), Thomas was a native of Pittsburgh and originally studied to become a Roman Catholic priest before turning his attention to pursuing a baseball career. Signed by his hometown Pirates in 1947, the aspiring outfielder was assigned to Tallahassee of the Class D Georgia-Florida League the following year and batted .295 with 39 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 132 RBIs, a .340 on-base -percentage, and a .458 slugging percentage. He was a league All-Star and advanced to two Class B teams in 1949 and hit a combined .319 with 24 doubles, 14 home runs, 87 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .499 slugging percentage. Assigned to the New Orleans Pelicans of the Class AA Southern Association in 1951, Thomas was again a league All-Star as he batted .289 with 23 home runs, 85 RBIs, a .342 OBP, and a .514 slugging percentage. Called up to the Pirates in August, he appeared in 39 games and hit .264 with 9 doubles, 2 home runs, and 16 RBIs. Back with New Orleans in 1952, he batted .303 with 40 doubles, 6 triples, 35 home runs, 131 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .566 slugging percentage. He received another late-season call-up to Pittsburgh which set the stage for him to stick with the club in 1953, which had a significant need for better hitting, and his ability to hit long line drives to left field with his great strength seemed to be made to order. Playing primarily in center field in ’53, Thomas hit .255 with 30 home runs, 102 RBIs, a .331 OBP, and a .505 slugging percentage. He wrangled with general manager Branch Rickey for a significant raise for 1954, setting the stage for regular battles over salary with the Pirates. He accepted a contract for $12,500 and batted .298 with 32 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 94 RBIs, a .359 OBP, and a .497 slugging percentage. Along the way he was an All-Star for the first time and tied for thirteenth in league All-Star voting. Thomas held out in 1955, signed for $18,000, and went on to produce a lesser season as he hit .245 with 25 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .324 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. Shifted to third base in 1956, he struggled at the new position but batted .282 with 25 home runs, 80 RBIs, a .326 OBP, and a .461 slugging percentage. In 1957 Thomas split time at first and third base as well as the outfield, but while not a defensive whiz with his lack of speed and despite a strong throwing arm, his bat remained productive as he hit .290 with 30 doubles, 23 home runs, 89 RBIs, a .335 OBP, and a .460 slugging percentage. Receiving a raise to $25,000 in 1958, he batted .281 with 35 home runs, 109 RBIs, a .334 OBP, and a .528 slugging percentage. He started the All-Star Game at third base for the NL, his position for most of the season. Recognized particularly for his hitting, he was part of a surge to second place by the perennially losing Pirates and he placed fourth in league MVP voting. He hit particularly well on trips to the league’s new cities in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Much coveted by other teams in trade talks, he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason as part of a six-player trade in which Pittsburgh obtained third baseman Don Hoak. Dealing with a significant hand injury in 1959, Thomas was limited to 108 games and his batting production dropped to .225 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs, a .278 OBP, and a mere .380 slugging percentage. He was traded again in the offseason, this time to the Chicago Cubs where he appeared at first and third base in addition to the outfield in 1960. He batted .238 with 21 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .280 OBP, and a .399 slugging percentage. Thomas started the 1961 season with the Cubs but was traded to the Milwaukee Braves in May. He hit well for his new club and produced a .284 average for Milwaukee with 25 home runs, 67 RBIs, a .335 OBP, and a .506 slugging percentage while starting in left field. In the offseason he was dealt once again, this time to the expansion Mets.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 156 games

LF – 126, 1B – 11, PH – 11, 3B – 10

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 633

At Bats – 571

Runs – 69

Hits – 152

Doubles – 23

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 34 [6]

RBI – 94 [13]

Bases on Balls – 48

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 95 [10]

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .266

OBP - .329

Slugging Pct. - .496 [13, tied with Eddie Mathews]

Total Bases – 283 [14]

GDP – 15 [16, tied with Ken Boyer, Bill Mazeroski & Jose Pagan]

Hit by Pitches – 8 [5, tied with Chuck Hiller & Bob Aspromonte]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 6 [10, tied with nine others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, HR - 15, RBI - 50, AVG - .297, OBP - .357, SLG – .508

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Most hits, game – 3 on nine occasions

Longest hitting streak – 18 games

HR at home – 18

HR on road – 16

Most home runs, game – 2 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. Philadelphia 8/1

Pinch-hitting – 4 for 11 (.364) with 2 RBI

Fielding (OF)

Chances – 239

Put Outs – 216

Assists – 14

Errors – 9

DP – 0

Pct. - .962 

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In their inaugural season, the Mets went 40-120 to finish tenth in the NL, 60.5 games behind the pennant-winning San Francisco Giants, while leading the league in most walks drawn (616), fewest hits (1318), and lowest batting average (.240). The “Amazing Mets”, guided by veteran manager Casey Stengel (who turned 72 during the season) and with a roster filled by veteran castoffs and young prospects, rose as high as ninth in the newly expanded league thanks to a 9-3 May spurt, but settled into the cellar on the way to setting a record-for futility, often in amazingly inept fashion. The popular and highly publicized underdogs drew 922,530 fans to the Polo Grounds, their temporary home while awaiting construction of a new ballpark in Queens.

Aftermath of 1962:

In 1963, Thomas saw less playing time due to an injured shoulder and the team’s desire to give their younger players more action. He batted .260 with 15 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .317 OBP, and a .393 slugging percentage. He fit less into the Mets’ plans in 1964 and was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies in August, who were in first place and in need of a first baseman. Thomas filled the need until a broken thumb suffered in a September game knocked him out of the lineup. He hit .294 in 39 games with the Phillies, with 7 home runs, 26 RBIs, a .311 OBP, and a .517 slugging percentage. The Phillies had expanded their lead with Thomas at first base but would end up suffering an epic collapse in the season’s final weeks to lose out in the end. The arrival of Dick Stuart by offseason trade put Thomas in a backup role with the Phillies in 1965. His time in Philadelphia came to an end due to a nasty fight with teammate Dick Allen during batting practice prior to a game against the Reds. Thomas had a penchant for making provocative comments and relentlessly needling other players and was nicknamed “the Big Donkey” as a result. Remarks made to Allen went too far and it took the effort of several teammates to pull them apart. The result of the altercation was that Thomas was dealt to the Houston Astros, who in turn sent him back to the Braves in September. His career ended with the Cubs in 1966. For his major league career, he batted .266 with 1671 hits that included 262 doubles, 31 triples, and 286 home runs. Thomas scored 792 runs and compiled 962 RBIs, a .320 OBP, and a .454 slugging percentage. With the Mets he batted .262 with 311 hits, 122 runs scored, 38 doubles, 5 triples, 52 home runs, 173 RBIs, a .319 OBP, and a .434 slugging percentage. A three-time All-Star, he never appeared in the postseason. Thomas came to be most notably remembered for the altercation with Allen despite his accomplishments on the field. His 1962 home run total with the Mets remained the franchise’s single-season record until 1975. He died in 2023 at age 93.

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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: Earl Battey, 1962

Catcher, Minnesota Twins

Age:  27

3^rd season with Senators/Twins

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 237 

Prior to 1962:

A Los Angeles native, Battey was an outstanding catcher at Jordan High School and signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1953 for $3999. Initially assigned to Colorado Springs of the Class A Western League, the 18-year-old backstop hit only .158 in 26 games and was sent to Waterloo of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1954 where he batted .292 with 25 doubles, 11 home runs, 67 RBIs, a .403 on-base percentage, and a .445 slugging percentage. In 1955 he was with Charleston of the Class AAA American Association and hit .269 with 16 doubles, 8 home runs, 71 RBIs, and a .371 OBP thanks to drawing 62 walks. Receiving a late-season call-up to the White Sox, Battey appeared in five games and produced his first two major league hits. Spending 1956 primarily with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Class AAA International League, he was hindered by a knee injury that limited him to 36 games and a .178 average. He also spent time both early and late in the season with the White Sox. Healthy in the offseason he played winter ball in Venezuela and batted .331. Catching the attention of new manager Al Lopez (once a former star catcher himself) during 1957 spring training, Battey opened the season with Chicago and was used when starting backstop Sherm Lollar received a day off. When Lollar suffered a broken wrist and missed 41 games, Battey and Les Moss filled in behind the plate. While he handled his catching duties well, Battey only hit .174 in 48 games, and he was sent down to Los Angeles of the Pacific Coast League in August. Regaining his batting stroke over the winter in Venezuela, he hit well during spring training in 1958 and stuck with the White Sox where he capably backed up the steady Lollar. He still batted a low .226 with 8 home runs, 26 RBIs, a .325 OBP, and a .417 slugging percentage. Joined by rookie backstop John Romano in 1959, Battey saw less action for the pennant-winning White Sox and in 72 plate appearances he hit .219 with a .306 OBP. As the White Sox sought to improve their power production, Battey was traded to the Washington Senators for slugging outfielder Roy Sievers just prior to the 1960 season. Taking over as Washington’s starting catcher, he produced at the plate by hitting .270 with 24 doubles, 15 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .346 OBP, and a .427 slugging percentage. He was also awarded a Gold Glove for his performance behind the plate and placed eighth in league MVP voting. He proved to be a deft handler of pitchers in addition to having an excellent throwing arm. With the Senators becoming the Minnesota Twins in 1961, Battey had another fine season as he played through injuries to bat .302 with 24 doubles, 17 home runs, 55 RBIs, a .377 OBP, and a .470 slugging percentage. He also received another Gold Glove for his defense and entered 1962 as a highly-regarded backstop.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 148 games

C – 147, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 591

At Bats – 522

Runs – 58

Hits – 146

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 11

RBI – 57

Bases on Balls – 57

Int. BB – 3

Strikeouts – 48

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .280

OBP - .348

Slugging Pct. - .393

Total Bases – 205

GDP – 20 [2, tied with Elston Howard & Mike Hershberger]

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 8 [15, tied with ten others]

Sac Flies – 4 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 12, HR - 4, RBI - 29, AVG - .280, OBP - .333

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Most hits, game – 3 on nine occasions

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

HR at home – 6

HR on road – 5

Most home runs, game – 1 on eleven occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 at Baltimore 7/31

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 963

Put Outs – 872

Assists – 82

Errors – 9

Passed Balls – 13

DP – 9

Pct. - .991 

Awards & Honors:

Gold Glove

All-Star (Started for AL at C in both games)

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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:

Battey remained a solid producer, offensively and defensively, for the Twins in 1963. He batted .285 with 26 home runs, 84 RBIs, a .369 OBP, and a .476 slugging percentage. He placed seventh in league MVP balloting and once more started for the American League in the All-Star Game. Prone to putting on weight, he reported to spring training in 1964 at 260 pounds and went on to have an injury-marred off-year in which he hit .272 with 12 home runs, 52 RBIs, a .348 OBP, and a .407 slugging percentage. The Twins won the pennant in 1965 and Battey contributed by batting .297 with 22 doubles, 6 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .375 OBP, and a .409 slugging percentage, all despite dealing with an assortment of nagging injuries. His defense remained strong as well and he finished tenth in AL MVP voting. Having struck out only 23 times during the season, he fanned five times in the seven-game World Series loss to the Dodgers and their outstanding pitching. In 1966 Battey’s batting production dropped to .255 with 17 extra-base hits and a .337 OBP. With the Twins involved in a wild pennant race in 1967 in which they ultimately came up short, Battey was limited to 48 games by injuries and lost his starting job to veteran backup Jerry Zimmerman. He hit .165 with four extra-base hits and a .254 OBP and retired following the season. For his major league career, Battey batted .270 with 969 hits that included 150 doubles, 17 triples, and 104 home runs. He scored 393 runs and compiled 449 RBIs, a .349 OBP, and a .409 slugging percentage. With the Senators/Twins he batted .277 with 894 hits, 346 runs scored, 139 doubles, 12 triples, 91 home runs, 410 RBIs, a .354 OBP, and a .412 slugging percentage. In his only World Series action in 1965 he hit .120 with 2 RBIs. Battey was a five-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove recipient. Selected as catcher on Minnesota’s fortieth anniversary all-time team in 2000, he was remembered by teammates for his big and fun-loving personality and was respected for playing through his many injuries. Following his playing career, Battey was part of Consolidated Edison’s community relations program. He also got his college degree and was a high school teacher and baseball coach who died in 2003 at age 68.   

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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, 1961

Pitcher, Minnesota Twins

Age:  27

8^th season with Senators/Twins

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 

Prior to 1961:

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.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 33 [12, tied with Jack Kralick]

Complete Games – 15 [2]

Wins – 15 [6, tied with five others]

Losses – 16 [6, tied with Gary Bell]

PCT - .484

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 8 [1, tied with Steve Barber]

Innings Pitched – 252.1 [5]

Hits – 205 [18, tied with Jack Fisher]

Runs – 114 [11, tied with Ken McBride]

Earned Runs – 97 [13, tied with Jack Kralick]

Home Runs – 26 [9, tied with Eli Grba]

Bases on Balls – 100 [7, tied with Gary Bell & Bill Monbouquette]

Strikeouts – 221 [1]

ERA – 3.46 [16]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 7 [14, tied with Milt Pappas, Ryne Duren & John Gabler]

League-leading strikeouts were +12 ahead of runner-up Whitey Ford

Midseason Snapshot: 7-11, ERA – 3.75, SO – 108 in 132 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 15 (in 9 IP) at LA Angels 7/19

10+ strikeout games – 5

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Chi. White Sox 8/23, (in 9 IP) vs. Washington 9/23

Batting

PA – 95, AB – 85, R – 4, H – 14, 2B – 3, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 5, SO – 15, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .165, GDP – 5, HBP – 0, SH – 5, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances - 55

Put Outs – 14

Assists – 40

Errors – 1

DP – 0

Pct. - .982

Awards & Honors:

All-Star 

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The relocated and renamed Twins went 70-90 to finish seventh in the AL, 38 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The Twins got off to a promising start with a 9-6 April but slumped thereafter and were 23-36 in June when manager Cookie Lavagetto was replaced by Sam Mele. Following a brief summer lift, the club dropped down and moved into seventh place to stay on September 17. They drew 1,256,723 fans to Metropolitan Stadium, an increase of over 513,000 from their last season in Washington. 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.

Aftermath of 1961:

1962 was a much better season for Pascual and the Twins as his record rose to 20-11 and he topped the league in complete games (18), shutouts (5), and strikeouts (206) while also posting a 3.32 ERA. In 1963 he 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 tally 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: John Anderson, 1906

Outfielder, Washington Senators

Age:  32

2^nd season with Senators (1^st complete)

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 180 

Prior to 1906:

Born in Norway, Anderson immigrated to the United States with his parents at age 8. Settling in Worcester, Massachusetts, he first played baseball professionally with Worcester’s team in the New England League where he started out as a pitcher. Released in May, he caught on with Haverhill in the same league and his lack of control led to his being quickly converted into an outfielder. A far better hitter than a pitcher, he batted .354 until being signed by Brooklyn of the NL where he finished out the year. His speed worked to his advantage in the outfield where his defense was not as strong as his batting. In 1895 he hit .288 with 14 triples, 10 home runs, 89 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, a .316 on-base percentage, and a .452 slugging percentage. Called the “Swedish Apollo” since his mother was Swedish and his father Norwegian, and because of his handsome good looks, he was also tagged “Big John” since he was also one of the tallest players in baseball at the time and “Honest John” for rarely arguing with umpires. He also used an unusually heavy bat and was praised for being a steady and conscientious player who was a consistently productive hitter. If not proficient in the field, he was versatile, and in 1896 when Brooklyn’s regular first baseman George LaChance suffered a hand injury, Anderson played in 42 games at first in addition to all three outfield positions. He batted .314 with 23 doubles, 17 triples, one home run, 55 RBIs, 37 stolen bases, a .344 OBP, and a .453 slugging percentage. Playing almost exclusively in left field in 1897, he hit .325 with 28 doubles, 12 triples, 4 home runs, 85 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, a .357 OBP, and a .455 slugging percentage. Anderson was dealt to the NL’s Washington Senators early in the 1898 season and went on to lead the league in slugging (.494) and triples (22) while batting .294 with 33 doubles, 9 home runs, 81 RBIs, 20 steals, and a .348 OBP. He was also back to splitting time between the outfield and first base for the eleventh-place Senators (in a 12-team league). Brooklyn insisted that the deal with Washington was a player loan and Anderson was back in Brooklyn in 1899 where he hit .269 with 18 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs, 92 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, a .317 OBP, and a .369 slugging percentage. Anderson was on the move again in 1900, this time to Milwaukee of the not-yet-major American League where he appeared primarily at first base and led the league with 63 stolen bases while batting .310 with 32 doubles, 9 triples, 2 home runs, and a .413 slugging percentage. The AL went major in 1901 and Anderson had another productive season with Milwaukee, hitting .330 with 46 doubles, 7 triples, 8 home runs, 99 RBIs, 35 stolen bases, a .360 OBP, and a .476 slugging percentage. The team moved to St. Louis and was rechristened the Browns in 1902, and Anderson had a lesser performance, batting .284 with 29 doubles, 6 triples, 4 home runs, 85 RBIs, a .316 OBP, and a .385 slugging percentage. In 1903 Anderson was involved in a play in a September game against the New York Highlanders (now Yankees) in which he was picked off in the eighth inning after taking a big lead at first base toward second, which was occupied by a baserunner, that was scored as his having been caught stealing. Widely reported in the press as an attempt to steal an occupied base, it led to any mental blunder by a player being tagged as “pulling a John Anderson”. For the year he again hit .284 with 34 doubles, 8 triples, 2 home runs, 78 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and a .312 OBP. In the offseason he was traded to the Highlanders, who strongly contended in 1904. Anderson, again splitting time between the outfield and first base, batted .278 with 27 doubles, 12 triples, 3 home runs, 82 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and a .313 OBP. Off to a slow start in 1905, Anderson was dealt to the Senators and for the year hit .279 with 24 doubles, 7 triples, a home run, 52 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and a .323 OBP.  

1906 Season Summary

Appeared in 151 games

LF – 151

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 609 [18]

At Bats – 583 [9]

Runs – 62

Hits – 158 [11]

Doubles – 25 [7, tied with five others]

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 3 [8, tied with five others]

RBI – 70 [7]

Bases on Balls – 19

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 37

Stolen Bases – 39 [1, tied with Elmer Flick]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .271

OBP - .296

Slugging Pct. - .343

Total Bases – 200 [10, tied with Willie Keeler]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, HR - 2, RBI - 33, SB – 21, AVG - .284, OBP – .320

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Bos. Americans 4/20, (in 5 AB) at Detroit 6/4

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 0

HR on road – 3

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 4 AB) at Cleveland 6/11, (in 3 AB) at St. Louis Browns 6/18, (in 4 AB) at Cleveland 9/18

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Phila. A’s 4/17, at Bos. Americans 5/3

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 320

Put Outs – 286

Assists – 19

Errors – 15

DP – 2

Pct. – .953 

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The Senators (aka Nationals) went 55-95 to finish seventh in the AL, 37.5 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox while leading the league in stolen bases (233) and fewest doubles (144). The Senators got off to a slow start, were 14-23 by the end of May, and remained lackluster throughout the remainder of the season.

Aftermath of 1906:

Anderson continued to play well for a terrible club in 1907, batting .288 with a .359 OBP in 87 games until he quit the team and announced his retirement in August. After playing semipro ball for the remainder of the summer, he was sold to the Chicago White Sox in the offseason. In his last major league season he batted .262 with 47 RBIs and a .321 OBP. In 1909 he played for the Providence Grays of the Eastern League and hit .262 with 31 stolen bases. For his major league career Anderson batted .290 with 1843 hits that included 328 doubles, 124 triples, and 50 home runs. He scored 871 runs and produced 978 RBIs, 338 stolen bases, a .329 OBP, and a .405 slugging percentage. With the American League’s Senators he batted .281 with 370 hits, 145 runs scored, 58 doubles, 14 triples, 4 home runs, 152 RBIs, 80 stolen bases, a .323 OBP, and a .356 slugging percentage. After baseball he served as a police officer in Worcester and died in 1949 at age 75.

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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: Mike Hegan, 1969

Outfielder/First Baseman, Seattle Pilots

Age:  27 (July 21)  

1^st season with Pilots

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 188 

Prior to 1969:

The son of major league catcher Jim Hegan, Hegan was a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where his father played most of his career for the Indians. Hegan played football and basketball, as well as baseball, at St. Ignatius High School. Following his high school graduation, Hegan accepted a football and baseball scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross. Following an outstanding freshman season, Hegan was heavily pursued by major league teams and signed with the New York Yankees, where his father had become a coach, in August of 1961, under the stipulation from his parents that he would continue his college education, which he did at John Carroll University. With Fort Lauderdale of the Class D Florida State League in 1962, the young first baseman batted .306 with 11 doubles, 3 home runs, 43 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and a .438 on-base percentage thanks to drawing 99 walks. In 1963 he was assigned to Idaho Falls of the Class A Pioneer League where he led the league with 123 runs scored while hitting .323 with 24 doubles, 9 triples, 28 home runs, 98 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a .457 OBP thanks to drawing 112 walks. In 1964 he was promoted to Columbus of the Class AA Southern League where he batted .233 with 17 doubles, 4 triples, 10 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .333 OBP. Called up to the Yankees in September, Hegan went hitless in five at bats. Added to the World Series roster as a replacement for injured shortstop Tony Kubek, Hegan scored a run when inserted into Game 1 as a pinch-runner, which pretty much represented the extent of his offensive production. Returning to Columbus in 1965, he was promoted to the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League where, in 128 games ended up with combined totals of .210 with 7 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .335 OBP. Still with Toledo in 1966, Hegan batted .265 with 27 doubles, a league-leading 11 triples, 11 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .393 OBP boosted by his league-leading 98 walks drawn. Once more a late-season call-up to the Yankees, he appeared in 13 games and hit .205. Offseason service in the Army National Guard caused Hegan to join the Yankees late in 1967. Having proven to be a good fielder, he backed up the aging and injury-plagued Mickey Mantle at first base and hit .136 with 6 extra-base hits (including a home run) and a .266 OBP. Sent down to the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League in 1968, Hegan batted .304 with 15 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs, 39 RBIs, a .413 OBP, and a .465 slugging percentage. He was sold to the expansion Pilots. A strong spring performance had him starting in right field for the club’s first game in 1969.

1969 Season Summary

Appeared in 95 games

RF – 61, 1B – 19, PH – 11, PR – 10, LF – 2, CF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 334

At Bats – 267

Runs – 54

Hits – 78

Doubles – 9

Triples – 6 [4, tied with four others]

Home Runs – 8

RBI – 37

Bases on Balls – 62

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 61

Stolen Bases – 6

Caught Stealing – 5

Average - .292 [Non-qualifying]

OBP - .427 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .461 [Non-qualifying]

Total Bases – 123

GDP – 1

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – 0 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 8, 3B – 5, HR – 7, RBI – 30, AVG – .293, OBP – .426

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Most hits, game – 3 (in 5 AB) at Oakland 5/4, (in 4 AB) vs. Washington 5/10, (in 3 AB) vs. Cleveland 6/2, (in 5 AB) at Detroit 6/11 – 10 innings

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

HR at home – 4

HR on road – 4

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

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Washington 5/10, at NY Yankees 9/1 – 13 innings

Pinch-hitting/running – 2 for 8 (.250) with 7 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI & 3 BB

Fielding (OF)

Chances – 112

Put Outs – 100

Assists – 7

Errors – 5

DP – 1

Pct. - .955

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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In their inaugural season, the Pilots went 64-98 to finish sixth (last) in the AL Western Division, 33 games behind the division-winning Minnesota Twins while leading the league in stolen bases (167) and batting strikeouts (1015). Underfinanced and playing in decrepit Sicks Stadium, where they still managed to draw 677,944 fans, the Pilots were surprisingly competitive until a 10-game August losing streak dropped the injury-riddled club into the AL West cellar. In the offseason they were bought by a Milwaukee group and relocated. While Hegan was an All-Star selection he was forced to miss the game due to an injured hamstring.

Aftermath of 1969:

With the move of the Pilots to Milwaukee in 1970 and the departure of first baseman Don Mincher, Hegan became the regular at the position and batted .244 with 21 doubles, 11 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .336 OBP. He started the 1971 season with the Brewers but was purchased by the Oakland Athletics in June. Backing up at first base and used as a late-innings defensive replacement for Mike Epstein, Hegan hit .236 for the division-winning A’s with a .300 OBP. Utilized in similar fashion in 1972, he appeared in 98 games and batted .329 with a .375 OBP and was typically sure-handed in the field. Hegan started the 1973 season backing up Gene Tenace at first base but his consecutive game errorless streak ended at 178 games, at the time an AL record. He was dealt back to the Yankees in August and went on to bat a combined .243 with 7 home runs, 19 RBIs, and a .284 OBP. The acquisition of Chris Chambliss in May of 1974 placed Hegan back in a strictly reserve role at first base and he was sold to the Brewers soon after. Backing up George Scott at first and also seeing significant time as a DH and pinch-hitter, he batted a combined .235 with 9 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .340 OBP. Hegan played three more years with the Brewers with declining offensive production and retired during the 1977 season. A fine defensive player with limited hitting ability, for his major league career he batted .242 with 504 hits that included 73 doubles, 18 triples, and 53 home runs. He scored 281 runs and accounted for 229 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, and a .341 OBP. With the Pilots/Brewers his batting production was .249 with 380 hits, 221 runs scored, 56 doubles, 13 triples, 42 home runs, 188 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, and a .355 OBP. Appearing in 13 postseason games he hit .125. His record errorless streak at first base remained as the AL mark until 2010. Following his playing career he went into broadcasting and also owned a company which provided indoor baseball and softball batting cages as well as instruction in batting, pitching and fielding. Inducted into the St. Ignatius High School Athletic Hall of Fame, he died in 2013 at age 71.

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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.