Highlighted Year: Roberto Clemente, 1960

Outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 26 (Aug. 18)

6^th season with Pirates

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1960:

A native of Puerto Rico, Clemente excelled in throwing the javelin and high jumping in high school. He focused on baseball and played for an amateur club called the Juncos Mules. Impressive with his hitting and throwing arm in the outfield, in 1952 at age 18 he joined the Santurce Cangrejeros of the Puerto Rican League, where he got to play alongside some prominent Negro League hitters that played winter ball in Puerto Rico. Brought along slowly, Clemente saw limited action in the 1952-53 season but hit .288 in 1953-54 and was a league all-star. The Brooklyn Dodgers signed him to a contract in 1954 for $5000 with a $10,000 bonus. Assigned to the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League he played infrequently (appearing in 87 games), struggled to hit consistently and ended up with a .257 average. He did catch the interest of scouts from other teams and was taken by the last-place Pirates in the annual Rule 5 draft. During the offseason Clemente injured his back in a car accident but played again for Santurce during the winter of 1954-55 and was a key player on the team that went on to win the Caribbean Series. Clemente made Pittsburgh’s roster in 1955 and his aggressive and exciting outfield play made him a fan favorite although his hitting tailed off and he batted just .255. A notorious “bad ball” hitter he drew only 18 walks. He accounted for 18 assists in right field, rapidly establishing himself as having an excellent throwing arm. In 1956 Clemente batted .311 and knocked in 60 runs. He accounted for 17 outfield assists as well. Due to his chronic back soreness and assorted other injuries, he appeared in only 111 games in 1957 and his batting average dropped to .253. His average rose back to .289 in 140 games in 1958 and Clemente had 22 outfield assists as well. Following an injury-plagued season in 1959 in which Clemente appeared in 105 games and the Pirates dropped from second place in ’58 to fourth, both player and team rebounded strongly in 1960.

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 144 games

RF – 142, PH – 4

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 620 [13]

At Bats – 570 [9]

Runs – 89 [11]

Hits – 179 [5]

Doubles – 22 [18, tied with Tony Gonzalez]

Triples – 6 [17, tied with six others]

Home Runs – 16 [18, tied with Bill White, Don Hoak & Daryl Spencer]

RBI – 94 [7]

Bases on Balls – 39

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 72 [20, tied with Ed Bressoud & Julian Javier]

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 5 [20, tied with four others]

Average - .314 [4]

OBP - .357 [14]

Slugging Pct. - .458 [12]

Total Bases – 261 [10]

GDP – 21 [1, tied with Wally Moon]

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 4

Sac Flies – 5 [15, tied with five others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 16, 3B – 4, HR - 6, RBI - 53, AVG - .325, SLG - .464, OBP – .368

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. St. Louis 5/19, (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 8/24

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 5

HR on road – 11

Most home runs, game – 1 on sixteen occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Cincinnati 4/14

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 3 (.000) with 1 R & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 273

Put Outs – 246

Assists – 19

Errors – 8

DP – 2

Pct. - .971

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

PA – 29, AB – 29, R – 1, H – 9, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 0, IBB – 0, SO – 4, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .310, OBP - .310, SLG - .310, TB – 9, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

8^th in NL MVP voting (62 points – 1 first place vote, 18% share)

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Aftermath of 1960:

The Pirates dropped off in 1961, but Clemente won his first NL batting title as he hit .351 with 23 home runs and 89 RBIs along with a .390 on-base percentage. This time he placed fourth in the league MVP balloting and fueled by 27 outfield assists, won his first Gold Glove. Clemente hit .312 in 1962 with 28 doubles, 9 triples, 10 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .352 OBP. In 1963 Clemente batted .320 with 23 doubles, 8 triples, 17 home runs, 76 RBIs, and a .356 OBP. He followed up by winning his second NL batting championship in 1964, hitting .339 along with a league-leading 211 hits to go with a .388 OBP. Despite dealing with the effects of an offseason illness, Clemente won another league batting title in 1965, hitting .329 with 21 doubles, 14 triples, 10 home runs, 65 RBIs, and a .378 OBP. The Pirates contended in 1966 and Clemente batted .317 with 31 doubles, 11 triples, 29 home runs, 119 RBIs, a .360 OBP, and a .536 slugging percentage, once again overcoming a series of physical maladies. He was voted league MVP for his efforts. A proud man who had chafed at not receiving the award in 1960, Clemente followed up with another batting championship in 1967 when he hit .357 and also topped the NL in hits (209) while compiling 26 doubles, 10 triples, 23 home runs, 110 RBIs, a .400 OBP, and a .554 slugging percentage. He placed third in league MVP balloting as Pittsburgh had a disappointing season. A shoulder injury limited Clemente to a .291 average in 1968, but he still received a Gold Glove for his play in right field, although his assists dropped to 9. He returned to form in 1969 as he hit .345 and led the NL with 12 triples. Pittsburgh topped the NL East in 1970 and Clemente contributed a .352 batting average. He hit .341 in 1971 as the Pirates repeated as NL East champs and won the league pennant. Clemente batted .414 with two home runs and 4 RBIs in the World Series win over the Baltimore Orioles and was named Series MVP. In a 1972 season plagued by injuries and illness, he batted .312 and capped the year with his 3000^th career hit. The Pirates once more ended up first in the NL East, although they lost to Cincinnati in the NLCS. In December, he became involved in relief efforts for earthquake-stricken Nicaragua. He died at age 38 in the New Year’s Eve crash of a plane bound from Puerto Rico for Nicaragua carrying supplies. Altogether, over the course of his 18-season major league career that was spent entirely with the Pirates, Clemente batted .317 with 3000 hits that included 440 doubles, 166 triples, and 240 home runs. He drove in 1305 runs and scored 1416 along with a .359 OBP and .475 slugging percentage. He won four batting titles and was a 15-time All-Star. He also received 12 Gold Gloves for his fielding prowess. In the wake of his sudden and tragic passing, the five-year Hall of Fame waiting period was waived and in a special election of the BBWAA members, he was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973. The Pirates retired his #21 and his statue was placed outside Three Rivers Stadium and later transferred to PNC Park. Much admired for his philanthropy off the field, major league baseball renamed its Commissioner’s Award for Clemente which annually recognizes players who combine good play with a strong commitment to the greater community. Beyond the baseball community Clemente was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Nixon in 1973 and, long after his passing, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2003. 

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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: Smoky Burgess, 1960

Catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 33

2^nd season with Pirates

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height:5’8”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1960:

A North Carolina native, Forrest Burgess acquired the nickname “Smoky” in his youth, for reasons not clearly known. He was a leadoff-hitting infielder for Tri High School in Corleen and also played American Legion ball. Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1943, the contract was voided by Commissioner Landis due to Burgess being too young. A bit later he signed with the Chicago Cubs. Initially assigned to Lockport of the Class D Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York (or Pony) League, the 17-year-old catcher and outfielder batted .325 with a .354 on-base percentage. He briefly played for Portsmouth of the Piedmont League in 1945 before joining the Army. He returned for the last game of the 1946 Pacific Coast League season with the Los Angeles Angels. In 1947 he was assigned to Fayetteville of the Class B Tri-State League where he won the league batting title by hitting .387 while also accumulating 28 doubles, 11 home runs, 76 RBIs, a .454 OBP, and a .554 slugging percentage. A shoulder injury suffered in the Army had Burgess playing more in the outfield than behind the plate, but clearly did not hinder his batting. He spent 1948 with the Nashville Volunteers of the Class AA Southern Association where he won another batting title by hitting .386 with 38 doubles, 6 triples, 22 home runs, 102 RBIs, a .428 OBP, and a .654 slugging percentage. No longer thin as in his youth, he settled into playing catcher along with some outfield. Burgess started the 1949 season with the Cubs and appeared primarily as a pinch-hitter who saw occasional duty as a backstop. He played in 46 major league games and batted .268 with a home run, 12 RBIs, and a .317 OBP. He was sent to Los Angeles of the PCL once again and appeared in 19 games for the Angels. Burgess spent 1950 in Class AAA with Springfield of the International League and batted .327 with 15 doubles, 10 triples, 8 home runs, 52 RBIs, a .386 OBP, and a ,514 slugging percentage. He returned to the major leagues for good in 1951 as he appeared in 94 games for the Cubs and hit .251 with 8 extra-base hits, 20 RBIs, and a .317 OBP. In the offseason he was traded twice, first to Cincinnati and then to the Philadelphia Phillies. Seeing regular duty behind the plate for the Phillies in 1952 he batted .296 with 27 doubles, 6 home runs, 56 RBIs, a .380 OBP, and a .429 slugging percentage. An aggressive and talented line-drive hitter at the plate, he was slow and suspect defensively with the lingering shoulder problem causing him to be poor at throwing out opposing baserunners, although he proved to be adept at handling pitchers. Sharing the catching duties with Stan Lopata in 1953 Burgess appeared in 102 games and hit .292 with 17 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 36 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .417 slugging percentage. The easy-going Burgess could be adept at heckling other players but off-the-field he was a devout Baptist who did not smoke or drink. Burgess was an All-Star for the first time in 1954 as he batted .368 with 27 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 46 RBIs, a .432 OBP, and a .510 slugging percentage. Due to his platooning with the right-handed batting Lopata, he didn’t have sufficient at bats to qualify for the NL batting title. Early in the 1955 season Burgess was traded to Cincinnati in a deal which brought catcher Andy Seminick back to the Phillies, who had been part of the trade that brought Burgess to Philadelphia. With the Reds (commonly called “Redlegs” at this time, due to “Red Scare” concerns), he went on to bat .306 with 20 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .373 OBP, and a .499 slugging percentage, and was once again an All-Star. Along the way he had a three-home run, 9-RBI game in July against Pittsburgh. In 1956, he found himself in a familiar situation, splitting time behind the plate with Ed Bailey, a better defensive catcher as well as a power hitter. The two combined for 40 home runs with Burgess providing 12 to go along with 39 RBIs, a .275 batting average, a .346 OBP, and a .476 slugging percentage. He also was behind the plate when three Cincinnati pitchers combined to hold the Braves hitless in Milwaukee for 9.2 innings before the no-hitter and, eventually the game, was lost. Continuing to share backstop duties with Bailey in 1957, Burgess enhanced his reputation as a top pinch-hitter. He appeared in 90 games, 45 as a catcher, and hit .283 with 14 doubles, 14 home runs, 39 RBIs, a .353 OBP, and a .566 slugging percentage. In the same role in 1958, he saw more action behind the plate and batted .283 with 12 doubles, 6 home runs, 31 RBIs, a .343 OBP, and a .410 slugging percentage. In 1959 he was part of a seven-player trade with the Pirates, in need of a catcher who could provide some batting punch (as one preview magazine said about Burgess, “Smoky’s, no gazelle behind the plate, but he’ll hit”). Hit he did in ’59, batting .297 (.412 as a pinch-hitter) with 28 doubles, 5 triples, 11 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .349 OBP, and a .485 slugging percentage. For a second time, he was behind the plate during an ultimately futile no-hit effort. In a May game against the Braves in Milwaukee LHP Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings before ultimately losing the no-hitter and the game in the thirteenth inning. In the offseason another catcher, Hal Smith, was obtained from the Kansas City A’s to provide a platoon partner with Burgess, a familiar situation that worked out well for the Pirates.

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 110 games

C – 89, PH – 24

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 376

At Bats – 337

Runs – 33

Hits – 99

Doubles – 15

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 7

RBI – 39

Bases on Balls – 35

Int. BB – 12 [5, tied with Ed Bressoud]

Strikeouts – 13

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .294 [Non-qualifying]

OBP - .356 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .412

Total Bases – 139

GDP – 6

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 4 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 6, HR - 5, RBI - 23, AVG - .307, OBP - .361, SLG - .446

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 6 AB) at St. Louis 6/12

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

HR at home – 5

HR on road – 2

Most home runs, game – 1 on seven occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 at Milwaukee 7/4

Pinch-hitting – 9 for 20 (.450) with 1 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI & 3 BBFielding

Fielding

Chances – 526

Put Outs – 485

Assists – 38

Errors – 3

Passed Balls – 2

DP – 7

Pct. - .994

Postseason Batting: 5 G (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

PA – 20, AB – 18, R – 2, H – 6, 2B – 1,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 1, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .333, OBP - .400, SLG - .389, TB – 7, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

20^th in NL MVP voting, tied with Frank Robinson, Cin. & Larry Sherry LAD (2 points, 1% share)

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The Pirates went 95-59 to win the NL pennant by 7 games over the Milwaukee Braves for their first pennant since 1927. They led the NL in runs scored (734), hits (1493), doubles (236), RBIs (689), batting (.276), OBP (.335), and total bases (2201). The Pirates moved into first place on May 29 and held off all challengers for the rest of the way. They won the World Series over the New York Yankees, 4 games to 3, capped by Bill Mazeroski’s Game 7 walk-off home run.

Aftermath of 1960:

The Pirates dropped off significantly in 1961 but Burgess was an All-Star once again, batting .303 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs, 52 RBIs, a .365 OBP, and a .486 slugging percentage while appearing in 100 games, 15 as a pinch-hitter. Battling ulcers in 1962, Burgess started 94 games behind the plate and hit .328 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, 61 RBIs, a .375 OBP, and a .500 slugging percentage. Splitting time with young Jim Pagliaroni in 1963 the 36-year-old Burgess appeared in 91 games and batted .280 with 6 home runs, 37 RBIs, and a .338 OBP. With Pagliaroni taking over as starting catcher in 1964, Burgess appeared in only 44 games as backstop and also had 26 at bats as a pinch-hitter. He hit .246 with 6 extra-base hits, 17 RBIs, and a .303 OBP before being waived in September. He was picked up by the White Sox, who wanted use of his bat off the bench as they contended for the AL pennant. He remained almost exclusively in the role of pinch-hitter in 1965, tying the existing AL record with 20 pinch-hits. His career total of 117 at that point broke the existing AL/NL record by four and was a tribute to his ability to enter a game “cold” in the later innings and produce. Very heavy by this point, he was a .313 hitter with a .413 OBP In 1966, and in his last season in 1967, his average dipped to .133 with a .303 OBP. For his major league career, Burgess batted .295 with 1318 hits that included 230 doubles, 33 triples, and 126 home runs. He scored 485 runs and compiled 673 RBIs, a .362 OBP, and a .446 slugging percentage. With the Pirates he batted .296 with 178 runs scored, 543 hits, 92 doubles, 14 triples, 51 home runs, 265 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .445 slugging percentage. As a pinch-hitter he batted .285 and delivered 144 hits, 27 doubles, 16 home runs, 147 RBIs, a .376 OBP, and a .434 slugging percentage. The 1960 World Series proved to be his only postseason appearance. He was a nine-time All-Star. After his playing career, Burgess was a scout and minor league batting coach for the Atlanta Braves. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1975 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. Burgess died in 1991 at age 64.

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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.

MVP Profile: Roger Maris, 1960

Outfielder, New York Yankees

 

Age:  26 (Sept. 10)

1^st season with Yankees

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 197

Prior to 1960:

Born in Minnesota, Maris moved with his family to Fargo, North Dakota at a young age. A star athlete at Bishop Shanley High School, in football he once returned four kickoffs for touchdowns in a single game. Playing American Legion baseball, he impressed scouts with his all-around ability. Signed by the Cleveland Indians at age 18 in 1953, he was initially assigned to Fargo-Morehead of the Class C Northern League where he appeared in 114 games and batted .325 with 9 home runs and 80 RBIs. Advancing to the Keokuk Kernels of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1954, Maris hit .315 with 32 home runs and 111 RBIs. In the field he tied the league record for put outs by an outfielder with 305. Having gone from being a contact hitter to a pull hitter who could hit for power, he hit a total of 20 home runs in 1955 for Reading of the Class A Eastern League and Tulsa of the Class AA Texas League while batting a combined .278. Promoted to Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association in 1956, Maris batted .293 with 17 home runs and 75 RBIs. The team won the Junior World Series and Maris made it to the Indians in 1957 where he flashed more of his potential by hitting 14 home runs with 51 RBIs while batting a disappointing .235 as he played in pain from broken ribs suffered in May. He appeared in 116 games, 99 of them starts. During the 1958 season, Maris was traded to the Kansas City Athletics where he moved into right field and proved to be a star in the making as he batted a combined .240 with 19 home runs and 53 RBIs. An All-Star for the first time in 1959, Maris hit .273 with 16 home runs and 72 RBIs. In the offseason, the Yankees swung a deal for him, and it was anticipated that he would take over Hank Bauer’s vacated spot in right field and pair up well with star center fielder Mickey Mantle in the middle of the batting order.  

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 136 games

RF – 127, CF – 8, PH – 5

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 578

At Bats – 499

Runs – 98 [2]

Hits – 141

Doubles – 18

Triples – 7 [3, tied with four others]

Home Runs – 39 [2]

RBI – 112 [1]

Bases on Balls – 70 [11]

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 65

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .283 [12, tied with Gene Woodling]

OBP - .371 [11]

Slugging Pct. - .581 [1]

Total Bases – 290 [2]

GDP – 6

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 5 [15, tied with ten others]

League-leading RBIs were +7 ahead of runner-up Minnie Minoso

League-leading slugging percentage was +.023 ahead of runner-up Mickey Mantle

Midseason snapshot: HR - 27, RBI - 69, AVG - .320, SLG PCT - .703

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Boston 4/19, (in 5 AB) at KC A’s 6/15 – 12 innings

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

HR at home – 13

HR on road – 26

Most home runs, game – 2 on six occasions

Multi-HR games – 6

Most RBIs, game – 6 at KC A’s 8/6

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

 

Fielding

Chances – 273

Put Outs – 263

Assists – 6

Errors – 4

DP – 1

Pct. - .985

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. Pittsburgh)

PA – 32, AB – 30, R – 6, H – 8, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 2, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 4, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .267, OBP - .313, SLG - .500, TB – 15, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

Gold Glove

All-Star (Started for AL in RF in both games)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Roger Maris, NYY.: 225 pts. - 8 of 24 first place votes, 67% share

Mickey Mantle, NYY: 222 pts. – 10 first place votes, 66% share

Brooks Robinson, Balt.: 211 pts. – 3 first place votes, 63% share

Minnie Minoso, ChiWS.: 141 pts. – 2 first place votes, 42% share

Ron Hansen, Balt.: 110 pts. – 1 first place vote, 33% share

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Yankees went 97-57 to win the AL pennant by 8 games over the Baltimore Orioles while leading the league in runs scored (746), home runs (193), RBIs (699), slugging (.426), and total bases (2251). The Yankees got hot in June but slumped to fall behind the White Sox and upstart Orioles. Regaining the lead, the Yanks held on in September, winning 19 of their last 21 games, to nail down their last pennant under manager Casey Stengel. Along the way, Maris and Mantle combined for 79 home runs. Lost World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 games to 3. The back-and-forth Series in which the Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27 was capped by Bill Mazeroski’s Game 7 walk-off home run.

Aftermath of ‘60:

 In 1961, under new manager Ralph Houk, the Yankees again won the AL pennant and Maris, who started off slowly, combined with Mantle in an epic home run race. From May 17 to June 22, Maris hit 24 home runs in 38 games, taking the lead over his teammate. The low-key Maris became tense and testy from the pressure fed by the media frenzy. His hair began falling out and he became short-tempered. With expansion having caused the AL to expand the schedule from 154 to 162 games (the NL would follow in 1962), commissioner Ford Frick ruled that any home run record would need to be accomplished in 154 games or would be accompanied by an asterisk in the record books. Maris entered September with 51 homers, but his pace began to slow down the stretch. An injury took Mantle out of the race, putting the spotlight entirely on Maris. He hit his 59^th home run at Baltimore in the 154^th game of the season. Number 60 came at Yankee Stadium on September 26 and the record-breaking 61^st in the season finale at home against the Red Sox and RHP Tracy Stallard. Beyond the 61 home runs he topped the league in runs scored (132) and total bases (366) and tied for the lead in RBIs with Baltimore’s Jim Gentile with 141. In addition, he batted .269 with a .372 on-base percentage and .620 slugging percentage. He was pretty much a non-factor in the five-game World Series triumph over Cincinnati, but he was once again the AL MVP. Maris followed up with a respectable season in 1962 in which he hit .256 with 33 home runs and 100 RBIs. He also made a big defensive play in the World Series against the Giants wnen, in the ninth inning with two outs, a one-run lead, and the fleet-footed Matty Alou on first, batter Willie Mays hit a ball into the right field corner. Maris cut the ball off and threw to second baseman Bobby Richardson to force Alou to hold at third. First baseman Willie McCovey lined out to end the game and the Series in the Yanks’ favor. Limited to 90 games in 1963 due to an assortment of injuries, Maris still managed to slug 23 home runs along with 53 RBIs and a .269 average. Rebounding somewhat in 1964, when he occasionally filled in for the ailing Mantle in center field, Maris batted .281 with 26 home runs and 71 RBIs. With the drop of the Yankees to sixth place in 1965, Maris, who was limited to 46 games by a hand injury, hit just .239 with 8 home runs. Following another injury-marred season in 1966, in which he batted .233 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs while playing in 119 games, the Yankees traded Maris to the St. Louis Cardinals for nondescript third baseman Charley Smith. Pleased with the opportunity for a fresh start, he was an effective player for a pennant-winning club in 1967, hitting .261 with 18 doubles, 7 triples, 9 home runs, and 55 RBIs. He also batted .385 with 7 RBIs in the seven-game World Series victory over the Red Sox. Dealing with injuries again in 1968, he hit .255 in 100 games and retired following one last World Series appearance at age 34. For his major league career, Maris batted .260 with 1325 hits that included 195 doubles, 42 triples, and 275 home runs. He further scored 826 runs and compiled 850 RBIs and drew 652 walks. With the Yankees he hit .265 with 797 hits, 520 runs scored, 110 doubles, 17 triples, 203 home runs, 547 RBIs, and a .356 OBP with 413 walks drawn. Appearing in 41 World Series games, Maris hit .217 with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs. An All-Star during four seasons as well as a two-time MVP, the Yankees eventually retired his #9 and placed a plaque in his honor at Monument Park in Yankee Stadium. In retirement, Cardinals owner Gussie Busch set Maris up with a beer distributorship in Florida that he operated until his death from cancer at age 51 in 1985. A player too-often dismissed as a one-year wonder, Maris was a productive hitter and very good outfielder. A small-town man, he was uncomfortable dealing with newfound notoriety in New York, although he came to be held in greater esteem in retrospect. His 61 home runs in 1961 remain the AL record to date. 

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.

Rookie of the Year: Frank Howard, 1960

Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  24 (Aug. 8 )

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’7”    Weight: 255

 

Prior to 1960:

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Howard, who was already 6’5” in high school, played basketball as well as baseball at Columbus South High School and moved on to Ohio State and was an All-American in basketball as well as a good-hitting baseball player with power potential. Drafted by the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors, he chose baseball instead, signing with the Dodgers in 1958. Assigned to Green Bay of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or “Three I”) League, he batted .333 with 37 home runs and 119 RBIs. Receiving a September call-up to the Dodgers, Howard hit his first major league home run. Moving on to Victoria of the Class AA Texas League in 1959, he hit .371 with 27 home runs and 79 RBIs before being called up to the Dodgers again. It was a brief stay until he was dispatched to Spokane of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he produced a .319 average in 76 games along with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs. He was named Minor League Player of the Year by The Sporting News. Having gained notoriety for hitting long home runs and impressive line drives, he started the 1960 season back with Spokane, joining the Dodgers in May.   

 

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 117 games

RF – 94, LF – 22, 1B – 4, PH – 2

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 487

At Bats – 448

Runs – 54

Hits – 120

Doubles – 15

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 23 [9, tied with Dick Stuart]

RBI – 77 [15, tied with Del Crandall]

Bases on Balls – 32

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 108 [3]

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .268

OBP - .320

Slugging Pct. - .464 [11]

Total Bases – 208

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 2

 

Midseason snapshot: HR – 13, RBI – 42, AVG – .304., SLG – .539

 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Philadelphia 5/22

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Mil, Braves 6/26, (in 4 AB) vs. Mil. Braves 8/24

HR at home – 14

HR on road – 9

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. Cincinnati 7/28

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 2 (.000)

 

Fielding

Chances – 188

Put Outs – 177

Assists – 8

Errors – 3

DP - 1

Pct. - .984

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

 

NL ROY Voting:

Frank Howard, LAD: 12 of 22 votes, 50% share

Pancho Herrera, Phila.: 4 votes, 17% share

Art Mahaffey, Phila.: 3 votes, 13% share

Ron Santo, ChiC.: 2 votes, 8% share

Tommy Davis, LAD: 1 vote, 4% share

 

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Dodgers went 82-72 to finish fourth in the NL, 13 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates while leading the league in stolen bases (95). The slow-starting Dodgers turned hot during a 19-7 July run, but were a .500 club the rest of the way that lacked punch, despite the addition of Howard.

 

 Aftermath of ‘60:

Howard’s 1961 season was hindered by a thumb injury and he was primarily platooned in right field while batting .296 in 92 games with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs. Howard was prone to striking out and not drawing walks, which in 1962 produced 31 home runs and 119 RBIs to go with a .296 batting average, 108 batter strikeouts, and just 39 walks. He placed ninth in NL MVP voting. He began wearing glasses in 1963, which helped his defense and hit .273 with 28 home runs and 64 RBIs, but he still found himself being platooned. The Dodgers won the NL pennant and swept the Yankees in the World Series as Howard hit .300 with a key home run. Howard started well in 1964 power-wise, but his average dropped significantly. Platooning again as a result, he batted .226 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs. With Howard unhappy at his use by the Dodgers and the organization seeking to concentrate on pitching, defense, and speed, the big slugger, who was not a steady hitter, lacked speed, and was not proficient defensively, was traded to the Washington Senators in the offseason for five players. The Senators shifted Howard to left field and, despite nagging injuries that included a sore elbow that required offseason surgery, his first year with his new club was productive as he hit .289 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs in 1965. Howard’s production dropped off in 1966 to .278 with 18 home runs and 71 RBIs. With a retooled swing in 1967, “Hondo” clouted 36 home runs and hit .256 with 89 RBIs. The power surge continued in 1968 as he went through a six-game stretch in May in which he compiled 10 home runs and 17 RBIs on his way to batting .274 with a league-leading 44 home runs, .552 slugging percentage, and 330 total bases. He also accounted for 106 RBIs in a season that was otherwise dominated by pitching. He was also an All-Star for the first time and placed eighth in league MVP balloting. 1969 marked the arrival of Ted Williams as manager of the Senators, who sought to improve Howard’s pitch selectivity and help him to draw more walks. The result was 48 home runs, 111 RBIs, a .296 average, 102 walks, a .402 OBP, and a drop in strikeouts to 96. In 1970 “the Washington Monument” led the AL in home runs (44), RBIs (126), walks drawn (132), and intentional walks drawn (29) while batting .283 with a career-high .416 on-base percentage. Howard’s weight rose to 297 pounds at the start of the 1971 season, and his production dropped to .279 with 26 home runs and 83 RBIs, although he still drew 77 walks for a .367 OBP. The franchise moved  to Arlington, Texas and was rechristened the Texas Rangers in 1972 and Howard held out in the spring and was re-signed for the same $120,000 salary he had received in ’71. He had a poor 1972 season in the new location and was hitting .244 with 9 home runs and 31 RBIs when he was dealt to Detroit at the end of August. Utilized almost exclusively as a Designated Hitter (a new creation in the AL) in 1973, Howard batted .256 in just 85 games with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. Released in the offseason, he played for the Taiheyo Lions of the Japanese Pacific League in 1974, suffering a career-ending back injury in his only game with the club. For his major league career, Howard batted .273 with 1774 hits that included 245 doubles, 35 triples, and 382 home runs. He scored 864 runs and compiled 1119 RBIs and drew 782 walks while striking out 1460 times. He had a .352 OBP and .499 slugging percentage. With the Dodgers he batted .269 with 567 hits, 80 doubles, 14 triples, 123 home runs, 293 runs scored, 382 RBIs, and drew 179 walks while striking out 515 times. His appearance in the 1963 World Series marked his only postseason action. A four-time All-Star, he twice led the AL in home runs and finished in the top 10 in league MVP voting four times. A statue of Howard has been placed outside of Washington’s Nationals Park in recognition of his outstanding performance for a Washington-based major league club. He returned to major league baseball as a coach and later managed the San Diego Padres and New York Mets, compiling a 93-133 managerial record.

 

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

 

Cy Young Profile: Vern Law, 1960

Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age:  30

9^th season with Pirates

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 195

Prior to 1960:

The son of devout Mormons, Law was a native of Meridian, Idaho, and excelled at football and basketball, as well as baseball in high school. He also played well in American Legion baseball and caught the attention of future US Senator Herman Welker, who contacted entertainer Bing Crosby, who had been a college classmate and was then a part-owner of the Pirates. The Pirates signed both Law and his brother Evan, an aspiring catcher, who was released in 1949. The brothers were assigned to Santa Rosa of the Class D Far West League. Vern appeared in 21 games and posted an 8-5 record with a 4.66 ERA. He moved up to Davenport of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1949 and was 5-11 with a fine 2.94 ERA. The next stop for Law in 1950 was with the New Orleans Pelicans of the Class AA Southern Association, where he produced a 6-4 record in 12 games and a 2.67 ERA. He was promoted to the Pirates in June and, appearing in 27 games (17 starts), was 7-9 with a 4.92 ERA for a last place club. In 1951 he started in half of his 28 appearances and compiled a 6-9 record with a 4.50 ERA for the seventh place Pirates. Law missed the 1952 and ’53 seasons due to Army service in which he played service baseball. Back with Pittsburgh in 1954, he was still utilized as both a starter and reliever for the cellar-dwelling club and went 9-13 with a 5.51 ERA. He improved to 10-10 in 1955, with a 3.81 ERA while reaching 200 innings pitched for the first time. In a game against the Braves that went into extra innings, Law lasted 18 innings until he was lifted for a pinch hitter (the Pirates won in the 19^th). He suffered through a difficult 8-16 season (4.32 ERA) in 1956 but he progressed to 10-8 with a 2.87 ERA in 1957. The devoutly religious pitcher, who was nicknamed “Deacon” and “Preacher”, usually avoided throwing brush-back pitches on moral grounds. His repertoire included a modest fastball (he was never a power pitcher), curve, and slider. With the Pirates surging to second place in 1958, Law contributed a 14-12 record and 3.96 ERA. He improved to 18-9 in 1959 with a 2.98 ERA and 20 complete games.

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 35 [5, tied with Sam Jones]

Complete Games – 18 [1, tied with Warren Spahn & Lew Burdette]

Wins – 20 [3]

Losses – 9

PCT - .690 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 3 [8, tied with four others]

Innings Pitched – 271.2 [4]

Hits – 266 [3, tied with Bob Friend]

Runs – 104 [12]

Earned Runs – 93 [9, tied with Jack Sanford & Bob Anderson]

Home Runs – 25 [7, tied with Johnny Podres]

Bases on Balls – 40

Strikeouts – 120 [18]

ERA – 3.08 [7, tied with Johnny Podres]

Hit Batters – 4 [15, tied with nine others]

Balks – 1 [7, tied with fifteen others]

Wild Pitches – 2

Midseason Snapshot: 11-4, ERA - 2.52, SO - 64 in 150 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 10 IP) vs. San Francisco 8/6

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 4 (in 9 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 8/10

Batting

PA – 105, AB – 94, R – 10, H – 17, 2B – 5, 3B – 2, HR – 1, RBI – 7, BB – 2, SO – 19, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .181, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 7, SF – 1

Fielding

Chances – 80

Put Outs – 28

Assists – 50

Errors – 2

DP – 6

Pct. - .975

Postseason Pitching: (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

G – 3, GS – 3, CG – 0, Record – 2-0, PCT – 1.000, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 18.1, H – 22, R – 7, ER – 7, HR – 3, BB – 3, SO – 8, ERA – 3.44, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 1

Awards & Honors:

MLB Cy Young Award:BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star (Starting P for NL in 2^nd game)

6^th in NL MVP voting, tied with Ken Boyer, StL. (80 points, 24% share)

MLB Cy Young voting:

Vern Law, Pitt.: 8 of 14 votes, 92% share

Warren Spahn, Mil.: 4 votes, 25% share

Ernie Broglio, StL.: 1 vote, 6% share

Lindy McDaniel, StL.: 1 vote, 6% share

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Pirates went 95-59 to win the NL pennant by 7 games over the Milwaukee Braves for their first pennant since 1927. The pitching staff led the NL in fewest walks surrendered (386). Won World Series over the New York Yankees, 4 games to 3, capped by Bill Mazeroski’s Game 7 walk-off home run. Despite suffering from a sprained ankle, Law was 2-0 in his three starts.

Aftermath of ‘60:

Having torn muscles in his back due to compensating for his ankle injury during the 1960 World Series, Law appeared in only 11 games in 1961 and was 3-4 with a 4.70 ERA. Dealing with lingering arm injuries in 1962, he went 10-7 with a 3.94 ERA while pitching 139.1 innings. Law retired during the 1963 season when he was 4-5 with a 4.93 ERA in August. Feeling that his arm had recovered by the offseason, he made a comeback with the Pirates in 1964, appearing in 35 games and compiling a 12-13 record with a 3.61 ERA and 7 complete games that included 5 shutouts. Law overcame a slow start in 1965 to go 17-9 with a 2.15 ERA in what proved to be his last effective season. He stayed with the Pirates until 1967 when he retired for good. Over the course of a career spent entirely with Pittsburgh, Law posted a 162-147 record with 1092 strikeouts over 2672 innings pitched, along with 119 complete games that included 28 shutouts. A decent hitting pitcher, he batted .216 with 11 home runs and 90 RBIs. He was also considered to be a good baserunner, occasionally being utilized as a pinch runner between pitching assignments. He was an All-Star during one season. His son Vance was primarily a third baseman for five major league teams, including the Pirates.    

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.  

Rookie of the Year: Ron Hansen, 1960

Shortstop, Baltimore Orioles

Age:  22 (Apr. 5)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 190

Prior to 1960:

Born in Nebraska, Hansen and his family moved to Albany, California shortly thereafter. In high school he was a star third baseman on the baseball team and outstanding football and basketball player as well. Turning down a scholarship to the Univ. of California after graduation, he signed with the Orioles in 1956. He started out with the Stockton Ports of the Class C California League that year where he was shifted to shortstop. He batted .289 with 20 doubles, 9 triples, and 8 home runs. Following a winter playing in the Mexican League, Hansen went to spring training in 1957 with the Orioles. A major back injury that required surgery cost him the entire ’57 season but he started the 1958 season with the Orioles. Having lost his batting stroke, Hansen was quickly sent down to Knoxville of the Class A South Atlantic League where he was sidelined for a time due to a hand injury and hit just .216 with 6 home runs and 36 RBIs. Tall for a shortstop during that era, he had good range, a strong throwing arm, and was sure-handed in the field. After a good winter performance in Nicaragua, Hansen was promoted to the Vancouver Mounties of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1959. He hit .256 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs, and also led PCL shortstops with 321 put outs, 496 assists, and 96 double plays. Receiving a late call-up to the Orioles, he went hitless in two games. Thanks to a strong spring performance in 1960, Hansen earned the starting shortstop job for the Orioles.

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

SS – 153, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 606 [18]

At Bats – 530 [18]

Runs – 72

Hits – 135

Doubles – 22

Triples – 5 [14, tied with five others]

Home Runs – 22 [10]

RBI – 86 [11]

Bases on Balls – 69 [12]

Int. BB – 5 [14, tied with nine others]

Strikeouts – 94 [5, tied with Bob Allison]

Stolen Bases – 3

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .255

OBP - .342

Slugging Pct. - .440 [14, tied with Brooks Robinson & Charlie Maxwell]

Total Bases – 233 [15]

GDP – 18 [5, tied with Al Smith & Al Kaline]

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 2

Midseason snapshot: HR – 9, RBI – 51, AVG – .254, SLG PCT – .424

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Boston 8/14

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 1 on 22 occasions

HR at home – 8

HR on road – 14

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 on eight occasions

Pinch-hitting – 0 of 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 810

Put Outs – 325

Assists – 456

Errors – 29

DP – 110

Pct. - .964

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star (started for AL at SS in both games)

5^th in AL MVP voting (110 points, 1 first place vote, 33% share)

AL ROY Voting:

Ron Hansen, Balt.: 22 of 24 votes, 92% share

Chuck Estrada, Balt.: 1 vote, 4% share

Jim Gentile, Balt.: 1 vote, 4% share

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Orioles went 89-65 to finish second in the AL, eight games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees, which was the club’s best performance since it won the AL pennant in 1944 while still located in St. Louis.

Aftermath of ‘60:

Following an offseason of Army Reserve duty that cut into his spring training preparation, Hansen’s batting production dropped off in 1961 as he hit .248 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs but he still ranked among the league leaders defensively at shortstop. His 1962 production declined due to being limited to playing weekends as a result of again being called up for Army Reserve service and a broken hand suffered in August; he finished with a .173 average and 3 home runs with 17 RBIs. Once again, his play in the field did not suffer. In the offseason Hansen was traded to the Chicago White Sox along with outfielders Dave Nicholson and Pete Ward and RHP Hoyt Wilhelm for shortstop Luis Aparicio and outfielder/third baseman Al Smith. His power production improved to 17 doubles, 13 home runs, and 67 RBIs in 1963, while his batting average remained low at .226. He led AL shortstops with 483 assists and was second with 95 double plays. The White Sox were pennant contenders in 1964 and Hansen contributed a .261 batting average with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs. In the field he led AL shortstops in total chances (827), put outs (292), assists (514), and DPs (105). He remained a top fielder in 1965 as he again topped AL shortstops in chances (840, including a record 28 in a double header against the Red Sox) and assists (527). His batting production dropped to a.235 average with 11 home runs and 66 RBIs. A back injury that required surgery limited Hansen to 23 games in 1966, but he returned to play in 157 games in 1967 and led AL shortstops in chances (752) and assists (482). He batted .233 with just 8 home runs and 51 RBIs. In the offseason, shortstop Luis Aparicio returned to the White Sox by trade and Hansen was part of a six-player deal that sent him to the Washington Senators. During the 1968 season with Washington, he pulled off an unassisted triple play during a game against Cleveland. Two days later, he was traded back to the White Sox, where due to Aparicio’s presence, he was shifted to third base. Overall at the plate, Hansen hit .196 with 9 home runs and 32 RBIs. Utilized as a utility infielder in 1969, he appeared in 85 games and batted .259. He was sold to the New York Yankees in 1970 where he spent two seasons as a utility player and pinch-hitter. Released by the Yankees in 1972, he finished his career with the Kansas City Royals. Overall in the major leagues, Hansen batted .234 with 1007 hits that included 156 doubles, 17 triples, and 106 home runs. He also compiled 501 RBIs. With the Orioles, his production was a .235 average with 301 hits, 42 doubles, 7 triples, 37 home runs, and 155 RBIs. His rookie batting production remained the best of his career. More impressive in the field, he had a lifetime .968 fielding percentage.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

MVP Profile: Dick Groat, 1960

Shortstop, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age:  29

7^th season with Pirates

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 180

Prior to 1960:

A Pennsylvania native who lettered in basketball and volleyball as well as baseball at Swissvale High School, Groat went to Duke University on a basketball scholarship. He was a two-time All-American in basketball as well as baseball. He set a then-NCAA basketball record by scoring 831 points in a season as a junior and was a first-round draft pick by the NBA’s Fort Wayne Pistons in 1952, but signed with the Pirates the same year, once his college baseball season was concluded. Receiving a bonus contract he bypassed the minor leagues and went to the Pirates immediately, and started at shortstop. In 95 games with Pittsburgh in ’52 he batted .284 and tied for third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting. In the offseason, Groat played basketball with the Pistons. Drafted into the Army, he missed the 1953 and ’54 baseball seasons (he never returned to the NBA). Coming back to the Pirates in 1955, Groat regained his starting job at shortstop and hit .267 after a slow start at the plate. He also teamed up well with second baseman Bill Mazeroski in the field. A contact hitter with little power, he batted .273 with only 22 extra base hits in 1956. A vocal team leader and steady fielder, Groat helped fuel Pittsburgh’s rise to respectability after many years of mostly losing seasons. He hit .315 in 1957 with 30 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and 54 RBIs. Groat followed up in 1958 with 36 doubles, 9 triples, 3 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a .300 average. He was an All-Star for the first time in 1959 in a season in which he batted .275 with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 5 home runs, and 51 RBIs. In the field he led all NL shortstops with 803 chances, 301 put outs, and 97 double plays, as well as 29 errors.

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 138 games

SS – 136, PH – 1, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 629 [12]

At Bats – 573 [7]

Runs – 85 [13]

Hits – 186 [3]

Doubles – 26 [10, tied with Ken Boyer, Pancho Herrera & Norm Larker]

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 2

RBI – 50

Bases on Balls – 39

Int. BB – 0

Strikeouts – 35

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .325 [1]

OBP - .371 [6]

Slugging Pct. - .394

Total Bases – 226 [18]

GDP – 7

Hit by Pitches – 4 [9, tied with eleven others]

Sac Hits – 12 [3]

Sac Flies – 1

League-leading batting average was +.002 ahead of runner-up Norm Larker

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 19, HR- 0, RBI- 29, AVG - .315, OBP - .359

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Most hits, game – 6 (in 6 AB) at Milwaukee 5/13

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 1

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis 8/12, (in 5 AB) at LA Dodgers 8/30

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 2 on eleven occasions

Pinch-hitting – 0 of 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 704

Put Outs – 237

Assists – 443

Errors – 24

DP – 92

Pct. - .966

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

PA – 28, AB – 28, R – 3, H – 6, 2B – 2,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 2, BB – 0, IBB – 0, SO – 1, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .214, OBP - .214, SLG - .286, TB – 8, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star

MLB Lou Gehrig Memorial Award

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Dick Groat, Pitt.: 276 pts. - 16 of 22 first place votes, 82% share

Don Hoak, Pitt.: 162 pts. – 5 first place votes, 48% share

Willie Mays, SF: 115 pts. – 34% share

Ernie Banks, ChiC.: 100 pts. – 30% share

Lindy McDaniel, StL.: 95 pts. – 28% share

(1 first place vote for Roberto Clemente, Pitt., who ranked eighth)

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Pirates went 95-59 to win NL pennant by 7 games over the Milwaukee Braves for their first pennant since 1927. They led the NL in runs scored (734), hits (1493), doubles (236), RBIs (689), batting (.276), OBP (.335), and total bases (2201). Won World Series over the New York Yankees, 4 games to 3, capped by Bill Mazeroski’s Game 7 walk-off home run.

Aftermath of ‘60:

The Pirates dropped to sixth place in 1961 and Groat batted .275 with 25 doubles, 6 triples, 6 home runs, and 55 RBIs. An intelligent player without great range who was a master at positioning himself in the field, he also led NL shortstops with 117 double plays and was near the top in chances (740) and assists (473). Groat’s batting average rose to .294 in 1962, along with 34 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, and 61 RBIs, although in the field he topped all NL shortstops with 38 errors, as well as 873 chances, 314 put outs, 521 assists, and 126 double plays. Trade bait after the season, he was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1963, all four starting infielders for the Cardinals (including Groat), started for the NL in the All-Star Game (1B Bill White, 2B Julian Javier, and 3B Ken Boyer were the others). Groat’s leadership qualities were considered to be a factor in the Cards’ contending for most of the season and he ended up placing second in NL MVP voting after leading the circuit with 43 doubles, to go along with 201 hits, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 73 RBIs, and a .319 batting average. In the field he placed second among NL shortstops with 731 chances and 448 assists. The Cardinals came from behind to win the NL pennant in 1964, and then beat the Yankees in the World Series. Groat contributed a .292 batting average and 35 doubles, along with 6 triples, a home run, and 70 RBIs along with steady play in the field. The team slumped in 1965, and so did Groat, whose batting average dropped to .254 with 26 doubles, 5 triples, and 52 RBIs. The Cards cleaned house in the offseason and Groat was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with first baseman Bill White, and backup catcher Bob Uecker for RHP Art Mahaffey, catcher Pat Corrales, and outfielder Alex Johnson. He struggled at the plate during most of the 1966 season and finished with a .260 average. Groat was hindered by a sore ankle in 1967 and played sparingly for the Phillies before being dealt to San Francisco in June. He played in only 44 games overall and hit .156. He retired after the season. For his major league career, Groat batted .286 with 2138 hits that included 352 doubles, 67 triples, and 39 home runs. He also accumulated 707 RBIs. With the Pirates his average was .290 with 1435 hits, 225 doubles, 40 triples, 30 home runs, and 454 RBIs. He was a five-time All-Star. He has been inducted into the College Baseball and College Basketball Halls of Fame.

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.