Highlighted Year: Ken Boyer, 1966

Third Baseman, New York Mets

Age:  35 (May 20)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1966:

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

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 136 games

3B – 130, PH – 8, 1B – 2, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 534

At Bats – 496

Runs – 62

Hits – 132

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

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 61

Bases on Balls – 30

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 64

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .266

OBP - .304

Slugging Pct. - .415

Total Bases – 206

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

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 1

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

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

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

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 4

Most home runs, game – 1 on fourteen occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Chi. Cubs 4/26

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

Fielding

Chances – 426

Put Outs – 113

Assists – 292

Errors – 21

DP – 33

Pct. - .951

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

Aftermath of 1966:

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

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

Highlighted Year: Joe Torre, 1966

Catcher/First Baseman, Atlanta Braves

Age: 26 (July 18)

6^th season with Braves

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 212 

Prior to 1966:

A native of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Torre played sandlot baseball as a teen. Slow and overweight, but a good hitter with power, he switched from first base to catcher and drew the interest of the Milwaukee Braves, the team his older brother, Frank, played for as a first baseman, and signed with them in 1959 for a $22,500 bonus. Having dropped 20 pounds as part of his conditioning program, he first played in the Florida Instructional League in the fall of ’59. Next, he joined Eau Claire of the Class C Northern League in 1960 and batted .344 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. He received a late-season call-up to the Braves and got his first major league hit as a pinch-hitter. Torre started the 1961 season with the Louisville Colonels of the Class AAA American Association but was called up by the Braves in May due to an injury to starting catcher Del Crandall. He hit well from the start and demonstrated a strong throwing arm from behind the plate as well. In 113 games Torre hit .278 with a .330 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, and 42 RBIs. He finished second in league Rookie of the Year voting. With Crandall back in 1962, Torre was limited to 80 games and batted .282 with 5 home runs and 26 RBIs. Taking over as the regular catcher in 1963, Torre was an All-Star for the first time on his way to hitting .293 with 14 home runs, 71 RBIs, and a .350 OBP. He also saw action at first base, where he displayed good technique and kept his bat in the lineup. With Crandall dealt for veteran catcher Ed Bailey in 1964, Torre saw more action at first base while making 96 appearances behind the plate. He batted .321 with a .365 OBP, 20 home runs, and 109 RBIs. Once again an All-Star, where he was the starting backstop for the National League, he also placed fifth in league MVP balloting. In 1965 Torre hit .291 with 27 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a .372 OBP. He caught in 100 games and made 49 appearances at first base, as lefty-hitting backup Gene Oliver split time with Torre behind the plate. Despite questions regarding his defensive ability as a catcher, Torre received a Gold Glove for his efforts. The franchise moved to Atlanta in 1966, and Torre hit the first home run for the Braves in their new ballpark.

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 148 games

C – 111, 1B – 39, PH – 4

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 614

At Bats – 546

Runs – 83 [18]

Hits – 172 [13]

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 36 [4, tied with Willie McCovey]

RBI – 101 [7]

Bases on Balls – 60 [12, tied with Rico Carty & Clay Dalrymple]

Int. BB – 8

Strikeouts – 61

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .315 [6, tied with Willie Stargell]

OBP - .382 [6]

Slugging Pct. - .560 [4]

Total Bases – 306 [6]

GDP – 18 [6]

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 4

Midseason snapshot: HR – 21, RBI - 53, AVG - .286, SLG – .542, OBP – .365

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Most hits, game – 3 on thirteen occasions

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 18

HR on road – 18

Most home runs, game – 2 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 5 at St. Louis 7/19 – 12 innings

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 3 (.333) with 1 R, 1 3B & 3 RBI

Fielding ( C )

Chances – 685

Put Outs – 607

Assists – 67

Errors – 11

Passed Balls – 13

DP – 9

Pct. - .984

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started for NL at C)

16^th in NL MVP voting (18 points – 6% share)

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In their first season in Atlanta, the Braves went 85-77 to finish fifth in the NL, 10 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while drawing 1,539,801 spectators to Atlanta Stadium and leading the league in runs scored (782), home runs (207), RBIs (734), and walks drawn (512). The hard-hitting Braves, taking advantage of their new power-friendly home venue, and lacking quality pitching, were at 52-59 when manager Bobby Bragan was replaced by Billy Hitchcock in August. The club caught fire and went 33-18 the rest of the way to finish with a winning record.

Aftermath of 1966:

Hobbled by an ankle injury in 1967 that required offseason surgery, Torre slumped badly at the plate in his last 40 games and finished at .277 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs. In an injury-plagued 1968 season, Torre hit .271 with just 10 home runs and 55 RBIs. During spring training in 1969, the Braves traded Torre to the St. Louis Cardinals for first baseman Orlando Cepeda. Torre became the regular first baseman for St. Louis in 1969, appearing in only 18 games behind the plate. His batting production rebounded to .289 with 18 home runs and 101 RBIs with a .361 OBP. The departure of catcher Tim McCarver and the arrival of first baseman Dick Allen in the offseason had Torre appearing more as a catcher in 1970, but he also appeared in 73 games at third base due to the departure of regular third sacker Mike Shannon due to illness. Torre batted .325 with 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a .398 OBP. The slimmed down Torre entered 1971 as the Cards’ regular third baseman. He went on to have a spectacular season in which he led the NL in batting (.363), hits (230), RBIs (137), and total bases (352) while slugging 24 home runs along with 34 doubles and 8 triples, as well as a .421 OBP, and .555 slugging percentage. He received league MVP recognition and was named Major League Player of the Year by The Sporting News. In 1972, Torre’s production dropped off to .289 with 11 home runs, 81 RBIs, and a .357 OBP. The distraction of off-field problems did not help, but he remained a productive part of the lineup and was an All-Star once again. By 1973 he was seeing the most action at first base and his hitting continued to slip as he batted .287 with 13 home runs, and 69 RBIs, although his OBP was a respectable .376. Torre spent one more season with St. Louis in 1974 in which he hit .282 with 11 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a .371 OBP. In the offseason he was traded to the New York Mets for two pitchers. Playing primarily at third base in 1975, he was troubled by reduced range in the field and batted only .247 with 6 home runs and 35 RBIs. Torre was back at first base in 1976, and as his playing time continued to dwindle, he hit .306 with a .358 OBP. During the 1977 season he replaced Joe Frazier as the club’s manager. While initially a player/manager, his playing career ended in June. For his major league playing career, Torre batted .297 with 2342 hits that included 344 doubles, 59 triples, and 252 home runs. He scored 996 runs and compiled 1185 RBIs, 779 walks, a .365 OBP, and a .452 slugging percentage. With the Braves he batted .294 with 154 doubles, 21 triples, 142 home runs, 552 RBIs, 470 runs scored, 334 walks drawn, a .356 OBP, and a .462 slugging percentage. A nine-time All-Star, he finished among the top 5 in NL MVP voting three times, with the one win in ’71. Following the conclusion of his playing career, Torre continued as manager of the Mets through the 1981 season when he was fired following a 286-420 tenure. His next managerial stop was a return to the Braves from 1982-84. Atlanta won the AL West title in Torre’s first year at the helm and contended in 1983. A losing season in 1984 led to his dismissal after having compiled an overall 257-229 record. Following several seasons as a television commentator, Torre’s next managerial job came with the Cardinals from 1990-95, where his teams went 351-354 with no postseason appearances. The New York Yankees hired him in 1996, and he managed through 2007 with his teams going 1173-767 with six AL pennants and four World Series titles. Along the way Torre overcame a bout with prostate cancer in 1999. Refusing to accept a salary cut for 2008, Torre moved on to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three seasons from 2008-2010 where his teams went 259-227 and twice reached the playoffs. As a manager, Torre put together a record of 2326-1997 with the six pennants and four World Series championships. The Yankees retired his #6 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 in recognition of his managerial success. He was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2016.

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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: Felipe Alou, 1966

First Baseman/Outfielder, Atlanta Braves

Age:  31 (May 12)

3^rd season with Braves

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 195 

Prior to 1966:

A native of the Dominican Republic, Alou was the son of a carpenter and blacksmith. He fished and swam in the nearby ocean and developed into an excellent athlete and student. He became a member of the Dominican national track team and played baseball for local amateur teams. He entered a pre-med program at the University of Santo Domingo and also played baseball and was a member of the Dominican Republic’s gold-medal winning squad in the 1955 Pan-American Games. Not initially interested in pursuing a major league career until his father and uncle lost their jobs, he signed with the New York Giants for $200. Alou was initially assigned to Lake Charles in the Class C Evangeline League in 1956, which was expelled from the league along with another integrated team. Reassigned to the Cocoa Indians of the Class D Florida State League, the 21-year-old outfielder was homesick and dealing with racism for the first time but performed well by batting a league-leading .380 with 15 doubles, 6 triples, 21 home runs, 99 RBIs, a .460 on-base percentage, and a .582 slugging percentage. Advancing to Minneapolis of the Class AAA American Association in 1957, Alou hit poorly and was demoted after 24 games to Springfield of the Class A Eastern League where he batted .306 with 12 home runs, 71 RBIs, a .354 OBP, and a .462 slugging percentage. With the move of the Giants to San Francisco, Phoenix of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League became their top minor league club and Alou was sent there to start the 1958 season. He was hitting .319 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs when the Giants called him up in June. He got off to a hot start at the plate while playing regularly in right field but tailed off to finish at .253 with 4 home runs, 16 RBIs, and a .325 OBP. Part of a crowded outfield situation in 1959, Alou appeared in 95 games and hit .275 with 10 home runs, 33 RBIs, a .318 OBP, and a .466 slugging percentage. Impressive defensively, the team’s move to Candlestick Park in 1960 resulted in his batting .264 with 17 doubles, 8 home runs, 44 RBIs, a .299 OBP, and a .410 slugging percentage over the course of 106 games and 322 at bats. By 1961 his brother Mateo (known as Matty) was a teammate (and outfield platoon partner) on the Giants, and they would soon be joined by another brother, Jesus, yet another oufielder. Appearing in 132 games in ’61 Alou hit .289 with 18 home runs, 52 RBIs, a .333 OBP, and a .465 slugging percentage. He held the right field job to himself in 1962, a pennant-winning season for the Giants. He proved adept at adjusting to the tricky winds at Candlestick Park and also batted .316 with 30 doubles, 25 home runs, 98 RBIs, a .356 OBP, and a .513 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star for the first time and placed thirteenth in league MVP voting. In his first taste of postseason action, he hit .269 in the seven-game World Series loss to the Yankees and most gallingly struck out in the ninth inning of the climactic seventh game when he was unable to execute a sacrifice bunt with Matty on first base and no outs while down 1-0. He followed up with another solid year in 1963, batting .281 with 20 home runs, 82 RBIs, a .319 OBP, and a .474 slugging percentage. During this time, he became an outspoken advocate for Latin American ballplayers. In the offseason Alou was traded to the Milwaukee Braves as part of a seven-player deal. Having suffered a knee injury while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, Alou had difficulty at the plate and in the outfield. His hitting dropped off to .253 with 26 doubles, 9 home runs, 51 RBIs, a .306 OBP, and a .395 slugging percentage. Appearing primarily in center field, he was also utilized at first base. Returning to form in 1965, he batted .297 with 29 doubles, 23 home runs, 78 RBIs, a .338 OBP, and a .481 slugging percentage. Defensively he split time between first base and the outfield. A lame-duck team in Milwaukee in ’65, the Braves made the move to Atlanta in 1966.

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 154 games

1B – 89, LF – 45, CF – 43, RF – 5, 3B – 3, SS – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 706 [2]

At Bats – 666 [1]

Runs – 122 [1]

Hits – 218 [1]

Doubles – 32 [4]

Triples – 6 [17, tied with six others]

Home Runs – 31 [8]

RBI – 74

Bases on Balls – 24

Int. BB – 6

Strikeouts – 51

Stolen Bases – 5

Caught Stealing – 7 [19, tied with five others]

Average - .327 [2]

OBP - .361 [10, tied with Orlando Cepeda]

Slugging Pct. - .533 [9]

Total Bases – 355 [1]

GDP – 11

Hit by Pitches – 12 [3, tied with Adolfo Phillips]

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 2 

League-leading at bats were +10 ahead of runner-up Glenn Beckert

League-leading runs scored were +5 ahead of runner-up Hank Aaron

League-leading hits were +13 ahead of runner-up Pete Rose

League-leading total bases were +13 ahead of runner-up Roberto Clemente

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 17, HR - 20, RBI - 45, AVG - .298, SLG - .504, OBP – .326

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at San Francisco 4/26

Longest hitting streak – 16 games

HR at home – 19

HR on road – 12

Most home runs, game – 2 on six occasions

Multi-HR games – 6

Most RBIs, game – 3 at LA Dodgers 7/9, at LA Dodgers 8/23

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding (1B)

Chances – 832

Put Outs – 769

Assists – 53

Errors – 10

DP – 63

Pct. - .988

Awards & Honors:

NL All-Star: Sporting News

All-Star

5^th in NL MVP voting (83 points – 2 first place votes, 30% share)

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In their first season in Atlanta, the Braves went 85-77 to finish fifth in the NL, 10 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while drawing 1,539,801 spectators to Atlanta Stadium and leading the league in runs scored (782), home runs (207), RBIs (734), and walks drawn (512). The hard-hitting Braves, taking advantage of their new power-friendly home venue, and lacking quality pitching, were at 52-59 when manager Bobby Bragan was replaced by Billy Hitchcock in August. The club caught fire and went 33-18 the rest of the way to finish with a winning record. Splitting time between first base and the outfield, Alou was typically the leadoff hitter and contended for the NL batting title, eventually finishing second to brother Matty.

Aftermath of 1966:

Hindered by bone chips in his elbow in 1967, Alou’s batting production dipped to .274 with 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, 76 runs scored, a .318 OBP, and a .408 slugging percentage. He still saw most of his action at first base while making 56 appearances in the outfield. He rebounded in 1968 to .317 with 37 doubles, 5 triples, 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a league-leading 210 hits while also compiling a .365 OBP and .438 slugging percentage. Defensively, he appeared exclusively in center field. Hitting well to start the 1969 season, Alou suffered a broken finger and missed two weeks in June. The Braves swung a trade with San Diego for veteran outfielder Tony Gonzalez, who platooned with Alou in center field during the remainder of the season. Appearing in 123 games, Alou batted .282 with 13 doubles, 5 home runs, 32 RBIs, a .319 OBP, and a .345 slugging percentage. In the offseason he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for RHP Jim Nash. Playing primarily in left field with the A’s in 1970, he hit .271 with 25 doubles, 8 home runs, 55 RBIs, a .308 OBP, and a .367 slugging percentage. Dealt to the New York Yankees early into the 1971 season, he returned to splitting time at first base and the outfield, and following a slow first half, he came on strong to finish at .288 with 21 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, 69 RBIs, a .333 OBP, and a .409 slugging percentage. Primarily a first baseman in 1972, Alou played in 120 games and batted .278 with 25 extra-base hits and a .326 OBP. Hitting only .236 for the Yankees in 1973, he was dealt to Montreal where he finished the season. Sold to the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason, he lasted only three games before being released, thus ending his playing career at age 39. For his major league career, Alou batted .286 with 2101 hits that included 359 doubles, 49 triples, and 206 home runs. He scored 985 runs and compiled 852 RBIs, 107 stolen bases, a .328 OBP, and a .433 slugging percentage. With the Braves he batted .295 with 989 hits, 464 runs scored, 163 doubles, 20 triples, 94 home runs, 335 RBIs, 40 stolen bases, a .338 OBP, and a .440 slugging percentage. Appearing in eight postseason games he hit .259 with one RBI. A three-time All-Star, he twice finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting. Following his playing career, Alou managed in the Dominican Republic and in the minor leagues. He also coached and managed at the major league level, producing a 1033-1021 record with the Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants. He received National League Manager of the Year recognition with the Expos in 1994. His brother Matty played in the major leagues until 1974 and Jesus from 1963-79, most notably with the Giants and Houston. His son Moises was an outfielder from 1990 until 2008, most notably with Montreal, the Marlins, Houston, the Cubs, and the Giants.

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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. 

Cy Young Profile: Sandy Koufax, 1966

Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  30

11^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Left

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 210 

Prior to 1966:

A native of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Koufax (who was originally named Sanford Braun until he took his stepfather’s name), excelled at basketball in high school and played sandlot baseball where his pitching talent was first exhibited. Following high school he attended the Univ. of Cincinnati on a basketball scholarship. He performed well at basketball in college but caught the interest of major league baseball scouts by posting a 3-1 record with 51 strikeouts in 30 innings, with blazing speed, although having difficulty with his control he walked 30 batters as well. While all three New York teams were interested (not least because his being Jewish would add to his fan appeal), and he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 for $6000 plus a $14,000 bonus. He transferred to Columbia University to continue his college education but dropped out due to the problem of having to fulfill his military obligation during the offseason. The bonus rules of the time required him to play for the major league club rather than spend time in the minors. Following an ankle injury that put him on the disabled list early during the 1955 season, the 19-year-old Koufax saw his first action as a reliever in June. His first start was derailed by wildness, but he struck out 14 batters in a later game against Cincinnati. In his first two seasons he made 28 appearances (15 of them starts) and went 4-6 with 60 strikeouts and 57 walks in 100.1 innings pitched. He saw no World Series action in either 1955 or ’56. Playing winter ball in Puerto Rico helped in his development. He saw more action in 1957, the last year for the Dodgers in Brooklyn, going 5-4 with a 3.88 ERA and 122 strikeouts with 51 walks while pitching 104.1 innings. Moving with the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958, he started 26 of 40 games and compiled an 11-11 tally with a 4.48 ERA and 131 strikeouts with 105 walks in 158.2 innings pitched. He got off to a poor start in 1959 until he strung together three straight complete game wins in June and had an 18-strikeout performance against the Giants at the end of August on his way to an 8-6 mark with a 4.05 ERA and 173 strikeouts with 92 walks over the course of 153.1 innings. The Dodgers won the NL pennant and Koufax saw his first World Series action against the Chicago White Sox, appearing in two games, losing a 1-0 decision in Game 5 in which he pitched 7 innings and surrendered just five hits while striking out 6 batters before a crowd of 92,706 at the LA Coliseum. 1960 was a more disappointing season in which he pitched 175 innings and went 8-13 with a 3.91 ERA and 197 strikeouts while issuing 100 walks. Frustrated with his career thus far, Koufax worked to improve his delivery, mechanics, and control. Strong, with long arms and fingers, he refined his rising fastball and developed an excellent overhand curve. The result in 1961 was an 18-13 record with a 3.52 ERA, 15 complete games, and a league-leading 269 strikeouts. He also was an All-Star for the first time. The move by the Dodgers from the LA Coliseum to pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium in 1962 also proved beneficial. Off to a strong start in 1962, Koufax suffered a career-threatening circulatory problem with his index finger which went numb as a result. He still managed his first career no-hitter against the expansion New York Mets shortly before being shelved until September at the cost of his endurance and effectiveness. The Dodgers faded down the stretch and ended up tied for first with the Giants, necessitating a season-extending playoff, won by San Francisco. In his abbreviated season, Koufax went 14-7 with a league-leading 2.54 ERA while striking out 216 batters in 184.1 innings pitched. Entering 1963 there were concerns about Koufax’s condition, although he had finally developed into an outstanding pitcher. The Dodgers won the pennant in ’63 and Koufax contributed a sterling 25-5 record, again leading the league with a 1.88 ERA, as well as 11 shutouts and 306 strikeouts. Along the way he threw a no-hitter against the arch-rival Giants. His performance earned him NL MVP recognition as well as the major league Cy Young Award. In the four-game World Series sweep of the Yankees, Koufax was MVP. His winning effort in Game 1 included 15 strikeouts, which set a World Series record at the time. He also won the decisive Game 4, going the distance in winning 2-1. Already bothered by arthritis in his left arm that required special treatment, in 1964 Koufax remained extremely effective until a sore elbow finished him for the season in August. He still ended up with a 19-5 record in just 28 starts and won his third straight National League ERA title with a 1.74 ERA while pitching 223 innings. He also pitched his third career no-hitter, this time against the Phillies, and struck out 223 batters while hurling seven shutouts and 15 complete games. By this point, the star southpaw was utilizing ice baths to reduce swelling in his elbow. The Dodgers dropped to sixth place but returned to the top of the NL in 1965. Koufax contributed a 26-8 record that included his then-record fourth no-hitter, a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs. He also set a major league strikeout record with 382 while topping the NL for a fourth consecutive time with his 2.04 ERA and leading the league with 27 complete games and 335.2 innings pitched. In the midst of a hot pennant race against the Giants, he threw four complete game wins in his final five starts. In the World Series against Minnesota, Koufax refused to pitch on the Jewish high holy day of Yom Kippur but went on to post a 2-1 tally with a 0.38 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 24 innings as the Dodgers won in seven games. He was named the Series MVP and went on to receive his second Cy Young Award while placing second in league MVP voting. In 1966, Koufax and star RHP Don Drysdale staged a spring joint contract holdout which resulted in a raise for Koufax from $110,000 to $130,000.

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 41 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 41

Games Started – 41 [1, tied with Jim Bunning]

Complete Games – 27 [1]

Wins – 27 [1]

Losses – 9

PCT - .750 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 5 [1, tied with five others]

Innings Pitched – 323 [1]

Hits – 241 [8]

Runs – 74

Earned Runs – 62

Home Runs – 19

Bases on Balls – 77 [7]

Strikeouts – 317 [1]

ERA – 1.73 [1]

Hit Batters – 0

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 7 [20, tied with four others]

League-leading complete games were +2 ahead of runner-up Juan Marichal

League-leading wins were +2 ahead of runner-up Juan Marichal

League-leading innings pitched were +9 ahead of runner-up Jim Bunning

League-leading strikeouts were +65 ahead of runner-up Jim Bunning

League-leading ERA was -0.49 lower than runner-up Mike Cuellar

Midseason Snapshot: 15-4, ERA - 1.60, SO - 165 in 168.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 16 (in 11 IP) vs. Philadelphia 7/27

10+ strikeout games – 15

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. San Francisco 5/19, (in 9 IP) vs. NY Mets 5/28

Batting

PA – 124, AB – 118, R – 5, H – 9, 2B – 3, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 5, BB – 5, SO – 57, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .076, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 1

Fielding

Chances – 38

Put Outs – 7

Assists – 30

Errors – 1

DP – 2

Pct. - .974

Postseason Pitching: G – 1 (World Series vs. Baltimore)

GS – 1, CG – 0, Record – 0-1, PCT – .000, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 6, H – 6, R – 4, ER – 1, HR – 0, BB – 2, SO – 2, ERA – 1.50, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0

Awards & Honors:

MLB Cy Young Award: BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star (Started for NL)

2^nd in NL MVP voting (208 points - 9 first place votes, 74% share)

MLB Cy Young voting:

Sandy Koufax, LAD: 20 of 20 votes, 100% share

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The Dodgers went 95-67 to win the NL pennant by 1.5 games over the San Francisco Giants. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (2.62), complete games (52, tied with the Giants & Phillies), shutouts (20), fewest hits allowed (1287) and fewest runs allowed (490). The light-hitting Dodgers, who got by on speed, pitching, and defense were seven games out of first on May 13 after losing the first game of a three-game series at Pittsburgh. In a tight race with the Giants and Pirates, LA finally took over first place to stay on September 11, with Koufax winning the nightcap of a season-ending double-header at Philadelphia to nail down the pennant. Lost World Series to the Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 0. In a pitching-dominated Series, the Dodgers batted a cumulative .142 with no runs scored after the third inning of Game 1 and were further burdened by sloppy defensive play. 

Aftermath of 1966:

Fearful that the arthritis would cripple him for life if he continued to pitch, Koufax retired at age 30 while still at the top of his game. Efforts by the Dodgers to lure him back failed, and the quiet and unassuming Koufax went on to a short broadcasting career. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Dodgers, he compiled a 165-87 record with a 2.76 ERA and 2396 strikeouts in 2324.1 innings pitched. He further pitched 137 complete games with 40 shutouts, including four no-hitters. Concerned about causing serious injury, he avoided throwing knockdown pitches and hit only 18 batters during his career. In World Series action, he appeared in 8 games (7 of them starts) and produced a 4-3 record with a 0.95 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 57 innings, and he was a two-time World Series MVP. His Series record of 15 strikeouts in a game lasted until 1968. A seven-time All-Star, Koufax was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 at age 36, making him the youngest person to become a Hall of Famer. The Dodgers retired his #32. In retirement he spent time as a special pitching instructor for the Dodgers. He also maintained a low public profile.

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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. 

Highlighted Year: Hank Aaron, 1966

Outfielder, Atlanta Braves

Age:  32

13^th season with Braves

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 180 

Prior to 1966:

A native of Mobile, Alabama Aaron, who was a shortstop playing sandlot ball, started out professionally with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League in 1952, utilizing a cross-handed batting grip that he eliminated before moving on to the majors. He signed with the Braves and joined the club in 1954 after two minor league seasons, one in which he led the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League in batting (.362). Joining the Braves in 1954, he was installed in the outfield and was selected to his first All-Star Game in 1955, a season in which he led the NL in doubles (37) and formed a highly productive slugging duo with third baseman Eddie Mathews. An impressive “bad ball” hitter with his quick wrists and line-drive power, he topped the league in batting (.328) and hits (200), and once again in doubles (34) in 1956. The Braves won the NL pennant in 1957 and Aaron was the league MVP as he topped the circuit in home runs (44), RBIs (132), runs scored (118), and total bases (369) while batting .322 with 27 doubles, a .378 on-base-percentage, and a .600 slugging percentage. In the seven-game World Series victory over the New York Yankees Aaron hit .393 with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs. Aaron hit 30 home runs, knocked in 95, and batted .326 with a .386 OBP and .546 slugging percentage as the Braves again won the NL pennant in 1958. Aaron won a second batting title in 1959 (.355) while also topping the NL in hits (223) and slugging percentage (.636) and total bases (400) to go along with 46 doubles, 39 home runs, and 123 RBIs. Still outstanding in 1960 although his average dropped to .292, Aaron topped the league in RBIs (126) and total bases (334) while producing 40 home runs, a .352 OBP, and a .556 slugging percentage. An outstanding outfielder in addition to his hitting, Aaron was most comfortable in right field but often saw action in center, as was the case in 1961. His offense never suffered and he led the NL in total bases for the third straight year with 358 and also topped the circuit in doubles (39) to go along with 10 triples, 34 home runs, 120 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, a .381 OBP, and a .594 slugging percentage. The player known as “Hammerin’ Hank” or “Bad Henry” maintained his excellence in 1962. Helped by an August surge he finished at .323 with 28 doubles, 6 triples, 45 home runs, 128 RBIs, a .390 OBP, and a .618 slugging percentage. In 1963 he led the NL in runs scored (121), home runs (44), RBIs (130), slugging percentage (.586), and total bases (370). He also stole 31 bases. Aaron batted .328 in 1964 but his home run total dropped to 24 although he drove in 95 runs with a .393 OBP and .514 slugging percentage helped along by his 30 doubles. In 1965, following ankle surgery, he went on to hit .318 with a league-leading 40 doubles,32 home runs, and relatively modest total of 89 RBIs. His OBP was .379 and he produced a .560 slugging percentage. With the Braves move to Atlanta in 1966 Aaron’s average dropped to .279 but he topped the league in home runs (44) and RBIs (127) and had a .356 OBP and .539 slugging percentage. By this point in his career, Apart from his outstanding hitting and fielding, Aaron was known for his calm and serene demeanor from the time he came up with the Braves until the end of his career. 

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 158 games

RF – 158, CF – 5, 2B – 2, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 688 [6]

At Bats – 603 [13]

Runs – 117 [2]

Hits – 168 [17, tied with Cookie Rojas]

Doubles – 23

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 44 [1]

RBI – 127 [1]

Bases on Balls – 76 [3, tied with Willie McCovey]

Int. BB – 15 [4]

Strikeouts – 96 [13]

Stolen Bases – 21 [7, tied with Willie Davis]

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .279

OBP - .356 [14, tied with Ron Hunt]

Slugging Pct. - .539 [6]

Total Bases – 325 [4]

GDP – 14 [15, tied with five others]

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 8 [2, tied with Ron Santo & Rusty Staub]

League-leading home runs were +4 ahead of runner-up Dick Allen

League-leading RBIs were +8 ahead of runner-up Roberto Clemente

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 16, HR – 26, RBI – 67, AVG – .289., SLG – .587, OBP – .376

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Chi. Cubs 5/22, (in 5 AB) at NY Mets 6/8, (in 5 AB) at Pittsburgh 9/7

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

HR at home – 21

HR on road – 23

Most home runs, game – 2 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 6 at NY Mets 6/8

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 1 (1.000) with 1 HR & 1 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 331

Put Outs – 315

Assists – 12

Errors – 4

DP – 5

Pct. - .988

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started for NL in LF)

8^th in NL MVP voting (57 points, 20% share)

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In their first season in Atlanta, the Braves went 85-77 to finish fifth in the NL, 10 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while drawing 1,539,801 spectators to Atlanta Stadium and leading the league in runs scored (782), home runs (207), RBIs (734), and walks drawn (512). The hard-hitting Braves, taking advantage of their new power-friendly home venue, and lacking quality pitching, were at 52-59 when manager Bobby Bragan was replaced by Billy Hitchcock in August. The club caught fire and went 33-18 the rest of the way to finish with a winning record.

Aftermath of 1966:

Aaron again led the league in home runs with 39 in 1967, and also topped the NL with 113 runs scored, a .573 slugging percentage, and 344 total bases. He followed up with another solid performance in the pitching-dominated 1968 season, batting .287 with 33 doubles, 29 home runs, a disappointing 86 RBIs, 28 steals, a .354 OBP, and a .498 slugging percentage. In the first season of divisional play in 1969, the Braves won the NL West and “Hammerin’ Hank” contributed by hitting..300 with 30 doubles, 44 home runs, 97 RBIs, a .396 OBP, and a .607 slugging percentage. Atlanta was swept by the New York Mets in the first NLCS despite Aaron’s 3 homers and 7 RBIs. Having already surpassed 500 career home runs, he reached 3000 hits in 1970, while batting .298 with 38 home runs, 118 RBIs, a .385 OBP, and a .574 slugging percentage and showing no sign of slowing down at age 36. Playing primarily at first base in 1971, Aaron kept up his hitting production by batting .327 with a career-high 47 home runs, 118 RBIs, a .410 OBP, and a league-leading .669 slugging percentage. He placed third in league MVP voting. The story for the next two seasons was Aaron’s advance toward the career home run record. He added 34 home runs in 1972 to put him 41 behind Babe Ruth’s mark, although his RBI total dropped to 77 and he hit only .265. A 40-homer season in 1973 left him one short of the record which he tied in the first game of the 1974 season in Cincinnti and broke at home four days later. He went on to appear in only 112 games that season, mostly in left field, and batted .268 with 20 home runs, 69 RBIs, a .341 OBP, and a .491 slugging percentage at age 40. In the offseason he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, bringing him back to the city where he had achieved much success, in return for outfielder Dave May and a minor league pitcher. Aaron spent two seasons with the Brewers, utilized almost exclusively as a Designated Hitter and retired following the 1976 season with a final total of 755 home runs, which remained as the MLB record until 2007. His 3771 hits ranked second at the time his career ended and 2297 RBIs placed first. Aaron batted .305 (.310 with the Braves alone), with 624 doubles and 98 triples. He had seven 40-homer seasons and scored 2174 runs along with a .374 OBP and .555 slugging percentage. While not primarily known for his base stealing, he finished with 240 steals and reached double figures in every season from 1960 to ’68. Appearing in 17 postseason games, he hit .362 with 6 home runs and 16 RBIs. Aaron was a 25-time All-Star and won three Gold Gloves for his play in right field. The Braves and Brewers both retired his #44. The unpretentious and workmanlike Aaron was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. His brother Tommie, primarily an outfielder and first baseman, played in 437 games with the Braves spread out over seven years. He hit 13 home runs, giving the siblings a combined total of 768. Aaron served as vice president of player development for the Braves following his retirement as a player. Among many honors he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. A respected baseball elder statesman, he died in 2021 at the age of 86. Following his stressful pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record, he summed up his approach and perspective by saying, “I’m not trying to make anyone forget the Babe, but only to remember Hank Aaron.” Often overshadowed by contemporaries such as Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle during his long career, in the end he out-slugged them all.

[Revised 9/23/25]

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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: Frank Robinson, 1966

Outfielder, Baltimore Orioles

Age:  31 (Aug. 31)

1^st season with Orioles

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 183

 

Prior to 1966:

Born in Beaumont, Texas, Robinson moved with his family to California at a young age. He first played organized baseball with an American Legion team in Oakland prior to starring at McClymonds High School. Signed by the Reds upon his graduation in 1953, he was first assigned to Ogden of the Class C Pioneer League where he appeared in 72 games and batted .348 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs. Moving on to Columbia of the Class A South Atlantic League in 1954 following a brief stint with Tulsa of the Texas League, Robinson hit .336 with 25 home runs. Back with Columbia in 1955 he was bothered by a shoulder injury that briefly caused his move from the outfield to first base and played in only 80 games in which he hit .263 with 12 home runs. His shoulder having recovered following extended rest, Robinson made the jump to the Reds and became the starting left fielder in 1956. The club tied the existing major league team record for home runs helped by Robinson’s tying of the rookie record with 38, to go along with 83 RBIs and a .290 average. He received NL Rookie of the Year recognition. He followed up with another strong season in 1957 in which he batted .322 with 29 home runs and 75 RBIs. With a batting stance that had him leaning over the plate, he drew many inside pitches and was among the leaders in being hit by pitches. Robinson received a Gold Glove for his outfield play in 1958, a year in which, following a beaning during the spring that caused him headaches, he also hit .269 with 31 home runs and 83 RBIs. His batting average came back up to .311 in 1959 along with 36 home runs and 125 RBIs. Robinson’s tendency to slide hard into bases, which often resulted in his spiking opposing fielders, led to a notable brawl against the Braves when he slid hard into third baseman Ed Mathews. Despite several nagging injuries he went on to hit .297 for the year along with 31 home runs and 83 RBIs and a league-leading .595 slugging percentage. In the offseason he was arrested for pulling a gun on a short order cook who had refused to serve him, which led to a fine. Shifted to right field in 1961, Robinson had another big year at the plate for the pennant-winning Reds, batting .323 with 37 home runs and 124 RBIs, and, previously prone to being an introvert, he also provided fiery team leadership. He was voted the National League MVP for his performance. Robinson followed up with another outstanding season in 1962, topping the NL in slugging percentage for the third straight year at .624. He also paced the circuit with 134 runs scored and 51 doubles. In addition, he hit .342 with 39 home runs and 136 RBIs and placed fourth in league MVP balloting. Nagging injuries led to a down year in 1963 as Robinson was limited to 140 games and batted .259 with 21 home runs and 91 RBIs. He furthermore expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s front office. Robinson rebounded with the contending Reds in 1964, hitting .306 with 29 home runs and 96 RBIs and finishing fourth in MVP voting. He was still solid in 1965, batting .296 with 33 home runs and 113 RBIs. In the offseason he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in a blockbuster transaction in which Cincinnati received three players, the most significant being RHP Milt Pappas.

 

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 155 games

RF – 133, LF – 22, 1B – 3, PH – 1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 680 [8, tied with Carl Yastrzemski]

At Bats – 576 [15]

Runs – 122 [1]

Hits – 182 [2, tied with Luis Aparicio]

Doubles – 34 [3]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 49 [1]

RBI – 122 [1]

Bases on Balls – 87 [3]

Int. BB – 11 [4, tied with Brooks Robinson]

Strikeouts – 90 [18]

Stolen Bases – 8

Caught Stealing – 5

Average - .316 [1]

OBP - .410 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .637 [1]

Total Bases – 367 [1]

GDP – 24 [3]

Hit By Pitches – 10 [2, tied with Tommie Agee & Fred Valentine]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 7 [1, tied with six others]

 

League-leading runs scored were +23 ahead of runner-up Tony Oliva

League-leading home runs were +10 ahead of runner-up Harmon Killebrew

League-leading RBIs were +12 ahead of runner-up Harmon Killebrew

League-leading batting average was +.009 ahead of runner-up Tony Oliva

League-leading OBP was +.018 ahead of runner-up Al Kaline

League-leading slugging percentage was +.099 ahead of runner-up Harmon Killebrew

League-leading total bases were +55 ahead of runner-up Tony Oliva

 

Midseason snapshot: HR – 21, RBI – 56, AVG – .312., SLG – .591

 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 6 AB) vs. Washington 6/7 – 12 innings, (in 5 AB) at California 6/26, (in 4 AB) vs. Detroit 7/21, (in 5 AB) at Cleveland 8/31

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 2 on seven occasions

HR at home – 27

HR on road – 22

Multi-HR games – 7

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Detroit 7/19, vs. California 9/19

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 1 (1.000) with 1 RBI

 

Fielding

Chances – 262

Put Outs – 254

Assists – 4

Errors – 4

DP – 0

Pct. - .985

 

Postseason Batting: 4 G (World Series vs. LA Dodgers)

PA – 16, AB – 14, R – 4, H – 4, 2B – 0,3B – 1, HR – 2, RBI – 3, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .286, OBP - .375, SLG -.857, TB – 12, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0 World Series MVP

 

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star (Started for AL in LF)

 

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Frank Robinson, Balt.: 280 pts. – 20 of 20 first place votes, 100% share

Brooks Robinson, Balt.: 153 pts. – 55% share

Boog Powell, Balt.: 122 pts.  – 44% share

Harmon Killebrew, Min.: 96 pts. – 34% share

Jim Kaat, Min.: 84 pts. – 30% share

 

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Orioles went 97-63 to win the AL pennant by 9 games over the Minnesota Twins while leading the league in runs scored (755), hits (1426), doubles (243), RBIs (703), batting (.258), on-base percentage (.324), slugging (.409), and total bases (2264). With Robinson’s Triple Crown-winning bat and outstanding leadership, the Orioles cruised to the pennant. The top fielding club as well as the best batting squad, Baltimore also featured the AL’s best bullpen. Won World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 0, in a Series dominated by Baltimore’s pitching.

 

Aftermath of ‘66:

The Orioles dropped in the standings in 1967 and Robinson missed several weeks following a collision with second baseman Al Weis of the White Sox, which caused a concussion and ensuing double vision. He still ended up batting .311 with 30 home runs and 94 RBIs while appearing in 129 games. Hindered by injuries and illness in 1968, he hit only .268 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs. In the offseason he managed in the Puerto Rican Winter League, setting the stage for his post-playing career. 1969 marked the beginning of divisional play in major league baseball and the Orioles topped the new AL East. Robinson contributed 32 home runs, 100 RBIs, a .308 batting average, and outstanding leadership. He hit two more home runs in the postseason which ended with Baltimore losing to the upstart New York Mets. The Orioles again won the AL East in 1970 and this time won the World Series. Robinson batted .306 with 25 home runs and 78 RBIs. Baltimore made it three straight pennants in 1971 and Robinson hit .281 with 28 home runs and 99 RBIs. It proved to be the end of the road for him as an Oriole. In the offseason he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a six-player trade. He batted .251 in an injury-plagued season in 1972 with 19 home runs and 59 RBIs over 103 games. He was traded once again in the offseason, this time to nearby Anaheim and the California Angels, which reunited him with former Baltimore GM Harry Dalton. The once-outstanding outfielder was primarily utilized as a Designated Hitter in 1973 and batted .266 with 30 home runs and 97 RBIs. He had a lesser season in 1974 in which he was dealt to the Cleveland Indians in September. Overall, he hit .245 with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs. In the offseason he was named manager of the Indians, becoming the first African-American manager in AL/NL history. He finished his playing career in 1975 and ’76 as a player/manager for the Indians. He played rarely and almost exclusively as a DH or pinch-hitter. For his major league career, Robinson batted .294 with 2943 hits that included 528 doubles, 72 triples, and 586 home runs. He further scored 1829 runs and compiled 1812 RBIs and 204 stolen bases. He was hit by pitches 198 times, a category which he led either the NL or AL seven times. A 14-time All-Star and two-time MVP, Robinson finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting eleven times. With the Orioles he batted .300 with 882 hits, 143doubles, 18 triples, 179home runs, 545 RBIs, 555 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases. Appearing in 35 postseason games, he hit .238 with 10 home runs and 19 RBIs. The Reds, Orioles, and Indians retired Robinson’s #20 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. In addition to the Indians, Robinson managed the Giants, Orioles, and Expos/Nationals, his teams compiling a record of 1065-1176. He was an assistant general manager for the Orioles and major league baseball’s Vice-President of On-Field Operations from 1999-2002. The Reds further honored him with a statue at Great American Ballpark and induction into their team Hall of Fame. The Orioles honored him in similar fashion. Robinson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005. He died at age 83 in 2019.

 

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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.