Highlighted Year: Ron Hunt, 1971

Second Baseman/Third Baseman, Montreal Expos

 Age: 30

1^st season with Expos

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 186 

Prior to 1971:

A Missouri native, Hunt played football and baseball in high school and was signed by the Milwaukee Braves following his graduation in 1959. Initially assigned to McCook of the Class D Nebraska State League, in 62 games he batted .284 with 11 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .431 on-base percentage. He was hit by 13 pitches, setting the stage for a significant element of his major league career. Advancing to Cedar Rapids of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1960 he hit .191 with 9 doubles, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .335 OBP thanks to drawing 88 walks. Returning to Cedar Rapids in 1961, Hunt’s batting production improved to .295 with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 16 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .389 OBP, and a .484 slugging percentage. He spent 1962 with Austin of the Class AA Texas League and hit .310 with 25 doubles, 5 triples, 2 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .381 OBP. In the offseason Hunt was sold to the New York Mets and became the starting second baseman as a rookie in 1963, after initially being utilized as a bullpen catcher and telling manager Casey Stengel he would accept being sent back to the minors if he could play regularly at second. The impressed Stengel put him in the line-up and, while his fielding was a bit raw, he went on to lead the club in batting with his .272 average and further compiled 28 doubles, 4 triples, 10 home runs, 42 RBIs, a .334 OBP, and a .396 slugging percentage despite battling allergy problems. He placed a distant second in league Rookie of the Year voting and became a fan favorite with his scrappy style of play. Tough, aggressive, aware of his limitations, and willing to do what was necessary to help the team, he was hit by 13 pitches, which ranked second in the NL. Hunt broke out in 1964 to hit .303 with 19 doubles, 6 triples, 6 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .357 OBP. Along the way, he became the first Met to start an All-Star Game. Having developed into an adept fielder, Hunt was limited to 57 games in 1965 due to a shoulder separation and batted .240 with a .309 OBP. He rebounded in 1966 to hit .288 with 19 doubles, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .356 OBP. He was an All-Star for the second time but was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason along with outfielder Jim Hickman, in the deal that brought outfielder Tommy Davis to New York. The primary second baseman for the Dodgers during the first half of the season, he was hitting .286 with a .381 OBP at the All-Star break. Injuries wore him down during the season’s second half and he was shuttled between second and third base late in the year. He finished by batting .263 with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .344 OBP. In the offseason, Hunt found himself on the move again, this time up the California coast to the San Francisco Giants as part of a four-player trade. He hit .250 with 19 doubles, 2 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .371 OBP bolstered by drawing 78 walks and being hit by 25 pitches, which marked his first time leading the league in that category. Prone to crowding the plate, choking up on the bat and leaning toward the pitcher and not avoiding inside pitches, although he would use a spin move that made it appear that he was trying to avoid any direct hits. Umpires rarely called him on it and it allowed a fair hitter who lacked power to reach base more regularly. His defense was less stellar and, for the second time in his career, he led NL second basemen in errors. In the first season of divisional play in major league baseball in 1969, the perennially second-place-finishing Giants were runners-up once again in the new NL West. Hunt’s strong play in the season’s second half helped to achieve that result and, in addition to again topping the circuit in being hit by 25 pitches Hunt batted .262 with 23 doubles, 3 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .361 OBP. He tied for fifteenth in league MVP balloting. In 1970, the oft-injured Hunt was limited to 117 games and hit .281 with 17 doubles, 6 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .394 OBP. He still led the league by being hit by 26 pitches despite the reduced playing time. Dealt to the Expos in the offseason, in 1971 Hunt took his penchant for being hit by pitches to the highest level.

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in 152 games

2B – 133, 3B – 19, PH – 6

 [Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 638

At Bats – 520

Runs – 89 [8]

Hits – 145

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 5

RBI – 38

Bases on Balls – 58

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 41

Stolen Bases – 5

Caught Stealing – 7 [12, tied with seven others]

Average - .279

OBP - .402 [4]

Slugging Pct. - .358

Total Bases – 186

GDP – 1

Hit by Pitches – 50 [1]

Sac Hits – 8 [19, tied with nine others]

Sac Flies – 2

League-leading times hit by pitches were +41 ahead of runner-up Rusty Staub

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 9, HR - 3, RBI - 20, HBP – 25, AVG - .282, OBP - .401

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 4/29, (in 5 AB) vs. Houston 5/5

Longest hitting streak – 6 games

HR at home – 4

HR on road – 1

Most home runs, game – 1 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 2 on six occasions

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 5 (.200) with 1 BB

Fielding (2B)

Chances – 654

Put Outs – 270

Assists – 370

Errors – 14

DP – 72

Pct. - .979 

Awards & Honors:

Montreal Expos Player of the Year: BBWAA (Montreal chapter)

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The Expos went 71-90 to finish fifth in the NL Eastern Division, 25.5 games behind the division-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. With a bullpen overburdened by weather-postponement double-headers in Montreal, and a lack of batting power, the Expos endured a 34-54 first half, although they were ultimately able to escape the NL East cellar for the first time in their brief history. Hunt’s all-out play included setting a modern major league record for being hit by pitches.

Aftermath of 1971:

Considered by many writers to be a throwback to an earlier baseball era in his style of play, Hunt lacked grace as a fielder but made up for it with his aggressiveness. Never fast to begin with, Hunt appeared to lose a step in 1972 but still topped the NL by being hit by 26 pitches while batting .253 with 20 doubles, 56 runs scored, 18 RBIs, and a .363 OBP. Hitting well to start the 1973 season, Hunt was batting .299 at the All-Star break, but then injuries limited him to only 21 games during the season’s second half and he finished at .309 with a .418 OBP while topping the league in being hit by 24 pitches. With the Expos bent on a youth movement in 1974, Hunt was waived in September and picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals for the remainder of the season. He ended up hitting a combined .263 with a .372 OBP and a league-leading 16 times hit by pitches. Failing to make the Cardinals during 1975 spring training, his playing career came to an end. For his major league career, Hunt batted .273 with 1429 hits that included 223 doubles, 23 triples, and 39 home runs. He scored 745 runs and compiled 370 RBIs, 65 stolen bases, and a .368 OBP. He was hit by 243 pitchers which was the modern career record until first broken by Don Baylor and later Craig Biggio. Nicknamed “Scrap Iron”, as testament to his usefulness with limited skills, and “Pigpen”, for his typically dirty uniform, he retired to his Missouri farm and ran liquor and sporting goods stores in addition to the non-profit Ron Hunt Eagles Baseball Association, a baseball training program for boys aged 14 to 18. Suffering health problems due to his rugged style of play, he summed up by saying “a lot of people give their body to science. I gave mine to baseball.” Hunt died in 2026 at age 85.

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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: Nate Colbert, 1971

First Baseman, San Diego Padres

Age: 25 (April 9)

3^rd season with Padres

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 205 

Prior to 1971:

A native of St. Louis, Colbert was the son of a former semipro catcher. He played sandlot baseball in his youth and performed well at Charles H. Sumner High School. Tall and well built, he drew the attention of scouts but had his eye on the hometown St. Louis Cardinals who signed him in 1964 to a $20,000 bonus contract. Initially assigned to the Cardinals team in the Sarasota Rookie League the aspiring first baseman/outfielder appeared in 45 games and batted .217 with 2 home runs, 13 RBIs, and a .396 on-base percentage helped by drawing 26 walks. In 1965 he moved on to Cedar Rapids of the Class A Midwest League and was hitting .274 with 9 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .345 OBP, when he suffered a broken hand. Sent to the Florida Instructional League he was selected by the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 draft. With the Astros required to keep him on the major league roster, Colbert, who was unready to deal with major league pitching, rode the Houston bench in 1966, appearing in only 19 games and going hitless in seven plate appearances. Following more action in the Florida Instructional League, he played winter ball in Venezuela. Assigned to the Amarillo Sonics of the Class AA Texas League in 1967 he had an outstanding season and was named as the league’s Player of the Year after batting .293 with 28 home runs, 67 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, a .370 OBP, and a .546 slugging percentage. Moving on to the Oklahoma City 89ers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1968, Colbert was utilized in center field to take advantage of his speed but was limited to 92 games due to a broken hand and hit .264 with 15 doubles, 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, a .327 OBP, and a .466 slugging percentage. In two call-ups to the Astros he hit only .151. In the offseason he was made available in the NL expansion draft and was selected by the Padres who installed him at first base. With his first shot at regular duty in the major leagues in 1969, Colbert batted .255 with 20 doubles, 9 triples, 24 home runs, 66 RBIs, a .322 OBP, and a .482 slugging percentage.  He followed up in 1970 by hitting .259 with 38 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .328 OBP, and a .509 slugging percentage. Despite striking out 150 times, when he connected the results were often very good and he entered 1971 with a firm grip on first base and as a rising power hitter.

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in 156 games

1B – 153, PH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 639

At Bats – 565

Runs – 81 [19]

Hits – 149

Doubles – 25

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 27 [9, tied with Johnny Bench]

RBI – 84 [15]

Bases on Balls – 63 [18, tied with Joe Torre & Wes Parker]

Int. BB – 6

Strikeouts – 119 [9]

Stolen Bases – 5

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .264

OBP - .339

Slugging Pct. - .462 [16]

Total Bases – 261 [16]

GDP – 17 [16, tied with four others]

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

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 5 [18, tied with seventeen others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, HR – 19, RBI – 51, AVG - .276, SLG - .516. OBP – .369

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Most hits, game – 3 on nine occasions

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 13

HR on road – 14

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. San Francisco 4/7, (in 4 AB) at LA Dodgers 4/11

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 6 at LA Dodgers 4/11

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 3 (.333)

Fielding

Chances – 1488

Put Outs – 1372

Assists – 106

Errors – 10

DP – 125

Pct. - .993 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star 

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The Padres went 61-100 to finish sixth (last) in the NL Western Division, 28.5 games behind the division-winning San Francisco Giants while leading the league in fewest runs scored (486), fewest hits (1250), fewest doubles (184), lowest batting average (.233 tied with the Philadelphia Phillies), lowest OBP (.293), and fewest total bases (1784). The Padres got off to a poor start as they lost 9 of their first 10 games at home and finished April with a 5-16 record which set the tone for the remainder of the season. While the pitching showed much improvement over the course of the season, the hitting dropped off significantly although Colbert, who was dealing with back problems, once again provided the most power production.

Aftermath of 1971:

Colbert followed up with another strong season for the lowly Padres in 1972, batting .250 with 27 doubles, 38 home runs (tying his own club record), 111 RBIs, a .333 OBP, and a .508 slugging percentage. Along the way he slugged a record-tying 5 home runs in a double-header at Atlanta while his 13 RBIs in the twin bill set a new standard. In addition to once again being an All-Star, Colbert finished eighth in league MVP voting. During a difficult season for the Padres in 1973 that was shadowed by rumors of a move to Washington, Colbert got off to a slow start and had only seven home runs through June on his way to a total of 22 while batting .270 with 25 doubles, 80 RBIs, a .343 OBP, and a .450 slugging percentage. The Padres stayed in place in 1974 and several offseason trades were made to upgrade the club. The arrival of veteran first baseman Willie McCovey from the Giants led to Colbert splitting time at first base and left field and his hitting dropped off to .207 with 16 doubles, 14 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .319 OBP. Dealt to the Detroit Tigers in the offseason, who hoped he would revive his career while playing home games at Tiger Stadium. That hope went unfulfilled during a 1975 season in which Colbert failed to produce at the plate and was batting only .147 with 4 home runs, 18 RBIs, and a .231 OBP when he was sold to the Montreal Expos in June. His hitting was no better with the further change in locale. In 1976, he lasted only until June with the Expos when he was released. Ignored in the first free agent re-entry draft in the offseason, he went to spring training with the expansion Toronto Blue Jays in 1977 and was let go well before the season, thus ending his career due to chronic back pain and the resulting decline in production. For his major league career, Colbert batted .243 with 833 hits that included 141 doubles, 25 triples, and 173 home runs. He scored 481 runs and compiled 520 RBIs, a .322 OBP, and a .451 slugging percentage. Prone to striking out, he whiffed 902 times. With the Padres he batted .253 with 442 runs scored, 780 hits, 130 doubles, 22 triples, 163 home runs, 481 RBIs, a .331 OBP, and a .469 slugging percentage while striking out 773 times. His production was all the more impressive due to his playing for a typically low-scoring team for most of his time in San Diego which also prevented him from ever appearing in the postseason. He was a three-time All-Star and was an inaugural inductee into the Padres Hall of Fame in 1999. Following his playing career, Colbert became an ordained minister in addition to serving as a batting instructor in the Padres organization. He later served a prison sentence for loan fraud and afterward worked with disadvantaged youth. Colbert died in 2023 at age 76.

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

Highlighted Year: Dick Drago, 1971

Pitcher, Kansas City Royals

Age: 26 (June 25)

3^rd season with Royals

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1971:

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

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 34

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

Wins – 17 [11, tied with Jim Perry]

Losses – 11

PCT - .607 [14]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [7, tied with ten others]

Innings Pitched – 241.1

Hits – 251 [8]

Runs – 84

Earned Runs – 80

Home Runs – 14

Bases on Balls – 46

Strikeouts – 109

ERA – 2.98 [16]

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

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 4 

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

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

10+ strikeout games – 0

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

Batting

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

Fielding

Chances – 51

Put Outs – 7

Assists – 42

Errors – 2

DP – 9

Pct. - .961

Awards & Honors:

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

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

Aftermath of 1971:

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

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

 

Highlighted Year: Tom Burgmeier, 1971

Pitcher, Kansas City Royals

Age: 28 (Aug. 2)

3^rd season with Royals

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’11” Weight: 185 

Prior to 1971:

A Minnesota native, Burgmeier went to Cathedral High School in St. Cloud where he participated in wrestling, ice hockey, basketball, and bowling in addition to baseball. During his junior year in 1960, Cathedral advanced to the state championship game in baseball and lost despite Burgmeier’s good pitching performance. The school won the title in 1961 and Burgmeier contributed seven wins, including three no-hitters. Following high school he played American Legion ball and joined an amateur team in the area. In the fall of 1961 he signed with the expansion Houston Colt .45s, who would join the National League the following year. In 1962 he was assigned to Modesto of the Class C California League where he started in 27 of his 34 appearances and produced a 12-11 record with a 4.34 ERA, 10 complete games, and 210 strikeouts over 197 innings pitched. With two teams at the Class A and AA levels in 1963, he was used exclusively as a starter with disappointing results, posting a combined tally of 4-13 and an ERA of 5.24 with 62 strikeouts over 110 innings. Back with Modesto in 1964 he was released by the Colt .45s but was picked up by the Los Angeles Angels who assigned him to San Jose of the California League where his record was 8-7. After playing in the Arizona Instructional League, he advanced to Seattle of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1965 where, primarily a starting pitcher, he again went 8-7 and had a 3.21 ERA, 6 complete games, and 94 strikeouts over 129 innings. Splitting the 1966 season between Seattle and El Paso of the Class AA Texas League, Burgmeier produced a combined 6-13 record and 5.37 ERA with 4 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 63 strikeouts over 114 innings. He was back with Seattle in 1967 and went 11-14 with a 2.78 ERA. His 15 complete games led the league and he struck out 114 batters over 230 innings. In 1968 he finally reached the major leagues as a member of the Angels bullpen. He appeared in 56 games and produced a 1-4 record with 5 saves and 33 strikeouts over 72.2 innings. In the offseason he was chosen by the Royals in the expansion draft as both leagues added two teams apiece. Burgmeier was effective for the first-year Royals in 1969, pitching in 31 games and compiling a 3-1 tally with 23 strikeouts over 54 innings. While he spent part of 1970 in Class AAA with Omaha of the American Association, Burgmeier relieved in 41 games for the Royals and went 6-6 with one save, a 3.16 ERA, and 43 strikeouts over 68.1 innings. His repertoire consisted of a sinker, slider, and fastball.

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in 68 games

P – 67, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 67 [3]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 34 [6]

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 9

Losses – 7

PCT - .563 [19]

Saves – 17 [4, tied with Rollie Fingers]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 88.1

Hits – 71

Runs – 23

Earned Runs – 17

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 30

Strikeouts – 44

ERA – 1.73 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 7 [9, tied with five others]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 2

Midseason Snapshot: 4-3, G – 38, SV – 6, ERA - 1.57, SO – 25 in 46 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 3 on five occasions

10+ strikeout games – 0

Batting

PA – 21, AB – 20, R – 2, H – 5, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 1, SO – 7, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .250, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 36

Put Outs – 7

Assists – 28

Errors – 1

DP – 3

Pct. - .972

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

Aftermath of 1971:

The Royals faltered in 1972, and pitching took much of the blame. Burgmeier appeared in 51 games and posted a 6-2 record and 9 saves along with a 4.23 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 55.1 innings. Off to a poor start in 1973, Burgmeier was sent down to Omaha in May where the situation failed to improve. Having apparently fallen out of favor with the Royals, in the offseason he was traded to the Minnesota Twins, returning him to his home state. In 1974 he became part of an effective lefty-righty bullpen tandem with RHP Bill Campbell and, appearing in 50 games, his record was 5-3 with 6 saves and a 4.52 ERA. While Minnesota pitchers struggled for the most part in 1975, the Burgmeier and Campbell tandem remained effective, and Burgmeier went 5-8 with 11 saves and a 3.09 ERA in 46 appearances. Utilized more in long relief in 1976, Burgmeier registered only one save but finished with an 8-1 tally and 2.50 ERA in 57 appearances, with 45 strikeouts over 115.1 innings. With Campbell gone in 1977, Burgmeier returned to a setup role but was mediocre after passing a kidney stone in June and finished with 61 appearances that produced a 6-4 record and 7 saves with a 5.09 ERA and 35 strikeouts over 97.1 innings. A free agent in the offseason he signed with the Boston Red Sox. With Boston in 1978, Burgmeier made 35 appearances and compiled a 2-1 tally with 4 saves and 24 strikeouts over 61.1 innings. In 1979 he appeared in 44 games and had a 3-2 record and 4 saves with a 2.74 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 88.2 innings. A strong first half in 1980 propelled Burgmeier to his only career All-Star selection and although hindered by a bout of tendinitis in the season’s second half he finished with 62 appearances and a 5-4 tally to go along with 24 saves, a 2.00 ERA, and 54 strikeouts over 99 innings. With the Red Sox in 1981, in the strike-interrupted year he made 32 appearances for a 4-5 mark and 6 saves with a 2.87 ERA and 35 strikeouts over 59.2 innings. Burgmeier spent one more season with Boston in 1982, and as part of a strong bullpen, he was typically used in long relief and made 40 appearances and produced a 7-0 record and 2 saves with a 2.29 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 102.1 innings. As a free agent in the offseason, the 39-year old veteran hurler signed with the Oakland Athletics. As a senior member of a youthful pitching staff in 1983, Burgmeier made 49 appearances and produced a 6-7 tally and 4 saves along with a 2.81 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 96 innings. Off to a good start in 1984, an injury to his left shoulder put him on the disabled list from May until August. He pitched in six games after his return and retired. For his major league career, Burgmeier pitched in 745 games, only three of which were starts, and produced a 79-55 record with 102 saves, a 3.23 ERA, and 584 strikeouts over 1258.2 innings. With the Royals he appeared in 196 games and went 24-16 with 28 saves and 132 strikeouts over 276 innings. He never appeared in the postseason and was an All-Star only once. In 1991 he returned to the Royals organization as video coordinator and then served as a minor league pitching coach for a few years.

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

MVP Profile: Joe Torre, 1971

Third Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals

Age:  31 (July 18)

3^rd season with Cardinals

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1971:

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. He went on to belt 36 homers to go along with 101 RBIs and a .315 average as well as a .382 OBP. While catching in 111 games, he also made 39 appearances at first base. 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 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.

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in 161 games

3B – 161

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 707 [3]

At Bats – 634 [5]

Runs – 97 [5]

Hits – 230 [1]

Doubles – 34 [3, tied with Rusty Staub]

Triples – 8 [5, tied with four others]

Home Runs – 24 [13]

RBI – 137 [1]

Bases on Balls – 63 [18, tied with Nate Colbert & Wes Parker]

Int. BB – 20 [3, tied with Willie Stargell]

Strikeouts – 70

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .363 [1]

OBP - .421 [2]

Slugging Pct. - .555 [3]

Total Bases – 352 [1]

GDP – 18 [13, tied with Deron Johnson & Willie Montanez]

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

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 5 [18, tied with seventeen others]

 

League-leading hits were +11 ahead of runner-up Ralph Garr

League-leading RBIs were +12 ahead of runner-up Willie Stargell

League-leading batting average was +.020 ahead of runner-up Ralph Garr

League-leading total bases were +21 ahead of runner-up Hank Aaron

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 16, HR – 14, RBI - 65, AVG - .359, SLG - .539, OBP - .412

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 7 AB) at Philadelphia 8/1 – 13 innings

Longest hitting streak – 22 games

HR at home – 9

HR on road – 15

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Montreal 5/11

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 428

Put Outs – 136

Assists – 271

Errors – 21

DP – 22

Pct. - .951

 

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star (Started for NL at 3B)

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Joe Torre, StL.: 318 points – 21 of 24 first place votes, 95% share

Willie Stargell, Pitt.: 222 points - 3 first place votes, 66% share

Hank Aaron, Atl.: 180 points – 54% share

Bobby Bonds, SF: 139 points – 41% share

Roberto Clemente, Pitt.: 87 points – 26% share

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Cardinals went 90-72 to finish second in the NL Eastern Division, 7 games behind the division-winning Pittsburgh Pirates while leading the league in stolen bases (124), batting (.275), and OBP (.338). The Cardinals were in first place by 2.5 games at the end of May but endured an 8-21 June swoon. Strong performances in July and August helped the club creep up on the Pirates who proved to be insurmountable in September.

Aftermath of ‘71:

In 1972, Torre’s production dropped off to .289 with 11 home runs, 81 RBIs, and a .357 on-base percentage. 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 Cardinals he batted .308 with 161 doubles, 32 triples, 98 home runs, 558 RBIs, 455 runs scored, 387 walks drawn, a .382 OBP, and a .458 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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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: Earl Williams, 1971

Catcher, Atlanta Braves

Age:  23 (July 14)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 215

Prior to 1971:

A New Jersey native, Williams played Little League ball in his youth and was a star athlete at Montclair High School (basketball as well as baseball). A star pitcher, he also played American Legion ball. Chosen by the Braves with the sixth overall pick of the 1965 amateur draft, Williams passed up a basketball scholarship but still attended Ithaca College to study broadcasting and journalism. In his first year of minor league action in 1966, he appeared in 31 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League (22 at first base and 11 as a pitcher) and batted .211 along with a 1-0 pitching record and 3.10 ERA in 61 innings pitched. Giving up pitching and splitting time between first base and the outfield in 1967, Williams hit .251 with 7 home runs and 27 RBIs for West Palm Beach of the Class A Florida State League. An offseason knee injury cost him two months of the 1968 season, still with West Palm Beach, and he hit only .236 with no home runs in 50 games before finishing up with Greenwood of the Class A Western Carolinas League. In 1969, Williams put off school to fully commit to baseball and had a huge season, batting .340 with 33 home runs and 107 RBIs. The Braves decided to convert him into a catcher, and he was sent to the Arizona Instructional League to begin that process. Starting 1970 with Shreveport of the Class AA Texas League, Williams hit .318 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs before moving up to Richmond of the Class AAA International League where he batted .265 with 5 home runs and 15 RBIs in 22 games. Called up to the Braves in September, he appeared in 10 games and hit .368, setting the stage for Williams to make the club in 1971 as a backup catcher and first and third baseman.

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in 145 games

C – 72, 3B – 42, 1B – 31, PH – 14

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 550

At Bats – 497

Runs – 64

Hits – 129

Doubles – 14

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 33 [5, tied with Bobby Bonds]

RBI – 87 [13]

Bases on Balls – 42

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 80

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .260

OBP - .324

Slugging Pct. - .491 [8]

Total Bases – 244 [19]

GDP – 11

Hit by Pitches – 7 [3, tied with George Foster, Chris Speier & Willie Stargell]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 4

Midseason snapshot: HR - 15, RBI - 44, AVG - .242, SLG – .458 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Houston 8/12

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

Most HR, game – 2 on five occasions

HR at home – 14

HR on road – 19

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Houston 6/13

Pinch-hitting – 3 for 12 (.250) with 2 R & 2 BB

Fielding (C )

Chances – 418

Put Outs – 375

Assists – 35

Errors – 8

Passed Balls – 15

DP – 4

Pct. - .981

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

NL ROY Voting:

Earl Williams, Atl.: 18 of 24 votes, 75% share

Willie Montanez, Phila.: 6 votes, 25% share

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Braves went 82-80 to finish third in the NL Western Division, 8 games behind the division-winning San Francisco Giants. The slow-starting Braves caught fire at the end of June, winning 21 of 29 games and 46 of their last 81 to secure a third-place finish. The initial surge coincided with the stationing of Williams as the regular catcher.

Aftermath of ‘71:

Reporting to spring training in 1972 a bit overweight, Williams again displayed solid power during the season, batting .258 with 28 home runs and 87 RBIs. His skill as a catcher, lauded in ’71, came under criticism in his second year. The Braves traded him and a minor leaguer to the Baltimore Orioles for second baseman Dave Johnson, catcher Johnny Oates, and pitchers Pat Dobson and Roric Harrison. As a power-hitting catcher/first baseman, Williams hit .237 with 22 home runs and 83 RBIs. He also became embroiled in controversies over behavioral issues. The issues between player and team continued in 1974 as he continued to split time between catcher and first base, appearing in 118 games and batting .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. Dealt back to the Braves just prior to the 1975 season, Williams was utilized primarily as a first baseman while appearing in 111 games and hit .240 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs. Seeing more action behind the plate in 1976, Williams was batting .212 with 9 home runs and 26 RBIs when he was traded to the Montreal Expos in July. He finished the season with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs to go along with a .225 average and was released by the Expos in the offseason. Joining the Oakland Athletics in 1977, Williams was a catcher/first baseman/DH for a last-place club and hit .241 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs while feuding with manager Bobby Winkles. Released in 1978 after starting the season on the disabled list with a broken thumb, he never returned to the major leagues, although he played in the Mexican League in 1979 and ’80, leading the league in RBIs in 1979. For his major league career, that commenced with much promise and became mired in controversy, Williams batted .247 with 756 hits that included 115 doubles, 6 triples, and 138 home runs. He scored 361 runs and compiled 457 RBIs and a .424 slugging percentage. With the Braves he batted .251 with 200 runs scored, 413 hits, 58 doubles, 3 triples, 81 home runs, 255 RBIs, and a .437 slugging percentage. Appearing in seven postseason games (all with the Orioles), he hit .208 with a home run and four RBIs. Williams died in 2013 at the age of 64.   

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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: Ferguson Jenkins, 1971

Pitcher, Chicago Cubs

Age:  28

6^th season with Cubs (5^th complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’5”    Weight: 205

Prior to 1971:

Jenkins was a native of Chatham, Ontario in Canada who was descended from Bahamian immigrants on his father’s side, and escaped slaves from the American South on his mother’s side. Lanky with long arms, he competed in several sports other than baseball in school and proved to be a fine athlete. Developing his talent as a pitcher, Jenkins was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies following his high school graduation in 1962. In ’62 he played with Miami of the Class D Florida State League and Buffalo of the Class AAA International League and produced a combined record of 8-3 with a 1.73 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 78 innings pitched. In 1963 he again was with Miami and then the Arkansas Travelers of the International League. He was a combined 12-6 with a 3.60 ERA and 148 strikeouts over 150 innings. After playing winter ball in Nicaragua, Jenkins split 1964 with two more teams, at the Class AA and AAA levels, and went 15-11 with a 3.12 ERA and 198 strikeouts. In 1965 he was primarily a reliever with Arkansas and compiled an 8-6 record with a 2.95 ERA and 112 strikeouts over the course of 122 innings. This earned him a call-up to the Phillies where he made 7 relief appearances and produced a 2-1 record with a 2.19 ERA. Jenkins started the 1966 season with the Phillies and had appeared in just one game when he was traded to the Cubs along with outfielder/first baseman John Herrnstein and outfielder Adolfo Phillips for veteran RHPs Bob Buhl and Larry Jackson. He continued to be utilized as a reliever until given the opportunity to start later in the season and he ended up going 6-8 with two complete games and a shutout and a 3.31 ERA with 148 strikeouts over 182 innings pitched for the Cubs. Following an offseason of winter baseball and exhibition basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters, Jenkins was part of the rotation from the start in 1967 and was 20-13 with a 2.80 ERA and league-leading 20 complete games. His 236 strikeouts set a new franchise record. He was an All-Star for the first time and tied for second in NL Cy Young Award voting. The Cubs jumped from the cellar in 1966 to third place, benefiting greatly from the performance of their young pitchers, including Jenkins. With command of both a rising and sinking fastball, slider, and curve, Jenkins was a 20-game winner again in 1968, posting a 20-15 record with a 2.63 ERA over the course of a league-leading 40 starts with another 20 complete games and 260 strikeouts. In a 1969 season in which the Cubs came up short to the Mets in the new NL East, Jenkins was 21-15 with a 3.21 ERA and a league-leading 273 strikeouts. He topped the NL with 24 complete games in 1970 on his way to a 22-16 record with a 3.39 ERA and 274 strikeouts.  

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in 39 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 39

Games Started – 39 [1]

Complete Games – 30 [1]

Wins – 24 [1]

Losses – 13 [20, tied with Bob Gibson & Clay Kirby]

PCT - .649 [7]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 3 [13, tied with ten others]

Innings Pitched – 325 [1]

Hits – 304 [1]

Runs – 114 [6, tied with Steve Arlin]

Earned Runs – 100 [8]

Home Runs – 29 [1]

Bases on Balls – 37

Strikeouts – 263 [2]

ERA – 2.77 [9]

Hit Batters – 5 [18, tied with eight others]

Balks – 4 [1]

Wild Pitches – 3

League-leading games started were +1 ahead of runners-up Bill Stoneman & Claude Osteen

League-leading complete games were +9 ahead of runner-up Tom Seaver

League-leading wins were +4 ahead of runners-up Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton & Al Downing

League-leading innings pitched were +30.1 ahead of runner-up Bill Stoneman

League-leading hits allowed were +25 ahead of runner-up Milt Pappas

League-leading home runs allowed were +1 ahead of runner-up Barry Lersch

League-leading balks were +2 ahead of five runners-up

Midseason Snapshot: 13-8, ERA - 2.83, SO - 146 in 174.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 14 (in 9 IP) at Philadelphia 7/24, (in 9 IP) at Philadelphia 9/19

10+ strikeout games – 7

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Atlanta 8/16, (in 7 IP) at San Francisco 6/22

Batting

PA – 132, AB – 115, R – 13, H – 28, 2B – 7, 3B – 1, HR – 6, RBI – 20, BB – 7, SO – 40, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .243, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 8, SF – 2

Fielding

Chances – 86

Put Outs – 31

Assists – 48

Errors – 7

DP – 1

Pct. - .919

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

7^th in NL MVP voting (71 points, 21% share)

NL Cy Young voting (Top 5):

Ferguson Jenkins, ChiC.: 97 pts. – 17 of 24 first place votes, 81% share

Tom Seaver, NYM: 61 pts. – 6 first place votes, 51% share

Al Downing, LAD: 40 pts. – 1 first place vote, 33% share

Dock Ellis, Pitt.: 9 pts. – 8% share

Bob Gibson, StL.: 3 pts. – 3% share

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Cubs went 83-79 to finish tied for third place in the NL Eastern Division with the New York Mets, 14 games behind the division-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (75).

Aftermath of ‘71:

“Fergie” made it six straight 20-win seasons in 1972 to tie the club record, going 20-12 with a 3.20 ERA and 184 strikeouts. Having pitched over 300 innings in four of those six seasons, Jenkins dropped to 271 in 1973 as he struggled with knee and shoulder injuries to finish with a 14-16 record with a 3.89 ERA and 170 strikeouts. Traded to the Texas Rangers in the offseason as part of the deal that brought third baseman Bill Madlock to the Cubs, Jenkins rebounded with an outstanding 25-12 record and an AL-leading 29 complete games plus 225 strikeouts and placed second in league Cy Young Award balloting. He followed up with a 17-18 tally in 1975 with a 3.93 ERA and was dealt to the Boston Red Sox afterward. Inconsistent with Boston in 1976, Jenkins produced a 12-11 record with a 3.27 ERA and 142 strikeouts. His luck was little better in a 1977 season in which he was 10-10 with a 3.68 ERA and 105 strikeouts. He was dealt back to Texas in the offseason and bounced back at age 34 with an 18-8 record in 1978 with a 3.04 ERA and 157 strikeouts. In 1979, Jenkins dropped to 16-14 with a 4.07 ERA and 164 strikeouts. He was suspended for 20 games in 1980 after drugs were found in his luggage during a road trip to Toronto. He still finished with a 12-12 record and 3.77 ERA. During the strike-interrupted 1981 season, Jenkins lost his spot in the starting rotation and ended up at 5-8 with a 4.50 ERA. Returning to the Cubs as a free agent after the season, Jenkins was a respectable 14-15 with a 3.15 ERA in 1982 and 6-9 with a 4.30 ERA in 1983. He was released in the spring of 1984, thus finishing his long career at age 41. Overall, Jenkins produced a 284-226 major league record with seven 20-win seasons and a 3.34 ERA, striking out 3192 batters over the course of 4500.2 innings pitched. Playing so many seasons with Chicago’s Wrigley Field as his home ballpark, he topped the NL in home runs allowed five times and the AL another two times. He also accumulated 267 complete games and 49 shutouts. With the Cubs, he was 167-132 with a 3.20 ERA and 2038 strikeouts. A fair hitting pitcher during his NL years, Jenkins hit .165 with 13 home runs and 85 RBIs. A three-time All-Star (all with the Cubs), his #31 was retired by the Cubs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2004.

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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.