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: Otto Velez, 1979

Outfielder, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 28

3^rd season with Blue Jays

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 170 

Prior to 1979:

A native of Ponce in Puerto Rico, Otoniel Velez grew up playing baseball and signed with the New York Yankees for $20,000. With teams at the Rookie and Class A levels in 1970 the young outfielder batted .322 with 10 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, 48 RBIs, a .432 on-base percentage, and a .500 slugging percentage. With Kinston of the Class A Carolina League in 1971, Velez hit .310 with 21 doubles, 16 home runs, 73 RBIs, a .420 OBP, and a .510 slugging percentage. Advancing to West Haven of the Class AA Eastern League in 1972, he struggled a bit with playing in a cooler climate and batted .249 with 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .371 OBP thanks to drawing 80 walks. Moving on to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League in 1973, Velez had an outstanding season in right field, batting .269 with 19 doubles, 7 triples, 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, a .450 OBP due to drawing 130 walks, and a .562 slugging percentage. Named to the International League All-Star team, he solidified his position as an untouchable prospect and received a late-season call-up to the Yankees where he slugged his first two major league home runs. Unable to stick with the Yankees out of spring training in 1974, he started the season back in Syracuse where he again hit well and earned a midseason promotion to the Yanks. Competing with several veterans for playing time, Velez was utilized primarily at first base and only sparingly in the outfield. He hit .209 with only four extra-base hits over the course of 27 games and 67 at bats. Velez spent almost all of 1975 with Syracuse, batting .250 with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, 35 RBIs, a .445 OBP, and a .463 slugging percentage. Used in a utility role in 1976, Velez appeared in 49 games and hit .266 with 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 10 RBIs, and a .410 OBP. The Yankees won the AL East title and the league pennant before being flattened by the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. Velez went hitless in four postseason at bats. Having been a top prospect who could never find a fit on the Yankees, in the offseason he was chosen by the expansion Blue Jays. Velez got off to a strong start with the fledgling club as he hit .442 in April with 5 home runs, 18 RBIs, a .531 OBP, and a .865 slugging percentage. He tailed off thereafter and encountered injury problems on his way to finishing at .256 with 19 doubles, 16 home runs, 62 RBIs, a .366 OBP, and a .458 slugging percentage. His play in the outfield, covering both left and right field, was subpar and he ended up seeing considerable action as Designated Hitter. Again playing both corner outfield positions in 1978, as well as pinch-hitting 27 times, Velez’s power production dropped off to 14 doubles and 9 home runs while he hit .266 with 38 RBIs, and a .380 OBP.  

1979 Season Summary

Appeared in 99 games

LF – 43, RF – 35, PH – 21, DH – 9, 1B – 6

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 325

At Bats – 274

Runs – 45

Hits – 79

Doubles – 21

Triples – 0

Home Runs – 15

RBI – 48

Bases on Balls – 46

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 45

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .288

OBP - .396 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .529 [Non-qualifying]

Total Bases – 145

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 0 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 11, HR - 7, RBI - 19, AVG - .263, OBP - .364, SLG – .504

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Most hits, game – 3 (in 4 AB) at Baltimore 7/1, (in 3 AB) at Minnesota 7/23, (in 3 AB) vs. Texas 7/26, (in 4 AB) at KC Royals 8/1

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 8

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. Texas 7/26

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Texas 7/26

Pinch-hitting – 5 for 19 (.263) with 2 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI & 2 BB

 Fielding (OF)

Chances – 137

Put Outs – 130

Assists – 3

Errors – 4

DP – 1

Pct. - .971 

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The Blue Jays went 53-109 to finish seventh (last) in the AL Eastern Division, 50.5 games behind the division-winning Baltimore Orioles while leading the league in fewest home runs (95) and fewest walks drawn (448). The Blue Jays went through a dismal stretch between April 15 and June 5 in which they produced a 9-39 record which entrenched them in the AL East cellar. As a part-time outfielder, Velez put together his best major league season.

Aftermath of 1979:

In 1980, the player nicknamed “Otto the Swatto” lived up to his monicker during a May double-header against the Cleveland Indians when he hit four home runs and accounted for 10 RBIs. During the first game of the twin bill, he became the first Blue Jay to slug three homers in a game. Utilized almost exclusively as a DH he went on to bat .269 with 12 doubles, 20 home runs, 62 RBIs, a .365 OBP, and a .487 slugging percentage although he was sidelined for the season’s last 36 games due to a broken cheek bone suffered In a car accident. His hitting in the strike-shortened 1981 season dropped off to .213 with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs, a .363 OBP, and a .404 slugging percentage while still DHing regularly. Replaced as the regular DH in 1982, Velez appeared in only 28 games and was released in September. Joining the Cleveland Indians in 1983 he played in only 10 games before his once promising major league playing career came to an end at age 32. For his major league career, Velez batted .251 with 452 hits that included 87 doubles, 11 triples, and 78 home runs. He scored 244 runs and compiled 272 RBIs, a .369 OBP, and a .441 slugging percentage. With Toronto he batted .257 with 394 hits, 214 runs scored, 76 doubles, 10 triples, 72 home runs, 243 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .461 slugging percentage. Following his playing career, Velez coached for Puerto Rico’s baseball team in several international competitions.

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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: Gus Zernial, 1955

Outfielder, Kansas City Athletics

Age: 32 (June 27)

5^th season with Athletics (4^th complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 210 

Prior to 1955:

A native of Beaumont, Texas, Gus Edward Zernial was the youngest of ten children. His carpenter father died when he was 15. He played sandlot baseball and in high school participated in baseball, basketball, and football. Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals at age 17 in 1941, he played for the Waycross Bears of the Class D Georgia-Florida Legue in 1942 where he appeared in center field and batted .286 in 95 games with 25 doubles, 4 triples, and 3 home runs. Released by the Cardinals, Zernial joined the Navy for World War II service. He played service baseball and filled out physically, which allowed him to develop into a power hitter. Following his stint in the Navy, Zernial resumed his baseball career in 1946 with the Burlington Bees of the Class C Carolina League where he hit .333 with a league-leading 41 home runs along with 29 doubles, 111 RBIs, and a .649 slugging percentage. After going to spring training with the Cleveland Indians in 1947, he was waived and claimed by the Chicago White Sox, who assigned him to the Hollywood Stars of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, where he batted .344 with 17 doubles, 6 triples, 12 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .400 OBP, and a .519 slugging percentage. Still with Hollywood in 1948, Zernial obtained the nickname “Ozark Ike” after a popular comic strip character who was a prodigious power hitter. Living up to the nickname, which he happily embraced, he led the PCL with 237 hits and 156 RBIs, while batting .322 with 47 doubles, 7 triples, 40 home runs, a .369 OBP, and a .567 slugging percentage. Zernial joined the White Sox in 1949 for a $5000 salary, which was down from the $8000 he made with Hollywood (at a time when the PCL operated almost like an additional major league). Installed in left field, Zernial was limited to 73 games due to a shoulder separation suffered in May. A highly productive minor league hitter, he widened his stance and ended up hitting .318 with 17 doubles, 5 home runs, 38 RBIs, a .366 OBP, and a .500 slugging percentage. The shoulder injury robbed him of his throwing ability in the outfield for a time. Zernial had a solid season at the plate in 1950, batting .280 with 16 doubles, 29 home runs (a team record at the time), 93 RBIs, a .330 OBP, and a .484 slugging percentage, although he struck out a league-leading 110 times. His last four home runs came during a season-ending double-header. During spring training in 1951, he appeared in a photo shoot with actress Marilyn Monroe which set the stage for him to appear frequenty in ads for several years. Zernial was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics four games into the 1951 season and went on to lead the American League in home runs (33) and RBIs (129) while again leading the league by striking out 101 times. (He also hit .268 with 30 doubles, 5 triples, a .345 OBP, and a .511 slugging percentage. Typically a mediocre and error-prone outfielder, he proved adept at charging in on fly balls and throwing out baserunners, which led to a league-leading 18 outfield assists. Zernial remained productive in 1952 as he batted .262 with 29 home runs, 100 RBIs, a .347 OBP, and a .452 slugging percentage. “Ozark Ike” started the 1953 All-Star Game in left field for the American League on his way to hitting .284 with 21 doubles, 42 home runs, 108 RBIs, a .355 OBP, and a .559 slugging percentage. In 1954, a broken collarbone suffered in July sidelined Zernial for six weeks and, limited to 97 games, he batted .250 with 14 home runs, 62 RBIs, a .316 OBP, and a .411 slugging percentage. The team, having fallen upon hard times in Philadelphia, was sold and moved to Kansas City in 1955.

1955 Season Summary

Appeared in 120 games

LF – 103, PH – 18

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 454

At Bats – 413

Runs – 62

Hits – 105

Doubles – 9

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 30 [2]

RBI – 84 [9]

Bases on Balls – 30

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 90 [4]

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .254

OBP - .304

Slugging Pct. - .508 [3]

Total Bases – 210

GDP – 17 [6, tied with Roy Sievers, Mickey Vernon & Bobby Avila]

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

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 8 [2, tied with Al Rosen & Mickey Vernon]

Midseason snapshot: HR – 17, RBI – 43, AVG - .251, SLG – .489, OBP – .301

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Most hits, game – 3 on eight occasions

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 14

HR on road – 16

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Boston 5/12, (in 4 AB) at Boston 8/5, (in 4 AB) at Washington 9/10, (in 5 AB) at Boston 9/14

Multi-HR games – 4

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Boston 9/14

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 17 (.118) with 1 HR & 5 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 251

Put Outs – 234

Assists – 8

Errors – 9

DP – 4

Pct. – .964

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The relocated Athletics went 63-91 to finish sixth in the AL, 33 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees, while leading the league in fewest stolen bases (22) and fewest walks drawn (462). The pitching-poor A’s lost seven of their first nine games which set the tone for a season in which they still finished higher than their final Philadelphia year and drew a healthy 1,393,054 fans to Municipal Stadium, which was over a million more than they drew in ’54.

Aftermath of 1955:

Zernial’s production dropped off in 1956 as he batted .224 with 16 home runs, 44 RBIs, a .315 OBP, and a .445 slugging percentage. Zernial’s home run production bounced back to 27 in 1957 while he hit .236 with 20 doubles, 69 home runs, a .290 OBP, and a .471 slugging percentage. With the A’s seeking to improve their outfield defense in the offseason, Zernial was traded as part of a 13-player deal to the Detroit Tigers, who sought to make use of his power hitting. He was a part-time player for his new club in 1958, backing up in left field and pinch-hitting, where he topped the American League with 15 pinch-hits while batting .395 in that role with 3 homers and 12 RBIs. Overall, he appeared in 66 games and hit .323 with 5 home runs, 23 RBIs, a .351 OBP, and a .516 slugging percentage. In 1959 Zernial appeared in 32 games at first base while playing in only one game in the outfield and pinch-hitting 28 times. He was released following the season, thus ending his career. For his major league career, Zernial batted .265 with 1093 hits that included 159 doubles, 22 triples, and 237 home runs. Nine of his home runs were grand slams. He scored 572 runs and compiled 776 RBIs, a .329 OBP, and a .486 slugging percentage. In 191 pinch-hitting appearances he batted .266 with 10 home runs, 51 RBIs, a .325 OBP, and a .451 slugging percentage. With the Athletics he batted .259 with 806 hits, 447 runs scored, 115 doubles, 15 triples, 191 home runs, 592 RBIs, a .329 OBP, and a .489 slugging percentage. An All-Star only once, he was selected to the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 2001 among Athletics players who have since been split off from the Phillies inductees. Following his playing career and apart from several business ventures he became a television sports broadcaster. A golfer and bowler for recreation, Zernial died in 2011 at age 87.

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

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: Cal Koonce, 1962

Pitcher, Chicago Cubs

Age: 21

1^st season with Cubs

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1962:

A North Carolina native, Koonce was an outstanding athlete while growing up in Hope Mills who then went on to Campbell Junior College (now University) where he played basketball in addition to baseball. As a sophomore in 1961 he was a Junior College All-American after producing a 10-4 record. Signed by the Cubs, he was assigned to the Wenatchee Chiefs of the Class B Northwest League where he compiled a 6-10 tally and 4.81 ERA with 46 walks and 74 strikeouts over 131 innings. Throwing harder than he had in the minors and featuring a good changeup, he made the most of his spring training outings to surprisingly make the jump to the pitching staff of the lowly Cubs in 1962.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 30 [19, tied with Ernie Broglio & Bob Gibson]

Complete Games – 3

Wins – 10

Losses – 10

PCT - .500

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1

Innings Pitched – 190.2

Hits – 200

Runs – 93

Earned Runs – 84

Home Runs – 17

Bases on Balls – 86 [10]

Strikeouts – 84

ERA – 3.97

Hit Batters – 7 [10, tied with four others]

Balks – 2 [3, tied with five others]

Wild Pitches – 2 

Midseason Snapshot: 7-2, ERA - 4.12, SO – 52 in 107 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 6 (in 7 IP) vs. Mil. Braves 7/7

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. Cincinnati 7/13

 Batting

PA – 68, AB – 64, R – 7, H – 6, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 2, BB – 1, SO – 25, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .094, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 49

Put Outs – 17

Assists – 29

Errors – 3

DP – 1

Pct. - .939

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The Cubs went 59-103 to finish in ninth place in the newly expanded NL, 42.5 games behind the pennant-winning San Francisco Giants. The pitching staff led the league in bases on balls issued (601), fewest complete games (29) and fewest shutouts (4, tied with the New York Mets) Continuing their experiment of utilizing a rotating group of coaches to guide the club, in lieu of a manager, the Cubs started poorly and stumbled through a chaotic season despite the presence of some young talent.

Aftermath of 1962:

Following a poor start in 1963, Koonce was demoted to Salt Lake City of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in June, where he regained his footing before being called back to the Cubs in August. He finished the season with a major league tally of 2-6 with a 4.58 ERA. Returned to Salt Lake City in 1964, Koonce posted an 11-15 record and 3.48 ERA with 157 strikeouts over 238 innings which earned him a late-season promotion to the Cubs where he was an impressive 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA. He spent all of 1965 with the Cubs, starting in 23 of his 38 appearances, and had a 7-9 tally and 3.69 ERA with 3 complete games and a shutout. Following a brief demotion to Class AAA Tacoma early in the 1966 season, Koonce returned to the rebuilding Cubs and was primarily utilized out of the bullpen. In 45 appearances his record was 5-5 with a 3.81 ERA, two saves, and 65 strikeouts over 108.2 innings. Another poor start in 1967 led to Koonce being dealt to the New York Mets where he was initially tried as a starter before taking up residence in the bullpen. He appeared in 45 games in all, 6 of them starts, and again ended up with a 5-5 tally along with a 3.75 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 96 innings. With the Mets developing a good, and deep, pitching staff, Koonce settled into his role as a reliever in 1968 and compiled a 6-4 mark in 55 appearances along with 11 saves, a 2.42 ERA, and 50 strikeouts over 96.2 innings. In 1969, the first season of division play in the major leagues, the Mets surged past the Cubs to win the NL East. Koonce started off poorly, as had become his pattern, but came on as the divisional race heated up and finished with a 6-3 record, 7 saves, and 4.99 ERA over the course of 40 appearances. Unused in the postseason which saw the club emerge with a World Series title, Koonce was sold to the Boston Red Sox following 13 appearances during the 1970 season. With Boston he appeared in 23 games (8 of them starts) and went 3-4 with 2 saves and a 3.54 ERA. He appeared in 13 games with the Red Sox in 1971 before being released, thus ending his playing career. For his major league career, Koonce appeared in 334 games, 90 of which he started, and posted a 47-49 record with 24 saves, a 3.78 ERA, 9 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 504 strikeouts over 971 innings. With the Cubs, his record was 29-32 with 4 saves, a 3.89 ERA, 6 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 326 strikeouts over 627 innings. Following his playing career he went into teaching and coaching at the high school level and coached the Campbell University baseball team from 1980-86 before becoming a minor league general manager and was also involved in community organizations. He died in 1993 at age 52.   

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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: Clay Dalrymple, 1962

Catcher, Philadelphia Phillies

Age: 25

3^rd season with Phillies

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 195 

Prior to 1962:

A native of Chico, California, Dalrymple played baseball in high school and with the semipro Chico Colts. In college at Chico State College (now Cal State – Chico) he was a physical education major and with his good size, played football as well as baseball and was also a champion boxer. In 1956 Dalrymple joined the unaffiliated Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League and appeared in 15 games in which he had two hits. Sent to the Amarillo Gold Sox of the Class A Western League in 1957 he hit .298 with 18 doubles, 17 home runs, 81 RBIs, a .372 on-base percentage, and a .463 slugging percentage. Returning to Sacramento in 1958, he batted only .191 with 5 home runs, 21 RBIs, and a .257 OBP. His defense kept him in the lineup and made him valuable to the team. In the offseason Dalrymple played winter ball in Venezuela and briefly Cuba. Invited to spring training by the Milwaukee Braves in 1959, Dalrymple was returned to Sacramento where he hit .230 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs, 48 RBIs, and a .319 OBP. In the offseason he was selected by the Phillies in the minor league draft. Dalrymple caught on with the Phillies as a backup catcher in 1960. Platooned with Jim Coker, Dalrymple was at his best as a pinch-hitter, batting .286 in 47 pinch appearances on his way to an overall average of .272 with 4 home runs, 21 RBIs, and a .343 OBP. He also worked on his defense. One of the many young players on the rebuilding Phillies, he encountered throwing problems at the start of 1961 and had a rough first half with the bat until coming on to end up at .220 with 11 doubles, 5 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .281 OBP. Dalrymple entered 1962 as Philadelphia’s starting catcher.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 123 games

C – 119, PH – 12

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 451

At Bats – 370

Runs – 40

Hits – 102

Doubles – 13

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 11

RBI – 54

Bases on Balls – 70 [10, tied with Billy Williams, Norm Larker & Al Spangler]

Int. BB – 7 [14, tied with four others]

Strikeouts – 32

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .276

OBP - .393 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .416

Total Bases – 154

GDP – 7

Hit by Pitches – 4

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – 4

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 10, HR – 5, RBI – 30, AVG – .289, OBP - .417

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Most hits, game – 3 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 1 on eleven occasions

HR at home – 4

HR on road – 7

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 at Pittsburgh 7/8, vs. Mil. Braves 7/22, at NY Mets 8/15 – 13 innings

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 9 (.111) with 1 R & 3 BB

Fielding

Chances – 705

Put Outs – 635

Assists – 61

Errors – 9

Passed Balls – 16

DP – 11

Pct. - .987

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The Phillies went 81-80 to finish seventh in the NL, 20 games behind the pennant-winning San Francisco Giants. Following four straight last-place finishes, the retooling Phillies started slowly but finished strong in August and September to nose just above .500.

Aftermath of 1962:

Having shown great overall improvement in 1962, the prematurely balding Dalrymple continued to be a solid starting catcher again in 1963, batting .252 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .327 OBP. Defensively he led NL catchers by throwing out 50 runners attempting to steal (47.2 %), as well as double plays (90), and assists (16). He also drew plaudits for his skillful handling of pitchers. In 1964, veteran backstop Gus Triandos joined the Phillies and was platooned with Dalrymple, who still carried the heaviest load behind the plate. The Phillies were leading the NL in September until suffering an epic collapse that cost them the pennant and a knee injury hindered Dalrymple at that time. For the season he hit .238 with 16 doubles, 6 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a .303 OBP. He threw out 49.2 % of runners attempting to steal as his defense remained solid. Triandos was traded away during the 1965 season and Pat Corrales became Dalrymple’s platoon partner. Dalrymple ended up batting a disappointing .213 with 14 extra-base hits, 23 RBIs, and a .292 OBP. His defense remained impressive with a 51.4 % caught stealing percentage and a league-leading 70 assists from behind the plate. A popular after-dinner speaker, he also taped a pregame show that appeared prior to Phillies telecasts. But he still drew the ire of the fans for his lack of batting prowess despite his excellent defense. The fans were on his side during one incident in 1964 after he befriended a blind girl who regularly attended Phillies games and following a game he took her onto the field and guided her around the bases so she could have the experience of touching them, which drew appreciative applause from the fans still in attendance. In 1966 he batted .245 with 13 doubles, 4 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .365 OBP. Bob Uecker was his platoon partner and defensively, he commenced on a then-record errorless streak  of 99-consecutive games that stretched into 1967 and consisted of a total of 628 chances without a miscue. He hit only .172 in 1967 with 11 extra-base hits, 21 RBIs, and a .271 OBP in tandem with veteran catcher Gene Oliver. Defensively he threw out a league-leading 57.7 % of opposing baserunners attempting to steal. Dalrymple played one more season with the Phillies in 1968 and batted .207 with a .272 OBP. Frustrated by the negative treatment he received from the Philadelphia fans, he requested a trade and was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason. Dalrymple spent the last three seasons of his career with Baltimore backing up the catching tandem of Andy Etchebarren and Elrod Hendricks. He had the opportunity to appear in two World Series games in 1969 as a pinch-hitter, going two-for-two in his only postseason at bats. A broken ankle suffered in 1970 significantly hindered him and he last appeared with the Orioles in 1971. His wife died of cancer in 1972 and Dalrymple turned down the opportunity to accept another job in baseball to take care of his three daughters. For his major league career, Dalrymple batted .233 with 710 hits that included 98 doubles, 23 triples, and 55 home runs. He scored 243 runs and compiled 327 RBIs, and a .322 OBP. With the Phillies he batted .234 with 674 hits, 225 runs scored, 95 doubles, 22 triples, 50 home runs, 312 RBIs, and a .319 OBP. Defense was always the strongest aspect of his game and he threw out 48.8 % of opposing baserunners attempting to steal against him. A defensive standout who was a spotty hitter, Dalrymple put together a decent major league career.  

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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: Enos Slaughter, 1955

Outfielder, New York Yankees/Kansas City Athletics

Age: 39 (April 27)

2^nd season with Yankees

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 180

Prior to 1955:

A native of Roxboro, North Carolina, Slaughter was raised on a farm where he developed into a stocky young man with much of his strength and fitness due to working chores. He and his brothers played for the local county baseball team, and he also played football in addition to baseball in high school. Slaughter passed on a college scholarship to work at a textile mill in Durham and play semipro ball. A tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals resulted in his signing with them. Assigned to Martinsville of the Class D Bi-State League in 1935, he found himself moved to the outfield after originally having been a second baseman. He batted .273 with 25 doubles, 11 triples, and 18 home runs. Advancing to Columbus of the Class B South Atlantic (or Sally) League in 1936 he received sarcastic advice from manager Eddie Dyer that proved meaningful to his entire baseball career. While loping toward the dugout from the outfield during a change of innings, he slowed to a walk as he passed first base and Dyer said “Are you too tired to run all the way? If you are, I’ll get some help for you.” From then on Slaughter always ran when entering and exiting the ballfield and became noted for his hustling, and aggressive, style of play. For the season he hit .325 with 31 doubles, 20 triples, 9 home runs, 118 RBIs, a .394 on-base percentage, and a .497 slugging percentage. Moving from Columbus, Georgia to Columbus, Ohio (both teams were called the Red Birds but the Ohio team was in the Class AA American Association) in 1937 he obtained the nickname “Country”, which proved to be long-lasting, from manager Burt Shotton, based on his appearance and manner of dress. He again hit the ball with authority and batted .382 with 245 hits, 42 doubles, 13 triples, 26 home runs, 122 RBIs, a .444 OBP, and a .609 slugging percentage. Having earned a promotion to the Cardinals in 1938, Slaughter hit .276 as a rookie with 20 doubles, 10 triples, 8 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .330 OBP, and a .438 slugging percentage. In 1939 Slaughter led the NL with 52 doubles while batting .320 with 12 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .371 OBP, and a .482 slugging percentage. He tied for nineteenth in league MVP voting. His development continued in 1940 as he hit .306 with 25 doubles, 13 triples, 17 home runs, 73 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .504 slugging percentage. With the Cardinals developing into contenders in 1941 and despite being somewhat hindered while playing with a broken collarbone, Slaughter hit .311 with 22 doubles, 9 triples, 13 home runs, 76 RBIs, a .390 OBP, and a .496 slugging percentage. Gaining recognition for his defensive play in addition to his productive batting, he was an All-Star for the first time. The Cardinals won the NL pennant in 1942 and Slaughter contributed by leading the league in hits (188), triples (17), and total bases (292) while batting .318 with 31 doubles, 13 home runs, 98 RBIs, a .412 OBP, and a .494 slugging percentage. He became the club’s inspirational leader and part of an esteemed outfield along with center fielder Terry Moore and rookie left fielder Stan Musial. Slaughter finished second in league MVP balloting and in the five-game World Series defeat of the New York Yankees, he homered and contributed a couple of significant defensive plays. Slaughter missed the next three seasons due to World War II military service. Upon his return to the Cardinals in 1946, he continued where he had left off as the Cardinals reached the World Series again. “Country” led the NL in RBIs (130) while batting .300 with 30 doubles, 8 triples, 18 home runs, a .374 OBP, and a .465 slugging percentage. Defensively he led all NL right fielders with 21 assists. He finished third in league MVP voting. In the World Series against the Boston Red Sox, he famously scored the winning run of the decisive seventh game with his “Mad Dash” from first base on a double, ignoring the third base coach’s signal to hold up, and beating the slow relay throw from Boston shortstop Johnny Pesky. It was a legendary play that exemplified Slaughter’s style of play and for the Series, he hit .320 with a home run and 5 runs scored while playing through the pain of a sore elbow after being hit by a pitch in Game 5. He remained a key contributor in 1947 and 1948, batting .294 and .321, respectively, along with 13 and 11 triples, 10 and 11 home runs, 86 and 90 RBIs, and a .366 and .409 OBP. He tied for seventh in league MVP voting in 1948. Now playing in left field, he was among the leaders in putouts and assists both seasons. Slaughter placed third in MVP balloting in 1949 and tied for the NL lead in triples, along with teammate Musial. He further hit .336 with 34 doubles, 13 home runs, 96 RBIs, a .418 OBP, and a .511 slugging percentage. The Sporting News named him NL Player of the Year. The perennially contending Cardinals dropped to fifth place in 1950 but Slaughter batted .290 with 26 doubles, 7 triples, 10 home runs, 101 RBIs, and a .367 OBP. He spent three more productive seasons with the Cardinals before being traded to the New York Yankees prior to the 1954 season to make room for rookie outfielder Wally Moon (Slaughter openly cried in the clubhouse when informed of the trade). Hampered by a wrist injury, the 38-year-old Slaughter was limited to 69 games and hit a mere .248 with a .386 OBP, seeing most of his action as a pinch-hitter. He started the 1955 season with the Yankees but was dealt to the Athletics in May.

1955 Season Summary

Appeared in 118 games (NY – 10/KC – 108)

RF – 77, PH – 59

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 325 (NY – 10/KC – 315)

At Bats – 276 (NY – 9/KC – 267)

Runs – 50 (NY – 1/KC – 49)

Hits – 87 (NY – 1/KC – 86)

Doubles – 12 (KC)

Triples – 4 (KC)

Home Runs – 5 (KC)

RBI – 35 (NYY – 1/KC – 34)

Bases on Balls – 41 (NY – 1/KC – 40)

Int. BB – 4 (KC)

Strikeouts – 18 (NY – 1/KC – 17)

Stolen Bases – 2 (KC)

Caught Stealing – 3 (KC)

Average - .315 [Non-qualifying] (NY – .111/KC – .322)

OBP - .401 [Non-qualifying] (NY – .200/KC – .408)

Slugging Pct. - .442 [Non-qualifying] (NY – .111/KC – .453)

Total Bases – 122 (NY – 1/KC – 121)

GDP – 8 (KC)

Hit by Pitches – 2 (KC)

Sac Hits – 1 (KC)

Sac Flies – 5 [18, tied with nine others] (KC) 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 2, HR - 1, RBI - 12, AVG - .271, OBP – .352

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Most hits, game – 3 (in 5 AB) at Chi. White Sox 5/21, (in 4 AB) at Chi. White Sox 5/22, (in 5 AB) at Cleveland 8/19 – 11 innings

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 3

HR on road – 2

Most home runs, game – 1 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 2 at NY Yankees 5/15, vs. Baltimore 6/12, at Washington 7/26, at Cleveland 9/5

Pinch-hitting – 16 for 41 (.390) with 8 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 12 BB & 1 HBP 

Fielding (appeared in OF with KC only)

Chances – 133

Put Outs – 126

Assists – 5

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. – .985

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The relocated Athletics went 63-91 to finish sixth in the AL, 33 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees, while leading the league in fewest stolen bases (22) and fewest walks drawn (462). The pitching-poor A’s lost seven of their first nine games which set the tone for a season in which they still finished higher than their final Philadelphia year and drew a healthy 1,393,054 fans to Municipal Stadium, which was over a million more than they drew in ’54.

Aftermath of 1955:

Slaughter was back with the A’s in 1956 and batting .278 with a .362 OBP when he was waived in August and claimed by the Yankees. He proved his value in a utility role when he hit a three-run home run in Game 3 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers that provided the winning margin for the Yankees. In 1957 he appeared in 96 games, mostly in left field and as a pinch-hitter. He hit .254 with 5 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .369 OBP. He batted .304 in 1958 at age 42 and would typically sit next to manager Casey Stengel in the dugout and complain about some of the younger players. He remained with the Yankees in his part-time role in which he was especially effective as a pinch-hitter until he was released late in the 1959 season. Picked up by the Milwaukee Braves, his major league career reached a conclusion at season’s end. For his major league career, Slaughter batted .300 with 2383 hits that included 413 doubles, 148 triples, and 169 home runs. He scored 1247 runs and compiled 1304 RBIs, 71 stolen bases, a .382 OBP, and a .453 slugging percentage. With the Athletics he batted .302 with 148 hits, 86 runs scored, 26 doubles, 7 triples, 7 home runs, 57 RBIs, a .387 OBP, and a .427 slugging percentage. Slaughter appeared in 27 World Series games and hit .291 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs. A 10-time All-Star, he placed in the top 10 in NL MVP voting five times and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985. The Cardinals retired his #9. Following his playing career Slaughter was a minor league manager for two years and later became the baseball coach at Duke University. He also worked on his large North Carolina farm and was married and divorced five times. He summed up his playing career by saying in his characteristic gravel voice that “regardless of what uniform I wore. I gave 100 % for whatever team I played.” Slaughter, died in 2002 at age 86. 

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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.