Highlighted Year: Sherm Lollar, 1959

Catcher, Chicago White Sox

Age: 35 (Aug. 23)

8^th season with White Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1959:

An Arkansas native, John Sherman Lollar grew up in Fayetteville where his father operated a grocery store until his death when Lollar was eight. His mother sold the grocery store and Lollar took on added responsibilities at home caring for his younger siblings while his mother worked at a VA nursing home. Always interested in baseball, he became batboy for the local minor league team at age 12. Following high school he played baseball with a Chamber of Commerce-affiliated team in Pittsburg, Kansas, while working at a store and studying at Pittsburg State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University). He went on to play semipro ball with the Baxter Spring Miners before signing with the Baltimore Orioles of the International League in 1943. The 18-year-old backstop batted a mere .118 in 42 plate appearances. Returning to Baltimore in 1944 his batting production improved to .250 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .394 on-base percentage, and a .416 slugging percentage. He followed up with an outstanding season for Baltimore in 1945 in which he hit .364 with 27 doubles, 34 home runs, 111 RBIs, a .483 OBP, and a .659 slugging percentage. He was honored as the International League’s Most Valuable Player. As the Orioles were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, he was sold to Cleveland in 1946. Stuck behind veteran catchers Jim Hegan and Frankie Hayes, Lollar saw little action with the Indians and requested to be returned to Baltimore so he could get playing time. Back with Baltimore his average dropped to .234, but he hit 20 home runs in 67 games and had a .356 OBP and .532 slugging percentage. In the offseason he was traded to the New York Yankees as part of a five-player deal. Jammed up by a glut of catchers in New York, Lollar spent most of the 1947 season back in the International League, this time with the Newark Bears. He hit .280 with 16 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .376 OBP, and a .468 slugging percentage. Quiet and low-key (often described as solemn), Lollar was a workmanlike and effective player. Although he appeared in only 11 games for the Yankees in 1947, he did see action in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers and generated three hits and scored three runs. Hindered by a hand injury in 1948, he saw action in only 22 games in 1948 while backing up Yogi Berra and was traded to the St. Louis Browns in the offseason. Splitting time behind the plate with Les Moss in 1949, Lollar batted .261 with 9 doubles, 8 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .340 OBP. In 1950 he was an All-Star for the first time as he hit .280 with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 65 RBIs, a .391 OBP, and a .449 slugging percentage. He appeared in 98 games in 1951 and batted .252 with 21 doubles, 8 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .350 OBP and, much sought after by the Red Sox and White Sox in the offseason, the White Sox obtained him as a key part of an eight-player deal. With a new club and pay increase to $12,000 in 1952, although hindered by a slow start, he hit .240 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a .354 OBP while providing solid play behind the plate. Having been directed by manager Paul Richards, an ex-catcher, to improve his agility behind the plate, Lollar developed a style of catching with his left knee on the ground. He also improved his throwing and, accused of being lackadaisical, became more animated. He also became a better handler of pitchers, which would become one of his key strengths over time. In 1953 his production improved to .287 with 19 doubles, 8 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .388 OBP. Defensively, he ranked third among AL catchers in assists (51) and percentage of baserunners caught stealing (55.6). An All-Star in 1954, Lollar batted .244 with 13 doubles, 7 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .334 OBP. His defense behind the plate made up for any offensive shortcomings, which included his lack of running speed (Matt Batts and Carl Sawatski caught in a combined 75 games in comparison to Lollar’s 93). Catching in 136 games in 1955, he hit .261 with 16 home runs, 61 RBIs, a .374 OBP, and a .408 slugging percentage. In addition to being an All-Star for the second straight year, he placed eleventh in league MVP voting. Behind the plate in 132 games in 1956, Lollar batted .293 with 28 doubles, 11 home runs, 75 RBIs, a .383 OBP, and a .438 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star once again and placed sixteenth in league MVP balloting. In 1957 he didn’t commit an error in the field until September on his way to leading AL backstops with a .993 fielding percentage and receiving a Gold Glove, although he missed 41 games at midseason due to a wrist fracture. At the plate he ended up hitting .256 with 11 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a .342 OBP. Lollar continued to excel in 1958, batting .273 with 16 doubles, 20 home runs, 84 RBIs, a .367 OBP, and a .454 slugging percentage, while winning another Gold Glove for his defensive excellence.  

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 140 games

C – 122, 1B – 24, PH – 6

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 576

At Bats – 505

Runs – 63

Hits – 134

Doubles – 22 [18, tied with Gene Woodling & Bob Cerv]

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 22 [11, tied with Hector Lopez]

RBI – 84 [12]

Bases on Balls – 55 [17]

Int. BB – 6 [7, tied with eight others]

Strikeouts – 49

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 3 [19, tied with eleven others]

Average - .265

OBP - .345 [17]

Slugging Pct. - .451 [18]

Total Bases – 228 [17]

GDP – 27 [1]

Hit by Pitches – 9 [3]

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 5 [11, tied with seven others]

League-leading times grounded into DPs was +5 ahead of runner-up Bob Allison

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, HR – 12, RBI – 49, AVG – .273, OBP - .345, SLG – .469

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Detroit 8/13

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Detroit 4/11, (in 4 AB) at KC A’s 8/14

HR at home – 11

HR on road – 11

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 4 at KC A’s 8/14, vs. Detroit 9/2

Pinch-hitting – 3 for 5 (.600) with 1 2B & 1 BB

Fielding (C )

Chances – 679

Put Outs – 623

Assists – 51

Errors – 5

Passed Balls – 4

DP – 14

Pct. - .993

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. LA Dodgers)

PA – 24, AB – 22, R – 3, H – 5, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 5, BB – 1, IBB – 0, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .227, OBP - .250, SLG -.364, TB – 8, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 1

Awards & Honors:

Gold Glove

All-Star

9^th in AL MVP voting (44 points – 13% share)

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The White Sox went 94-60 to win the AL pennant by 5 games over the Cleveland Indians, their first pennant in 40 years while leading the league in triples (46), stolen bases (113), and fewest batting strikeouts (634). The “Go-go Sox”, benefiting from their emphasis on pitching, speed, and defense, of which Lollar played a significant role, moved into first place for good on July 28 but still had to fend off the Indians, solidifying their lead with a late-August four-game sweep of Cleveland. Lost World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of 1959:

While he was an All-Star one last time in 1960, Lollar began to show signs of decline as he batted .252 with 23 doubles, 7 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a .326 OBP. Briefly sidelined by a leg injury, he remained a good handler of pitchers and led AL backstops with a .995 fielding percentage. Still the league’s top fielding catcher in 1961 in terms of his .998 fielding percentage, Lollar, who turned 37 during the season, hit a solid .282 with only 10 doubles, 7 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .360 OBP. Splitting time with Camilo Carreon in 1962 Lollar hit .268 with 14 extra-base hits, 26 RBIs, and a .369 OBP. He was released following a 1963 season in which he saw little action, thus ending his playing career. For his major league playing career Lollar batted .264 with 1415 hits that included 244 doubles, 14 triples, and 155 home runs. He scored 623 runs and compiled 808 RBIs, a .357 OBP, and a .402 slugging percentage. With the White Sox he batted .265 with 485 runs scored, 1122 hits, 186 doubles, 9 triples, 124 home runs, 631 RBIs, a .358 OBP, and a .402 slugging percentage. The defensive standout was charged with only 62 errors for a lifetime .992 fielding percentage. Lollar led the AL in fielding percentage five times, and three times in double plays. His passed ball total of 53 gave him a rate of 5.5 per 162 games, an exceptionally low figure. Lollar appeared in eight World Series games with the Yankees and White Sox and batted .308 with one home run and 6 RBIs. He was a nine-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove recipient. Following his playing career he was a coach for the Baltimore Orioles and minor league manager with the Oakland Athletics. He operated a bowling alley prior to his death from cancer in 1977 at age 53.

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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: Doc White, 1906

Pitcher, Chicago White Sox

Age: 27 (April 9)

4^th season with White Sox

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 150 

Prior to 1906:

A native of Washington, DC, G. Harris White was the son of a prominent businessman and began studying at Georgetown University in 1897 where he joined the baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder. In an 1899 game against Holy Cross, he struck out the first nine batters he faced. While working toward a degree in dentistry, White played semi-pro ball in 1900. With his performance catching the interest of the Philadelphia Phillies, he signed in 1901 and as a rookie that year posted a 14-13 record and 3.19 ERA with 22 complete games and 132 strikeouts over 236.2 innings. In the offseason he completed his studies and received a degree in dentistry in 1902. That season he had a good performance with the  seventh-place Phillies, going 16-20 with a 2.53 ERA, 34 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 185 strikeouts over 306 innings. After opening his dental office in Washington in the offseason, White became the subject of a bidding war between American League teams. He was awarded to the White Sox in 1903, following the peace agreement between the NL and AL. His 1903 record was 17-16 with a 2.13 ERA, 29 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 114 strikeouts over 300 innings pitched. His willingness to throw inside to hitters led to 14 hit batters Respected for his education he soon earned the nickname “Doc” due to his off-field profession. His best pitch proved to be a “drop ball” (sinker) that broke sharply downward as it crossed the plate which supplemented his good fastball and overall effective control. The White Sox contended in 1904 and White contributed what was then a record with five consecutive shutouts on his way to a 16-12 tally and 1.78 ERA with 23 complete games, 7 shutouts, and 115 strikeouts over 228 innings. Intelligent and articulate, he became a favorite subject for interviewers. He was outstanding again in 1905 as he produced a 17-13 record, 1.76 ERA, 25 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 120 strikeouts over 260.1 innings.

1906 Season Summary

Appeared in 29 games

P – 28, CF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 28

Games Started – 24

Complete Games – 20

Wins – 18 [11]

Losses – 6

PCT - .750 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 7 [4, tied with four others]

Innings Pitched – 219.1

Hits – 160

Runs – 47

Earned Runs – 37

Home Runs – 2

Bases on Balls – 38

Strikeouts – 95

ERA – 1.52 [1]

Hit Batters – 5

Balks – 1 [1, tied with ten others]

Wild Pitches – 5 [13, tied with twelve others]

League-leading ERA was -0.07 lower than runner-up Barney Pelty

Midseason Snapshot: 8-3, ERA – N/A, SO - 44 in 98.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 9 IP) vs. Phila. A’s 6/5

10+ strikeout games – 2

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. Phila. A’s 6/5, (in 9 IP) vs. St. Louis Browns 7/3, (in 7 IP) at NY Highlanders 7/16

Batting

PA – 88, AB – 65, R – 11, H – 12, 2B – 1, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 13, SO – 10, SB – 3, CS – N/A, AVG - .185, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 7, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 102

Put Outs – 17

Assists – 77

Errors – 8

DP – 1

Pct. - .922

Postseason Pitching: G – 3 (World Series vs. Chicago Cubs)

GS – 2, CG – 1, Record – 1-1, PCT – .500, ERA – 1.80, SV – 1, ShO – 0, IP – 15, H – 12, R – 7, ER – 3, HR – 0, BB – 7, SO – 4, HB – 1, BLK – 0, WP – 0 

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The White Sox went 93-58 to win the AL pennant by 3 games over the New York Highlanders. The pitching staff led the league in shutouts (32), fewest runs allowed (460), and fewest walks issued (255). The “Hitless Wonders”, relying on pitching and defense while lacking offensive punch, proved masterful at manufacturing runs by playing “small ball”. In fourth place in early August, they put together a 19-game winning streak to move into first and stayed at or near the top until taking over first place to stay on Sept. 25. Won World Series over the Chicago Cubs, 4 games to 2. White was hindered by illness and a tired arm late in the season. In the World Series upset of the cross-town Cubs, he lasted only three innings in a Game 2 loss but relieved effectively to save Game 5 and started and went the distance in winning the decisive Game 6.

Aftermath of 1906:

In 1907 White tied for the league lead in wins with his 27-13 record and had a 2.26 ERA with 24 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 141 strikeouts over 291 innings while walking only 38 batters to average 1.2 walks per nine innings. With the White Sox involved in a tight pennant race in 1908, White produced an 18-13 tally and 2.55 ERA with 24 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 126 strikeouts over 296 innings. He appeared in only 24 games in 1909 as he began to show signs of wear from his heavy workload. He remained effective as he posted an 11-9 record and 1.72 ERA. His effectiveness began to diminish thereafter and, although he stayed with the White Sox until 1913, he produced only one more winning tally. He left the major leagues after pitching in only 19 games in 1913, although he played in the Pacific Coast League in 1914 and ’15. For his major league career, White produced a 189-156 record with a 2.39 ERA, 262 complete games, 45 shutouts, and 1384 strikeouts over 3041 innings. With the White Sox he went 159-123 with a 2.30 ERA, 206 complete games, 42 shutouts, and 1067 strikeouts over 2498.1 innings. His only postseason appearances came in the 1906 World Series with the White Sox. His record for consecutive shutouts lasted until 1968. Active in his church, he played the piano and directed the choir. He later toured while performing spirituals and popular songs of the time. White also collaborated with writer Ring Lardner, composing music for song lyrics Lardner wrote. White also became a minor league manager and coached baseball and taught physical education at his former high school in Washington. He was a college pitching coach until retiring at age 70 in 1949. A devoted gardener, he won prizes for his roses in local competitions. White died in 1969 at age 89, several months after sending a congratulatory telegram to Dodgers RHP Don Drysdale, who broke his record for consecutive shutouts.

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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: Billy Williams, 1962

Outfielder, Chicago Cubs

Age: 24 (June 15)

2^nd season with Cubs

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 175 

Prior to 1962:

A native of Whistler, Alabama (hence his later nickname, “Sweet Swingin’ Billy from Whistler”), Williams was the son of a semi-pro baseball player. He and his brothers played sandlot ball. While attending a high school without a baseball team he also participated in basketball and football and ran track. Offered a football scholarship to Grambling, he instead signed with the Cubs out of high school in 1956. An infielder throughout his youth, Williams was immediately switched to the outfield when assigned to Ponca City in the Class D Sooner State League where he batted .235 in 13 games. Still with Ponca City in 1957, he hit .310 with 40 doubles, 17 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a .425 on-base percentage while struggling defensively. In 1958, with teams at the Class B and A levels although hindered by illness, he batted a combined .289 with 12 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .377 OBP. Moving up to San Antonio of the Class AA Texas League in 1959, Williams was hitting .318 with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 10 home runs, and 79 RBIs when he left the club due to the overt racism he encountered. He returned and was soon promoted to the Fort Worth Cats of the Class AAA American Association from where he was called up by the Cubs, where he made just 18 plate appearances and hit .152. In 1960 he was assigned to Houston of the American Association and batted .323 with 26 home runs, and 80 RBIs, once again receiving a late call-up to the Cubs. He batted .277 and hit his first two major league home runs. Williams made it to the Cubs to stay in 1961 and, despite a slow start, was the regular left fielder by mid-June. He went on to bat .278 with 20 doubles, 7 triples, 25 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .338 OBP, and a .494 slugging percentage. He received league Rookie of the Year recognition.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 159 games

LF – 159

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 699 [11]

At Bats – 618 [11]

Runs – 94 [15, tied with Chuck Hiller]

Hits – 184 [10]

Doubles – 22

Triples – 8 [11, tied with Andre Rodgers, Don Hoak & Merritt Ranew]

Home Runs – 22 [18, tied with George Altman]

RBI – 91 [14]

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

Int. BB – 3

Strikeouts – 72

Stolen Bases – 9

Caught Stealing – 9 [3, tied with four others]

Average - .298 [16]

OBP - .369 [13, tied with Ken Boyer]

Slugging Pct. - .466 [20]

Total Bases – 288 [10, tied with Felipe Alou]

GDP – 11

Hit by Pitches – 4

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 7 [5, tied with four others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 16, 3B – 6, HR - 15, RBI - 57, AVG - .323, SLG - .533, OBP - .395

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Philadelphia 5/11, (in 4 AB) vs. Cincinnati 6/2

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

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

HR at home – 12

HR on road – 10

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. San Francisco 5/5

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 301

Put Outs – 273

Assists – 18

Errors – 10

DP – 4

Pct. – .967

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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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, while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1044). 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 Williams and some other young talent.

Aftermath of 1962:

While the Cubs nudged a bit over .500 in 1963, Williams contributed 25 home runs, 95 RBIs, a .286 average, and a .358 OBP. A fast start in 1964 had Williams flirting with a .400 average by May, but he finished at .312 with 201 hits, 39 doubles, 33 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a .370 OBP. Off to a slower start in 1965, he still hit .315 with 203 hits, 39 doubles, 34 home runs, and 108 RBIs along with a .377 OBP. Quiet, dignified, and not inclined to seek publicity, Williams had a somewhat lesser season in 1966 in which his production dropped to .276 with 29 home runs, 91 RBIs, and a .347 OBP with a slugging percentage under .500. The Cubs were a surprise third-place club in 1967 and Williams hit .278 with 28 home runs, 84 RBIs, and a .346 OBP. In 1968 he finished eighth in league MVP voting after batting .288 with 30 home runs and 98 RBIs while leading the NL with 321 total bases. In the first year of divisional play in 1969, the Cubs led the NL East for most of the season until being overtaken by the surprising New York Mets. Williams was solid as always, hitting .293 with 33 doubles, 10 triples, 21 home runs, 95 RBIs, with a .355 OBP. He continued along impressively in 1970 by batting .322 with a league-leading 205 hits, 137 runs scored, and 373 total bases, along with 42 home runs and 129 RBIs. He placed second in National League MVP balloting. The durable Williams finished a NL record 1117-consecutive game streak in September, when he chose to sit out a game. His 1971 production was .301 with 28 home runs and 93 RBIs, which was pretty much an average year by his standards. He had an outstanding season in 1972 in which he won the NL batting title (.333) while also leading in slugging (.606) and total bases (348) while hitting 37 home runs and compiling 122 RBIs and a .398 OBP. He finished second in league MVP voting for the second time in three years and was named Major League Player of the Year by The Sporting News. Still productive with a club in transition in 1973 and ’74, his average went from .288 to .280, his home runs from 20 to 16, and his RBIs from 86 to 68. Sidelined by an ankle injury in 1974, Williams appeared in only 117 games, most of which he played at first base, an experiment that was deemed a failure. In the offseason he was traded to the Oakland Athletics. The A’s topped the AL West for the fifth straight year in 1975 and Williams, utilized as the regular Designated Hitter, batted .244 with 23 home runs and 81 RBIs. In the only postseason action of his career, he went hitless in seven at bats in the ALCS loss to the Boston Red Sox. A poor season in 1976 led to his release and retirement. For his major league career, Williams batted .290 with 2711 hits that included 434 doubles, 88 triples, and 426 home runs. He scored 1410 runs and compiled 1475 RBIs, a .361 OBP, and a .492 slugging percentage. With the Cubs he batted .296 with 1306 runs scored, 2510 hits, 402 doubles, 87 triples, 392 home runs, and 1353 RBIs with a .364 OBP and .503 slugging percentage. A six-time All-Star, Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. The Cubs retired his #26 and erected a statue of him outside Wrigley Field.

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

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: Johnny Kling, 1903

Catcher, Chicago Cubs

Age: 27

3^rd season with Orphans/Cubs

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 160 

Prior to 1903:

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Kling was the son of a baker. From an early age he was assigned to deliver bread to his father’s customers using a horse-drawn wagon. He would tend to run late as he stopped to play informal baseball games in a corner lot along his route. By 1890, at age 14, he was pitching for a local amateur league team and moved up to the semipro Kansas City Schmelzers where the teenager pitched, played first base, and managed. A tryout with St. Louis in 1895 failed to land a contract offer due to Kling’s lack of size. He spent 1896 with the Houston Buffaloes of the Texas Association and in 1897 he spent time with Rockford of the Western Association who soon let him go as being too small. He returned to the Schmelzers, where he was converted into a catcher. An 1899 barnstorming trip with Kansas City of the Western League provided Kling with the opportunity to play for the St. Joseph Saints in 1900, also of the Western League. By season’s end he was playing for the Cubs (then called the Orphans). Splitting time at catcher with Mike Kahoe and Frank Chance in 1901, Kling appeared in 74 games and batted .273 with a .301 on-base percentage. With Chance’s becoming the starting first baseman in 1902, Kling took over the regular duties behind the plate. He had a fine season, hitting .289 with 19 doubles, 3 triples, 59 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and a .333 OBP. Having established himself as an outstanding defensive catcher who was adept at handling pitchers, Kling continued to develop as an offensive contributor in 1903, a rarity for a catcher in that era.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 132 games

C – 132

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 525

At Bats – 491

Runs – 67

Hits – 146 [17]

Doubles – 29 [7, tied with Jimmy Sheckard & Jake Beckley]

Triples – 13 [8, tied with Jimmy Sebring]

Home Runs – 3 [15, tied with six others]

RBI – 68 [14, tied with Ginger Beaumont]

Bases on Balls – 22

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 38

Stolen Bases – 23

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .297

OBP - .330

Slugging Pct. - .428 [14]

Total Bases – 210 [11]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 9

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 17, 3B – 6, HR - 3, RBI - 27, SB – 13, AVG - .288, OBP - .320, SLG - .424

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Most hits, game – 3 on ten occasions

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 4 AB) at Cincinnati 4/29, (in 4 AB) at Brooklyn 5/12, (in 4 AB) vs. Bos. Beaneaters 6/8

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 2

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 778

Put Outs – 565

Assists – 189

Errors – 24

Passed Balls – 9

DP – 13

Pct. – .969 

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The Cubs went 82-56 to finish third in the NL, 8 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. The up-and-coming Cubs started well and were in first place from May 15 until June 6. They remained in contention through June and were in second or third the rest of the way as the Pirates pulled away.

Aftermath of 1903:

Chattering constantly throughout games, Kling earned the nickname “Noisy”. He also did not drink and abstained from smoking and chewing tobacco. As the Cubs continued to develop into a winning club during 1904 and ’05, Kling remained a key contributor. 1906 was a pennant-winning season for the Cubs, who won 116 games in achieving NL dominance, and Kling did his part by batting .312 with 15 doubles, 8 triples, 2 home runs, 46 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, a .357 OBP, and a .420 slugging percentage in addition to excellent defense and leadership skills. The club lost the World Series to the crosstown White Sox but returned to the top of the NL in 1907. Kling hit .284 with 15 doubles, 8 triples, a home run, 43 RBIs, a .342 OBP, and a .386 slugging percentage. His .987 fielding percentage topped the league’s catchers. This time the Cubs won the World Series although Kling’s offensive contribution was limited to four hits, two runs, and an RBI. The Cubs won a third straight pennant, and repeated as World Series champs, in 1908. Kling batted .276 with 23 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .315 OBP, and a .382 slugging percentage. He also was among the top defensive backstops. He hit .250 in the World Series triumph over Detroit. In the offseason he won the world pocket billiards championship and invested heavily in a billiards emporium in Kansas City. He requested a leave-of-absence from the Cubs while he sought to establish his new business and missed the 1909 season. Considered to be holding out, he was fined for being in violation of his contract when he sought to return in 1910. He proved to be rusty from his layoff and showed a decline in his catching skills although he batted .269 with a .354 OBP. The club returned to the top of the National League but lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Athletics. During the 1911 season he was traded to the Boston Braves and hit .212 for the year with a .295 OBP. He was player/manager of the Braves in 1912 and his eldest daughter became the team mascot, which proved to be of no help to the last-place club. Kling played in 81 games and batted .317 with a .356 OBP and .405 slugging percentage. Replaced as manager by George Stallings (who would yield better results), Kling was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds and finished his playing career in 1913. For his major league career, Kling batted .272 with 1154 hits that included 181 doubles, 61 triples, and 20 home runs. He scored 475 runs and compiled 514 RBIs, 124 stolen bases, a .319 OBP, and a .357 slugging percentage. With the Cubs he batted .272 with 397 runs scored, 963 hits, 156 doubles, 51 triples, 16 home runs, 438 RBIs, 119 stolen bases, a .317 OBP, and a .358 slugging percentage. Appearing in 21 World Series games, he hit .185 with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs. Well after his playing career, Kling bought the minor league Kansas City Blues and eliminated segregated seating at Muehlebach Field, the team’s ballpark. A private man who may have been Jewish (sources differ, although his wife later indicated that he had become a Lutheran), he was successful as a baseball player and businessman. He died in 1947 at age 71. His brother Bill had a brief major league pitching career.

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

Highlighted Year: Frank Malzone, 1962

Third Baseman, Boston Red Sox

Age: 32

6^th season with Red Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 180 

Prior to 1962:

A native of the New York City borough of the Bronx, Malzone learned baseball from older siblings. Studying to be an electrician at Samuel Gompers High School, he played two seasons on the baseball team. Not heavily scouted, he was signed by the Red Sox in 1948 and sought to overcome the perception that he was not likely to reach the major leagues. Initially assigned to Milford of the Class D Eastern Shore League, the 18-year-old Malzone batted .304 with 32 doubles, 10 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .448 on-base percentage, and a .469 slugging percentage. Advancing to Oneonta of the Class C Canadian-American League in 1949, he hit .329 with 26 doubles, 26 triples, 5 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .413 OBP, and a .501 slugging percentage. Beyond his impressive batting, he had difficulties in the field and committed 43 errors at third base. Assigned to the Scranton Miners of the Class A Eastern League in 1950, Malzone suffered a badly broken leg while sliding into second base two games into the season and missed the remainder of the year while doctors warned him that there might not be a future for him playing baseball. Returning to Scranton in 1951 he performed well by hitting .283 with 28 doubles, one home run, 79 RBIs, and a .335 OBP. Drafted into the Army, he missed the next two seasons but played service baseball which helped him to hone his skills. Following his discharge in 1954 he played for the Louisville Colonels of the Class AAA American Association where he batted .270 with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 11 home runs, 63 RBIs, a .314 OBP, and a .401 slugging percentage. With Louisville again in 1955, Malzone hit .310 with 33 doubles, 7 triples, 9 home runs, 88 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .432 slugging percentage. He was a league All-Star and received a September call-up to the Red Sox where he appeared in six games and produced seven hits. Malzone started the 1956 season with Boston but distracted by the offseason death of his baby daughter, was only hitting .165 when he was sent to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League in June. With the Seals he batted .286 with 14 doubles, 6 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .339 OBP. Returning to the Red Sox in 1957, he put together an outstanding season, batting .292 with 31 doubles, 5 triples, 15 home runs, 103 RBIs, a .323 OBP, and a .427 slugging percentage. Once a suspect fielder, he had developed into a fine third baseman and led AL third sackers in putouts (151), assists (370), and fielding percentage (.954). He was an All-Star and received a Gold Glove but was ineligible for Rookie of the Year consideration, although he received one vote from a rebel scribe anyway. The quiet and modest Malzone got off to a slow start at the plate in 1958 but came on to finish at .295 with 30 doubles, 15 home runs, 87 RBIs, and a .333 OBP. Hitting behind slugger Ted Williams in the lineup, Malzone benefited from pitchers pitching around Williams in clutch situations. He was again a Gold Glove winner at third base. Proving himself to be a consistent performer in 1959, he batted .280 with 34 doubles, 19 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .323 OBP, and a .437 slugging percentage. He won another Gold Glove for his defensive performance. In 1960 his consecutive game playing streak ended at 475 games and, while still an All-Star, his hitting dropped off a bit to .271 with 30 doubles, 14 home runs, 79 RBIs, and a .313 OBP with a .398 slugging percentage. An ankle injury during the first week of the 1961 season sidelined Malzone for a few games and he went on to hit .266 with 21 doubles, 14 home runs, 87 RBIs, and a .314 OBP.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 156 games

3B – 156

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 663 [18]

At Bats – 619 [10, tied with Lenny Green]

Runs – 74

Hits – 175 [12]

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 21 [15, tied with Elston Howard, Willie Kirkland & Chuck Essegian]

RBI – 95 [10]

Bases on Balls – 35

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 43

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .283 [20]

OBP - .319

Slugging Pct. - .426

Total Bases – 264 [17]

GDP – 17 [9, tied with five others]

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 4

Sac Flies – 5 [20, tied with twelve others] 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, HR - 11, RBI - 51, AVG - .288, OBP - .323 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. NY Yankees 5/16, (in 5 AB) at Minnesota 8/18

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 11

/Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. Cleveland 6/9, (in 5 AB) at Minnesota 8/18

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. KC A’s 6/30, at Minnesota 8/18

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 483

Put Outs – 154

Assists – 313

Errors – 16

DP – 32

Pct. - .967

Awards & Honors:

31^st in AL MVP voting, tied with Norm Cash, Det. (3 points, 1% share

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The Red Sox went 76-84 to finish eighth in the AL, 19 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in doubles (257). In ninth place by May 20, the Red Sox struggled to play .500 ball during the season’s last two months to finish one place higher.

Aftermath of 1962:

Malzone got off to a hot start in 1963 and was batting .345 on July 1 before tailing off in the season’s second half, most notably due to a dreadful five-week slump, and finishing at .291 with 25 doubles, 15 home runs, 71 RBIs, and a .327 OBP. A steady player thus far both offensively and on defense, Malzone, while still one of the league’s better third basemen, showed signs of slowing down in 1964 as he hit .264 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .312 OBP. His playing time diminished in 1965 as young Dalton Jones was groomed as his replacement and in 106 games he batted .239 with 20 doubles, 3 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .293 OBP in what proved to be his last year with Boston. Released in the offseason, he signed with the California Angels in 1966 where he appeared in 82 games, mostly as a pinch-hitter, and batted .206 in his last major league season. For his major league career, which was spent almost entirely with the Red Sox, Malzone batted .274 with 1486 hits that included 239 doubles, 21 triples, and 133 home runs. He scored 647 runs and produced 728 RBIs, a .315 OBP, and a .399 slugging percentage. An eight-time All-Star he received three Gold Gloves for his play at third base. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995. Following his playing career, he became a scout and spring training instructor for the Red Sox. Malzone died in 2015 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: Ed Bressoud, 1962

Shortstop, Boston Red Sox

Age: 30 (May 2)

1^st season with Red Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height:6’1”    Weight: 175 

Prior to 1962:

A Los Angeles native, Bressoud (pronounced Breh-SUE) was an All-City baseball player in high school and also played American Legion ball. He played semipro baseball while attending college to obtain a degree in Physical Education. Signed by the New York Giants in 1950, the young shortstop was assigned to Springfield of the Class D Ohio-Indiana League where he appeared in 70 games and batted .240 with 19 extra-base hits. In 1951 Bressoud advanced to Sioux City of the Class A Western League and hit .230 with 20 doubles, 5 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a .298 on-base-percentage. Returning to Sioux City in 1952 he batted .252 with 25 doubles, 4 triples, 5 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .359 OBP. Defensively, Bressoud led the league’s shortstops in putouts (302), assists (487), and double plays (105). In the offseason he commenced a two-year stint in the Marines. While missing two seasons, he did play some military baseball. Resuming his career in 1955, Bressoud was assigned to the Minneapolis Millers of the Class AAA American Association where he batted .251 with 35 doubles, 19 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .318 OBP. Back with Minneapolis in 1956, he hit .269 with 18 doubles, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .330 OBP. Along the way he was called up by the Giants following the June trade of veteran shortstop Alvin Dark to the St. Louis Cardinals. With Daryl Spencer seeing more of the action at shortstop and Bressoud’s batting average dropping to .227, he was returned to Minneapolis where he finished the season. Starting the 1957 season with Minneapolis, Bressoud was called up by the Giants in July and went on to hit .268 with 5 home runs, 10 RBIs, and a .299 OBP while seeing action at both shortstop and third base. The franchise moved to San Francisco in 1958, but Bressoud’s season was shadowed by a personal tragedy when his wife died from a brain tumor. Sent home to spend time with his family, he ended up appearing in only 66 games and batting .263 with a .331 OBP. Bressoud started the 1959 season in a backup role but took over as the starting shortstop at midseason due to the errant fielding of Andre Rodgers as the Giants fought the Dodgers and Braves in a tight pennant race. He helped to stabilize the infield defense while batting .251 with 17 doubles, 9 home runs, 26 RBIs, and a .311 OBP. His batting average dropped to .225 and his OBP to .290 in 1960 although he produced 19 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, and 43 RBIs. Hindered by a leg injury in 1961, Bressoud was displaced at short by Jose Pagan. Limited to 59 games he hit 3 home runs with 11 RBIs and a .276 OBP. Exposed in the NL expansion draft in the offseason, he was selected by the Houston Colt .45s who dealt him to the Red Sox who appreciated his glove work and being a right-handed pull hitter with some power who could be a good fit at Fenway Park.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

SS – 153

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 657 [19]

At Bats – 599 [18]

Runs – 79

Hits – 166 [17, tied with Nellie Fox]

Doubles – 40 [3]

Triples – 9 [5, tied with Brooks Robinson]

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 68

Bases on Balls – 46

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 118 [2]

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .277

OBP - .329

Slugging Pct. - .444

Total Bases – 266 [15]

GDP – 14 [18, tied with six others]

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 7

Sac Flies – 3 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 18, 3B – 4, HR - 6, RBI - 37, AVG - .268, OBP - .314

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Most hits, game – 3 on ten occasions

Longest hitting streak – 14 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. KC A’s 6/30

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 801

Put Outs – 291

Assists – 482

Errors – 28

DP – 107

Pct. - .965

Awards & Honors:

26^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Whitey Ford NYY & Bob Rodgers LAA (6 points – 2% share)

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The Red Sox went 76-84 to finish eighth in the AL, 19 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in doubles (257). In ninth place by May 20, the Red Sox struggled to play .500 ball during the season’s last two months to finish one place higher.

Aftermath of 1962:

Bressoud continued to display power from the shortstop position in 1963 as he batted .260 with 23 doubles, 6 triples, 20 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .329 OBP, and a .451 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star for the only time in his career in 1964 as he started the season with a 20-game hitting streak on his way to batting .293 with 41 doubles, 15 home runs, 55 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .456 slugging percentage. Bressoud’s hitting dropped off in 1965 and he lost playing time to Rico Petrocelli, a young shortstop with power, and in 107 games he batted .226 with 8 home runs, 25 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. With the Red Sox committing to younger players, he was traded to the New York Mets for outfielder Joe Christopher. Expected to fill more of a utility role for the Mets, he saw the most action at shortstop, splitting time with veteran Roy McMillan and the up-and-coming Bud Harrelson, and he hit .225 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .304 OBP. Prone to striking out, he began wearing glasses during the season, which proved helpful. Just prior to the 1967 season Bressoud was dealt once again, this time to the St. Louis Cardinals. He saw little action as a reserve infielder with the pennant-winning Cardinals and announced his retirement following the World Series victory over the Red Sox. For his major league career, Bressoud batted .252 with 925 hits that included 184 doubles, 40 triples, and 94 home runs. He scored 443 runs and compiled 365 RBIs, a .319 OBP, and a .401 slugging percentage. With the Red Sox he batted .270 and scored 255 runs with 115 doubles, 19 triples, 57 home runs, 208 RBIs, a .337 OBP, and a .435 slugging percentage. He appeared in two World Series games with St. Louis in 1967 and had no plate appearances. In addition to being a one-time All-Star Bressoud received MVP votes following two seasons, both with the Red Sox. After his playing career he was a scout and minor league manager in addition to a long teaching career. Bressoud died in 2023 at age 91.

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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.