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1960s SEASON RECAP
The 1960s were a decade of change. The Vietnam War, Woodstock, and Civil Rights separated the country, but the NASA’s moon landing and Andy Cummings’ birth brought the nation together again.
The playoffs began early for three teams: Ralph Houk’s New York Yankees, Hank Bauer’s Baltimore Orioles, and Walt Alston’s Los Angeles Dodgers. With the San Francisco Giants running away with the Western Division, the Dodgers were seeking the Wild Card, while the Orioles and Yankees fought for the Eastern Division crown, with the loser still being in play for the Wild Card as well. With six games to go, the Orioles and Yankees were in a flat-footed tie for the East with 88-68 records, while the Dodgers led the Wild Card with an 89-67 record. The Dodgers rolled in to Minneapolis to face the Twins and won 2-3, though ace Sandy Koufax lost the first game to Dean Chance. Meanwhile, the Orioles and Yankees faced off in Baltimore. In the first game, Dave McNally went the distance, earning a 3-2 win when Luis Arroyo uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Boog Powell to score the winning sun from third. In Game Two, Johnny Blanchard blasted two home runs to back Whitey Ford, and the Yankees pulled even in the standings with an 11-6 win. Steve Barber led the Orioles to a 7-2 win in Game Three, and the Orioles (90-69) led the Yankees (89-70) by one game, with the Dodgers (91-68) still holding their slim one game lead in the Wild Card. The last series for the teams saw each squad hit the road: the Dodgers to division-leading San Francisco, the Orioles to Shea Stadium to face the Mets, and the Yankees to Philadelphia to face the lowly Phillies. The Orioles used five pitchers to battle the Amazin’s Tom Seaver and take a 4-3 victory. The Yankees rode Moose Skowron’s first inning grand slam to a 10-6 win over the Phillies, while Willie Mays and Willie McCovey hit two home runs apiece to batter the Dodgers 7-4. With two games remaining, the Orioles led the Yankees by one game for the division and the Dodgers led the Yankees by one game for the Wild Card. The second set of games began with a Shea Stadium pitcher’s duel between Dave McNally and Jon Matlack, with the Orioles taking a 2-1 on Russ Snyder’s 9th inning sacrifice fly. The Yankees bashed the Phillies again by a score of 12-4, with Bob Cerv providing the seemingly ubiquitous Yankee grand slam. Both teams then turned their eyes to the West Coast, where Sandy Koufax and Gaylord Perry faced off. The Giants beat the Dodgers 5-3 with three runs in the 8th. With one game to play, the Orioles still led the Yankees by one game for the Eastern Division, while the Dodgers and Yankees were now tied for the Wild Card, 91-70. The last day of the season opened in New York, and Jim Palmer was up for the challenge. The young righty pitched a 5 hit shutout, giving the Orioles a 5-0 win over the Mets and the Eastern Division title. The Yankees faced a more game Phillies squad for the final game of the season, but the Bill Stafford’s complete game victory as the Yanks beat the Phils 6-2. The Dodgers now knew they had to beat the Giants to make the playoffs, and sent big Don Drysdale to the mound. In the first inning, Willie Mays tripled in a run and then scored on McCovey’s single, the Dodgers could not solve lefty Billy O’Dell, and Mays capped the Dodgers’ woes with a two-run home run in the 8th, giving the Giants a 5-1 win, a series sweep, and handing the Wild Card to the Yankees.
EASTERN DIVISION
The Eastern Division-winning Baltimore Orioles rode power arms and power bats to the title. Cy Young Award winner Dave McNally (26-11, 3.00 ERA, 0.93 WHIP), Jim Palmer (21-17, 3.47 ERA), and Steve Barber (22-15, 3.99 ERA) each won 20 games, and closer Pete Richert saved 38. The offense was paced by Frank Robinson (48 HR, 124 RBI), Boog Powell (44 HR, 100 RBI), and Jim Gentile (49 HR, 116 RBI). The Yankees fell one game short, but did win the Wild Card. Ralph Houk’s charges were the Bronx Bombers in every sense of the word, as League MVP Mickey Mantle (.340 AVG, 57 HR, 125 RBI, 154 Runs), Yogi Berra (43 HR, 116 RBI), Roger Maris (54 HR 113 RBI), Johnny Blanchard (48 HR, 127 RBI), and Elston Howard (.317 AVG, 35 HR, 94 RBI) led the Yankees offensively, while Bud Daley went 23-10 and Luis Arroyo saved 35 games. The third place New York Mets were led by pitchers Tom Seaver (17-19, 3.91 ERA, league-leading 355 K) and Jerry Koosman (19-16, 2.98 ERA), leftfielder Cleon Jones (.342 AVG, 108 Runs), centerfielder Amos Otis (.303 AVG, 19 HR), and rightfielder Tommie Agee (26 HR, 102 RBI). The last place Philadelphia Phillies had a dismal finish, though left-hander Chris Short (14-23, 3.85 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) and first baseman Dick Allen (45 HR, 108 RBI) performed well.
CENTRAL DIVISION
The Detroit Tigers won the Central Division by six games, and were paced on the mound by Denny McLain (25-15, 3.15 ERA, 1.19 WHIP). At the dish, the Tigers were very strong as well, as Willie Horton (50 HR, 124 RBI), Al Kaline (.305 AVG, 29 HR, 85 RBI, 116 Runs), Norm Cash (45 HR, 118 RBI, 125 Runs), Gates Brown (.317 AVG, 29 HR, 118 RBI), and Bill Freehan (32 HR, 83 RBI) all made solid contributions. The St. Louis Cardinals were close all year, but a late-season sweep at the hands of Detroit ended their title hopes. Ken Boyer (35 HR, 105 RBI), Stan Musial (18 HR, 79 RBI), Tim McCarver .324 AVG, 20 HR, 79 RBI), and Mike Shannon (19 HR, 80 RBI) led at the plate, while Bob Gibson (16-19, 3.36 ERA), Mike Cuellar (23-14, 3.39 ERA), and closer Barney Schultz (37 Saves) were the pitching stars for the Cards. The Boston Red Sox were very strong on offense, led by Carl Yastrzemski (.307 AVG, 44 HR, 123 RBI), Rico Petrocelli (41 HR, 112 RBI), Reggie Smith (.301 AVG, 43 HR, 114 RBI) , and Tony Conigliaro (31 HR, 109 RBI), but only closer Dick Radatz (29 Saves, 3.74 ERA) had a positive campaign. The last place Pittsburgh Pirates were led by Roberto Clemente (.313 AVG, 41 Doubles) and Mickey Vernon (.308 AVG).
WESTERN DIVISION
The San Francisco Giants went 99-63, compiling the league’s best record. Closer and Fireman Award winner Stu Miller saved an astounding 54 games, and Juan Marichal (24-11, 2.79 ERA, 0.97 WHIP), Gaylord Perry (25-12, 3.14 ERA), and Billy O’Dell (22-14) each won 20. Centerfielder Willie Mays (39 HR, 120 RBI, 117 Runs), first baseman Willie McCovey (43 HR, 118 RBI), rightfielder Felipe Alou (42 HR, 108 RBI, 115 Runs), leftfielder Harvey Kuenn (.307 AVG, 105 Runs), and designated hitter Orlando Cepeda 43 HR, 121 RBI) led an offensive barrage on the rest of the league. The Los Angeles Dodgers were in the playoff hunt until the very end. The Dodgers hitched their wagons to the pitching duo of Sandy Koufax (23-15, 3.01 ERA, 351 K) and Don Drysdale (24-13, 2.66 ERA), while slick-fielding first baseman Wes Parker (.309 AVG, 61 Doubles, 112 RBI) and Frank Howard (.300 AVG, 45 HR, 147 RBI) led the hitters. The Minnesota Twins finished in third place, with Tom Hall (12-2, 2.06 ERA, 1.12 WHIP), Dean Chance (16-14, 3.71 ERA), and closer Wayne Granger (46 Saves) pitching well, while Harmon Killebrew (.304, 57 HR, 125 RBI), Tony Oliva (19 HR, 99 RBI), and Jimmie Hall (26 HR, 81 RBI) led the hitters. The Chicago Cubs finished last, though Ferguson Jenkins (20-18, 3.54 ERA won 20, Phil Regan saved 47, and Ernie Banks (50 HR, 116 RBI), Billy Williams (38 HR, 111 RBI), Jim Hickman (36 HR, 93 RBI), and Ron Santo (21 HR, 89 RBI) gave the Bleacher Bums some offense to cheer about.
SEMI-FINALS
The New York Yankees took a flight to San Francisco to face the Giants at Candlestick Park. In Game One, the Yankees got to Gaylord Perry early, with Mickey Mantle driving in a run with a sacrifice fly in the 1st, and then Moose Skowron blasted a two-run shot in the 2nd. The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the 5th, powered by Willie Mays’ two-run home run. In the top of the 6th, however, Mantle walked and Roger Maris slammed a home run to right, giving the Yankees a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the 9th, Hal Lanier led off with a triple and scored on Bob Nieman’s sacrifice fly, but Luis Arroyo got the final two outs for the save in relief of starter Whitey Ford. Bob Turley twirled a masterpiece in Game Two, holding the Giants to one run in a complete game 6-1 victory for the Bronx Bombers. Johnny Blanchard and Yogi Berra homered for the Giants against Frisco starter Juan Marichal.
Game Three saw the teams go cross-country to Yankee Stadium, and two lefties took the mound for their respective teams. Billy O’Dell worked for the Giants, while 23-game winner Bud Daley pitched for the Yankees. The Yankees scored first in the bottom of the 1st, with the big blow being Elston Howard’s double, and the Bombers had an early 3-0 lead. The Giants struck for 3 of their own in the top of the 2nd, with Bob Nieman hitting a two-run single and then scoring on Hal Lanier’s triple. Howard was O’Dell’s nemesis in the 5th, as he hit another double into center, scoring Joe Demaestri and Bobby Richardson. The Yankees now led 5-3. Daley gave up 3 successive singles to Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, and Jim Davenport, loading the bases. Ralph Houk then called on reliever Ryne Duren, who induced Felipe Alou to ground into a double play, though McCovey scored from third. Bob Nieman followed with a double, scoring Cepeda and tying the game at 5. In the top of the 7th, Willie Mays blasted Duren’s fastball deep into the centerfield stands, and the Giants led 6-5. Giants closer Stu Miller entered in the 8th, but in the 9th, after recording two quick out, pinch-hitter Johnny Blanchard smoked a double towards the deepest part of left-centerfield. With tying run in scoring position, Bobby Richardson slapped a line drive that, had it have been 5 feet to the left or right, would have tied the game, but instead the drive settled into Davenport’s glove at third, giving the Giants a 6-5 win. Sluggers struck early in Game Four, with Willie McCovey blasting a home run to right-center in the top of the first, only to be upstaged by Mickey Mantle’s three-run home run into the third deck in right. In the top of the 3rd, Willie Mays homered to almost the same spot he hit the day before, and the Giants led the game by a score of 4-3. In the bottom of the 5th, with one out, Giants starter Jack Sanford surrendered a double to right by Tony Kubek. Earl Torgeson pulled a single to right, but, as Kubek rounded third with the tying run, Felipe Alou unloaded a laser to the plate, cutting Kubek down. However, Bobby Richardson’s hard grounder, which should have ended the inning, went straight through shortstop Jose Pagan and rolled into the leftfield alley, scoring Torgeson as Richardson pulled in safely at second. Mickey Mantle then crushed Sanford’s pitch into Monument Park, scoring Richardson easily, as Mantle completed a stand-up triple, giving the Yankees the lead, 5-4. Luis Arroyo picked up the 3-inning save in relief of Bill Stafford and the Yanks were within one win of the World Series. Game Five saw the Bombers score three runs in the first inning for the third straight game, with Johnny Blanchard’s two-run homer being the big blow. Felipe Alou put the Giants on the board in the third with a sacrifice fly, and, in the 4th, Orlando Cepeda hit a solo shot to center. Earl Torgeson extended the Yankees’ lead in the bottom of the 4th with a two-run home run. In the top of the 5th, Harvey Kuenn singled, followed by Alou’s double to center. With runners now on second and third, Willie Mays hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Kuenn. Cepeda singled to center, and the Giants were within one run. Jose Pagan homered in the 6th to tie the game, but the Yankees struck again in this see-saw game, as Torgeson hit a bases-loaded triple to right-center, and the Yankees led 8-5. Reliever Don Larsen entered, and, in the 7th inning allowed singles to Mays and McCovey, bringing up the white-hot Orlando Cepeda, who hit a three-run bomb to left-center, tying the game. John Orsino later singled Jose Pagan in, giving the Giants a 9-8 lead. Cepeda was not through, homering again in the top of the 8th, driving in his 6th and 7th runs of the game, and giving the Giants a 12-8 win.
The two teams moved back to Candlestick Park for Game Six. Tony Kubek started the scoring in the 3rd with a two-run home run off Giants’ starter Juan Marichal. It would not be Marichal’s day. Roger Maris reached him for a home run to right in the 4th, and then the Yankees blew the doors off in the top of the 5th, scoring 5 runs, led by Mickey Mantle’s 3-run home run to center. Orlando Cepeda answered in the bottom of the 5th with his 4th home run in two days, but it was not enough. Maris homered again in a 6-run 8th inning, and the Yankees thoroughly defeated and deflated the Giants by a score of 18-2. Ralph Houk’s Yankees were on the way to the World Series.
SEMI-FINALS
The Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles met at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium to begin their Semi-Final Series. The Orioles threw Cy Young winner Dave McNally, and the left-hander did not disappoint. McNally allowed only 3 hits and 1 run over 8 innings, Pete Richert picked up the save, and Brooks Robinson provided the punch with 2 home runs in the Orioles 4-1 victory. In Game Two, the Tigers handed the ball to their ace, Denny McLain. Backed by a 2nd-inning Bill Freehan double and a 3rd inning Jim Northrup home run, McLain pitched brilliantly, allowing 5 hits and two runs in a 4-2 complete game win.
Game Three moved to Detroit’s Tiger Stadium. In the 2nd, Brooks Robinson homered to left off Tigers starter Mickey Lolich. It would be the only Orioles run of the day, and, thanks to Jim Northrup, it would not be enough. Northrup homered in the 4th and again in the bottom of the 8th, and the Tigers won 3-1, taking a 2-1 series lead. Game Four began with Brooks Robinson continuing his hot hitting, clouting a solo home run in the 2nd, his 3rd of the series. Gates Brown tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd with a home run, and the Tigers took a big lead in the bottom of the 3rd, aided by Bill Freehan’s three-run home run. The Tigers now led 5-1. Norm Cash and Willie Horton contributed later home runs, and Earl Wilson struck out 10, leading Detroit to an 8-4 victory, and moving the Tigers within one game of the World Series. Game Five began with the Orioles on the brink of elimination. Baltimore struck quickly, as Frank Robinson blasted a two-run home run to left. Dave McNally to the mound for the O’s and, except for a Mickey Stanley solo home run, held the Tigers in check. Frank Robinson doubled in a 3-run Oriole 8th, and McNally went to the 9th with a 5-1 lead. The Tigers would not go quietly, however, as Willie Horton hit a solo shot to center. Al Kaline singled, Dick McAuliffe followed with a single, and McNally hit Don Wert with a pitch, loading the bases. Hank Bauer went to closer Pete Richert, whose first pitch to Eddie Mathews resulted in a hard grounder to short, which Luis Aparicio misplayed, allowing 2 more runs to score. With the score now 5-4, Richert intentionally walked Gates Brown, loading the bases again, but the strategy worked, as Richert struck out Bill Freehan, saving McNally’s work, as the Orioles won, 5-4.
Tigers Game Six starter Denny McLain was given an early lead, thanks to Eddie Mathews two-run double in the top of the first off Orioles starter Jim Palmer. The young right-hander settled down after the 1st, and the Orioles got on the board in the 4th, when Frank Robinson doubled to lead off the frame, and Brooks Robinson singled him in. As Palmer continued to post zeroes in the subsequent innings, Baltimore hero Brooks Robinson came to the plate with Bill Freehan aboard courtesy of a McLain walk. Robinson then thrilled the Orioles fans with a long drive to center, which cleared the wall and gave the O’s a 3-2 lead. After Palmer left after 7, Bauer did a masterful job of matchups, using Dick Hall, Frank Bertaina, Moe Drabowsky, and closer Pete Richert to hold the slim lead and tie the series at 3 games apiece. The World Series participant would be decided in a winner-take-all Game Seven.
Pat Dobson of Detroit and Steve Barber of Baltimore were the starters for Game Seven. The Orioles drew first blood in the bottom of the third, as Curt Blefary walked and was later driven home on Boog Powell’s double to right. Blefary walked again the 4th, and this time Jim Gentile slammed a home run to center, and the Orioles led 3-0. The Tigers finally scored in the top of the 5th, as Brooks Robinson bobbled Willie Horton’s two-out, bases-loaded grounder, allowing Mathews to score. Oriole catcher Cam Carreon let Barber’s next pitch go right through the wickets, scoring Don Wert on the passed ball. The game moved on to the 8th, when, after recording one out, Barber walked Al Kaline and was replaced by closer Richert. Richert could not save the game for Barber, because on his first pitch, Dick McAuliffe scorched a drive to right-center, scoring Kaline on the triple. After Richert struck out Jim Northrup but walked Eddie Mathews, Bauer called on Dick Hall who got Don Wert on a grounder to third, ending the inning. After the two clubs swapped zeroes in the bottom of the 8th and top of the 9th, the Orioles started a rally in the bottom of the 9th, as Brooks Robinson singled off reliever Daryl Patterson, who then walked Paul Blair. The Tigers went to reliever Paul Lasher. Cam Carreon laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with only one out, 90 feet from victory in the series. Luis Aparicio hit a hard grounder, but it was directly at third baseman Eddie Mathews, who checked Robinson at third and threw on to first for the second out. Davey Johnson then grounded to short, and the Orioles fans groaned and fell back in their seats as the last out of the 9th was recorded. This Semi-Final Series would be decided in extra innings. Frank Bertaina pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 10th for Baltimore. In the bottom of the 10th, Lasher induced Curt Blefary to ground out to first for the first out of the inning. Jim Gentile then hit a long fly ball to center, but Mickey Stanley could not get there before the ball caromed off the right-centerfield fence. The Series-winning run was in scoring position. Frank Robinson came to the plate, and made hard contact with a 2-0 fastball, and the fans rose from their feet, only to watch the ball die on the warning track in left. With two outs, Boog Powell was the batter. Strike one was a curve on the outside corner. Lasher’s next pitch was a breaking ball in the dirt, on which Powell held up. Lasher then tried to sneak a fastball by Powell, but Boog was ready. Powell’s drive kept carrying to center, and Stanley could only look up helplessly as the ball flew over his head. The Orioles had completed the comeback from 3 games to 1, and Boog Powell’s two-run home run gave Baltimore a 5-3 victory, sending the Birds to the World Series.
WORLD SERIES
The World Series would simply be a continuation of the Eastern Division race. Game One would be played in Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. Hank Bauer would turn to Cy Young winner Dave McNally, with Whitey Ford on the mound for the Yankees. The Oriole bats made short work of Ford, scoring 2 in the 1st, 3 in the 2nd, and 4 in the 3rd. McNally continued his winning ways, holding the Bombers to 3 runs and 5 hits in a complete game 10-3 victory. Paul Blair was 3-3, and Boog Powell and Andy Etchebarren homered in the contest. Game Two began with the Orioles once again slapping the New York starter around, this time a bewildered Bill Stafford. Curt Blefary hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 1st, Powell walked to force in a run in the 2nd, Luis Aparicio tripled and Davey Johnson doubled him in for a run in the 3rd, and Paul Blair inside-outed a single to right to score 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th, giving the Orioles a 6-1 lead. The Yankees finally got to Jim Palmer in the 7th, when Earl Torgeson hit a two-run double and Mickey Mantle later drove Torgeson in with a sacrifice fly, but the Bombers got no closer. Bauer’s succession of relievers in the 8th and closer Pete Richert in the 9th ended the game at 6-4, giving the Orioles a 2-0 advantage in the Series.
Game Three was played at historic Yankee Stadium, and a historic Yankee gave his squad its first lead of the Series when Yogi Berra homered to right in the bottom of the 2nd. Frank Robinson doubled in Davey Johnson in the top of the 3rd and took the lead on Andy Etchebarren’s 2nd home run of the Series in the 4th. In the bottom of the 4th, after Don Johnson reached on an error, Moose Skowron connected and sent a pitch deep into the leftfield stands for a 2-run home run. The Yankees extended their lead in the 5th wen light-hitting Joe DeMaestri sliced a home run down the left-field line, only inches fair. After the 7th inning stretch, Skowron blasted the first pitch he saw in to the leftfield stands, giving the Yankees a 5-1 lead. Luis Arroyo had entered the game in relief in the 7th, but in the 9th, allowed Jim Gentile to single and then gave up a home run to Curt Blefary, slicing the Yankee lead to 5-4, but then struck out Aparicio before retiring Boog Powell on a groundball to third. The wind was obviously blowing out in Game Four, as starters Bob Turley and Eddie Watt could both attest. Blefary continued his hot Series with a solo shot to center in the top of the 1st, and the Orioles scored two more in the 2nd on an Aparicio single. Johnny Blanchard put the Bombers on the board with a solo blast to center in the bottom of the 2nd, but the Orioles would soon provide a whole roadside stand-worth of fireworks in the 3rd. Jim Gentile walked and Frank Robinson plated him with a two-run bomb to center. Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson then followed Big Frank’s lead, as each homered into the centerfield bleachers as well, for back-to-back-to-back home runs. After the 3rd, the O’s led 8-1. The Yankees clawed their way back to a 9-5 deficit through 8, but Gentile smacked a grand slam into the second deck in right, and the Orioles won 13-5. One more win would bring the World Series title home to Charm City.
It was almost like Game Four never ended, as Game Five began with Jim Gentile crushing another home run to right, this one a two-run job into the third deck, and the Orioles had an early 2-0 lead on the Yankees and the Chairman of the Board, Whitey Ford. Clete Boyer hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 2nd, and the score was knotted at 2. Both pitchers calmed down, and the game moved scoreless to the 8th. Paul Blair singled in that frame, and Gentile struck again, this time with a run-scoring double to center. Bauer went to his usual litany of relievers in relief of McNally in the bottom of the 8th, but Dick Hall walked Johnny Blanchard after two outs, Moe Drabowsky walked Elston Howard, and Frank Bertaina walked Roger Maris. Closer Pete Richert entered the game with the bases loaded but induced a ground ball from Don Johnson, with shortstop Aparicio throwing tossing to second for the inning-ending force play. The Orioles extended their lead to 4-2 in the 9th, when Davey Johnson singled in Luis Aparicio, and Richert entered the 9th, getting Skowron and Boyer on groundouts, then striking out Joe DeMaestri for the save and the Orioles 4-2 win. Cy Young Winner and World Series MVP Dave McNally was dominant during the playoffs, with a 4-0 record and 1.93 ERA. After years as the second-division St. Louis Browns, the new-look Baltimore Orioles were the toast of their new town and World Series Champions.
1966 BALTIMORE ORIOLES
WORLD CHAMPIONS
League Awards
MVP—Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees
CY YOUNG AWARD—Dave McNally, Baltimore Orioles
FIREMAN OF THE YEAR—Stu Miller, San Francisco Giants
League Leaders
Batting Average-Cleon Jones, New York Mets .342
Home Runs-Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees 57 HR Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins 57 HR
RBI- Frank Howard, Los Angeles Dodgers 147 RBI
Runs- Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees 154 Runs
Hits- Cleon Jones, New York Mets 226 Hits
Doubles- Wes Parker, Los Angeles Dodgers 61 2B
Triples-Jim Gilliam, Los Angeles Dodgers 15 3B
Stolen Bases-Rod Carew, Minnesota Twins 44 SB
Hit Streak-Ken Boyer, St. Louis Cardinals 31 games
Pitching Leaders
Wins- Dave McNally, Baltimore Orioles 26-11
Saves-Stu Miller, San Francisco Giants 54 Saves
Strikeouts-Tom Seaver, New York Mets 355 K
ERA-Don Drysdale, Los Angeles Dodgers 2.66 ERA
The 1960s were a decade of change. The Vietnam War, Woodstock, and Civil Rights separated the country, but the NASA’s moon landing and Andy Cummings’ birth brought the nation together again.
The playoffs began early for three teams: Ralph Houk’s New York Yankees, Hank Bauer’s Baltimore Orioles, and Walt Alston’s Los Angeles Dodgers. With the San Francisco Giants running away with the Western Division, the Dodgers were seeking the Wild Card, while the Orioles and Yankees fought for the Eastern Division crown, with the loser still being in play for the Wild Card as well. With six games to go, the Orioles and Yankees were in a flat-footed tie for the East with 88-68 records, while the Dodgers led the Wild Card with an 89-67 record. The Dodgers rolled in to Minneapolis to face the Twins and won 2-3, though ace Sandy Koufax lost the first game to Dean Chance. Meanwhile, the Orioles and Yankees faced off in Baltimore. In the first game, Dave McNally went the distance, earning a 3-2 win when Luis Arroyo uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Boog Powell to score the winning sun from third. In Game Two, Johnny Blanchard blasted two home runs to back Whitey Ford, and the Yankees pulled even in the standings with an 11-6 win. Steve Barber led the Orioles to a 7-2 win in Game Three, and the Orioles (90-69) led the Yankees (89-70) by one game, with the Dodgers (91-68) still holding their slim one game lead in the Wild Card. The last series for the teams saw each squad hit the road: the Dodgers to division-leading San Francisco, the Orioles to Shea Stadium to face the Mets, and the Yankees to Philadelphia to face the lowly Phillies. The Orioles used five pitchers to battle the Amazin’s Tom Seaver and take a 4-3 victory. The Yankees rode Moose Skowron’s first inning grand slam to a 10-6 win over the Phillies, while Willie Mays and Willie McCovey hit two home runs apiece to batter the Dodgers 7-4. With two games remaining, the Orioles led the Yankees by one game for the division and the Dodgers led the Yankees by one game for the Wild Card. The second set of games began with a Shea Stadium pitcher’s duel between Dave McNally and Jon Matlack, with the Orioles taking a 2-1 on Russ Snyder’s 9th inning sacrifice fly. The Yankees bashed the Phillies again by a score of 12-4, with Bob Cerv providing the seemingly ubiquitous Yankee grand slam. Both teams then turned their eyes to the West Coast, where Sandy Koufax and Gaylord Perry faced off. The Giants beat the Dodgers 5-3 with three runs in the 8th. With one game to play, the Orioles still led the Yankees by one game for the Eastern Division, while the Dodgers and Yankees were now tied for the Wild Card, 91-70. The last day of the season opened in New York, and Jim Palmer was up for the challenge. The young righty pitched a 5 hit shutout, giving the Orioles a 5-0 win over the Mets and the Eastern Division title. The Yankees faced a more game Phillies squad for the final game of the season, but the Bill Stafford’s complete game victory as the Yanks beat the Phils 6-2. The Dodgers now knew they had to beat the Giants to make the playoffs, and sent big Don Drysdale to the mound. In the first inning, Willie Mays tripled in a run and then scored on McCovey’s single, the Dodgers could not solve lefty Billy O’Dell, and Mays capped the Dodgers’ woes with a two-run home run in the 8th, giving the Giants a 5-1 win, a series sweep, and handing the Wild Card to the Yankees.
EASTERN DIVISION
The Eastern Division-winning Baltimore Orioles rode power arms and power bats to the title. Cy Young Award winner Dave McNally (26-11, 3.00 ERA, 0.93 WHIP), Jim Palmer (21-17, 3.47 ERA), and Steve Barber (22-15, 3.99 ERA) each won 20 games, and closer Pete Richert saved 38. The offense was paced by Frank Robinson (48 HR, 124 RBI), Boog Powell (44 HR, 100 RBI), and Jim Gentile (49 HR, 116 RBI). The Yankees fell one game short, but did win the Wild Card. Ralph Houk’s charges were the Bronx Bombers in every sense of the word, as League MVP Mickey Mantle (.340 AVG, 57 HR, 125 RBI, 154 Runs), Yogi Berra (43 HR, 116 RBI), Roger Maris (54 HR 113 RBI), Johnny Blanchard (48 HR, 127 RBI), and Elston Howard (.317 AVG, 35 HR, 94 RBI) led the Yankees offensively, while Bud Daley went 23-10 and Luis Arroyo saved 35 games. The third place New York Mets were led by pitchers Tom Seaver (17-19, 3.91 ERA, league-leading 355 K) and Jerry Koosman (19-16, 2.98 ERA), leftfielder Cleon Jones (.342 AVG, 108 Runs), centerfielder Amos Otis (.303 AVG, 19 HR), and rightfielder Tommie Agee (26 HR, 102 RBI). The last place Philadelphia Phillies had a dismal finish, though left-hander Chris Short (14-23, 3.85 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) and first baseman Dick Allen (45 HR, 108 RBI) performed well.
CENTRAL DIVISION
The Detroit Tigers won the Central Division by six games, and were paced on the mound by Denny McLain (25-15, 3.15 ERA, 1.19 WHIP). At the dish, the Tigers were very strong as well, as Willie Horton (50 HR, 124 RBI), Al Kaline (.305 AVG, 29 HR, 85 RBI, 116 Runs), Norm Cash (45 HR, 118 RBI, 125 Runs), Gates Brown (.317 AVG, 29 HR, 118 RBI), and Bill Freehan (32 HR, 83 RBI) all made solid contributions. The St. Louis Cardinals were close all year, but a late-season sweep at the hands of Detroit ended their title hopes. Ken Boyer (35 HR, 105 RBI), Stan Musial (18 HR, 79 RBI), Tim McCarver .324 AVG, 20 HR, 79 RBI), and Mike Shannon (19 HR, 80 RBI) led at the plate, while Bob Gibson (16-19, 3.36 ERA), Mike Cuellar (23-14, 3.39 ERA), and closer Barney Schultz (37 Saves) were the pitching stars for the Cards. The Boston Red Sox were very strong on offense, led by Carl Yastrzemski (.307 AVG, 44 HR, 123 RBI), Rico Petrocelli (41 HR, 112 RBI), Reggie Smith (.301 AVG, 43 HR, 114 RBI) , and Tony Conigliaro (31 HR, 109 RBI), but only closer Dick Radatz (29 Saves, 3.74 ERA) had a positive campaign. The last place Pittsburgh Pirates were led by Roberto Clemente (.313 AVG, 41 Doubles) and Mickey Vernon (.308 AVG).
WESTERN DIVISION
The San Francisco Giants went 99-63, compiling the league’s best record. Closer and Fireman Award winner Stu Miller saved an astounding 54 games, and Juan Marichal (24-11, 2.79 ERA, 0.97 WHIP), Gaylord Perry (25-12, 3.14 ERA), and Billy O’Dell (22-14) each won 20. Centerfielder Willie Mays (39 HR, 120 RBI, 117 Runs), first baseman Willie McCovey (43 HR, 118 RBI), rightfielder Felipe Alou (42 HR, 108 RBI, 115 Runs), leftfielder Harvey Kuenn (.307 AVG, 105 Runs), and designated hitter Orlando Cepeda 43 HR, 121 RBI) led an offensive barrage on the rest of the league. The Los Angeles Dodgers were in the playoff hunt until the very end. The Dodgers hitched their wagons to the pitching duo of Sandy Koufax (23-15, 3.01 ERA, 351 K) and Don Drysdale (24-13, 2.66 ERA), while slick-fielding first baseman Wes Parker (.309 AVG, 61 Doubles, 112 RBI) and Frank Howard (.300 AVG, 45 HR, 147 RBI) led the hitters. The Minnesota Twins finished in third place, with Tom Hall (12-2, 2.06 ERA, 1.12 WHIP), Dean Chance (16-14, 3.71 ERA), and closer Wayne Granger (46 Saves) pitching well, while Harmon Killebrew (.304, 57 HR, 125 RBI), Tony Oliva (19 HR, 99 RBI), and Jimmie Hall (26 HR, 81 RBI) led the hitters. The Chicago Cubs finished last, though Ferguson Jenkins (20-18, 3.54 ERA won 20, Phil Regan saved 47, and Ernie Banks (50 HR, 116 RBI), Billy Williams (38 HR, 111 RBI), Jim Hickman (36 HR, 93 RBI), and Ron Santo (21 HR, 89 RBI) gave the Bleacher Bums some offense to cheer about.
SEMI-FINALS
The New York Yankees took a flight to San Francisco to face the Giants at Candlestick Park. In Game One, the Yankees got to Gaylord Perry early, with Mickey Mantle driving in a run with a sacrifice fly in the 1st, and then Moose Skowron blasted a two-run shot in the 2nd. The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the 5th, powered by Willie Mays’ two-run home run. In the top of the 6th, however, Mantle walked and Roger Maris slammed a home run to right, giving the Yankees a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the 9th, Hal Lanier led off with a triple and scored on Bob Nieman’s sacrifice fly, but Luis Arroyo got the final two outs for the save in relief of starter Whitey Ford. Bob Turley twirled a masterpiece in Game Two, holding the Giants to one run in a complete game 6-1 victory for the Bronx Bombers. Johnny Blanchard and Yogi Berra homered for the Giants against Frisco starter Juan Marichal.
Game Three saw the teams go cross-country to Yankee Stadium, and two lefties took the mound for their respective teams. Billy O’Dell worked for the Giants, while 23-game winner Bud Daley pitched for the Yankees. The Yankees scored first in the bottom of the 1st, with the big blow being Elston Howard’s double, and the Bombers had an early 3-0 lead. The Giants struck for 3 of their own in the top of the 2nd, with Bob Nieman hitting a two-run single and then scoring on Hal Lanier’s triple. Howard was O’Dell’s nemesis in the 5th, as he hit another double into center, scoring Joe Demaestri and Bobby Richardson. The Yankees now led 5-3. Daley gave up 3 successive singles to Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, and Jim Davenport, loading the bases. Ralph Houk then called on reliever Ryne Duren, who induced Felipe Alou to ground into a double play, though McCovey scored from third. Bob Nieman followed with a double, scoring Cepeda and tying the game at 5. In the top of the 7th, Willie Mays blasted Duren’s fastball deep into the centerfield stands, and the Giants led 6-5. Giants closer Stu Miller entered in the 8th, but in the 9th, after recording two quick out, pinch-hitter Johnny Blanchard smoked a double towards the deepest part of left-centerfield. With tying run in scoring position, Bobby Richardson slapped a line drive that, had it have been 5 feet to the left or right, would have tied the game, but instead the drive settled into Davenport’s glove at third, giving the Giants a 6-5 win. Sluggers struck early in Game Four, with Willie McCovey blasting a home run to right-center in the top of the first, only to be upstaged by Mickey Mantle’s three-run home run into the third deck in right. In the top of the 3rd, Willie Mays homered to almost the same spot he hit the day before, and the Giants led the game by a score of 4-3. In the bottom of the 5th, with one out, Giants starter Jack Sanford surrendered a double to right by Tony Kubek. Earl Torgeson pulled a single to right, but, as Kubek rounded third with the tying run, Felipe Alou unloaded a laser to the plate, cutting Kubek down. However, Bobby Richardson’s hard grounder, which should have ended the inning, went straight through shortstop Jose Pagan and rolled into the leftfield alley, scoring Torgeson as Richardson pulled in safely at second. Mickey Mantle then crushed Sanford’s pitch into Monument Park, scoring Richardson easily, as Mantle completed a stand-up triple, giving the Yankees the lead, 5-4. Luis Arroyo picked up the 3-inning save in relief of Bill Stafford and the Yanks were within one win of the World Series. Game Five saw the Bombers score three runs in the first inning for the third straight game, with Johnny Blanchard’s two-run homer being the big blow. Felipe Alou put the Giants on the board in the third with a sacrifice fly, and, in the 4th, Orlando Cepeda hit a solo shot to center. Earl Torgeson extended the Yankees’ lead in the bottom of the 4th with a two-run home run. In the top of the 5th, Harvey Kuenn singled, followed by Alou’s double to center. With runners now on second and third, Willie Mays hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Kuenn. Cepeda singled to center, and the Giants were within one run. Jose Pagan homered in the 6th to tie the game, but the Yankees struck again in this see-saw game, as Torgeson hit a bases-loaded triple to right-center, and the Yankees led 8-5. Reliever Don Larsen entered, and, in the 7th inning allowed singles to Mays and McCovey, bringing up the white-hot Orlando Cepeda, who hit a three-run bomb to left-center, tying the game. John Orsino later singled Jose Pagan in, giving the Giants a 9-8 lead. Cepeda was not through, homering again in the top of the 8th, driving in his 6th and 7th runs of the game, and giving the Giants a 12-8 win.
The two teams moved back to Candlestick Park for Game Six. Tony Kubek started the scoring in the 3rd with a two-run home run off Giants’ starter Juan Marichal. It would not be Marichal’s day. Roger Maris reached him for a home run to right in the 4th, and then the Yankees blew the doors off in the top of the 5th, scoring 5 runs, led by Mickey Mantle’s 3-run home run to center. Orlando Cepeda answered in the bottom of the 5th with his 4th home run in two days, but it was not enough. Maris homered again in a 6-run 8th inning, and the Yankees thoroughly defeated and deflated the Giants by a score of 18-2. Ralph Houk’s Yankees were on the way to the World Series.
SEMI-FINALS
The Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles met at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium to begin their Semi-Final Series. The Orioles threw Cy Young winner Dave McNally, and the left-hander did not disappoint. McNally allowed only 3 hits and 1 run over 8 innings, Pete Richert picked up the save, and Brooks Robinson provided the punch with 2 home runs in the Orioles 4-1 victory. In Game Two, the Tigers handed the ball to their ace, Denny McLain. Backed by a 2nd-inning Bill Freehan double and a 3rd inning Jim Northrup home run, McLain pitched brilliantly, allowing 5 hits and two runs in a 4-2 complete game win.
Game Three moved to Detroit’s Tiger Stadium. In the 2nd, Brooks Robinson homered to left off Tigers starter Mickey Lolich. It would be the only Orioles run of the day, and, thanks to Jim Northrup, it would not be enough. Northrup homered in the 4th and again in the bottom of the 8th, and the Tigers won 3-1, taking a 2-1 series lead. Game Four began with Brooks Robinson continuing his hot hitting, clouting a solo home run in the 2nd, his 3rd of the series. Gates Brown tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd with a home run, and the Tigers took a big lead in the bottom of the 3rd, aided by Bill Freehan’s three-run home run. The Tigers now led 5-1. Norm Cash and Willie Horton contributed later home runs, and Earl Wilson struck out 10, leading Detroit to an 8-4 victory, and moving the Tigers within one game of the World Series. Game Five began with the Orioles on the brink of elimination. Baltimore struck quickly, as Frank Robinson blasted a two-run home run to left. Dave McNally to the mound for the O’s and, except for a Mickey Stanley solo home run, held the Tigers in check. Frank Robinson doubled in a 3-run Oriole 8th, and McNally went to the 9th with a 5-1 lead. The Tigers would not go quietly, however, as Willie Horton hit a solo shot to center. Al Kaline singled, Dick McAuliffe followed with a single, and McNally hit Don Wert with a pitch, loading the bases. Hank Bauer went to closer Pete Richert, whose first pitch to Eddie Mathews resulted in a hard grounder to short, which Luis Aparicio misplayed, allowing 2 more runs to score. With the score now 5-4, Richert intentionally walked Gates Brown, loading the bases again, but the strategy worked, as Richert struck out Bill Freehan, saving McNally’s work, as the Orioles won, 5-4.
Tigers Game Six starter Denny McLain was given an early lead, thanks to Eddie Mathews two-run double in the top of the first off Orioles starter Jim Palmer. The young right-hander settled down after the 1st, and the Orioles got on the board in the 4th, when Frank Robinson doubled to lead off the frame, and Brooks Robinson singled him in. As Palmer continued to post zeroes in the subsequent innings, Baltimore hero Brooks Robinson came to the plate with Bill Freehan aboard courtesy of a McLain walk. Robinson then thrilled the Orioles fans with a long drive to center, which cleared the wall and gave the O’s a 3-2 lead. After Palmer left after 7, Bauer did a masterful job of matchups, using Dick Hall, Frank Bertaina, Moe Drabowsky, and closer Pete Richert to hold the slim lead and tie the series at 3 games apiece. The World Series participant would be decided in a winner-take-all Game Seven.
Pat Dobson of Detroit and Steve Barber of Baltimore were the starters for Game Seven. The Orioles drew first blood in the bottom of the third, as Curt Blefary walked and was later driven home on Boog Powell’s double to right. Blefary walked again the 4th, and this time Jim Gentile slammed a home run to center, and the Orioles led 3-0. The Tigers finally scored in the top of the 5th, as Brooks Robinson bobbled Willie Horton’s two-out, bases-loaded grounder, allowing Mathews to score. Oriole catcher Cam Carreon let Barber’s next pitch go right through the wickets, scoring Don Wert on the passed ball. The game moved on to the 8th, when, after recording one out, Barber walked Al Kaline and was replaced by closer Richert. Richert could not save the game for Barber, because on his first pitch, Dick McAuliffe scorched a drive to right-center, scoring Kaline on the triple. After Richert struck out Jim Northrup but walked Eddie Mathews, Bauer called on Dick Hall who got Don Wert on a grounder to third, ending the inning. After the two clubs swapped zeroes in the bottom of the 8th and top of the 9th, the Orioles started a rally in the bottom of the 9th, as Brooks Robinson singled off reliever Daryl Patterson, who then walked Paul Blair. The Tigers went to reliever Paul Lasher. Cam Carreon laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with only one out, 90 feet from victory in the series. Luis Aparicio hit a hard grounder, but it was directly at third baseman Eddie Mathews, who checked Robinson at third and threw on to first for the second out. Davey Johnson then grounded to short, and the Orioles fans groaned and fell back in their seats as the last out of the 9th was recorded. This Semi-Final Series would be decided in extra innings. Frank Bertaina pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 10th for Baltimore. In the bottom of the 10th, Lasher induced Curt Blefary to ground out to first for the first out of the inning. Jim Gentile then hit a long fly ball to center, but Mickey Stanley could not get there before the ball caromed off the right-centerfield fence. The Series-winning run was in scoring position. Frank Robinson came to the plate, and made hard contact with a 2-0 fastball, and the fans rose from their feet, only to watch the ball die on the warning track in left. With two outs, Boog Powell was the batter. Strike one was a curve on the outside corner. Lasher’s next pitch was a breaking ball in the dirt, on which Powell held up. Lasher then tried to sneak a fastball by Powell, but Boog was ready. Powell’s drive kept carrying to center, and Stanley could only look up helplessly as the ball flew over his head. The Orioles had completed the comeback from 3 games to 1, and Boog Powell’s two-run home run gave Baltimore a 5-3 victory, sending the Birds to the World Series.
WORLD SERIES
The World Series would simply be a continuation of the Eastern Division race. Game One would be played in Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. Hank Bauer would turn to Cy Young winner Dave McNally, with Whitey Ford on the mound for the Yankees. The Oriole bats made short work of Ford, scoring 2 in the 1st, 3 in the 2nd, and 4 in the 3rd. McNally continued his winning ways, holding the Bombers to 3 runs and 5 hits in a complete game 10-3 victory. Paul Blair was 3-3, and Boog Powell and Andy Etchebarren homered in the contest. Game Two began with the Orioles once again slapping the New York starter around, this time a bewildered Bill Stafford. Curt Blefary hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 1st, Powell walked to force in a run in the 2nd, Luis Aparicio tripled and Davey Johnson doubled him in for a run in the 3rd, and Paul Blair inside-outed a single to right to score 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th, giving the Orioles a 6-1 lead. The Yankees finally got to Jim Palmer in the 7th, when Earl Torgeson hit a two-run double and Mickey Mantle later drove Torgeson in with a sacrifice fly, but the Bombers got no closer. Bauer’s succession of relievers in the 8th and closer Pete Richert in the 9th ended the game at 6-4, giving the Orioles a 2-0 advantage in the Series.
Game Three was played at historic Yankee Stadium, and a historic Yankee gave his squad its first lead of the Series when Yogi Berra homered to right in the bottom of the 2nd. Frank Robinson doubled in Davey Johnson in the top of the 3rd and took the lead on Andy Etchebarren’s 2nd home run of the Series in the 4th. In the bottom of the 4th, after Don Johnson reached on an error, Moose Skowron connected and sent a pitch deep into the leftfield stands for a 2-run home run. The Yankees extended their lead in the 5th wen light-hitting Joe DeMaestri sliced a home run down the left-field line, only inches fair. After the 7th inning stretch, Skowron blasted the first pitch he saw in to the leftfield stands, giving the Yankees a 5-1 lead. Luis Arroyo had entered the game in relief in the 7th, but in the 9th, allowed Jim Gentile to single and then gave up a home run to Curt Blefary, slicing the Yankee lead to 5-4, but then struck out Aparicio before retiring Boog Powell on a groundball to third. The wind was obviously blowing out in Game Four, as starters Bob Turley and Eddie Watt could both attest. Blefary continued his hot Series with a solo shot to center in the top of the 1st, and the Orioles scored two more in the 2nd on an Aparicio single. Johnny Blanchard put the Bombers on the board with a solo blast to center in the bottom of the 2nd, but the Orioles would soon provide a whole roadside stand-worth of fireworks in the 3rd. Jim Gentile walked and Frank Robinson plated him with a two-run bomb to center. Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson then followed Big Frank’s lead, as each homered into the centerfield bleachers as well, for back-to-back-to-back home runs. After the 3rd, the O’s led 8-1. The Yankees clawed their way back to a 9-5 deficit through 8, but Gentile smacked a grand slam into the second deck in right, and the Orioles won 13-5. One more win would bring the World Series title home to Charm City.
It was almost like Game Four never ended, as Game Five began with Jim Gentile crushing another home run to right, this one a two-run job into the third deck, and the Orioles had an early 2-0 lead on the Yankees and the Chairman of the Board, Whitey Ford. Clete Boyer hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 2nd, and the score was knotted at 2. Both pitchers calmed down, and the game moved scoreless to the 8th. Paul Blair singled in that frame, and Gentile struck again, this time with a run-scoring double to center. Bauer went to his usual litany of relievers in relief of McNally in the bottom of the 8th, but Dick Hall walked Johnny Blanchard after two outs, Moe Drabowsky walked Elston Howard, and Frank Bertaina walked Roger Maris. Closer Pete Richert entered the game with the bases loaded but induced a ground ball from Don Johnson, with shortstop Aparicio throwing tossing to second for the inning-ending force play. The Orioles extended their lead to 4-2 in the 9th, when Davey Johnson singled in Luis Aparicio, and Richert entered the 9th, getting Skowron and Boyer on groundouts, then striking out Joe DeMaestri for the save and the Orioles 4-2 win. Cy Young Winner and World Series MVP Dave McNally was dominant during the playoffs, with a 4-0 record and 1.93 ERA. After years as the second-division St. Louis Browns, the new-look Baltimore Orioles were the toast of their new town and World Series Champions.
1966 BALTIMORE ORIOLES
WORLD CHAMPIONS
League Awards
MVP—Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees
CY YOUNG AWARD—Dave McNally, Baltimore Orioles
FIREMAN OF THE YEAR—Stu Miller, San Francisco Giants
League Leaders
Batting Average-Cleon Jones, New York Mets .342
Home Runs-Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees 57 HR Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins 57 HR
RBI- Frank Howard, Los Angeles Dodgers 147 RBI
Runs- Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees 154 Runs
Hits- Cleon Jones, New York Mets 226 Hits
Doubles- Wes Parker, Los Angeles Dodgers 61 2B
Triples-Jim Gilliam, Los Angeles Dodgers 15 3B
Stolen Bases-Rod Carew, Minnesota Twins 44 SB
Hit Streak-Ken Boyer, St. Louis Cardinals 31 games
Pitching Leaders
Wins- Dave McNally, Baltimore Orioles 26-11
Saves-Stu Miller, San Francisco Giants 54 Saves
Strikeouts-Tom Seaver, New York Mets 355 K
ERA-Don Drysdale, Los Angeles Dodgers 2.66 ERA