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Post by tonyo on Jan 30, 2007 22:51:54 GMT -5
Chris Bando...Catcher and younger brother of Sal Bando.
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Post by tonyo on Jan 29, 2007 19:46:26 GMT -5
Elston Howard who I believe was the first African-American to play for the Yankees. He was a fine catcher and a solid and steady hitter. I also believe he spent several years coaching after his playing days were over.
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Post by tonyo on Jan 27, 2007 16:51:39 GMT -5
Leon Wagner Leon Wagner, the man they called "Daddy Wags" is no longer with us. As a young man growing up in the mid 60's at the old Municipal in Cleveland, I can't tell you what Wagner brought to the table.He was one of the most under rated power hitters of that era. After stuggling as a "prospect" in the N.L. for a few seasons Wagner caught his break when he joined the expansion Los Angeles Angels in 1961. All Leon did was rip 28 HR's and drive in 79 while hitting at a respectable .280. In 1962 Leon came into his own with a monster year clubbing 37 homers and driving in 107. He followed that campaign in 1963 with 26 round trippers and 90 RBI's. He also batted .291. Then in 1964 Leon became the property of Cleveland Indians. He reponded with probably his finest season. Leon cranked out 31 four baggers. He also sent 100 runs across the plate.. In 1965 he entered the season in Cleveland along with the returning and ever popular Rocky Colavito. They became known as the Tribe Thumpers and Leon "thumped" for 28 HR's, 79 RBI's and a lofty .294 average.Rocky led the A.L. in RBI's. Leon and Rocky both dropped in production in 1966 and Rocky would soon be gone. Leon hung on with the Tribe for one more season. Leon had a mediocre season in 1967 and soon left the Wigwam. During a seven year span in the A.L.. ( 1961-1967) Leon averaged over 26 HR's and almost 83 RBI's per season. Nice numbers. In a two year period as a Tribesman in in 1964 and 1965 Leon averaged almost 30 HR's and 90 RBI's. per season. Add in about 13 stolen bases each campaign and you're looking at a very valuable player.
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Post by tonyo on Jan 9, 2007 0:29:59 GMT -5
Ooops...sorry.
Ken Boyer...Played with the St. Louis Cards 1955-65. Part of the great Cards team that beat the Yankees in the 1964 World Series. He also spent time with the Mets, White Sox and Dodgers. He ended his 15 year major league career with 282 home runs, 1141 RBI's, 2143 hits and a very respectable .287 batting average. He appeared in over 2,000 games.
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Post by tonyo on Jan 7, 2007 7:49:53 GMT -5
Willie Kirkland...A power hitting prospect with the San Francisco Giants in the early 60's. The Giants were loaded with power then so he was shuffled off to the Cleveland Indians for Harvey Kuenn. The year before Harvey was sent to Cleveland by the Detroit Tigers for...Rocky Colavito. OUCH ! So in reality the Tribe traded " The Rock " for Willie Kirkland. Anyway Willie did have a few solid seasons but he was no Colavito. In Cleveland Rocky Colavito and football's Jim Brown walk with Gods.
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Post by tonyo on Oct 26, 2006 22:20:25 GMT -5
GO GO LITTLE LOUIE Oct 26, '06 11:18 PM by Jim for everyone
neverlast One of my favorite baseball players when I was growing up was Luis Aparicio. " Little Louie " was born in Venezuela in 1934. This fine shortstop was only a middleweight by boxing standards but in baseball he was a true heavyweight.
Luis was signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1954 and hit the Majors with the Sox in 1956. He was a slick fielder and a speed demon on the base paths. He played in 152 games in his initial year. Luis stole over 20 bases in each of his first three seasons.
In 1959 Aparicio had his breakout year. He was an integral part of leading the Al Lopez led Sox to the American League pennant. The 59 Sox were about pitching and speed and Louie paced the " Go Go Sox " with 56 stolen bases. The Sox would lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series but Aparicio had established himself as a force to be reckoned with.
Luis would steal over fifty bases in seasons 1960 and 1961. In 1963 the White Sox surprisingly traded Aparicio and Al Smith to the Baltimore Orioles for third base prospect Pete Ward, the great reliever Hoyt Wilhelm, shortstop Ron Hansen and Dave Nicholson. Luis was a valuable member of the great 1966 Oriole team.
In 1968 he was dealt back to the White Sox where he spent the next three seasons. Luis went on to spend three seasons with the Boston Red Sox ending his career in 1973 after eighteen years.
Aparicio came to the plate over 10,000 times in 2,601 games. He ended his career with 506 stolen bases and in the late 50's and early 60's he was the premier base thief in the American League.
Luis Aparicio was inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1984. He's right where he belongs.
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Post by tonyo on Oct 26, 2006 18:14:18 GMT -5
I'm just finishing up a book by Jane Leavy on Sandy Koufax. Good book. It sure brought back a lot of memories. I've watched a lot of baseball and I've seen some great pitchers in my time. In the five year period from 1962 through 1966, Sandy Koufax was the best I ever saw ! He was the most dominating pitcher of his era and there were some great ones like Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Jim Bunning and the fireballing Jim Maloney in the National League while the AL had the likes of Whitey Ford and a bullet thrower in Cleveland named Sam McDowell. Sandy was the cream of the cream. Behind Sandy and his great pitching teammate Don Drysdale, The Dodgers just lost out to the Giants in 1962. The Dodgers took the NL flag in 1963 and then swept the mighty Yankees in four games to take the World Series. Koufax and Drysdale led the Dodgers back to the World Series in 1965. There they had to go seven games to edge out the Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew Twins to recapture the World Championship. The Dodgers lost the 1966 World Series to The Robinson ( Frank and Brooks) led Orioles. Sandy retired thereafter citing chronic elbow problems. In the 62-66 five year period he was in a word, awesome !!!
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