To Rule in Kansas City

[CatKnight]

Awards Summary, 1971


All Star MVP: Carlton Fisk (C, Boston)

NLCS MVP: Ron Reed (SP, Atlanta)
ALCS MVP: Catfish Hunter (SP, Oakland)

WS MVP: George Hendrick (1B, Oakland)
*******

American League

Cy Young: Mel Stottlemyre (SP, Yankees) (22-4 2.14 13 CG)
MVP: Reggie Jackson (RF, Oakland) (.284 43-139 3 SB)
RoY: Eric Soderholm (3B, Minnesota) (.234 20-72 3 SB)

Gold Gloves:
Mel Stottlemyre (P, Yankees)
Bill Freehan (C, Detroit)
Jim Spencer (1B, Angels)
Bobby Grich (2B, Baltimore)
Aurelio Rodriguez (3B, Angels)
Rico Petrocelli (SS, Boston)
Joe Rudi (OF, Oakland)
Ken Berry (OF, White Sox)
Jose Cardenal (OF, Kansas City)

Batting: Rod Carew (Minnesota) (.346)
Home Runs: Reggie Jackson (Oakland) (43)
RBIs: Reggie Jackson (Oakland) (139)
Stolen Bases: Ron LeFlore (Yankees) (69)

Wins: Mel Stottlemyre (Yankees) (22)
ERA: Jim Hardin (Baltimore) (2.10)
Strikeouts: Bert Blyleven (Kansas City) (201)
Saves: Sparky Lyle (Boston) (24)
*******

National League

Cy Young: Juan Marichal (SP, San Francisco) (18-8 2.82 13 CG)
MVP: Johnny Bench (C, Cincinnati) (.359 43-142 1 SB)
RoY: John Milner (1B, Mets) (.252 27-75 5 SB)

Gold Gloves:
Rick Wise (P, Philadelphia)
Cliff Johnson (C, Houston)
Wes Parker (1B, Dodgers)
Tommy Hehns (2B, San Francisco)
Ron Santo (3B, Cubs)
Jim Fregosi (SS, Dodgers)
Pete Rose (OF, Cincinnati)
Amos Otis (OF, Mets)
Ron Fairly (OF, Dodgers)

Batting: Johnny Bench (Cincinnati) (.359)
Home Runs: Jimmy Wynn (Houston) (44)
RBIs: Bench and Doug Rader (Houston) (142)
Stolen Bases: Lou Brock (St. Louis) (43)

Wins: Marichal and Don Drysdale (Dodgers) (18)
ERA: Don Sutton (Dodgers) (2.61)
Strikeouts: Tom Seaver (Mets) (235)
Saves: Kent Tekulve (Pittsburgh) (27)

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Okay, I have a joke for you.

How many outfielders does it take to win the AL West?

It seems that you may have some more pressing issues than outfield, especially with Cardenal's fantastic season.

[CatKnight]

PotatoofCouch: Hm, maybe I can convert some of the outfielders into other positions?
*******

Late November, 1971


Maybe it was Bud Selig's warped idea of a Thanksgiving to wait until the day before to announce his move. The Chicago White Sox were no more. Long live the Milwaukee Brewers!

Or something like that.

Needless to say this went down like a ton of bricks. Chicago mayor Richard Joseph Daley called for negotiations with the White Sox citing lack of notification of their financial troubles or the opportunity to help rectify it. Senator Adlai Stevenson (D-IL) wasn't feeling so peaceful and threatened to bring MLB before Congressional Anti-trust Committees and the Supreme Court. A local court immediately filed an injunction preventing the move.

Within hours a court in Milwaukee filed their own findings allowing the Brewers to move.

This is going to end up in federal court. What's the quote? "For they have sown the wind, and shall reap the whirlwind?" Have fun, Bud.

The Kansas City Star asked me what I thought of the move. Unfortunately my hands are, once again, tied. As soon as the lawsuits started flying, Commissioner Kuhn sent us a directive askins us to stay as non-commital as possible and not to make a stance under any circumstances. I ended up telling the paper that I thought the current wrangling unfortunate, and hoped they'd find an equitable solution.

Bleh.
*******

I went home for Thanksgiving. I don't get there very often - perhaps not as much as I could. It's not that I don't love my mother, it's just that driving across the state takes a bit of effort...and it's hard to explain to her everything that's happening in Kansas City. Baseball simply doesn't interest her, and though she listens politely enough I can tell she's not really attending.

Still, I have to make more of an effort. She's alone now.

When I arrived I found her cooking enough for twenty people, not two. Turkey, gravy, more vegetables than I can easily name, stuffing, pies. "Are we feeding the entire town?" I asked, hugging her tightly.

"Only Mrs. Watson," she smiled, patting my cheek. "You remember her?"

My third grade teacher. Yes, I remembered her. She was fond of rulers. I absently flexed my knuckles.

"And her daughter."

Daughter? Oh bloody... "You're setting me up!?"

"Whatever do you mean?" she asked, heading back into the kitchen. She pointed at the top shelf. "The china, dear."

"Her daughter. I thought you promised to stop setting up dates back when I was in college."

"Nonsense, Charlie. I know Mrs. Watson from church. She hurt her hand, so didn't want to cook this year and I invited her over. Her daughter's visiting from Springfield, so I had to ask her also." She shook her head. "Those Kansas people are doing things to your head, Charlie."

That I couldn't deny. "Sorry."

"Though it wouldn't hurt you to find a girl. You're thirty-three and..."

"Mom!"
*******

Dinner then, with an unlikely amount of food. Mrs. Watson was much as I remembered her, though her black hair had faded to grey and seemed on course for white. She sat straight backed, held her cup handle with three fingers, sniffed at the slightest off-hand remark, and otherwise found ways to make it clear she thought the year was 1871.

Her daughter, Katrina, was about my age plus or minus. Dark brown hair, shoulder length and wavy. She had a habit of wrinkling her nose when amused and leaning forward to stare when she wanted to make a point. She'd worked several years as a nurse and this was her last year of medical school.

"So you're a doctor?" I asked. Women doctors, while not unknown, were still on the rare side.

"Not yet," she grinned. "Next year though."

"I understand you manage a base ball team, sir," interrupted Mrs. Watson. If she remembered I was once one of her snot nosed brats she gave no sign.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm not on the field. I handle the behind the scenes activities: Trades, contract negotiations, keeping everything in order."

"So you're an administrator." She gave a thin smile and resumed talking to mom about something religious I couldn't grasp.

"Sounds like fun," Katrina said, staring again. "You must meet a lot of characters."

"That's for sure." And we spent most of the rest of the evening comparing coworkers. At the end of the evening she took my hand and squeezed firmly. "It was nice to meet you, Charlie."

"Chuck, please." Only my mom called me Charlie. It reminded me of Finley.

Her brow rose, but she smiled. "Chuck. I don't get north often, not with school and such...but if you're in Springfield, look me up. I'll be doing my residency at St. John's."

[Coach Owens]

Aw! That's so sweet![/sarcasm]

[CatKnight]

Lessee.....what will Milwaukee give me for Thompson.... :checks: A starter, two relievers, a catcher and first baseman. Hmm...

[Coach Owens]

Oh, that's funny! Haha!

[ragecage]

I do wonder how much PT, Mays would get, as you are loaded with outfielders, but maybe theres some room at first base perhaps?

[CatKnight]

Coach Owens: Oooh...Oakland's offering me The Emu for Thompson. Decisions, decisions....

ragecage: :sigh: Yes. Frankly, I blundered. When I picked up May I was 'blinded' by his name and high popularity. I completely forgot about just how deep my outfield core is. As for Piniella, I DID try for a few relievers first...they wouldn't talk to me per my house rules. None of the other players appealed from a role playing standpoint (IE- I'd 'promised' not to try to replace Oliver or Rodriguez). Again, I forgot just how deep my OF is.

There will be an early trade I imagine.
*******

Winter Meetings I

For reasons that aren't entirely clear, Commissioner Kuhn summoned us to Philadelphia for winter meetings. Not Florida, California, Texas, the Caribbean... No, he picks Philadelphia. During a snow storm.

Maybe this is his idea of keeping us focused.

I talked to Gary Gregg of St. Louis afterwards, and after he congratulated me on my renewed contract we exchanged news. Apparently the Senior Circuit was surprisingly quiet: No major crises.

The Pirates new GM (their old one retired after four decades serving three teams!) announced that Three Rivers Stadium would finally open in April, two years behind schedule.



The successor to ancient Forbes Field (which they've used since 1909 if memory serves) seats about 48,000 for baseball, and 59,000 for the NFL Steelers. Like so many modern stadiums it's multipurpose, built for both leagues. It cost some $55 million dollars, much of it paid for by the city of Pittsburgh which is hoping to modernize their major league venues to keep teams interested.

I told him I'd heard the Phillies sabotaged construction and asked his opinion. He pondered and his gaze narrowed. "...Maybe." He left it at that.

Meanwhile the Braves are trying a new logo:



Definite modernization of their previous emblem. I think it'll go over well.

The Reds are trying their luck as well:



Their baseball guy looks like he's smirking, but otherwise I think this is an improvement too.

Financially he says the Nationals are in good shape: Four teams lost money, but not enough to worry about...yet. He says the numbers from San Diego are troubling though: Lost $601,000 last year, with $571,000 cash reserve. If they have another very bad year...
*******

"I wish to make a motion!" announced Charlie Finley, almost as soon as we were seated. He lounged in his chair at Joe Cronin's right hand, swirling a great tumbler of something brownish. He wore his World Series ring proudly, green and gold flashing in the light.

Cronin looked at him and threw his pencil over his shoulder. That summarized things nicely.

"I would like to propose that we make the playoffs more inclusive. Invite more teams in."

This caught everyone's attention. I perked up and glanced at him.

"Gentlemen, in 1969 we split into two divisions and that was good, but I wonder if it goes far enough. For the past three years the Orioles," he nodded at his counterpart, "and Oakland have dominated our divisions and gone to the playoffs each time. Now, I certainly don't mind...but I wonder how our fans feel about that."

Narrowed eyes. Cronin had retrieved his pencil, "What are you proposing, Charlie?"

"THREE divisions!" he replied grandly, as if announcing the invention of the wheel.

After a few moments of enjoying our shock he continued. He suggested splitting the league into three regional divisions, with a fourth wildcard. "Gentlemen, this is precisely the format the National Football League uses: 12 and 13 team conferences, 3 divisions, 4 advance. Now, we may not like football...I'm sure I am not fond of it, but we cannot deny that it has grown in popularity rapidly in recent years. That is why we've worked to tinker with the offense and are considering a designated pinch hitter. They maintain fans' interest because more teams advance.

I glanced at the paper he passed around:

1969                         1970                        1971
Baltimore-x     99           Baltimore-x      103        Baltimore-x       102
Boston-y        94           Washington-y      89        New York-y         95
New York        80           New York          88        Washington         87
Washington      76           Boston            80        Boston             86

Detroit-x       93           Chicago-x         89        Chicago-x          89
Chicago         87           Minnesota         85        Minnesota          88
Minnesota       84           Detroit           80        Detroit            66
Cleveland       54           Cleveland         64        Cleveland          52

Oakland-x       106          Oakland-x        106        Oakland-x          97
Los Angeles      74          Los Angeles       69        Kansas City        85
Kansas City      66          Kansas City       64        Los Angeles        68
Seattle          59          Seattle           55        Seattle            57

"The Great Lakes region can focus on each other, as can the east and west coast clubs. At worst each team will have the same travel budget as last year: It certainly wouldn't get worse."

"Charlie, even if we went for this, this would require National League approval as well. We can't have them stay with two divisions while we go to three," Cronin replied.

"Not to worry, Joe! Should we pass this, then I have a friend who will ask them to reconvene."

Cleveland's (formerly Cincinnati's - they signed each other's GMs!) new manager shook his head. "Mr. Finley," he drawled. "There are enough purists out there who want our heads for going to two divisions and having a championship series. They would argue each team's had 162 games. I'm sure you've heard similar. If we go to three divisions...and invite in a second place team? That cheapens the playoffs beyond all measure."

"I disagree...Kirt, right? I think it makes the league more inclusive. Maybe the White Sox could have stayed if they'd made it to the playoffs the last two years." I grit my teeth. Selig's head popped up and he frowned. "Detroit? Boston? Washington? New York? Don't tell me you gentlemen wouldn't have liked even a slim chance at..."

"What are you afraid of, Charlie?" Every head in the room shot to me. In a certain logical, orderly manner I actually thought three divisions might work, but I'd be damned if I'd let Finley dictate the course of the League.

"Chuck? I'm not afraid of..."

"You want to expel the second and third place teams from our division? The teams that have finished second and third for the past two years? What, are you afraid Bud and Clark (Griffith) are going to catch you?" Selig's eyes narrowed.

"Their placing means nothing," Finley replied quietly, staring at me. "We did not feel threatened by those clubs - or yours for that matter. However, it's simple fact that the more teams we allow into the playoffs, the better off baseball is."

"I'm sure, Charlie. We all know what a swell guy you are."

"Chuck, perhaps we should speak outside for a..."

"No need." I stood and glared across the table. "The Royals are perfectly happy with the White S...Brewers in our division as well as the Twins. We welcome honest competition."

Kyle Halwell of Detroit couldn't stop grinning. Finley slowly stood. "Chuck, I am not sure what you are insinuating, but I..."

"Are the Royals calling for a vote?" Cronin interrupted loudly.

"Yes."

"Second?"

"Seconded," snarled Finley, sitting.

Cronin flipped through his notes to determine who to call first: Reverse order of tenure. Cleveland voted against. Bud Selig stood for Milwaukee and met my gaze. I'm not sure he knew what to make of the situation: "No."

Washington said no, New York yes. Kevin and I made it 5-1 against. Finley and Kyle, apparently feeling arbitrary, cancelled us out. Boston and Minnesota, sensing means to bypass their divisional juggernauts, tied it at 5.

Baltimore GM Bill Worth shook his head. "This is all very amusing, but the Orioles see no value in complicating the situation." And that was that. The Angels' no vote was anticlimactic at best.

[petrel]

Well, no one could say that Finley wasn't looking ahead.

--Pet

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Looks like you have some extra "motivation" when it comes to next year.

Time to show Charlie O what a real Kansas City team can do!

[Imgran]

I wonder how baseball would react to a female team doctor...

[rockiesfan4ever]

Physical Time!

[CatKnight]

petrel: Nope. The way I'm playing Finley, and from what I've read, he tends to be a bit vain and prideful...he likes his name in lights. He also has A LOT of ideas - some good, some not so good. I see him as a visionary... who doesn't really think everything through first.

PotatoofCouch: I sure hope so!

Imgran: Hm...probably badly. At least at first. There's a lot of sexism in the sport, even today. I suppose it would happen any time you get 25+ active, healthy guys together where no one can tell them to behave.

I think that if the doc pushed back the initial catcalls and innuendos, they'd be shy and embarassed. After all, since when do you talk to a woman about all the aches, scrapes, and stresses that pile up over a 162 game season?

I doubt there was any rule against it, but I think the League and Commissioner's office would frown, the other teams would laugh, and the players would be...confused...at best.

rockies: Haha.

COMMENTS: The past two years I've added one player in winter - Thompson for CoachOwens in 1970, and I gave Cincinnati a pitcher in '71. I will take ONE player on for '72 if someone's interested. You can either pick a position, in which case I'll pick a weaker team that needs you the most, or you can pick a team and I'll pick the position they need help with the most.

The eligible teams are CLE, SEA, SD, DET, LAA and MON
*******

Winter Meetings II


I expected the American League meeting to calm down at that point.

Nope.

The commissioners of Kings County, Washington continued to argue over where to build their new stadium. Several GMs looked bored. It was the same we'd heard for the past few years, and I watched Kevin flushing with embarassment. He looked tired and strained.

Cronin looked irritated. "Originally you were supposed to have a new field for '70, Kevin. We've cut you quite a bit of slack. It's been two years. Now you're telling me that not only have you not broken ground, you haven't even picked a site!?"

"We're not choosing the site," Kevin retorted, flushing deeper. "We don't have influence with..."

"Part of your appeal to keep the Pilots in Seattle revolved around Boeing having influence!" Cronin returned. "Kevin, tell Boeing and these commissioners that if Seattle doesn't move forward on finding or building a new stadium, or enclosing Sicks for all I care, then I will have to speak with the Commissioner and recommend heavy fines or finding the Pilots a city that will find or build them a major league stadium!:

Like Comiskey Park flashed through my mind.

For once, Finley didn't leap into the fray. He brooded, staring at a point on the opposite wall. Perhaps this three division thing meant more to him than I thought.

Kevin sputtered, but fell silent. "I will have to talk to the owners," he said quietly and sat.

"Chuck? Good news from Kansas City I hope?"

"Everything is proceeding as planned." As far as I knew, anyway. I hadn't been to the facility since September. "Actual construction should finish over the winter and spring as weather permits. The field will be seeded this spring and tended through the year. We hope to, in theory, be operational by September with actual startup in April 1973." Our 'roommates', the Chiefs, finished their last season at Municipal this year. Next autumn they'd be in Arrowhead Stadium across the street from our new home.

"Excellent, Chuck." He cast a meaningful glance at Kevin. "Call my office if there's anything you need."

And so around the table. 5 teams lost money this year: Only Washington's $781,000 counted as serious, but GM Roger Crombie insisted everything was under control now. "We are committed to staying in the nation's capital," he said. "In fact, I'd like to show you our new logo."



Hm. I've seen far worse.

New York's Keith Clay updated us on Yankee Stadium. They'd decided that instead of abandoning the "House that Ruth Built" they'd instead begin massive rennovations to update the structure to modern baseball and safety codes.

"We will still play through the 1973 season, but at that point we will shut down for one, maybe two years."

"Shut down the team!?" demanded Tadd Davis of Boston, an unhealthy gleam in his eye.

"Oh no, of course not. We'll find a temporary home. We're thinking of either following the Giants to the Yale Bowl in New Haven, or talking to the Mets about Shea."

Cronin frowned. "Sounds pretty tentative, Keith. Keep me informed."

Two more new logos surfaced during discussions, surprisingly none from the LA Angels. Maybe owner Robert Reynolds is tired of tinkering?

Bud of course introduced his team's new insignia:



Kyle Halwell leaned across the table. "You're kidding, right?"

"No. Why?"

The Twins also updated theirs:



Sure, why not.

Towards the end of the meeting Charlie seemed to have rallied. "I do have one more announcement," he said, after going over the Athletics' financials and other business.

Cronin tensed, pencil poised in mid air.

"I'm changing the team's name."

The room rumbled. I looked across the table at Kevin. Usually, a team's name didn't come up for a vote unless someone objected. For example, once we agreed to let Bud move, no one voted on whether 'Brewers' was okay. I opened my mouth, but Kyle beat me to it:

"Hey, Charlie! I know you've had a thing for emus since the Bonds boy died. I could get used to that: Oakland Emus!"

"Thank you, Kyle! I'll keep that in mind! No, gentlemen. I present to you, the Oakland A's!"

Silence. Even Kyle had nothing to say.

The new Cleveland GM broke the silence: "Uhm...aren't you already the A's?"

"No, Kirt! We were the Athletics! Now we're just the A's!" Finley held up one hand, framing the relative sizes of the words.

Cronin coughed. "You're kidding."

"Would I kid this august body?"

I finally found my voice. "Why do you want to....the A's are your nickname. They have been since before I was born!" I clearly remembered the ancient Philadeliphia emblem, a white elephant with a blanket reading "A's" on its side.


Philadelphia Athletics (1940-53)

"Quite true, Chuck!" Finley beamed, our recent battle apparently forgotten. "It's on our current emblem also, of course! I think most sportswriters and fans simply refer to us as the A's, and that it's time for us to embrace that."

Disbelief around the table, but no one could come up with a coherent or viable objection ... and so the Athletics, like the White Sox, passed into the history books.
*******

(This is historical. In '72 Finley changed the team name to the A's, though the Commissioner's Cup continued to refer to them as the Athletics. Finley felt the Athletic name was too closely associated with legendary manager Connie Mack, and also didn't care for its similarity to the minor league Oakland Oaks (nicknamed the Acorns.) Historically the name changed back in 1981.)

[CatKnight]

Oh, before I forget again. (I meant to put this up with the awards/season summary.)

Created Players

Will Thompson (1B, Kansas City) (93/93) (Age 19)
Year	Team	      G   AB   R   H  2B 3B HR  BI  BB IB   K SB CS SH HB  DP  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
1970	Royals       55  137  16  30   8  0  4  17  15  0  27  0  1  0  1   6  219  299  365  664
1971	Royals	     96  277  35  60  12  1  8  34  40  0  44  0  0  0  3  10  217  322  354  676

Colin Merritt (SP, Cincinnati) (73/92) (Age 18)
Year	Team          G  GS  W   L  PCT  ERA   IP   R    ER   H   HR   BB   K   BAA HB  WP CG SO SV BS  DIE
1971	Reds         25  23  4  14  222  848  121  114  114  134  26  119  129  273  5  12  0  0  0  0  674

[Imgran]

COMMENTS: The past two years I've added one player in winter - Thompson for CoachOwens in 1970, and I gave Cincinnati a pitcher in '71. I will take ONE player on for '72 if someone's interested. You can either pick a position, in which case I'll pick a weaker team that needs you the most, or you can pick a team and I'll pick the position they need help with the most.

The eligible teams are CLE, SEA, SD, DET, LAA and MON

But you already made The Emu! Doesn't that fill the quota?