Potato: I have one more trade this year. I'm just not sure where to spend it - try to get another starter? An outfielder to replace Cardenal? I'll need to think about it.
CDuffy: I'll keep that in mind 
Coach: 
I thought they were actually going to be decent this year, but the injury bug's hit them hard.
*******
1973 All Star Game I
"Welcome to Royals Stadium, home of the 1973 All Star Game!"
I am really getting sick of that sentence, repeated over and over to dignitaries, media, fellow GMs, media, players, fans and, lest we forget, media. A few people ask questions about exploding scoreboards, but they don't seem eager to press the issue.
Surprisingly, considering we're only three games out in a tightly contested division (and considering we're at home), we only get one representative in this contest: Frank White, who's finally breaking out into the second baseman I hoped he'd be during the 1969 draft. White is batting .333, 14 HR 59 RBI 5 SB at the break. He leads the team in batting average, is second in OBA at .372, and second in OPS with .913.
The rosters look like this:
Code:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Manager : Earl Weaver (BAL)
Coach : Dick Williams (OAK)
Hon. Cpt : Mickey Mantle (NYY)
Tm. Cpt : Bill Freehan (DET)
ASG
C : Carlton Fisk (BOS) 5
1B : Chris Chambliss (CLE) 2
2B : Frank White (KCR) 1
3B : Sal Bando (OAK) 4
SS : Leo Cardenas (MIN) 5
OF : Roy White (NYY) 2
OF : Rick Monday (OAK) 3
OF : Paul Blair (BAL) 3
Bench : Bobby Grich (BAL) 3
Bench : Jay Johnstone (CAL) 2
Bench : Dick McAuliffe (DET) 5
Bench : Bill Freehan (DET) 8
Bench : Ted Simmons (SEP) 2 Injured
Bench : Bud Harrelson (SEP) 1 Injured
Pitcher : Tommy John (MIL) 3
Pitcher : Adam Strow (SEP) 1
Pitcher : Dick Bosman (WSA) 1
Pitcher : Mike Cuellar (BAL) 3
Pitcher : Jim Palmer (BAL) 5
Pitcher : Stan Bahnsen (NYY) 1
Pitcher : Jim Nash (OAK) 2
Pitcher : Jerry Bell (SEP) 1
Pitcher : Luke Walker (BAL) 1
Pitcher : Paul Lindblad (OAK) 3
Pitcher : Horacio Pina (CLE) 1
How come the Pilots, who are on the verge of moving and sit at the bottom of our division, have four representatives while we have one? Even the dominant Orioles only have five people going. I sense something political afoot.
Code:
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Manager : Whitey Lockman (CHC)
Coach : Walter Alston (LAD)
Hon. Cpt : Eddie Matthews (ATL)
Tm. Cpt : Juan Marichal (SFG)
ASG
C : Johnny Bench (CIN) 5
1B : Lee May (CIN) 3
2B : Felix Millan (CIN) 1
3B : Ron Santo (CHC) 10
SS : Don Kessinger (CHC) 4
OF : Reggie Jackson (LAD) 4 Injured
OF : George Foster (SFG) 1
OF : Dick Allen (PHI) 6 Injured
Bench : Mike Schmidt (PHI) 2
Bench : Bobby Bonds (ATL) 3
Bench : Jimmy Wynn (HOU) 4
Bench : Richie Hebner (PIT) 1 Injured
Bench : Cliff Johnson (HOU) 1
Bench : Duane Josephson (CHC) 2
Pitcher : Steve Rogers (MON) 1
Pitcher : Tom Seaver (NYM) 6
Pitcher : Mike Torrez (SDP) 1
Pitcher : Jim Bibby (STL) 1
Pitcher : Juan Marichal (SFG) 11
Pitcher : Fergie Jenkins (CHC) 5
Pitcher : Steve Renko (MON) 1
Pitcher : Frank Linzy (SDP) 1
Pitcher : Dave Giusti (STL) 2
Pitcher : Jack Dilauro (NYM) 1
Pitcher : Mike Corkins (SDP) 1
Ron Santo and Juan Marichal have both been at this game many times. Further, both are still at the peak of their careers. Marichal has 12 wins, Santo is batting .333 with 18 HR. I'd say the Nationals have a slight advantage here.
*******
First though, are the pregame ceremonies such as Hall of Fame inductees. We have three this year:
Duke Snider was the center fielder for a generation of great Dodger teams. Coming up part time for Brooklyn in 1947, he wouldn't take off Dodger blue until 1963 when he went to the Mets. After a year there and one in San Francisco, Snider retired. It's hard to point to a dominant year for Snider, but certainly he peaked in the mid 50's where he hit 40+ HR for five years in a row.
Career: .295 407 HR-1333 RBI 99 SB, 2119 H
Teams: BRO/LA Dodgers (47-62), Mets (63), Giants (64)
Awards: All Star (50-56, 63)
While Snider owned the Dodger outfield, Mickey Mantle dominated center for the Yankees. For 18 years (1951-68) he helped lead the Yankees to many pennants. Along with Roger Maris, he was one of the "M&M" boys and twice hit over 50 HR. His best years were 1956-57. He slumped for a few years in his late twenties, then roared back with his 54 HR performance in 1961.
Career: .298 536 HR-1509 RBI 153 SB, 2415 H
Leaderboards: 7th-Tied, HR in a season (54 in 1961), 6th, Career HR (536)
Teams: Yankees (51-68)
Awards: All Star (52-65, 67-68), MVP (56-57, 62), Gold Glove (62)
While all this was going on, the Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves had their own champion in 3B Eddie Matthews. Matthews came up in 1952, followed the Braves through two moves, and wouldn't leave himself until after 1966. Perhaps he should have retired there, for his last few years in Detroit and Houston were disappointments, but then he wouldn't have broken the 500 HR barrier. Matthews peaked early, hitting 40 HR each year between ages 21 and 23, but never hit less than 20 until his last year in Atlanta.
Career: .271 512 HR-1453 RBI 68 SB, 2315 H
Leaderboards: 10th, Career HR (512)
Teams: BOS/MIL/ATL Braves (52-66), Tigers (67-68), Astros (67)
Awards: All Star (53, 55-62)
Problemo?
Originally Posted by gosensgo101
Imgran? Did I die and leave Tatlock to Imgran in my will?
(Thanks to BINGLE for my banner!)
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