Even the Braves

[petrel]

Late July 1965
Part I


Mickey Mantle is given the cover and a laudatory article in LIFE Magazine.

This is the time of year when we have to decide whether or not we have the tools to go to the World Series or not. Right now, we're in third place, 8 games back. Five games back or less, you feel confident, but with eight games back, it's going to take a couple of good trades.

There are a monstrous number of Braves players up for either contract arbitration or whose contracts expire by the end of the year. This includes Joe Torre and Ron Herbel, and I pray their plan isn't to ask for some overwhelming amount of money.

Joe Morgan has been okay at second base, but we need some help in the shortstop position. In pitcher, I'll leave Harvey Branch at the #1 starter spot, followed by Ridzik, Drysdale, and Aguirre. Ron Herbel will move up to closer and we'll try Bill Graham out at setup.

The Braves go back home for nine games. First up -- against the Chicago Cubs, up by four games in the NL West.

July 12th-14th, 1965
Chicago Cubs (47-37) at Boston Braves (58-29)

Projected starters:
July 12: Tobias Watson (7-6, 3.17 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (4-1, 1.47 ERA)
July 13: Mukisa Sato (6-8, 4.45 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (14-2, 2.40 ERA)
July 14: Steve Kraly (7-6, 2.55 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (9-5, 4.00 ERA)

July 12: Three Cubs errors help the Braves score five unearned runs. Braves 9, Cubs 3.
July 13: Once again, the Braves are outhit by the Cubs; once again, the Braves win, off four runs in the bottom of the 8th. Braves 9, Cubs 5. Dave Nicholson had 5 RBIs.
July 14: Despite Don Drysdale's seven K in 8 innings, the Braves can't get the sweep. Cubs 5, Braves 1.

(* * *)

The Mariner 4 spacecraft, an unmanned craft floating out into the Solar System, sent the very first pictures of the famous "red planet" Mars:


The first photo ever taken of Mars close up.

According to the scientists who have examined the photos, Mars is pretty much a dead planet with a very slim chance, if any, of having any life. When I was a kid I fantasized that there would be aliens on Mars, and it seems that every bad science fiction movie believed the same thing.

Now, it looks like that chapter is closed. No life on the Moon. Probably no life on Mars, which might have been the best hope of there being life anywhere else in the Solar System. It just looks like the Universe got a little more lonely.

(* * *)

Up next: the Cardinals, who are still in third place in the NL West despite losing their last six games.

July 15th-17th, 1965
St. Louis Cardinals (34-53) at Boston Braves (60-30)

Projected starters:
July 15: Ray Washburn (7-9, 4.03 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (9-5, 4.00 ERA)
July 16: Bob Anderson (1-10, 4.83 ERA) vs. Jason Dejban (0-0)
July 17: Denny Lemaster (0-2, 3.60 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (5-1, 1.77 ERA)

July 15: Joe Torre hits two home runs, and the Braves score a seven-run 7th inning. Braves 9, Cardinals 2.
The Giants beat the Pirates 7-3, and Claude Osteen goes to 18-2 on the year as a pitcher.
July 16: Two doubles and a triple by Torre help Harvey Branch win his sixth game. Braves 7, Cardinals 2.
July 17: The Braves sweep and move into second place in the NL East. Braves 10, Cardinals 1.

(* * *)

The Braves now take on the Pittsburgh Pirates, in last place in the NL East although not for Casey Stengel's lack of trying. His statement about the Pirates -- "Can't anyone here play this game?" -- will be known as one of baseball's great quotes.

July 18th-20th, 1965
Pittsburgh Pirates (30-60) at Boston Braves (63-30)

Projected starters:
July 18: Wayne Genser (5-4, 4.38 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (9-8, 3.99 ERA)
July 19: Edmund Richardson (6-7, 3.73 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (10-5, 3.93 ERA)
July 20: Simon Scherr (3-9, 6.41 ERA) vs. Jason Dejban (0-0)

July 18: Don Drysdale pitches a complete game shutout. Braves 7, Pirates 0.
In Detroit, the Philadelphia Athletics lose 12-3 for thier 14th straight loss. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Angels beat the Blues 6-1 for their 14th straight win.
July 19: Don Mincher hits home runs #36 and #37. Braves 7, Pirates 3. Jorge Orta of the Pirates goes out for three weeks with a chipped kneecap.
July 20: The Braves five-game win streak comes to an end. Pirates 5, Braves 2.

(* * *)

The Braves manage to move their way up to second place in the NL East, just six games behind the mighty Giants. We'll have a tougher test against the Baltimore Orioles, who are currently in fifth place in the NL East.

July 21st-23rd, 1965
Boston Braves (65-31) at Baltimore Orioles (47-49)

Projected starters:
July 21: Steve Ridzik (15-2, 2.42 ERA) vs. Bob Hendley (4-4, 2.65 ERA)
July 22: Don Drysdale (10-8, 3.74 ERA) vs. Earl Francis (4-9, 4.01 ERA)
July 23: Hank Aguirre (11-5, 3.90 ERA) vs. Dave McNally (2-2, 5.07 ERA)

July 21: Bob Hendley of the Orioles just gives up one hit in 8 2/3 innings pitched as the Orioles one-hit the Braves. Orioles 1, Braves 0.
The Athletics lose their 17th straight game, to the Indians at home by a score of 7-5. The American League record for consecutive losses is 20.
July 22: Don Drysdale is good for nine innings as the Braves edge the Orioles. Braves 2, Orioles 1.
Cleveland edges Philadelphia 6-5 to send the A's to an 18th consecutive loss.
July 23: The Braves wipe out a 1-0 Baltimore lead with 7 runs in the 8th inning. Braves 8, Orioles 1.
An Allan Henry RBI single in the bottom of the 8th gives the Athletics an extra run and the losing streak comes to an end as they beat the Indians 5-4.

Trades:
to Athletics: Leo Salazar (RP), Art Houtteman (SP), Charley Smith (3B)
to Giants: Dale Willis (RP)

The Athletics get two good veterans for one okay relief pitcher. Looks like the Athletics finally make a good deal!

(* * *)

The Braves now fly to Chicago to challenge the Cubs at Wrigley Field: the Cubs have a 4 1/2 game lead over the Astros; it's the closest race in baseball.

July 24th-26th, 1965
Boston Braves (67-32) at Chicago Cubs (55-41)

Projected starters:
July 24: Harvey Branch (6-2, 1.93 ERA) vs. Jim Perry (9-3, 1.84 ERA)
July 25: Steve Ridzik (15-3, 2.35 ERA) vs. Mukisa Sato (7-8, 4.35 ERA)
July 26: Don Drysdale (11-8, 3.58 ERA) vs. Willard Nixon (4-2, 4.11 ERA)

July 24: Don Mincher hits his 39th homerun, with Harvey Branch pitching seven strong innings. Braves 4, Cubs 1.
July 25: Three Braves pitchers combine to hold the Cubs to five hits. Braves 8, Cubs 1.
July 26: Don Drydsale throws nine strikeouts in five innings, then Dan Beard comes in to relieve him. Braves 14, Cubs 5.

Trades:
to Pirates: Chris Coletta (LF), Lou Jackson (RF)
to Giants: Tad Guillot (RP), Frank Bork (RP), Cody DeVane (RP), Johnny O'Brien (2B), Freddie Patek (SS)

The Pirates get a talented right fielder and Coletta has potential; the Giants get Johnny O'Brien and two relief pitchers who were good in earlier years, but couldn't make Casey's roster.

(* * *)

The Braves revisit the fifth-place Orioles as the trade deadline looms closer.

July 27th-29th, 1965
Boston Braves (65-31) at Baltimore Orioles (47-49)

Projected starters:
July 27: Hank Aguirre (12-5, 3.78 ERA) vs. Earl Francis (4-9, 3.85 ERA)
July 28: Jason Dejban (0-0) vs. Dave McNally (2-3, 5.37 ERA)
July 29: Harvey Branch (7-2, 1.75 ERA) vs. Joel Cataldo (8-9, 2.80 ERA)

July 27: In front of a crowd of 40,000, the Orioles put together four runs and make them stick. Orioles 4, Braves 1.
After being swept with three straight shutouts at Yankee Stadium -- 7-0, 5-0, and 5-0 -- the Yankees win 7-3 over the Red Sox and mathematically eliminate the Athletics. The Athletics are 19-83.

The Brewers make a boatload of trades:

Trades:
to Brewers: Jeff Godard (SP), Bart Jackson (SS)
to Yankees: Josh Pool (C), Craig McDougle (P), Fred Rath (P), Roger Maris (RF), Ken Sanders (P), Ron Theobald (2B), Sal Bando (3B)

Roger Maris's $10 million dollar salary was bankrupting the Brewers. Now, the Yankees can absorb the money. Giving up prospects Fred Rath and Ron Theobold might have been too much of a cost.

to Brewers: Roberto Pena (SS), Ted Davidson (RP), Don Rowe (RP), Steve Aucoin (LF)
to White sox: Jim Owens (SP), Jeff Godard (SP)

Godard ends up going from New York to Chicago by way of Milwaukee. Jim Owens was a great pitcher and he'll have a chance to finally win with the Sox.

July 28: Harvey Branch pitches a complete game shutout, throwing seven strikeouts. Braves 3, Orioles 0.
July 29: The Braves come up with three runs in extra innings. Braves 6, Orioles 3 (10).

[petrel]

Late July 1965
Part II

With just two days of trade deadline left, the three game series in New York against the first-place Giants will give the Braves an idea of their chances for 1965. The Giants have won 9 straight.

July 30th-August 1st, 1965
Boston Braves (72-33) at New York Giants (82-20)

Projected starters:
July 30: Don Drysdale (12-8, 3.70 ERA) vs. John Fitzgerald (11-5, 2.75 ERA)
July 31: Hank Aguirre (12-6, 3.75 ERA) vs. Greg Liokumovich (4-0, 2.35 ERA)
August 1: Jason Dejban (0-0) vs. Claude Osteen (19-3, 1.99 ERA)

July 30: The Giants score 14 hits and never look back. Giants 11, Braves 1.

Trades:
to Reds: Sherman Jones (P)
to White Sox: Dick Bertelli (C), Bobby Trevino (CF), Frank Duffy (SS)

The Reds get a so-so relief pitcher for three no-no players.

(* * *)

With July 31st around the corner, I feel good about my pitching: it's my hitting that I need to beat the Giants. We need someone at the shortstop position who can hit, but I don't know if I can find anyone.

I begin to see what my players will want to stay on the team.

Joe Torre wants $8.6 million to stay on the team in 1965. He doesn't like Boston, and I begin to look for catchers who can replace him. There really isn't one, and I have to tell myself -- is an outside chance at the pennant worth letting Joe Torre go without getting anything in return?

Joe Christopher wants even more money -- $14.4 million! However, he has nothing against Boston. Unfortunately, he's another irreplaceable part, so he factors into the decision.

Ron Herbel signs a two-year extension at $2.65 million/year. As for Howie Koplitz, we make our first trade:

Trades:
to Cardinals: Howie Koplitz (SP)
to Reds: Wayne Causey (SS)

Causey can start in place of Ken Hamlin. Furthermore, Causey has hit .369 this year for the Cardinals. The desperate Cardinals have made Koplitz their #1 starter, which is okay, as Koplitz has never been truly dominating in Boston.

Lou Berberet finally comes to his senses and signs a 2-year extension at $1.75 million dollars, figuring he'll start if Joe Torre leaves. And Pumpsie Green really figured the system out. He knew what our max was -- $5.3 million -- and asked for $5.8 million. With a special call to Ron Stark Jr., we worked him down to $5.35 million until 1968, making Pumpsie Green the highest-paid player of the Boston Braves.

The 33-year old Joe Cunningham is signed for two more years as $2.55 million per year. On the other hand, the 35-year old Steve Ridzik wants $6.3 million. We'll talk at the end of the year.

We keep Jim Bouton around for a couple more years at $2.9 million. Manny Mota, however, wants $3.95 million as an outfielder despite never having a truly successful year. He can wait for his money.

Hank Aguirre wants $5.7 million a year and I'll probably have to wait for next year's free agent market to drive his price down.

Aside from that...I couldn't make any major trades. No one wanted my bench warmers. Even when I put up my best minor league prospect, Jim Lonborg, I got nothing but big-league patsies.

After all that...we've decided to make a run. Sure, we'll lose Torre and Cunningham. But I don't think I could look Boston's fans in the eyes if I didn't put the best team I could out there right now.

(* * *)

July 31: Claude Osteen gets his 20th win of the year. Giants 5, Braves 2.

Trades:
to Indians: Leroy Powell (U)
to Giants: Charlie O'Rourke (U), Billy Hunter (SS)

A bunch of hard-to place utility players are traded.

to Twins: Larry Maxie (RP)
to Phillies: Purnal Goldy (RF)

Maxie's an okay prospect, but Goldy is the better player.

August 1: Bill Kirk pitches a complete game and the Braves are swept in New York. Giants 2, Braves 0.

(* * *)

Around the world:

Bob Dylan elicits controversy among folk purists by "going electric" at the Newport Folk Festival
President Lyndon B. Johnson announces that he will increase the number of US troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000 and to double the number of men drafter per month from 17,000 to 35,000.
President Johnson also signs the Social Security Act of 1965, establishing Medicare and Medicaid.

In baseball:

Frank Thomas (Giants) hits his 300th home run.

Jim Gilliam (Dodgers) is out for one month with a fractured skull.
Whammy Douglas (Yankees) is out for the season with a broken hip.
Ron Hunt (Giants) is out six weeks with a broken foot.
Charlie Rudman (Phillies) is out six weeks with a broken foot.
Clay Dalyrymple (Seals) is out for the season with a broken back vertebra.
Bob Miller (Reds) is out for one month with an inflamed rotator cuff.
Steve Boros (Tigers) is out for the season with a hip injury.

Jim Pisoni retired after 11 seasons in baseball, all with the St. Louis Browns/Kansas City Blues. The center fielder, named Rookie of the Year in 1954, would finish his career with a .261 batting average and 68 home runs. He would win the Gold Glove at center field in 1962.
Granny Hamner retired at age 37 after 22 seasons in baseball, all as a shortstop. From 1945 to 1962, Hamner was a Phillies, and then made stops with the Angels, Seals and Tigers. Hamner would amass 2,090 hits as a shortstop, hit .261 with a .302 lifetime OBP, and go to five All-Star Games, the last in 1960.
Chico Carrasquel retired after 16 seasons in baseball. The popular shortsop played for the White Sox, Braves, Cardinals (for 9 years), then the Orioles, Angels and Athletics again. The 37-year old Venezuelan would be picked as an All-Star in 1951 and 1956, and win a Gold Glove at shortstop in 1953.
Hank Foiles retired at age 35 after a ten year career as a catcher with the Reds and Athletics.

[petrel]

Early August 1965
Part I

After the sweep at the hands of the Giants, the Braves get three days of rest and recovery.

While we're off, the Giants win their 14th straight game, beating the Stars and establishing a 12 game lead in the NL East. Chicago leads by 9/12 over the Astros, and the Yankees and Angels are running away with their respective divisions, by 18 and 15 1/2 games, respectively.

The impetus of the plan to split into two divisions -- to introduce more competition -- doesn't appear to be working. If the Giants win again -- and I hope they don't -- then I think baseball needs the Giants to lose to the Cubs or the Yankees to lose to the Angels to prevent dry rot from setting in.

August 5th-7th, 1965
Houston Astros (53-33) at Boston Braves (72-36)

Projected starters:
August 5: Cal Hogue (10-6, 3.08 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (16-3, 2.33 ERA)
August 6: Larry Foss (4-7, 3.18 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (12-9, 3.97 ERA)
August 7: Jim O'Toole (6-13, 5.20 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (12-6, 3.73 ERA)

August 5: The Braves fall just one run short and drop their fourth straight game. Astros 2, Braves 1.
August 6: Four of the five runs by the Braves come off home runs, including Don Drysdale's second of the year. Braves 5, Astros 4.
August 7: The Astros give up three unearned runs in the first two innings. Braves 7, Astros 1.

(* * *)

On August 6th, 1965, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. This act prohibits any literacy test used to qualify voters and renders certain part of the United States -- mostly the South -- subject to federal review before changes to voting laws where:

a) some method of suppressing the vote was used: literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses for whites, and
b) where over 50 percent of the minority population is not registered to vote.

I think this will be a good thing, but there's a big difference between whether something can be legislated, and whether something can be <I>done</I>. The success of this bill will depend on the people in the states of Mississippi and Alabama, and other states in the South, maybe not in their actions but in their acquiescence to the idea that all deserve equal treatment under the law.

(* * *)

And with that game on August 7th: From here on out, we will be playing only the Giants, Phillies, Dodgers, Orioles and Pirates, with only the Reds as the exception (we play the Reds at home in September for a three-game series). This makes these two months the most important two months of the year.

First up: the Dodgers, who are in fourth place but have a better record than the NL West-leading Cubs.

August 8th-10th, 1965
Brooklyn Dodgers (67-44) at Boston Braves (74-37)

Projected starters:
August 8: Earl Wilson (10-8, 3.68 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (8-3, 1.55 ERA)
August 9: Randy Towers (3-2, 3.26 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (16-4, 2.34 ERA)
August 10: Jack Palacios (0-2, 12.38 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (12-9, 4.02 ERA)

August 8: The Dodger's four runs are all scored in the same inning. Dodgers 4, Braves 3.
August 9: New shortstop Wayne Causey hits a triple in the Braves win. Braves 6, Dodgers 2.
August 10: Joe Cunningham's RBI single leads the Braves to victory. Braves 6, Dodgers 5.

(* * *)

The two-of-three win over the Dodgers gives the Braves cause to feel good. Up next--third place Philadelphia and their 73-38 record. Steve Ridzik is out for five days with a pinched nerve and Jason Dejban will replace him.

August 11th-13th, 1965
Philadelphia Phillies (73-38) at Boston Braves (76-38)

Projected starters:
August 11: Tom Cheney (9-5, 2.83 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (13-6, 3.59 ERA)
August 12: Phil Niekro (1-5, 4.73 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (8-4, 1.64 ERA)
August 13: Bill Monbouquette (11-4, 2.04 ERA) vs. Jason Dejban (0-0)

August 11: Joe Christopher hits a two-RBI single in the top of the bottom of the eighth to put the Braves up 5-3. Closer Don Carpenter manages to give up a run, but gets all three outs on strikeouts. Braves 5, Phillies 4.
August 12: A three-run seventh inning helps the Braves to another victory. Braves 6, Phillies 4. Bill Graham goes out for two weeks with a foot stress fracture; Eduardo Camacho will replace him.
August 13: Dave Nicholson hits two home runs and Jason Dejban gets his first win. Braves 8, Phillies 1.

(* * *)

Baseball was knocked off the front pages today by massive Negro rioting in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts in one of the most southeastern parts of Los Angeles. At the end, 34 people would be dead, over 100 would be injured, the National Guard would be called out to restore order, and over $30 million dollars in damage (1965 money -- Pet) would be caused as businesses of all types were burned to the ground.

It reminded me of the race riots recently in Philadelphia. Two Los Angeles police officers arrested a Negro for drunken driving. While onlookers watched, the young man failed a sobriety test and tried to talk himself out of an arrest. When that failed, he played to the emotions of the crowd, stating to the officers that he would have to be killed and that he would not go to jail.

Things became ugly very quickly as the crowd took out its hostility against the police officers. They were forced to flee, but rumors spread that white police officers had killed a pregnant woman.

Tensions remained high for two days following. Crowds began to gather in Watts on the 13th and by 11am there were 3000 people in the street. Then, the burning and rioting and looting started and the National Guard was called out.


Jubilant rioters commandeer a police car.

This did not stop the riot as the violence raged ever outward. By midnight of the 14th, there were 13,000 National Guardsmen on the streets. Violence persisted all throughout Sunday, but finally died down by Tuesday at the end of six days of horrible violence.

People were left wondering what happened and why it had happened. After all, the Voting Rights Act had just been passed.

However, the residents of Watts would not be assuaged. Dr. Martin Luther King went to speak to the people of Watts, but his words fell on deaf ears. Some were openly hostile towards him.


Dr. King, in Watts.

A fair housing act passed by the California legislature was overturned by Proposition 14. The initial act kept realtors from refusing to sell certain property to people of certain races, which realtors had been doing for years. The Realtors got Proposition 14 put on the ballot, which gave them the right to sell -- or not to sell -- to anyone they wanted. In November 1964, 2/3rds of Californians said "yes" to Proposition 14.

So the citizens of Watts still felt like second-class people. But after the riots, some prominent blacks would claim that the riots in Watts were a victory. It showed that black people had the option of using violence to solve their political problems, and made them more receptive to radical leaders such as those who followed after Malcolm X, who died in February of this year.

But of course, some of your are thinking, "well, what about baseball?" Chavez Ravine is in a different part of town than Watts. There was no danger of Chavez Ravine burning to the ground.

[petrel]

Early August 1965
Part II

We now fly out to Forbes Field, hoping to get some ground on the last-place Pirates, who have been mathematically eliminated from contention.

August 14th-16th, 1965
Boston Braves (79-38) at Pittsburgh Pirates (39-75)

Projected starters:
August 14: Don Drysdale (12-9, 3.91 ERA) vs. Alan Hyte (1-4, 9.74 ERA)
August 15: Hank Aguirre (13-6, 3.62 ERA) vs. Dick Burwell (0-1, 9.72 ERA)
August 16: Jason Dejban (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Mickey McDermott (1-7, 5.51 ERA)

August 14: Don Drysdale strikes out nine in seven innings pitched -- and gets lots of offensive help. Braves 16, Pirates 3.
August 15: Don Mincher and Dave Nicholson each get a double and a home run. Braves 11, Pirates 1.
August 16: Harvey Branch gets his 10th win, shutting out the Pirates on five hits. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

(* * *)

On the 15th, while the Giants were in Brooklyn, the British long-hair band "The Beatles" appeared at Giants Stadium in front of an insensate crowd of 56,000.


The best all-girl band around.

Thankfully, I didn't have to hear their tuneless twanging. But someone told me something that shocked me -- this is the very first time a rock and roll band ever played in a Stadium! Good God! Could Braves Field be next? We might have to require haircuts for ticket holders!

(* * *)

In baseball:

Rocky Colavito (Seals) is out for six weeks with a shoulder separation.
Dick Hyde (Orioles) is out for the season with a ruptured cervical disk.
Pete Craig (Phillies) will be out all of 1965 and for part of 1966 with a torn rotator cuff.
Jim Hannon (Astros) is out for the season with a broken hip.
Bob Allison (Seals) is out for the season with a broken elbow.
Zoilo Versalles (Cardinals) is out for the season with a broken wrist.

Richie Ashburn retired at age 38. He played as a center fielder for the Phillies, Red Sox, Blues, Braves, Cardinals and Orioles.



He ends his career with an astounding .303 lifetime batting average with a .303/.388/.408 line. As a center fielder, he was in an elite class, winning no less than seven Gold Gloves, including one in his final year of 1964.

In addition, he had 2,797 hits (good for 20th All-Time) and 374 steals, which is nothing short of remarkable in the modern era. As a player, he was very gentle and quiet, not the kind to puff himself up. He was actually liked in Philadelphia, which might have been his greatest accomplishment.

Bob Harrison, a relief pitcher, retired at age 34. He was a member of the St. Louis Browns/Kansas City Blues from 1953 to 1961, and came back with the Angels briefly in 1965. He finished with a 28-27 and lifetime 3.32 ERA. In his only two full seasons with the Blues in 1955 and 1956, he won Gold Gloves as pitcher each year.

Bill Fischer retired at age 34 after nine seasons as a reliever for the Cincinnati Reds. Ending his career with a 13-11 record and a 4.40 ERA, he was nonetheless an All-Star in 1962.
John Powers retired at age 35 after ten seasons as a left fielder with the Pirates, Dodgers, Orioles, Blues, Red Sox, Seals, and Dodgers again, ending his career with a .264 lifetime average and 115 home runs. He won a Gold Glove as an outfielder for Brooklyn in 1957.
Rube Walker retired at age 38. He was a catcher since 1948 with the Cubs, Dodgers, Indians, Giants and Brewers, finishing his career with a .247 lifetime average and 46 HR.

[CatKnight]

Hi Petrel!

I'm only very early in your third season but I wanted to say I'm enjoying your dynasty very much. Your attention to detail is amazing!

[petrel]

CatKnight,

Glad you're reading! I'm trying to keep the dynasty going to the present day and if I'm doing something wrong or if I can make things better, let me know!

--Pet

[petrel]

Late August 1965

The Braves will play the New York Giants six times in late August. If we do well, we could close the gap to five games; if we do poorly, we'll knock ourselves out of contention.

August 17th-19th, 1965
New York Giants (93-27) at Boston Braves (82-38)

Projected starters:
August 17: Fred Newman (16-4, 2.14 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (17-4, 2.29 ERA)
August 18: John Fitzgerald (14-6, 2.56 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (13-9, 3.86 ERA)
August 19: Greg Liokumovich (4-0, 2.35 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (14-6, 3.47 ERA)

August 17: The Braves are held to three hits, and only Joe Torre's solo home run saves the Braves from a shutout. Giants 5, Braves 1.
Mickey Mantle hits his 534th homerun in Atlanta, moving into a tie for 4th place on the All-Time list with Jimmie Foxx.
August 18: The Braves score six runs in the seventh and eighth, but are held hitless in the ninth. Claude Raymond is called in to pitch the final out, as Ken Hamlin grounds out. Giants 7, Braves 6. Frank Thomas scored six RBIs.
August 19: The Braves fall short once again as Claude Osteen gets his 24th win. Giants 4, Braves 3.

(* * *)

WHY CAN'T WE BEAT THE GIANTS??

Sorry about the yelling. Being the second best team in the National League but fourteen games out of first does that to a man. Our only hope is to go to the Dodgers and somehow sweep Brooklyn at Ebbets Field before hosting the Giants at home again.

August 20th-22nd, 1965
Boston Braves (82-41) at Brooklyn Dodgers (73-50)

Projected starters:
August 20: Harvey Branch (10-4, 1.74 ERA) vs. Jack Palacios (0-2, 12.38 ERA)
August 21: Steve Ridzik (17-5, 2.40 ERA) vs. Morrie Steevens (0-0, 1 IP)
August 22: Don Drysdale (13-10, 4.13 ERA) vs. Dee Geer (12-9, 3.49 ERA)

August 20: The Braves take an 8-0 lead and never look back. Braves 8, Dodgers 4.
August 21: Down 4-1, the Braves score 4 runs on three hits in the top of the 8th. Braves 6, Dodgers 3.
August 22: The Braves are held to four hits by Randy Towers and Julio Navarro. Dodgers 3, Braves 0.

(* * *)

The Giants come back to Braves Field, and we try to find a solution to the New York Giants, who have won nine straight.

August 23rd-25th, 1965
New York Giants (96-27) at Boston Braves (84-42)

Projected starters:
August 23: Bill Kirk (22-5, 2.77 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (14-7, 3.56 ERA)
August 24: Fred Newman (17-4, 2.09 ERA) vs. Jason Dejban (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
August 25: John Fitzgerald (15-6, 2.56 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (11-4, 1.92 ERA)

August 23: The Braves only extra base hit is Don Mincher's 46th home run. Giants 7, Braves 4.
August 24: Bob Johnson hits a 3 RBI home run in the top of the 7th to put the Giants up for good. Giants 5, Braves 4.
August 25: The Giants hit five home runs, and the Braves woes continue. Giants 9, Braves 1.

(* * *)

With the second sweep at home by the Giants, the Braves are now 16 1/2 games out of first place, and we are talking "miracle" to win the pennant.

At least, we're financially solvent. The Brewers have only had 485,000 fans turn the turnstiles. Odds are, Milwaukee will draw under 700,000 fans. I don't know how long Milwaukee's ownership can last under these financial conditions.

The Reds will probably draw under the 1,000,000 mark for the first time attendance was counted under the new system in 1953. The Athletics will draw probably just under 900,000 -- the visitors gate from the great American League teams will help the Athletics, but what's going to happen to this club when Bing Crosby gets tired of it?

As it turns out, the nomination process is beginning for a new commissioner to follow up the term of Ford Frick, whose contract expires this year. The Screening Committee has already reduced the number of names to 50, and they plan to have the list down to 10. Those ten will be announced to the owners/GMs by the end of the World Series.

Ford Frick picked a good time to bail out. The new commissioner has a mess on his hands.

(* * *)

August 26th-28th, 1965
Boston Braves (84-45) at Pittsburgh Pirates (43-83)

Projected starters:
August 26: Don Drysdale (13-11, 4.14 ERA) vs. Edmund Richardson (6-13, 4.23 ERA)
August 27: Hank Aguirre (14-8, 3.65 ERA) vs. Simon Scherr (5-12, 5.59 ERA)
August 28: Jason Dejban (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Jorge Orta (3-7, 4.81 ERA)

August 26: The Braves manage to rack up seven doubles in a game full of extra base hits. Braves 9, Pirates 8.
Jim Proctor of the Yankees suffers a dislocated shoulder and will be out for a month. He has 25 wins this year, killing any outside chance at a run of 30 wins. This leaves Claude Osteen, at 24 wins, with the best chance.
August 27: Steve Metzger's 2-RBI double in the bottom of the eighth puts the Bucs in the lead. Josh Kite gives up a single in the top of the ninth, but strikes out three. Pirates 4, Braves 3.
August 28: The Pirates get 15 hits, leaving the Braves reeling. Pirates 7, Braves 4.
Mickey Mantle hits his 536th home run, tying him for 3rd All-Time with Ted Williams.

(* * *)

The Braves take one day off before going back to Brooklyn. At least, we've had some luck there and maybe we can win a few games in what has come to be a disappointing August.


August 30st-September 1st, 1965
Boston Braves (85-47) at Brooklyn Dodgers (77-55)

Projected starters:
August 30: Steve Rizdik (17-6, 2.54 ERA) vs. Gene Snyder (8-5, 3.40 ERA)
August 31: Don Drysdale (14-11, 4.32 ERA) vs. Earl Wilson (13-9, 3.49 ERA)
September 1: Hank Aguirre (14-8, 3.65 ERA) vs. Randy Towers (5-3, 2.93 ERA)

August 30: The Dodgers go through six pitchers, but to no avail. Braves 11, Dodgers 1.
August 31: Earl Wilson pitches the first five innings; Jack Fisher the last four. Dodgers 9, Braves 4.
The Giants shut out the Pirates 5-0 after shutting them out 14-0 the night before. It is the Giants 18th straight victory.
September 1: Shayne Hanlon throws 135 pitches in 7 1/3 innings, but gets the win. Dodgers 5, Braves 2.

(* * *)

On August 30th, President Johnson signed a bill that prevented the burning of draft cards. Such a crime would be punished by a $1000 fine and five years in prison.


The draft card proves that one is registered for conscription.

All I can say is, "it's about time". Lately, the beatnik element has gotten out of hand, attempting to paralyze campuses in California with filthy speech and carrying flags of the enemy. I think some of these kids have really gone nuts, and have actively started to root for the other side. God knows, I would have fought in World War II if I had been healthy enough. To see these spoiled kids in direct defiance of the military that protects our country and keeps us free is sickening. It's about time President Johnson gave these "hippies" a spanking and sent them to bed without their supper.

Around the world:

Gemini 5 takes off on its first flight. It will be an eight-day manned flight in a spacecraft and double the previous record.
Jonathan Daniels, an Episcopal seminarian from Keane, New Hampshire is murdered in Hayneville, Alabama while working in the American Civil Rights movement.

In baseball

Ron Perranoski (Phillies) is out for four weeks with a wrist stress fracture.
Wayne Graham (Phillies) is out for four weeks with a hip injury.
Hank Aaron (Angels) is out for four weeks with an inflamed rotator cuff.
Mickey Micelotta (White Sox) is out for five weeks with a torn quadriceps.

[CatKnight]

Well, I'm up into early 1960.

How to make this better? I don't think that's possible As I said, your attention to detail is excellent. The subplots are excellent and you bring a lot of the old personages (Mack, Frick, etc.) convincingly to life.

I've seen many fine AARs (After Action Reports) for wargames and the like, but this is by far the best one I've seen for baseball. I'm considering trying my luck, but I'm badly torn on team and year.

[petrel]

Early September 1965

We're 21 games back...but hope springs eternal! I still have the goal of the Braves winning 95 games this year.

As for the unmentionable New York Giants, they have won nineteen straight games and are going to take a stab at baseball's record for Most Consecutive Victories. That record is 21 games, held by both the 1935 Cubs and 1961 Yankees. Oddly enough, their next two games are against the Cubs and they could tie the record at Wrigley Field.

We come back home, beaten and bruised, to test our luck against the fifth-place Orioles.

September 2nd-4th, 1965
Baltimore Orioles (63-69) at Boston Braves (86-49)

Projected starters:
September 2: Bill Hands (1-1, 2.16 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (11-6, 2.41 ERA)
September 3: West Klenow (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (18-6, 2.50 ERA)
September 4: Joel Cataldo (11-10, 3.00 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (14-12, 4.46 ERA)

September 2: The Braves give up six runs in the final three innings. Orioles 9, Braves 3.
A six-run 6th inning gives the Giants the edge as they beat the Cubs 7-4, extending their winning streak to 20 games and putting them one shy of the record.
September 3: Joe Morgan gets his 5th home run, Steve Ridzik gets his 19th win, and the Braves win by one run. Braves 3, Orioles 2.
The Giants hit six home runs and hold the Cubs to two hits as the Cubs are flattened, 13-0. This win ties the Braves with the 1935 Cubs and 1961 Yankees for the consecutive wins record. They can break the record in New York against the Baltimore Orioles on the 5th.
September 4: Joe Adcock singles in the top of the 12th, handing the Braves an extra-inning loss. Orioles 5, Braves 4.

(* * *)

The Braves get a couple of days off.

During this time off, Phyllis has a wedding date planned: Wednesday, December 16th, 1965. "Everyone is going to parties in December, and this will just be one more party. The 19th is the weekend before Christmas, so everyone will be shopping. And I know I'll never get your attention until after the Winter Meetings!"

So Phyllis and I will kanoodle in Fort Lauderdale, FL during the meetings. I'll come back on the weekend, and Chuck Sullivan, Mike Singer and Grey Bird have promised me a bachelor party "that you'll never forget, unless you drink the really strong stuff!" I'm not looking forward to the following hangover.

Phyllis is in charge of all wedding details. My only job is to say "yes". Despite the fact that Phyllis is Catholic, we're having a Protestant wedding. "I'll work it out with God" she says.

On September 4th, I get an early wedding present: the Orioles piss in the drink of the New York Giants, getting 11 hits and beating the Jints 5-1 at Giants Stadium, ending their 21-game win streak. I couldn't bear to see them in sole possession of baseball's record.

Unfortunately, with the Braves stinking up the joint, the Phils beat the Dodgers and move into a tie with us for second place. We go to Pittsburgh and finish up our season series against Casey's Pirates.

September 7th-9th, 1965
Boston Braves (87-51) at Pittsburgh Pirates (48-90)

Projected starters:
September 7: Hank Aguirre (14-9, 3.75 ERA) vs. Dick Burwell (1-1, 5.19 ERA)
September 8: Jason Dejban (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Jorge Orta (4-7, 4.81 ERA)
September 9: Harvey Branch (11-7, 2.48 ERA) vs. Ken Johnson (2-5, 4.03 ERA)

September 7: With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, and two out, with Ron Herbel on the mound and a man on second, Julio Becquer hits a single and Jack Shepard races from second to home. Joe Torre tags him out, according to bystanders, but Umpire Bob Engel blows the call and calls Shepard safe. Pirates 3, Braves 2.

In Cleveland, the Yankees win 8-2, giving them their 110th win of the year and assuring them of a spot in the American League Championship Series.

The New York Yankees are American League East Champions!

However, that night after the Yankees celebrate, Yankees second baseman Johnny Temple slips taking a misstep off the curb...and breaks his right hip. Temple is out for the season!

September 8: The Braves get two home runs, but only score two other hits as the Pirates knock the Braves out of pennant contention. Pirates 12, Braves 5.
September 9: After a fiery clubhouse chewing out, the Braves win in 48-degree weather and avoid the ignominious sweep. Steve Ridzik wins his 20th game. Braves 6, Pirates 4.

(* * *)

It's time to wrap up the year against both New York teams. First, a visit to Ebbets Field to play the fourth-place Dodgers.

September 10th-12th, 1965
Boston Braves (88-53) at Brooklyn Dodgers (79-62)

Projected starters:
September 10: Don Drysdale (14-12, 4.44 ERA) vs. Earl Wilson (14-10, 3.68 ERA)
September 11: Hank Aguirre (14-9, 3.73 ERA) vs. Jack Palacios (0-4, 14.11 ERA)
September 12: Jason Dejban (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Gene Snyder (8-6, 3.36 ERA)

September 10: Joe Christopher hits two home runs; Drysdale pitches a complete game with eight strikeouts. Braves 5, Dodgers 2.
September 11: Joe Christopher hits a home run in the top of the 13th. Braves 6, Dodgers 5 (13).
September 12: The Dodgers get their revenge, with a game-winning home run with Foster Castleman in the bottom of the 11th with two out. Dodgers 6, Braves 3 (11).

(* * *)

The Braves now have 90 wins and are just five short of our self-designated goal. How we would love to get three wins against the Giants, as they come home to finish the season series!

September 13th-15th, 1965
New York Giants (111-30) at Boston Braves (90-54)

Projected starters:
September 13: Fred Newman (20-4, 2.18 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (20-6, 2.54 ERA)
September 14: John Fitzgerald (18-7, 2.38 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (15-12, 4.35 ERA)
September 15: Greg Liokumovich (4-0, 3.21 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (14-9, 3.83 ERA)

September 13: The first battle between two 20-game winners of the 1965 season comes out with a no-decision for both pitchers, but the home team wins. Braves 8, Giants 6.
September 14: A six-run fourth inning gives the Braves the momentum to take their second straight from the Giants. Braves 10, Giants 5.
September 15: Claude Osteen gets his 27th win, holding the Braves to five hits. Giants 5, Braves 0.

(* * *)

Around the world:

UN Secretary General U Thant recommends the People's Republic of China for UN membership.
Hurricane Betsy strikes New Orleans, but the levees hold. The hurrican takes 75 lives and causes over a billion dollars in damage.

In baseball:

Frank Bolling (Tigers) scores his 2000th hit.

Pete Mikkelsen (Seals) is out for the season with a torn elbow ligament.
Pat MacGillegowie (Seals) is out for the season with a stretched knee ligament.

Harry "Suitcase" Simpson retired at age 39. The right fielder played with the Indians, Athletics, Cubs, Phillies, Red Sox, and Angels, finishing with a .271/.338/.437 line. He won Gold Gloves as an outfielder in 1953 and 1958 and won his only world championship with the 1955 Chicago Cubs.

[DTF955]

Congratulations on your character's marriage. As several new redes check in, I am checking out. Having just finished my part of a fictional work about baseball being integrated fromt he start, and given it to someone with a lot more time and I, I felt the need to devote mroe time to my studies, new work possibilities, and so on with my new chosen career - actually my new calling, i should say.

You keep it interesting even as it would get terribly boring for the average fan - as you say, dry rot setting in :-) But, as I've said about some other things, I don't want to be reading stuff like this when i'm 60, and that's the kind of committment I'd need to be following so many dynasties.

It's been fun, though all the video games, alternate universes created even back in Strat and way back with other ones, in my mind if nowhere else. It's been a great ride. It's amazing how much can spring from reading at age 3, a fascination with Peanuts comic strips, and a lot of imagination. (I'd even get characters together from other comic strips to play. :-)) As Jim Elliott once said, he is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.

So long, and God Bless.

[petrel]

Congratulations on your character's marriage. As several new redes check in, I am checking out. Having just finished my part of a fictional work about baseball being integrated fromt he start, and given it to someone with a lot more time and I, I felt the need to devote mroe time to my studies, new work possibilities, and so on with my new chosen career - actually my new calling, i should say.

You keep it interesting even as it would get terribly boring for the average fan - as you say, dry rot setting in :-) But, as I've said about some other things, I don't want to be reading stuff like this when i'm 60, and that's the kind of committment I'd need to be following so many dynasties.

It's been fun, though all the video games, alternate universes created even back in Strat and way back with other ones, in my mind if nowhere else. It's been a great ride. It's amazing how much can spring from reading at age 3, a fascination with Peanuts comic strips, and a lot of imagination. (I'd even get characters together from other comic strips to play. :-)) As Jim Elliott once said, he is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.

So long, and God Bless.

Thank you! I know you've been reading these a long time. I also know what it's like to have to cut back something I like in favor of real life: MMORPGs sound really fun, but I don't have that much time to waste! So far, my Mogul stuff isn't keeping me from getting done what I need to get done.

The best of luck in whatever you do,

--Pet

[petrel]

Late September 1965

It's very odd. We prepare to play our final fifteen games of the season.

The baseball season stretches out to October 9th for some teams, but the Braves will end their baseball season before any other team -- on September 30th. I don't know what that means, if it means anything. Right now, the closest race is the 9 1/2 game lead the Cubs have over the expansion Astros in the NL West. The season will be effectively over before the end of October anyway, with the Yankees and Giants coming back and the Cubs and Angels thrown in for good measure.

This competitive balance is just killing teams. The Brewers might finish at under 600,000 for the year and the big question is: what will the owners of the Brewers do? Will they hang on for other year, waiting to see if a new commissioner takes action? Or will they point to the Athletics attendance clause, state that they are drawing far below the Athletics, and ask baseball to allow them to move?

If baseball says "no", then the owners have the option of declaring bankruptcy and enjoying baseball listening to crickets chirping when they try to find new ownership for the Brewers.

As for the Philadelphia Athletics, they are at about 825,000, projected. If attendance comes in at under 800,000, the Athletics have the right to move the team after 1967. It will all depend on what happens at the gates and what Bing wants to do.

Myself...I don't kow what will happen. It is an intractable problem. No one is going to watch baseball if the same teams beat up on the same other teams, year after year. The Giants need the Brewers to be healthy, and the Yankees need the Athletics to be healthy. Else, both superteams will end up having no one to play and the league system will collapse.

But enough about that. We host the Baltimore Orioles, and we have nine games to play with them before the end of the season.


September 16th-18th, 1965
Baltimore Orioles (71-73) at Boston Braves (92-55)

Projected starters:
September 16: Bill Hands (2-1, 2.85 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (11-8, 2.85 ERA)
September 17: Joel Cataldo (11-12, 3.15 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (20-6, 2.66 ERA)
September 18: Bob Hendley (9-9, 2.68 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (16-12, 4.37 ERA)

September 16: Six home runs from the Braves overcome the Baltimore offense. Braves 14, Orioles 7.

In Minneapolis, the Los Angeles Angels make their first postseason appearance in their eight-year history, beating the Twins 7-2 with Herb Moford pitching 8 2/3 innings.

The Los Angeles Angels are American League West Champions!

At Giants Stadium, Bill Kirk gets his 27th win as the Giants beat second-place Philadelphia 9-1 to clench their fifth straight postseason appearance.

The New York Giants are National League East Champions!

September 17: Bill Mazeroski homers in the top of the 10th to win it for the visitors. Orioles 5, Braves 4 (10). Joel Cataldo strikes out nine Braves in 6 2/3 innings, bringing his season stirkeout total to 288, just 23 short of the record he set last year.
September 18: Cecil Perkins gets the win as the Braves go through four pitchers. Braves 7, Orioles 2.

(* * *)

With Floyd Robinson sitting out a week with a collarbone injury (Santiago Rosario will replace him on the bench), the Braves host the Reds at Braves Field.

September 19th-21st, 1965
Cincinnati Reds (46-101) at Boston Braves (94-56)

Projected starters:
September 19: Ken McBride (5-14, 4.41 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (14-10, 3.93 ERA)
September 20: Tom Steele (2-7, 5.04 ERA) vs. Jason Dejban (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
September 21: Paul Toth (10-14, 3.74 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (12-8, 3.06 ERA)

September 19: Don Mincher hits his 48th home run as the Braves meet their season wins goal. Braves 8, Reds 1.
Claude Osteen gets his 28th win as the Orioles are shut out by the Giants 5-0. Could Claude Osteen be the first pitcher since Dizzy Dean in 1934? (Let's hope not!)
September 20: Don Mincher hits home run #49 as the Braves benchwarmers take over most of the lineup positions and beat the Reds. Braves 9, Reds 6.
September 21: Dave Nicholson gets a pinch-hit home run, but the Reds avoid being swept. Reds 7, Braves 5.
In Los Angeles, the Cubs beat the Stars 6-4 and take their first post-season visit since their World Series victory in 1955.

The Chicago Cubs are National League West Champions!

(* * *)

We have nine more games: six of those are against the Orioles. First, we play the Orioles in Baltimore....

September 22nd-24th, 1965
Boston Braves (96-57) at Baltimore Orioles (73-77)

Projected starters:
September 22: Cecil Perkins (1-0, 2.03 ERA) vs. Dave McNally (5-3, 4.18 ERA)
September 23: Jim Bouton (0-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. Joel Cataldo (11-12, 3.13 ERA)
September 24: Hank Aguirre (15-10, 3.84 ERA) vs. Earl Francis (9-13, 3.96 ERA)

September 22: Despite the offensive display, only one home run is hit by the Braves -- Don Mincher's 50th. Braves 15, Orioles 1.
September 23: Joel Cataldo adds five to his strikeout total, up to 293, on the way to an Orioles win. Orioles 3, Braves 2.
September 24: A Tim Wallace pinch-hit home run ends the game in extra innings in Baltimore's favor. Orioles 6, Braves 3 (11).
The Giants win 9-2 over the Dodgers, and Bill Kirk wins his 28th game. There are nine games left in the season, and two Giants pitchers have outside chances at winning 30 games.

(* * *)

...then the Orioles come back to Boston in our final home series of the year.

September 25th-27th, 1965
Baltimore Orioles (75-78) at Boston Braves (97-59)

Projected starters:
September 25: Earl Francis (9-13, 3.96 ERA) vs. Jason Dejban (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
September 26: Bill Hands (2-3, 3.57 ERA) vs. Cecil Perkins (2-0, 1.98 ERA)
September 27: Dave McNally (5-4, 4.38 ERA) vs. Jim Bouton (0-1, 3.72 ERA)

September 25: Jason Dejban strikes out nine Orioles in 7 IP. Braves 4, Orioles 2.

(* * *)

The New York Giants suffer a major setback when Claude Osteen, winner of 28 games for the Giants, suffered a dislocated hip after colliding with another player during a warmup exercise. The Giants were running laps when the incident happened.

Bill Kirk still has a chance to make 30 wins. But it looks like Osteen's season is over. I always wanted Osteen to be a non-factor, and didn't want the Giants to cheapen breaking the 30 win record with a superteam, but I'd never wish a hip injury on anyone. I hope he makes it through okay.

(* * *)

September 26: Don Drysdale pitches 1/3 of an inning and gets the win, due to seven runs from the Braves in the bottom of the 7th. Braves 8, Orioles 7.
September 27: Don Drysdale, however, doesn't do so well in his next start. With the Braves up 7-2, he gives up five runs in the top of the 9th to let the Orioles tie it at 7-7, walking in a run with the bases loaded and giving up a grand slam to pinch-hitter Wes Parker, Parker's first home run in the majors. Don Carpenter gives up four singles that allow two Baltimore runs in the top of the 10th. Orioles 9, Braves 7 (10).
John Fitzgerald and the Giants obliterate the Reds 15-0, giving the Giants four 20-game winners on their staff.

(* * *)

The Braves finish their season on the road against the second-place Phillies. Odds are, we'll end the season in third place as the Phillies still have a lot of games to play.

September 28th-30th, 1965
Boston Braves (99-60) at Philadelphia Phillies (96-54)

Projected starters:
September 28: Harvey Branch (12-8, 2.92 ERA) vs. Bill Monbouquette (15-6, 2.03 ERA)
September 29: Jason Dejban (2-0, 2.84 ERA) vs. Steve Blass (16-4, 2.17 ERA)
September 30: Cecil Perkins (2-0, 2.39 ERA) vs. Phil Niekro (5-7, 4.56 ERA)

September 28: Steve Ridzik pitches two relief innings but gets the win as the Braves go ahead as he pitches. Braves 3, Phillies 2.
The Orioles once again keep the Giants from reaching a goal, winning 7-4 while Bill Kirk is on the mound. Stuck at 28 wins, Kirk's health will not be risked before the LCS and he will most likely not win 30 games.
September 29: Joe Torre's pinch-hit home run at the top of the 9th puts the Braves in the lead, and Jim Ray Hart is doubled off first by Dave Nicholson's throw from right to end the game. Braves 3, Phillies 1.
September 30: Lou Berberet drives in a run with a triple in the top of the ninth, but Joe Torre flies out to end the Braves season. Phillies 10, Braves 8.

The Yankees beat the Senators 5-3 to get their 125th win of the year. This sets the American League record for most games won in a season, but as superteams have dominated the horizon since 1958, the press takes little notice. The Athletics are almost 90 games out of first.

(* * *)

In baseball:

Frank Thomas (Giants) scores his 1000th run.

[petrel]

Late October 1965

For the Braves, there were no more games. Everyone else had about nine more days of play.

Joel Cataldo of the Braves came close to besting his National League Strikeout Best, striking out seven batters in 8 2/3 innings on October 1st, beating the Pirates 10-3. This brought him to 306 strikeouts, five short of the record. He would be penciled in on short rest for October 3rd to try to beat the record. However, the Pirates beat the Orioles 5-3 and Cataldo was only able to last 5 1/3 innings, throwing four strikeouts to fall one short of tying his own record, at 310 strikeouts.

Eight time All-Star Frank Bolling of the Tigers scored his 1000th run on October 1st. Bolling is 33 and has a few good years left in him.

On October 2nd, Bill Kirk of the New York Giants pitched six innings in a 3-2 win over the Phillies to get the win. It was Kirk's 29th win of the year, making him one short of being the first 30-game winner since Dean.

(* * *)

As for teams, the Phillies managed to tie us for second place in the National League -- which is essentially the National League East. Both teams won 101 games but finished 26 games out.

The Houston Astros finished with an 81-81 record, joining the 1958 Angels as the only two expansion teams to post .500 records in their first year. The other expansion team in the NL, the Stars, finished a respectable 71-91. Cincinnati and Milwaukee were in a race to the bottom of the league, with Milwaukee beating the Reds by one game. The Reds only drew 950,000, but the Brewers drew an abysmal 585,000 for the year. Both teams ended up in debt, something that Milwaukee has been able to dodge for the most part.

In the Junior Circuit, the Yankees pulled off six straight wins to finish at 131-31, tying the New York Giants for most wins ever by a baseball franchise, but the news was greeted with snores for the most part. For the first time in five years, Detroit does not finish second in the American League -- the Red Sox finish second, and the Tigers have to settle for third place.

The Philadelphia Athletics only drew 781,000 in 1965, compared to the Phillies who drew 2.2 million. They can now invoke their attendance agreement with Major League Baseball and the City of Philadelphia, and they can move after 1967 if they so choose. The A's finish with a 37-125 record, playing the worst baseball of the modern era. With the superteam Yankees heading the east, they finish a record 94 games out of first place.

At 84-78, the White Sox finish with their first winning record in five years. Both expansion teams finish at the bottom of the American League West, with the Peaches only winning 47 games.

(* * *)

Around the World:

Pope Paul VI visits the United States. He holds a mass in Giants Stadium and also addresses the United Nations in New York.


The Pope at Giants Stadium.

Fidel Castro announces that Che Guevara has resigned and left the country.
The University of California at Irvine opens its doors.
The International Olympic Committee admits East Germany as a member.
Yale University presents the "Vinland Map".


This map purports to show Vinland, a North American Viking territory by Leif Ericson, as on a map from a 13th century source. Some researchers doubt the map's authenticity.

[petrel]

Cubs Shut Out in Playoff Opener

Perry Pitches Well but Kirk Holds Cubs Scoreless

CHICAGO -- For the New York Giants, it only took one inning to extend their National League dominance further, beating the Cubs 4-0 in the Game 1 of the "League Championship Series".

Both teams only scored five hits, but the Giants made theirs count in the first inning as Frank Robinson tripled to bring in Donn Clendenon from first base and Frank Thomas, formerly of the Yankees, brought both runners home with a post-season home run to put the Giants up 3-0 at the end of the first..

The Cubs best chance to score was the first, when they left men on second and third. Starter Jim Perry (15-6, 2.40) pitched five solid innings but Giants starter Bill Kirk (29-7, 2.62 ERA) would pitch a shutout to win his second postseason game.

He would also contribute by hitting the ball into right field in the top of the eighth with two men on, and Frank Robinson would throw the ball over second baseman Johnny O'Brien's head, allowing Kirk to reach second and another Giants run to score.

The Cubs will play one more game at Wrigley Field, and the series will move to Giants Stadium in Queens for its finale.

New York Giants at Chicago Cubs
October 12, 1965

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
        Giants (NYG) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0    4  5  0
          Cubs (CHC) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    0  5  0

NEW YORK             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
C. Yastrzemski (LF)   4  0  1  0  0  0  2  0    .317
D. Clendenon (1B)     3  1  2  1  0  0  1  0    .318
F. Robinson (RF)      4  1  1  1  0  1  1  0    .326
B. Johnson (SS)       4  0  1  0  0  1  1  0    .346
F. Thomas (CF)        4  1  0  1  1  1  0  0    .282
E. Battey (C)         4  2  0  1  0  0  0  0    .350
K. Boyer (3B)         4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .265
J. O'Brien (2B)       2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .284
 J. Hall (P)          1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .221
 J. Amalfitano (P)    0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .306
B. Kirk (P)           4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .092
 J. Lamabe (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               34  5  6  4  1  3  6  0

   3B:  F. Robinson
   HR:  F. Thomas

        NEW YORK   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
         B. Kirk  8.0  4  3  0  0  0  3  88   2.62
       J. Lamabe  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  0  13   2.41
          TOTALS  9.0  5  3  0  0  0  3 101

CHICAGO              ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
R. Regalado (3B)      4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .316
S. Palys (LF)         4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .277
H. Agganis (1B)       3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .300
A. Kaline (CF)        4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .286
E. Sadowski (C)       3  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .252
L. Thomas (RF)        4  3  0  0  0  0  0  0    .230
D. Williams (2B)      4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .260
J. Gotay (SS)         3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .237
 E. Mackenzie (P)     1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
J. Perry (P)          1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .132
 G. Harris (P)        0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .262
 H. Trosky (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 B. Skowron (P)       1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .373
 B. Duliba (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               32  5  3  0  0  0  3  0

   2B:  L. Thomas 2

         CHICAGO   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
        J. Perry  5.0  4  2  1  3  3  4  95   2.40
       H. Trosky  2.0  1  3  0  0  0  1  43   2.00
       B. Duliba  2.0  0  1  0  1  0  1  34   3.41
          TOTALS  9.0  5  6  1  4  3  6 172

     WP: B. Kirk
     LP: J. Perry

     Temperature: 43F
     Wind: 3 MPH (right to left)
     Attendance: 36,644
     Time: 2:58

[CatKnight]

Well, I've finally caught up. I'm still enjoying every post!

Giants and Yankees...grr...maybe once Frick leaves you can do something about that. I'd suggest revenue sharing, but I don't know if the AI can survive that.