On St. Patrick’s Day,2009,a second time through the 1967 baseball season began. The first pitch was a strike from Washington’s Pete Richert,and the season was underway. You can follow all of my second time through baseball replays at each of the seasons’sites. This blog is to share interesting off or on-field items that I uncover in my research of these re-created seasons. Some items may have a new interest after 40+ years of time,and more often than not,some items just go to show that some things,more particularly the business of baseball,have not changed much over 40+ years. I may cover news items of interest and the music from that season. Starting with my 1966 replay,a jukebox is available for your listening enjoyment as you read through the box scores and team news. Music is one of the quickest way to travel your mind through time.
Each of the recreated baseball seasons were seasons that I was too young to enjoy. As my current progression from the 1965 season continues,I will at some point reach my first baseball memory,which is the 1972 World Series. That will be a few years from now so I think at that point,I will not mind retreading through childhood memories. Many of the characters of baseball of my childhood’s eye make their stage debut in 1967. Johnny Bench,Tom Seaver,Reggie Jackson,just to name a few.
As spring training,1967 kicked off in Florida and Arizona,there was not much debate that the Orioles would repeat as American League champions. The only caveat was the youth and health of their pitching staff. That caveat pretty much covers every team,not just in 1967. The Twins were the greatest threat as Minnesota had deepened its staff with the acquisition of Dean Chance. In the National League,the consensus was that the Giants or Pirates would knock the Koufax-less Dodgers off as king of the mountain. I have not come across a definitive list of predicted finish from any publication,but Sports Illustrated and Baseball Digest leaned toward the Giants while The Sporting News tabbed the Bucs. The Dodgers were picked for the second division,but that did not concern Walt Alston too much as none of the magazines picked the Dodgers in 1965 or 1966.
This is a consensus of the predicted order of finish along with a one-line comment from Baseball Digest,April,1967 issue:
Orioles – should win again if pitching is sound
Twins –one of the top contenders
Tigers – should be a contender if pitchers click
White Sox –hitting must show real improvement
Angels- pitching must improve for fifth
A’s – may finish top of second division
Red Sox – little hope of climbing much
Yankees – another second division finish
Senators –first division still out of reach
Giants – excellent chance to win pennant
Pirates – solid club which should be in race
Braves – a pitching surprise could mean flag
Phillies –should be solid contenders if White can play early
Cardinals –will need some surprises to be solid contenders
Dodgers – will be hard-pressed for first division
Cubs –improved pitching could mean club moves to sixth
Reds –pitching must improve greatly to be contender
Mets –improving but eighth place seems tops
Astros – improving,but not enough to make first division
