A Second Time through the Order

A Legendary Voice Departed

diamondreplays — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:41:50 +0000

As I prepared to write a post on the passing of legendary announcer Larry Munson of the University of Georgia, I surfed through the plethora of online tributes and obituaries. I came across this tribute compiled by the University. This video is better than anything I could have written. Anyone who watches this and bleeds Red and Black will get goosebumps and possibly well up with tears. For anyone else, I’m sorry if you don’t get it, but I hope there is another announcer in your life, past or present, who verbalizes and memorializes the passion you feel for your home team.

One of his overlooked radio calls, as possibly his finest, came from the final minutes of the 1997 UGA – Georgia Tech game. Tech scored a touchdown to take a 24-21 lead with 48 seconds remaining in the game. Munson summed it up (paraphrasing from my memory of listening to this call probably over 20 times) “And they just cut out our heart and the blood is pouring down North Avenue!” Graphic, yes. Over the top, yes…but that is how every Bulldog fan felt at that moment. It was a complete heartbreak. Miraculously, Mike Bobo and the Bulldogs engineered a furious 65 yard drive (aided by a pass interference call) and hit Corey Allen on an eight-yard pass with just eight ticks left on the clock. “Oh my, oh it couldn’t have happened! … and we just picked up our heart and stuffed it back in!” Munson summed up the game later, “Michigan State had rocked Penn State 49-7 but nothing has rocked like this one. Nothing. Has. Rocked. Like This One.”

(Another great tribute from Tommy Tomlinson, columnist with The Charlotte Observer)

See why UGA fans chose to turn down the television sound and turn on Munson: the final drive vs. Georgia Tech, 2006. Larry was 84 years old on this call.

“Fifty years from now, some grandparent is going to remember him as the sports voice of their childhood. ‘Yes,’ they’ll say to a grandson or granddaughter, ‘[fill in the blank] is good, but you should have heard Larry Munson. He was absolutely the best.’”

- Verne Lundquist, CBS Sports

Larry Munson retired in 2008 after 42 years in the booth. His classic calls echo throughout campus each football Saturday in Athens, and they will continue to do so for years to come. Yes, I am biased. Herschel Walker is the greatest running back in college football history, and college football will never have an announcer with the passion of Larry Munson. Look at the sugar falling from the sky! Rest in Peace, Larry. This really feels like a death in my family.

Report Card on 2011 Prognostications

diamondreplays — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:45:38 +0000

Back on March 29, 2011 in a post aptly titled For What It’s Worth, I listed my division and wild card predictions along with my picks for league superlatives. My team predictions were a disaster. I correctly selected Texas as AL West champions, and the Rays as the AL wild card. The problem with the Rays selection was that I chose the Red Sox as AL East division champs. As for the NL, I received the golden sombrero. My MVP and Cy Young predictions were no better. But with today’s announcement of the Rookie of the Year awards, I can boast of complete clairvoyant abilities. Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel and Tampa Bay’s Jeremy Hellickson are the 2011 Rookies of the Year, just as I declared on March 29, 2011. [mic drop]

Ryan Era Ends In Cleveland

diamondreplays — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:16:31 +0000

Cleveland Browns coach Blanton Collier announced Frank Ryan (above) will be replaced as the team's starting quarterback against the Steelers this week. Ryan frequently had defensive linemen draped on him this season as he has been sacked 17 times in the first 3 games.

Frank Ryan, who quarterbacked the Browns to a championship four seasons ago, has been displaced as Browns quarterback after a seven game losing streak dating back to last season. Coach Collier named Bill Nelsen as the starter this week. Nelsen will be making his debut against his former club, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him in the tenth round in 1963.

As for Ryan, he threw his seventh interception of the season in the waning moments of the Browns’ 13-10 loss to Los Angeles in Cleveland’s opening game on Sunday. Ryan was battered around by the Rams’ front four throughout the game. He was sacked six times by the Rams, and seventeen times in three games this season. Ryan suffered a shoulder injury in 1965, and those seventeen sacks have re-aggravated the injury. For Ryan’s own sake and for the good of the team, Collier finally announced his decision after the loss to the Rams. Cleveland and Pittsburgh are both 0-3 trailing the surprise leaders in the Century Division, the 2-1 New Orleans Saints.

The Saints defeated the St. Louis Cardinals convincingly 31-9 as Billy Kilmer threw four touchdown passes, two to wideout Danny Abramowicz, a 17th round pick from Xavier in last year’s draft. In other action, the Green Bay Packers remained undefeated with a 17-0 blanking of the Detroit Lions. The Cowboys and Colts also remained undefeated. Dallas held off the Eagles, 27-22, and the Colts romped over the hapless Steelers, 24-5. The Chicago Bears, without the services of Gale Sayers, slipped past the Vikings, 13-10. Fran Tarkenton and the Giants handed the Redskins their first defeat of the season with a 27-14 victory in the opener at Yankee Stadium. John Brodie threw three touchdown passes in the 49ers’ 23-14 home victory over Atlanta.

In AFL action, the Kansas City Chiefs rallied in the second half to avoid an upset bid by the Miami Dolphins, 24-13. Noland Smith’s 73-yard punt return for a touchdown broke a 10-10 tie in the third quarter for the Chiefs. Joe Namath and the Jets easily dispatched of the Bills in Buffalo, 27-7. San Diego defeated Cincinnati, 27-13. Bengals running back Paul Robinson gained 136 yards in the loss, and leads the AFL in rushing after a month of action. In Houston, Daryle Lamonica connected with Warren Wells for three touchdowns in the Raiders’ 31-17 win in the Astrodome. In Denver, the Broncos defeated the Patriots, 20-15.

Go to 1968 NFL Replay Home Page

Go to 1968 AFL Replay Home Page

A Pilgrimage at Lunch Time

diamondreplays — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:46:19 +0000

“The pilgrimage has gained momentum,
take a turn (take a turn), take a turn (take a turn)”
R.E.M., 1983

There are two camps of baseball simulation players from the 1970′s: APBA and Strat-0-Matic. Ask anyone who played a card-and-dice baseball game as a kid “which game did you play?” and one of those two companies is the likely answer. I spent two summers of my adolescence with APBA baseball cards and dice. In early adulthood, I returned to the computer version of APBA, and years passed by before I saw those cards and dice again. That is, until last Friday.

I stopped for a moment beside my car in a parking lot. I had completed my morning business and set out for every day errands — a trip to the bank and whatever else — or for an afternoon of more work. But a recollection erased the laundry list that was forming in my mind. The APBA Game Company had announced this summer they were leaving their long-standing home of Lancaster, Pennsylvania for a suburb known as Alpharetta, Georgia. Not too far from where I now stood. A few clicks and swipes on my phone revealed I now stood a mere twelve minutes by car from APBA Games. The chores and cares of every day were cast aside, and I turned the car in an opposite direction for a pilgrimage to honor those summer days.

I pulled up to the one-story office complex of brick and glass. A cardboard sign hung on a glass door with the familiar APBA Games logo. I hesitated. I had no plans to purchase, just to pay my respects. Surely, I was not the first person to do so, maybe here, but I had read about people dropping Lancaster, PA to visit APBA. So I went in. I surmise I was not the unannounced visitor as I was warmly greeted by John and his staff. John realized the nature of my visit and offered to give me the two-cent tour. He walked me back to their warehouse area and loading dock. Cartons of APBA Baseball, Golf, and Saddle Racing games were stacked along the shelves and walls. We discussed the labor of a cross-state move of a business, and he gladly answered questions that I had wondered for years. The lawsuit twelve years ago over the use of players’ names and stats wherein Miller Associates and other companies were named defendants; Miller’s subsequent decision to walk from Baseball for Windows; the possibility of BBW 6.0 (possible, “time frame depending on programmer’s schedules”); and individual competitors to the card game. I chuckled as he pronounced the game the correct way as “APP-bah” as my friends and I have always incorrectly called it “A-P-B-A”. In fairness to John, I’ll keep the details of the conversation private as I was not there for an interview, just for my personal curiosity, which I decided later to share. For an actual interview with John, visit APBA Blog.

For more on the history of the computer game, the APBA.zip site has a detailed story. I’m glad Greg has that site still up and active. It was one of the first APBA web sites I discovered 15 years ago. I recommend anyone with a APBA past to visit the new Alpharetta location. Their web site, APBAGames.com, now states “If you are in the neighborhood, please stop by.” The more common refrain down South would be “Y’all come by now, ya hear?” but you can’t expect everything from a Pennsylvania transplant. Seriously, thanks again to John and his staff for their hospitality, and I wish APBA continued success.

Remember the College All Star – NFL Preseason Game?

diamondreplays — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:13:56 +0000

Syracuse's Larry Csonka is tackled by the Packer defense in the 1968 Chicago Charities College All-Star Game.

In 1934, one year after creating baseball’s All Star Game, Arch Ward, sports editor for the Chicago Tribune, looked for a football equivalent of the All Star Game. The NFL was is its fledgling years and in need of some publicity. The result was a pre-season game that matched the defending NFL champion against a team of college all-stars. The game enjoyed initial success as it was the college game that held the public’s interest at the time. Red Grange and Sammy Baugh reached celebrity status during the playing days in college, not in the NFL. In 1947, the game drew an astounding 105,840 fans in attendance at Chicago’s Solider Field.

In the 1960′s, the game lessened in importance as salaries around the NFL increased. The College All Stars defeated the NFL champions (the AFL champion Jets and Chiefs did play this game in 1969 and 1970 respectively) nine times in the forty-one year history of the game (the game was not played in 1974 due to NFL player strike). The last victory was in 1963 as Wisconsin’s Ron VanderKelen led the collegians to a stunning 20-17 victory over Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers. Interestingly, VanderKalen was undrafted before the game, but received a contract offer from the Vikings after the game.

In 1968, the college roster featured Heisman Trophy winner Gary Beban of U.C.L.A. but it was filled with names who would reach celebrity status in their NFL careers: Syracuse’s Larry Csonka, Arizona State’s Curley Culp, Wyoming’s Jim Kiick, Texas A & I’s Claude Humphrey, Massachusetts’ Greg Landry, Mississippi State’s D.D. Lewis, U.S.C’s Ron Yary, and San Diego State’s Haven Moses. The Green Bay Packers rolled to a 21-0 lead over the 1968 edition of the college all-stars, marking 86 unanswered points the Packers had scored in three such games. Bart Starr threw three touchdown passes to Carroll Dale. Larry Csonka of Syracuse was named the best All-Star of the game with 95 yards rushing against the Packers. The final score was 34-17.

The concerns that eventually ended the game in 1976 were coming to the surface in 1968. The editorial page of the August 17, 1968 edition of The Sporting News acknowledged that “pro executives fret over the injury threat to their rookies, who also are delayed in reporting to pro clubs when they compete in the Chicago event.” It was also noted that the lack of competitiveness was starting to grow on the All- Stars themselves. The NFL contract with the Chicago Tribune Charities, Inc. had one more year remaining in 1968. The game’s promoters were able to sell an extension, but in 1976, the game was called in the third quarter due to heavy rains. The game was washed away for good.

For more about the Chicago Charities College All Star Game.

The Day the Music Died in 1967

diamondreplays — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:43:17 +0000

I’ve mentioned before that one of the benefits of this replay project is the discovering of new music. My 1966 replay introduced me to the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds in its entirety; 1967 introduced me to Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow and Moby Grape. No new discoveries to report for 1968 as of yet. I am currently reading Rob Kirkpatrick’s 1969: The Year Everything Changed. I just finished a chapter covering the new music of that year: the precursor of punk rock, The Stooges and MC5. However, most of 1968′s biggest albums, The Beatles’ White Album (November), Rolling Stones’ Beggar’s Banquet (December), and Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland (October), all came out after baseball season. I also have all three committed to memory from my high school and college days. But I have re-discovered an artist who performed at the Monterey Music Festival and grew in popularity in the spring of 1968, posthumously.

Otis Redding died on December 10, 1967 in a plane crash. Years later, Don McLean would pen a hit song about the day Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in 1959. He called it “the day the music died”. Three members of Lynryd Skynyrd were killed in a 1977 plane crash, but that band plays on. Otis was silenced on that day in December, 1967 and we all truly lost a great talent. Like Hendrix, he was popular in Europe before making a splash at Monterey. Three days before his death, he recorded “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay”. He whistled the last verse, meaning to come back and fill it in with lyrics. He did not get the chance to do so.

“Sittin’ By the Dock of the Bay” was released in January, 1968, and became a number one song, the first posthumous number one single in U.S. chart history. Redding’s popularity in the U.S. among white audiences took off. Three Otis Redding albums were released in 1968. Some recommended lesser-known tracks are “Nobody Knows You When You Are Down and Out”, “Cigarettes and Coffee” from his first album, The Soul Album, released in 1966, and any live rendition of “Shake”. Members of Otis’ band who went on to further glory: Issac Hayes (‘a bad mother… shut yo mouth’ who died three years ago today), and Steve Cropper and Donald “Duck” Dunn, best known for their work with John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd on the Blues Brothers album and movie. Otis Redding is now known as the King of Soul. Listen to his music which (apologies to Mr. McLean) will never die, and you will agree Otis is king.

Otis Redding’s 70th birthday will be celebrated the weekend of September 9, 2011 in his hometown of Macon, Georgia.

Replay update: 1968 baseball will be updated when play reaches the end of July (currently July 19). Still intrigued with the depth and fun of Out of the Park Baseball 12 while toying with 1901 and 1920 replays. I mentioned on Twitter recently my next baseball project will be OOTP12, likely 1920. I will continue the 1968 NFL and AFL football replay now the NFL is back in session. Stay tuned for a football update here.

Thank you for following! Happy 40th birthday to SABR!

All Star Thoughts, 1968 Not Too Far from 2011

diamondreplays — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:51:54 +0000

The prevailing thought among baseball fans is that the All-Star Game is not what it used to be even though “this time it counts” since 2002. It is true a generation ago the starters played most, if not all, of the game. Players, not so distant from the public from a pay scale perspective, took pride in the game against the “other” league. The All-Star Game was a fan’s chance outside of the World Series to see Willie Mays face Denny McLain or other inter-league match-ups. All of this is true, but a cursory review of newspapers from 1968 reveal that generation was not enthralled with its’ All Star Game either. It seems there will always be someone to complain.

The 1968 All Star Game was a novelty in two respects. It was the first All Star Game played indoors in Houston’s Astrodome, and it was the first night game since Philadelphia in 1943 and Pittsburgh in 1944. A twilight start in Anaheim last year, combined with a 15 inning game, brought the game into Eastern homes on prime evening television time. The 1968 game started at 8:15 p.m. EDT on NBC. Commentary in the Chicago Tribune opined the All Star game lost its luster when baseball created two All Star games beginning in 1959. “The production has been moved to after dark in hopes of recapturing the once-great enthusiasm. This is as futile as trying to recapture a lost love. The All-Star baseball game ain’t what it used to be, and you know who to blame for ruining it? It was a group of professional athletes whose greed was great,” commented David Condon. “The double All-Star game was originated because the players themselves, milking the club owners for increased pension benefits, insisted that the extra game be played to shore up the pension fund.” Bob Addie explained in his Washington Post column “It used to be the players received 60% of the All Star gate receipts for their pension fund. This was later raised to 95%, but the percentage was then erased as baseball agreed to pay $4.1 million a year to the pension fund. The $2 a day contribution players used to pay toward the fund now goes to the maintenance of the MLBPA office and staff, including the $50,000 salary of executive director Marvin Miller.” (not sure, but the words “damn unions” had to be written somewhere between those lines.) But pension contribution was the hot topic in early July, 1968 as baseball’s new liberal policy drew the attention of NFL players who threatened a strike in order to increase league contributions. The opening of training camps were delayed as negotiations concerning the player pension fund took place. So the 1968 All Star Game, like this year’s edition, was played amid the swirl of a NFL strike, and post-game headlines from the game were shared with coverage of the NFL negotiations.

Speaking of the NFL and as a sidenote, here’s a quote from Shirley Povich in his Washington Post column on July 7, 1968: “The Redskins-St. Louis Cardinal swap of cornerbacks Lonnie Sanders for Jim Burson involved more than met the eye. It was appeasement by Cardinal owner Bill Bidwell of his club’s Negro players, who, in their near-revolt last season, took to him a list of grievances that included the absence of colored players on the Cardinals’ defensive unit.” Those race-related thoughts are still espoused in the dark corner of a bar somewhere, but thankfully you won’t read them in today’s mainstream media.

So back to the All Star Game, the 1968 game may be viewed as a classic. A 1-0 NL victory that epitomized the Year of the Pitcher. So what were the comments after this throwback classic? The New York Times reported that “the National Broadcasting Company, which went whole hog this time by scheduling the game for ‘prime time’ in the East, wound up with a program of questionable excitement. A 1-0 game is supposed to be thrilling by nature if a pennant is at stake; but in an extravaganza intended to show off the talents of superstars, such a result is merely soporific.” Winning manager Red Schoendienst summed it up: “There’s just not much you can say about a 1-0 game.” I imagine the same would be said if this year’s game resulted in a 1-0 final score. There are some things in baseball that just do not change.

Visit my 1968 baseball replay using Diamond Mind Baseball

A Review of the NBC broadcast of the 1968 All Star Game from The Fleer Sticker Project

For What It’s Worth x 25

diamondreplays — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:42:48 +0000

I just completed my 25th vote for this year’s All-Star Game. Unlike the NCAA Tournament for which I believe one should only submit one bracket, I use my full allotment of 25 online votes (per email address). Back in the day, I was the guy getting handfuls of ballots from ushers, littering the aisles with chads, and stuffing the Gillette ballot boxes at the ball park. My philosophy is to vote for the most deserving from this season with a nod to career numbers and a touch of home team bias. I usually try to pick a dark horse candidate from a lesser known team in hopes that my ballot stuffing could work. Back in 1984, I recall stuffing ballots for Minnesota’s Tom Brunansky. He finally made it in 1985, his only selection though not as a starter by the fans. Oh yeah, one more self-imposed rule post-1996, no Yankees.

American League:

1B – Gonzalez, Adrian BOS – Could go Miguel Cabrera, a former Marlin…no.
2B – Zobrist, Ben TBR – Cano blocked by no Yankee rule, Pedroia a close second.
SS – Cabrera, Asdrubal, CLE – Best representation by the upstart Tribe
3B – Beltre, Adrian, TEX – No A-Rod, vote for Beltre on numbers and that great over-the-shoulder catch in Atlanta
C – Avila, Alex, DET – This used to be an automatic Joe Mauer vote.
DH – Ortiz, David, BOS – Big Papi’s grin graces the All-Star Game again.
OF – Bautista, Jose, TOR – Gotta finally recognize.
OF – Ellsbury, Jacoby, BOS – Etched in my mind with that steal of home last year.
OF – Jones, Adam, BAL – Love to the small-market club, but it’s unlikely O’s will reach former glory with current ownership.

National League:

1B – Votto, Joey, CIN – MVP credentials over Prince
2B – Weeks, Rickie, MIL – Early votes went to DaDudeBP, but Weeks’ # surpassed
SS – Reyes, Jose, NYM – Not a consideration until he single-handedly beat the Braves in a series in Atlanta
3B – Jones, Chipper, ATL – Admitted homer career vote out of weak crowd. Placido Polanco? Really?
C – McCann, Brian, ATL – Best catcher in baseball
OF – Braun, Ryan, MIL – Not really a fan, but his numbers cannot be ignored
OF – Kemp, Matt, LAD – Something going right at Dodger Stadium.
OF – McCutchen, Andrew, PIT – More small market love. Current Brave Nate McLouth got this vote years ago.

My 1968 Baseball Replay is one day from the All-Star Break, and will be updated shortly. Crossover Day (the date the real calendar and replay calendar converge) is targeted to be July 11-12 so the ’68 replay All-Star Game will coincide with the 2011 ASG in Phoenix. Follow me on Twitter for updates to my web sites.

A sidenote for now, that may become much more, I ordered Out of the Park Baseball 12 (“OOTP”) last week. OOTP is more of a general manager game while Diamond Mind Baseball is more on-the-field managerial. However, OOTP is moving toward the managerial side of the game, and the latest version added real-life lineups and transactions. I could not be more impressed with the game, and am kicking around ideas for a next project. If possible, I may merge my 1965-1968 project so 1969 starts with OOTP or restart 1920 with OOTP. Other options would be a fictional league using real life major league and Negro League players from the 1930′s or start at the beginning with the National Association in 1871. I’ve admitted I get a little too immersed with my replays, and I can tell with OOTP that it does not take much effort to be fully immersed in a replay project.

1968 Replay All Stars Announced

diamondreplays — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:27:06 +0000

Frank Howard is a first time All Star starter with a first half performance that had the Capital Punisher in Triple Crown contention. There have been two consecutive Triple Crowns in the American League - Frank Robinson (1966) and Carl Yastrzemsk (1967). Howard leads the majors with 18 home runs, leads the AL with 50 RBI, and is second in the AL with a .322 average.

The 1968 All Star Game will be played on July 9th in the Houston Astrodome. My selections from the replay vary a little from those of the players and managers back in 1968. Fan voting was not reinstated until 1970. The main difference between my replay and reality are the starters. Denny McLain (14-4, 1.68) and Bob Gibson (14-2, 1.24) are the clear choices to start the replay All Star Game. Real life starter Don Drysdale did not have the consecutive shutout inning streak to boost his All Star starting selection, and Luis Tiant (9-4, 1.99) is having a fine replay, but not better than McLain.

Harmon Killebrew is second in the AL with 16 home runs, but is batting only .188. Baltimore’s Boog Powell is third with 12 HR with an above average .265 mark, but I stayed with Killebrew in deference to his career thus far (and for sentimental reasons with his recent passing). Another .265 batter, Luis Aparicio of the White Sox, does get a starting nod over his real life counterpart, Jim Fregosi of the Angels. Two-time replay All Star Fregosi started my 1967 All Star Game in front of his home fans, but this season Jim is scuffling at .211 and is skipped over for the team in favor of a replay favorite, Detroit’s Dick McAuliffe, who is only a .222 hitter but is second in the AL with 43 runs scored. California’s lone representative is bonus baby outfielder Rick Reichardt, an inspirational story as Rick had his kidney removed in 1966. Other real life American League All Stars who will be missing from the replay are Boston’s Gary Bell and Jose Santiago, Detroit’s Don Wert, and Baltimore’s Davey Johnson. In their stead are Detroit’s Earl Wilson, 1967 AL replay Cy Young winner, Boston’s Reggie Smith, the leading hitter in the American League, and McAuliffe.

In the National League, I went with another shortstop starter also. Pittsburgh’s Gene Alley was selected over Chicago’s Don Kessinger, and like Fregosi in the AL, Kessinger and his .211 average are not on the team. Alley is not much better with the stick than Kessinger, but last year’s All Star starter also leads Kessinger in fielding totals. At second base, I named St. Louis’ Julian Javier (.296, 6 HR, 32 RBI) over Cincinnati’s Tommy Helms (.254, 2 HR, 17 RBI). Players bumped off my replay All Star roster are Philadelphia’s Woodie Fryman, Cincinnati’s Johnny Bench and Leo Cardenas, Atlanta’s Ron Reed and Kessinger. In their place are Philadelphia’s Richie Allen, RBI leader Jim Ray Hart from San Francisco, St. Louis shortstop Dal Maxvill, Chicago’s Glenn Beckert and Los Angeles’ Bill Singer. Bench who was the Rookie of the Year in 1968 has struggled mightily in his first half of replay baseball: .193/.232/.271, 2 HR’s and 20 RBI. Here’s a list of the real-life starters and my replay starters:

1968 Real Life American League All Stars

P. Luis Tiant (CLE)
C. Bill Freehan (DET)
1B. Harmon Killebrew (MIN)
2B. Rod Carew (MIN)
3B. Brooks Robinson (BAL)
SS. Jim Fregosi (CAL)
LF. Willie Horton (DET)
CF. Carl Yastrzemski (BOS)
RF. Frank Howard (WSA)

Joe Azcue* (CLE)
Gary Bell (BOS)
Bert Campaneris* (OAK)
Ken Harrelson* (BOS)
Tommy John* (CHW)
Davey Johnson* (BAL)
Duane Josephson* (CHW)
Mickey Mantle* (NYY)
Sam McDowell* (CLE)

Denny McLain* (DET)
Rick Monday* (OAK)
Blue Moon Odom* (OAK)
Tony Oliva* (MIN)
Boog Powell* (BAL)
Jose Santiago (BOS)
Mel Stottlemyre* (NYY)
Don Wert* (DET)

1968 Replay American League All Stars

P Denny McLain (DET)
C Bill Freehan (DET)
1B Harmon Killebrew (MIN)
2B Rod Carew (MIN)
3B Brooks Robinson (BAL)
SS Luis Aparicio (CHW)
LF Willie Horton (DET)
CF Carl Yastrzemski (BOS)
RF Frank Howard (WSA)

Joe Azcue* (CLE)
Rick Reichardt (CAL)
Bert Campaneris* (OAK)
Ken Harrelson* (BOS)
Tommy John* (CHW)
Reggie Smith (BOS)
Duane Josephson* (CHW)
Mickey Mantle* (NYY)
Sam McDowell* (CLE)

Luis Tiant (CLE)
Rick Monday* (OAK)
Blue Moon Odom* (OAK)
Tony Oliva* (MIN)
Boog Powell* (BAL)
Earl Wilson (DET)
Mel Stottlemyre* (NYY)
Dick McAuliffe* (DET)

1968 Real Life National League All Stars

P. Don Drysdale (LAD)
C. Jerry Grote (NYM)
1B. Willie McCovey (SFG)
2B. Tommy Helms (CIN)
3B. Ron Santo (CHC)
SS. Don Kessinger (CHC)
LF. Curt Flood (STL)
CF. Willie Mays (SFG)
RF. Hank Aaron (ATL)

Gene Alley (PIT)
Felipe Alou* (ATL)
Matty Alou* (PIT)
Johnny Bench* (CIN)
Leo Cardenas* (CIN)
Steve Carlton* (STL)
Woodie Fryman (PHI)
Bob Gibson (STL)
Tom Haller* (LAD)

Julian Javier* (STL)
Jerry Koosman* (NYM)
Juan Marichal* (SFG)
Tony Perez* (CIN)
Ron Reed* (ATL)
Pete Rose (CIN)
Tom Seaver* (NYM)
Rusty Staub* (HOU)
Billy Williams* (CHC)

1968 Replay National League All Stars

P. Bob Gibson (STL)
C. Jerry Grote (NYM)
1B. Willie McCovey (SFG)
2B. Julian Javier (STL)
3B. Ron Santo (CHC)
SS. Gene Alley (PIT)
LF. Curt Flood (STL)
CF. Willie Mays (SFG)
RF. Hank Aaron (ATL)

Dal Maxvill (STL)
Felipe Alou* (ATL)
Matty Alou* (PIT)
Jim Ray Hart (SFG)
Glenn Beckert (CHC)
Steve Carlton* (STL)
Richie Allen (PHI)
Tom Haller* (LAD)
Don Drysdale (LAD)

Tommy Helms (CIN)
Jerry Koosman* (NYM)
Juan Marichal* (SFG)
Tony Perez* (CIN)
Bill Singer (LAD)
Pete Rose (CIN)
Tom Seaver* (NYM)
Rusty Staub* (HOU)
Billy Williams* (CHC)

A No-Hitter in Year of the Pitcher, Finally

diamondreplays — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:42:06 +0000

Angels' rookie Tom Murphy, the sixth overall pick in the January secondary draft, pitched the first no-hitter of my 1968 replay.

After many close calls, a no-hitter has finally been registered in my replay of 1968, the famous “Year of the Pitcher”. A rookie, Tom Murphy of the California Angels, wins his first major league game in style with a no-hitter against boyhood hero Mickey Mantle and the New York Yankees. The feat draws comparisons to starlet magnet Bo Belinsky in the Angels clubhouse, and one can only imagine what would have been going through teammate Rickey Clark’s mind. Two and a half weeks earlier, Clark missed out on no-hit glory by one strike. But this remarkable feat is no guarantee of future glory, Murphy joins St. Louis Browns’ pitcher Bobo Holloman as winners of their first major league game with a no-hitter. Holloman’s no-hitter came in 1953, the first of only three victories against seven defeats in his only major league season.

So where did the first no-hitter of the season rank in game scores? Murphy’s gem registered a 77, not even in the top ten pitching performances to date, by pitching game score standards. Earlier, I took a look at pitching game scores in the 1968 and 1967 replays. On June 8th, Sam McDowell surpassed JIm McGlothlin’s season-best effort with a two-hitter against the defending champion Tigers which scored an 84. By the way, only one no-hitter in this replay to date, but ten one-hitters have been pitched.

The replay site has been updated through games played on Wednesday, June 19th. The June 20, 1968 edition of the New York Times noted that major league players voted for the All-Star game starters yesterday. The sealed votes will be forwarded to the Commissioner’s office where the ballots will be counted. The results will be issued next Tuesday, coinciding with the next scheduled update of the web site. The managers in my replay, Mayo Smith of the Tigers and Red Schoendienst of the Cardinals, will pick the pitchers and the rest of the 25-man squads. Fan voting for the All-Star starters, discontinued after the 1957 Cincinnati ballot stuffing incident, would not start again until 1970.