SO49: 1961 and Babe's Record

The Professor · 09-01-2004, 12:46 PM

Well, it is nearly August of 1961 in Summer of '49 and while some things remain very much the same - the Tigers and Red Sox are poised to win their 5th straight division titles - some excitement has been generated by the gritty playoff chase of an expansion team and by the chase for a historic record.

It is 1961 after all!

In real life, of course, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60 that season (in 162 games, for you asterisk* types). In SO49 it looks like the Babe's record is set to fall in 1961 as well. While Maris is a big-time slugger (for the Phillies) it doesn't look like he is the one to do it, though. No, that honor looks to fall to the most dangerous slugger in SO49 -- Frank Thomas of the San Francisco Red Sox.

With almost 50 games to play, Thomas has already blasted 51 circuit clouts - 10 shy of a new Major League record. The national media now turns it attention to the unassuming slugger, joining Red Sex nation in the countdown to 61. Thomas is not a stranger to the chase; 1961 marks the 3rd time he's hammered over 50 homers in a season. He's topped 40 three other times. The 32-year-old batsman is a two time AL MVP (1957,1960) and looks like he may be adding another bit of hardware at the end of this season. Of course, the one trophy Thomas really wants is the World Series Trophy. Catching the Babe is fine, but only if Thomas's team can finally exorcise the Babe's curse that has followed them across the continent and tormented them through several record-setting seasons (in wins) and the following ALCS collapses.

Regardless, Thomas is set to append his signature to the roll call of legends in 1961 as every dinger from here out is a step towards immortality.

Meanwhile, the shocking expansion Houston Colt .45s have finally slipped away from the top of the NL West - but not yet out of the playoff hunt. Team skipper Eddie Yost, a former teamate of Frank Thomas in San Francisco, has led his charges on an amazing debut run and with a little luck - and some shrinkage of the 6.5 game gap between them and first place Minnesota - the Colts might not only be the first expansion team with a winning record in their debut season, but might make a trip to the NLCS as well. They'll need some breaks, but they've proven that they can beat any team in the league and underdog fans everywhere are hoping that this Cinderella of Cinderallas will be there at the end...

Jeremy Weimer · 09-01-2004, 01:23 PM

Nice writeup Nathan.

I'm rooting for Franky to snap the record. Keep us updated.

09-01-2004, 12:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
The Professor Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Coastal Carolina Posts: 3,013 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4x in 4 posts	SO49: 1961 and Babe's Record Well, it is nearly August of 1961 in Summer of '49 and while some things remain very much the same - the Tigers and Red Sox are poised to win their 5th straight division titles - some excitement has been generated by the gritty playoff chase of an expansion team and by the chase for a historic record. It is 1961 after all! In real life, of course, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60 that season (in 162 games, for you asterisk* types). In SO49 it looks like the Babe's record is set to fall in 1961 as well. While Maris is a big-time slugger (for the Phillies) it doesn't look like he is the one to do it, though. No, that honor looks to fall to the most dangerous slugger in SO49 -- Frank Thomas of the San Francisco Red Sox. With almost 50 games to play, Thomas has already blasted 51 circuit clouts - 10 shy of a new Major League record. The national media now turns it attention to the unassuming slugger, joining Red Sex nation in the countdown to 61. Thomas is not a stranger to the chase; 1961 marks the 3rd time he's hammered over 50 homers in a season. He's topped 40 three other times. The 32-year-old batsman is a two time AL MVP (1957,1960) and looks like he may be adding another bit of hardware at the end of this season. Of course, the one trophy Thomas really wants is the World Series Trophy. Catching the Babe is fine, but only if Thomas's team can finally exorcise the Babe's curse that has followed them across the continent and tormented them through several record-setting seasons (in wins) and the following ALCS collapses. Regardless, Thomas is set to append his signature to the roll call of legends in 1961 as every dinger from here out is a step towards immortality. Meanwhile, the shocking expansion Houston Colt .45s have finally slipped away from the top of the NL West - but not yet out of the playoff hunt. Team skipper Eddie Yost, a former teamate of Frank Thomas in San Francisco, has led his charges on an amazing debut run and with a little luck - and some shrinkage of the 6.5 game gap between them and first place Minnesota - the Colts might not only be the first expansion team with a winning record in their debut season, but might make a trip to the NLCS as well. They'll need some breaks, but they've proven that they can beat any team in the league and underdog fans everywhere are hoping that this Cinderella of Cinderallas will be there at the end... __________________ History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are."

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09-01-2004, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jeremy Weimer Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Mounds View, MN Posts: 3,376 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4x in 2 posts	Nice writeup Nathan. I'm rooting for Franky to snap the record. Keep us updated.