Joy in Mudville: A "Friendly" Baseball League Beginning in 1970

[Joy in Mudville]

The Chicago Cubs have signed two undrafted players to minor league contracts.

The Cubs inked catcher Larry Cox and outfielder Tommy Cruz to their Class-A Earlville affiliate.

[Joy in Mudville]

The Oakland A's have signed a pair of undrafted players to minor league deals.

The A's reached agreements with infielders Jim Cox and Matt Alexander. Each has been assigned to Class-A ball in LaMoille.

[Joy in Mudville]

The Houston Astros have signed two undrafted players to minor league contracts.

The Astros inked infielder Sam Ewing and outfielder Curtis Brown. Both players have been assigned to Class-A Martinsville.

[Joy in Mudville]

Baltimore--Oriole left-hander Ken Holtzman threw the season's first no-hitter as Baltimore shut out Kansas City 4-0 at Memorial Stadium.

Holtzman lost his bid for a perfect game in the seventh inning by issuing a walk to Amos Otis on a 3-2 pitch. He then picked Otis off two pitches later.

Holtzman, 11-1, struck out six Royals. He threw 97 pitches en route to winning his eighth straight decision.

Just over one year ago, Holtzman one-hit San Diego as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Game ID: 1050 - Wednesday, July 12th, 1972 - Game Log


Wednesday, July 12th, 1972
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kansas City Royals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Baltimore Orioles 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 X 4 11 0


Kansas City AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
L. Piniella LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251 7 31
L. Maye RF 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .109 1 6
A. Otis CF 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .278 10 43
P. Schaal 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 9 44
B. Oliver 3B 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .243 12 46
M. Fiore 1B 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .196 1 13
E. Kirkpatrick C 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .247 1 35
R. Severson SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .141 2 12
D. Drago P 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140 0 2
J. York P 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Totals 26 0 0 0 1 6 0

BATTING
Team LOB: 0


Baltimore AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
K. Singleton LF 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .305 12 24
D. May RF 4 1 3 0 0 0 1 .294 4 20
D. Allen 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .316 22 68
D. Evans 2B 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .296 12 49
J. Grubb CF 4 1 2 2 0 0 2 .353 9 56
T. Crowley 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .240 9 42
C. Speier SS 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .356 1 10
B. Boone C 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .272 4 39
K. Holtzman P 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .081 0 2
Totals 34 4 11 4 1 1 14

BATTING
Doubles: J. Grubb (20, 3rd Inning off D. Drago, 2 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: B. Boone, D. Evans, K. Singleton 2, J. Grubb 3, D. May 3, C. Speier, T. Crowley
2-out RBI: K. Singleton, J. Grubb
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: B. Boone, D. Allen, J. Grubb, T. Crowley
Sac Bunt: K. Holtzman
Team LOB: 8

BASERUNNING
SB: D. May (4)


Kansas City IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
D. Drago L (7-9) 7.0 11 4 4 1 1 0 100 67 2.30
J. York 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 6 2.66

PITCHING
Game Score: D. Drago 39
Batters Faced: D. Drago 33, J. York 3
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: D. Drago 9-11, J. York 2-1
Pitches - Strikes: D. Drago 100-67, J. York 9-6


Baltimore IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
K. Holtzman W (11-1) 9.0 0 0 0 1 6 0 97 67 1.87

PITCHING
Game Score: K. Holtzman 92
Batters Faced: K. Holtzman 27
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: K. Holtzman 14-6
Pitches - Strikes: K. Holtzman 97-67


GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: K. Holtzman
Ballpark: Memorial Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (79 degrees), wind blowing in from center at 9 mph
Start Time: 7:05 pm
Time: 2:05
Attendance: 26759

[Joy in Mudville]

With the Joy in Mudville League at the All-Star Break, the West division races appear to be over.

In the American League West, the Texas Rangers (67-31) are 16 games in front of two-time division-winner Oakland. In the National League West, the Houston Astros (70-30) hold an 18.5-game cushion on the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers.

Meanwhile, in the AL East, the Baltimore Orioles (74-24) have opened a 9.5-game lead over the New York Yankees. In the NL East, the Pittsburgh Pirates (59-39) are 8.5 games better than their instate rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Diamond JIM Notes: American League June awards were given to Johnny Grubb (Rookie of the Month), Burt Hooton (Pitcher of the Month) and Bobby Murcer (Player of the Month) . . . NL honors went to Milt May (Rookie of the Month), Larry Dierker (Pitcher of the Month) and Wilie Stargell (Player of the Month) . . . For the second straight year a rookie is leading the American League in hitting. Last season it was Oakland's Rennie Stennett. This time around, Baltimore's Johnny Grubb is on top. Both players were chosen at or near the end of the first round of the amateur draft . . . Houston closer Mike Marshall has given up just one earned run in 23.2 innings of work this season . . . Cleveland right-hander J.R. Richard is on a pace to strike out 321 batters this season . . . New York Yankee infielder Jerry Kenney collected five hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 7-1 victory June 16 . . . Montreal's Ron Hunt will use the All-Star break to heal his body. Hunt has been hit by pitch 20 times already this season . . . Pitcher Dan Osinski of Houston and first baseman Tito Francona of Oakland each announced he will retire at the end of the season . . . League GMs are reminded that the trading deadline is July 31. In real time, you have until Tuesday, April 29.

Major League 1970 07-23-1972 Standings Report

American Standings

Eastern Division Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Baltimore Orioles 74 24 .755 - 71-27 3 40-10 34-14 8-1 15-11 55 W1 6-4 New York Yankees 65 34 .657 9.5 70-29 -5 30-20 35-14 5-8 14-16 L1 6-4 Boston Red Sox 51 44 .537 21.5 50-45 1 26-21 25-23 10-6 15-15 W1 4-6 Detroit Tigers 38 57 .400 34.5 44-51 -6 27-20 11-37 4-6 11-25 W1 7-3 Milwaukee Brewers 34 61 .358 38.5 33-62 1 15-31 19-30 6-9 10-18 W1 4-6 Cleveland Indians 31 65 .323 42.0 34-62 -3 14-34 17-31 5-8 12-20 W2 3-7 Western Division Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Texas Rangers 67 31 .684 - 54-44 13 36-16 31-15 6-3 32-7 49 L1 7-3 Oakland Athletics 51 47 .520 16.0 53-45 -2 25-21 26-26 5-6 18-13 L1 6-4 Minnesota Twins 44 51 .463 21.5 39-56 5 24-25 20-26 9-4 19-15 L1 5-5 Kansas City Royals 43 55 .439 24.0 44-54 -1 27-25 16-30 5-5 18-19 L1 3-7 California Angels 42 56 .429 25.0 42-56 0 22-25 20-31 4-7 19-24 W1 5-5 Chicago White Sox 41 56 .423 25.5 43-54 -2 21-26 20-30 3-7 15-15 L4 3-7

National Standings

Eastern Division Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Pittsburgh Pirates 59 39 .602 - 56-42 3 32-18 27-21 7-4 17-16 57 W5 6-4 Philadelphia Phillies 50 47 .515 8.5 47-50 3 24-24 26-23 3-4 18-16 W1 7-3 New York Mets 48 48 .500 10.0 47-49 1 26-22 22-26 6-4 17-16 L6 3-7 Chicago Cubs 45 52 .464 13.5 46-51 -1 26-23 19-29 4-6 14-17 L2 5-5 St. Louis Cardinals 45 52 .464 13.5 51-46 -6 18-31 27-21 4-4 12-15 W5 6-4 Montreal Expos 36 59 .379 21.5 37-58 -1 14-33 22-26 2-7 16-23 W1 4-6 Western Division Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Houston Astros 70 30 .700 - 70-30 0 33-14 37-16 6-1 20-9 46 W2 8-2 Los Angeles Dodgers 50 47 .515 18.5 49-48 1 26-24 24-23 3-6 15-18 L1 7-3 Cincinnati Reds 46 50 .479 22.0 45-51 1 23-22 23-28 3-2 19-16 L6 3-7 Atlanta Braves 48 53 .475 22.5 47-54 1 19-26 29-27 6-8 19-16 L8 2-8 San Francisco Giants 47 52 .475 22.5 49-50 -2 23-30 24-22 6-4 8-14 W2 5-5 San Diego Padres 42 57 .424 27.5 41-58 1 23-32 19-25 5-5 18-17 L1 4-6

[Joy in Mudville]

Major League 1970 07-23-1972 League Stats Page

American League Batting Leaderboards Batting AVG J. Grubb BAL .343 T. Oliva MIN .313 B. Murcer NYA .313 R. White NYA .312 D. Allen BAL .311 On-Base PCT D. Evans BAL .443 R. White NYA .414 J. Grubb BAL .414 K. Singleton BAL .403 C. Yastrzemski BOS .398 Slugging PCT D. Allen BAL .552 D. Evans BAL .512 B. Murcer NYA .509 J. Grubb BAL .507 T. Oliva MIN .477 On-Base + Slugging D. Evans BAL .955 D. Allen BAL .943 J. Grubb BAL .921 B. Murcer NYA .901 C. Yastrzemski BOS .864 VORP D. Allen BAL 45.4 J. Grubb BAL 43.3 B. Murcer NYA 41.8 R. White NYA 38.5 D. Evans BAL 37.1 Runs Created D. Allen BAL 78.7 J. Grubb BAL 76.5 B. Murcer NYA 75.3 R. White NYA 66.6 T. Oliva MIN 62.4 Runs Created / 27 outs D. Evans BAL 8.37 J. Grubb BAL 8.16 D. Allen BAL 7.78 K. Singleton BAL 7.40 B. Murcer NYA 7.34 Isolated Power D. Allen BAL .241 H. Killebrew MIN .222 D. Evans BAL .209 R. Jackson OAK .199 G. Nettles TEX .197 Games C. Chambliss TEX 98 T. Crowley BAL 98 A. Johnson CAL 98 E. Kirkpatrick KCA 98 P. Schaal KCA 98 At-Bats D. Nelson TEX 400 T. Oliva MIN 386 L. Piniella KCA 384 B. Murcer NYA 383 D. Baylor TEX 378 Runs D. Allen BAL 66 J. Grubb BAL 64 D. Nelson TEX 63 K. Singleton BAL 59 I. Brown DET 57 Hits J. Grubb BAL 124 T. Oliva MIN 121 B. Murcer NYA 120 D. Nelson TEX 120 D. Allen BAL 116 Total Bases D. Allen BAL 206 B. Murcer NYA 195 T. Oliva MIN 184 J. Grubb BAL 183 D. Baylor TEX 168 Singles D. Nelson TEX 97 J. Grubb BAL 89 T. Davis CHA 88 T. Oliva MIN 87 R. White NYA 85 Doubles R. Staub TEX 25 D. May BAL 23 J. Grubb BAL 22 J. Kennedy ML4 21 B. Murcer NYA 21 Triples D. Nelson TEX 7 R. Carew MIN 6 T. Harrah TEX 6 B. Murcer NYA 6 D. Allen BAL 5 Home Runs D. Allen BAL 23 H. Killebrew MIN 20 G. Nettles TEX 18 R. Jackson OAK 16 J. Burroughs CLE 15 Runs Batted In D. Allen BAL 73 G. Nettles TEX 71 J. Grubb BAL 64 B. Murcer NYA 63 D. Evans BAL 56 Stolen Bases D. Nelson TEX 33 P. Kelly KCA 28 D. Baylor TEX 23 R. Smith BOS 23 T. Davis CHA 19 Bases-On-Balls D. Evans BAL 64 R. White NYA 61 M. Epstein CHA 60 T. Crowley BAL 59 D. Mincher OAK 59 Intentional Walks K. Singleton BAL 10