Brooklyn Baseball post-1957

[ctorg]

Chadwick Harrelson calls his baseball people to a meeting on the last day of April, and this time, he is jovial.

“I just want to congratulate everyone,” he says. “You’ve done a great job of helping me turn this team around. The new guys have really clicked into place and made the team much better than anyone thought they could be. And trading Runnels looks like it’s working out well for both teams. Sullivan has looked great for us so far. Wills has been more than I could have imagined. There is now only one player on the team who concerns me still.”

“Let me guess,” says Jack. “Bob Allison.”

“Indeed,” says the elder Harrleson. “I have to say I had faith in this boy when we picked him up. He looked like a real gamer. But he batted .215 last year, and we’re a month into this year and he’s hitting .149 and doesn’t even have a homerun. The scouts missed the boat completely with him, it seems. Can we move him? Get someone better? We still have Newcombe sitting in the minors, eating up money. Maybe package them together?”

“I’ll see what I can do,” says Jack. “Allison’s looking like a bust at this point. I don’t know what we can get for him. And Newcombe, well, he’s not even in the majors now. But someone might bite, might think they can get something out of them we couldn’t.”

Chadwick Harrelson turns to Tim Bottel. “And I would like to commend our new manager, who has done an excellent job of winning over some very skeptical players and showing them that he knows more about the game than they thought. Tim, you’re a real winner, and I’m sure a good chunk of our success is due to your hard work.”

Bottel nods appreciatively, a little uncomfortable with the praise, but says nothing.

“Now,” says Harrelson, “let’s go out there and get past Milwaukee to take the pennant, and then we can get ourselves another World Series title!”

[ctorg]

On the morning of May 1st, the Robins trade away disappointing prospect Bob Allison and disappointing veteran Don Newcombe to the Indians in return for a powerful outfielder named Roger Maris. Maris has shown potential to be a good power hitter, but little of that potential has been realized. In 1958, he hit .282 with 10 homeruns in 149 AB. This year, he is 3 for 24 so far. The Indians believe they can turn Allison and Newcombe around. The Robins believe they can get Maris on the right track. Maris will play in leftfield for the Robins. The trading of Newcombe disappoints many Brooklyn fans, but he no more than a shadow of the man who won 27 games in 1956. Many believe he has pitched his last inning in the big leagues.

[ctorg]

5/1/1959

The Robins come home to host the Cubs, and the Cubs turn on the power. The first two batters to face Johnson hit a triple and a homerun. Johnson give up 8 runs and sees his ERA fall far out of the top ten, to 4.33. Demeter homers in the loss.

5/2/1959

Three run homeruns by Burgess and Snider help the Robins overcome a poor start by Drysdale to win 9-5. The Robins perform well across the board.

5/3/1959

Maris hits his first homerun for Brooklyn (second overall) and Demeter adds another, but the Robins fall short and lose 4-3. A strong start by Koufax, including nine strikeouts, is wasted.

5/4/1959

In Cincinnati, the Robins have an offensive explosion to win 17-8. They smash 23 hits, including homeruns by Demeter and Kaline, and two by Neal. Duren’s poor performance is forgotten amid all the offense. Neal has 8 RBI as he and Demeter have four hits apiece to lead the team.

5/5/1959

Frank Sullivan shuts out the Reds, 5-0. allowing just six hits and a walk. The Robins knock eleven hits, including a homerun by Frank Howard.

5/6/1959

Johnson pitches well, but the bullpen can’t hold it and the Robins fall, 4-2. Maris hits his third homer of the year. Maury Wills steals two bases to bring his total to 26.

5/8/1959

Koufax pitches a gem in Philadelphia, a complete game with eleven strikeouts, and the Robins win 7-2. Wills and Kaline have three hits each and wills swipes another two.

5/9/1959

The Robins have 16 hits and win 10-3 over the Phillies. Duren walks seven, but gives up only one hit in five innings. Burgess hits his sixth homer. Duren is now 3-0 and has won 8 straight decisions. Kaline has hit in 19 straight games.

5/10/1959

The Robins manage just four hits (three of them by Kaline to extend his hitting streak to 20) and 1 run as they fall to the Phillies, 3-1. Sullivan pitches a very strong complete 8-inning game, but gets his first loss of the season.

5/11/1959

The Robins come home to host the Giants and take the game, 6-2. Johnson gets the win, his third, and Frank Howard hits his ninth homerun.

5/12/1959

Despite getting 13 hits, the Drysdale is pummeled by the Giants and the Robins fall 11-4. Norm Larker hits his first homer in the loss.

5/13/1959

Roger Maris hits two homeruns, but the Robins get only one other hit and lose 3-2. Koufax has a very hard luck complete game loss and drops to 4-3.

5/15/1959

The Robins offense looks anemic again, managing only one run on three hits. They lose 4-1 in Pittsburgh and Duren gets his first loss.

5/16/1959

The offense finally wakes up. Everyone in the lineup but Frank Sullivan gets at least one hit, and Sullivan wins it in a complete game for his fourth win. The Robins win 9-2. Wills steals two more bases and now has 35.

5/17/1959

Ken Johnson allows ten hits but no runs in a complete game 6-0 shutout of the Pirates. Demeter hits his ninth homer along with a double and triple, but he misses the single for the cycle.

5/19/1959

The Robins go to Cincinnati and demolish the Reds 12-0. Koufax gets the complete game shutout, and Kaline and Howard both homer.

5/20/1959

The Robins outplay the Reds again and win 6-2. Jackson has his first homer and Maris has his sixth. Ryne Duren gets his fourth win.

5/21/1959

Duke Snider snaps out of his season-long funk to go 2 for 5 with a homer and 4 RBI. It is only his third homer of the year. The Robins win 8-3 behind another great performance by Frank Sullivan, whom improves to 5-1. Maris also hits a homer for his seventh.

5/22/1959

Back home and hosting the Pirates, the Robins pull off an 11-inning victory on a single by Earl Averill.

5/23/1959

Drysdale has to leave the game in the first inning with a pulled ligament in his elbow, but the bullpen comes through and the Robins win 5-2. Drysdale will miss at least two weeks and heads to the DL. Roger Craig is called up to replace him in the rotation.

5/24/1959

The Pirates get a dominant performance from Don Gross and eke past the Robins to win 1-0. Koufax has another hard luck complete game loss.

5/26/1959

The Cubs come to Brooklyn and fall to the Robins, 5-4. Duren gets his fifth win, though it is messy, and Demeter hits his tenth homer. Duren and Koufax are having opposite luck. Duren has had some lucky wins and Koufax has had some unlucky losses. The win puts the Robins in a tie for first place with the Braves.

5/27/1959

Frank Sullivan pitches a gem for his sixth win, a 5-3 victory over the Cubs. Neal hits his seventh homer and Wills steals his 39th base.

5/28/1959

The Robins pull off a nice come from behind victory. Down 4-3 entering the eighth, they tie it in the eighth on a fielder’s choice hit into by Burgess, then win it on a single by Demeter. This win gives the Robins sole possession of first place.

5/29/1959

The Robins head to Milwaukee to defend their league lead, but fall 3-0. Koufax, once again, pitches a very strong complete game and gets the loss. He is now 5-5 with a 2.80 ERA. The Robins manage only four singles and only reach second base once, on a stolen base by Maury Wills, his 41st.

5/30/1959

The Braves retake sole possession of first from the Robins, beating them 5-3 on an 8th inning two-run homer by Joe Adcock. It is Roger Craig’s first start – and first loss – of the year.

5/31/1959

The Braves continue to send Brooklyn the message that Milwaukee still houses a better team, beating Brooklyn 5-1 on four unearned runs in the eighth inning.

[ctorg]

END OF MAY

Standings:

American League Standings	

AL	

Team		W	L	PCT	GB	Pyt.Rec	Diff		Home	Away	XInn	1Run	M#	Streak	Last10	
Chicago (A)	29	20	.592	-	25-24	4		17-8	12-12	2-2	12-7	106	W1	6-4	
New York	29	20	.592	-	27-22	2		13-11	16-9	4-1	10-7	106	W5	7-3	
Detroit		26	23	.531	3.0	30-19	-4		12-12	14-11	0-5	4-10	-	L1	4-6	
Baltimore	26	24	.520	3.5	22-28	4		9-15	17-9	4-0	8-5	-	L1	6-4	
Cleveland	26	25	.510	4.0	27-24	-1		13-13	13-12	3-2	6-9	-	W3	4-6	
Washington	24	25	.490	5.0	25-24	-1		11-14	13-11	2-3	7-5	-	W1	4-6	
Boston		21	28	.429	8.0	23-26	-2		10-15	11-13	0-0	8-7	-	L3	4-6	
Kansas City	16	32	.333	12.5	17-31	-1		6-18	10-14	1-3	5-10	-	L4	6-4	

National League Standings	

NL	

Team		W	L	PCT	GB	Pyt.Rec	Diff		Home	Away	XInn	1Run	M#	Streak	Last10	
Milwaukee	30	18	.625	-	28-20	2		19-5	11-13	5-1	10-7	105	W4	7-3	
Brooklyn	28	20	.583	2.0	32-16	-4		15-9	13-11	2-2	5-6	-	L3	6-4	
St. Louis	24	24	.500	6.0	26-22	-2		12-12	12-12	4-2	5-8	-	W2	4-6	
Philadlphia	24	25	.490	6.5	21-28	3		10-14	14-11	5-4	5-5	-	L2	5-5	
Cincinnati	23	25	.479	7.0	24-24	-1		12-12	11-13	1-4	7-8	-	L2	4-6	
San Fran	23	26	.469	7.5	25-24	-2		14-11	9-15	0-2	8-10	-	W2	5-5	
Pittsburgh	22	26	.458	8.0	20-28	2		13-11	9-15	2-2	7-3	-	W2	5-5	
Chicago (N)	19	29	.396	11.0	18-30	1		10-14	9-15	1-3	8-8	-	L2	4-6

Overall Batting:	

Name		G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	
D. Drysdale	5	10	5	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	.500	.500	.500	
D. Zimmer 	21	26	10	1	0	0	3	6	1	7	.385	.407	.423	
A. Kaline 	47	172	62	10	1	7	37	41	29	13	.360	.455	.552	
S. Burgess	45	162	58	12	1	6	34	25	19	12	.358	.423	.556	
N. Larker	38	52	18	0	0	1	4	9	3	2	.346	.397	.404	
R. Craig 	1	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.333	.333	.333	
B. Lillis	25	36	12	1	0	0	5	2	1	1	.333	.351	.361	
D. Demeter	46	177	55	10	1	10	39	25	6	36	.311	.337	.548	
M. Wills 	48	204	59	2	5	1	14	39	12	21	.289	.329	.363	
F. Howard 	46	174	50	7	2	10	33	28	18	40	.287	.358	.523	
E. Averill	11	21	6	0	0	0	1	3	0	4	.286	.286	.286	
D. Snider 	47	177	44	3	0	3	23	20	27	28	.249	.346	.316	
G. Cimoli 	29	25	6	0	1	0	5	7	2	3	.240	.310	.320	
C. Neal 	47	177	42	2	2	7	22	24	24	43	.237	.328	.390	
R. Maris 	38	114	26	1	1	7	16	19	14	15	.228	.318	.439	
R. Jackson	13	9	2	0	0	1	2	3	1	2	.222	.273	.556	
R. Duren 	11	23	4	2	0	0	2	2	0	9	.174	.174	.261	
F. Sullivan	10	28	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	8	.107	.103	.107	
S. Koufax	11	33	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	7	.061	.088	.061	
K. Johnson	10	28	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	11	.036	.036	.071	
E. Wilson	13	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	
G. Zuverink	11	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000	.000	.000	
S. Ridzik 	8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000

Overall Pitching:	

Name		G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K	
F. Sullivan	10	10	6	1	0	2.07	78.1	69	26	18	12	49	
S. Koufax	11	11	5	5	0	2.80	93.1	62	29	29	35	82	
R. Duren	11	11	5	1	0	4.21	62.0	50	30	29	44	56	
K. Johnson	10	10	4	2	0	3.09	75.2	64	31	26	25	34	
S. Ridzik	8	0	3	0	0	1.69	16.0	7	3	3	5	9	
J. Umbricht	23	0	2	3	2	3.81	28.1	28	16	12	15	24	
J. Pizarro	14	0	1	5	6	6.40	12.2	17	10	9	3	13	
G. Zuverink	11	0	1	0	1	5.79	18.2	23	12	12	3	5	
D. Drysdale	5	5	1	1	0	5.33	25.1	30	16	15	7	13	
R. Craig	1	1	0	1	0	5.63	8.0	8	5	5	3	0	
E. Wilson	13	0	0	0	2	2.45	14.2	11	4	4	7	8	
J. Bolger	1	0	0	1	0	18.00	1.0	2	2	2	2	0

AL Leaders

#  TOP 10 AVG 		AVG 
1  Y. Berra (NYA) 	.383 
2  P. Runnels (BOS) 	.376 
3  S. Taylor (WS1) 	.374 
4  C. Maxwell (DET)	.360 
5  B. Goodman (CHA) 	.356 
5  H. Kuenn (DET) 	.356 
7  P. Ward (CLE) 	.348 
8  R. Sievers (WS1) 	.341 
9  T. Kubek (NYA) 	.338 
10  B. Robinson (BAL) 	.325 

#  TOP 10 HR 		HR 
1  M. Mantle (NYA) 	14 
2  C. Maxwell (DET) 	13 
3  V. Wertz (CLE) 	12 
4  N. Cash (CHA) 	11 
4  B. Cerv (KC1) 	11 
6  J. Lemon (WS1) 	9 
6  G. Zernial (DET) 	9 
6  S. Taylor (WS1) 	9 
6  G. Freese (BAL) 	9 
6  R. Colavito (CLE) 	9 
 
#  TOP 10 RBI RBI 
1  Y. Berra (NYA) 	42 
1  R. Sievers (WS1) 	42 
3  V. Wertz (CLE) 	41 
4  J. Lemon (WS1) 	37 
4  S. Taylor (WS1) 	37 
6  B. White (NYA) 	36 
7  N. Cash (CHA) 	35 
8  G. Zernial (DET) 	34 
9  C. Maxwell (DET) 	32 
9  G. Triandos (BAL) 	32 

#  TOP 10 Wins 			W 
1  D. Donovan (CHA) 		9 
2  D. Larsen (NYA) 		7 
2  B. Monbouquette (BOS) 	7 
4  J. Bunning (DET) 		6 
4  F. Lary (DET) 		6 
4  C. Beamon (BAL) 		6 
4  J. Brosnan (CHA) 		6 
8  J. Kaat (WS1) 		5 
8  M. Garcia (CLE) 		5 
8  B. O'dell (BAL) 		5 

#  TOP 10 ERA 		ERA 
1  J. Kaat (WS1) 	2.45 
2  D. Donovan (CHA) 	2.68 
3  C. Pascual (WS1) 	3.05 
4  J. Perry (CLE) 	3.16 
5  C. Beamon (BAL) 	3.17 
6  D. Larsen (NYA) 	3.19 
7  B. Shaw (DET) 	3.20 
8  R. Terry (KC1) 	3.21 
9  F. Lary (DET) 	3.23 
10  B. Pierce (CHA) 	3.26 

#  TOP 10 Strikeouts 	K's 
1  H. Score (CLE) 	74 
2  W. Ford (NYA) 	64 
3  C. Pascual (WS1) 	59 
4  D. Larsen (NYA) 	58 
5  S. Jones (BAL) 	57 
6  T. Sturdivant (NYA) 	55 
7  B. O'dell (BAL) 	51 
7  J. Perry (CLE) 	51 
7  J. Bunning (DET) 	51 
10  J. Podres (BOS) 	48

NL Leaders

#  TOP 10 AVG 		AVG 
1  A. Kaline (BRO) 	.360 
2  S. Burgess (BRO) 	.358 
3  E. Mathews (ML1) 	.355 
4  B. Skinner (PIT) 	.350 
5  J. Adcock (ML1) 	.347 
6  W. Moon (SLN) 	.341 
7  W. Mays (SFN) 	.328 
8  J. Temple (CIN) 	.328 
9  L. Doby (SLN) 	.318 
10  K. Boyer (SLN) 	.316 

#  TOP 10 HR 		HR 
1  E. Banks (CHN) 	15 
2  E. Mathews (ML1) 	13 
2  J. Adcock (ML1) 	13 
4  W. Covington (ML1) 	12 
5  W. Mays (SFN) 	11 
5  W. Jones (PHI) 	11 
7  O. Cepeda (SFN) 	10 
7  L. Wagner (SFN) 	10 
7  D. Demeter (BRO) 	10 
7  F. Howard (BRO) 	10 
 
#  TOP 10 RBI 		RBI 
1  E. Banks (CHN) 	45 
2  E. Mathews (ML1) 	43 
3  J. Adcock (ML1) 	42 
4  O. Cepeda (SFN) 	41 
5  G. Bell (CIN) 	40 
6  D. Demeter (BRO) 	39 
7  A. Kaline (BRO) 	37 
8  W. Moon (SLN) 	36 
9  B. Thomson (CHN) 	35 
10  H. Anderson (PHI) 	34 

#  TOP 10 Wins 		W 
1  B. Shantz (SFN) 	6 
1  H. Robinson (ML1) 	6 
1  G. Conley (ML1) 	6 
1  E. Johnson (ML1) 	6 
1  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	6 
1  D. Mcmahon (ML1) 	6 
1  S. Morehead (PHI) 	6 
8  M. Cuellar (CIN) 	5 
8  S. Koufax (BRO) 	5 
8  R. Duren (BRO) 	5 

#  TOP 10 ERA 		ERA 
1  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	2.07 
2  S. Koufax (BRO) 	2.80 
3  K. Johnson (BRO) 	3.09 
4  H. Robinson (ML1) 	3.38 
5  J. O'toole (CIN) 	3.60 
5  B. Conley (PHI) 	3.60 
7  C. Short (PHI) 	3.61 
8  E. Broglio (SLN) 	3.62 
9  B. Shantz (SFN) 	3.73 
10  J. Jay (ML1) 	3.87 

#  TOP 10 Strikeouts 	K's 
1  S. Koufax (BRO) 	82 
2  G. Conley (ML1) 	59 
2  E. Broglio (SLN) 	59 
4  B. Anderson (CHN) 	57 
5  R. Duren (BRO) 	56 
6  J. Jay (ML1) 	53 
6  B. Henry (CHN) 	53 
6  J. Meyer (PHI) 	53 
9  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	49 
9  B. Shantz (SFN) 	49

American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Charlie Beamon (BAL)!
He had a record of 3-1 in 6 games started, with an ERA of 1.77 and 1 shutouts.
American League-Batter of the Month:
C Sammy Taylor (WS1)!
He batted .386 in 83 AB, with 8 HR and 25 RBI.
National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Frank Sullivan (BRO)!
He had a record of 4-1 in 5 games started, with an ERA of 1.71 and 1 shutouts.
National League-Batter of the Month:
Wally Moon (SLN)!
He batted .363 in 102 AB, with 6 homers and 22 RBI.

The Robins had a very strong month, over which they were 16-11. Robins players now hold the top two slots in NL batting and the top three slots in NL ERA. The team is third in batting average, first in ERA, first in batting average against, and has allowd the fewest runs scored out of all 16 teams.

Demeter has really come into his own as a hitter. Howard cooled off in May, but is still going strong. The two of them lead the team in homers with ten. Maury wills is 42-2 in steals and has more steals than any other team in baseball. His base hits are usually as good as doubles. Burgess has been extraordinary, Kaline has been better than anyone imagined, and Maris has picked up his game. The only two players who haven’t done much are Neal and Snider. Neal’s breakout year in 1958 ended in a skid. While he hasn’t been a complete flop, his numbers look nothing like last year. Snider is a complete mystery and is having the worst year of his career. After leading the team in homers with 35 last year, he only has 3 this year. He has struggled to bring his average up to .249. He looks to be getting better, but just isn’t what he has been in the past.

The starting pitchers have been very strong, probably the best in the game. Koufax has pitched far better than his 5-5 record reveals. Opponents are hitting just .190 against him and his ERA is among the best. Sullivan has been a real star for the Robins, going 6-1 and leading the NL with a 2.07 ERA so far. It is apparent that his off year for Boston in 1958 was just that. Johnson has been a surprisingly good pitcher as well. Duren is not as dominant as he was a year ago, but he has benefited from a run support of seven runs per game (as opposed to Koufax’s 4.7) to reach a 5-1 record. The bullpen has shown signs of hope, too, led by Steve Ridzik.

Around the league, the Tigers fell to third as the Yankees and White Sox turned on the heat. These two teams are tied for first in a heated battle. Charlie Maxwell of Detroit has been a breakout player in the AL. Last year, he hit .263 with 19 homers. This year, he is hitting .360 and already has 13 homers. Eddie Mathews (.355, 13 HR, 43 RBI) and Joe Adcock (.347, 13 HR, 42 RBI), both of the first place Milwaukee Braves, have been the brightest stars in the NL so far. Pete Runnels is second in the AL in batting at .376. Rookie pitching sensation Jim Kaat of Washington leads the AL in ERA (2.45) and looks to be a bright young future star.

On the trade front, Cleveland continued its wheeling and dealing on May 4th, sending LF Minnie Minoso and CF Gary Geiger to Boston for 2B Don Buddin and 3B Jim Gilliam. The trade baffled many a baseball fan, since Boston has no serious chance to take the AL crown and only added to its payroll by trading for the 36-year-old Minoso. Baltimore made two trades on May 30th. First, they sent CF Lenny Green to Baltimore for 1B Frank Torre and minor league reliever Don Erickson. Then they obtained 2B Gene Freese from Pittsburgh for 1B prospect Kent Kadley, minor league C Bert Hamric, and Don Erickson, whom they had just acquired.

Braves LF Wes Covington broke his right index finger on May 12th and is expected to miss another 2 weeks or so. Bob Friend of the Pirates left a game on May 7th with arm pain and will probably not be available for another week or two.

[ctorg]

Chadwick Harrelson is concerned about centerfield. He wants to trust that Duke Snider will come around, but he wonders if perhaps the Duke has lost his timing a few years early. He meets privately with his son.

“What options do we have for center?” he asks Jack.

“Well, we have a pretty good prospect, Tommy Davis,” says Jack. “He’s hitting .356 with 7 homers in the minors. Very good fielder. I’m not so sure he’s ready for the big show, though. He’s only 20.”

“I’m not so much concerned with right now,” says Chadwick Harrelson. “It’s next year. Snider isn’t looking so great. I’m thinking maybe we’ll need a change in the near future.”

“I think Snider will come around,” says Jack. “He’s having an off year; that’s for sure. But I think you’ll see good old Duke before the year is out. I think he’ll crack 20 homers anyway. My main concern is second base.”

“Yes,” says Harrelson. “Neal isn’t the same guy as last year. We probably should have traded him when his value peaked last year.”

“I considered that,” says Jack. “Expecially once it was clear we weren’t going anywhere, but, well, to be honest, we were all afraid of your reaction.”

“At the next meeting, I must apologize to everyone for the way I acted last season. I think the firings were appropriate, but when I threatened to fire people if the team finished under .500, that was out of line. I suppose it takes time to understand what it takes to run a baseball team. It’s not like my other businesses.”

Jack knows his father will never actually apologize, but he also knows the sentiment is there and that he will now be able to act with a little more breathing room as GM.

“Anyway,” says Chadwick Harrelson, “Neal. Let’s wait until he has a hot streak, gets his value up. Then let’s unload him if we can. He’s a good player, but I don’t trust him t stay that way for long.”

“Sounds good,” says Jack.

[ctorg]

6/2/1959

Hosting the Phillies, the Robins only get 3 hits, but one is a homer by Neal and one is an RBI single by Howard. Thanks to a great performance by Sullivan, that’s all that’s needed.

6/3/1959

Koufax and the Robins fall 6-3, bringing Koufax’s record to 5-6 on the year despite an 11 strikeout performance. Wills gets stolen base number 43 in the loss and looks to be well on his way to breaking the NL record of 81.

6/4/1959

The Robins go down again, 4-3 this time, despite getting 13 hits. The Robins slide further from the Braves in the standings.

6/5/1959

The Robins head to Chicago and win the first game 5-3. It is Ridzik’s fourth win against no losses. Zimmer homers and Maris has three hits in the win.

6/6/1959

The bullpen blows it for Brooklyn. Tied at 2 after 8 ½ innings, Chicago hits Wilson and Ridzik for 6 runs. Brooklyn manages to get 2 back in the top of the ninth, but the game ends 8-4 in favor of the Cubs. Kaline and Howard Homer in the loss.

6/7/1959

Frank Sullvan has a rare bad outing, giving up 6 runs, and the Robins fall 8-2. Maris and Howard homer in the loss. The Robins just haven’t been playing well lately. They have begun to look like last year’s team.

6/9/1959

After a day off, the Robins come home and beat the Cardinals, 6-5. Burgess slams two homers and Neal gets one as Koufax evens his record at 6-6.

6/10/1959

The Cardinals pummel Ryne Duren and take the game 10-5. The Robins look very sloppy in the field. The only bright spot is that Duke Snider goes 3 for 4 and hits his fourth homer.

6/11/1959

Johnson pitches a great game, but it is not enough as the Cards shut out the Robins, 2-0. Brooklyn manages only two hits in the game.

6/12/1959

The Robins head to Milwaukee to try to gain some ground, but fall to the superior Braves, 6-3. Sullivan has his second straight poor start, giving up 6 runs. Larker hits his second homer in the loss.

6/13/1959

Brooklyn is beginning to learn that Milwaukee is a difficult place to get a win. The Robins manage to tie the game at 6 by scoring 2 runs in the top of the ninth, but the Braves come back to win it in the bottom of the inning, 7-6.

6/14/1959

Brooklyn finally wins a game in Milwaukee, a ten inning affair that ends 4-3. Koufax gets the win with nine innings of work. Howard hits his 13th homerun.

6/15/1959

Back home in Brooklyn, the Cubs deaden the joy the Robins picked up by beating the Braves by beating them 5-4. Duren takes the loss, bringing him to 5-3, and Wills steals his 49th base.

6/16/1959

The Robins get a decisive 10-3 victory over the Cubs with an amazing 8th inning in which they score all 10 runs, thanks in part to a grand slam by Al Kaline, who knocks in a total of 6.

6/17/1959

Chicago comes back and beats Frank Sullivan 5-4, bringing his record to 7-4. Only one run is earned, as the Robins commit four errors in the field. Kaline gets another homer, his tenth.

6/18/1959

In Cincinnati, Drysdale, in his first game back from the DL, gets a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in which he looks good. Wills steals two more to get to 52 against 4 times being caught. He is 15 behind the Brooklyn record of 67, set by Jimmy Sheckard back in 1903. He is set to blow that record away.

[ctorg]

Several players have hired agents who have advised their clients not to play in the All Star Game unless given extra incentives. The owners are unwilling to offer any incentives, which leaves the playing of the All Star Game in doubt this year. If enough players do not agree to participate, the event will be cancelled.

In other news, Chadwick Harrelson finalizes a deal with the city of New York to build a new stadium on the current site of the Parade Grounds, a complex of athletic fields next to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Construction is set to begin by the end of the summer. The new stadium should be ready for the start of the 1961 season.

Author's Note: As stated, I have no love for the ASG. This may not be the best excuse not to have one, but I just really didn't feel like having it and hey, it's my fiction, so bad excuse or not, I won't.

[ctorg]

6/19/1959

The Robins hang on to win an odd 15-inning game in Cincinnati, 10-8, after nearly blowing a five run advantage twice. They lead 5-0 after 8 ½ innings, but the Reds score two in the eighth off Koufax and three in the ninth off Umbricht to tie it up. In the top of the fifteenth, the Robins score five times (four on another Kaline grand slam). In the bottom of the inning, the Reds look like they might come back again, adding three, but they can’t do it again and the Robins breathe a sigh of relief. Maris also homers in the win.

6/20/1959

The Robins win again, this time in a much less wild game. Duren pitches well for his sixth win and Maris helps out big time with a three run homer to win it 6-3.

6/21/1959

The Robins get their third straight win, another extra inning nail-biter, 4-3 in 13 innings. Maris gets his 11th homer. Johnson looks great in his start but gets a no decision.

6/22/1959

Back home and hosting the Braves, the Robins just look bad. Sullivan gives up 12 hits and 5 runs (3 earned) in 7.1 innings for his fifth loss against 7 wins and the Robins fall 11-2.

6/23/1959

Drysdale pitches well and gets the win as the Robins beat the Braves 3-2. Snider and Demeter both homer in the win.

6/24/1959

Milwaukee gets the 6-3 win to take the series from the Robins. Koufax takes the loss despite striking out 11. He is now even at 7-7 again.

6/26/1959

After a much needed day off, the Robins arrive in Pittsburgh and take down the Pirates, 5-0. Duren and Zuverink combine on the shutout, Duren’s 7th win. Wills steals two to bring his total to 56.

6/27/1959

The Robins are winning 4-0 in the middle of the seventh, cruising by on a great performance by Frank Sullvan, when the Pirates take advantage of a Maury Wills error to score 5 times and go on top. The Robins come back with 1 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to take the game. Howard gets his 14th jack.

6/28/1959

The Robins pour on the offense to take an 11-1 victory over the Pirates without even hitting a homer. Johnson pitches a gem of a complete game. Wills steals numer 60 against 6 CS.

6/29/1959

In St. Louis, Koufax has a poor outing, allowing 6 runs and dropping his record to 7-8. The game ends at 6-3. Larker and Burgess both homer in the loss.

6/30/1959

The Robins blow a 4 run lead and lose 5-4 in 10 innings, dropping them a half game below Philadelphia into 3rd place, 6 games behind Milwaukee. Pizarro takes the loss, his sixth, and Neal and Demeter both homer. Opposing pitcher Lindy McDaniel blasts a long homer off Drysdale early in the game.

[ctorg]

END OF JUNE

Standings:

American League Standings	

AL	

Team		W	L	PCT	GB	Pyt.Rec	Diff		Home	Away	XInn	1Run	M#	Streak	Last10	
New York	49	27	.645	-	47-29	2		22-15	27-12	5-4	15-10	71	W6	8-2	
Washington	41	35	.539	8.0	39-37	2		21-19	20-16	5-4	15-8	-	W2	8-2	
Cleveland	39	37	.513	10.0	42-34	-3		19-19	20-18	4-3	7-15	-	L1	6-4	
Detroit		40	38	.513	10.0	43-35	-3		18-21	22-17	1-7	11-12	-	L3	4-6	
Boston		36	38	.486	12.0	39-35	-3		19-19	17-19	0-2	12-12	-	L1	5-5	
Baltimore	37	40	.481	12.5	31-46	6		14-23	23-17	6-2	14-9	-	W1	3-7	
Chicago (A)	36	39	.480	12.5	35-40	1		21-17	15-22	4-2	14-16	-	L3	3-7	
Kansas City	26	50	.342	23.0	26-50	0		10-27	16-23	3-4	9-15	-	W2	4-6	

National League Standings	

NL	

Team		W	L	PCT	GB	Pyt.Rec	Diff		Home	Away	XInn	1Run	M#	Streak	Last10	
Milwaukee	46	29	.613	-	43-32	3		27-12	19-17	7-3	17-10	75	L2	4-6	
Philadlphia	40	34	.541	5.5	38-36	2		19-17	21-17	6-5	8-11	-	W1	7-3	
Brooklyn	40	35	.533	6.0	45-30	-5		19-17	21-18	5-3	10-12	-	L2	6-4	
St. Louis	39	36	.520	7.0	38-37	1		21-18	18-18	6-3	9-9	-	W5	5-5	
San Fran	39	38	.506	8.0	41-36	-2		20-17	19-21	1-4	9-13	-	W4	9-1	
Cincinnati	36	40	.474	10.5	37-39	-1		19-18	17-22	3-6	12-10	-	W2	5-5	
Pittsburgh	31	44	.413	15.0	31-44	0		16-22	15-22	2-3	8-8	-	L4	1-9	
Chicago (N)	30	45	.400	16.0	30-45	0		16-23	14-22	1-4	11-11	-	L4	3-7

Overall Batting:	

Name		G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	
S. Ridzik 	18	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	.500	.500	.500	
D. Zimmer 	34	44	17	2	0	1	6	8	1	12	.386	.400	.500	
D. Drysdale	8	16	6	0	0	0	1	1	2	4	.375	.444	.375	
S. Burgess	71	250	85	14	2	9	46	37	28	16	.340	.404	.520	
B. Lillis 	40	63	20	2	0	0	8	7	2	4	.317	.338	.349	
A. Kaline 	72	272	86	12	2	11	53	50	38	21	.316	.402	.496	
G. Cimoli 	43	38	12	3	1	0	7	9	3	3	.316	.372	.447	
D. Demeter	71	265	78	17	2	12	52	36	14	57	.294	.333	.509	
D. Snider 	73	274	76	4	0	5	36	34	43	50	.277	.374	.347	
M. Wills	74	313	86	4	7	1	21	55	19	25	.275	.316	.342	
N. Larker	61	102	28	1	0	3	11	18	9	5	.275	.339	.373	
F. Howard	73	270	72	9	2	14	50	39	26	61	.267	.332	.470	
E. Averill	20	44	11	2	0	0	1	5	0	9	.250	.250	.295	
R. Craig 	3	8	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	.250	.250	.250	
C. Neal 	72	261	60	5	4	10	32	33	31	57	.230	.316	.395	
R. Maris 	62	199	44	3	2	11	27	30	20	25	.221	.295	.422	
R. Jackson	27	26	5	3	0	1	2	5	1	7	.192	.214	.423	
R. Duren 	16	33	4	2	0	0	2	2	0	11	.121	.121	.182	
S. Koufax 	17	49	4	0	0	0	0	6	1	11	.082	.100	.082	
F. Sullivan	16	41	3	0	0	0	2	0	1	16	.073	.093	.073	
K. Johnson	15	42	2	1	0	0	1	3	0	18	.048	.048	.071	
E. Wilson	19	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	
G. Zuverink	16	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	.000	.000	.000	
J. Bolger	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000

Overall Pitching:	

Name		G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K	
S. Koufax	17	17	7	8	0	3.45	141.0	103	56	54	53	135	
R. Duren 	16	16	7	3	0	4.25	91.0	83	47	43	56	79	
F. Sullivan	16	16	7	5	0	2.76	120.2	117	54	37	28	80	
S. Ridzik 	18	0	5	0	0	1.69	26.2	15	5	5	7	17	
K. Johnson	15	15	5	4	0	2.86	116.1	102	43	37	34	52	
J. Umbricht	41	0	3	4	3	4.50	46.0	48	29	23	25	38	
D. Drysdale	8	8	2	2	0	4.37	47.1	48	25	23	18	25	
E. Wilson 	19	0	2	1	2	5.23	20.2	21	12	12	12	14	
J. Pizarro 	23	0	1	6	11	4.03	22.1	24	11	10	6	17	
G. Zuverink	16	0	1	0	1	5.93	27.1	36	18	18	4	6	
R. Craig 	3	3	0	1	0	4.50	22.0	25	11	11	7	4	
J. Bolger	1	0	0	1	0	18.00	1.0	2	2	2	2	0

AL Leaders

#  TOP 10 AVG 		AVG 
1  P. Runnels (BOS) 	.364 
2  C. Maxwell (DET) 	.360 
3  P. Ward (CLE) 	.352 
4  Y. Berra (NYA) 	.347 
5  B. Goodman (CHA) 	.344 
6  R. Nixon (CLE) 	.335 
7  M. Keough (BOS) 	.327 
8  H. Kuenn (DET) 	.325 
9  S. Taylor (WS1) 	.322 
10  T. Kubek (NYA) 	.321 

#  TOP 10 HR 		HR 
1  M. Mantle (NYA) 	25 
2  V. Wertz (CLE) 	18 
3  G. Zernial (DET) 	16 
4  C. Maxwell (DET) 	15 
4  N. Cash (CHA) 	15 
6  R. Colavito (CLE) 	14 
6  J. Lemon (WS1) 	14 
8  R. Sievers (WS1) 	13 
8  B. Cerv (CHA) 	13 
8  G. Freese (BAL) 	13 
 
#  TOP 10 RBI 		RBI 
1  V. Wertz (CLE) 	64 
2  G. Zernial (DET) 	62 
3  R. Sievers (WS1) 	57 
4  M. Mantle (NYA) 	56 
5  Y. Berra (NYA) 	55 
6  J. Lemon (WS1) 	54 
7  B. White (NYA) 	53 
8  H. Kuenn (DET) 	51 
8  G. Mcdougald (NYA) 	51 
10  N. Cash (CHA) 	50 

#  TOP 10 Wins 			W 
1  D. Larsen (NYA) 		12 
2  D. Donovan (CHA) 		10 
2  B. Monbouquette (BOS) 	10 
4  C. Beamon (BAL) 		9 
4  B. O'dell (BAL) 		9 
4  T. Sturdivant (NYA)		9 
7  W. Ford (NYA) 		8 
7  F. Lary (DET) 		8 
7  J. Bunning (DET) 		8 
10  C. Pascual (WS1) 		7 

#  TOP 10 ERA 			ERA 
1  C. Pascual (WS1) 		2.53 
2  D. Donovan (CHA) 		2.81 
3  W. Ford (NYA) 		3.14 
4  R. Terry (KC1) 		3.20 
5  D. Larsen (NYA) 		3.32 
6  B. Monbouquette (BOS) 	3.36 
7  D. Mossi (CLE) 		3.42 
8  C. Beamon (BAL) 		3.43 
9  J. Kaat (WS1) 		3.53 
10  J. Perry (CLE) 		3.55 

#  TOP 10 Strikeouts 		K's 
1  H. Score (CLE) 		110 
2  W. Ford (NYA) 		100 
3  S. Jones (BAL) 		97 
4  D. Larsen (NYA) 		86 
5  C. Pascual (WS1) 		83 
6  T. Sturdivant (NYA) 		82 
7  B. O'dell (BAL) 		78 
7  J. Perry (CLE) 		78 
9  C. Beamon (BAL) 		73 
10  J. Bunning (DET) 		72

NL Leaders

#  TOP 10 AVG 		AVG 
1  S. Burgess (BRO) 	.340 
2  W. Moon (SLN) 	.330 
3  W. Mays (SFN) 	.325 
4  R. Ashburn (PHI) 	.321 
5  J. Temple (CIN) 	.319 
6  L. Green (ML1) 	.317 
7  A. Kaline (BRO) 	.316 
8  E. Mathews (ML1) 	.316 
9  J. Adcock (ML1) 	.314 
10  B. Skinner (PIT) 	.311 

#  TOP 10 HR 		HR 
1  E. Mathews (ML1) 	22 
1  J. Adcock (ML1) 	22 
3  E. Banks (CHN) 	19 
4  L. Wagner (SFN) 	17 
5  W. Mays (SFN) 	16 
5  W. Post (PHI) 	16 
5  W. Jones (PHI) 	16 
8  W. Covington (ML1) 	15 
9  L. Doby (SLN) 	14 
9  F. Howard (BRO) 	14 
 
#  TOP 10 RBI 		RBI 
1  J. Adcock (ML1) 	66 
2  E. Mathews (ML1) 	63 
3  O. Cepeda (SFN) 	60 
4  E. Banks (CHN) 	56 
5  G. Bell (CIN) 	53 
5  A. Kaline (BRO) 	53 
7  D. Demeter (BRO) 	52 
8  B. Thomson (CHN) 	51 
9  L. Wagner (SFN) 	50 
9  F. Howard (BRO) 	50 

#  TOP 10 Wins 		W 
1  B. Shantz (SFN) 	11 
2  J. Jay (ML1) 	9 
2  G. Conley (ML1) 	9 
2  B. Conley (PHI) 	9 
5  L. Jackson (SLN) 	8 
5  E. Johnson (ML1) 	8 
5  D. Mcmahon (ML1) 	8 
5  D. Elston (CHN) 	8 
9  S. Koufax (BRO) 	7 
9  E. Broglio (SLN) 	7 

#  TOP 10 ERA 		ERA 
1  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	2.76 
2  B. Conley (PHI) 	2.77 
3  K. Johnson (BRO) 	2.86 
4  S. Koufax (BRO) 	3.45 
5  L. Jackson (SLN) 	3.61 
6  B. Gibson (SLN) 	3.78 
7  J. O'toole (CIN) 	3.83 
8  H. Robinson (ML1) 	3.88 
9  R. Face (PIT) 	3.94 
10  M. Cuellar (CIN) 	3.99 

#  TOP 10 Strikeouts 	K's 
1  S. Koufax (BRO) 	135 
2  B. Gibson (SLN) 	86 
3  O. Pena (CIN) 	82 
3  G. Conley (ML1) 	82 
5  B. Henry (CHN) 	81 
5  J. Jay (ML1) 	81 
7  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	80 
8  E. Broglio (SLN) 	79 
8  R. Duren (BRO) 	79 
10  H. Robinson (ML1) 	74

American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Claude Raymond (CHA)!
He had a record of 2-1 in 4 games started, with an ERA of 1.21.
American League-Batter of the Month:
Mickey Mantle (NYA)!
He batted .326 in 89 AB, with 11 homers and 27 RBI.
National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Bob Conley (PHI)!
He had a record of 6-0 in 6 games started, with an ERA of 1.40.
National League-Batter of the Month:
Walt Moryn (CHN)!
He batted .379 in 87 AB, with 7 homers and 22 RBI.

The Robins had a very difficult June, going 12-15 and falling to 3rd place at the end. The offense fell off a bit and Koufax couldn’t stay dominant. They still have the lowest ERA (3.63) and fewest runs allowed (313) in baseball, but they have fallen to 6th in batting (.266) and haven’t been getting the big hits.

Frank Howard, who started off great, really fell off, hitting .229 with 4 homers in June. Demeter hit .261 with just 2 homers. Even Kaline, who hit 2 grand slams and led the team with 16 RBI in June, only hit .240. On the bright side, Snider came alive a bit. While he only hit 2 homers in June. He batted .330 to raise his average to a respectable .277.

Duren, Koufax and Sullivan all had ERAs over 4 for the month, and Sullivan was 1-4. Only Ken Johnson pitched well (2.43 ERA for the month), but even he was 1-2. Ridzik continued to be great in relief, and Pizarro finally started showing why he has been given the most important assignments. The Robins still have 3 of the top 4 ERAs in the leagues, and Koufax is far ahead of everyone in strikeouts.

Around the league, last year’s pennant winners have both positioned themselves with strong leads again this year. Mantle has been tearing up the AL. While he is only hitting .280, he is on the pace for about 50 homers and has 56 RBI. Adcock and Mathews continue to be a devastating one-two punch in Milwaukee’s batting order.

June started off with two rather big trades, both on the first of the month. 1B Ted Kluszewski returned to Cincinnati in exchange for CF Bill Tuttle. LF Bob Cerv went to Kansas City for C Cam Carreon and LF Johnny Callison.

At the end of June, Major League Baseball announces the cancellation of the All Star Game due to contractual issues with the players. Talk of a players’ union begins.

[ctorg]

Chadwick and Jack Harrelson have another meeting.

“I just got off the phone with Detroit,” says Jack. “They want Neal and McLish, and they’re willing to give up Boros. I like the deal a lot. I think Boros is a future star. I can feel it. Plus, he’s 22 and he costs a lot less than keeping Neal and McLish. Hell, McLish hasn’t even been in the majors this year.”

“That sounds good to me,” says Chadwick Harrelson. “I’ll feel a lot more comfortable without Neal, to be honest. He was great for us last year, but I’ve been kicking myself that I didn’t say anything about unloading him when he was more marketable. And anything that we can do to get rid of McLish is good.”

“Anything else you’d like to see done this month?” asks Jack.

“Yes. Win more games.”

“Of course. I’ll get on that.”

[ctorg]

7/1/1959

After going out and getting Boros, the Robins take the next game in St. Louis 9-7. Boros is 2 for 5. Snider and Demeter hit homeruns in the game. Ridzik notches the win to go 6-0 on the year.

7/2/1959

The Robins drop the next game to the Cardinals, 6-4. Sullivan looks bad in the loss and falls to 7-6.

7/3/1959

The Robins come home to host Pittsburgh and fall 9-4. Johnson gets creamed in the loss, giving up 7 runs in 4 innings. Demeter hits his 14th homerun.

7/4/1959

Snider leads the way with an Independence Day blast over the rightfield wall as the Robins beat the Pirates 9-2. Koufax looks really great in evening his record at 8-8.

7/5/1959

Drysdale just can’t get it together and the Robins fall 7-1. They manage just 2 hits, one of them a Duke Snider homerun.

7/6/1959

The Robins fall to St. Louis’s very impressive rookie pitcher named Bob Gibson, who strikes out ten. Duren gets a hard luck 3-1 loss as the team manages just 4 hits – that’s 6 hits in the past 2 games now.

7/7/1959

Sullivan looks bad again as the Robins fall 5-4. They nearly come back, scoring three runs in the ninth (including Snider’s ninth homer), but can’t quite top it off. Still, perhaps the momentum will carry over to the next game.

7/8/1959

The momentum does not carry over. Johnson pitches very well, but he gets a complete game loss, 4-2. Snider, who is on a roll, hit’s his 10th homer.

7/9/1959

Koufax pitches a complete game masterpiece, winning 5-1 to bring his record to 9-8. Burgess helps with his tenth homerun. Wills steals two bases to tie the Brooklyn record of 67. Just 14 more and he will have the NL record, 29 more and he will have the major league record.

7/10/1959

The Robins come home to host Milwaukee and they blow the Braves away, 14-5. Burgess, Maris, Howard, and Cimoli all have homers. Despite a less than stellar performance, Drysdale evens his record at 3-3. Gino Cimoli, spot starting in left, hits for the cycle.

7/11/1959

The Braves come back and win the second game of the series, 9-3. Wills steals two more and Howard homers in the loss. Duren pitches poorly and raises his ERA to 4.92.

7/12/1959

The final game of the series against Milwaukee is a tough loss for Sullivan, 3-1. He looks great, giving up six hits and walking no one, but the Robins just can’t get anthing started at the plate.

7/14/1959

On a day that should have held the All Star Game, the fields are silent. Owners and players have had their first standoff, and the players have won.

7/17/1959

After a few days of rest, the Robins show up in San Fancisco to beat the Giants 12-9. Snider and Demeter both homer. Koufax has one of his worst performances of the year, but gets a no decision. The win goes to Ridzik, who is now 7-0 in relief.

7/18/1959

Brooklyn can’t hold an early lead as they fall to the Giants, 7-6. Demeter homers and the Robins get 13 hits, including 4 by Burgess, but Duren looks bad again and they lose it.

7/19/1959

Robins bats come alive to win the game 9-6. Burgess, Maris, and Kaline all homer to give Frank Sullivan, who gives up 6 runs on 15 hits, the win.

7/20/1959

Johnson lasts just an inning and two thirds as the Robins fall 11-5 at home to the Cardinals. Kaline homers in the loss and Wills steals number 73.

7/21/1959

Another loss for the Robins, 8-5. Drysdale gives up 7 runs to get the loss. Demeter homers and the Robins manage to get 11 hits.

7/22/1959

A third straight loss for the Robins as the Cardinals complete the sweep with a 6-3 win. Koufax takes it for his ninth loss as Frank Howard homers.

7/24/1959

After a needed day of rest, the Robins show up in Chicago to beat the Cubs 10-5. Howard homers for the second straight game and Duren actually looks halfway decent, though certainly not good, in getting his 8th win. Chicago starter Johnny Antonelli sees his record fall to 1-13.

7/25/1959

The Robins are beginning to wonder what happened to Frank Sullivan. He gives up ten hits and five runs to lose 7-3. Howard and Demeter both homer in the loss.

7/26/1959

Maury wills hits a rare homerun and Duke Snider hits two as the Robins beat the Cubs, 12-8. Johnson gets the win with five scoreless innings, but has to leave when he stiffens up during a rain delay.

7/28/1959

Back home and facing Philadelphia, Koufax comes through with a well pitched complete game and the Robins win 3-1.

7/29/1959

Zimmer and Snider both homer to support Ryne Duren’s ninth win. Snider is 3 for 4 and has raised his average to .293 now. He also has 14 homeruns.

7/30/1959

It’s a real pitchers duel. Sullivan and the Phillies’ Jack Meyer blank each other’s teams until Kaline singels in pinch runner Gino Cimoli in the bottom of the ninth to win it.

[ctorg]

7/31/1959

Before the game, the Robins pull off a stunning, huge trade that no one sees coming. Brooklyn ships Roger Maris along with both Duke Snider and Tommy Davis to San Francisco. In return, the Robins get a big prospect at 1B named Willie McCovey and a CF named Eddie Bressoud. Brooklyn fans are, almost without exception, furious with the trade. Snider has been a fixture with the Robins and a true star. Maris has been touted as a star of the future since his arrival earlier in the season. And Davis was supposed to replace Snider when the time was right. McCovey is just unproven potential and Bressoud is, at best, an average centerfielder.While the Robins are hovering around .500, the trade amounts to giving up in the minds of many fans. They are only seven games out of first and have two months to move up. But today is the waiver trading deadline, so it’s the only chance the Robins might have to make moves.

To make matters worse, the Reds come to town and thrash the Robins 9-1. Ken Johnson lasts just two thirds of an inning and gives up four hits, two walks, and six runs, all earned.

[ctorg]

Standings:

American League Standings	

AL	

Team		W	L	PCT	GB	Pyt.Rec	Diff		Home	Away	XInn	1Run	M#	Streak	Last10	
New York	66	36	.647	-	63-39	3		32-19	34-17	5-4	21-12	39	L1	6-4	
Washington	53	50	.515	13.5	52-51	1		25-29	28-21	7-4	21-14	-	W1	6-4	
Baltimore	51	51	.500	15.0	44-58	7		21-28	30-23	6-2	17-9	-	W1	6-4	
Cleveland	51	51	.500	15.0	54-48	-3		22-30	29-21	6-3	12-18	-	W5	7-3	
Detroit		51	51	.500	15.0	54-48	-3		22-27	29-24	1-7	12-14	-	W1	5-5	
Boston		50	51	.495	15.5	52-49	-2		27-25	23-26	0-3	16-18	-	L2	5-5	
Chicago (A)	46	55	.455	19.5	48-53	-2		25-24	21-31	4-2	15-23	-	L1	2-8	
Kansas City	39	62	.386	26.5	39-62	0		16-35	23-27	3-7	14-20	-	L1	3-7	

National League Standings	

NL	

Team		W	L	PCT	GB	Pyt.Rec	Diff		Home	Away	XInn	1Run	M#	Streak	Last10	
St. Louis	60	42	.588	-	56-46	4		30-22	30-20	8-4	13-11	52	W2	7-3	
Milwaukee	59	43	.578	1.0	54-48	5		35-18	24-25	7-5	21-13	-	L4	4-6	
San Fran	53	49	.520	7.0	53-49	0		27-23	26-26	1-6	16-17	-	W1	6-4	
Brooklyn	51	49	.510	8.0	56-44	-5		24-25	27-24	5-3	11-14	-	L1	5-5	
Cincinnati	48	53	.475	11.5	49-52	-1		24-25	24-28	6-7	17-12	-	W2	4-6	
Philadlphia	47	53	.470	12.0	49-51	-2		23-26	24-27	9-5	9-18	-	W1	3-7	
Pittsburgh	46	54	.460	13.0	46-54	0		24-27	22-27	3-5	12-10	-	L1	7-3	
Chicago (N)	40	61	.396	19.5	42-59	-2		21-30	19-31	1-5	12-16	-	L2	3-7

Overall Batting:	

Name		G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	
S. Ridzik 	28	7	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	.429	.429	.429	
S. Burgess	93	323	108	16	4	12	57	47	33	21	.334	.394	.520	
G. Cimoli 	62	70	23	4	4	1	14	17	7	8	.329	.388	.543	
A. Kaline 	96	362	116	17	3	13	66	63	49	33	.320	.401	.492	
J. Bolger 	10	10	3	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	.300	.300	.400	
M. Wills 	98	408	119	6	9	2	31	76	26	32	.292	.334	.365	
D. Drysdale	11	24	7	0	0	0	2	1	2	7	.292	.346	.292	
D. Demeter	93	337	97	20	2	18	71	47	20	74	.288	.331	.519	
D. Zimmer 	54	98	28	4	0	2	13	13	6	28	.286	.321	.388	
S. Boros 	88	299	85	13	2	6	35	43	23	27	.284	.339	.401	
B. Lillis 	48	85	24	2	0	0	9	7	2	6	.282	.299	.306	
F. Howard 	97	347	95	12	3	19	62	55	37	80	.274	.345	.490	
N. Larker 	80	134	35	1	1	3	15	22	13	8	.261	.336	.351	
W. Mccovey	44	50	13	1	0	2	10	4	2	5	.260	.302	.400	
R. Craig 	3	8	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	.250	.250	.250	
E. Averill 	26	54	13	2	0	0	1	5	1	11	.241	.255	.278	
E. Bressoud	94	297	71	16	3	7	31	35	31	41	.239	.311	.384	
R. Jackson 	38	41	9	3	0	1	4	7	1	9	.220	.233	.366	
F. Sullivan	22	57	7	0	0	0	2	1	1	23	.123	.136	.123	
R. Duren	22	44	5	2	0	0	2	3	1	16	.114	.133	.159	
S. Koufax 	22	65	7	2	0	0	2	7	1	16	.108	.121	.138	
K. Johnson	20	49	2	1	0	0	1	3	0	21	.041	.041	.061	
J. Pizarro	27	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	
J. Umbricht	58	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	
G. Zuverink	25	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	.000	.000	.000	
E. Wilson 	26	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000

Overall Pitching:	

Name	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K	
S. Koufax 	22	22	10	9	0	3.55	177.2	133	72	70	67	177	
R. Duren 	22	22	9	5	0	5.10	121.2	121	74	69	76	108	
F. Sullivan	22	22	8	9	0	3.25	166.1	172	78	60	36	104	
S. Ridzik 	28	0	7	0	0	1.84	49.0	33	10	10	16	24	
K. Johnson	20	20	6	8	0	3.78	135.2	134	67	57	40	60	
J. Umbricht	58	0	4	4	3	4.73	66.2	68	41	35	34	50	
D. Drysdale	11	11	3	4	0	5.43	64.2	76	44	39	22	35	
E. Wilson 	26	0	2	1	2	5.97	28.2	31	19	19	16	18	
G. Zuverink	25	0	1	1	1	5.95	39.1	56	26	26	7	7	
J. Pizarro	27	0	1	6	14	3.14	28.2	26	11	10	9	21	
R. Craig 	3	3	0	1	0	4.50	22.0	25	11	11	7	4	
J. Bolger	1	0	0	1	0	18.00	1.0	2	2	2	2	0

AL Leaders

#  TOP 10 AVG 		AVG 
1  R. Nixon (CLE) 	.352 
2  P. Ward (CLE) 	.339 
3  C. Maxwell (DET) 	.337 
4  Y. Berra (NYA) 	.331 
5  P. Runnels (BOS) 	.325 
6  M. Keough (BOS) 	.320 
7  T. Kubek (NYA) 	.318 
8  B. Nieman (BAL) 	.317 
9  H. Kuenn (DET) 	.317 
10  B. White (NYA) 	.317 

#  TOP 10 HR 		HR 
1  M. Mantle (NYA) 	26 
2  V. Wertz (CLE) 	23 
3  R. Colavito (CLE) 	20 
4  J. Lemon (WS1) 	19 
4  N. Cash (CHA) 	19 
4  B. White (NYA) 	19 
7  R. Sievers (WS1) 	18 
8  C. Maxwell (DET) 	16 
8  B. Cerv (CHA) 	16 
10  B. Nieman (BAL) 	15 
 
#  TOP 10 RBI 		RBI 
1  R. Sievers (WS1) 	79 
2  V. Wertz (CLE) 	78 
3  B. Skowron (BOS) 	75 
4  B. White (NYA) 	72 
5  N. Cash (CHA) 	69 
6  Y. Berra (NYA) 	68 
7  J. Lemon (WS1) 	65 
7  H. Kuenn (DET) 	65 
9  G. Mcdougald (NYA) 	60 
10  M. Mantle (NYA) 	59 

#  TOP 10 Wins 			W 
1  B. Monbouquette (BOS) 	15 
2  D. Larsen (NYA) 		14 
3  B. O'dell (BAL) 		13 
3  W. Ford (NYA) 		13 
3  T. Sturdivant (NYA) 		13 
6  C. Beamon (BAL) 		12 
6  D. Donovan (CHA) 		12 
8  G. Conley (CLE) 		11 
8  J. Nuxhall (BOS) 		11 
8  B. Grim (NYA)		11 

#  TOP 10 ERA 			ERA 
1  J. Kaat (WS1) 		2.92 
2  C. Pascual (WS1) 		2.95 
3  W. Ford (NYA) 		2.96 
4  D. Donovan (CHA) 		3.03 
5  R. Terry (KC1)		3.31 
6  B. O'dell (BAL) 		3.33 
7  B. Monbouquette (BOS) 	3.39 
8  C. Beamon (BAL) 		3.39 
9  B. Hoeft (DET) 		3.49 
10  B. Shaw (CHA) 		3.60 

#  TOP 10 Strikeouts 		K's 
1  H. Score (CLE) 		155 
2  W. Ford (NYA) 		134 
3  B. O'dell (BAL) 		121 
4  D. Larsen (NYA) 		113 
5  C. Pascual (WS1) 		110 
6  G. Conley (CLE) 		108 
7  C. Beamon (BAL) 		106 
8  T. Sturdivant (NYA) 		102 
9  J. Bunning (DET) 		100 
10  B. Monbouquette (BOS) 	97

NL Leaders

#  TOP 10 AVG 		AVG 
1  W. Moon (SLN) 	.348 
2  S. Burgess (BRO) 	.334 
3  W. Mays (SFN) 	.327 
4  S. Musial (SLN) 	.324 
5  R. Ashburn (PHI) 	.322 
6  A. Kaline (BRO) 	.320 
7  J. Temple (CIN) 	.319 
8  J. Brandt (SFN) 	.311 
9  D. Blasingame (SLN) 	.305 
10  B. Skinner (PIT) 	.304 

#  TOP 10 HR 		HR 
1  E. Mathews (ML1) 	28 
2  J. Adcock (ML1) 	27 
3  W. Covington (ML1) 	26 
4  E. Banks (CHN) 	25 
5  W. Mays (SFN) 	24 
6  W. Post (PHI) 	22 
6  L. Wagner (SFN) 	22 
8  G. Zernial (PIT) 	21 
9  W. Jones (PHI) 	20 
10  F. Howard (BRO) 	19 
 
#  TOP 10 RBI 		RBI 
1  O. Cepeda (SFN) 	79 
2  J. Adcock (ML1) 	76 
3  E. Mathews (ML1) 	74 
3  E. Banks (CHN) 	74 
5  G. Zernial (PIT) 	73 
6  W. Moon (SLN) 	71 
6  D. Demeter (BRO) 	71 
8  L. Wagner (SFN) 	69 
9  H. Anderson (PHI) 	66 
9  W. Mays (SFN) 	66 

#  TOP 10 Wins 		W 
1  B. Shantz (SFN) 	15 
2  L. Jackson (SLN) 	12 
3  J. Jay (ML1) 	11 
3  F. Lary (PIT) 	11 
3  H. Robinson (ML1) 	11 
6  B. Gibson (SLN) 	10 
6  A. Worthington (SFN) 10 
6  D. Mcmahon (ML1) 	10 
6  E. Broglio (SLN) 	10 
6  S. Jones (CHN) 	10 

#  TOP 10 ERA 		ERA 
1  B. Conley (PHI)	2.90 
2  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	3.25 
3  F. Lary (PIT) 	3.34 
4  H. Robinson (ML1) 	3.42 
5  L. Jackson (SLN) 	3.47 
6  S. Koufax (BRO) 	3.55 
7  B. Loes (PIT) 	3.62 
8  B. Gibson (SLN) 	3.73 
9  K. Johnson (BRO) 	3.78 
10  S. Jones (CHN) 	3.80 

#  TOP 10 Strikeouts 	K's 
1  S. Koufax (BRO) 	177 
2  B. Gibson (SLN) 	136 
3  S. Jones (CHN) 	131 
4  B. Henry (CHN) 	110 
5  R. Duren (BRO) 	108 
6  E. Broglio (SLN) 	107 
7  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	104 
8  J. Podres (CIN) 	101 
9  J. Jay (ML1) 	97 
10  H. Robinson (ML1) 	96

American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Stu Miller (KC1)!
He had a record of 4-0 in 5 games started, with an ERA of 1.41.
American League-Batter of the Month:
Bill White (NYA)!
He batted .353 in 85 AB, with 8 homers and 19 RBI.
National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Humberto Robinson (ML1)!
He had a record of 4-1 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 2.30.
National League-Batter of the Month:
Wes Covington (ML1)!
He batted .374 in 91 AB, with 11 homers and 26 RBI.

It was a very difficult month for Brooklyn. They went 11-14 and saw their pitching unravel at times. They just couldn’t score runs at the right times and couldn’t hold leads when they got them.

The best offensive player on the team in July was Duke Snider, who hit .350 with 9 homeruns and 23 RBI, and is now at .294/14/59. Of course, he is gone now, sent to play rightfield for San Francisco. Maury Wills hit .347 for the month and is now 77 for 88 in steals. Boros, who impressed everyone in June by batting .351 with 5 homers and 15 RBI, fell to Earth in July, but was still strong, hitting .270 with 4 homers and 17 RBI. Burgess kept seeing the ball well, and Howard had a strong month. Demeter led the team with 6 homers and 19 RBI in July. None of the regular position players struggled badly.

Not so for pitchers. Ken Johnson was 1-4 with a staggering 9.31 ERA in July. Sullivan was 1-4, 4.53. Duren was 2-2, 7.63. Of the starters, only Koufax had a decent month, going 3-1 with a 3.93 ERA and striking out 42. Ridzik was the best reliever, pitching in 10 games and winning 2 with a 2.01 ERA. Pizarro picked up 3 more saves without allowing a run in 6.1 innings.

The big trade has changed the landscape of Ebbets Field for the future. No more Duke, who has gone to the most reviled team in the NL. No more future star Maris. A new face in centerfield, and a former backup outfielder (Cimoli) playing left. A big new prospect in the minors does nothing to close the 8 game gap between the Robins and first place. Brooklyn fans are stunned and unsure of what to think.

The Robins weren’t the only ones to make significant changes at the deadline. On July 30th, Cincinnati and Boston swapped starters, the Reds sending Podres and cash to the Red Sox for Jim O’Toole. The Orioles sent their big free agent ace signing (and something of a bust) Sam Jones (10-10, 3.80 ERA) to the Cubs in return for slugging RF Lee Walls. The Reds and Orioles then swapped players, as Cincinnati sent former Robin Gil Hodges (.262, 14 HR, 40 RBI and no longer needed thanks to Kluszewski’s return) to Baltimore for pitcher Jack Fisher.

While New York is running away with the AL pennant, the NL race has grown much tighter, as St. Louis has rallied past the slumping Braves into first place. The Braves are a game out and the Giants are seven. The Robins are just one behind the Giants to round out the first division. There are more games separating the Yankees from the second place Senators than there are separating the Cardinals from seventh place Pittsburgh.

The rookie sensation of the AL this year has been Jim Kaat, who is 9-7 with a league leading 2.92 ERA. Early buzz has him winning ROTY in the AL and Wills beating out Bob Gibson (10-6, 3.73 ERA) in the NL. Mickey Mantle appears headed for the AL MVP with his 26 homers, but several potential challengers could well outperform him still. In the NL, Willie Mays appears to be running away with the award, hitting .327 with 24 homers and 26 RBI.

[ctorg]

“I trust you have good reasons for the trade,” Chadwick Harrelson says to his son. “I know you are no fool and I trust your judgment. So tell me, Jack, what were you thinking by trading Snider and Maris? And the guy who was going to replace Snider? Why didn’t you come to me first?”

Jack is fidgety and nervous. “Well, I knew you might not like the idea, so I took it upon myself and just did it. I’m surprised it’s taken you a day to call me on it. I feel the trade puts us in better shape for the future.”

“At the cost of now? At the cost of this year’s pennant?”

“I don’t think we can realistically expect to win this year’s crown, Dad. I know you like to be optimistic, but we’re 8 games back with three teams in front of us. McCovey was too good to pass up. You should see that kid play. He’s going to be a huge star. You’ll see. We’ll move Howard to leftfield and put the kid at first next year. I think he’ll be Rookie of the Year in 1960. He’s that good. But he needs a little more time in the minors.”

“Jack,” says the elder Harrelson, “I can’t say I’m with you a hundred percent on this. I think we had a legitimate shot at the crown this year. The team has been slumping, playing below its ability.”

“Dad, you’ll see next year. I believe – and maybe I’m wrong, but I believe it – that I turned a one in ten chance to win this year into a one in fifteen or twenty chance, but in doing so I doubled our chances next year. In addition, McCovey’s young and he’s inexpensive. He’ll be around for a long time. Snider has two or three more good seasons left in him before he’s a pinch hitter. Maris might turn into a good hitter someday, but after seeing him everyday, I have my doubts. He’s a slugger for sure, but he doesn’t seem to do anything else. I think it’s a good tradeoff. Plus, the shakeup may get the guys playing better. I have confidence that this was the best move we could make.”

“All right, Jack,” concedes Chadwick Harrelson. “I’ll trust you on this. But this team had better be good next year.”

[ctorg]

8/1/1959

The new look Robins face off against an old Robin, Johnny Podres, now of Cincinnati, and they win the game dramatically in eleven innings. The Robins take the early lead in the game, going ahead 4-0 after 3 innings. The Reds come back with three in the sixth, thanks in part to a 2-run triple by Kluszewski. The teams battle and go into extra innings tied at 6. In the top of the 11th innings, the Reds put up another run. It looks like the end for Brooklyn, but in the bottom of the inning, with one out, Lillis and Kaline hit a pair of singles. Frank Howard then blasts a triple to bring them both home. Teammates rib Howard afterwards for nearly passing Kaline on the bases, which is how he manages to make it to third before the game ends. The win ties Brooklyn for third. Incidentally, new CF Bressoud goes 4 for 5 with a double.

8/2/1959

Koufax loses his tenth against ten wins as the Robins fall 6-2. They manage just 4 hits, including a triple by Smoky Burgess.

8/3/1959

No game today. The Robins pick up 32-year-old reliever Bob Smith off waivers and send down Earl Wilson to make room for him.

8/4/1959

In San Francisco to play against Duke on his new team, the Robins come alive to win 10-5. Duren gets his tenth win. Don Zimmer is the games star, bashing two homers and going 3 for 4.

8/5/1959

The Robins fall to the Giants, 6-4. New reliver Bob Smith takes the loss. Howard and Demeter both homer. Wills steals two to tie the NL record of 81 steals, but he is also caught twice and so contributes to the loss, despite a 4 for 4 game.

8/6/1959

The Robins fall to the Giants in an 11-8 slugfest. Demeter hits his 20th homer, a grand slam, but it isn’t enough. Wills steals three more without getting caught to set a new NL record. He is now 12 behind Ty Cobb’s record, which has stood for over 40 years.

8/7/1959

Brooklyn bats come alive in Pittsburgh, but Koufax keeps the Pirates quiet for an 11-3 win. Koufax is flawless but for a 3 run 8th inning. Kaline hits 2 jacks and Cimoli blasts one. Bressoud goes 3 for 4 and is batting .333 (9 for 27) since joining his new team. The win keeps them from dipping to .500 and brings them back to 7 games out, one behind the Giants for third place.

8/8/1959

In eight innings, Drysdale allows just one unearned run and the Robins take down Pittsburgh, 2-1. The win ties them for third.

8/9/1959

Brooklyn completes a sweep of Pittsburgh, winning 12-3. Kaline and Howard homer, and Duren pitches seven very effective innings for his 11th win against 5 losses. The Robins have now passed San Francisco into third place.

8/10/1959

The Robins’ fortunes end in an extra inning shutout by the Braves in Brooklyn. Nine scoreless innings by Frank Sullivan go to waste as the Robins get only three hits and commit three errors. The loss drops them back into a tie for third, 5.5 games out, and brings the Braves to within percentage points of first (they have played 2 more games than the Cardinals.

8/11/1959

Ken Johnson pitches a gem of a game and the Robins win 5-2. Wills has three hits and steals three for his 90th, six shy of the record. He is also caught for the 15th time. He seems to be getting a bit careless on the basepaths. The win allows Brooklyn to regain sole possession of third place, but they remain 5.5 games out.

8/12/1959

More hard luck for Sandy Koufax. He pitches well, but the Robins fall 4-3 for his 11th loss, bringing his record back even. Cimoli, who has hit well since taking over in left, blasts another homer, his 3rd of the year.

8/13/1959

The Pirates come back to town, but the Robins can’t seem to touch them for runs the way they did in Pittsburgh and go down 7-4. Boros and Larker both homer. The loss goes to Pizarro, who is now 1-8 and drawing the ire of Chadwick Harrelson. His future as a Robin, at least as a major league Robin, is in serious doubt.

8/14/1959

Sure enough, Pizarro is sent to the minors and the Robins call up Larry Sherry. Sherry has been starting in the minors and has pitched phenomenally, going 11-6 with a 2.05 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 176 innings. They send Drysdale to the bullpen and assign Sherry to the rotation.

In the game, the Robins fall again to the Pirates, 7-6. The lead changes hands several times before settling with Pittsburgh. The Robins have 12 hits, but all of them are singles. Wills steals number 91 and is now just 5 behind Cobb’s record. After 3 straight losses, the Robins are now just one game over .500, 8.5 games out of first, and 1.5 games behind the Giants for third.

8/15/1959

Brooklyn manages to salvage the series, winning 5-4 in 11 innings. Gino Cimoli has another great game, going 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. He is now batting .330 and has an OPS of .908 in 115 at bats. Maris, by contrast, is batting .195 with a .628 OPS. Perhaps the deal wasn’t so bad given the offensive improvement.

8/16/1959

Johnson nearly pitches a shutout, but rain hits in the ninth inning and the resulting delay forces him out of the game. Nevertheless, Brooklyn beats Pittsburgh 1-0. Johnson’s record is even at 8-8 now.

8/17/1959

Koufax wins number 12 as the Robins take the game 7-4 in Philadelphia. Wills steals three more and is now one shy of the record. The Robins are now a half game behind the Giants, but they remain 8.5 games out of first as the Cardinals have won seven straight.

8/18/1959

Sherry’s minor league success does not translate to big league success in his first start. He lasts only 2.1 innings, allowing 8 hits and 5 runs for the loss. Wills steals number 96 to tie Cobb’s record, but he is also caught for the 19th time. The final score is a lopsidef 11-3.

8/19/1959

Another lopsided loss for the Robins against the Phillies, 10-4. Kaline and Howard both homer, but Robins pitchers just don’t do their jobs. Drysdale, coming on in relief, is particularly bad, allowing four runs in two thirds of an inning. The loss goes to Duren. The Robins are back to two games over .500 and are now 10.5 games out of first, 2.5 behind the Giants. St. Louis has now won 9 straight.

8/20/1959

Frank Sullivan can’t get a break. He pitches a stellar complete game, walking no one and allowing just four hits, but Brooklyn cannot hit against Chicago and is shut out 2-0.

8/21/1959

Wills finally breaks Cobbs record completely, then adds another to make it 98, and the Robins beat the Cubs, 4-2. Larker and Bressoud both homer and Johnson pitches well, but Drysdale gets the win because the game takes 12 innings and is won with Larker’s homer. Despite managing to win a game, the Robins’ hopes for the season are very slim. St. Louis has now won 11 straight and the Robins are 11.5 out. Even second place Milwaukee is 6 games back now, and the Cards look determined to win it all.

8/22/1959

Koufax pitches the game of the season for the Robins, a complete game shutout in which he allows just a hit and 2 walks and strikes out 11. The Robins beat the Cubs 8-0. Demeter and Bressoud both homer and Sandy Koufax, adding to his game performance, doubles twice, scores twice, and knocks in a run.

8/23/1959

Sherry gets another chance, and this time he gets the win. It is not necessarily a deserved win, however, as he allows 6 runs (5 earned) in 8 innings, including 4 dingers. The Robins do manage to hold off the Cubs, 10-8. Wills steals number 99. St. Louis finally loses a game after 12 straight wins, but they are still 6 games up and 10.5 games above the Robins.

[ctorg]

After the game, Jack Harrelson gets a call from Philadelphia’s GM. The Phillies offer proven hitter Harry Anderson, a 27-year-old hitting .278 with 22 homers, for mid-level prospect 3B Ron Hansen and scrub minor league pitcher Bob Giallombardo. Jack considers the idea carefully. Anderson is young and has proven ability, but Hansen, who is 21, shows potential to become a very solid 3B in the future. It is a touch decision, but Jack decides to turn the offer down. He is building for the future, and he already has Frank Howard to play LF when McCovey joins the big league team, hopefully at the beginning of next year.

[ctorg]

8/24/1959

Back in Brooklyn, the Giants trounce the Robins 8-0. Duren doesn’t even make it through 3 innings and takes the loss. He is now 11-8 with a 5.11 ERA, quite a fall from last season’s breakout success for him. He has gone from best pitcher on the staff to fourth best. One bright spot in the game is that Maury Wills becomes the first player in modern baseball to steal 100 bases.

8/25/1959

The normally reliable Ridzik loses his first game of the season, a 10 inning affair that ends 5-4 in favor of the Giants. Boros and Kaline both smack homers.

8/26/1959

The Robins take the third game with the Giants, winning 6-2. Johnson gets the win, improving him to 9-8 as he gives up just 2 unearned runs in 7.2 innings. Burgess hits 2 doubles and Demeter has 3 RBI in the win.

8/27/1959

The Robins earn a series split with a 10-3 demolition of San Francisco. Koufax strikes out 8 and allows just 3 unearned runs in his 11th complete game of the year. Zimmer hits his fifth homer, and everyone in the lineup but Kaline and Koufax gets at least one hit. Smoky Burgess has quietly built up an 18 game hitting streak.

8/28/1959

The Robins rally in the ninth, scoring two to win 4-3 over the Reds. Larry Sherry pitches far better than he has before, going 6.1 scoreless innings, but the win goes to Umbricht – the man who nearly gave up the game by allowing 2 runs in the top of the ninth and depriving Sherry of the win. Wills gets stolen base number 104. The Robins have gotten themselves back into a tie for third, but they are still ten games out with about a month to go, not a very hopeful position.

8/29/1959

The Robins win their fourth straight game, an 8-1 victory over Cincinnati. Duren is excellent in his 12th win. Demeter and Cimoli both homer, and Wills raises the SB record to 106. The win gives the Robins sole possession of third place. Burgess extends his hitting streak to 20 games.

8/30/1959

Brooklyn makes it five in a row with a second straight 8-1 victory over the Reds. Sullivan allowas just three hits and a walk in a complete game victory, his ninth against ten losses. Demeter hits his 23rd homer and now has 94 RBI, the team lead. Burgess’s streak is snapped at 20.

8/31/1959

The big guys – the St. Louis Cardinals – come to town. The Robins fight hard but manage only 3 singles off Cardinal pitching, spoiling a superb outing by Johnson to lose 1-0.

[ctorg]

END OF AUGUST 1959
Standings:

American League Standings	

AL	

Team		W	L	PCT	GB	Pyt.Rec	Diff		Home	Away	XInn	1Run	M#	Streak	Last10	
New York	78	52	.600	-	76-54	2		39-24	39-28	10-6	24-18	15	W2	5-5	
Washington	68	62	.523	10.0	68-62	0		33-32	35-30	9-6	27-18	-	L1	5-5	
Cleveland	66	64	.508	12.0	67-63	-1		31-34	35-30	10-5	18-21	-	L2	3-7	
Baltimore	64	66	.492	14.0	56-74	8		29-36	35-30	6-4	21-13	-	W1	5-5	
Boston		64	66	.492	14.0	66-64	-2		33-32	31-34	1-7	20-22	-	W1	6-4	
Chicago (A)	61	68	.473	16.5	63-66	-2		35-29	26-39	8-3	20-29	-	W3	7-3	
Detroit		61	70	.466	17.5	67-64	-6		31-34	30-36	1-13	15-24	-	L6	4-6	
Kansas City	58	72	.446	20.0	55-75	3		29-39	29-33	7-8	22-22	-	W1	6-4	

National League Standings	

NL	

Team		W	L	PCT	GB	Pyt.Rec	Diff		Home	Away	XInn	1Run	M#	Streak	Last10	
St. Louis	79	51	.608	-	73-57	6		36-28	43-23	8-5	18-13	20	W4	7-3	
Milwaukee	74	56	.569	5.0	71-59	3		44-24	30-32	9-6	26-19	-	W6	8-2	
Brooklyn	68	62	.523	11.0	74-56	-6		33-33	35-29	8-7	16-19	-	L1	7-3	
San Fran	67	63	.515	12.0	67-63	0		36-29	31-34	3-7	20-20	-	W1	4-6	
Philadlphia	63	67	.485	16.0	64-66	-1		32-30	31-37	12-7	13-24	-	L4	4-6	
Pittsburgh	59	71	.454	20.0	57-73	2		28-37	31-34	5-7	16-16	-	L1	6-4	
Chicago (N)	55	75	.423	24.0	56-74	-1		29-39	26-36	5-8	19-19	-	W1	3-7	
Cincinnati	55	75	.423	24.0	58-72	-3		27-35	28-40	6-9	22-20	-	L5	1-9

Overall Batting:	

Name		G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	
S. Burgess	119	432	147	24	5	12	73	66	36	32	.340	.389	.502	
S. Ridzik 	41	9	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	4	.333	.333	.333	
A. Kaline	125	470	153	23	4	18	83	87	61	38	.326	.402	.506	
G. Cimoli	91	167	53	8	5	4	30	31	10	19	.317	.354	.497	
N. Larker	104	192	57	6	1	5	23	29	15	9	.297	.357	.417	
M. Wills 	126	517	153	6	10	2	38	95	34	42	.296	.339	.358	
D. Zimmer	80	158	46	7	1	5	23	20	8	36	.291	.320	.443	
D. Demeter	122	437	121	23	4	23	94	61	29	95	.277	.324	.506	
S. Boros	113	396	108	13	3	8	48	54	31	41	.273	.330	.381	
D. Drysdale	21	33	9	0	0	0	3	2	2	8	.273	.314	.273	
B. Lillis 	62	107	29	2	0	0	11	9	3	7	.271	.291	.290	
F. Howard	126	451	119	13	5	23	78	73	48	100	.264	.335	.468	
W. Mccovey	44	50	13	1	0	2	10	4	2	5	.260	.302	.400	
E. Bressoud	121	387	99	23	4	10	47	49	38	51	.256	.321	.413	
R. Craig 	3	8	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	.250	.250	.250	
B. Smith 	49	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	.250	.250	.500	
J. Pagan 	45	100	25	3	0	0	6	10	1	16	.250	.265	.280	
H. Landrith	11	22	5	1	0	0	2	0	3	0	.227	.308	.273	
J. Bolger 	17	18	4	1	0	0	0	3	2	2	.222	.300	.278	
R. Jackson	55	61	13	4	0	1	6	9	4	12	.213	.254	.328	
E. Averill	38	68	13	2	0	0	1	5	1	14	.191	.203	.221	
S. Koufax 	28	83	11	4	0	1	5	10	1	20	.133	.143	.217	
F. Sullivan	28	71	8	1	0	0	2	1	1	26	.113	.123	.127	
R. Duren 	28	55	5	2	0	0	2	3	1	21	.091	.107	.127	
K. Johnson	26	66	5	1	0	0	1	3	0	25	.076	.076	.091	
L. Sherry	3	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000	
J. Umbricht	71	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	
G. Zuverink	32	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	.000	.000	.000	
E. Wilson	27	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	
J. Pizarro	31	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000

Overall Pitching:	

Name		G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K	
S. Koufax 	28	28	14	11	0	3.36	228.0	176	92	85	79	227	
R. Duren 	28	28	12	8	0	4.97	155.2	163	97	86	88	140	
K. Johnson	26	26	9	9	0	3.22	181.2	170	80	65	50	79	
F. Sullivan	28	28	9	10	0	3.13	213.0	205	92	74	44	123	
S. Ridzik 	41	0	8	1	1	2.18	66.0	49	17	16	23	33	
J. Umbricht	71	0	6	5	7	4.65	79.1	79	47	41	41	57	
D. Drysdale	21	14	5	4	0	4.80	95.2	104	58	51	32	53	
E. Wilson 	27	0	2	1	2	5.90	29.0	31	19	19	16	18	
L. Sherry 	3	3	1	1	0	5.40	16.2	21	12	10	5	12	
J. Pizarro	31	0	1	8	14	4.28	33.2	37	17	16	9	22	
G. Zuverink	32	0	1	1	1	6.14	44.0	64	31	30	7	8	
B. Smith 	49	0	1	2	3	5.03	62.2	68	44	35	41	40	
R. Craig 	3	3	0	1	0	4.50	22.0	25	11	11	7	4	
J. Bolger 	1	0	0	1	0	18.00	1.0	2	2	2	2	0

AL Leaders

#  TOP 10 AVG 		AVG 
1  S. Taylor (WS1) 	.345 
2  R. Nixon (CLE) 	.344 
3  P. Ward (CLE) 	.328 
4  Y. Berra (NYA) 	.325 
5  B. White (NYA) 	.324 
6  P. Runnels (BOS) 	.321 
7  C. Maxwell (DET) 	.318 
8  H. Kuenn (DET) 	.311 
9  L. Walls (BAL) 	.307 
10  M. Keough (BOS) 	.304 

#  TOP 10 HR 		HR 
1  M. Mantle (NYA) 	34 
2  R. Colavito (CLE) 	31 
3  J. Lemon (WS1) 	27 
4  R. Sievers (WS1) 	26 
5  B. White (NYA) 	23 
5  V. Wertz (CLE) 	23 
7  B. Cerv (CHA) 	22 
8  H. Killebrew (WS1) 	21 
8  C. Maxwell (DET) 	21 
10  N. Cash (CHA) 	20 
 
#  TOP 10 RBI 		RBI 
1  R. Sievers (WS1) 	99 
2  B. Skowron (BOS) 	96 
3  J. Lemon (WS1) 	93 
4  B. White (NYA) 	91 
5  H. Kuenn (DET) 	82 
5  Y. Berra (NYA) 	82 
5  V. Wertz (CLE) 	82 
8  G. Triandos (BAL) 	78 
8  N. Cash (CHA) 	78 
10  R. Colavito (CLE) 	77 

#  TOP 10 Wins 			W 
1  B. Monbouquette (BOS) 	18 
2  B. O'dell (BAL) 		16 
2  D. Larsen (NYA) 		16 
4  C. Beamon (BAL) 		15 
5  D. Donovan (CHA) 		14 
5  W. Ford (NYA) 		14 
7  T. Sturdivant (NYA) 		13 
8  B. Grim (NYA) 		12 
8  D. Mossi (BAL) 		12 
8  B. Shaw (CHA) 		12 

#  TOP 10 ERA 		ERA 
1  C. Pascual (WS1) 	2.92 
2  D. Donovan (CHA) 	2.98 
3  W. Ford (NYA) 	3.10 
4  J. Kaat (WS1) 	3.17 
5  C. Beamon (BAL) 	3.22 
6  B. Shaw (CHA) 	3.45 
7  B. O'dell (BAL) 	3.61 
8  B. Hoeft (DET) 	3.65 
9  D. Mossi (BAL) 	3.66 
10  D. Larsen (NYA) 	3.70 

#  TOP 10 Strikeouts 		K's 
1  H. Score (CLE) 		181 
2  B. O'dell (BAL) 		159 
3  W. Ford (NYA) 		158 
4  C. Pascual (WS1) 		148 
5  D. Larsen (NYA) 		140 
6  G. Conley (CLE) 		133 
7  C. Beamon (BAL) 		131 
7  J. Bunning (DET) 		131 
9  B. Monbouquette (BOS) 	124

NL Leaders

#  TOP 10 AVG 		AVG 
1  S. Burgess (BRO) 	.340 
2  W. Moon (SLN) 	.331 
3  W. Covington (ML1) 	.326 
4  A. Kaline (BRO) 	.326 
5  R. Ashburn (PHI) 	.318 
6  S. Musial (SLN) 	.316 
7  W. Mays (SFN) 	.310 
8  K. Boyer (SLN) 	.309 
9  B. Skinner (PIT) 	.306 
10  O. Cepeda (SFN) 	.300 

#  TOP 10 HR 		HR 
1  E. Mathews (ML1) 	34 
2  W. Covington (ML1) 	33 
3  W. Post (PHI)	32 
4  J. Adcock (ML1) 	31 
5  E. Banks (CHN) 	30 
6  W. Mays (SFN) 	29 
7  L. Wagner (SFN) 	27 
8  H. Aaron (ML1) 	25 
9  W. Jones (PHI) 	24 
10  F. Thomas (PIT) 	23 
 
#  TOP 10 RBI 		RBI 
1  O. Cepeda (SFN) 	100 
2  W. Post (PHI) 	98 
3  D. Demeter (BRO) 	94 
4  E. Banks (CHN) 	93 
5  E. Mathews (ML1) 	92 
6  G. Zernial (PIT) 	88 
7  W. Covington (ML1) 	85 
7  L. Wagner (SFN) 	85 
7  J. Adcock (ML1) 	85 
10  F. Thomas (PIT) 	84 

#  TOP 10 Wins 		W 
1  B. Shantz (SFN) 	18 
2  B. Gibson (SLN) 	16 
3  L. Jackson (SLN) 	15 
4  S. Koufax (BRO) 	14 
5  F. Lary (PIT) 	13 
5  E. Broglio (SLN) 	13 
5  J. Jay (ML1) 	13 
5  H. Robinson (ML1) 	13 
9  J. Perry (ML1) 	12 
9  L. Mcdaniel (SLN) 	12 

#  TOP 10 ERA 		ERA 
1  B. Conley (PHI) 	2.78 
2  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	3.13 
3  K. Johnson (BRO) 	3.22 
4  F. Lary (PIT) 	3.25 
5  H. Robinson (ML1) 	3.33 
6  S. Koufax (BRO) 	3.36 
7  B. Anderson (CHN) 	3.61 
8  B. Loes (PIT) 	3.71 
9  B. Gibson (SLN) 	3.75 
10  F. Green (PIT) 	3.81 

#  TOP 10 Strikeouts 	K's 
1  S. Koufax (BRO) 	227 
2  B. Gibson (SLN) 	170 
3  S. Jones (CHN) 	169 
4  R. Duren (BRO) 	140 
5  B. Henry (CHN) 	137 
5  E. Broglio (SLN) 	137 
7  H. Robinson (ML1) 	128 
8  J. Podres (CIN) 	127 
9  J. Jay (ML1) 	124 
10  F. Sullivan (BRO) 	123

American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Claude Raymond (CHA)!
He had a record of 4-0 in 6 games started, with an ERA of 2.51.
American League-Batter of the Month:
Jim Lemon (WS1)!
He batted .326 in 95 AB, with 8 homers and 28 RBI.
National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Lindy Mcdaniel (SLN)!
He had a record of 3-0 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 1.46.
National League-Batter of the Month:
Wally Post (PHI)!
He batted .355 in 110 AB, with 10 homers and 33 RBI.

The Robins played well in August, going 17-13, but not well enough to contend with the Cardinals, who went 19-9. The Robins hold sole possession of third place now, but they are eleven games out of first and six behind second place Milwaukee.

The best offensive production in August came from Al Kaline, who hit .343 with 5 homeruns and 17 RBI. Bressoud was much better than expected, hitting .311 with 3 homers and 17 RBI. Cimoli had very similar numbers starting in left (.309/3/16). Boros and Howard had off months, hitting .237 and .231 respectively. Demeter had 5 homers and 23 RBI to lead the team, but only hit .240. He now has 94 RBI.

The pitchers were generally good, particularly Koufax and Johnson. Koufax was 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA for the month, and he added 50 strikeouts to his major league leading total. Johnson was 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA. Sullivan pitched well but only went 1-1. Duren was shaky and went 3-3.

Around the league, the Yankees look to be in great shape to win another pennant. They are in the top 5 in almost every offensive and defensive team category. While the Senators have had a reasonably good season, no team in the AL has mounted a serious challenge against New York. In the NL, St. Louis holds a 5 game lead and looks to be in great shape to win, though Milwaukee still has a good shot to surpass them. Both teams have been playing well. St. Louis is on a 5 game winning streak, and Milwaukee has won 6 in a row.

[ctorg]

“I must admit that the team played much better than I expected in August,” says Chadwick Harrelson. “The fans are still upset about the trade, though.”

Jack sighs. “Fans think only in the short term, especially in this city. Everything is right here, right now. When the team does well next year, which hopefully they will, the fans will forget all about the big trade this year and be happy to have a pennant.”

“That’s the spirit, Jack,” laughs Chadwick Harrelson. “I do hope you are right about the fans. While I don’t expect to make a lot of money on this team, I still need them to come out and support the team so that it’s not too much of a loss.”

[ctorg]

For September, the Robins call up four players, all pitchers: Gene Snyder (15-5 with a 2.19 ERA in the minors), Carl Erskine, Juan Pizarro, and Earl Wilson.