Summer Game Books

Question 14/1963: Name the first African American to win the American League MVP, in 1963.

Answer 15: Bill Nicholson (Chicago WS) and Don Lock (Washington Senators).

Read more great '60s Baseball facts and fascinating stories in Maz To Yaz to Amazin' http://geni.us/Maz2Yaz

Answer 14: Elston Howard, the Yankees’ catcher, who is credited with inventing the batting donut.

Question 15/1963: He hit 22 HR with 70 RBI in 1963, but more noteworthy was his record 175 K’s, shattering Killebrew’s mark of 142 from season before. For extra credit, name the Senators’ player who fanned 151 times, with 27 HR and 82 RBI.

Answer 16: Henry Aaron, who was 31-5 in stolen bases, compared with Maury Wills’ 40-19.

Question 16/1963: This player tied for the NL lead in HR (44), led in RBI (by 21), RS, TB, and SA, was second in SB, and missed the Triple Crown by .007 BA, yet finished 3rd in the MVP award.

Answer 17: Bob Gibson (65, 66, 68-70), Ray Sadecki (64), Ernie Broglio (60), Mike Cuellar (69, 70, 71, 74), Bobby Shantz (52), and Lew Burdette (58, 59).

Question 17/1964: Six of the 14 pitchers who appeared in more than 4 games for the 1964 Cardinals had a 20-win season in their career.  You’re a real expert if you can name even 4.

Answer 18: Rico Carty, who belted 31 HR with 99 RBI as DH at age 38.

Question 18/1964: This player finished his career with a .299 average and more than 200 HR in 5606 at bats. He finished second in the ROY in 1964 despite hitting .330 with 88 RBI in 133 games.

Answer 19: Norm Siebern, whose final big league AB was an RBI groundout for the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 1967 World Series.

Read more great '60s Baseball facts and fascinating stories in Maz To Yaz to Amazin' http://geni.us/Maz2Yaz

Question 19/1964: This lefty batter played for Casey Stengel’s Yankees in the late 1950s, drove in 117 runs and scored 114 for the 1962 KC A’s, and led the AL in walks for the 1964 O’s, who narrowly missed the AL pennant by 2 games.  

Answer 20: Bob Lee, who was out of baseball by 1969.  

Question 20/1964-65: Name the Angels’ 26-year old rookie reliever who compiled an ERA of 1.51 in 64 games and 137 innings in 1964 and followed it up with a 1.92 in 69/131.1.

My Thirty Ballpark Summer Part travelogue, part intimate baseball diary, part ballpark reference, MY 30 BALLPARK SUMMER shares what’s best about baseball today, remembers some of what has been lost, and celebrates what will be great about the game forever.

TONY C: “This one of the true tragedies of the sports world."