This Day in Baseball - The Daily Rewind
Sports:Baseball
On January 26, 1963, Alarmed by such increased home run numbers across the Majors, Ford Frick convinced the owners to agree to having the strike zone widened before the 1963 season. The zone will stretch from the top of the batter’s shoulders to the bottom of the knees. The committee hopes the return to the 1950s strike zone will result in a decrease in runs scored.
The results will exceed the committee’s expectations, in 1962 teams average 4.46 runs per game, in 1963 that number dropped to 3.95 and will hover around 4, until 67 when it drops to 3.77 and then in 1968 it was deadball like 3.42 runs per game.
The Indians ‘63 staff would set a new AL record while being the first staff to K over 1000 in a season. Led by Sam McDowell and rookies Sonny Siebert and Luis Tiant, they would go on to set a new record in ‘64, with over 1100 Ks. They would set record numbers and lead the AL in Ks from ‘64-68, a feat still not matched!
In 1968 we all know Bob Gibson had a record 1.12 ERA, but 6 other starters had ERAs under 2. Which was remarkable. Don Drysdale set a record with the longest scoreless inning streak ever. Denny McLain became baseball’s first 30-game winner in a generation. Denny McLain was the last pitcher to win 30 in 1968, including a 1.96 ERA.
McLain and Lolich will face off twice in the 1968 World Series and Gibson will beat him twice, McLain will win game 6 going the distance on 2 days rest and after the “Year of the Pitcher” in 1968, the strike zone will be tweaked again, and the mound will be lowered from 15 inches to 10 inches and by 1970 the league would be back up to 4.46 runs per game.
It has been long speculated that Frick, a Friend of Ruth increased the strike zone so no one else could dimmish the Babe.
Here is Frick on Tops on Sports . . . .
Charlie Lea pitches first No Hitter at Olympic Stadium
Catfish Hunter is Perfect May 8 1968 - 9th Inning Broadcast
Bob Watson of the Houston Astros scores the one millionth run in major league history
Willie Mays hits 4 homeruns at County Stadium
Apr 28, 1965 Mets announcer Lindsay Nelson calls the game from the Dome's ceiling - Vintage Baseball Reflections
April 24, 1966 Willie Mays ties Mel Ott - Vintage Baseball Reflections
April 18, 1987 Mike Schmidt 500th Homerun - Vintage Baseball Reflections
April 12 - The Grey Eagle Soars - The Tris Speaker Trade
April 11 One and Done the home debut and story of the Seattle Pilots
April 10 - FISK changes his Sox
April 9 - FERNANDOMANIA
April 8 - I Had A Hammer How Hank Aaron rose above it all
April 7 - The Stat that created a position The Save
April 6 - The DH officially debuts after 86 years of debate
Mickey Cochrane World Series Walk Off
April 5 - Charlie Ebbets builds Ebbets Field
April 4 1994 - A New Era is born in Cleveland as The Jake opens
Tom Seaver signs with the Mets and 3 years later pulls off a Miracle
April 3 - Dennis Eckersley traded and then he evolves into one of the greatest closer in Baseball history
April 2 1976 - Future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is traded to Baltimore in 6 player deal
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Halos in the infield ( an angels baseball podcast )
The 3 Old Reds Fans Podcast
North Side Territory
Talkin’ Baseball (MLB Podcast)
Talkin’ Yanks (Yankees Podcast)