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 . . . .
CYO Ends relationship with Dodgers because of Leo Durocher March 1
Koufax and Drysdale Holdout February 28 1966
Babe Ruth released February 26
Duke Snider Passes Away February 27
Smoky Joe gets Sold to Cleveland February 24
Walter Johnson and The Silver Dollar - February 22
The Ballard of Three Fingers Brown
Cool Papa Bell goes to Cooperstown
Dazzy Vance Wins the MVP February 12
Ozzie Smith Trade Finalized February 11
Allie Reynolds talks about two No Hitters in 1951 February 10
Edd Roush Gets Traded February 9
Connie Mack Passes Away February 8
Frank Robinson Passes away - February 7
Lew Burdette - He was the original Mark Fidrych
Don Hoak unsong hero - February 5
Joe McCarthy the winningest manager in history
Fredric Michael Lynn was born on February 3, 1952
Stan Coveleski and Waite Hoyt are voted into the Hall of Fame
Billy Sullivan Jr the first father son team to play in World Series
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