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 . . . .
October 11 - George Brett steals the show in Game 3 of the 1985 ALCS
October 10 - Tom Seaver hurls the Mets into the World Series for the second time
Jackie Robinson's last hit - a walk off vs the New York Yankees
October 9 - Jeter gets help from a fan
October 8 - Henderson leads Oakland over Blue Jays
October 7 - Curt Flood Traded
October 6 - Ruth goes yard 3 times
October 5 - Billy Martin leads NY to 5th straight title
October 4 - Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series
October 3 - Frank Robinson becomes the first black manager
October 2 - Gibson fans 17 to set World Series Record
October 1 - managerial career of Roberto Clemente began and ended on this day
September 22 Cesar Tovar plays all 9 positions
September 21 Vida Blue no-hits the Twins
September 20 Thurman Munson, has his plaque placed in Monument Park
September 19 - Davey Johnson ties Hornsby
September 18 - Roger Clemens fans 20 Detroit Tigers
September 17 Dwight Gooden leads Mets to 108th victory
September 16 - Dave Winfield collects 3000th hit
September 15 - Yankees set HR mark
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