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 . . . .
September 15 - Yankees set HR mark
September 14 - Griffeys Homer in same game
September 13 - Mays hits 500th!
September 12 - Yaz Collects 3000 hit
September 11 Berra ties record
World Series Ace Stan Coveleski
September 10 - Pedro Martinez is brilliant in New York
September 9 - Koufax is perfect
September 8 Todd Hundley joins Mickey Mantle
September 7 - Boston Massacre
September 6 Cal Ripken, Jr. plays in his 2,131st consecutive game to surpass Lou Gehrig
September 5 McGwire slugs his 60th home run
September 4 - Ron Guidry wins 20th
September 3 - Pedro Martinez punchesout his 3000th batter
September 2 Dave Stieb gets his no hitter
September 1 Tom Seaver sets strikeout record
August 31 - The Bagwell trade
August 30 - Stengel begins and ends on the same day
August 29 - Ruth Suspended
August 28 Boston Red Sox sign free agent Ken “Hawk” Harrelson
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Halos in the infield ( an angels baseball podcast )
The 3 Old Reds Fans Podcast
Talkin’ Baseball (MLB Podcast)
MLB Morning Lineup Podcast
Talkin’ Yanks (Yankees Podcast)