They raised it after Maris and Mantle led a HR happy league in 1960-61, but a little too high for offence. But at least games moved a lot faster back then…
I got in on this discussion late, but yes, this comic has to be from the winter of 1969. As has been noted, Gibson had an amazing 1.12 ERA, and Denny McLain in the American League won 31 games. They were both made MVPs, as far as I know, the only time both leagues had pitchers for MVPs. And if Carl Yastrzemski had not come through with a .301, there would have been no .300 hitters in the AL.
And all that great pitching nearly killed baseball, because people wanted to see hitting. And 1969 was also baseball’s 100th year, so something had to be done.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and guys were hitting close to .400 and in the 60s in home runs. But that’s another story.
No they were expansion teams staffed with the dregs of the other twenty teams in the American and National Leagues. Particularly bad was their pitching. It also wasn’t helped by the fact that the Pilots were playing in an old minor league stadium: 305 to left field and 325 to right. It was a treat for right handed hitters: bad ptichers and a short porch in left.
knight1192a almost 9 years ago
Well, it’s for sure bad outfielders like Lucy didn’t dominate anything in the game.
Cronkers McGee Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Oh Charlie Brown. You could not say anything Lucy would not laugh at.
Robert Nowall Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Maybe he could make the mound a little higher, say about the height of one bad right fielder…
Faith :) almost 9 years ago
Poor Charlie Brown
Number Three almost 9 years ago
We learn from our mistakes. Good going, Charlie Brown!
(He deserves a little praise)
xxx
ron912 almost 9 years ago
They raised it after Maris and Mantle led a HR happy league in 1960-61, but a little too high for offence. But at least games moved a lot faster back then…
Max Starman Jones almost 9 years ago
I got in on this discussion late, but yes, this comic has to be from the winter of 1969. As has been noted, Gibson had an amazing 1.12 ERA, and Denny McLain in the American League won 31 games. They were both made MVPs, as far as I know, the only time both leagues had pitchers for MVPs. And if Carl Yastrzemski had not come through with a .301, there would have been no .300 hitters in the AL.
And all that great pitching nearly killed baseball, because people wanted to see hitting. And 1969 was also baseball’s 100th year, so something had to be done.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and guys were hitting close to .400 and in the 60s in home runs. But that’s another story.
bmckee almost 9 years ago
No they were expansion teams staffed with the dregs of the other twenty teams in the American and National Leagues. Particularly bad was their pitching. It also wasn’t helped by the fact that the Pilots were playing in an old minor league stadium: 305 to left field and 325 to right. It was a treat for right handed hitters: bad ptichers and a short porch in left.
neverenoughgold almost 9 years ago
Once again, Charlie Brown suffers from foot in glove disease…
bigcatbusiness almost 9 years ago
He should have known Lucy better.