United League of American Base B

Monuments, Spiders Season's Surprises
Washington's Offense, S.F. Pitching Shines

SAN FRANCISCO (June 16) -- The San Francisco Spiders have endured the longest spell of futility in league history, having won fewer than 70 games six years running since their Cinderella championship (and only winning season) in 1959. The club's .423 all-time winning percentage ranks as the worst in the league and things haven't really improved much since GM Jeff Tonole took the reigns in 1963, thanks to a string of major injuries to key players that has offset a run of high draft picks. That is until this year. The Spiders are one of the surprise success stories of 1966.
   San Francisco ranked in the bottom third in both batting and pitching in each of the last four years, but currently are 4th in runs and 6th in runs allowed. Youngsters Fergie Jenkins (23) and Fred Newman (24) have injected new life in a once listless staff. Jenkins (9-4, 2.94), this year's second overall pick, is tied for fourth in wins, 7th in ERA and VORP, and leads the league in WHIP (1.01). Newman (10-5, 4.70) is tied for second in wins. Bullpen stars include 21-year-old closer Tug McGraw (1.10, 8 SV) and a pair of 37-year-olds: Don Elston (2.20, 4 SV), and Jackie Collum (1.42).
   A perennially underperforming offense has had a breakthrough year, led by leadoff man Lou Brock (.341, .398 OBP, 65 SB in 66 games, 2nd in VORP) and cleanup hitter Willie McCovey (.275-12-48). "Stretch" was the 2nd overall pick in 1960, but hit just .226 through last season and slugged over .400 just once. Other players having breakout years:
    -- LF Russ Snyder -- .308-6-39 -- already setting career marks for hits, HR, and RBI.
    -- 3B Pete Rose -- .312/.371/.456 -- hitting 50 pts over career batting, 140 pts over career OPS.
    -- CF Roger Repoz -- 8 HR is second only to McCovey.

The other surprise team is last year's East Division cellar-dwellers, the Washington Monuments. After back-to-back third place finishes in 1963 and 1964, the Monuments won 16 fewer games last year to finish 71-91. But veteran GM Doug Aiton has led the Mons to a 38-33 record, just 3.5 games off the pace, thanks to a 20-9 run since May 15.
   The Monuments have engineered one of the biggest offensive transformations in league history, jumping from 11th to 1st in runs scored. Dick Howser (.432/.481 OBP), who some felt should have been MVP in 1963, has established himself as the front-runner for this year's prize, and could be the first .400 hitter in a quarter-century. Meanwhile, Willie Mays (.272-12-54) and Ron Santo (.282-10-54) are tied for the league lead in RBIs. Santo's breakout year was last year (.293-20-99), but he is on pace for new records in HR, RBI, and OPS. Other top performers are 1B Sammy Taylor (.303-6-34, .826 OPS) and 37-year-old shortstop Rocky Bridges (.303-4-31, .796 OPS), who is enjoying the second best season of his 15 year career.
   The quality of Washington's pitching hasn't changed much -- they still rank #7 in runs allowed -- but nonetheless two standouts merit mention. Don Larsen (10-4, 3.86) is 2nd in wins, and Bob Veale, a first round pick two years ago, is growing into his potential, with a 7-1 record, and 3.34 ERA in 17 starts. In the bullpen, rookie closer Jack Aker, a first-rounder this year, has a microscopic 0.81 ERA and 9 saves in 20 games.

Howser Now Best Hitter of All Time
WASHINGTON (June 16) -- Two-time batting champion Dick Howser is pursuing two milestones this year. The Washington Monuments second baseman is hitting .432 almost half-way through the season, and is eyeing not only his own single-season batting record of .393 set in 1963, but also the first .400 season since Ted Williams' .406 in 1941.
   Howser also surpassed four-time batting champion Granny Hamner on the career batting average list. Through June 15, Howser was hitting .332 lifetime to Granny's .330 (see top 10 list below).

Mantle, Mays Continue Assault on Record Book
Mantle First to 1500 RBI; Mays Scores 1500 Runs
Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays hit historic milestones in early June. Mantle became the first player in UL history to drive in 1500 runs, and Mays joined him in the elite 1500 run club. The two players absolutely dominate the UL record books, ranking 1-2 in eight offensive categories, with two more in sight. The pair are 1-2 all-time in games, at bats, runs, hits, total bases, triples, home runs, and RBIs. Mays needs 45 walks to pass Ralph Kiner and Mantle needs 25 stolen bases to pass Richie Ashburn to add those two categories to the list. Both players were 19 years old during the 1951 inaugural draft. Mays was the first overall pick of the Washington Monuments, with whom he has spent his entire 16-year career, while Mantle slipped to the 16th overall pick of the Boston Beacons, and has played for three teams.

Point, Counterpoint Part 4: Brooklyn Superbas
While Back East... by Sean Holloway
Since we reviewed the West-leading Colts, it seemed only fitting to review the East-leading Bas (Ba's? Baaas? Sounds Finnish to me). Could this be the only team with a fighting chance against CHI in a WS match up?

Point: Tony Kornheiser
Wilbon! Check it out! They Baaas are Finnish! Here's a picture of the Finnish Landrace Sheep!

Reason 1: Three Words: Burdette and Conley
By far the most fearsome pitching tandem in UL. Conley's lifetime ERA of 2.77 is matched by Burdette's 3.12, and either one of them can be unbeatable if they get into a groove. BRO can ride these two all the way to the East Division title. Fill out the rotation with Johnny Kucks (3.01 ERA) and Sammy Ellis (3.00 ERA), and you likely have the deepest rotation in the UL.

Reason 2: We're Down With OBP!
This is a line-up that bats Dick Williams 6th. BRO leads the UL in OBP, runs scored, and BBs, while being 3rd in hits. Whether or not opposing pitchers make a mistake, BRO will get bodies on the basepaths and more often than not push them across the plate. Oh, and there's this other problem in that McAuliffe, Mantle, Gentile, and Williams can go yard any time they want. This line-up is a fierce OBP machine capable of going yard regardless of who's at the plate.

Counterpoint: Micheal Wilbon
Tony, are you on dope? How can I not spread some more love on my Barons in nearby Cleveland? BRO is too old and too slow. And did I tell you that I saw my girl while I was hanging with Tiger last night?

Reason 1: Stock up on Ben-gay, and Stay Away from the Bullpen
History has shown us that injuries to starting pitchers happen quite frequently with BRO. Unfortunately for Baaaas fans, this team no longer has an endless supply of young arms that can be thrown into the firestorm. And many of these young arms aren't faring too well in the UL, especially those in the pen. BRO is 10th in bullpen ERA with a whopping 5.10 - a number not seen in NYC since Mike Piazza publicly denied he was gay on average five times a day. If you get past BRO's starters, your team can ring up a lot of runs.

Reason 2: Did I Tell You I Was Hanging with Tiger Last Night?
Actually, it's extremely difficult to find a chink in BRO's offensive line-up, and I have to agree with what Tony said. BRO has no problem scoring runs, going yard, and getting on base. This team won't steal a lot of bases, but which team would need to if it had position players who could find a way to get on base despite anything tried by opposing pitchers? The outfield is getting older, but I'm starting to nitpick now.

Voice of Reason
If BRO's starters stay healthy, they should be able to barely stay ahead of the hard-charging Cleveland Barons and meet the Colts in the WS.