RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
Harmon Killebrew, known for his prodigious power at the plate, became one of baseball's most feared sluggers during his career. Born in Payette, Idaho, Killebrew's journey to the major leagues began when he was signed by the Washington Senators as a "bonus baby" at the age of 17. This rule required him to spend two full seasons on
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These percentile rankings are a score to indicate how Harmon Killebrew ranks among all historic players for several skill categories. For example, a percentile of "85% Power" would indicate a player among the top 15% of players in raw batting power, and a percentile of "Speed 3%" would indicate a player that is among the slowest players in the history of the game. These percentiles are entirely based on career statistical accomplishments for players with over 500 games played or 500 innings pitched, so may not accurately reflect an intangible ability.
The 1970 MLB All-Star-Game was held at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati which had just opened...
1970 MLB All-Star Game - Radio Broadcast / The 1970 MLB All-Star-Game was held at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati which had just opened weeks earlier. The game is notable for being the first All-Star game played at night, a tradition that has continued ever since. The 1970 game was also the first time since 1957 that the starting lineup was determined by fan voting. These two changes were a huge success, and this game still remains the highest-rated All-Star Game TV broadcast of all time. The NL attempted to extend their 7-game win streak with the likes of veterans Hank Aaron and Willie Mays along with youngsters Pete Rose and Johnny Bench
On April 12, 1966, the defending American League champion Minnesota Twins hosted the Kansas City...
1966 Kansas City Athletics vs Minnesota Twins - Radio Broadcast / On April 12, 1966, the defending American League champion Minnesota Twins hosted the Kansas City Athletics at Metropolitan Stadium. Jim “Mudcat” Grant, coming off a 21-win season in 1965, took the mound for Minnesota in his first start of the year. Kansas City countered with 20-year-old right-hander Catfish Hunter, making his season debut after a strong rookie campaign. The Twins were looking to maintain momentum after a World Series appearance the previous fall, while the Athletics, still in their final years in Kansas City, were continuing to build around young talent like Hunter and Ken Harrelson. This matchup came in the opening days of a season that would feature strong performances across the league from stars such as Frank Robinson and Sandy Koufax.
The game moved at a steady pace and was marked by efficient pitching from both starters. Minnesota opened the scoring in the third when Bernie Allen advanced to third on an error and scored on a single from Sandy Valdespino. Kansas City quickly responded in the fourth with a triple from Larry Hershberger and a groundout by Billy Bryan that tied the game. From there, both Grant and Hunter limited scoring threats, with Grant inducing two double plays and retiring 16 of the final 20 batters he faced. Hunter also held his own into the ninth, but a leadoff walk and a wild pitch set up Valdespino’s game-winning hit, ending a low-hit contest decided by execution and control.
Minnesota secured a 2–1 victory behind a complete game from Jim Grant and a timely hit by Sandy Valdespino. The win helped set the tone for a season in which the Twins would remain in contention, finishing second in the American League behind the Baltimore Orioles. Kansas City would again finish near the bottom of the standings, though Hunter continued to develop into a future Hall of Famer. The Twins, under manager Sam Mele, relied heavily on consistent pitching and a solid defensive core during their strong 1966 campaign.
The 1959 All-Star game was the first year the MLB held an All Star Game...
1959 MLB All-Star Game - Radio Broadcast / The 1959 All-Star game was the first year the MLB held an All Star Game Double Header. The first game of 1959 was held at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The second game would be played a month later in Los Angeles. The experiment of two All-Star Games continued for four seasons; the league returned to just one annual game in 1963. In this first game of 1959, the American League started the 39 year old veteran Early Wynn while the National League went with 22 year old Don Drysdale.
When Sporting News halted printing of the long running Sporting News Record Book in 1942, they replaced it with the...
/ When Sporting News halted printing of the long running Sporting News Record Book in 1942, they replaced it with the Sporting News Guide in 1943, a companion publication to the Sporting News Register, which began publication in 1940. After A.S Barnes stopped publication of their guide (successor to the long-running Spalding Baseball Guide), the Sporting News Guide became the official MLB guide.
When Sporting News halted printing of the long running Sporting News Record Book in 1942, they replaced it with the...
/ When Sporting News halted printing of the long running Sporting News Record Book in 1942, they replaced it with the Sporting News Guide in 1943, a companion publication to the Sporting News Register, which began publication in 1940. After A.S Barnes stopped publication of their guide (successor to the long-running Spalding Baseball Guide), the Sporting News Guide became the official MLB guide.
When Sporting News halted printing of the long running Sporting News Record Book in 1942, they replaced it with the...
/ When Sporting News halted printing of the long running Sporting News Record Book in 1942, they replaced it with the Sporting News Guide in 1943, a companion publication to the Sporting News Register, which began publication in 1940. After A.S Barnes stopped publication of their guide (successor to the long-running Spalding Baseball Guide), the Sporting News Guide became the official MLB guide.
The booklets were published and distributed by United Press International to local retailers, who would often rebrand or stamp them....
/ The booklets were published and distributed by United Press International to local retailers, who would often rebrand or stamp them. These were in competition with the more popular Pearson guides, which were similar in content. Publication features team rosters, previews, major & minor league schedules, stadium diagrams, team logos, MLB records, Hall of Fame, World Series results, etc.
The booklets were published and distributed by United Press International to local retailers, who would often rebrand or stamp them....
/ The booklets were published and distributed by United Press International to local retailers, who would often rebrand or stamp them. These were in competition with the more popular Pearson guides, which were similar in content. Publication features team rosters, previews, major & minor league schedules, stadium diagrams, team logos, MLB records, Hall of Fame, World Series results, etc.
The 1942 edition was devoted entirely to major league playing records as compiled by Leonard Gettelson. ONE FOR THE BOOK,...
/ The 1942 edition was devoted entirely to major league playing records as compiled by Leonard Gettelson. ONE FOR THE BOOK, which was first published in 1949, was a continuation of the 1942 Dope Book.
There was at least one "Al Schracht Dope Book" Published by Sporting News in 1944. This edition consisted of dozens of colorful short news snippets with cartoon illustrations, followed by statistics and writeups of current Hall of Famers and past World Series'.
The Dope Book from 1948 thru 1985 was of an entirely different format. It featured a wide spectrum of articles and statistics. Several features, such as Club Rosters and All Star Game Records, were carried yearly for many years.