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2½ hours
Jul 9, 1967Jul 9, 1967
In the 1967 season, both the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves showcased considerable performance. The...
Atlanta Braves vs New York Mets - Radio Broadcast / In the 1967 season, both the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves showcased considerable performance. The Cubs, though talented, had a challenging season, ending 5th in the NL with a 87-74 record. Their inconsistency hindered a promising start, and they missed the postseason. Players like Ernie Banks and Ron Santo contributed solid performances, but the team's overall lack of depth was apparent.
Contrastingly, the Braves had a more successful year, finishing 7th in the NL with a 77-85 record. Hank Aaron and Phil Niekro were instrumental, with Aaron hitting .307 with 39 home runs and Niekro posting an ERA of 1.87. However, despite these individual achievements, the Braves couldn't secure a postseason berth, as they struggled with inconsistent pitching and defense.
2 hours
Apr 12, 1966Apr 12, 1966
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.