CIRCUIT
CLOUTS
Home of
the United League · Est. 1951
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July 4, 1974
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STANDINGS (by
division)
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TOP STORIES |
The league's 60
best players converged on the Red Hook
district of Brooklyn for the 12th UL
All-Star Game. Joe Torre earned
his 12th All-Star nomination, and Johnny
Podres and Orlando Cepeda their 8th.
Notable first-timers included Mike
Schmidt, Dave Parker, and Darrell Evans.
The Gray Sox had one of their best
month's in franchise history, going 19-8
to climb into first place in the East
and leading all teams with nine All-Star
nominations.
Orlando Cepeda hit
the third home run hat trick of his
career in a 7-6 win over Washington June
25. Boston finished the first half
with six straight wins and climbed into
a seventh place tie.
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ON THE MEND |
ATL
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BOS
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SP Chris Short (2 mo)
CL Al Hrbosky (2
wk) |
BRO
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3B Dave Chalk (4
mo) MR Mike Kekich (7 wk) |
CHI
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SP Stan Bahnsen (8-9 mo)
3B Al Gallagher
(8-9 wk) 2B
Joe Foy (2 wk) |
CLE
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SP Rick Reuschel
(2-3 mo)
MR Charlie Hough
(7 wk) |
DAL
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CF Cesar Cedeno
(2 mo)
LF Gary Matthews
(3 wk) |
DEN
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CF Mickey Rivers
(2-3 mo) SS Tim Foli (2 wk) |
DET
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MR Tom Walker (12 mo)
RF Otto Velez
(2-3 wk) |
LA
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MAN
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SP Doug Rau (6 wk) |
MON
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STL
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SF
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SP Jerry Koosman (7 wk)
RF Richie Zisk
(4 wk) |
WAS
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CF Al Oliver (2 mo)
3B Richie Hebner
(6 wk) |
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min 2 weeks
new injury |
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TRADES |
June 1 (313)
DETROIT gets
MR Bob Locker
MONTRÉAL
gets
MR Max Leon
June 16 (314)
CLEVELAND gets
MR Frank Linzy SP Clyde Wright
MONTRÉAL
gets
3B George Brett LF Bill Buckner
CLE '75 3rd round pick |
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ALL-STAR GAME PREVIEW ISSUE
Singer-Richard Set for All-Star
Rematch
West
Four-Win Streak on the Line in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN (July 4)
- The rematch of World Series nemeses Bill Singer and
J.R. Richard was the talk of the town heading into the
12th UL All-Star Game at Brooklyn's Frank Thomas
Memorial Stadium. Singer (9-5, 2.22) and Richard
(8-6, 2.92) will lock horns in their fourth primetime
encounter in less than a year. The pair met three
times in last year's World Series, including Game 7.
Brooklyn is the last of the league's first 12 clubs to
host the Midsummer Classic, and the first to host it on
the Fourth of July. The West Division takes a four-game winning streak
into Frank Thomas Memorial Stadium, which was recently
renovated to make it more hitter-friendly.
The Bas crosstown rivals Manhattan lead all
clubs with nine All-Stars, including seven first-time
selections: Carlton Fisk, Ken Brett, Steve Rogers, Don
Gullett, Craig Robinson, Steve Garvey, and Bill Melton.
Other notable All-Star debutantes include Mike Schmidt
(BRO), Dave Parker (ATL), Al Bumbry (WAS), Jorge Orta
(CLE), and Darrell Evans (SF), while Detroit's Reggie
Jackson returns for the first time since 1971.
Atlanta and Los Angeles lead the West Division with
seven All-Stars each.
Johnny Podres and Orlando Cepeda will make their eighth
All-Star Game appearances, and Lou Brock makes his
seventh. Podres, the 41-year-old lefthander is 9-4
with a 2.35 ERA through 17 starts. But Joe Torre
leads the pack with a record 12th All-Star Game
nomination.
All-Star Selections, by Team |
West
Division
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East
Division
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ATLANTA (7): SP Ron
Reed, MR Randy Moffitt, 3B Sal Bando, 1B Joe
Torre, RF Dave Parker, C BIll Freehan, LF Ray
Foster
LOS ANGELES (7):
SP Fritz Peterson, SP Phil Niekro, SP Dave
Roberts, CF Gary Thomasson, C D.W. Roberts, RF
Ken Henderson, 3B Ron Santo
ST. LOUIS (4):
LF Boog Powell, SS Jim Fregosi, LF John Milner,
1B Joe Hague
SAN FRANCISCO (4):
SP Bob Moose, MR Vicente Romo, MR Terry Forster,
3B Darrell Evans
CHICAGO (3): SP
Bill Singer, MR Harry Parker, MR Gene Garber
DENVER (2):
MR Ray Lamb, RF Tom Grieve
DALLAS (1):
2B Rod Carew
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MANHATTAN (9):
SP Ken Brett, SP Steve Rogers, CL Ken Tatum, SP
Don
Gullett, 2B Craig Robinson, C Carlton Fisk, 1B
Steve Garvey, LF Lou Brock, 3B Bill Melton
DETROIT (5):
SP Ken Holtzman, MR Bob Locker, RF Reggie
Jackson, C Brian Downing, 2B Bobby Grich
WASHINGTON (5):
SP Don Wilson, SP Johnny Podres, LF Bernie Carbo,
SS Dick McAuliffe, CF Al Bumbry
BROOKLYN (4): SP
Bob Gogolewski, 3B Mike Schmidt, LF Joe Rudi, 3B
Dave Chalk (inj)
BOSTON (3):
CL Wayne Twitchell, CL Al Hrbosky (inj), LF
Orlando Cepeda
CLEVELAND (2):
SP J.R. Richard, RF Jorge Orta
MONTRÉAL (0)
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Mile
High Masher
Grieve Lone Highlight in
Troubled Inaugural Campaign
DENVER (July 1)
- Denver right fielder Tom Grieve vaulted to the top of
the home run and RBI charts with torrid June. The
25-year-old slugger pounded out 12 dingers and drove in
32 runs in 25 games, and leads the league with 25 HR and
73 RBI. The former Atlanta Hilltopper has been one
of the only highlights in the 14ers' inaugural season,
which has been ever more dismal than manager Timothy J.
Smith had expected. Left fielder Mike Jorgensen
(.298-13-42) and Curt Flood (.307, .406 OBP) leads the
team in batting. But there have been
disappointment than surprises. Bill Madlock is
hitting just .274 after hitting .322 with Brooklyn last
year; Nate Colbert, who was projected to be a
heart-of-the-order masher, has just five home runs; and
the already shallow infield has been plague with
injuries, with Doug DeCinces, Jack Brohamer, Art Howe,
and Tim Foli all serving time on the DL.
But the
biggest letdown of all has been the pitching. Even
in hitter-friendly Mile High Stadium, the starting
pitching has been wretched and the bullpen abhorrent.
Opening Day starter Steve Kline has perhaps set the UL
record by dropping nine spots in the rotation; after a
3-10, 6.49 in 15 starts he was demoted to Phoenix where
he is currently the fifth starter. Southpaw Luke
Walker (3-11, 6.02) and righty Ray Burris (3-7, 6.43)
both have ERAs north of 6 and rookie callup Vern Ruhle
has provided no relief (0-6, 7.10). The only
starters with remotely respectable numbers are former
Spiders Roger Nelson (6-6, 4.78) and Dick Bosman (5-7,
4.91).
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Biggest Surprise:
Tom Timmerman (5-1, .3.62 has turned from a failed fifth
start to quality set-up man. Biggest Flop:
Terry Crowley (.212, .639 OPS) has lost the LF job to
Roy Foster after a 160 point VORP drop from last season. |
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Biggest Surprise:
Don Gullett has emerged as a top shelf swing man (6-1,
2.61 ERA in 8 starts and 5 relief appearances.) Biggest Flop:
Don Drysdale's return to the rotation was cut short
after nine starts (2-5, 4.60). Has fared only
marginally better out of the pen. |
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Biggest Surprise:
Mike Kilkenny made the jump from Triple-A to top setup
man (2.24 ERA in 52 IP). Biggest Flop:
Roger Maris' slow decline continues (.218-6-28, .664
OPS). |
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Biggest Surprise:
Jorge Orta, a career .280 hitter, is 6th in batting and
8th in VORP (.327-10-38), and is second on the club in
home runs. Biggest Flop:
Hal McRae's batting average the last 3 years: .288,
.248, .198. |
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Biggest Surprise:
Darrell Evans (.276-12-33, .838 OPS) has jacked up his
OPS 210 points from his .629 OPS last year. Biggest Flop:
Pete Rose. "Charlie Hustle" ain't hustlin' much
with a .212 average and league-worst .552 OPS. |
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Biggest Surprise:
Frank Robinson, age 38, is having his best season in
three years (.325-14-46, .962 OPS). Biggest Flop:
Frank Reberger (3-4, 4.59) has inflated his ERA by 1.50
and is a far cry from his 10 wins last year. |
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Biggest Surprise:
Phil Niekro (7-5, 2.26) continues to dominate, building
on last year's 1.95 ERA. Biggest Flop:
Mike Epstein, after two straight 90+ RBI seasons, is
hitting .168-7-26, .573 OPS. |
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Biggest Surprise:
Closer Bob Locker had 7 saves and a 0.79 ERA since
joining Detroit on June 1, and 16 saves and a 0.85 ERA
overall. Biggest Flop:
Tony Perez (.221-14-23) is a shadow of his former self
(.263-27-103). |
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Biggest Surprise:
Rookie John Milner (.315-13-26) has exploded on the
scene after a .231-8-25. Biggest Flop:
Ramon Hernandez, with 46 saves in last two seasons, has
one this year and a 6.52 ERA. |
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Biggest Surprise:
x Biggest Flop:
x |
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Biggest Surprise:
x Biggest Flop:
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Biggest Surprise:
x Biggest Flop:
x |
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Biggest Surprise:
x Biggest Flop:
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Biggest Surprise:
x Biggest Flop:
x |
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LEAGUE
LEADERS |
BATTING AVERAGE
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HOME RUNS
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RBI
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VORP
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RUNS/GAME
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Joe Torre, ATL
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.349
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Dave Chalk, BRO
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.346
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*Dave Parker, ATL
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.346
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Joe Rudi, BRO
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.338
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Sal Bando, ATL
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.328
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Jorge Orta, CLE
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.327
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*Roy Foster, ATL
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.326
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*Ken Griffey, MAN
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.324
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Bernie Carbo, WAS
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.320
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Craig Robinson, BOS
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.319
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Tom Grieve, DEN
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25
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Reggie Jackson, DET
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22
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Ken Henderson, LA
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19
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Mike Schmidt, BRO
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19
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Sal Bando, ATL
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18
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*Roy Foster, ATL
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18
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*Boog Powell, STL
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18
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Bernie Carbo, WAS
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17
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Bobby Grich, DET
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17
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Joe Torre, ATL
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17
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Tom Grieve, DEN
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73
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Sal Bando, ATL
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72
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Reggie Jackson, DET
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72
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Steve Garvey, MAN
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66
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*Roy Foster, ATL
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63
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Joe Rudi, BRO
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61
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Boog Powell, STL
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59
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Ben Oglivie, MON
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58
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Mike Schmidt, BRO
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57
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*Bill Melton, MAN
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55
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Bernie Carbo, WAS
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46.8
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Joe Torre, ATL
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39.0
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Sal Bando, ATL
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38.3
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Boog Powell, STL
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32.0
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Reggie Jackson, DET
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30.4
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Dick McAuliffe, WAS
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29.6
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Craig Robinson, MAN
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26.5
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Jorge Orta, CLE
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26.4
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*Dave Parker, ATL
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24.8
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*Roy Foster, ATL
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24.7
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ATLANTA
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5.6
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DETROIT
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5.0
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BROOKLYN
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4.8
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MANHATTAN
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4.7
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ST. LOUIS
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4.7
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DENVER
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4.5
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WASHINGTON
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4.5
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BOSTON
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4.2
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CHICAGO
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4.0
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MONTRÉAL
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3.9
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DALLAS
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3.9
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LOS ANGELES
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3.9
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CLEVELAND
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3.8
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SAN FRANCISCO
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3.7
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EARNED RUN AVERAGE
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WINS
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STRIKEOUTS
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VORP
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RUNS ALLOWED/GAME
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Rick Reuschel, CLE
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1.50
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Don Wilson, WAS
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1.62
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Bob Moose, SF
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1.95
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Phil Niekro, LA
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2.18
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Bill Singer, CHI
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2.22
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Fritz Peterson, LA
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2.41
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Jon Matlack, STL
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2.42
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Jerry Reuss, DET
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2.49
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Johnny Podres, WAS
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2.57
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Larry Dierker, LA
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2.71
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Don Wilson, WAS
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10
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Bob Moose, SF
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9
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Bruce Dal Canton, ATL
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8
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Fergie Jenkins, SF
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8
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Fritz Peterson, LA
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8
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Ron Reed, ATL
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8
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J.R. Richard, CLE
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8
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Bill Singer, CHI
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8
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Jon Matlack, STL
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7
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Rick Reuschel, CLE
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7
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Don Wilson, WAS
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146
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J.R. Richard, CLE
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124
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Bert Blyleven, BOS
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117
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Bill Singer, CHI
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101
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Jon Matlack, STL
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98
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Ken Brett, MAN
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94
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Fergie Jenkins, SF
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93
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Vida Blue, BRO
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91
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Larry Dierker, LA
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91
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Tom Griffin, DAL
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90
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Johnny Podres, WAS
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90
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Tom Seaver, BOS
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90
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Bob Moose, SF
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38.3
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Don Wilson, WAS
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38.1
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Bill Singer, CHI
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29.1
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Jerry Reuss, DET
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28.0
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Fritz Peterson, LA
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27.6
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Phil Niekro, LA
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26.4
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Jon Matlack, STL
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25.3
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Rick Reuschel, CLE
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24.7
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Ron Reed, ATL
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24.1
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Larry Dierker, LA
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22.6
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LOS ANGELES
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3.2
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SAN FRANCISCO
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3.5
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CHICAGO
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3.7
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CLEVELAND
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3.7
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MANHATTAN
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3.8
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WASHINGTON
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4.2
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BOSTON
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4.4
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DALLAS
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4.5
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ATLANTA
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4.5
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DETROIT
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4.8
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BROOKLYN
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4.8
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MONTRÉAL
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4.9
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ST. LOUIS
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5.0
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DENVER
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6.1
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double arrows
indicate moves of 3+ places
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AWARDS & MILESTONES |
BATTER of the MONTH
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PITCHER of the MONTH
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ROOKIE of the MONTH
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MILESTONES
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APR
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Reggie Jackson, DET |
MAY
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Joe Torre, ATL |
JUN
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Tom Grieve, DEN |
JUL
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AUG
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SEP
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APR
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Fritz Peterson, LA |
MAY
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Don Wilson, WAS |
JUN
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Bob Moose, SF |
JUL
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AUG
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SEP
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APR
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Dave Parker, ATL |
MAY
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John Stearns, BRO |
JUN
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Jim Rice, SF |
JUL
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AUG
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SEP
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Orlando Cepeda, BOS
3 home runs in a game (June 25)
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PLAYER of the WEEK
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4/8
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Tim Foli, DEN |
4/15
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Bill Freehan, ATL |
4/22
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Reggie Jackson, DET |
4/29
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Bobby Grich, DET |
5/6
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Joe Torre, ATL |
5/13
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Bill Melton, MAN |
5/20
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Joe Rudi, BRO |
5/27
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Bill Madlock, DEN |
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6/3
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Tom Grieve, DEN
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6/10
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Boog Powell, STL
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6/17
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Steve Garvey, MAN
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6/24
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Tom Grieve, DEN (2)
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7/1
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Roy Foster, ATL
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7/8
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7/15
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7/22
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7/29
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8/5
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8/12
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8/19
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8/26
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9/2
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9/9
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9/16
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9/23
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