United League of American Base B

United League '65 Preview

Griffins Hope New Stadium Draws Fans
Longing for the Sound of Good Ball?Come to Kiner Field!
by Sean Holloway
DETROIT (April 1) -- Well, don’t let the marketing fool you; that’s all this reporter can say. The Detroit Griffins have played pretty much like Peter and Stewie Griffin for the past five seasons – one year the team is riding high toward UL domination and then Lois watches as it crashes horribly to the ground due to an underachieving attitude, poor decisions and lackluster performance. If only Detroit had Brian. . .
   Coming off 1964’s stunningly mediocre 81-81 season, the Griffins can look forward to a new ballpark, Kiner Field -- one eerily reminiscent of the Brooklyn Superbas first stadium. Apparently if you can’t get the players you need because you don’t have that Glen Reed magic, the least you can do is clone his stadium. Rumors are now rife that the Griffins' logo will be changed to closely resemble Brooklyn’s. GM Holloway had little to say about how he would convince thousands of fans that they actually ARE in Brooklyn, apart from muttering “hallucinogenic drugs”.
   Although most GMs would be upset over the Griffins’ flagrant attempts to convince fans to pony up the bucks to watch a crappy team, Reed has already worked wonders on LOU, and it’s this reporter’s opinion that LOU will beat the Griffins to a pulp this year. [Editor's note: GM Holloway was so immersed in last minute stadium preparations that he was not aware of the Colonels' relocation to Atlanta.]Ergo why Mr. Reed is smugly sitting on the Left Coast enjoying the invitation from both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to be part of their respective entourages. Who doesn’t want to hang around a winner?
   GM Holloway’s strategy for the year is “cut costs, open the new stadium, and fill some seats.” Oh, and he also is attempting to draft pitching as much as possible, since DET cannot for the life of them string together more than two hits in a row. Whether this will pan out or not is anyone’s guess, but at least fans of the Griffins will have Kiner Field, a noticeable improvement over Briggs Field, which had all of 10 toilets. Rumor has it that Ralph Kiner himself will through out the first pitch (and maybe stick for the first six innings depending on DET’s woeful pitching staff’s performance).

Opening Day April 4 vs. Brooklyn
Appropriately enough, the Griffins' first game in Kiner Field will be against Brooklyn. Ralph Kiner himself will be present for the festivities, and the players will wear their original Detroit Sound uniform and bring the "Farting D" logo out of retirement, if only for one day.

O'Malley Hires Magar
Relative Unknown Promises "Changes, More of the Same"
BROOKLYN (March 26) -- The recent turmoil in the Brooklyn Superbas organization apparently came to an end today, as owner Walter O'Malley announced his choice to succeed manager Glen Reed. The "Boss," notoriously suspicious, if not paranoid, of outsiders, hired from within, plucking Rick Magar from the depths of the front office to skipper the five-time defending champions.

A Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside a Nonexistent Fetus
   Magar, whose business card until today read "Asst. Vice Pres., Hot Dog Operations", was as surprised as anyone by the announcement. "I was down in the pantry restacking mustard jars when Joe broke me the news," he excitedly recounted. "I feel like Paris Hilton," he added, a cryptic reference to the unborn eldest daughter of the 10-year-old grandson of Conrad Hilton, of hotel fame. Magar followed that enigmatic comment with another, promising both "changes" and "more of the same" in the same sentence, prompting more head scratching from the assembled press corps. Asked to explain his choice of Magar, O'Malley chomped a cigar and uttered, "He's a good kid."

Riches to Rags
   Reed had a very public falling out with O'Malley that played itself out on the pages of New York tabloids last summer. Reed left the club last fall and was hired by the Louisville Colonels cum Atlanta Hilltoppers, who are banking that the seven-time champion can transform one of the worst teams in baseball history into a something vaguely respectable.
   Reed's past and present addresses could not be more starkly contrasted. He leaves a Brooklyn side that won eight straight East Division titles and last year established a major league record by winning five consecutive championships (breaking the record of the 1936-39 New York Yankees). His new club, on the other hand, posted the worst record in the major leagues since the 1935 Boston Braves, the fifth worst in the modern era, and skipped town in the offseason for greener pastures.

Worst Teams in Major League History
1916 Philadelphia Athletics	36-117	.235
1935 Boston Braves	38-115	.248
1904 Washington Senators	38-113	.252
1919 Philadelphia Athletics	36-104	.257
1964 Louisville Colonels	44-118	.272

Mascot Assaulted
Toppy Clinging to Life
Team, Friends Devastated by Late Night Attack
by Jeff Gurganus
ATLANTA (March 1) -- No sooner had the Mayflower vans pulled away from Hilltopper Headquarters after their midnight-timed exodus from Louisville than the new Atlanta franchise swallowed its first taste of adversity. Toppy, the team’s beloved mascot, was sexually assaulted and severely beaten outside a local area KFC.
   Witness accounts are sketchy but after the Hilltoppers' celebratory news conference announcing the franchise’s move and subsequent name change, a famished Toppy went to the fast food restaurant at 87 Peachtree St NE for a late night snack. After completing his meal -- 7 buckets of KFC extra crispy chicken, multiple orders of potato wedges, 24 home style-biscuits with gravy and several bottles of Pepsi product -- a bloated and top-heavy Toppy exited the establishment when he was hit over the head and dragged behind the restaurant. Unable to get up, Toppy was sodomized and beaten with a cane, which was broken in the process. His large, white tennis shoes, a fan favorite, were apparently also stolen in the attack.
   Police describe the suspect as an enraged elderly white male with white hair, mustache and a small chin beard, wearing glasses, a black bow time and a red smock, who may have been a restaurant employee. Based on witness accounts, police artists created a sketch of the suspect. In addition, they believe he might be walking with a limp given the loss of the cane and/or because he may be wearing the oversized sneakers as a trophy symbolizing his perceived power over the victim.
   As Toppy clings to life at a local hospital, his friends and Hilltooper officials have rallied behind him. Lifelong friend the Arbys Mitt asked for contributions to the “Get Well Toppy Fund” be made directly to him, preferably in cash and was quoted as saying “Its events like these the remind us all we need to pull our little mascots in close to us tonight, give ‘em a hug and say a prayer for Topper. I mean, if this could happen to Toppy, imagine what some pervert could do with a Mitt.”

Kiner Field, Detroit

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

Yankee Stadium, The Bronx

Back in the Bronx
Remodeling the House That Ruth Built
THE BRONX (April 1) -- The crack of the bat and the din of the crowd will once again echo around Yankee Stadium this spring. The "House that Ruth Built" was home to the New York Yankees from 1923 until the demise of the American League in 1950. In 1951, the UL's New York Gothams carried the mantle (or rather the Williams and Robinson, Mantle was in Boston) of baseball in the Bronx. The venerable ballpark played host to the first ever UL game, ironically between the Gothams and the Boston Beacons. The 23,000+ Gothams fans who attended that first game on April 3, 1951 had no idea that one of the keystone clubs of the new circuit would move to Beantown within a decade. But so it was, and after the 1960 season, Yankee Stadium lay quiet for the first time in nearly four decades.
   Baseball came to Manhattan in 1962 in the form of the expansion Gray Sox, but after three years in the dilapidated Polo Grounds, GM Jeff Gurganus took up the offer of Bronx officials to fix up the ballpark and move the club across the Hudson River. "Despite the enormous interest in baseball in New York City, the poor state of the Polo Grounds deterred fans from coming to the games," one Gray Sox official said.
   The club will retain its name, despite playing in a different borough. "After all, in 11 years, the football Giants will move to New Jersey and they won't change their name," the same official said. "Besides, we are only two minutes from Manhattan by subway."
   During its four years in the baseball wilderness, Yankee Stadium played host to boxing matches, the Gotham Bowl college bowl game, and the largest flea market in the Tri-State area.

EAST DIVISON

BOSTON FEDERALS

BROOKLYN SUPERBAS

CLEVELAND BARONS

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	71	91	5/9	686	715	8 - 5
1963	86	76	2/4	728	681	3 - 6
1964	84	78	4/5	678	708	6 - 8

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	105	57	1/1	907	585	1 - 1
1963	115	47	1/1	839	473	1 - 1
1964	105	57	1/1	845	516	1 - 1

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	76	86	4/7t	673	730	10 - 7
1963	76	86	5/9	623	688	10 - 7
1964	95	67	2/3	698	579	4 - 4

CF RF 1B C SS 3B LF 2B SP SP SP SP CL	L L R R R R L R L L R R R	Willie Davis Bob Skinner Orlando Cepeda Bill Freehan Eddie Bressoud Gene Freese Manny Jimenez Gil McDougald Herb Score Chris Short Steve Blass *Bruce Howard Bob Chakales
IN: 2B Gil McDougald, 3B Bobby Brown, SP Bruce Howard, MR Danny Coombs OUT: 2B Davey Williams, +C Yogi Berra What to Watch: Boston notched back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in a decade, but the presence of greenhorns Steve Blass and Bruce Howard in the rotation lends the Feds a distinctive rebuilding feel. Orlando Cepeda was 2nd in home runs and RBIs and 4th in slugging, and would have broken the single-season home run record in any other season (like Sammy Sosa 33 years in the future). Shortstop Eddie Bressoud established career highs in home runs (22) and RBIs (79), and 23-year-old catcher Bill Freehan (.243-16-62) will try his hand in the cleanup role.

SS 2B CF RF 1B 3B LF C SP SP SP SP SP CL	L R R S L R L R R R R R R R	Dick McAuliffe Granny Hamner Al Kaline Mickey Mantle Jim Gentile Felix Mantilla Sandy Amoros Del Crandall Lew Burdette Gene Conley Johnny Kucks Jim Perry Joe Presko Dave Sisler
IN: SS Eddie Kasko, MR Sammy Ellis, MR Bob "Moose" Lee OUT: 1B Dick Gernert, MR Joe Grzenda, +C Roy Campanella, MR Duke Maas, MR Frank Smith What to Watch: The Screaming Bats remain the team to beat, most pundits agree, but the first cracks in the championship facade may be appearing. The first worry for new manager Rick Magar will be the bullpen, which features three pitchers who didn't pitch a single inning in the majors last year (Ellis, Lee, and Susce). Another concern is closer Dave Sisler, who saved just 13 games, a four-year low, while his ERA nearly tripled to 4.20. The bullpen issue should not be exaggerated, however, as the Bas topped the league in both complete games (52) and shutouts (25) last year, led by Lew Burdette, who led the league in CGs for the fourth year running with a career-high 27.

CF SS 2B 3B 1B LF RF C SP SP SP SP CL CL	R R L L R L R L L L R R L R	Curt Flood Harvey Kuenn Bernie Allen Eddie Mathews Bill Skowron Gus Bell Roman Mejias Johnny Roseboro Johnny Podres Steve Barber Earl Francis Don Drysdale Pete Richert Don Elston
IN: 1B Bill Skowron, 3B Willie Jones, 2B Davey Williams, C Gus Triandos, *1B Rusty Staub OUT: SS Jim Fregosi What to Watch: Coming off the best season in franchise history, the Barons appear poised at last to make a serious run at the East Division pennant. The club jumped from 10th to 4th in offense last year, and added slugging first baseman Bill Skowron in the offseason. They are the only team in the league with five players who hit 20+ home runs last year (Mathews, Skowron, Mejias, Allen, Jones). If anything holds them back it will be pitching. GM Charlie Qualls added genuine ace Johnny Podres to anchor his rotation, but to overtake Brooklyn the Barons will need strong seasons from Steve Barber (15-6, 2.37) and Don Drysdale (17-17, 3.52), who both had career years, and a healthy Earl Francis. Francis was solid in 28 starts (13-10, 3.29) but has suffered three major injuries in his five-year career, including in each of the last two seasons.

DETROIT GRIFFINS

MANHATTAN GRAY SOX

WASHINGTON MONUMENTS

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	89	73	2/4	764	680	3 - 3
1963	61	101	6/10t	614	781	11-10
1964	81	81	5/8	679	691	5 - 6

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	77	85	3/6	631	737	12 - 8
1963	77	85	4/8	613	722	12 - 8
1964	72	90	6/9	674	780	8 - 11

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	67	95	6/11	688	837	7 - 11
1963	84	78	3/6	691	644	7 - 3
1964	87	75	3/4	584	535	10 - 2

CF LF RF 3B LF C 1B 2B sp SP SP SP SP CL	R R L R R L L R R R R L R R	Mike Hershberger Denis Menke Joe Cunningham *Dick Allen Frank Howard Johnny Edwards Ed Bouchee Larry Brown Pedro Ramos Joey Jay Bob Gibson Sandy Koufax Bill Stafford Tex Clevenger
IN: *3B Dick Allen OUT: 2B Gil McDougald, RF Willie Kirkland, CF Jackie Brandt, MR Bennie Daniels What to Watch: Dick Allen and Frank Howard could rival Aaron-Robinson as one of the best power tandems in the league. Allen won the Swish Nicholson Award (Triple-A MVP) in Toronto last year, where he hit .358-33-127 in 127 games, while Hondo, 28, broke through the 30 HR and 100 RBI barriers, finishing in the top ten in both categories. Ace Pedro Ramos (19-19, 3.41) posted his worst ERA in four years last year, but still won 19 games, as did Joey Jay.

2B CF C 3B 1B LF RF SS SP SP SP SP SP CL	S L R L L R L S L R L R L R	*Don Buford Vada Pinson Joe Torre Pete Ward Willie Stargell Rico Carty Tony Oliva Tom Tresh Joe Gibbon Bob Anderson Ray Sadecki Dean Chance Mickey Lolich Ted Abernathy
IN: 1B Willie Stargell, Don Buford, MR Jay Ritchie OUT: LF Tito Francona, SP Stan Williams, MR Bobby Tiefenauer What to Watch: Look for the the youngest team in the league to continue to improve. At 29, Bob Anderson is the dean of the staff, and three-fifths of the rotation is under 25. Mickey Lolich was 21-4, with a 2.28 ERA in Havana, and won the Bob Muncrief Award (Triple-A Cy Young). The offense should be one of the most improved, with young sluggers Joe Torre (.282-19-69) and Willie Stargell (.212-27-71) flanking Rookie of the Year Pete Ward (.278-29-98) in the heart of the order. All three are 25 or under.

2B 1B CF LF 3B RF C SS SP SP SP SP CL	R L R L R L R R L L L R R	Dick Howser Sammy Taylor Willie Mays Carl Yastrzemski Ron Santo Johnny Callison Johnny Romano Ron Hansen Johnny Antonelli Whitey Ford *George Brunet Don Larsen Bob Shaw
IN: George Brunet, 2B Jerry Buchek, 1B Joe Pepitone, MR Cal Koonce, MR Danny McDevitt OUT: MR Dan Osinski, +SP Art Houtteman, +2B Pete Runnels, +LF Dick Kokos What to Watch: The Mons had the third worst offense last year, but thanks to the second best picthing staff, (led by the top tandem of Antonelli and Ford), still managed to win 87 games. If Ron Santo breaks out this year the way Carl Yastrzemski did last year (.279-17-90) and Sammy Taylor returns to his 1962 form (.271-16-87), Washington could join Brooklyn and Cleveland in the pennant chase.

WEST DIVISON

ATLANTA HILLTOPPERS

CHICAGO COLTS

DALLAS TEXANS

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	82	80	3/5	736	726	6 - 6
1963	58	104	6/12	698	854	6-12
1964	44	118	6/12	527	869	12-12

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	101	61	1/2	787	627	2 - 2
1963	100	62	1/2	702	546	5 - 2
1964	103	59	1/2	755	563	2 - 3

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	97	65	2/3	760	693	4 - 4
1963	80	82	4/7	767	676	2 - 5
1964	83	79	2/6	676	626	7 - 5

LF 2B 3B 1B C RF CF SS SP SP SP SP CL	L R R R R R L R R L R L R	Gates Brown Ron Hunt Harmon Killebrew Dick Stuart Don Pavletich Jim Ray Hart Matty Alou Rocky Bridges Stan Williams Juan Pizarro Mudcat Grant Jim O'Toole Tom Acker
IN: 1B Harmon Killebrew, SP Stan Williams, SP Juan Pizarro, C Don Pavletich, 1B Tommy McCraw, CF Matty Alou, *C Jerry Grote, MR Joe Grzenda OUT: 1B Willie McCovey, 2B Billy Moran, 1B Frank Torre, +SP Sam Jones, +1B Billy Goodman What to Watch: Its nowhere but up for this beleaguered franchise coming off the major league season in three decades. New manager Glen Reed wasted no time undoing the mess he inherited, adding one of the circuit's best right-handed sluggers (Killebrew) and replacing the top half of the rotation with Stan "Big Daddy" Williams and Juan Pizarro, castoffs from other teams. 2B Ron Hunt and C Don Pavletich are exciting young hitters. The Toppers could easily improve by 20 wins this year, which would still put them in the inner suburbs of 100-loss-ville. The full rehabilitation of the franchise is unquestionably a multi-year project.

RF 1B SS LF CF 2B 3B C SP SP SP SP SP CL	L L R R R L R L R L R L R R	Al Spangler Norm Cash Ernie Banks Joe Adcock Joe Allison Hank Thompson Don Demeter Hobie Landrith Tom Sturdivant Don Mossi Ray Herbert Billy Pierce Bob Friend Russ Kemmerer
IN: *MR Dan Osinski OUT: +C Sammy White What to Watch: The Colts won the West by 20 games last year, and nothing suggests they shouldn't grab their fifth straight pennant in 1965. The roster is virtually unchanged from last year, other than one year longer in the tooth. The fact that newcomer Dan Osinski, at 31, is the young pup on the pitching staff suggests that the clock is ticking in Comiskey. Old though they may be, the Colts are still dominant. The Horsies were 2nd in the league in offense, led by the trio of Ernie Banks, Don Demeter, and Joe Adcock, who combined for 108 HR (tied with LA's Aaron-Robinson-Stargell) and 326 RBI. "Mr. Colt" again led the league with 81 extra-base hits and became the first player with nine straight 30 HR/100 RBI seasons.

CF C LF 1B 3B RF SS 2B SP SP SP SP CL	L R L R R L R R L R L R R	Wally Moon Gene Green Boog Powell Steve Bilko Frank Thomas Marv Throneberry Zoilo Versalles Billy Consolo Gaylord Perry Bob Purkey Art Ceccarelli Tom Brewer Ray Crone
IN: C Joe Azcue, MR Tommie Sisk OUT: SP Dick Donovan, CF Bill Virdon What to Watch: Despite two second place finishes in three years, Dallas is probably not a threat to catch Chicago -- at least not yet. The Texans' production dropped by almost 100 runs last year and the club backed into second place only after Los Angeles' late season collapse. Boog Powell (.290-38-93, .924 OPS) burst on the scene in his sophomore season and Frank Thomas (.310-30-87, .862 OPS) is perhaps the league's most unsung superstar, but beyond those two, the offense is underwhelming. Indeed, Boog and Frank accounted for almost a third of the team's RBIs and more than half its home runs. Dallas is the only team besides Brooklyn and Chicago to finish in the top five in ERA in each of the last three seasons, and GM Ben De Grass is counting on last year's first rounder Gaylord Perry to become the ace. Bob Purkey (21-12, 3.20) had a career year at 35, winning 20 games for the first time.

LOS ANGELES OUTLAWS

ST. LOUIS MAROONS

SAN FRANCISCO SPIDERS

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	70	92	5/10	685	758	9 - 10
1963	89	73	2/3	672	657	8 - 4
1964	82	80	3/7	739	697	3 - 7

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	76	86	4/7t	748	755	5 - 9
1963	85	77	3/5	708	738	4 - 9
1964	71	91	4/10	643	740	9 - 9

	W	L	Place	R	OR	Rank
1962	61	101	6/12	673	895	10-12
1963	61	101	5/10t	632	827	9-11
1964	65	97	5/11	577	771	11-10

LF RF CF 1B 3B SS C 2B SP SP SP SP SP CL	L R L R R R L R L R L R R R	Tito Francona Hank Aaron Jimmie Hall Frank Robinson Ted Lepcio Bill Mazeroski Tom Haller Mike De La Hoz Hank Aguirre Ken Johnson Curt Simmons Roger Craig Jim Bunning Ray Narleski
IN: LF Tito Francona, 1B Dick Gernert, RF Willie Kirkland, SP Curt Simmons OUT: 1B Willie Stargell, C Bill Sarni, +Chico Carrasquel, +Bubba Church What to Watch: Angelinos want to have their cake and eat it too, which perhaps is behind the Outlaws' strategy to compete and rebuild at the same time. GM Peter Vays dealt away top prospect Willie Stargell to Manhattan for a boat load of draft picks that should help shore up one of the weaker farm systems. The club climbed to third in offense. Hank Aaron broke the single-season HR record (.299-50-139), and fell one hit and one RBI shy of the first .300-50-140 season since Jimmie Foxx (.349-50-175) and Hank Greenberg (.315-58-146) in 1938. Frank Robinson cooled off after an MVP-esque 1963, but still hit .283-31-90, and Ted Lepcio turned in his third straight .800 OPS season, batting .284-21-68. Pitching remains the biggest question mark. The staff dropped from 4th to 7th in ERA, and among Opening Day starters only Jim Bunning's (18-12, 3.88) had an ERA under 3.90. Former ace Art Mahaffey (8-5, 2.42) is due to return by June. Closer Ray Narleski (1.64, 19 saves) extended his run of sub-2.00 ERA seasons to three.

CF SS RF LF 1B 2B C 3B SP SP SP SP CL	L R L L L L R R L R R R L	Albie Pearson Jim Fregosi Roger Maris Floyd Robinson Frank Torre Don Blasingame Bill Sarni Bob Aspromonte Billy O'Dell Bob Bruce Bob Sadowski Glen Hobbie Billy Hoeft
IN: SS Jim Fregosi, 1B Bill White, C Bill Sarni, 1B Frank Torre, CF Jackie Brandt, *LF Manny Mota OUT: 1B Bill Skowron, 3B Willie Jones, 3B Bobby Brown, MR Jim Brosnan, SS Don ZImmer What to Watch: GM Timothy Smith responded to the Maroons' worst-ever season by unloading veterans and stockpiling prospects and draft picks. Since last July, Joe Torre, Bill Skowron, and Willie Jones have all moved on, leaving Roger Maris as the lone longball threat. Incredibly, Maris is the only full-time starter to have hit more than six home runs last year. (Catcher Dick Brown (13) and first baseman Bill White (11) start the season in platoon roles.) As a result, the league's fourth worst offense will likely be even less potent in '65. "Moose" and "Puddin Head" were packaged with ace Johnny Podres in a deal with Cleveland that brought Jim Fregosi (a highly-rated sophomore shortstop), starters Bob Sadowski and Glen Hobbie (who will be the #3 and #4 starters), and several high draft picks to the Archway City. Southpaw Billy O'Dell (16-12, 3.64) will anchor a young-ish rotation. Sadowski, 27, was 16-11, 3.81, leading all rookies in wins and strikeouts, and figures to challenge O'Dell for the ace job. The bullpen is growing stale, but help is on the way after the club drafted two relievers in the first 15 overall picks.

CF 2B RF LF 1B SS 3B C SP SP SP SP CL	L S L R L R R L R L R L R	Lou Brock Pete Rose Billy Williams Rocky Colavito Willie McCovey Clete Boyer Steve Boros *J.C. Martin Ron Kline Jack Kralick Tom Cheney Al Jackson Cloyd Boyer
IN: 1B Willie McCovey, 2B Billy Moran, C Chris Cannizzaro, *J.C. Martin, MR Bennie Daniels OUT: 1B Harmon Killebrew, SP Juan Pizarro, C Don Pavletich, C Gus Triandos, SS Eddie Kasko, MR Williard Schmidt, +Joe Ginsberg What to Watch: Last year's 65 wins was the most in four years, hardly cause for celebration since the Spiders have finished last or next to last five years running since the "Amazin' Arachnids" of '59. Third-year GM Jeff Tonole put a premium on pitching this offseason after a rash of injuries last year. Ace Jim Maloney and "Fat Jack" Fisher start the year on the DL, while newbies "Sudden Sam" McDowell, Juan Marichal, and Luis Tiant will compete for midseason callups while replenishing the minor league well in Seattle. One would think a lineup card that reads "Brock Rose Williams Colavito" would be a run scoring machine, yet the Arachnids ranked next to last in offense, after a July injury cut short Rocky Colavito's MVP-esque season and the others underperformed. Tonole hopes Willie "Stretch" McCovey, 27, will come to life and fill the gaping hole left by Harmon Killebrew's departure. McCovey, the 2nd overall pick in 1960 has been a disappointment, hitting just .221/.275/.340 in three UL seasons with L.A. and Louisville.