1967 â San Francisco Giants pitcher Mike McCormick, the National League leader with 22 victories, is honored with the 1967 National League Cy Young Award. It is the first year in which pitchers are honored in both leagues.
As the overwhelming choice of 23 of the 24 experts surveyed, Dick Williams is selected as the United Press Internationalâs American League Manager of the Year. The 38 year-old skipper guided the underdog Red Sox to a pennant, emerging on top from a fierce four-team pennant race that went down to the last day of the season.
1967 â The Chicago White Sox announce the team will play nine regular season games in Milwaukee during the 1968 season. Chicago will become the first American League team to play regular season games outside its own city since 1905.
The Aâs name Bay Area native Joe DiMaggio as the teamâs executive vice president and consultant. Oakland owner Charlie Finley uses the âYankee Clipperâ to be a part-time hitting coach and public relations advocate for the club, a job the former superstar will quickly become unhappy with, leaving the organization after just two years in the position.
On October 22, 1967, Kansas City Aâsâ owner Charlie Finley hires Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio as vice-president. âJoe D.â will also serve as a coach with the Aâs.
1967 â Bob Kennedy is named by Oakland Athletics owner Charles Finley the first manager in team history.
On October 18, 1967, The American League owners grant Charlie Finley permission to move the Kansas City Athletics to Oakland, California, in time for the start of the 1968 season. Kansas City is promised a new team by 1971, but when Senator Stuart Symington and Kansas City Mayor Ilus Davis threaten action against the move, AL President Joe Cronin reopens talks. The expansion deadline is moved forward to 1969, and will award new franchises to Kansas City and Seattle, the Pilots, will play in Seattle, an ill-advised decision given the fact that new owners will prove to be under-financed.
Roberto Clemente hits 2 home runs off Don Drysdale, accounting for all of Pittsburghâs runs in a 4 â 1 victory over Los Angeles. Clementeâs first bomb travels 400 feet to tie the score at 1 â 1 in the fifth. Facing him again in the seventh with 2 on and 2 out, Drysdale makes two mistakes: first, he flattens him; then, to compound his gaffe, rather than walk Clemente outright, he tries to pitch around him. The celebrated free-swinger lays off balls two and three and fouls off ball four, before slugging another potential ball four 420 feet away. Speaking with the Pittsburgh Press after the game, Clemente confides: âI was hoping he wouldnât walk me. I wanted one good swing and I got it. It was a thrill but the biggest thrill came when I went back to the field and the [Dodger] fans applauded me. This doesnât happen very often.â
Dick Williams is selected as the American Leagueâs Manager of the Year, being named by 324 of 397 baseball writers and broadcasters in an Associated Press poll, easily outdistancing runner-ups Eddie Stanky of the White Sox and the Angelsâ Bill Rigney. The 38 year-old rookie skipper led the 92-70 Red Sox through a tight four-team pennant race to their first pennant since 1946.
On October 12, 1967, Bostonâs Impossible Dream comes to an end as future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson hits a home run and strikes out 10 batters in leading the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Championship over the Boston Red Sox. Gibson allows only three hits as the Cardinals win Game Seven, 7-2. ItâŠ
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