1966 – Sonny Jackson is runner-up for N.L. Rookie of the Year honors. The 21-year-old shortstop bats .292 and steals 49 bases. The award goes to Cincinnati infielder Tommy Helms.
1966 – Cincinnati Reds infielder Tommy Helms is voted National League Rookie of the Year.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Tommie Agee is voted American League Rookie of the Year, gathering 16 of the 18 votes. Kansas City Athletics pitcher Jim Nash gets the other two votes. Agee had been brought up briefly the past four seasons before finding a permanent spot in 1966.
The Mets name Wes Westrum as the team’s second manager in the franchise’s brief history, replacing the legendary Casey Stengel who compiled a 175-404 (.302) record during his 3+ years with the expansion team. The new skipper had taken over the club’s reins after the ‘Old Perfessor’ had fractured his hip in July.
On November 18, 1966, Los Angeles Dodgers pitching ace Sandy Koufax announces his retirement, due to increasing pain caused by arthritis in his left elbow. Koufax cites the fear of permanent damage as the reason for placing himself on the voluntarily retired list. Just three weeks earlier, Koufax had won a record third Cy Young…
Roberto Clemente, edging out Dodger hurler Sandy Koufax (27-9, 1.73, 317 strikeouts), is named the National League MVP. The Pirates’ 32 year-old right fielder hit .317 with 29 home runs and drove in 119 runs for the third-place team.
The Dodgers finish their tour of Japan with the worst results ever compiled by an American big league team. Los Angeles loses the last four games of the trip, returning to the West Coast with a mediocre 9-8-1 record against their Japanese opponents.
1966 – The Los Angeles Dodgers complete an 18-game tour of Japan with a 9-8-1 record, the most losses ever for a major league club touring the Far East.
1966 – Triple Crown winner Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles is the unanimous choice as American League MVP. He becomes the first major league player to win the award in both leagues.
1966 – Maury Wills leaves the Los Angeles Dodgers club touring in Japan, complaining that his injured right knee needs immediate treatment in the U.S. On December 1st, the Dodgers will send Wills to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!