Loading up for cy young run

Perry Seeks to Extend Scoreless Inning Streak

July 7, 1968

Boston, MA -

Nineteen days ago, with his team ahead 6-0 in the sixth inning, Gaylord Perry allowed the Shelbyville Reds to scratch together a meaningless run. He shut them down for the remaining 3.1 innings on his way to his 12th complete game of the season, and his 9th win. The performance went largely unnoticed, and later that day Perry was overlooked when the All-Star rosters were announced. Since that lone Reds run, Perry has thrown consecutive shutouts against the Pirates and Bombers, extending his scoreless inning streak to 21.1 while extending his Complete Game streak to 10.

Tonight, he seeks to extend his streak against the struggling New England Muskets, who have lost Hank Aaron and their last three games, falling ten back of the surprising Atlantic City Aztecs.

After his last shutout, Perry said, "I try not to think about it much. I don't remember who it was who mentioned it to me, even. I think it was Johnny [Bench] who made a comment that I was racking up a lot of scoreless innings at some point. Then somebody else pointed it out and it suddenly became a huge deal. I'm just trying to focus on winning games like usual. I don't want to think about it too much."

Bench added, "He's got great stuff right now. He's really making hitters look silly at times. I wouldn't want to face him."

Just a few weeks ago, the Tigers considered Perry to be a fourth starter behind Ace Kentaro Ogawa, All-Star Dave Giusti, and prized mid-season acquisition Juan Marichal. He was a guy who would eat innings, give the bullpen a day off. Now the Tigers are talking about Cy Young, but the rest of the league is talking about Perry's ball movement, specifically the extra help he finds for his hard slider and forkball.

Gene Mauch, the bench coach for Gallatin, said, "There should be a tube of KY jelly attached to any award he's given." Mauch joked that the pharmacies in Gallatin hide their stock when Barbourville rolls through town, because Perry is known throughout the league for his blatant use of the spitball, the Vaseline ball, the Preparation H ball and sometimes the KY Jelly ball.

Team owner Brandon Simpson dismissed the accusations, saying the team chooses to focus on Perry's accomplishments.

Simpson stated, "We knew when we acquired Gaylord that he was a pitcher we could build our staff around. That was my intention from the beginning, and he's making me look pretty smart with this streak he's on. I am as excited as anyone else to see how far he can extend it."

SEASON OF UNREST

Hank Aaron the Latest To Move In Volatile Season

Boston, MA -

Hank Aaron became the newest member of the New England Muskets only thirty minutes after the New Orleans Crawdads activated him from the Disabled List, completing the trade that also brought P Jim Kaat to the Muskets. The trade is the latest in a flurry of deals over the last month that has substantially shifted the balance of talent to the Marvin League.  

Team owner Chad Brown said of the trade, "In bringing Hank Aaron to our team we are hoping that not only will he help our team in our division and get us to the playoffs but also show what a quality person Hank is on and off the field. I know that this trade has been talked about since it happened in Boston giving up our best prospect and golden boy Rick Monday in the deal. Aaron will have the bulls eye on his back for some time but we believe he is the right man for this situation and not only will he bring this team together but help with the tension within the city of Boston."

The Muskets hope that Aaron helps to stabilize a lineup that has been hot-and-cold, going through streaks of alternatively dominant and hapless baseball. In May, the Muskets were at one time in first place at 24-18 before an extended losing streak. Now with Aaron in place, the Muskets need to make up a five-game deficit to Atlantic City.

As the city council tries to prevent Boston from falling prey to the same racial violence that exploded in Memphis, Chicago, Baltimore, and Louisville, the Muskets' trade to improve their team on the field might also prove beneficial outside the lines. Community leaders in Roxbury and Dorchester say the move goes a long way in establishing the Muskets as the entire city's team. With race relations in the city and the country at a near boil, the impact of Aaron in Boston cannot be underestimated.

VBL5 Commissioner Dan Branda stated in a league memo, "It cannot be a coincidence that this trade occurs on the very same day Senator Robert Kennedy will win the Democratic Nomination for President when he wins the California Primary today. Baseball has always been indelibly linked with the social and cultural climate of our nation, and it seems like we're embarking on a New Frontier together. After a winter of labor strife and a spring of unrest, the nightmares of the past are put behind us. We are once again a Pastime for all America."

Aaron understated the issue at his press conference.

"I have a job to do, and I am blessed to be playing professional baseball," the All-Star RF said.  Read more ...

mars throws in the towel

Bunning, Marichal, and Siebert Traded Away

April 22, 1968

In the wake of the Barbourville trade and the career ending injury to Jim Merritt, the Fightin Pumpkins, owner Ted Knickerbocker announced the trade to the press and a fan base that became worried about the team's chances. 

We lost a quality guy in Jim Merritt and then Barbourville acquired Marichal, we had to do something in response.  The young guns (Singer and Santorini) were great in the spring and have fallen somewhat flat now that we are playing for real, this move definitely sures up our rotation said Knickerbocker.  Read more ...