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1966 Major League Baseball season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1966 MLB season
LeagueMajor League Baseball
SportBaseball
DurationApril 11 – October 9, 1966
Number of games162
Number of teams20
TV partner(s)NBC
Draft
Top draft pickSteve Chilcott
Picked byNew York Mets
Regular season
Season MVPAL: Frank Robinson (BAL)
NL: Roberto Clemente (PIT)
AL championsBaltimore Orioles
  AL runners-upMinnesota Twins
NL championsLos Angeles Dodgers
  NL runners-upSan Francisco Giants
World Series
ChampionsBaltimore Orioles
  Runners-upLos Angeles Dodgers
World Series MVPFrank Robinson (BAL)
MLB seasons

The 1966 Major League Baseball season was contested from April 11 to October 9, 1966. The Braves played their inaugural season in Atlanta, following their relocation from Milwaukee. Three teams played the 1966 season in new stadiums. On April 12, the Braves ushered in Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium with the Pittsburgh Pirates taking a 3–2 win in 13 innings. One week later, Anaheim Stadium opened with the California Angels losing to the Chicago White Sox, 3–1 in the Angels' debut following their move from Los Angeles to nearby Orange County. On May 8, the St. Louis Cardinals closed out old Sportsman's Park/Busch Stadium I with a 10–5 loss to the San Francisco Giants before opening the new Busch Memorial Stadium four days later with a 4–3 win in 12 innings over the Atlanta Braves.

In the World Series the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers four games to zero.

Awards and honors

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MLB statistical leaders

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Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax
  American League National League
Type Name Stat Name Stat
AVG Frank Robinson1 BAL .316 Matty Alou PIT .342
HR Frank Robinson1 BAL 49 Hank Aaron ATL 44
RBI Frank Robinson1 BAL 122 Hank Aaron ATL 127
Wins Jim Kaat MIN 25 Sandy Koufax2 LA 27
ERA Gary Peters CWS 1.98 Sandy Koufax2 LA 1.73
K Sam McDowell CLE 225 Sandy Koufax2 LA 317
SV Jack Aker KC 32 Phil Regan LA 21
SB Bert Campaneris KC 52 Lou Brock STL 74

1 American League Triple Crown Batting Winner
2 National League Triple Crown Pitching

Standings

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American League

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American League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Baltimore Orioles 97 63 .606 48‍–‍31 49‍–‍32
Minnesota Twins 89 73 .549 9 49‍–‍32 40‍–‍41
Detroit Tigers 88 74 .543 10 42‍–‍39 46‍–‍35
Chicago White Sox 83 79 .512 15 45‍–‍36 38‍–‍43
Cleveland Indians 81 81 .500 17 41‍–‍40 40‍–‍41
California Angels 80 82 .494 18 42‍–‍39 38‍–‍43
Kansas City Athletics 74 86 .463 23 42‍–‍39 32‍–‍47
Washington Senators 71 88 .447 25½ 42‍–‍36 29‍–‍52
Boston Red Sox 72 90 .444 26 40‍–‍41 32‍–‍49
New York Yankees 70 89 .440 26½ 35‍–‍46 35‍–‍43

National League

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National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Los Angeles Dodgers 95 67 .586 53‍–‍28 42‍–‍39
San Francisco Giants 93 68 .578 47‍–‍34 46‍–‍34
Pittsburgh Pirates 92 70 .568 3 46‍–‍35 46‍–‍35
Philadelphia Phillies 87 75 .537 8 48‍–‍33 39‍–‍42
Atlanta Braves 85 77 .525 10 43‍–‍38 42‍–‍39
St. Louis Cardinals 83 79 .512 12 43‍–‍38 40‍–‍41
Cincinnati Reds 76 84 .475 18 46‍–‍33 30‍–‍51
Houston Astros 72 90 .444 23 45‍–‍36 27‍–‍54
New York Mets 66 95 .410 28½ 32‍–‍49 34‍–‍46
Chicago Cubs 59 103 .364 36 32‍–‍49 27‍–‍54

Postseason

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Bracket

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World Series
   
AL Baltimore Orioles 4
NL Los Angeles Dodgers 0

Managers

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American League

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Team Manager Comments
Baltimore Orioles Hank Bauer Won the World Series
Boston Red Sox Billy Herman Replaced during the season by Pete Runnels
California Angels Bill Rigney
Chicago White Sox Eddie Stanky
Cleveland Indians Birdie Tebbetts Replaced during the season by George Strickland
Detroit Tigers Chuck Dressen Replaced during the season by Bob Swift and then Frank Skaff
Kansas City Athletics Alvin Dark
Minnesota Twins Sam Mele Finished 2nd
New York Yankees Johnny Keane Replaced during the season by Ralph Houk
Washington Senators Gil Hodges

National League

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Team Manager Comments
Atlanta Braves Bobby Bragan Replaced during the season by Billy Hitchcock
Chicago Cubs Leo Durocher
Cincinnati Reds Don Heffner Replaced during the season by Dave Bristol
Houston Astros Grady Hatton
Los Angeles Dodgers Walter Alston Won the National League pennant
New York Mets Wes Westrum
Philadelphia Phillies Gene Mauch
Pittsburgh Pirates Harry Walker Finished 3rd
San Francisco Giants Herman Franks Finished 2nd
St. Louis Cardinals Red Schoendienst

Home field attendance

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Team name Wins Home attendance Per game
Los Angeles Dodgers[3] 95 -2.1% 2,617,029 2.5% 32,309
New York Mets[4] 66 32.0% 1,932,693 9.3% 23,860
Houston Astros[5] 72 10.8% 1,872,108 -13.0% 23,112
St. Louis Cardinals[6] 83 3.8% 1,712,980 38.0% 21,148
San Francisco Giants[7] 93 -2.1% 1,657,192 7.2% 20,459
Atlanta Braves[8] 85 -1.2% 1,539,801 177.1% 18,778
California Angels[9] 80 6.7% 1,400,321 147.1% 17,288
Minnesota Twins[10] 89 -12.7% 1,259,374 -13.9% 15,548
Baltimore Orioles[11] 97 3.2% 1,203,366 54.0% 15,232
Pittsburgh Pirates[12] 92 2.2% 1,196,618 31.6% 14,773
New York Yankees[13] 70 -9.1% 1,124,648 -7.3% 13,715
Detroit Tigers[14] 88 -1.1% 1,124,293 9.2% 13,880
Philadelphia Phillies[15] 87 2.4% 1,108,201 -5.0% 13,681
Chicago White Sox[16] 83 -12.6% 990,016 -12.4% 12,222
Cleveland Indians[17] 81 -6.9% 903,359 -3.4% 11,153
Boston Red Sox[18] 72 16.1% 811,172 24.4% 10,014
Kansas City Athletics[15] 74 25.4% 773,929 46.5% 9,555
Cincinnati Reds[19] 76 -14.6% 742,958 -29.1% 9,405
Chicago Cubs[20] 59 -18.1% 635,891 -0.9% 7,851
Washington Senators[21] 71 1.4% 576,260 2.9% 7,388

Events

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Television coverage

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For the first time, NBC became exclusive national TV broadcaster of MLB. The network replaced ABC as the holder of the Games of the Week package. The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, which had instead sold their TV rights to CBS in prior seasons, also joined NBC's package. The new package under NBC called for 28 games, as compared to the 123 combined among three networks during the 1960s. NBC also continued to air the All-Star Game and World Series.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award
  2. ^ a b The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award
  3. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "New York Mets Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Los Angeles Angels Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ^ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. ^ "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ^ "Chicago White Sox vs New York Yankees Box Score: September 22, 1966". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "Red Barber and the empty Yankee Stadium - September 22, 1966". September 22, 2016.
  24. ^ "Curt Smith shares why pioneer Red Barber was fired by Yanks in '66; Costas gets Frick Award tomorrow in Cooperstown". July 27, 2018.
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