Jim Kaat And Also Yankees Notes 13 years Apart

On this rainy Friday night, sans cable/Optimum TV sports, I checked on Yankees’ games 13 years apart.

In 1961, specifically on Tuesday 9/19, the Yankees won the second game at Baltimore, to clinch at least a tie for their incredible 11th A.L. Pennant in 13 seasons (it would “balloon” to 14 in 16 seasons (1949-1964).

That day, Jim Kaat, pitching for the Minnesota Twins, in their first year as the Twins, after being the original Washington Senators, won a game. (The Washington Senators expansion team, now the Texas Rangers, began play that season).

On another Tuesday, a great night for “real races baseball,” October 1, 1974, the Dodgers and Orioles clinched division crowns, while the Pirates went up 1 game with 1 to play, in route to their “one fourth/had to finish first” division title.

After Baltimore won (7-6) at Detroit in the day and on WMCA, the Brewers, on George Scott’s base hit up the middle, won (3-2) vs the Yankees, to eliminate them, giving Baltimore its 5th A.L. East crown in 6 seasons (1969-1974).

That day, Jim Kaat, then with the Chicago White Sox, secured his 21st win of the season.

Jim Gentile, pictured above and 87 years old as I type this, hit 46 home runs and drove in 141 runs for the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.