’67 “The Glory Of” And “Letter Notes”

Today a —–, that eventually, in the next days will set the 4 division series that begin on Saturday with 4 games to be followed by 2 games each on the next 2 days, commences.

Thus: In ’67, on aforementioned October 1, 1967, Boston won the A.L. Pennant with details in the previous post.

Surely, it capped an incredible pennant race, the likes of which, are gone, seemingly with as much chance (20 game winner Dean Chance was the Twins’ starter and took the loss) of returning, as the dinosaurs.

The starting lineups, 18 players, (no designated hitter) that last game (Minne at Boston on 10/1/67, exactly 56 years ago last Sunday) had 9 players, whose last name started with one of the last 12 letters of the 26 letter alphabet.

Far more unusual, there were “Z” (Twins’ catcher Jerry “Z”immerman), “Y” (the great player, Boston left fielder, Carl “Y”astrzemski), “V” (Minne shortstop, Zoilo Versailles, 2 years earlier the A.L. MVP) and “U” (Twins center fielder, Ted “U”hlaender), starting last names.

Add Minne right fielder, Pedro “Tony” “O”liva, (I believe in the watered down Hall, not that he was not a great hitter), and third baseman, Cesar “T”ovar, giving the Twins players with the 26th, 22nd, 21st and 15th letters at the start of their surnames.

Boston’s lineup adds two “S’s” first sacker George “Great” Scott and rookie center fielder, Reggie Smith plus shortstop, Americo “Rico” Petrocelli.

Eventually, Boston starting pitcher, Jim Lonborg notched his 22nd win.

He started the Boston 3rd with visiting Minne up (2-0) with a single but was erased on a double play.

However, in the 6th, again “Lonny” led off with a hit and this time Boston scored 5 runs in an eventual (5-3) win.

Ken Coleman, narrating the start and I believe Mel Parnell on the two plays shown including the last, are the broadcasters.