Title/Author:
“The 1967 American League
Pennant Race: Four Teams, Six Weeks, One Winner” by Cameron Bright
Tags:
Baseball, history,
championship, Red Sox, Twins, Tigers, White Sox
Publish
date:
May 12,
2018
Length:
327 pages
Rating:
5 of 5
stars (Outstanding)
Review:
One of the closest and craziest pennant races in baseball history occurred
in 1967. Four teams in the American League – the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota
Twins, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox – were tied for the lead with six
weeks left to play. Each of these four teams, as well as the California Angels,
who nearly made this a five team race, are dissected in this excellent book by
Cameron Bright. Also, it should be noted that this is a book that covers these
teams for the entire 1967 campaign, not just the exciting last month of that
season
While the Red Sox chase to their “Impossible Dream” pennant has been the subject
of numerous books and writings, they are merely one of four teams that Bright portrays
in equal doses throughout the book. Unlike other volumes about the team led by
Carl Yazstremski and Jim Lonborg, this book not only talks about the Triple
Crown and leadership of Yazstremski (not a lot is written about his last month
when he practically carried his team) and Lonborg’s courage in pitching so
often, but it also exposes some of the flaws of the team such as their lack of
speed and inconsistent play that kept the other three teams in the race. This
is refreshing because if one looks at only the standings, the Red Sox had most
of the same strengths and flaws of the other three teams.
Those other three teams are not only given equal space, but their strengths
and flaws are covered in excellent detail as well. The White Sox lived off their outstanding
pitching staff, with Gary Peters leading the way. The hijinks of the grounds
crew at White Sox park to keep the grass tall in the infield to help the pitching
staff is well known. But of course, the biggest story for
the White Sox was their manager, Eddie Stanky, who was very outspoken about not
only his team, but opposing teams as well.
His frankness as well as how he handled his team makes for great
reading.
Coverage of the Tigers in the book is not quite so centric around one
person or one aspect of the team, but nonetheless the reader will learn a lot
about manager Mayo Smith and his team that was more balanced than the other
three contenders, but fell short on the last day when they lost to the Angels. As for the fourth team in the group, the
Twins had chemistry issues and were the only team of the four that had a
managerial change in the middle of the year. This was illustrated quite well in
the book when the players were voting on their World Series shares and the
players decided to NOT allow their fired manager Sam Mele to collect a share - that
was later reversed, but the damage to their team chemistry was done. The other major
weakness of the Twins, their infield defense, was also discussed in detail and
overshadowed the excellent production from their batters and starting
pitchers.
Many of the games played between the four contenders are recapped as well,
making the reader feel like he or she went to those games even though they took
place over fifty years ago. Readers who were following the sport at that time
will enjoy reading about a thrilling pennant race in which they probably recall
where they were when the Red Sox defeated the Twins on the last day to win the
pennant. For those readers too young to have witnessed any of these teams, this
book will help them understand why that season is fondly remembered by Red Sox
fans.
Book Format
Read:
E-Book (Kindle)
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