The 1967 Indians

Someone once said "Cleveland Rocks!", but it probably wasn't an Indians fan in the 1960s-1980s. Between 1961 (when the AL expanded to 10 teams) and 1994 (when the leagues were split into 3 divisions each), the Indians finished higher than 5th place (or 4th place after divisional play) only once.  In 1968 they finished in THIRD place, but 16.5 games behind the Tigers.


Here are all the players (who had cards) seeing action with the Cleveland Indians in 1967. The tribe had good starting pitching during the mid-to-late 1960s (with Sam McDowell at or near the top in all 3 AL pitching categories, and often accompanied by one or more of his teammates), but they always seemed to finish in 5th or 6th place (and finished 8th of 10 in 1967).

McDowell was the ace of the Tribe's staff. He led the AL in strikeouts in '65, '66, '68, '69, and '70, but finished 10 behind Boston's Jim Lonborg in 1967. The Indians' top 4 starters finished with double-digit wins in 1967: McDowell (13), Steve Hargan (14), Luis Tiant (12), and Sonny Siebert (10).

John O'Donoghue was 8-9 as the 5th starter, and relieved in as many games as he started. Orlando Pena was purchased from the Tigers on May 6th, and went on to lead the staff with 8 (!) saves. Reliever George Culver went 7-3 in 53 games during his rookie season, then was traded to the Reds for Tommy Harper after the season. Bob Allen was 0-5 over 47 games in his last big-league season. He spent 5 more seasons in the minors before retiring.

Here are the starting eight. All but Azcue, Horton, and Fuller played 135 or more games.

Joe Azcue was the team's regular catcher from 1963-68, and made the all-star team in 1968. Tony Horton was acquired from the Red Sox on June 4th for Gary Bell, and was the regular 1st baseman until personal issues forced him into retirement in August 1970. Topps never issued a card for him. Rookie Vern Fuller took over the 2nd base job from the Pedro Gonzalez/Gus Gil tandem on July 19th, and started most of the remaining games. Larry Brown was the regular shortstop since July 1963, and started 150 games in 1967.

Max Alvis led the team in home runs (21) and RBI (70) in '67. Leon Wagner was a major slugger from 1961-66, but he slipped to 15 homers in 1967, and continued his decline for several more seasons. Vic Davalillo was the primary center fielder, but started less than half of the games there. Chuck Hinton split his time between right and center. He was traded to the Angels after the season for Jose Cardenal.
[Tony Horton photo courtesy http://www.ootpdevelopments.com]
 

The bench players, in order of plate appearances:

Lee Maye got into 115 games, primarily sharing right field with Hinton, but also pinch-hitting and backing up the other 2 outfield spots. Lefthanded Duke Sims platooned at catcher, starting 77 games to Azcue's 80. Fred Whitfield had been the regular 1st baseman since 1963, but was relegated to pinch-hitting after Horton's arrival. Utilityman Chico Salmon played a lot of shortstop in 1966, but reverted to handyman in '67.

Rocky Colavito hit 358 homers from 1956-66 (including 30 in 1966), but his power vanished in 1967. He was traded to the White Sox in late July for Jim King. Pedro Gonzalez was the regular 2nd baseman since May 1965, but lost his job to Gus Gil to start the season. He got it back in May, only to lose it to Fuller a month later. This was his last big-league season. Don Demeter came over in the Bell-Horton deal, and spent the final months of his 11-year career as the backup center fielder. Rookie Gus Gil was given a shot at the 2nd base job, but was back in the minors by mid-July. He would resurface with the Pilots in 1969.

Richie Scheinblum got an 18-game call-up in September, but wouldn't play regularly until 1969. Jose Vidal spent most of 1965-69 with Cleveland's triple-A team, but played a few games with the Indians in May and September this season. Willie Smith was acquired from the Angels, spent most of the season in triple-A, and was sent to the Cubs in early 1968. Jim King's 3rd stop in his last season (1967) was Cleveland. The Indians used him as a pinch-hitter following his late-July arrival.

OTHER PITCHERS: In late July, veteran Stan Williams returned from 2 seasons in the minors and pitched in 16 games (starting 8). Gary Bell, a fixture on the Tribe's staff since 1958, was traded to the Red Sox in June and made a trip to the World Series. Bob Tiefenauer (who last pitched in the majors in 1965) made 5 appearances in a September call-up. Dick Radatz was the team's closer in 1966, but was traded to the Cubs in late April.

OTHERS: After 2 good seasons (1963-64) as a starter, followed by 2 off-years, Jack Kralick was sold to the Mets on May 1st 1967, but never pitched again. Tom Kelley pitched out of the Indians' bullpen in 1966, but would play only one game in 1967 (9/21). He didn't return to the majors until 1971, with the Braves. Future all-star Ray Fosse had a 7-game cup of coffee in September. Joe Adcock retired as a player after the 1966 season. He managed the 1967 Indians to an 8th-place finish, having no prior (or later) managing experience.

Also appearing for the Indians in 1967 were relief pitchers Steve Bailey (32 games) and Ed Connolly (15 games).

Bill Davis didn't play for the Indians in 1967, but that didn't stop Topps from putting him on a Rookie Stars card 5 times in the 1960s.

The Indians (and Orioles) got two multi-player cards in the 1967 set, while 9 other teams didn't have any.


Transactions from the end of the 1966 season to the end of 1967:

10/12/66 - Traded pitcher Floyd Weaver to the Mets for infielders Ernie Bowman and Lou Klimchock.

10/13/66 - Purchased Willie Smith from the Angels.

10/14/66 - Released catcher Del Crandall.

10/15/66 - Purchased Gus Gil from the Reds. Sold pitcher Bob Heffner to the Mets.

12/20/66 - Traded shortstop Dick Howser to the Yankees for minor-leaguer Gil Downs.

01/04/67 - Traded catcher Doc Edwards, outfielder Jim Landis and pitcher Jim Weaver to the Astros for Lee Maye and Ken Retzer.

04/25/67 - Traded Dick Radatz to the Cubs. Received a player to be named later (Bob Raudman).

05/01/67 - Sold Jack Kralick to the Mets.

05/06/67 - Purchased Orlando Pena from the Tigers.

06/04/67 - Traded Gary Bell to the Red Sox for Don Demeter and Tony Horton.

07/29/67 - Traded Rocky Colavito to the White Sox for Jim King and infielder Marv Staehle.

10/11/67 - Purchased 2nd baseman Jake Wood from the Reds.

10/17/67 - Released Jim King.

11/21/67 - Traded George Culver, Bob Raudman and Fred Whitfield to the Reds for outfielder Tommy Harper.

11/28/67 -
Lost pitcher Vicente Romo to the Dodgers (rule 5).
Drafted catcher Ken Suarez from the Athletics (rule 5).
Drafted pitcher Darrell Sutherland from the Mets.
Traded infielder Gordy Lund and John O'Donoghue to the Orioles for pitcher Eddie Fisher and 2 minor-leaguers.

11/29/67 - Traded Chuck Hinton to the Angels for outfielder Jose Cardenal.


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