'Round, 'Round, Get-Around, I Get Around

Five players saw action with three teams during the 1967 season. For some, it would be the final season of their careers. For others, the moves culminated in a trip to the World Series.

Ken Harrelson began the year with the Washington Senators, but in June was sold to the Kansas City Athletics (where he also played from 1963 to early 1966). In mid-August, the Athletics' owner Charlie Finley fired manager Alvin Dark, and a week later, Harrelson was out the door also.

Three days later, the Red Sox signed Ken to replace Tony Conigliaro (who had been beaned 10 days earlier) in right field. After toiling in Washington and Kansas City (2 perennial cellar-dwellers), Harrelson helped the Red Sox get to the World Series.


Jack Lamabe started the season in the White Sox' bullpen. After only 3 appearances, he was dealt to the lowly Mets on April 26th. Jack's career would take an unexpected upturn, as the Cardinals acquired him on July 16th. (Bob Gibson suffered a broken leg which would sideline him for a month. Reliever Nelson Briles joined the starting rotation, and Lamabe slid into a relief role in St. Louis.) Jack appeared in 3 games against the Red Sox in the World Series, but would move on to the Cubs the following April.


Another White Sox player hits the road. John Buzhardt was the team's opening day starter, but soon fell out of the rotation. By late August he was sold to the Orioles, where he pitched in 11 innings over 7 games. In the season's final week, he was sold to the Astros, where he pitched 2/3 of an inning. John finished his career in 1968 with the Astros.

Jim King began the 1967 season as the Senators' regular right fielder, but soon lost out to the newly-acquired Cap Peterson. On June 15th he was traded to the White Sox for outfielder Ed Stroud. (Wow, the White Sox sure made a lot of trades that year!) Six weeks later he was traded to the Indians for outfielder Rocky Colavito. The White Sox and Indians used him mainly for pinch-hitting duties. Jim was released by the Indians after the season, ending his 11-year career.


Long-time White Sox' center fielder Jim Landis was traded to the Astros in January 1967 (with catcher Doc Edwards) for outfielder Lee Maye. His time in Houston was short, as he was traded to the Tigers in June for pitcher Larry Sherry.

In mid-August he was released, and signed by the Boston Red Sox on August 22nd, just after they lost Tony Conigliaro for the season. After 1 start, they must have decided that Landis was not the answer. He was released 6 days after arriving in Boston, and the Sox brought in Ken Harrelson as their right-fielder. 1967 was the end of Jim's 11-year career.

Final Card: Jim Landis

By the time I started collecting baseball cards in 1967, Jim Landis (#483) was a part-time player at the end of his career. I remember thinking "He wasn't a starter so he probably wasn't that good." What did I know? Little did I realize that he had been the starting centerfielder for the White Sox from 1958 to 1964, collected 5 gold glove awards, and played in the 1959 World Series!

Jim played in the White Sox organization in 1952 and 1953, then missed the next 2 years for military service. He returned to baseball in 1956, and made his major-league debut with the White Sox in early 1957.



As mentioned above, he wa a key member of the Sox for seven seasons (1958-64). Before the 1965 season, Jim was part of a 3-team, 8-player trade with the Athletics and Indians:

Rocky Colavito - Athletics to Indians
Cam Carreon - White Sox to Indians

Tommie Agee - Indians to White Sox
Tommy John - Indians to White Sox
Johnny Romano - Indians to White Sox

Mike Hershberger - White Sox to Athletics
Jim Landis - White Sox to Athletics
Fred Talbot - White Sox to Athletics

Landis was the Athletics' regular centerfielder in 1965, receiving more playing time than he had the previous season in Chicago. After 1 season in Kansas City, he was traded to the Indians for catcher Phil Roof and a minor-league outfielder named Joe Rudi.

Just as in Kansas City, Jim only lasted 1 season in Cleveland. In January 1967 he was traded to the Astros (with catcher Doc Edwards) for outfielder Lee Maye. His time in Houston was short, as he was traded to the Tigers in June for pitcher Larry Sherry.

In mid-August he was released, only to be signed by the Boston Red Sox on August 22nd. However, six days later he was released. (This was just after Tony Conigliaro was beaned, and the Red Sox were looking for help in right field. After 1 start, they must have decided that Jim Landis was not the answer. Ken Harrelson was signed as their new right fielder.)

Jim was one of 5 players to play for more than 2 teams in 1967 (along with Jim King, John Buzhardt, Jack Lamabe, and Ken Harrelson).