tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post6495776922126194726..comments2022-12-31T20:03:34.406-05:00Comments on 1969 Topps Baseball: The 1969 PilotsJim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-22550402687144018082014-05-29T08:42:43.327-04:002014-05-29T08:42:43.327-04:00Jim, I know what you mean. On my blog it is not u...Jim, I know what you mean. On my blog it is not uncommon for me to do 2-3 profiles in a row where the players have now passed on.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01050857323785108411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-5480558292809153272014-02-01T14:43:49.196-05:002014-02-01T14:43:49.196-05:00Douglas,
15 of the 51 people (30%) pictured in th...Douglas,<br /><br />15 of the 51 people (30%) pictured in this post have passed on, starting with Fuentes in 1970 and ending with Mike Hegan last December. That seems higher than average.<br /><br />Jim from Downingtownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-75660816483325975142014-01-25T12:23:19.810-05:002014-01-25T12:23:19.810-05:00Douglas, The 1969 expansion was rushed ahead of sc...Douglas, The 1969 expansion was rushed ahead of schedule due to threatened legal action from Kansas City after Charlie Finley deserted the town for Oakland (Seattle would later become home to the Mariners via the same method, though they actually had to go to court and not just threaten). But for the legal threat, I believe the expansion had been scheduled for 1971 or 1972. In theory, new parks would be well along by then (though Jarry Park was actually a great place to watch a game while Olympic Stadium was not; and, as it turned out, Montreal had lied about plans for a new stadium--there were none).<br /><br />Seattle was chosen because the US Senator from that state chaired the Commerce Commission and, as such, could protect baseball's anti-trust exemption and reserve clause. Of course, he had no reason to do so unless his state had a major league team.<br /><br />Its worth noting that the Pilots outdrew the Indians, White Sox, Phillies and Padres in 1969. Even at horrible Sicks Stadium.<br /><br />Ray Oyler certainly had a rep for being a great fielder. At the time of the draft, Joe Schultz remarked that Oyler would bat .300 for the Pilots with his glove. Oyler became a fan favorite--in part due to his futility at the plate. There was the SOC IT TO ME fan club ("Slugger Oyler Can, In Time, Top Our Manager's Estimate"...and hit .300). Given the cheeky name, it's perhaps no surprise that Judy Carne of NBC's "Laugh In" was the fan club's President, though the fan club, itself, was started by a local DJ.<br /><br />Seattle's problem was financing. Had the expansion proceeded according to the original schedule, the Sorianos might have been able to lay in a nest egg. They certainly could have better renovated Sicks (instead of still putting down wood bleachers as the fans came in on opening day). Who knows, they might even have gotten a TV contract in those extra two or three years.<br /><br />The team might also have remained in Seattle were it not for Satan Selig, who cared little about baseball but much about an empty stadium he owned that wasn't making him any money. Once he smelled blood in the water, he swooped in and started tearing the flesh of the Pilots to shreds until it was, finally, dead.Stubbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07010142558613227433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-21142028232315237922014-01-25T10:25:52.445-05:002014-01-25T10:25:52.445-05:00As much as find fascination with the
1969 expansio...As much as find fascination with the<br />1969 expansion, it was incredibly ill conceived. Even though the player quality was better I just don't know if the site selection was good. Seattle's stadium situation is beyond comprehension by today standards and Montreal's was not much better. <br /><br />I find Ray Oyler's 5th selection as odd given he was already coming off a .135 BA. Must of been a hell of a fielder. <br /><br />Sad to say Miguel Fuentes was already dead when his rookie card came out. Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01050857323785108411noreply@blogger.com