1966 CURT GOWDY ALL STAR TOURNEY

 

THE ANSWER TO THE ALL STAR QUESTION 

This project attempts to answer the question of how to showcase the best MLB talent and preserve and show respect for the history of the game.  

I will use the 1966 Inside Pitch game and cards and divide the best player into 4 teams who will compete in a round robin tournament.  Team 1 will be called the Black Diamonds and  honor the Negro leagues.  The roster will be filled with the best black players from the 66 season.   There were so many players who qualified for this team that some players were cut and found jobs with one of the other 3 teams. The Diamonds will call Dodger Stadium home given the Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson. 

1  THE BLACK DIAMONDS  

Hitters 

Hank Aaron 
Dick Allen 
Battey. Earl 
Blair. Paul 
Casanova. Paul 
Charles. Ed 
Clarke. Horace 
Clendenon. Donn 
Davis. Willie 
Hart. Jim Ray 
Mays. Willie 
McCovey. Willie 
Morgan. Joe 
Robinson. Frank 
Stargell. Willie 
Williams. Billy 
Wills. Maury 

Pitchers 

Gibson. Bob 
Grant. Mudcat 
Jackson. Al 
Odom. Blue Moon 
Veale. Bob 
Wilson. Earl 
Wyatt. John 


2.  LATINO KINGS 

A tip of the cap to fans of the World Baseball Classic.  Latin America sent some great players to the majors in 1966 and should hold their own in the tourney.  The Kings will play their home games in Candlestick. 

Hitters 

Alou. Felipe 
Alou. Matty 
Aparicio. Luis 
Azcue. Joe 
Cardenal. Jose 
Carty. Rico 
Casanova. Paul 
Cepeda. Orlando 
Clemente. Roberto 
Fuentes. Tito 
Mota. Manny 
Oliva. Tony 
Perez. Tony 
Phillips. Adolpho 
Rojas. Cookie 
Tovar. Cesar 

Pitchers 

Cuellar. Mike 
Jenkins. Fergie 
Lopez Marcelino 
Marichal. Juan 
Pascual. Camilo 
Pena. Orlando 
Rojas. Minnie 
Tiant. Luis 


3.  FEDERALISTS 

The best players born in the Southern and Western states populate this roster.   Yankee Stadium will be the Federalists home base just barely beating out Fenway Park.  Florida was included as an East Coast state.   The Feds could win this tourney given they check all the boxes... starters, bullpen. defense, slugging and on base percentage.   Sad that Koufax did not pitch past the 66 season. 


Hitters 

Blefary. Curt 
Howard. Frank 
Johnson. Deron 
Kaline. Al 
McAuliffe. Dick 
Menke. Dennis 
Pavletich. Don 
Powell. Boog 
Reichardt. Rick 
Romano. John 
Rose. Pete 
Snyder. Russ 
Torre. Joe 
Tresh Tom 
White. Bill 

Pitchers 

Barber. Steve 
Bouton. Jim 
Carroll. Clay 
Ford. Whitey 
Hargan. Steve 
Hoerner. Joe 
Kaat. Jim 
Koufax. Sandy 
McCool. Billy 
McDowell. Sam 
McMahon. Don 
Peters. Gary 
Regan. Phil 



4. CONFEDERATES

Atlanta is the natural home base for this team.    Do not be surprised if the South rises again with some great help from the West.   Problem is this roster is a little long in the tooth and Mickey Mantle posted his last All Star caliber season.   The Perry brothers may save the day. 


Hitters 

Agee. Tommie 
Alley. Gene 
Bateman. John 
Cash. Norm 
Fairly. Ron 
Fregosi. Jim 
Horton. Willie 
Killebrew. Harmon 
Lefebvre. Jim 
Lock. Don 
Mantle. Mickey 
Mazeroski. Bill 
McCarver. Tim 
Robinson. Brooks 
Santo. Ron 
Valentine. Ellis 


Pitchers 

Aker. Jack 
Bunning. Jim 
Drysdale. Don 
Horlen. Joe 
Maloney. Jim 
Miller. Stu 
Nash. Jim 
ODell. Billy 
Perry. Jim 
Perry. Gaylord 
Sutton. Don 
Wilhelm. Hoyt 
Worthington. Al 


The results of the tournament will be posted upon completion of the tournament.