1967 Deluxe Past Season with transaction and lineups available now!
1967: The Summer of Love, Music, and Incredible Baseball
by Steve Ehresman
In 1967, America, torn apart by the Vietnam War, experienced an earthquake of social change, musical creativity, and, for those who were still paying attention, fabulous baseball. While a staggering 475,000 Americans risked death in Southeast Asia, LSD guru Timothy Leary urged disaffected youth to “tune in, turn on, and drop out.” Riots ignited in inner-cities. Rebellion simmered on college campuses. America wobbled on her axis. Nineteen sixty-seven was an exhilarating, bewildering, and terrifying year to come of age in America.
A Human Be-In took place in San Francisco, launching the careers of Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, and Big Brother and the Holding Company. The Doors were banned from The Ed Sullivan Show for their uncensored version of “Light My Fire.” The Who destroyed their instruments on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Jimi Hendrix emerged as a dazzling talent. Not to be upstaged, The Beatles released both Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. Overnight, the 1960s had transformed from “mod” to “psychedelic.”
Oh yes. The baseball was pretty good, too.
While the St. Louis Cardinals, led by MVP Orlando Cepeda (37 2B, 25 HR, 111 RBI, .325) stolen base king Lou Brock (52 SB), consummate hitter Curt Flood (.335), and gritty World Series hero Bob Gibson (13-7, 2.98, and 3 complete game World Series victories), made short work of the National League, compiling a 101-60 record to breeze to the pennant by 10.5 games, the American League put on a show for the ages. Junior Circuit MVP Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox (112 R, 189 H, 44 HR, 121 RBI, .325) won a Triple Crown and powered his team to an improbable pennant.
Only 8,324 turned out at Fenway for Opening Day 1967, demonstrating that the expectations for the Red Sox were low and that their pennant chances were . . . well . . . impossible. Led by a cast of unknowns, the Sox defied the pundits, delighted their faithful, and edged out the Detroit Tigers, the Minnesota Twins, and the Chicago White Sox “to dream the impossible dream” and create the stuff of legends in Beantown.
Jim Lonborg led the Red Sox pitchers (22-9, 246 K, 3.16), capturing the American League Cy Young Award. Tragic figure Tony Conigliaro (20 HR, 67 RBI, .287) helped outfield mate Carl Yastrzemski hammer opposing pitchers, until a horrific beaning on August 18 ended his season and curtailed his promising career. Youngsters Rico Petrocelli (17 HR) and Reggie Smith (15 HR, 16 SB) combined their talent and energy to push the Bosox across the finish line in baseball’s version of The Great Race.
The 1967 season witnessed the debuts of Minnesota Twins star Rod Carew (.292) and New York Mets ace Tom Seaver (16-13, 170 K, 2.76). In addition, reliable anchors like batting champion Roberto Clemente (.357), Cy Young winner Mike McCormick (22-10, 2.85), earned run leaders Joe Horlen (2.06) and Phil Niekro (1.87), strike-out artist Jim Bunning (253), and stolen base king Bert Campaneris (55 SB) all made stellar contributions to the 1967 baseball season.
The Impossible Dreamers of Boston and the Red Birds of St. Louis made indelible impressions on America’s baseball history, as well as lifetime of memories for their fans. Amid the swirling confusion of 1967, these championship teams stand out as examples of grace under pressure and consistent excellence.
The year 1967 resists easy interpretations. America herself has always resisted easy interpretations, consistently emerging from turmoil as a nation greater than the sum of her many parts. Through it all, baseball has offered a window into our past and a glimpse into our future. Through it all, baseball has captivated and inspired millions.
Diamond Mind Baseball is pleased to offer this historic season to its customers. As the 50th anniversary of the 1967 season dawns, Diamond Mind invites you to remember our heroes from long ago and to revisit their remarkable achievements in our brand new version of this unforgettable baseball season.
The 1967 Deluxe Past Season database contains everything you need to play games using teams and players from the 1967 season -- a full set of ratings and statistics for every player who appeared in the big leagues that year, plus team rosters, manager profiles, ballpark ratings, transactions, and league schedules. Statistics include official batting, pitching and fielding totals with left/right splits for all batters and pitchers.
If you are a registered owner of the 1967 Classic Past Season, you are eligible for upgrade pricing for this item. Send an email to dmb_info@imaginesports.com to request your discount promotion code.
(The Diamond Mind Baseball - Version 11 game is required to use this product)
