Greatest Minor League Team Ever?

[rugbyfreak]

Suprised not to have seen this thread on here, so here goes. What is your nomination for greatest minor league team ever?

There are many good ones, but I defy anyone to beat this one: The '70 Spokane Indians (Dodge AAA), PCL champs with a .644 WP and a sweep of the Hawaii Islanders (.671) in the final. Here was the lineup:

Player-Age-G-AB-R-H-2B-3B-HR-RBI-AVE.-SLG.

Bill Buckner 20 111 465 78 156 33 2 3 74 .335 .434
Steve Garvey 21 95 376 71 120 26 5 15 87 .319 .535
Tom Hutton 24 90 310 51 100 21 5 7 56 .323 .490
Von Joshua 22 16 53 7 19 4 1 1 9 .358 .528
Dave Lopes 25 100 343 48 90 15 4 6 35 .262 .382
Tom Paciorek 23 146 549 88 179 36 12 17 10 .326 .528
Bill Russell 21 55 237 48 86 13 5 3 30 .363 .498
Bob Stinson 24 101 315 56 94 19 4 6 53 .298 .441
Bobby Valentine 20 146 621 122 211 39 16 14 80 .340 .522

If you want a refeence point, go to http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/history/top100.jsp for Bill Weiss' and Marshall Wright's "100 Greatest Minor League Teams". It's a fascinating look into the past and some great reseach, with one glaring error: Nestled in 38th place is the '70 Islanders team, who may have had a couple more regular seaon wins than Spokane, but the Indians dusted them in four straight in the final. Should have been case closed, in my mind.

I keep meaning to write the authors and ask, with all due espect for an amazing piece of work, what went into the decision to not only rank Hawaii above Spokane, but to leave the Indians off the Top 100 list altogether! (The latter was my only quibble; rankings are so tough in a minor league study, with different leagues, eras, etc. all at play. However, in this case you do have a unique situation of two teams having competed in the same year, in a championship, so we CAN say definitively who was better, but I won't take this any futher.) I'm afraid I can't even give them the "oh yeah, I forgot" pass here, because it seems to me, in reseaching the '70 Islanders, you cannot possibly oversee Spokane. Anyway...

I'm not setting any parameters here about how to choose your team, or what level the league, nor do I recommend how to "rate" a minor league team. Some of you naturally gravitate towad the "most future major leaguers" benchmak; others will look simply at how their team did that season, and their level of domination, regardless of how well-known the players were, or would be. You make the call.

I think Spokane '70 covers both bases. This roste is bulging with young, future MLers, including 3/4 of that entire famous Dodge infield of Gavey-Lopes-russell-Cey (latter joined in '71), also including Lee Lacy and Joe Feguson, two other very competent MLers in the making. And I haven't even mentioned the pitchers, Charlie Hough among them. Finally, the skipper was Tommy Lasorda, who would later do all right for himself in the bigs after succeeding Walt Alston.

Ironically, the very best of this blue chip crop was Valentine, who, rare among this goup, would not rise to stardom in the ML (a career-ruining injury in '73). He led the PCL that year in six offensive categories, a rare blend of power (69 EBH) and speed (29 SB). He was also quite versatile, playing infield (esp. SS) and OF positions with uncommon skill. This, unfortunately, would hasten his demise with the Dodgers, along with his soon-to-be-famous cocky, outspoken demeanor.

Seems that in '71, Walt Alston had already decided that Bill russell, not Bobby V., was the Dodger SS of the future. (Maury Wills, at 38, would play his last seaon as a regular.) He may have been duped into believing that russell's .363BA at Spokane was for real, he may have felt Bill was a better fielder; reasons are unclear. What IS certain is that he did NOT prefer BV's supremely confident carriage (he'd also had some 50 D1 football scholarship offers out of HS), since the 59-yea-old Walt was as old school as they came, and to him BV represented the leading edge of the "new athlete". When he told the fiery BV of his plans for him, Bobby exploded, saying (accoding to BV), "Either play me at SS, or trade me!" LA did just that, in the '72 off-season, along with Fank robby (among othes) to the Angels, where, in '73, he got his wish to play SS, and was turning in all-star-calibre play in early season. (Ironically, he suffered his hideous injury playing CF. He had filled in for the injured Ken Berry as a favor to Bobby Winkles, and when Nolan ryan pitched a no-no that night, the superstitious Winkles asked him to stay there only until they lost. Next night, he broke his leg climbing the wall.)

An interesting footnote: The Hawaii team that year, good as it was, was the polar opposite of Spokane, made up heavily of players whose ML days were done, but who were still useful playes and good attendance-recuiting tools: Merritt ranew, Jim Coates, Dennis Bennet, Juan Pizzaro, ron Kline, Elroy Face, Gary Bell, ray Oyler...you get the idea. Chuck Tanner, another pretty fair future ML Mgr., was at the helm. The parent team was the Angels, and you have to ask yourself exactly what they were getting out of this investment. At any ate, Hawaii had an unusual arangement whereby they were free to make some of their own signings, in oder to boost attendance. This had to be one of the last affiliated MiL teams of this type, if not the last.

Anyway, have at it and send in your nominations. My runner-up is the 1937 Newark Bears (Yankees, Ossie Vitt, .714), who had future MLers George McQuinn, Joe Gordon, Babe Dahlgren, Charlie Keller, Willard Herschberger, Atley Donald, Marius russo.

Enjoy!

freak

[bluezebra]

For All-Time, I would go with the old San Francisco Seals. Here are some of their players' records:

Batting
Games: Irv Waldron 225 (1904)

At-bats: Irv Waldron 888 (1904)

Batting Average: Smead Jolley .404 (1928)

Hits: Smead Jolley 314 (1929)

Doubles: Paul Waner 75 (1925)

Triples: Brooks Holder 24 (1939)

Home Runs: Gus Suhr 51 (1929)

Runs Batted In: Smead Jolley 188 (1928)

Total bases: Smead Jolley 516 (1928)

Runs: Gus Suhr 196 (1929)

Hitting streak: Joe DiMaggio 61 games (1933)

Stolen bases: James Johnston 124 (1913)

Walks: Ferris Fain 129 (1946)

Strikeouts: Roy Nicely 97 (1949)

Hit By Pitches: Charles Irwin 23 (1903)

Pitching
Games: Jimmy Whalen 64 (1905)

Complete games: Cack Henley 47 (1910)

Victories: Cack Henley 35 (1910)

Losses: Jimmy Whalen (1904) & Oscar Jones (1908) 26

Winning Percentage: Sam Gibson 22-4 .846 (1935)

ERA: Larry Jansen 1.57 (1946)

Innings pitched: Jimmy Whalen 510 (1904)

Consecutive wins: Frank Browning, 16 (1909)

Shutouts: Curt Davis (1932) & Sam Gibson (1942) 9

Strikeouts: Harry Sutor 339 (1911)

Walks: Eric Erickson 153 (1917)

Saves: Bob Muncrief 23 (1952)
__________________________________________________ ___________
Here are some of the more notable players who wore the Seals' uniform:

The Seals had many famous players over the years of their existence. From Joe DiMaggio who hit safely in 61 games in 1933, to his two brothers Vince and Dom, to Larry Jansen who won 30 games in 1946, and to Lefty O'Doul, not only a great pitcher and hitter with the Seals who later managed the team for years. This is a look back at some of the more notable Seals' players.

Earl Averill - A Seals' outfielder from 1926-1929. He was part (along with Smead Jolley and Gene Valia) of one of the greatest minor league outfields of all-time. He later had a Hall of Fame career with Cleveland.

Gene Brocker - A Seals' catcher in 1949. He traveled to Japan after that season for the 1949 Goodwill Tour, as part of the first US team to visit Japan after World War II.

Frank Crosetti - A Seals' infielder in 1930 who batted .334 and later played for the Yankees.

Cornelius "Con" Dempsey - A Seals pitcher from 1948-1951. He led the PCL in strikeouts in his rookie season with 171 while going 16-11 with a league-leading ERA of 2.10.

Joe DiMaggio - The "Yankee Clipper" began his professional baseball career with the Seals. He hit safely in 61 games with the Seals in 1933 (and hit.398 for the season), still a professional baseball record. It was said Joe was prouder of that accomplishment than his 56-game streak with the Yankees. He played from 1932 (three games at shortstop as a 17-year-old) to 1935 (PCL MVP that season). His contract had actually been purchased by the Yankees after the 1934 season, but they arranged for him to play one more year for San Francisco. His two brothers, Vince (1946) and Dom (1939, PCL MVP) also played for the Seals. You can learn more about his time with the Seals at When Joe Was a Seal.

Ferris Fain - Played for the Seals in the early 1940s and later went on to play several seasons in the majors.

Lefty Gomez - A pitcher in 1929, Lefty went 18-11 and was sold to the New York Yankees after the season.

Harry Heillman - Played in 98 games in 1915 for the Seals, batting .364. He later played 15 years in the majors, winding up in the Hall of Fame.

Larry Jansen - A 30-game winner for the Seals in 1946 (and set a PCL record for lowest ERA that year) who later played for the New York Giants.

Robert Joyce - Pitched three seasons for the Seals from 1942-1945. He was 30-11 in 1945 and was the PCL MVP that season.

Tony Lazzeri - Played for the Seals in 1941, after a long career with the Yankees.

Dario Lodigiani - Played for the Seals in 1950 and 1951 after stops with Oakland and in the major leagues.

Elmer Orella - A pitcher for the Seals from 1941-1946. He once shutout the Sacramento Solons for ten innings, pitching a two-hitter.

Paul Waner - Later a Hall of Fame outfielder, Paul and his brother Lloyd played for the Seals in the mid 1920s. Paul hit .369 in 1923 and .401 in 1925, leading the team in hitting those two years.

Lefty O' Doul. Lefty started out a pitcher with the Seals and was an American League pitcher briefly before switching to the infield. He was not only a good pitcher (12-8 record with 5 shutouts in 1918), but also a great hitter. He hit .378 in 1927 and was named the PCL MVP. In 1929, with the New York Giants he batted .398 and set a National League record for most hits in a season. He was very popular with the local fans, as this article about Lefty O'Doul Day in 1938 shows. He managed the Seals from 1935 to 1951, occasionally inserting himself into games as a pinch hitter. Paul Fagan, the Seals owner paid him well to keep him from accepting a job as a major league manager. His last appearance as a pinch hitter was in 1956, at age 59 (and managing the Vancouver Mounties) when he got a single.

Bob

[rugbyfreak]

For All-Time, I would go with the old San Francisco Seals. Here are some of their players' records:

Batting
Games: Irv Waldron 225 (1904)

At-bats: Irv Waldron 888 (1904)

Batting Average: Smead Jolley .404 (1928)

Hits: Smead Jolley 314 (1929)

Doubles: Paul Waner 75 (1925)

Triples: Brooks Holder 24 (1939)

Home Runs: Gus Suhr 51 (1929)

Runs Batted In: Smead Jolley 188 (1928)

Total bases: Smead Jolley 516 (1928)

Runs: Gus Suhr 196 (1929)

Hitting streak: Joe DiMaggio 61 games (1933)

Stolen bases: James Johnston 124 (1913)

Walks: Ferris Fain 129 (1946)

Strikeouts: Roy Nicely 97 (1949)

Hit By Pitches: Charles Irwin 23 (1903)

Pitching
Games: Jimmy Whalen 64 (1905)

Complete games: Cack Henley 47 (1910)

Victories: Cack Henley 35 (1910)

Losses: Jimmy Whalen (1904) & Oscar Jones (1908) 26

Winning Percentage: Sam Gibson 22-4 .846 (1935)

ERA: Larry Jansen 1.57 (1946)

Innings pitched: Jimmy Whalen 510 (1904)

Consecutive wins: Frank Browning, 16 (1909)

Shutouts: Curt Davis (1932) & Sam Gibson (1942) 9

Strikeouts: Harry Sutor 339 (1911)

Walks: Eric Erickson 153 (1917)

Saves: Bob Muncrief 23 (1952)
__________________________________________________ ___________
Here are some of the more notable players who wore the Seals' uniform:

The Seals had many famous players over the years of their existence. From Joe DiMaggio who hit safely in 61 games in 1933, to his two brothers Vince and Dom, to Larry Jansen who won 30 games in 1946, and to Lefty O'Doul, not only a great pitcher and hitter with the Seals who later managed the team for years. This is a look back at some of the more notable Seals' players.

Earl Averill - A Seals' outfielder from 1926-1929. He was part (along with Smead Jolley and Gene Valia) of one of the greatest minor league outfields of all-time. He later had a Hall of Fame career with Cleveland.

Gene Brocker - A Seals' catcher in 1949. He traveled to Japan after that season for the 1949 Goodwill Tour, as part of the first US team to visit Japan after World War II.

Frank Crosetti - A Seals' infielder in 1930 who batted .334 and later played for the Yankees.

Cornelius "Con" Dempsey - A Seals pitcher from 1948-1951. He led the PCL in strikeouts in his rookie season with 171 while going 16-11 with a league-leading ERA of 2.10.

Joe DiMaggio - The "Yankee Clipper" began his professional baseball career with the Seals. He hit safely in 61 games with the Seals in 1933 (and hit.398 for the season), still a professional baseball record. It was said Joe was prouder of that accomplishment than his 56-game streak with the Yankees. He played from 1932 (three games at shortstop as a 17-year-old) to 1935 (PCL MVP that season). His contract had actually been purchased by the Yankees after the 1934 season, but they arranged for him to play one more year for San Francisco. His two brothers, Vince (1946) and Dom (1939, PCL MVP) also played for the Seals. You can learn more about his time with the Seals at When Joe Was a Seal.

Ferris Fain - Played for the Seals in the early 1940s and later went on to play several seasons in the majors.

Lefty Gomez - A pitcher in 1929, Lefty went 18-11 and was sold to the New York Yankees after the season.

Harry Heillman - Played in 98 games in 1915 for the Seals, batting .364. He later played 15 years in the majors, winding up in the Hall of Fame.

Larry Jansen - A 30-game winner for the Seals in 1946 (and set a PCL record for lowest ERA that year) who later played for the New York Giants.

Robert Joyce - Pitched three seasons for the Seals from 1942-1945. He was 30-11 in 1945 and was the PCL MVP that season.

Tony Lazzeri - Played for the Seals in 1941, after a long career with the Yankees.

Dario Lodigiani - Played for the Seals in 1950 and 1951 after stops with Oakland and in the major leagues.

Elmer Orella - A pitcher for the Seals from 1941-1946. He once shutout the Sacramento Solons for ten innings, pitching a two-hitter.

Paul Waner - Later a Hall of Fame outfielder, Paul and his brother Lloyd played for the Seals in the mid 1920s. Paul hit .369 in 1923 and .401 in 1925, leading the team in hitting those two years.

Lefty O' Doul. Lefty started out a pitcher with the Seals and was an American League pitcher briefly before switching to the infield. He was not only a good pitcher (12-8 record with 5 shutouts in 1918), but also a great hitter. He hit .378 in 1927 and was named the PCL MVP. In 1929, with the New York Giants he batted .398 and set a National League record for most hits in a season. He was very popular with the local fans, as this article about Lefty O'Doul Day in 1938 shows. He managed the Seals from 1935 to 1951, occasionally inserting himself into games as a pinch hitter. Paul Fagan, the Seals owner paid him well to keep him from accepting a job as a major league manager. His last appearance as a pinch hitter was in 1956, at age 59 (and managing the Vancouver Mounties) when he got a single.

Bob

No doubt, in its heyday, the old PCL was every bit a "third" major league. Players often chose to play there over the ML, since the competition was very similar, and the PCL was known to pay much better than the ML.

But I was looking for "one team, one year" nominations here. No all-star teams.

[TonyK]

Some of the best teams from what I have read:

1878 Buffalo Bisons IA with Pud Galvin that joined ML ball in 1879;
1900 Chicago White Stockings AL 82-53 that was classified as ML in 1901;
1924 Baltimore Orioles 117-48 with Lefty Grove;

My sentimental favorite is the 1899 Rome Romans NY State League 76-32 that clobbered the Rochester EL pennant winners after the season.

[Redondos]

If you want a refeence point, go to http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/a...ory/top100.jsp for Bill Weiss' and Marshall Wright's "100 Greatest Minor League Teams". It's a fascinating look into the past and some great reseach, with one glaring error: Nestled in 38th place is the '70 Islanders team, who may have had a couple more regular seaon wins than Spokane, but the Indians dusted them in four straight in the final. Should have been case closed, in my mind.

It's true that Spokane swept Hawaii in the PCL Championship. However, keep in mind that the Islanders were deprived of several key players who were a big part of that amazing 98-48-1 regular season, during that postseason series with the Indians. Juan Pizarro, signed to a Islanders contract, was sold to the Cubs after winning 9 straight games. Angel prospects Tom Bradley (11-1 record) and Dave LaRoche (6-0) were promoted by the parent club before the end of the PCL season. Ditto for the middle infield combination of Doug Griffin and Marty Perez, both of whom went on to become starters in the big leagues.

NOW, if Spokane had to face the Islanders team with all of those players still on board, the result of that best-of-seven series might have been a tad different. :)

But I agree with you that the 1970 Spokane team should not have been overlooked in that series of articles.

[supnov]

As a fanatical baseball fan, who got his professional baseball baptism going to Indian baseball games in the late 60's and early 70's, I wholeheartedly agree with you assessment of the 1970 Indians.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Don't forget the 1980 Denver Bears.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Hey, I found a top 100 Minor League teams list


#1 - 1934 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (137-50)
#2 - 1921 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (119-47)
#3 - 1937 NEWARK BEARS (109-43)
#4 - 1924 FT. WORTH PANTHERS (109-41)
#5 - 1924 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (117-48)
#6 - 1920 ST. PAUL SAINTS (115-49)
#7 - 1903 JERSEY CITY SKEETERS (92-33)
#8 - 1937 SALISBURY INDIANS (80-16)
#9 - 1920 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (110-43)
#10 - 1925 SAN FRANCISCO SEALS (128-71)
#11 - 1981 ALBUQUERQUE DUKES (94-38)
#12 - 1939 KANSAS CITY BLUES (107-47)
#13 - 1943 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (110-45)
#14 - 1920 FT. WORTH PANTHERS (108-40)
#15 - 1922 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (115-52)
#16 - 1938 NEWARK BEARS (104-48)
#17 - 1922 FT. WORTH PANTHERS 109-46)
#18 - 1923 KANSAS CITY BLUES (112-54)
#19 - 1923 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (111-53)
#20 - 1922 ENID HARVESTERS (104-27)
#21 - 1920 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (108-46)
#22 - 1911 DENVER GRIZZLIES (111-54)
#23 - 1992 GREENVILLE BRAVES (100-43)
#24 - 1927 BUFFALO BISONS (112-56)
#25 - 1954 WACO PIRATES (105-42)
#26 - 1931 HARTFORD SENATORS (97-40)
#27 - 1902 INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (96-45)
#28 - 1929 KANSAS CITY BLUES (111-56)
#29 - 1903 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (133-78)
#30 - 1955 KEOKUK KERNELS (92-34)
#31 - 1906 PORTLAND BEAVERS (115-60)
#32 - 1921 MEMPHIS CHICKS (104-49)
#33 - 1925 FT. WORTH PANTHERS (103-48)
#34 - 1952 NORFOLK TARS (96-36)
#35 - 1919 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (100-49)
#36 - 1951 CHARLOTTE HORNETS (100-44)
#37 - 1980 DENVER BEARS (92-44)
#38 - 1970 HAWAII ISLANDERS (98-38)
#39 - 1926 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (109-57)
#40 - 1952 MIAMI SUN SOX (104-48)
#41 - 1907 WICHITA JOBBERS (98-35)
#42 - 1931 HOUSTON BUFFALOES (108-51)
#43 - 1933 COLUMBUS REDBIRDS (101-51)
#44 - 1922 SAN FRANCISCO SEALS (127-72)
#45 - 1918 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (88-39)
#46 - 1921 FT. WORTH PANTHERS (107-51)
#47 - 1940 NASHVILLE VOLS (101-47)
#48 - 1924 MEMPHIS CHICKS (104-49)
#49 - 1924 OKMULGEE DRILLERS (110-48)
#50 - 1928 SAN FRANCISCO SEALS (120-71)
#51 - 1902 CORSICANA OIL CITYS (87-23)
#52 - 1920 LONDON TECUMSEHS (86-32)
#53 - 1932 NEWARK BEARS (109-59)
#54 - 1952 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (101-53)
#55 - 1961 RENO SILVER SOX (97-43)
#56 - 1931 CHARLOTTE HORNETS (100-37)
#57 - 1916 NEW LONDON PLANTERS (86-34)
#58 - 1933 DAVENPORT BLUE SOX (82-32)
#59 - 1905 COLUMBUS SENATORS (100-52)
#60 - 1975 WATERLOO ROYALS (93-35)
#61 - 1950 WINSTON-SALEM CARDS (106-47)
#62 - 1983 READING PHILLIES (96-44)
#63 - 1906 DES MOINES CHAMPIONS (97-50)
#64 - 1949 STROUDSBURG POCONOS (101-36)
#65 - 1941 HOUSTON BUFFALOES (103-50)
#66 - 1910 JOPLIN MINERS (90-34)
#67 - 1949 PENSACOLA FLIERS (98-42)
#68 - 1939 SANFORD LOOKOUTS (98-35)
#69 - 1980 NASHVILLE SOUNDS (97-46)
#70 - 1978 VISALIA OAKS (97-42)
#71 - 1909 SAN FRANCISCO SEALS (132-80)
#72 - 1992 COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (95-49)
#73 - 1993 HARRISBURG SENATORS (94-44)
#74 - 1980 PENINSULA PILOTS (100-40)
#75 - 1979 SALTILLO SARAPEROS (95-40)
#76 - 1902 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (85-42)
#77 - 1921 INDEPENDENCE PRODUCERS (103-38)
#78 - 1966 SPARTANBURG PHILLIES (91-35)
#79 - 1955 FRESNO CARDINALS (104-43)
#80 - 1910 SIOUX CITY PACKERS (108-60)
#81 - 1951 HAZARD BOMBERS (93-33)
#82 - 1941 WILSON TOBS (87-30)
#83 - 1932 TULSA OILERS (98-48)
#84 - 1946 MONTREAL ROYALS (100-54)
#85 - 1941 INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (100-54)
#86 - 1941 NEWARK BEARS (100-54)
#87 - 1960 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (100-54)
#88 - 1922 ST. PAUL SAINTS (107-60)
#89 - 1990 WEST PALM BEACH EXPOS (92-40)
#90 - 1946 SCRANTON RED SOX (90-43)
#91 - 1923 ST. PAUL SAINTS (111-57)
#92 - 1947 HAVANA CUBANS (105-45)
#93 - 1978 APPLETON FOXES (97-40)
#94 - 1946 ABILENE BLUE SOX (97-40)
#95 - 1986 PUEBLA ANGELES (88-41)
#96 - 1950 QUEBEC BRAVES (97-40)
#97 - 1947 LUBBOCK HUBBERS (99-41)
#98 - 1947 STOCKTON PORTS (95-45)
#99 - 1944 HARTFORD LAURELS (99-38)
#100 - 1944 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (102-51)


http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/history/top100.jsp

[Brownie31]

Hey, I found a top 100 Minor League teams all time:



http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/history/top100.jsp

Number nine on the list, the 1920 Baltimore Orioles, managed
to win their pennant by only 2 1/2 games over the Toronto
Maple Leafs who were 108-46 (.701).

This was before the minors had playoffs. Imagine playing
.701 ball and not winning the title!:eek:

Brownie31

[tripledup22]

hey does any one no who the long island ducks are? or is it because their an independent leauge. i go to at least one game a year. good team

[SamtheBravesFan]

hey does any one no who the long island ducks are? or is it because their an independent leauge. i go to at least one game a year. good team

True, but they're also the same team that gave John Rocker another shot. :p

[SamtheBravesFan]

Heh, I get a kick out of the 1992 Greenville Braves.

[soberdennis]

The team I most often have heard mentioned was the 37 Newark Bears wit players like Charley Keller, Willard Herschberger, Joe Gordon, and Marius Russo. I think I had read that some ridiculous number of players from that team made it to the bigs. I have even seen them compared favorably with some of the great MLB teams.

[redsox86]

Who would have beat the 1960 toronto maple leafs. No one, best minor league pitching staff ever!

[rugbyfreak]

Who would have beat the 1960 toronto maple leafs. No one, best minor league pitching staff ever!

This team, which won the IL by 17 games (100-54) was known best for having two players--Sparky Anderson and Chuck Tanner--who would go onto better things as mgrs. Mgr. was a forgotten man named Mel McGaha. Hitters were nothing special (not one .300 hitter) but a future HOFer named Billy Williams had a cup of coffee (5 AB).

The pitchers: They were led by Al Cicotte, Riverboat Smith, Steve Ridzik and Ron Negray, all of whom made the majors, but are now footnotes in history.

Sorry, I still like the '70 Spokane squad.

freak