Went over to my buddy, Brando’s house last night to give the 1966 APBA set a tryout. Call it spring training before I start my replay. We spent a good half hour just going through the teams and looking over the players. However, once he got to the LA Dodgers, Bum-lover Brando stopped there and started making a lineup. “I’ll go with these guys”. Of course, I knew that before I even came over. Brando’s a die hard old-school Dodger fan.
I took the Cubs and we decided on a best of five series. Game One saw Jenkins (BX) vs. Koufax (A&CXY). The Cubs scored four off Sandy and he was history after seven but Jenkins pitched a complete game win giving up just one run.
Game 2 was Holtzman (CX) and Drysdale (CYZ). Dodger lover he may be, but Brando let me know he thinks Drysdale is overrated. Well, Drysdale got the win in the tough 4-3 LA win. Lou Johnson helped with a two-run homer.
In Game 3, I thought I’d give the old veteran Robin Roberts (DZ) a shot against Gomer Osteen (B). It was the right call as Roberts pitched a shutout. The Cubs offense came alive with seven runs. Dolpho Phillips and Ernie Banks both hit dingers.
Game 4 saw Dick Ellsworth (DZ) and Don Sutton (BXZ). It was another tight game with the Cubs taking the game (and the series) 4-3. Byron Browne and Randy Hundley both hit one out.
Brando was a bit miffed that Koufax was missing a Z. He allowed 77 walks in 323 innings in 1966. I know APBA doesn’t calculate the Z on innings but rather on batters faced but it’s still hard to believe he doesn’t get control. I tend to agree with him.
Thanks to Brando for rolling the bones. Thanks also for giving me a new hand-crafted dice cup. In the past, Brando has made dice cups for himself out of wood and was nice enough to give me one. This time however, he gave me a ceramic dice shaker. Very nice!
Not only is it a good shaker but it’s heavy enough to conk someone on the head should I need a weapon.
Below is the one he gave me a while ago made out of wood.
Brando is indeed a man of many talents!
1966 is the year I graduated from High School. “66.” Get it? I wish I could “roll it” more than once every three games. Only one guy in ILLOWA rolls worse dice than I do.
Anyway, we played the original 1966 card set, back in the day. Koufax was “XYZ” and Drysdale was a “B.” I’m sure of it.
My recollection is similar to Don’s. Koufax had the X and Drysdale was a B. I lost these and a lot of other cards in a flood about 10 years ago.
Your buddy could easily modify the cards any way he wants to.
Ok, that seals it then. I’m giving Koufax a Z then. I’m assuming it’s a mistake.
thanks, guys.