The Pecan Park Eagle

LEO DUROCHER
~ Leo the Lip Talks Big at the 13th Houston Baseball Dinner About his Aspirations in 1st Full Season as Astros Manager,

Leo Would Like Fourth Title to be at Houston

Houston (AP)  Wichita Falls Times, Jan. 27, 1973, Pages 31, 33.. Lippy Leo Durocher, who has taken three teams to the World Series in his controversial career, says he’d like to win it all once more with feeling.

“I’d like to say at this late stage in my baseball career – just one more time” the new Houston Astros manager told the 13th annual Houston Baseball Writers Association dinner Friday night. “Let’s win one more time here in Houston”

Durocher, who took over as manager of the Astros from Harry Walker last August 26th (1972), said that seven positions (the outfield and infield) were set and (that), if he can mold a four-man pitching staff, the team is set.

“Pitching is where we’ve had our trouble,” Durocher told the audience. Durocher said he would take his four-man rotation from Larry Dierker, Don Wilson, Dave Roberts, Ken Forsch, Jerry Reuss, James Rodney Richard, and Tom Griffin.

“If we can’t get four good starters out of that bunch then Durocher isn’t doing his job,” he said.

Durocher said that 1972 left fielder Bob Watson would be given a shot at catcher in spring training with John Edwards, last year’s starting catcher, as the back-up.

Durocher said he has a few changes in mind for spring training, including conditioning. “I’m not worried about us being in shape,” he said. “I have my own way and we’ll be in shape.”

Very honestly, there are no rebels or clubhouse lawyers on our team,” the Lip said. “We’re going to have some kind of ball club.”

BILLY WILLIAMS
1973 WINNER
TRIS SPEAKER AWARD

Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs won the Tris Speaker Award. His 1972 stats of a .333 batting average with 37 HR and a .606 slugging average more than justified his pick.

CESAR CEDENO
1973 WINNER
JIM UMBRICHT AWARD

Cesar Cedeno was selected as the Houston Astros’ Player of the Year, receiving the coveted  Jim Umbricht Award as the symbol of that honor. Cedeno batted .320 with 22 HR and a .537 slugging average in 1972.

NATE COLBERT
1973 WINNER
EDDIE DYER AWARD

Nate Colbert of the San Diego was tagged as the Slugger of the Year which, in Houston, is recognized as the Eddie Dyer Award. Colbert had 38 HR and 111 RBI in 1972 in support of his deservedness.

WILBUR WOOD
1973 WINNER
DICKIE KERR AWARD

Wilbur Wood, of the Chicago White Sox was named as Pitcher of the Year and received the Dickie Kerr Award as his testimony. Wood’s 1972 AL record included 24 wins, 17 losses, and an ERA of 2.51.

CARLTON FISK
1973 WINNER
JOHNNY KEANE AWARD

Carlton Fisk of the Boston Red Sox took the Johnny Keane Award – Fisk was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1972 and a member of the AL All Star team. He batted .298 with 22 HR, posted a slugging average of .538 and was a defensive standout in the field to justify all of his honors.

TOM GORMAN
1973 WINNER
BILL KLEM AWARD

Tom Gorman received the nod from the Houston Baseball Writers as the Umpire of the Year. Taking home the Bill Klem Award Gorman had been an NL umpire since 1951 at the time of his 1973 award and would go on to finish his highly respected career after the 1976 season. Prior to umpiring, Gorman pitched five innings in four big league games for the New York Giants in 1939. Tom’s son Brian Gorman also became a big league umpire, following in his famous father’s footsteps.

ROLLIE FINGERS
1973 WINNER
SPECIAL WORLD SERIES AWARD

Rollie Fingers of the Oakland Athletics won the Special World Series Award. He appeared in 6 of the 7 World Series games, preserving an A’s victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 7 that handed the club their first World Series win since 1930 – and also the first such win since the Athletics’ move to Oakland. Rollie finished the World series a 1-1 record and 1.75 ERA, shutting down the Reds with goose eggs in their final two innings at bat.

DAVE HILTON
1973 WINNER
JIMMY DELMAR AWARD

Dave Hilton, San Diego – Texas-born minor leaguer of the year – Jimmy Delmar Award

The 13th annual Houston Baseball Writers’ Dinner was again held in the Grand Ballroom of the Astroworld Hotel.

Sources:

~ Wichita Falls Times, January 27, 1972, Pages 31, 33,

~ San Antonio Express, January 7, 1973, Page 62.

~ Denton Record Chronicle, January 14, 1973, Page 20.

~ Big Spring Herald, January 1, 1973, Page 8.

~ Baseball Reference.Com

~ Baseball Almanac.Com

~ Wikipedia

Tags: 1973 Houston Baseball Dinner

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