1969 Seattle Pilots season

The 1969 Seattle Pilots season was the only season of the Seattle Pilots, a Major League Baseball team. As an expansion team in the American League, along with the Kansas City Royals, the Pilots were placed in the newly established West division. They finished last among the six teams with a record of 64–98 (.395), 33 games behind the division champion Minnesota Twins.

1969 Seattle Pilots
LeagueAmerican League
DivisionWest
BallparkSick's Stadium
CitySeattle
Record64-98
Divisional place6th
OwnersDewey Soriano
General managersMarvin Milkes
ManagersJoe Schultz
TelevisionKING-TV
(Joe Daggett, Rod Belcher)[1]
RadioKVI
(Jimmy Dudley, Bill Schonely)
1970 →

Fewer than 678,000 fans came to see the Pilots, which ranked 20th of the 24 major league teams[2] — a major reason why the team was forced into bankruptcy after only one season.[3] Despite the poor conditions at aging Sick's Stadium, the ticket prices were among the highest in the major leagues.[4] The bankruptcy sale of the team was approved by a federal court in Seattle on March 31, 1970,[5] and the team moved to Milwaukee at the end of spring training for the 1970 season and became the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee had lost the Braves to Atlanta after the 1965 season.

A book about the season exists called The 1969 Seattle Pilots: Major League Baseball's One-Year Team. Part of the Pilots' season was also documented in the book Ball Four by Jim Bouton.

After the Pilots, there would not be another MLB team in Seattle until the birth of the Mariners in 1977.

The last remaining active member of the 1969 Seattle Pilots was Fred Stanley, who retired after the 1982 season.

Offseason

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Expansion draft

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The MLB expansion draft for the Pilots and the Kansas City Royals was held on October 15, 1968.

Player Former team Pick Notes
Don Mincher California Angels 2nd
Tommy Harper Cleveland Indians 3rd
Ray Oyler Detroit Tigers 5th
Jerry McNertney[10] Chicago White Sox 7th
Buzz Stephen Minnesota Twins 9th Never played for Seattle; only major league experience was in 1968.
Chico Salmon[9] Cleveland Indians 11th Traded before the start of the season to Baltimore for Gene Brabender and Gordon Lund.
Diego Seguí[11] Oakland Athletics 14th
Tommy Davis Chicago White Sox 16th
Marty Pattin California Angels 18th
Gerry Schoen Washington Senators 20th Never played for Seattle; only major league experience was in 1968.
Gary Bell Boston Red Sox 21st
Jack Aker Oakland Athletics 24th
Rich Rollins Minnesota Twins 26th
Lou Piniella[12] Cleveland Indians 28th Traded shortly before opening day to Kansas City for Steve Whitaker and John Gelnar.
Dick Bates Washington Senators 30th
Larry Haney Baltimore Orioles 32nd
Dick Baney Boston Red Sox 33rd
Steve Hovley[13] California Angels 35th
Steve Barber[14] New York Yankees 37th
John Miklos Washington Senators 39th Never played in the major leagues.
Wayne Comer Detroit Tigers 41st
Bucky Brandon Boston Red Sox 44th
Skip Lockwood Oakland Athletics 46th
Gary Timberlake New York Yankees 48th
Bob Richmond Washington Senators 50th Never played in the major leagues.
John Morris Baltimore Orioles 52nd
Mike Marshall[15] Detroit Tigers 53rd
Jim Gosger Oakland Athletics 55th
Mike Ferraro New York Yankees 57th
Paul Click California Angels 59th Pitched in the minors through 1973. Never played in the major leagues.

1968 MLB June amateur draft and minor league affiliates

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The Pilots and Kansas City Royals, along with the two National League expansion teams set to debut in 1969, the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres, were allowed to participate in the June 1968 MLB first-year player draft, although the new teams were barred from the lottery's first three rounds. The Pilots drafted 29 players in the 1968 June draft, including future major league manager Tom Kelly (eighth round) and starting pitcher Bill Parsons (seventh round).[16] Seattle affiliated with one minor league club during 1968 to develop drafted players; the roster was filled out by professional and amateur free agents that had been signed and players loaned from other organizations.

1968 farm system

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Level Team League Manager
A-Short Season Newark Co-Pilots New York–Penn League Sibby Sisti

Regular season

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  • On Tuesday, April 8, the Pilots won their first-ever game, 4–3 at Anaheim Stadium over the California Angels. Twenty-six-year-old Pilots' starter Marty Pattin went five innings, allowing two earned runs for Seattle. RHP Jack Aker earned the save. Right fielder Mike Hegan hit Seattle's first-ever home run, a two-run shot off Jim McGlothlin, after second baseman Tommy Harper had doubled to left to begin the Pilots' existence.
  • On the afternoon of Friday, April 11, the Pilots played, and won, their first American League game at Sick's Stadium in Seattle – 7–0 over the Chicago White Sox. Thirty-two-year-old righty Gary Bell tossed a complete game for Seattle, scattering nine hits, striking out six Sox and walking four. Bell also helped his own cause by stroking a two-run double off RHP Bob Locker in the bottom of the sixth. Seattle 1b Don Mincher hit a two-run HR off RHP Joe Horlen in the third. The official attendance was 14,993.
  • On July 2, Reggie Jackson of the Oakland Athletics hit three home runs against the Pilots to raise his season total to 34.[17]
  • In the 1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, outfielder Mike Hegan was the only Pilot selected to the All-Star game on the reserved squad. However, due to injury, he would be replaced by his teammate, infielder Don Mincher.
  • On October 2, the Pilots played their last-ever game, losing 3-1 to Oakland in front of 5,473 fans in Seattle. In the final inning, Steve Whitaker hit the Pilots' last-ever home run, Greg Goossen got their final hit (a single), and Jerry McNertney struck out to end the game. Steve Barber took the loss. Miguel Fuentes, who would be killed in a bar fight during the off-season, threw what turned out to be the final pitch in Pilots’ history.

Season standings

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AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Minnesota Twins 97 65 .599 57‍–‍24 40‍–‍41
Oakland Athletics 88 74 .543 9 49‍–‍32 39‍–‍42
California Angels 71 91 .438 26 43‍–‍38 28‍–‍53
Kansas City Royals 69 93 .426 28 36‍–‍45 33‍–‍48
Chicago White Sox 68 94 .420 29 41‍–‍40 27‍–‍54
Seattle Pilots 64 98 .395 33 34‍–‍47 30‍–‍51

Record vs. opponents

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Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team BAL BOS CAL CWS CLE DET KC MIN NYY OAK SEP WSH
Baltimore 10–8 6–6 9–3 13–5 11–7 11–1 8–4 11–7 8–4 9–3 13–5
Boston 8–10 8–4 5–7 12–6 10–8 10–2 7–5 11–7 4–8 6–6 6–12
California 6–6 4–8 9–9 8–4 5–7 9–9 7–11 3–9 6–12 9–9–1 5–7
Chicago 3–9 7–5 9–9 8–4 3–9 8–10 5–13 3–9 8–10 10–8 4–8
Cleveland 5–13 6–12 4–8 4–8 7–11 7–5 5–7 9–8 5–7 7–5 3–15
Detroit 7–11 8–10 7–5 9–3 11–7 8–4 6–6 10–8 7–5 10–2 7–11
Kansas City 1–11 2–10 9–9 10–8 5–7 4–8 8–10 5–7–1 8–10 10–8 7–5
Minnesota 4–8 5–7 11–7 13–5 7–5 6–6 10–8 10–2 13–5 12–6 6–6
New York 7–11 7–11 9–3 9–3 8–9 8–10 7–5–1 2–10 6–6 7–5 10–8
Oakland 4–8 8–4 12–6 10–8 7–5 5–7 10–8 5–13 6–6 13–5 8–4
Seattle 3–9 6–6 9–9–1 8–10 5–7 2–10 8–10 6–12 5–7 5–13 7–5
Washington 5–13 12–6 7–5 8–4 15–3 11–7 5–7 6–6 8–10 4–8 5–7


The first game

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April 8, Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Seattle 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 0
California 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 10 1
W: Marty Pattin (1–0)  L: Jim McGlothlin (0–1)  SV: Jack Aker (1)   
HRs: SEA: Mike Hegan (1), CAL: Jim Fregosi (1)

[18]

Opening Day Lineup

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Opening Day Starters
# Name Position
21 Tommy Harper 2B
8 Mike Hegan RF
12 Tommy Davis LF
5 Don Mincher 1B
9 Rich Rollins 3B
14 Jim Gosger CF
15 Jerry McNertney C
1 Ray Oyler SS
33 Marty Pattin P

[19]

Notable transactions

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Roster

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1969 Seattle Pilots
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Game log

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1969 regular season game log: 64–98 (Home: 34–47; Away: 30–51)
April: 7–11 (Home: 4–5; Away: 3–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak
1 April 8 @ Angels 4–3 Pattin McGlothlin Aker 11,930 1–0 W1
2 April 9 @ Angels 3–7 Borbon Brabender Wilhelm 5,347 1–1 L1
3 April 11 White Sox 7–0 Bell Horlen 14,993 2–1 W1
4 April 12 White Sox 5–1 Segui Ellis Aker 8,319 3–1 W2
5 April 13 White Sox 7–12 Wood Pattin 10,031 3–2 L1
6 April 14 Royals 1–2 Nelson Marshall Wickersham 3,611 3–3 L2
7 April 16 Twins 4–6 Perranoski Aker 7,329 3–4 L3
April 18 @ White Sox Postponed (Makeup June 18)
8 April 19 @ White Sox 5–1 Pattin Peters Segui 3,901 4–4 W1
9 April 20 @ White Sox 2–3 (10) Wood Segui 12,579 4–5 L1
10 April 20 @ White Sox 3–13 Horlen Barber Locker 12,579 4–6 L2
11 April 21 @ Royals 4–1 Marshall Jones Aker 9,024 5–6 W1
12 April 22 @ Royals 1–2 Hedlund Segui Drabowsky 9,066 5–7 L1
13 April 23 @ Royals 3–4 Morehead Edgerton 10,267 5–8 L2
14 April 25 Athletics 2–14 Nash Bell 6,617 5–9 L3
15 April 26 Athletics 6–3 Barber Dobson Segui 6,658 6–9 W1
16 April 27 Athletics 5–13 Fingers Marshall Krausse 5,802 6–10 L1
April 28 Angels Postponed (Makeup July 9)
17 April 29 Angels 1–0 Pattin McGlothlin 1,954 7–10 W1
18 April 30 @ Twins 4–6 Hall Brabender Perranoski 4,087 7–11 L1
May: 13–13 (Home: 6–6; Away: 7–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak
19 May 1 @ Twins 1–4 Boswell Bell Grzenda 6,485 7–12 L2
20 May 2 @ Athletics 7–8 Lindblad Aker 4,823 7–13 L3
21 May 3 @ Athletics 2–3 Dobson Marshall 4,565 7–14 L4
22 May 4 @ Athletics 6–4 Pattin Fingers O'Donoghue 10,852 8–14 W1
23 May 4 @ Athletics 7–11 Odom Brandon Lindblad 10,852 8–15 L1
24 May 6 Red Sox 2–12 Culp Brabender 9,427 8–16 L2
25 May 7 Red Sox 4–5 Siebert Bell Romo 7,084 8–17 L3
26 May 9 Senators 2–0 Marshall Coleman 7,148 9–17 W1
27 May 10 Senators 16–13 Segui Higgins Bell 7,360 10–17 W2
28 May 11 Senators 6–5 Segui Baldwin 14,363 11–17 W3
29 May 12 Yankees 8–4 Pattin Downing 8,763 12–17 W4
30 May 13 Yankees 5–3 Bell Stottlemyre Segui 19,072 13–17 W5
31 May 14 Yankees 4–5 Burbach Marshall Bahnsen 12,273 13–18 L1
32 May 16 @ Red Sox 10–9 (11) Bouton Romo O'Donoghue 33,079 14–18 W1
33 May 17 @ Red Sox 1–6 Nagy Bell 21,172 14–19 L1
34 May 18 @ Red Sox 9–6 Marshall Culp Segui 25,125 15–19 W1
35 May 20 @ Senators 5–6 Higgins Pattin 6,520 15–20 L1
36 May 21 @ Senators 6–2 Brabender Coleman Segui 6,083 16–20 W1
37 May 22 @ Senators 7–6 Segui Higgins 4,242 17–20 W2
38 May 23 @ Indians 1–7 Ellsworth Marshall 5.633 17–21 L1
39 May 24 @ Indians 8–2 Talbot McDowell 7,094 18–21 W1
40 May 25 @ Indians 3–2 Segui Williams Bell 10,558 19–21 W2
41 May 27 Orioles 8–1 Brabender Phoebus 8,308 20–21 W3
42 May 28 Orioles 5–9 McNally Marshall Richert 21,679 20–22 L1
May 29 Orioles Postponed (Makeup August 18)
43 May 30 Tigers 5–8 Radatz Pattin Dobson 12,084 20–23 L2
44 May 31 Tigers 2–3 Sparma Bell 15,395 20–24 L3
June: 14–15 (Home: 7–5; Away: 7–10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak
45 June 1 Tigers 8–7 Segui Dobson O'Donoghue 14,201 21–24 W1
46 June 2 Indians 8–2 Barber Pina Bouton 9,044 22–24 W2
47 June 3 Indians 1–3 Tiant Pattin Williams 8,634 22–25 L1
48 June 4 Indians 4–10 McDowell Marshall Williams 9,540 22–26 L2
49 June 6 @ Orioles 1–5 McNally Bell 17,689 22–27 L3
50 June 7 @ Orioles 0–10 Palmer Brabender 13,903 22–28 L4
51 June 8 @ Orioles 7–5 O'Donoghue Cuellar 8,988 23–28 W1
52 June 9 @ Tigers 3–2 (10) Pattin Dobson Gelnar 13,477 24–28 W2
53 June 10 @ Tigers 0–5 Wilson Talbot McMahon 14,033 24–29 L1
54 June 11 @ Tigers 3–4 (10) Dobson O'Donoghue 23,569 24–30 L2
55 June 13 @ Yankees 2–1 Brabender Stottlemyre 14,967 25–30 W1
56 June 14 @ Yankees 5–4 Gelnar McDaniel Segui 9,214 26–30 W2
57 June 15 @ Yankees 0–4 (6) Bahnsen Talbot 58,733 26–31 L1
58 June 16 @ White Sox 3–8 Wynne Marshall 13,133 26–32 L2
June 17 @ White Sox Postponed (Rescheduled September 17)
59 June 18 @ White Sox 3–7 Peters Brabender 6,044 26–33 L3
60 June 18 @ White Sox 6–5 (11) Locker Osinski 6,044 27–33 W1
61 June 19 @ White Sox 10–13 Wood Marshall 2,318 27–34 L1
62 June 20 Royals 5–3 Talbot Butler Locker 18,413 28–34 W1
63 June 20 Royals 2–6 Bunker Gelnar 18,413 28–35 L1
64 June 21 Royals 1–0 Brabender Nelson 6,829 29–35 W1
65 June 22 Royals 5–1 Pattin Drago Locker 7,008 30–35 W2
June 23 White Sox Postponed (Rescheduled June 24)
66 June 24 White Sox 4–6 Wood Locker 7,417 30–36 L1
67 June 24 White Sox 6–7 Wood Segui 7,417 30–37 L2
68 June 25 White Sox 3–1 Gelnar Edmondson Locker 5,950 31–37 W1
69 June 26 White Sox 3–2 Brabender Horlen 7,109 32–37 W2
70 June 27 @ Angels 3–5 Fisher Pattin 9,518 32–38 L1
71 June 27 @ Angels 5–2 Roggenburk Washburn Locker 9,518 33–38 W1
72 June 28 @ Angels 3–0 Talbot Murphy Segui 8,893 34–38 W2
73 June 29 @ Angels 2–8 Messersmith Gelnar Tatum 7,628 34–39 L1
July: 9–20 (Home: 7–11; Away: 2–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak
74 July 1 @ Athletics 7–1 Brabender Dobson 5,375 35–39 W1
75 July 2 @ Athletics 0–5 Odom Pattin 5,012 35–40 L1
76 July 3 @ Athletics 4–6 Krausse Roggenburk Fingers 8,290 35–41 L2
77 July 4 @ Royals 2–13 Nelson Talbot 12,944 35–42 L3
78 July 4 @ Royals 2–3 Drago Gelnar O'Riley 12,944 35–43 L4
79 July 5 @ Royals 4–6 Burgmeier Marshall Drabowsky 10,268 35–44 L5
80 July 6 @ Royals 9–3 Brabender Butler Segui 26,480 36–44 W1
81 July 7 Angels 1–5 Messersmith Pattin 6,951 36–45 L1
82 July 8 Angels 3–1 Roggenburk McGlothlin 6,877 37–45 W1
83 July 9 Angels 8–0 Talbot Wright 8,461 38–45 W2
84 July 9 Angels 0–5 Brunet Gelnar 8,461 38–46 L1
July 10 Angels Postponed (Rescheduled September 12)
85 July 11 @ Twins 3–9 Hall Brabender 19,221 38–47 L2
86 July 12 @ Twins 1–11 Perry Pattin 17,616 38–48 L3
87 July 13 @ Twins 2–5 Kaat Roggenburk 26,123 38–49 L4
88 July 13 @ Twins 4–5 Perranoski Segui 26,123 38–50 L5
89 July 15 Athletics 2–6 Odom Gelnar 12,288 38–51 L6
90 July 16 Athletics 1–6 Krausse Brabender 8,688 38–52 L7
91 July 17 Athletics 2–8 Hunter Pattin 6,793 38–53 L8
92 July 18 Twins 2–1 Segui Perranoski 14,134 39–53 W1
93 July 18 Twins 3–2 Talbot Boswell O'Donoghue 14,134 40–53 W2
94 July 19–20 Twins 7–11 (18) Perry Gelnar 12,069 40–54 L1
95 July 20 Twins 0–4 Perry Gelnar 8,287 40–55 L2
July 23 40th Major League All-Star Game
96 July 24 Red Sox 8–6 Brabender Jarvis O'Donoghue 8,395 41–55 W1
97 July 25 Red Sox 6–7 Landis Gelnar Stange 8,470 41–56 L1
98 July 26 Red Sox 8–5 Bouton Kline Locker 13,632 42–56 W1
99 July 27 Red Sox 3–5 (20) Lonborg Locker 9,670 42–57 L1
100 July 29 Senators 2–4 Coleman Brabender 14,270 42–58 L2
101 July 30 Senators 4–3 Segui Cox Gelnar 5,721 43–58 W1
102 July 31 Senators 6–7 Shellenback Talbot Knowles 9,699 43–59 L1
August: 6–22 (Home: 0–13; Away: 6–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak
103 August 1 Yankees 2–4 Johnson Pattin 7,596 43–60 L2
104 August 2 Yankees 4–5 Downing Brunet Aker 10,755 43–61 L3
105 August 3 Yankees 3–5 Bahnsen Barber McDaniel 23,657 43–62 L4
106 August 5 @ Red Sox 9–2 Brabender Culp 25,977 44–62 W1
107 August 6 @ Red Sox 6–5 (10) Locker Romo 22,186 45–62 W2
108 August 7 @ Red Sox 4–5 Stange Locker 30,706 45–63 L1
109 August 8 @ Senators 3–10 Coleman Brunet Baldwin 10,737 45–64 L2
110 August 9 @ Senators 8–6 Locker Baldwin 8,482 46–64 W1
111 August 10 @ Senators 5–7 Knowles Gelnar Coleman 8,442 46–65 L1
112 August 11 @ Indians 8–2 Segui Tiant 4,658 47–65 W1
113 August 12 @ Indians 5–6 Paul Talbot Williams 8,190 47–66 L1
114 August 13 @ Indians 5–3 Brunet Hargan 5,494 48–66 W1
115 August 15 Orioles 1–2 Cuellar Brabender 9,922 48–67 L1
116 August 16 Orioles 3–15 McNally Segui Hardin 11,550 48–68 L2
117 August 17 Orioles 1–4 Phoebus Talbot Watt 10,227 48–69 L3
118 August 18 Orioles 3–12 Palmer Brunet 19,770 48–70 L4
119 August 19 Tigers 3–5 Kilkenny Barber Dobson 5,909 48–71 L5
120 August 20 Tigers 3–4 Lolich Brabender 5,577 48–72 L6
121 August 21 Tigers 6–7 Hiller Bouton 6,483 48–73 L7
122 August 22 Indians 8–9 Hargan Talbot Williams 6,720 48–74 L8
123 August 23 Indians 3–7 McDowell Pattin 5,469 48–75 L9
124 August 24 Indians 5–6 Williams Talbot Law 5,900 48–76 L10
125 August 26 @ Orioles 2–1 Brabender Phoebus 11,400 49–76 W1
126 August 27 @ Orioles 2–7 Cuellar Brunet 8,960 49–77 L1
127 August 28 @ Orioles 3–4 (11) Watt Womack 8,118 49–78 L2
128 August 29 @ Tigers 1–6 Lolich Barber 16,685 49–79 L3
129 August 30 @ Tigers 3–4 McLain O'Donoghue 17,550 49–80 L4
130 August 31 @ Tigers 2–7 Wilson Brabender 16,485 49–81 L5
September: 14–16 (Home: 9–6; Away: 5–10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak
131 September 1 @ Yankees 1–6 Stottlemyre Brunet 15,387 49–82 L6
132 September 1 @ Yankees 5–1 (13) Womack Hamilton 15,387 50–82 W1
133 September 2 @ Yankees 4–5 (15) Bahnsen Brabender 7,071 50–83 L1
134 September 4 Royals 3–5 Drago Gelnar 3,958 50–84 L2
135 September 5 Royals 5–4 Brabender Drabowsky Locker 6,903 51–84 W1
136 September 6 Royals 2–6 Bunker Meyer 4,744 51–85 L1
137 September 7 Royals 7–6 (10) Segui Drabowsky 4,653 52–85 W1
138 September 8 White Sox 2–1 Barber Johnson Gelnar 10,831 53–85 W2
139 September 8 White Sox 5–1 Fuentes Peters 10,831 54–85 W3
140 September 10 @ Athletics 9–4 Brabender Dobson Segui 1,945 55–85 W4
141 September 11 @ Athletics 3–6 Nash Meyer Talbot 1,721 55–86 L1
142 September 12 Angels 4–1 Brunet May 5,085 56–86 W1
September 12 Angels 1–1 (10) 5,085 56–86
143 September 13 Angels 6–4 Segui Murphy 11,184 57–86 W2
144 September 13 Angels 2–4 Fisher Fuentes Tatum 11,184 57–87 L1
145 September 14 Angels 2–4 Messersmith Barber 4,216 57–88 L2
146 September 15 @ Royals 3–2 Brabender Cram Segui 7,238 58–88 W1
147 September 16 @ Royals 1–2 Bunker Meyer 7,282 58–89 L1
148 September 17 @ White Sox 4–6 Nyman Pattin Wood 3,643 58–90 L2
149 September 17 @ White Sox 1–2 Wynne Lockwood 3,643 58–91 L3
150 September 19 @ Twins 1–2 Boswell Barber 23,700 58–92 L4
151 September 20 @ Twins 2–3 Perry Segui 12,797 58–93 L5
152 September 21 @ Twins 4–3 O'Donoghue Kaat 15,443 59–93 W1
153 September 22 @ Angels 5–4 Womack Messersmith Segui 5,158 60–93 W2
154 September 23 @ Angels 4–5 Tatum Fuentes 5,400 60–94 L1
155 September 24 @ Angels 1–3 May Brabender 5,728 60–95 L2
156 September 25 Twins 5–1 Barber Kaat O'Donoghue 3,642 61–95 W1
157 September 26 Twins 4–3 (14) Gelnar Hall 6,586 62–95 W2
September 27 Twins Postponed (Rescheduled September 28)
158 September 28 Twins 2–5 Boswell Fuentes Perranoski 8,096 62–96 L1
159 September 28 Twins 4–1 Baney Miller Segui 8,096 63–96 W1
160 September 30 Athletics 4–8 Dobson Brabender Krausse 2,937 63–97 L1
October: 1–1 (Home: 1–1; Away: 0–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak
161 October 1 Athletics 4–3 Segui Lindblad 3,612 64–97 W1
162 October 2 Athletics 1–3 Roland Barber 5,473 64–98 L1
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement/Tie
Bold = Pilots team member

[24]

Player stats

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= Indicates team leader

Batting

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Starters by position

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Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
C Jerry McNertney 128 410 99 .241 8 55
1B Don Mincher 140 427 105 .246 25 78
2B John Donaldson 95 338 79 .234 1 19
3B Tommy Harper 148 537 126 .235 9 41
SS Ray Oyler 106 255 42 .165 7 22
LF Tommy Davis 123 454 123 .271 6 80
CF Wayne Comer 147 481 118 .245 15 54
RF Mike Hegan 95 267 78 .292 8 37

Other batters

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Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Steve Hovley 91 329 91 .277 3 20
Gus Gil 92 221 49 .222 0 17
Rich Rollins 58 187 42 .225 4 21
Ron Clark 57 163 32 .196 0 12
Greg Goossen 52 139 43 .309 10 24
John Kennedy 61 128 30 .234 4 14
Steve Whitaker 69 116 29 .250 6 13
Jim Pagliaroni 40 110 29 .264 5 14
Danny Walton 23 92 20 .217 3 10
Merritt Ranew 54 81 20 .247 0 4
Larry Haney 22 59 15 .254 2 7
Jim Gosger 39 55 6 .109 1 7
Dick Simpson 26 51 9 .176 2 5
Fred Stanley 17 43 12 .279 0 4
Gordy Lund 20 38 10 .263 0 1
Sandy Valdespino 20 38 8 .211 0 0
José Vidal 18 26 5 .192 1 2
Freddie Velázquez 6 16 2 .125 0 2
Billy Williams 4 10 0 .000 0 0
Mike Ferraro 5 4 0 .000 0 0

Pitching

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Starting pitchers

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Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Gene Brabender 40 202.1 13 14 4.36 139
Marty Pattin 34 158.2 7 12 5.62 126
Mike Marshall 20 87.2 3 10 5.13 47
George Brunet 12 63.2 2 5 5.37 37
Gary Bell 13 61.1 2 6 4.70 30
Bob Meyer 6 32.2 0 3 3.31 17
Gary Timberlake 2 6.0 0 0 7.50 4

Other pitchers

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Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L SV ERA SO
Fred Talbot 25 114.2 5 8 0 4.16 67
John Gelnar 39 108.2 3 10 3 3.31 69
Steve Barber 25 86.1 4 7 0 4.80 69
Miguel Fuentes 8 26.0 1 3 0 5.19 14
Garry Roggenburk 7 24.1 2 2 0 4.44 11
Skip Lockwood 6 23.0 0 1 0 3.52 10

Relief pitchers

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Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L SV ERA SO
Diego Seguí 66 142.1 12 6 12 3.35 113
Jim Bouton 57 92.0 2 1 1 3.91 68
John O'Donoghue 55 70.0 2 2 6 2.96 48
Bob Locker 51 78.1 3 3 6 2.18 46
Jack Aker 15 16.2 0 2 3 7.56 7
Dick Baney 9 18.2 1 0 0 3.86 9
Dooley Womack 9 14.1 2 1 0 2.51 8
Bucky Brandon 8 15.0 0 1 0 8.40 10
John Morris 6 12.2 0 0 0 6.39 8
Bill Edgerton 4 4.0 0 1 0 13.50 2
Jerry Stephenson 2 2.2 0 0 0 10.12 1
Dick Bates 1 1.2 0 0 0 26.99 3

Farm system

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The Pilots' farm system consisted of four minor league affiliates in 1969.[25][26] The Triple-A Vancouver Mounties were shared with the Montreal Expos.[26]

Level Team League Manager
Triple-A Vancouver Mounties Pacific Coast League Bob Lemon
Class A Clinton Pilots Midwest League Sibby Sisti, Karl Kuehl, and Tommy Giordano
Class A Short Season Newark Co-Pilots New York–Penn League Earl Torgeson
Rookie Billings Mustangs Pioneer League Bob Mavis and Roland LeBlanc

Awards and honors

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1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Notes

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  1. ^ "Pilots Game to be Carried on Channel 5". The Seattle Times. August 22, 1969. p. 16.
  2. ^ "1969 Major League Baseball Attendance & Miscellaneous". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  3. ^ "Financially stricken Seattle owners still courting move". Toledp Blade. Associated Press. March 1970. p. 29.
  4. ^ "Seattle Story: Downhill Run". Milwaukee Journal. April 1, 1970. p. 15.
  5. ^ "We're Big League Again! Court OKs sale of Pilots". Milwaukee Journal. April 1, 1970. p. 1.
  6. ^ a b Marv Staehle at Baseball-Reference
  7. ^ Wilbur Howard at Baseball-Reference
  8. ^ a b Jim Bouton at Baseball-Reference
  9. ^ a b Chico Salmon at Baseball-Reference
  10. ^ Jerry McNertney at Baseball-Reference
  11. ^ Diego Seguí at Baseball-Reference
  12. ^ a b Lou Piniella at Baseball-Reference
  13. ^ Steve Hovley at Baseball-Reference
  14. ^ Steve Barber at Baseball-Reference
  15. ^ Mike Marshall page on Baseball Reference
  16. ^ Information at Baseball Reference
  17. ^ Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p. 129, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
  18. ^ Box Score of Game played on Tuesday, April 8, 1969 at Anaheim Stadium
  19. ^ 1969 Seattle Pilots Roster by Baseball Almanac
  20. ^ Jim Pagliaroni at Baseball-Reference
  21. ^ Gorman Thomas at Baseball-Reference
  22. ^ Bob Coluccio at Baseball-Reference
  23. ^ John Donaldson at Baseball-Reference
  24. ^ "1969 Seattle Pilots Schedule | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  25. ^ "1969 Seattle Pilots Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "The Mounties: Who Will Expo Cuts Replace?". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia. April 5, 1969. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.

References

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Further reading

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  • Allen, Rick (2020). Inside Pitch: Insiders Reveal How the Ill-Fated Seattle Pilots Got Played into Bankruptcy in One Year. Tacoma, WA: Persistence Press. ISBN 978-1-73-459590-1.
  • Bouton, Jim (1970). Ball Four. New York: World Publishing. LCCN 78-120125.
  • Hogan, Kenneth (2006). The 1969 Seattle Pilots: Major League Baseball's One-Year Team. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-78-642786-4.
  • Mullins, Bill (2013). Becoming Big League: Seattle, the Pilots, and Stadium Politics. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-29-599252-5.