The Baseball Scholar

1960s All-Decade Team

Dave Franks
1–2 minutes

    Major League Baseball during the 1960s was all about expanding the game. In 1960 there were 16 teams by 1969 there were 24. Each league was also split into two divisions, east and west, and the League Championship Series (LCS) was added in 1969. The outfield was chalk full of Hall of Famers and then there was 1968. The decade also is home to Bill Mazeroski walk-off World Series homer and of course Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle‘s pursuit of Babe Ruth‘s single season home run record.

    The list of players who reached statistical milestones during the 1960s is much shorter than other decades but it reads like a who’s who of Baseball lore. Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Eddie Mathews, and Hank Aaron all joined the 500 home run club expanding it from three to eight and Early Wynn and Warren Sphan both collected their 300th win.

    Catcher

  • Joe Torre

    Joe Torre Hitting Stats
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    36.3 1,196 4,302 542 1,261 183 27 160 653 10 21 400 603 .293 .357 .460 .817

    • First Base

  • Willie McCoveyHOFMVP

    Willie McCovey Hitting Stats
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    44.5 1,322 4,257 728 1,189 168 33 300 821 17 18 650 805 .279 .378 .546 .923

    • Second Base

  • Pete RoseRookie of the Year

    Pete Rose Hitting Stats
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    30.1 1,064 4,301 679 1,327 218 52 75 433 50 60 397 467 .309 .369 .436 .805

    • Third Base

  • Dick AllenHOFRookie of the Year

    Dick Allen Hitting Stats
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    35.2 866 3,221 591 966 167 60 177 544 64 27 422 851 .300 .380 .554 .933

    • Shortstop

  • Dick McAuliffe

    Dick McAuliffe Hitting Stats
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    28.8 1,154 4,140 630 1,056 147 59 142 487 52 48 580 692 .255 .348 .422 .770

    • Outfield

  • Mickey MantleHOFMVP

    Mickey Mantle Hitting Stats
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    42.3 1,155 3,624 682 1,023 136 18 256 668 55 13 841 811 .282 .415 .542 .957

    • Outfield

  • Frank RobinsonHOF2x MVP

    Frank Robinson Hitting Stats
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    64.6 1,468 5,265 1,013 1,603 309 44 316 1,011 145 55 778 749 .304 .402 .560 .962

    • Outfield

  • Willie MaysHOFMVP

    Willie Mays Hitting Stats
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    84.1 1,498 5,459 1,050 1,635 259 53 350 1,003 126 42 681 783 .300 .377 .559 .935

    • Starting Pitcher

  • Sandy KoufaxHOFMVP3x Cy Young

    Sandy Koufax Pitching Stats
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    48.0 260 237 137 60 2.36 1,807.2 122 37 6 542 474 512 1,910 9.5 1.005

    • Starting Pitcher

  • Bob GibsonHOFMVPCy Young

    Bob Gibson Pitching Stats
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    54.4 336 302 164 105 2.74 2,447 164 41 4 847 746 822 2,071 7.6 1.147

    • Starting Pitcher

  • Whitey FordHOFCy Young

    Whitey Ford Pitching Stats
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    27.3 253 230 115 56 2.83 1,608.2 62 21 3 576 506 422 1,041 5.8 1.173

    • Starting Pitcher

  • Juan MarichalHOF

    Juan Marichal Pitching Stats
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    55.3 328 320 191 88 2.57 2,549.2 197 45 2 861 728 503 1,840 6.5 1.045

    • Starting Pitcher

  • Don DrysdaleHOFCy Young

    Don Drysdale Pitching Stats
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    44.6 371 359 158 126 2.83 2,629.2 135 40 4 961 827 598 1,910 6.5 1.118

    • Relief Pitcher

  • Hoyt WilhelmHOF

    Hoyt Wilhelm Pitching Stats
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    24.5 557 15 75 65 2.16 1,103.1 3 1 153 332 265 303 872 7.1 0.993

    • Honorable Mention

  • Catcher – John Romano
  • First Base- Norm Cash
  • Second Base- Joe Morgan
  • Third Base- Eddie Mathews
  • Shortstop- Rico Petrocelli
  • Outfield – Hank Aaron
  • Outfield – Al Kaline
  • Starting Pitcher – Jim Bunning
  • Starting Pitcher – Dean Chance
  • Relief Pitcher – Stu Miller

    • All underlying data used in this analysis is available in The Baseball Scholar Data Library.

23 responses to “1960s All-Decade Team”

  1. Jerry Johnson Avatar
    Jerry Johnson

    The fact that Hank Aaron is not starting in the outfield is an abomination. Debating Aaron vs. Mantle over their entire careers? Cool. However, there is no debate regarding who the better player was during the 1960’s.

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  2. Garry Harris Avatar
    Garry Harris

    No disrespect intended but, the 1960’s team is all wrong.

    C Bill Freehan, Joe Torre
    1B Harmon Killebrew, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey
    2B Bill Mazeroski
    3B Ron Santos, Brooks Robinson, Dick Allen
    SS Maury Wills, Jim Fregosi, Luis Aparicio
    LF Billy Williams, Lou Brock, Carl Yastrzemski
    CF Willie Mays, Vada Pinson
    RF Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Roberto Clemente

    SP Sandy Koufax
    SP Juan Marichal
    SP Bob Gibson
    SP Don Drysdale
    SP Jim Bunning

    RP Ron Perranoski
    RP Hoyt Wilhelm
    RP Don McMahan

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  3. ElJefeDeNoche@gmail.com Avatar
    ElJefeDeNoche@gmail.com

    As a Tigers fan born in the ’60s I never appreciated how good Dick McAuliffe really was. Best shortstop of the 1960s? I always thought of him as solid second basement for the ’68 World Champions who had a penchant for not grounding in to double plays.

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    1. Kevin Joseph Foley Avatar
      Kevin Joseph Foley

      NO WAY! NO CUBS! AT ALL!

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      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        They didn’t win much in the 60’s, but Ernie Banks needs to be at shortstop. No discussion needed.

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      2. Avatar
        Anonymous

        anyone wanting Banks at SS is ignoring that after 1961 he was never a Shortstop.

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  4. Dan Holmes Avatar
    Dan Holmes

    Jim Fregosi is a better choice at short, especially since he played the position the entire decade, unlike Mac.

    Mantle over Aaron for the 1960s? I think you need to go back and look at the stats for that decade.

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  5. Avatar
    Anonymous

    what about my all time favorite player ernie banks at short?

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    1. Dave Franks Avatar
      Dave Franks

      Ernie Banks spent most of the 60s playing 1B. He is on the 1950s All-Decade Team. https://thebaseballscholar.com/2017/08/28/1950s-all-decade-team/

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  6. D Bath Avatar
    D Bath

    You prefer Mickey Mantle’s 42 WAR to Hank Aaron’s 81 WAR? Aaron’s WORST season in the 1960’s was a 6.8 WAR season in 1964.

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  7. Avatar
    Anonymous

    How is Clemente not even on this list? This list is automatically wrong that Clemente is not even on here. Not to mention mazeroski is the best second basemen in this decade defensively and actually drove in more runs than ANY OTHER second baseman during the 60s. You’re list seems biased against the pirates.

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  8. Sieedah Nelson Avatar
    Sieedah Nelson

    How in the world could you leave Hank Aaron off of your list. It’s hard to take you serious. He hit 375 homers and averaged almost 110 rbis

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  9. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Hank Aaron honorable mention?? 🤔🤔
    That’s rediculous

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    1. Doug Bath Avatar
      Doug Bath

      No kidding… Hank hit .308 with 375 HR and 1,107 RBI in the 1960’s. Every one of those numbers was better than all of the OF that were listed on that team. Mickey has no business starting ahead of Hank and his 81 WAR in the decade.

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  10. Spare Me Avatar
    Spare Me

    Hmm, now who could have been left off this list?

    How about:

    Someone with more hits in the 1960s than anyone on this ridiculous list – in fact, with more hits than anyone in the entire American League.

    The AL MVP, the All-Star MVP, and the World Series MVP one year later.

    And there was one other thing I’m forgetting.

    Hmm, what was it?

    Oh, right. A Gold Glove every single year.

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  11. Rafael Delgado Avatar
    Rafael Delgado

    Good selection but I don’t see Roberto Clemente on this list, was the highest batting average of the 60’s with .329 and had 4 batting titles during that decade. With a legendary throwing arm and also the best right fielder of his time.

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  12. Greg Nicolaysen Avatar
    Greg Nicolaysen

    I would add Dave McNally (Baltimore Orioles) to the list of pitchers for the 1960s. His career was in the latter half of the decade but was stellar, including great World Series performances in 1966 and 1969, and a top ERA in 1968. His top performances carried over into the 1970s.

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  13. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    All Time 60’s Team
    2B Pete Rose
    RF Roberto Clemente
    CF Willie Mays
    LF Carl Yastrzemski
    DH Frank Robinson
    1B Willie McCovey
    3B Brooks Robinson
    C ????
    SS Luis Aparicio

    P Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal, Bob Gibson
    note: All these are HoFers, I have Aaron in RF in the 50’s. Brooks Robinson was an AS and a GG every year of the decade. You’re wrong on SS.

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  14. Avatar
    Anonymous

    No Yaz 3 batting titles and a triple crown!! Not even an honorable mention.????????

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  15. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Wow, I just read this article and was surprised by some players selection. But the biggest mistake was not even mentioning Roberto Clemente. He had the highest BA of the 60’s .328, most hits 1,874, most batting titles 4, his BA with runners in scoring position was .332 behind Aaron .335. The only other players (with 1,400+) able to hit over .300 were Aaron .308, F. Robinson .305 and Mays .300. In addition Clemente lead the outfielders in assists, drs and golden gloves 9, his WAR is top 3 behind Mays and Aaron. No way not to mention.

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  16. Rafael Avatar
    Rafael

    Wow, I just read this article and was surprised by some players selection. But the biggest mistake was not even mentioning Roberto Clemente. He had the highest BA of the 60’s .328, most hits 1,874, most batting titles 4, his BA with runners in scoring position was .332 behind Aaron .335. The only other players (with 1,400+) able to hit over .300 were Aaron .308, F. Robinson .305 and Mays .300. In addition Clemente lead the outfielders in assists, drs and golden gloves 9, his WAR is top 3 behind Mays and Aaron. No way not to mention.

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  17. Avatar
    Anonymous

    No mention of Roberto Clemente. Wow, just WOW.

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  18. Avatar
    Anonymous

    That infield is terrible defensively , TERRIBLE I say! Here are my picks:

    Catcher: Bill Freehan
    – I’ll take a good defensive Catcher over a terrible defensive catcher with a good bat. Torre was so bad he only played half his games as Catcher.

    First Base: Orlando Cepeda
    – Good defensive First Baseman as well as great bat

    Second Base: Bill Mazeroski
    – The greatest defensive Second Baseman ever!

    Third Base: Eddie Mathews
    – Offensively a left-handed hitting Mike Schmidt level. Defensively good until the brick-handed Dick Allen!

    Shortstop: Luis Aparicio
    – Great defensive shortstop and SB leader!

    Left Field: Carl Yastrzemski
    – Best defensive Left Fielder and Triple Crown winner!

    Center Field: Willie Mays
    – Today’s analysis shows that Mantle defense was not as good as thought back then! (Total Zone: Mantle -10, Mays +176). Back then, I would choose Mantle over Mays to drop a monster switch hitter into my lineup. I have since changed my mind.

    Right Field: Hank Aaron
    – Robinson was just average defensively, Aaron was good defensively, Clemente was outstanding. (Total Zone: Robinson -2, Aaron 98, Clemente 204). Aaron had the superior bat IMHO (oWAR for the 1960s: Robinson 65.3, Aaron 71.1, Clemente 54.4)

    I have no problems with the Pitcher chosen except I would also include ‘Sudden’ Sam McDowell in the Honorable Mentions!

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