1976 Fulton County Stadium was one of the most extreme hitters parks in ATB 15. It’s raw park OPS of .806 was ranked 3rd best, but remember, it’s an experimental stat and should not be considered definitive. Handbasket played home games in this environment:
117/116 – Singles
125/125 – Doubles
145/143 – Home Runs
Triples were suppressed but it hardly matters. The singles alone theoretically count for 40 points in on batting average. With this as the backdrop, it is still impressive to see this lineup in action, and it is the first one we’ve encountered that offered a balanced attack. The team had a slash line of .269 / .326 / .412, a significant step away from the some of the one dimensional (all power) line-ups we've talked about.
Overshadowed by Oscar Charleston, Helena’s own centerfielder Mickey Mantle was his typical great self regardless of the lack of media attention. He batted .318 / .421 / .547 with a .968 OPS, 37 2B, 31 HR, 119 R, and 108 RBI. At the corners, teammates Willie McCovey and Adrian Beltre added 72 home runs and 242 RBI per season. McCovey in particular was a consistent game wrecker – in 18 of the 20 resims he recorded RBI totals between 120 and 154. In his two ‘off years’ he still drove in 109 and 114.
As we have seen with so many teams, Joe T’s Handbaskets didn't have the starting rotation to competed on a season by season basis. Helena advanced to the playoffs 8 times and had winning records half the seasons, but in a strong National League it wasn't enough. Fulton County Stadium did not play well for the rotation – no starter was above the league average ERA of 4.15. Hang Aguirre was the best, 13-12 with a 4.22 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.
Their relievers suffered much of the same fate. In 40 innings pitched, Chris Hammond was very good (2.92 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) but remove him from the equation and the bullpen had a combined ERA of 3.83
800 OPS Batters:
.968 – Mickey Mantle
.808 – Willie McCovey
Sub 4.00 ERA Starters
None
Sub 3.25 ERA Relievers
2.92 – Chris Hammond
Best Value Draft Pick
Rd 12 – Larry Doby (.265 / .332 / .396 with 27 2B and 17 HR)
Bust Draft Pick
None, but drafted in the 6th round, Beltre had a .290 OBP
20 Resim Results
24) 64 wins, Downsouth Brews
23) 66 wins, Colorado Green Sox
22) 72 wins, Lancaster Pretty Ladies
21) 69 wins, Detroit Tigers
20) 74 wins, Platte County Burnt Ends
19) 75 wins, Leesburg Snowhole
18) 77 wins, Planet 10 Red Lectroids
17) 78 wins, Rochester Beau Brummels
16) 79 wins, Otherton Fishbiscuits
15) 79 wins, North Valley Bears
14) 81 wins, Niagara Frontier Blackbirds
13) 81 wins, Rusty Kuntz Traveling All Stars
12) 80 wins, Shamokin Miners
11) 81 wins, Helena Handbasket
20) 74 wins, Platte County Burnt Ends
19) 75 wins, Leesburg Snowhole
18) 77 wins, Planet 10 Red Lectroids
17) 78 wins, Rochester Beau Brummels
16) 79 wins, Otherton Fishbiscuits
15) 79 wins, North Valley Bears
14) 81 wins, Niagara Frontier Blackbirds
13) 81 wins, Rusty Kuntz Traveling All Stars
12) 80 wins, Shamokin Miners
11) 81 wins, Helena Handbasket
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