1969 Seattle Pilots
In 1977, Major League Baseball added two new teams to the American League. The Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners joined the fray and began their runs with teams that exist to this day. But while Toronto was brand new to America's pastime, this would prove to be Seattle's second attempt. Way back in 1969, MLB had expanded with four teams, including the Seattle Pilots.
The team was bad, as were all the expansion teams that season. They ranked 20th (of 24) in attendance, their stadium was a dump and unlike the other expansion teams, cash was a major issue. the team went bankrupt after just one last place season like this is the 1800s and relocated to Milwaukee to become the Brewers in 1970.
The team featured one player in that years all star game (Don Mincher played, but was only on roster because his teammate Mike Hegan was injured and had to be replaced) and had a...unique uniform where their hats featured extra flair to look like real airline pilots caps.
The team was comprised of mostly nobodies (again, not uncommon for an expansion franchise) but since they disappeared after just one season, it was really hard for them to have any players of importance even make a stop to play there at the beginning or end of their careers. Heck, after the team left for Wisconsin, many of the players were either traded or they abandoned ship anyway.
The Pilots have been largely forgotten in baseball history, so why not give them a chance to show off in all their "glory". Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the most prominent members of the Seattle Pilots.
The all star duo. Not terrible, at the very least they could find a place on some benches. Hegan has a terrific 13 on-base even if he doesn't do a whole lot with the advantage. Mincher led the team with 25 dingers, and his chart reflects that decent pop.
And then you realize why the team finished in last place. Usually when you see a 10pt card, it's for a teams utility bench option or something, not their starting middle infielders.
Some more 10pt players on the bench where they belong. Some of these players started the year off in Seattle and were shipped out while others were brought in from other teams, but the end result wasn't gonna change in Seattle. One prominent player here was Greg Goossen who didn't have much of a year to go on but made the most of it when he got the call to Seattle. Unfortunately, his career didn't go far from there.
Zero starters on the Seattle Pilots had a winning record. Steve Barber was bad enough, then you realize he can only go 4 innings before the wheels begin to fall off. Future Cy Young winner Mike Marshall is here, pretending to be a starter. Not long after this he goes to the bullpen where he has a much better career.
The bullpen is actually halfway passable...too bad the starters rarely gave them leads to protect.
This should sum up the '69 Pilots right here. John Gelnar is a pitcher who probably would have more luck swinging the bat to help his team win.
Miguel Fuentes holds the distinct honor of throwing the final pitches of Pilots history. His career began and ended with the Pilots, called up late in the year, and tragically dying in a bar altercation during the offseason.
