The 2008 season started with the Red Sox as champs. They were beaten by the A's, who were beaten back by Boston, who were then swept by Toronto, who lost to Oakland, who lost to Cleveland, and so on, until we reached our current champion.
The Heavyweight of the Year is the team that wins the most title bouts at the end of the season.
2008 Title Bout Records:
| Mets | 23 | 17 |
| Athletics | 13 | 13 |
| Red Sox | 11 | 7 |
| Cubs | 9 | 1 |
| Padres | 8 | 6 |
| Rockies | 7 | 14 |
| Angels | 6 | 4 |
| Indians | 6 | 11 |
| Brewers | 5 | 0 |
| Cardinals | 5 | 5 |
| Reds | 5 | 5 |
| Dodgers | 5 | 7 |
| Marlins | 4 | 3 |
| Rangers | 4 | 6 |
| Blue Jays | 3 | 3 |
| Nationals | 3 | 5 |
| Mariners | 2 | 1 |
| Yankees | 2 | 3 |
| Phillies | 2 | 5 |
| Tigers | 1 | 2 |
| Giants | 0 | 3 |
| Orioles | 0 | 3 |
2006 Heavyweight of the Year:
Oakland Athletics
2005 Heavyweight of the Year:
Oakland Athletics
Ken: catfish AT zombia d.o.t. com
Ryan: rarmbrust AT gmail d.o.t. com
Philip: kingchimp AT alamedanet d.o.t net
2008 Stats
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Bruce Markusen passes on the news that Paul Lindblad recently passed away.
Lindblad was the winning pitcher for the A's in Game 3 of the 1973 World Series against the Mets, pitching shutout baseball in the ninth and tenth innings. In the 10th, he retired pinch-hitter Willie Mays on a groundout to end the inning. It was Mays' final career at-bat.
I wish I could say I had some clear memory of watching Lindblad play, but I don't really. I remember mostly my impression of him: as a reliable left-handed reliever. A quick look at his stats pretty much confirms that impression. In 1974-76, he pitched over 100 innings each year for the A's, recording ERAs of 2.06, 2.72, and 3.06.
My other memory of Lindblad is from 1974, when as an eight-year-old, I obsessively collected Topps baseball cards. Lindblad's 1974 card was, besides Blue Moon Odom's, the most difficult A's player card for me to find.
Looking at that card today, it makes me wonder how it could be that I don't remember Lindblad playing. His follow-through looks positively Mitch Williams-esque. Don't do that at home, kids.
But whatever the style, it worked for him. He had a career 68-63 record, with 64 saves, a 3.29 ERA, and three World Series rings, 2 with the A's in 73-74, and one with the Yankees in 1978. That's a career to be proud of.
In today's game, an effective left-hander like Lindblad (who could pitch almost any role in relief) would probably command a three-year deal in the $15 million range. Lindblad was a very good relief pitcher for a long time.
On a far more important note, Lindblad suffered with Alzheimer's for a number of years, more than 10 I believe. He was diagnosed with it at a young age, in his early fifties.
My condolences to his wife, Kathy, and the rest of his family.
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