1968 SEC Champions Back in Tuscaloosa
4/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 26, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - 1968 SEC CHAMPIONS BACK IN TUSCALOOSA
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The 1968 Alabama baseball team will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its SEC Championship today when the Crimson Tide hosts the Auburn Tigers in game two of this three-game series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
The Crimson Tide posted a 24-14 overall record, including an 11-8 mark in the SEC under Coach Joe Sewell. Alabama won six of its last seven SEC games to force a one-game playoff with LSU in Baton Rouge to determine the SEC Western Division championship. Alabama beat LSU 6-4 in the only one-game playoff in league history to advance to the best-of-three SEC Championship against Eastern Division champion, Florida. After losing the first game in Gainesville, Alabama posted back-to-back wins in Tuscaloosa, beating Florida 5-0 and 3-0, to earn the school's first SEC baseball championship since 1955. The Crimson Tide advanced to the NCAA District III Playoffs in Gastonia, N.C., where it lost two games to North Carolina State and Florida State.
Five members of the 1968 SEC Championship team were drafted by Major League teams, including Stan Moss (Boston Red Sox), Jackie Glover (Oakland), Jack Traffenstedt (Oakland), Eddie Propst (San Diego) and J.C. Ranelli (Pittsburgh).
A trio of Tide players, including pitchers Mike Innes and Eddie Propst and third baseman Stan Moss were all named First-Team All-SEC. Innes, Propst, Ranelli, Moss and outfielder Bill Parker were named to the SEC All-Western Division team. Innes was an ABCA All-South Region squad selection. Moss was the Alabama triple-crown winner in 1968, leading the Tide in hitting (.342), home runs (7) and RBI (26). Propst was 8-4 on the mound to lead the team in wins. Propst and Glover led the team with five CGs. Propst also led UA with 68 strikeouts. Innes still ranks among the Tide's all-time leaders in starts (38, t7th), complete games (17, 1st), shutouts (7, 1st), innings (250, 10th), wins (27, 2nd).
Attending today's 1968 SEC Championship reunion are: Lynn Bailey (2B), Coach Hoss Bowlin, Don Brown (1B), Charles Buckner (3B), John Cardwell (P), Frank Cargo (RF), Mike Cox (C), Terry Cromer (OF), Bill Donahoo (2B), Jackie Glover (P), Mike Innes (P), Joe Kelley (P), Tommy Limbaugh (Coach), Stan Moss (3B), Ducky Medwick (OF), John Peck (C), Eddie Propst (P), Randy Quick (INF), J.C. Ranelli (SS), Dennis Stanard (1B), Jack Traffenstedt (LF) and David Vann (CF).
The 1961 and 1962 Alabama baseball teams also held reunions at the Joe this weekend. The 1961 team posted a 12-9 overall record and 6-9 mark in SEC play. The 1962 team was 16-10-1 and 8-7-1 in SEC play. Both teams were coached by the late Happy Campbell.
The 1961 team was led by shortstop Bobby Tarver's .417 (20-for-65) batting average. Tarver was fourth in the SEC in hitting and his .417 average still ranks the seventh highest total in school history for less than 100 at bats. Outfielder Tommy Hill led the Crimson Tide in runs scored (25), hits (27), home runs (5), RBI (22) and total bases (48). Pitcher Russell Sikes led Alabama in wins (4), innings pitched (45) and strikeouts (32).
In 1962, right fielder Bill Rix led the Tide with a .382 (21-for-55) batting average. Rix only struck out twice in 55 at bats. Center fielder Glen Baker paced the team in triples (3), stolen bases (6), hits (34) and total bases (48). Hill, who led the Tide in a number of categories in 1961, was the team leader in home runs (5), runs scored (19) and RBI (25) in 1962. Hill also struck out only two times in 96 at bats that season. Earl Griffin was the ace of staff compiling a 7-3 record in 11 games. He added four complete games. He worked 72 2/3 innings and allowed 30 earned runs and 60 hits with 67 strikeouts and 31walks. Baker and Hill were First-Team All-SEC selections in 1962.
Attending the 1961-62 reunion were: Glen Baker (CF), Ken Chapman (OF), Harvey Dirasch (P), Earl Griffin (P), Woosley Finnell (2B), Tommy Hill (LF), Alan Kosten (P), Butch Lieby (P), Eldon Miller (catcher), Tommy Moore (1B), Tony Proctor (OF), Bill Rix (RF), Charlie Seebeck (P), Russell Sikes (P), Joe Simms (P), Johnny Syx (INF), Bobby Tarver (SS) and Ashton Wells (3B).
-UA-
