American League Batting Leaders (#216, 218, 220)

Here are the American League batting leaders for the prior season. Tony Oliva and Willie Horton each appear twice, and there are two Red Sox players, and (surprising to me) two Indians. In addition to Horton, the Tigers are also represented by 1st baseman Norm Cash, so only 4 of the 10 AL teams are represented.


These were the only three AL players to hit .300 or better. Tony Oliva won the 2nd of his 3 AL batting crowns in 1965. Carl Yastrzemski was getting warmed up for his triple crown 1967 season. (Why did Topps take a photo of Yaz with his chin up? Did they really think he might be traded?) Vic Davalillo hit .301 in 1965. (I would never have guessed he appeared on a leaders card.)




Tony Conigliaro won the AL home run title in his 2nd season, breaking Harmon Killebrew's 3-year reign at the top. Tony's 32 homers were well off the normal league-leading pace in the upper-40s. Tiger teammates Cash and Horton rounded out the top 3.




Indians' slugger Rocky Colavito led the league with 108 RBI. This was his only RBI crown, although he collected over 100 six times, including 140 in 1961. (Some guy named Maris led the AL that year with 141.) Rocky won the home run title in 1959 with 42 dingers. Horton finished 2nd, with Oliva in 3rd place. (I always knew Oliva was a hitting guru, but never thought of him as a power guy, so I was a little surprised to see him here.)