(12-10-2020 11:27 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote: Former Astros shortstop Denis Menke, a 2-time All-Star for Houston, at 80.
I remember, in 1969, when he and Jimmy Wynn hit grand slams in the same inning.
But, he was also known for being part of one of the worst trades (for us Astros fans) in history. He was traded to Cincinnati along with future Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan, starting pitcher Jack Billingham, center fielder César Gerónimo and utility outfielder Ed Armbrister, while the Astros received second baseman Tommy Helms, first baseman Lee May and utility infielder Jimmy Stewart.
Ugh!
Astros traded away an incredible amount of talent in the late 1960s/early 1970s. This could have been their lineup in the early to middle 1970s:
CF Cesar Cedeno
2B Joe Morgan
LF Jim Wynn
RF Rusty Staub
1B John Mayberry/Bob Watson platoon
3B Doug Rader
C Jerry Grote
SS Denis Menke/Roger Metzger
SP Larry Dierker, Don Wilson, Mike Cuellar, Ken Forsch, Jerry Reuss, Dave Roberts
RP Dave Giusti, Jim Ray, Tom Griffin, Denny Lemaster, George Culver
BENCH
C John Bateman (lost in expansion draft but could have been protected, was later traded by Philadelphia to St. Louis for Tim McCarver, who would have been an interesting addition if Astros had held him and made that trade), Cliff Johnson
IF Sandy Alomar Sr.
OF Cesar Geronimo, Mike Easler, Ed Armbrister
If they had just kept what they had, the Big Red Machine of the 1970s could easily have been the Big Orange Machine instead.