12. 1942 New York Yankees v. 117. 1972 Oakland A's
The '41 Yankees have advanced. The '43 Yankees have advanced. The '47 Yankees have advanced. This is the last chance for an Oakland squad to move forward. This Yankees team lost the World Series - the A's team won it; the Yankees though are heavy seed favorites.
A's-Dick Williams
CF Jackson (26) 149 4.7
1B Epstein (29) 163 4.5
LF Rudi (25) 151 4.9
RF Alou (33) 110 .3
3B Bando (28) 116 4.6
C Duncan (26) 105 2.4
2B Cullen (30) 88 .4
SS Campaneris (30) 84 4.4
P Hunter (26) 140 6.3
Bench:
SP2 Holtzman (26) 114 4
SP3 Odom (27) 115 1.4
Yankees-Joe McCarthy
2B Gordon (27) 155 7.4
LF Keller (25) 163 6
CF DiMaggio (27) 147 6.2
RF Henrich (29) 121 2.5
C Dickey (35) 108 2.1
3B Priddy (22) 117 1.4
1B Hassett (30) 95 .7
SS Rizzuto (24) 103 5.5
P Bonham (28) 152 4.3
Bench:
SP2 Chandler (34) 145 3.4
SP3 Borowy (26) 137 2.8
No changes coming for either club. This is it. Seed favorite Yankees have WAR advantage at 2B-SS-LF-CF-RF-and the game 3 SP
1st: 28 year old right hander (all the Yankee starters are right handers) Tiny Bonham was 21-5 with a 2.27 ERA, 1-2-3
1st: Eventually, right hander Catfish Hunter will stand on the Yankee Stadium mound in pinstripes, that's not today, today he's a 26 year old with a 21-7 record and a 2.04 ERA, 1-2-3.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: After an out, Bill Dickey gets the game's first hit, the Yankees have three options at third - but McCarthy is going with the best bat for the series, Jerry Priddy, he doubles here and the Yankees are in business. After the second out, Dick Williams calls for the walk of Rizzuto to get to the pitcher's spot - and Hunter escapes.
3rd: Catfish Hunter hit .219, he gets the A's first hit, a two out single, that's all.
3rd: Joe Gordon and Charlie Keller walk back to back to open the inning, two outs later Bill Dickey walks and the Yankees have loaded the bases again - but again, Catfish escapes.
4th: Matty Alou is in a RF platoon; with the Yankees throwing all right handers, he's expected to get every start; he doubles with two out. Sal Bando follows with a walk - Oakland's two catchers, Dave Duncan and Gene Tenace, are both right handed and pretty similar with the bat, Duncan had a defensive advantage though and that gets him the start throughout this series - he doubles here, it scores Alou and Oakland takes the lead Athletics 1 Yankees 0
4th: Buddy Hassett opens the inning with a game tying homer, Joe Gordon singles two outs later, we head to the 5th Athletics 1 Yankees 1
5th: Reggie Jackson, of course, will become a Yankee great - but today he's a leadoff hitting center fielder for the A's, he doubles with two out, that's all.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Joe Rudi doubles to open the inning, two outs later it's Duncan again, a base hit to center drives home his second run of the day. Athletics 2 Yankees 1
6th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Rudi singles with one out - but that's it. The Yankees only have four hits on the day, can they find another run?
8th: 1-2-3; Catfish comes to Yankee stadium and stifles the Bombers.
9th: 25 year old right hander Johnny Lindell comes on; he walks Duncan and then gives up a single to Tim Cullen. He then walks Campaneris - and oh, boy, the A's have them loaded with nobody out. Oakland goes to the bench for a lefty pinch hitter, Mike Hegan, he grounds to first -- Hassett goes home to get one -- and Dickey comes up firing back to first for a helluva double play that keeps the Yankees alive. The Yankees bring in 33 year old right hander Johnny Murphy to face Reggie - if he gets him the Yankees are still in striking distance -- Murphy throws a wild pitch - that's going to score the insurance run, A's 3 Yankees 1
9th: Oakland brings in the 25 year old closer, Rollie Fingers, 11 wins, 21 saves, 2.51 ERA. Three outs away from taking game one. He gets them.
Athletics 3
Yankees 1
WP Hunter
LP Bonham
Catfish goes 8, gives up 4 hits. Rudi has two hits, Duncan reaches 3 times.
For the Yankees, Gordon reached twice.
We head to Oakland - the A's a win away from moving on.
2B Gordon (27) 155 7.4
CF DiMaggio (27) 147 6.2
LF Keller (25) 163 6
3B Priddy (22) 117 1.4
RF Henrich (29) 121 2.5
C Dickey (35) 108 2.1
SS Rizzuto (24) 103 5.5
1B Hassett (30) 95 .7
SP2 Chandler (34) 145 3.4
CF Jackson (26) 149 4.7
1B Epstein (29) 163 4.5
LF Rudi (25) 151 4.9
RF Alou (33) 110 .3
3B Bando (28) 116 4.6
C Duncan (26) 105 2.4
2B Cullen (30) 88 .4
SS Campaneris (30) 84 4.4
SP2 Holtzman (26) 114 4
1st: Ken Holtzman is the only lefty starter for either club in this series; 26 years old, 19-11, 2.51 ERA. He gives up a one out single to DiMaggio, that's all.
1st: 34 year old Spud Chandler stands on the Oakland Coliseum mound trying to extend the series another day. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Sal Bando walks with one out, Dave Duncan reaches on an error - and after a second out, both men are in scoring position for back to back run scoring singles by Campaneris and Holtzman. Reggie Jackson then laces a double and the A's have 3. Mike Epstein has the fourth straight run scoring hit for the A's, a base hit that scores both Holtzman and Jackson and this Oakland crowd loves it - Yankees 0 A's 5
3rd: Joe Gordon draws a two out walk, that's it.
3rd: Matty Alou singles and Bando walks - Oakland's close to ending this series - two outs later Campaneris comes through again, a run scoring single -- he's then going to steal second, and when Holtzman singles for the second time - both men score. It's 8-0 A's, Holtzman has 3 RBI and the Oakland crowd is in full celebration mode. Reggie doubles - but that's all. Yankees 0 A's 8
4th: Charlie Keller walks, that's all.
4th: Bando singles with one out, he's aboard 3 times today. That's all.
5th: 1-2-3 -- Holtzman has two hits and he's given up just one.
5th: Campaneris walks with one out; he's aboard 3 times today -- Reggie hits his second double, it's 9-0, the inning ends, perhaps the Yankees should have gone to the pen a couple innings back. Yankees 0 A's 9
6th: DiMaggio singles with one out, that's all.
6th: 27 year old lefty Marius Russo enters about 6 runs too late. He gives up a one out single to Alou, that's all.
7th: Dickey singles with two out. That's it. Catfish gave up 4 hits in game one, the Yankees have three hits today.
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Roy Cullenbine pinch singles with one out, there's the fourth hit.
8th: 31 year old right hander Atley Donald started 19 games, he enters, 1-2-3
9th: 34 year old right hander Joe Horlen is on to finish it up - Priddy walks with one out - Dickey then singles and Rizzuto puts the Yankees on the board with a base hit.
Yankees 1
Athletics 9
WP Holtzman
LP Chandler
3 hits for Reggie, including 2 doubles. Bando and Campaneris reach 3 times, Alou twice -- but the star today is Holtzman, two hits, 3 RBI, 8 IP and 4 hits allowed; he and Catfish are co MVPs.
Okay - moving on; we've seen multiple Cardinals squads from the 40s advance - none of the 20th century Red Sox teams have moved forward. Let's see what happens..
53. 1915 Boston Red Sox v. 76. 1946 St Louis Cardinals
None of the 20th century Red Sox teams have moved forward; the '43 Cards, '44 Cards have both advanced. Both of these teams - World Series Champions
Cards-Eddie Dyer
RF Slaughter (30) 133 4.1
3B Kurowski (28) 138 4.9
1B Musial (25) 183 7.9
2B Schoendienst (23) 86 2.5
LF Dusak (25) 95 1
CF Walker (27) 78 .3
C Garagiola (20) 73 .5
SS Marion (29) 80 3.2
P Pollet (25) 165 5.8
Bench
C Rice (23) 89 .3
CF Moore (34) 85 .4
SP2 Brecheen (31) 139 5.2
SP3 Burkhart (29) 120 1.5
2 platoons for the Cards; if we get to a game 3, we'll see the switches made against a lefty. The pitching is exactly the opposite here - Cards have two lefties and then a right hander for game 3, Sox are the opposite.
Red Sox-Bill Carrigan
1B Gainer (28) 138 2.1
LF Lewis (27) 121 2.3
CF Speaker (27) 151 6.5
C Cady (29) 109 2
2B Barry (28) 104 1.7
RF Hooper (27) 103 2.8
SS Janvrin (22) 88 .6
3B Gardner (29) 98 1.9
P Wood (25) 188 4.8
Bench
1B Hoblitzell (26) 127 3.1
SP2 Shore (24) 170 4.3
SP3 Ruth (20) 114 4.3
First base platoon for the Sox; they've also benched their starting shortstop, Everett Scott, for Janvrin who has a much better bat. Sox have nothing but good SP options, Rube Foster and Dutch Leonard can't crack the top 3. Yup - that's Babe Ruth, sitting there as the game 3 starter; he had just 92 at bats on the season, none as a position player, but was the Sox best hitter. Favored Sox have WAR advantage at C-LF-CF-and SP3 (which aint much)
1st: 25 year old right hander Smoky Joe Wood stands on the Fenway Park mound, 15-5 with a 1.49 ERA -- 1-2-3
1st: 25 year old lefty Howie Pollet was 21-10 with a 2.10 ERA, he hits Duffy Lewis with one out, but that's all.
2nd: Red Schoendienst hits a one out double, Erv Dusak walks, Harry Walker singles - and the Cards are on the board. Cardinals 1 Red Sox 0
2nd: Hal Janvrin singles with two out and then Larry Gardner walks, but that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Del Gainer singles, two out later Hick Cady singles - nothing else.
4th: Erv Dusak doubles, that's all.
4th: After two out - Gardner triples, but he's stranded.
5th: Marty Marion singles, after an out, Slaughter's aboard on an error and Marion scores on a Whitey Kurowski groundout. Cards 2 Sox 0
5th: Gainer doubles to open the inning, an out later Speaker singles - and then Gainer comes across on a Cady sac fly. Cards 2 Sox 1
6th: The Sox go to the pen early - Carl Mays, 23 years old, .260 ERA - unless Boston uses starters in the pen, he's their only effective relief arm, so they might look for a long outing from Mays today. Schoendienst opens the inning by reaching on error and then Dusak singles -- but Mays works out of it.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: With out out, Slaughter singles and Kurowksi singles him over to third - Slaughter then scores on a Musial groundout and the Cards are now up 3-1; Cardinals 3 Sox 1
7th: Gainer singles - Lewis doubles; and with nobody out the Sox have the tying runs in scoring position and this Fenway crowd loves it -- Pollet's able to get Speaker -- but Cady singles, everyone scores, the game is tied and it ends Howie's day. 29 year old Murry Dickson gets the call; right hander with 15 wins and a 2.88 ERA -- he gives up a 2 out single to Hooper, but that's all. Cards 3 Sox 3
8th: Okay, all tied up. Battle of the bullpens now. Let's see who takes game one. 1-2-3
8th: After an out, Dick Hoblitzel pinch singles, he and Gainer are platooning in the series - Gainer has 4 hits, he singles -- and then the two pull off an aggressive double steal. That puts two in scoring position for the Sox -- and Duffy Lewis drives them both home with a base hit. The Sox take their first lead, 30 year old right hander Ted Wilks, 8-0 during the season, enters, he gives up a double to Speaker -- that's going to score Lewis, the Sox have scored 5 in the last two innings and now lead Cards 3 Sox 6
9th: 30 year old lefty Vean Gregg comes on for Boston - he gives up a 2 out pinch single to Del Rice and then he walks Slaughter -- okay - tying run comes to the plate for the Cardinals - it's Whitey Kurowski...he works the count to 3-2....
...and Gregg strikes him out to end the game.
Cardinals 3
Red Sox 6
WP Mays
LP Dickson
Wood was effective, the bullpen was effective, the Sox come back from an early deficit to take game one. Del Gainer has 4 hits; Lewis/Speaker/Cady all had two, Cady had 3 RBI. Gardner reached twice.
For the Cards - Slaughter reached twice, Dusak 3 times.
We head to Sportsman's Park; the Cards need a win to stay alive.
1B Gainer (28) 138 2.1
LF Lewis (27) 121 2.3
CF Speaker (27) 151 6.5
C Cady (29) 109 2
2B Barry (28) 104 1.7
RF Hooper (27) 103 2.8
SS Janvrin (22) 88 .6
3B Gardner (29) 98 1.9
SP2 Shore (24) 170 4.3
RF Slaughter (30) 133 4.1
3B Kurowski (28) 138 4.9
1B Musial (25) 183 7.9
2B Schoendienst (23) 86 2.5
LF Dusak (25) 95 1
CF Walker (27) 78 .3
C Garagiola (20) 73 .5
SS Marion (29) 80 3.2
SP2 Brecheen (31) 139 5.2
1st: 31 year old lefty Harry Brecheen was just 15-15 for the Cards, but he had a 2.49 ERA and he gets the ball here. He walks Tris Speaker with one out, that's it.
1st: The Sox go with 24 year old right hander Ernie Shore, looking to move forward, 19-8 with a 1.64 ERA. He gives up a two out single to Stan Musial, and then a single to Red Schoendienst, but that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Harry Walker singles - then steals second and goes all the way to third when Hick Cady's throw goes into center -- and the he scores on a Shore wild pitch; the Cards need a win and this is a good start. Joe Garagiola singles and Marty Marion doubles - two in scoring position and still nobody out. Shore gets one - but Slaughter hits a sac fly for the second run. Whitey Kurowski walks to put men on the corners - but that's all. Red Sox 0 Cardinals 2
3rd: Del Gainer singles with two out, that's all.
3rd: Schoendienst reached on an error, two outs go by and then Garagiola and Marion, the bottom of the Cardinal order - come through once again, a single for Garagiola, a single for Marion, we head to the 4th Red Sox 0 Cardinals 3
4th: Speaker walks - steals second -- and then steals third; Tris Speaker led the Sox with 29 stolen bases and just grabs two more, after an out - Jack Barry comes through with a base hit and the Sox are on the board. That's all. Red Sox 1 Cardinals 3
4th: After an out, Kurowski singles and Musial walks - Schoendienst singles again and the Sox have their run back. Sox 1 Cards 4
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Garagiola walks - Marion singles. You can't stop the bottom of the Cardinal order. After two out, Kurowski singles them both home -- this one looks like it's headed back to Boston, Sox 1 Cards 6
6th: Hick Cady doubles with 2 out and Barry singles -- men on the corners, but the Sox don't score.
6th: Walker reaches on a two out error - and of course, Garagiola walks, but that's all.
7th: Hoblitzel pinch singles with two out, that's all.
7th: 28 year old lefty Ray Collins gets the ball; he gives up a one out single to Slaughter, then after the second out, a Musial single, but that's all.
8th: Speaker singles, an out later Barry singles - but that's all.
8th: Garagiola is aboard again, a two out walk, that's all.
9th: 1-2-3 and its done.
Red Sox 1
Cardinals 6
WP Brecheen
LP Shore
Complete game for Brecheen to force the showdown back at Fenway. Slaughter has now reached 3 times, Kurowski and Musial 3 times today, 4 times today for Marion - and 5 today for Garagiola.
For the Sox, Gainer has now reached 5 times, so has Speaker, 3 for Cady, Barry had 3 hits today,
3B Kurowski (28) 138 4.9
1B Musial (25) 183 7.9
RF Slaughter (30) 133 4.1
LF Dusak (25) 95 1
C Rice (23) 89 .3
CF Moore (34) 85 .4
2B Schoendienst (23) 86 2.5
SS Marion (29) 80 3.2
SP3 Burkhart (29) 120 1.5
1B Hoblitzell (26) 127 3.1
CF Speaker (27) 151 6.5
LF Lewis (27) 121 2.3
RF Hooper (27) 103 2.8
3B Gardner (29) 98 1.9
C Cady (29) 109 2
2B Barry (28) 104 1.7
SS Janvrin (22) 88 .6
P Ruth (20) 114 4.3
1st: A 20 year old lefty who also happens to be the best hitter on the team, George Herman Ruth, takes the mound at Fenway; 18-8 with a 2.44 ERA - winner take all showdown game. He walks Musial with one out, that's all.
1st: 29 year old right hander Ken Burkhart was 6-3 on the season, 2.88 ERA - can he outduel the young Bambino? He walks Dick Hoblitzel, getting the start against a RH, to open, that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Hick Cady singles with one out, after the second out, Hal Janvrin singles -- and that brings up the Babe. So, while I do get to set the batting orders and choose the lineups, the pitchers spot will always be 9th in the simulation - that's why Babe Ruth is just now coming to the plate -- but he lashes a single to score the game's first run. Cards 0 Sox 1
3rd: Ken Burkhart had 5 hits in the regular season - but with one out, he gets the first Cardinal hit of the game, Whitey Kurowski follows with the second hit, and then Stan Musial triples both men home to put the Cards in front. Cardinals 2 Red Sox 1
3rd: Duffy Lewis hits a one out double, that's all.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Barry doubles with one out - after the second out - the Cards intentionally walk Ruth, safe to say the only time in the tournament the pitcher will be intentionally walked is a Ruth at bat. Hoblitzell makes them pay with a base hit that ties us up. Cards 2 Red Sox 2
5th: 1-2-3; 8 straight for Ruth.
5th: Harry Hooper hit a 2 out double; that's all.
6th: Ruth gets the first two - but then walks Erv Dusak. Del Rice then singles - men on the corners; but Ruth gets through it.
6th: Murry Dickson comes on for the Cards, we saw him in game 1, he gives up a one out hit to Barry, but that's it. Ruth will lead off in the 7th.
7th: 1-2-3 - the Cards have just 4 hits today.
7th: Dickson gets Ruth, with two out however, Speaker singles and steals second - go ahead run in scoring position - but that's all. Still tied.
8th: Musial singles with one out, after a second out, Ruth walks Dusak. 2 on. 2 out. Ruth gets through it.
8th: Larry Gardner singles with one out, but that's all. We go to the 9th inning - all tied up in the showdown game at Fenway.
9th: The Sox go to the pen, losing Ruth's bat - Carl Mays comes on; 1-2-3
9th: Ted Wilks enters for the Cards -- bottom of the 9th -- Janvrin singles to open the inning; this would have been Ruth's spot; instead Del Gainer comes on to pinch hit for Mays - the Sox send Janvrin and he is gunned down by Del Rice. One away. Wilks strikes out Gainer -- and then gets Hoblitzell to ground out and we are going to extra innings in this showdown game.
10th: Lefty Vean Gregg is next for Boston - he gives up a one out walk to Whitey Kurowski and that means it's Musial time. Gregg gets him to fly out - and then he gets Slaughter.
10th: Freddy Schmidt, 30 year old right hander, pitched just 27 innings - but here he is on the Fenway mound - he gets both Speaker and Lewis to ground out - and then Hooper as well. We are going to the 11th inning in this showdown game.
11th: Lefty Ray Collins had a rough year, he enters for Boston - he gets Dusak but then gives up a single to Rice and balks him over to second. Cards have the go ahead run in scoring position -- he gets Terry Moore to pop up -- and then Schoendienst pops up as well.
11th: 31 year old right hander Red Barrett is next for the Cardinals - he walks Larry Gardner to open it up - series clinching run at first base and the Fenway crowd is letting you know. Cady pops up to third; Barry then singles to center -- Gardner's able to advance to third, just sliding in under the tag. There he stands - only one out - 90 feet away from the plate. Janvrin grounds hard to third -- there's no chance for Gardner to move to the plate - there's no play at second, Barry will make it - Kurowski throws to first for the second out.
So - men on second and third, so there is no force play - 2 out - pitchers spot up - the Sox turn to Heinie Wagner, right handed pinch hitter -- and he grounds harmlessly to second. We are going to the 12th inning with the score remaining Cards 2 Sox 2
12th: The Sox go back to the Game 2 starter - Ernie Shore - how much gas could he possibly have in the tank? He gets Marion to fly out - the Cards go to Clyde Kluttz in the pitchers spot - he flies to left. Shore gets Kurowski down 0-2 -- but he singles and that brings up Musial.
Musial singles to right - Kurowski goes to third. Shore maybe just doesn't have enough in him - they are on the corners - two out - Shore walks Slaughter to load the bases. But Dusak hits a harmless fly ball to left - and somehow, the Sox are still alive.
12th: 32 year old lefty Al Brazle is the new Cardinal pitcher - he gets Hoblitzell, that means it's Speaker - and he grounds out; Brazle then gets Lewis and we are going to the 13th; the longest game so far in the tournament and it's a Game 3.
13th: Del Rice flies to center -- Speaker makes a helluva running catch, it sure looked like extra bases when it left the bat. Shore then strikes Moore out looking - the Cardinal bench hates that call - Schoendienst hits a soft grounder to first that ends the inning.
13th: Harry Hooper hits a rocket - just a steamer - but right at Slaughter for out number one. Gardner and Cady both ground to second -- we are going to the 14th inning at Fenway. Cards 2 Sox 2
14th: It's still Shore on for the Sox; his third inning - he gets a loud fly ball by Marty Marion for the first out - Harry Walker hits for the pitcher -- and Shore walks him. Kurowski is next --- 3-6-3 to end the inning.
14th: The best arm in the Cardinal pen is 30 year old lefty Max Lanier with a 1.93 ERA - he has yet to pitch in the series and he comes on now. He gives up a single to Barry - but then Janvrin goes 4-6-3 to wipe him out. The Sox pinch hitter is a lefty, Olaf Henricksen, and he hits an easy grounder to Kurowski. We are going to the 15th inning. Man.
15th: No one pitched in more innings for Boston than 27 year old right hander Rube Foster, it speaks to the depth in their rotation that he couldn't find a start; 19 wins, a 2.11 ERA; he gets Musial to ground out - but then gives up back to back singles to Slaughter and Dusak. So - here we go - men on the corners with just one out -- and Del Rice doubles both of them home; there it is, the Cardinals have plated 2 and lead 4-2. That's all, but that might be plenty. Cardinals 4 Red Sox 2
15th: Lanier gets Hoblitzell to fly out, Speaker to ground out, Lewis to ground out and it is done.
Cardinals 4
Red Sox 2
WP Lanier
LP Foster
It's the '46 Cards who will move on to face the '72 A's.
10 innings pitched by the Cardinal pen -- no runs.
They really deserve the MVP here - but failing that it's going to Rice, despite only starting today; he had 3 hits including the game winning double and caught all 15 innings.
