Winners bracket, best of 7, AL took game one, 11-2 - the lineups both totally turn over in game 2.
NL Lineup
2B 1924 R.Hornsby
SS 1908 H.Wagner
1B 2009 A.Pujols
CF 1965 W.Mays
RF 1959 H.Aaron
LF 1962 F.Robinson
3B 1980 M.Schmidt
C 1972 J.Bench
RHP 1968 B.Gibson
AL Lineup
LF 1946 T.Williams
RF 1923 B.Ruth
1B 1927 L.Gehrig
CF 1957 M.Mantle
3B 1980 G.Brett
2B 1915 E.Collins
C 1937 B.Dickey
SS 1948 L.Boudreau
LHP 1945 H.Newhouser
Top 1
24 year old Hal Newhouser takes the ball in his home park, Tiger Stadium. Newhouser won his second straight MVP this year, 25-9, 1.81. Leading off for the NL, 28 year old Rogers Hornsby, he finished second in the MVP, despite leading all MLB with a .424 batting average.
Newhouser gets him to ground to short.
Honus Wagner is 34 years old, he led all MLB with a .354 BA this year. He beats out a ground ball to short - but on the next pitch, Dickey guns him down attempting to steal.
29 year old Albert Pujols comes to the plate, he won his third MVP this year, second straight, leading all MLB with 47 homers. Pujols bloops a single to right center.
Willie Mays is 34, he won his second MVP this year, leading MLB with a .398 OBP. Mays rips a double down the right field line -- Pujols comes all the way around to score from first and the NL is on the board 1-0.
25 year old Hank Aaron comes to the plate, third in the MVP Award this year, he led MLB hitting .355; Newhouser wants nothing to do with him and Aaron walks.
That brings up a 26 year old Frank Robinson; 4th in the MVP, he led all MLB by slugging .624, he grounds a ball that - just gets into right field - Mays comes around to score and the NL goes up 2-0.
30 year old Mike Schmidt comes to the plate, he won the first of what would be back to back MVP awards this year, AND SCHMIDT HITS A TOWERING HOME RUN TO LEFT -- Mike Schmidt hits a 3 run home run and the NL has come out in game two with a 5 spot in the first inning. 5-0
Johnny Bench is 24 - a frustrated Newhouser drills him in the leg.
The NL has batted around in the first - Bob Gibson coming to the plate - he works a walk and they've come all the way back around to Hornsby - Newhouser strikes him out and the inning is over.
Bottom 1
32 year old Bob Gibson takes the ball for the NL, he won both the Cy Young and the MVP this season, 22-9, 1.12.
27 year old Ted Williams leads off for the AL, he came back from a 3 year military stint this season and won his first MVP award. leading all MLB with a 215 OPS+. Williams doubles off the left field wall.
That brings up 28 year old Babe Ruth, he won his only MVP this year, leading MLB with 41 homers. Ruth walks.
24 year old Lou Gehrig won his first MVP this season, he led MLB with 447 total bases. Gehrig hits a ball to the deepest part of left field, Robinson makes a play at the track, Williams advances.
Mickey Mantle is 25, he won the second of back to back MVPs, he led all MLB with 121 runs scored, Mantle drives a ball into the right center gap - Williams and Ruth - are both going to score - its a double for Mantle and it is now 5-2.
27 year old George Brett comes to the plate, he won the MVP this year, leading MLB by hitting .390. Gibson gets him to fly to right.
Eddie Collins is 28, led MLB in walks this year at 119, Gibson gets him to fly to right to end the inning.
Top 2
Wagner singled and was thrown out trying to steal in the first - he leads off the second against Newhouser with a walk. Wagner led MLB with a .415 OBP this season.
Again - Wagner takes off -- and again - Dickey shoots him down.
Pujols singled back in the first - he led the NL with a .443 OBP this year - he singles again, bleeding a single just to the right of the second base bag.
Mays doubled in a run in the first, he led MLB with 52 homers this year - he punches a single to left.
Aaron walked in the first - Newhouser gets him to go 6-4-3 and end the inning.
Bottom 2
30 year old Bill Dickey finished 5th in the MVP, he doubles to left.
Lou Boudreau is also 30, he was the AL MVP this season, hitting .355. Boudreau singles sharply to left and the AL has the tying run coming to the plate.
Newhouser attempts to bunt, but pops up behind the mound.
Williams doubled in the first - and the all time MLB career leader in OBP doubles again, Dickey scores Boudreau stops at third and now it is 5-3.
Ruth walked in the first, there's an open base - but Gibson goes after him - Ruth holds the all time record in SLG, OPS, OPS+, rOBA and Rbat+ --- and he singles to right - Boudreau scores, Williams scores -- and the 5 run lead is wiped out - 5-5.
Gehrig's 0-1, he hits a bomb - an absolute bomb - to the deepest part of center field -- that Mays tracks down with a full sprint.
Mantle doubles back in the first - Gibson gets him to ground to second and the inning is over.
Top 3
Back to level, 5-5 here in the top of the third, Robinson singled back in the first, he led MLB with 51 doubles this year and he hits a ground ruled double to left.
Schmidt hit the big 3 run jack that gave the NL the 5-0 lead, Newhouser strikes him out.
Bench was hit by a pitch, seemingly intentionally, in the first - AND HE HITS A DRIVE - DEEP RIGHT FIELD -- IT JUST...CURLS INSIDE THE FOUL POLE, Johnny Bench hits a 2 run homer and the NL goes back on top 7-5.
Gibson walked back in the first - Newhouser strikes him out.
Hornsby is 0-2, he grounds to second.
Bottom 3
Gibson again given the lead - the offense just so strong with these lineups, Brett's 0-1, Gibson strikes him out.
Collins is 0-1, he will retire as the MLB career leader in sacrifice bunts, he singles to center.
Dickey doubled in the second, he hit .332 this year, and he doubles again - down the left field line, Collins scores all the way from first when the ball rattles in the corner. 7-6.
Boudreau singled in the second, he grounds to short.
Newhouser hits for himself - he grounds to short and the inning ends.
Top 4
Wagner's been aboard both times, Newhouser gets him here, on a soft roller to second.
Pujols is 2-2, he pops to short.
Mays is 2-2, he hits a scorcher - right at Brett and Newhouser has a 1-2-3 4th.
Bottom 4
Back to the top of the order, Williams has 2 doubles, he grounds to first - flip to Gibson for the putout.
Ruth has reached both times, this was his 4th year as a Yankee after a half dozen in Boston; it was the 5th time he led all MLB in homers. He singles.
Gehrig has hit two fly balls to the wall, he rips a line drive rocket to right field - Aaron makes a really nice running catch.
Mantle's 1-2, Gibson strikes him out and we head to the 5th.
Top 5
Newhouser back out to the mound, AL trailing 7-6, Aaron is 0-1 with a walk and he leads it off, he rips one through the box for a base knock. Aaron's in his 6th year in the bigs, all with Milwaukee, and he'll play 6 more after this before the Braves move to Atlanta in '66.
Robinson's 2-2, he hits a slow ground ball to third - there's no play at second and Brett throws on to first to just get Frank.
Schmidt's 1-2 with a homer, he flies to left.
Bench homered and walked - and he's gonna walk again, it's an intentional pass to bring up the pitchers spot with two on and two out. Bench's career high in sac flies was this season, 12.
Gibson hits for himself - Newhouser strikes him out and the threat ends.
Bottom 5
Gibson still leading 7-6, Brett is 0-2, and now 0-3, fly to center.
Collins is 1-2, he led all MLB in B-Ref WAR this year, easy ground ball to first.
Dickey's doubled twice, this was his career best defensive season per dWAR, 1.3. He singles to right, it's a three hit game 2 for Bill Dickey.
Boudreau's 1-2, this was his career best OPS+ season, 166. He singles to center, back to back two out singles for the AL, and the tying run is in scoring position.
Newhouser hits for himself, as i try to mention when I can, the simulation I use is pretty basic, I don't have the ability to pull pitchers, thats done by the sim - so the primary gap between this and were this to be a real game is the All-Star short series format would value much earlier bullpen usage.
Newhouser fouls to third and the inning ends.
Top 6
Hornsby is 0-3, he grounds to second.
Wagner has reached twice, and he ropes a base hit to right. Wagner has tried Dickey twice and has been shot down twice, he led all MLB with 53 steals this season.
Pujols is 2-3, he will retire having hit into more double plays than any man in history - but he does not do that here, he singles to center, Wagner running on the pitch is into third and there are men on the corners for Mays.
Mays is 2-3 -- and he rips a base hit to right; Wagner scores - Pujols running on the pitch is into third, Mays had 112 RBI this season and gives the NL the 8-6 lead.
That ends Newhouser's day - the Rocket, Roger Clemens coming out of the pen for the AL, Clemens is 34 years old, he won his 4th Cy Young, 21-7, 2.05. He faces Hank Aaron with men on the corners and 1 away, Aaron's reached twice - he had 123 RBI this year and adds one more, with a single to left center, Pujols scores, Mays onto third. 9-6.
Robinson is 2-3, Clemens strikes him out.
Schmidt hit the big 3 run homer - Clemens strikes him out and the inning ends. The NL tacks on 2 more.
Bottom 6
Top of the order for the AL.
Williams is 2-3, Gibson walks him. Williams led MLB in walks for the third time this season with 156.
Ruth has reached all 3 times - Gibson strikes him out after a long battle.
Gehrig's 0-3 and now he's 0-4, Gibson striking him out - back to back Gibson gets Ruth/Gehrig.
Mantle's 1-3, he singles to right center, Williams heads to third; and with 2 out, the tying run comes to the plate for the American League. This was Mantle's second of 4 straight years with 300+ total bases.
So - it sets up George Brett, he's 0-2, Gibson stays on to face him -- and Brett Hits a bases clearing Triple! Brett led MLB in triples the prior season and cuts the NL lead to 9-8 here in the 6th.
That ends the day for Gibson - Randy Johnson pitched in game one and comes on in relief now, 37 year old Johnson facing Eddie Collins with 2 away and the tying run at third. Collins hits a lazy fly ball to right and the inning ends.
Top 7
3 innings left in game 2, NL up 9-8, its a battle of the bullpen now as Clemens comes back out to the mound.
Johnny Bench has reached 3 times with a home run - he's on again with a walk.
Johnson hits for himself and pops to Clemens.
Tough day for Hornsby, 0-4 and Clemens strikes him out.
Wagner's reached 3 times - but Clemens strikes him out and we go to the stretch, AL still up a run.
Bottom 7
Dickey's got 3 hits, Johnson gets him to pop up to second.
Boudreau's got 2 hits, he grounds out to second.
Clemens hits for himself, Johnson strikes him out on 3 pitches and it is still NL 9 AL 8
Top 8
3 hit day for Pujols - high pop up to short.
3 hit day for Mays - grounder to third.
Aaron's been on base 3 times - but he grounds to first, Gehrig takes it himself, 3 up and 3 down and we go to the bottom of the 8th.
Bottom 8
Top of the order for the AL, Williams has reached base 3 times, AND HE HITS A BOMB, A TOWERING HOME RUN TO RIGHT, IT DISAPPEARS INTO THE NIGHT AND THE GAME IS TIED 9-9. Williams hit 521 career home runs, and this is a big one, off of Randy Johnson to tie the score here in game 2.
Ruth's reached 3 times- Johnson strikes him out.
Gehrig's 0-4 - Johnson strikes him out.
Mantle's got a couple of hits - he grounds to third, Johnson gives up the tying home run to Williams and we go to the 9th.
Top 9
Robinson has 2 hits, he punches a single to right.
Schmidt homered in the first - he grounds slowly to short, they get the lead runner, but Schmidt is safe at first.
Bench walks - Johnny Bench reaches all five times today.
NL goes to the bench - its Bonds, Barry Bonds vs Roger Clemens in the 9th inning, two on, one out.
Clemens gets him to fly to left.
Hornsby is 0-5, NL needs him here - but he grounds to second - Clemens has really done it today, 3+ innings, no earned runs and we go to the bottom.
Bottom 9
Greg Maddux is the third NL pitcher, he also pitched in game 1 - Brett tripled home 2 runs in his last at bat, he grounds to first, flip to Maddux for the out.
Maddux walks Collins.
Maddux walks Dickey. Shocking back to back walks for Maddux and the winning run is in scoring position with 1 out.
Boudreau to the plate -- Maddux gets him with the routine 6-4-3 and we are off to the 10th.
Top 10
Clemens back out to the mound as we go to extras.
Clemens strikes out Wagner.
Pujols HITS A LONG DRIVE -- DEEP LEFT FIELD - But Williams catches it at the base of the wall.
Mays HITS A LONG DRIVE...DEAD CENTER FIELD...MANTLE GOING BACK....BUT IT IS GONE! IT IS GONE!! Willie Mays takes Roger Clemens deep to dead center field and it is 10-9 NL. Mob scene in the dugout, the NL has regained the lead on the 2 out Mays homer.
Clemens hits Aaron, he shouts at himself on the mound, and thats the last batter he will face - the AL turns to Pedro Martinez, 28 years old, he won his third Cy Young, 18-6, 1.74. Pedro strikes out Robinson and we go to the bottom of the 10th.
Bottom 10
Craig Kimbrel takes over for the NL, 3 outs to get to tie the series.
Kimbrel is 24, led the NL with 42 saves, 3-1, 1.01, finished 5th in the Cy Young.
Jimmie Foxx is the pinch hitter for the pitchers spot. He rips a HARD line drive - but its right at Schmidt.
Williams walks - he's the tying run and Ruth and Gehrig are next.
Kimbrel strikes out Ruth. 2 away.
Kimbrel strikes out Gehrig and the game is over.
NL 10 AL 9
WP Maddux
LP Clemens
Sv Kimbrel
Willie Mays hits a 10th inning home run and the NL ties up the series at 1 and it will head to the Polo Grounds for games 3-5.
Henderson 3-4, HR, 2B, BB, 3RBI, 3RS, SB
Williams 3-4, BB, HR, 2BB, 4RBI, 2RS
Lajoie 1-4, BB, RS
Collins 1-4, BB, RS
Foxx 2-6 HR, 2B, 5RBI, RS
Gehrig 0-6
DiMaggio 0-5
Mantle 2-5 2B, 2RBI, 2RS
Cobb 0-3 BB
Ruth 2-5 BB, 2RBI, 2RS
Rodriguez 2-4 HR RBI, 2RS,
Boudreau 2-5 RBI, RS
Ripken 1-4
Brett 1-5, 3B, 2RBI
Mauer 1-4 2B RBI, 2RS,
Dickey 3-4 BB, 2 2B, RBI, RS
Johnson 4-4 RBI, 2RS
Johnson 1-0, 8K 1BB, 9 IP 2.00
Martinez
Morgan 2-4 HR, 2RBI, RS
Hornsby 0-6
Musial 0-3 BB
Pujols 3-6, 2RS
Bonds 1-5 2B
Robinson 3-6 2B, RBI, RS
Harper 0-4
Aaron 2-5, BB, HBP, RBI, RS
Piazza 0-4
Bench 1-1 3BB, HBP, 2RBI, RS
Mathews 1-4
Schmidt 1-5 HR, 3RBI, RS
Snider 0-3
Mays 4-6, HR, 2B, 2RBI, RS
Vaughan 1-3, RS, E
Wagner 2-5, BB, RS, 2CS
Gibson
Koufax 0-1, 2K, 2BB, 2.1 IP 30.86
Maddux 2K, BB, 4.2 IP, 3.86
Johnson K 1 IP 0.00
