#5. 1998 World Champion New York Yankees v. 13. 1970 World Champion Baltimore Orioles
It's the highest remaining overall seed, the '98 Yankees, who now have amassed 137 wins, against this Oriole club who basically secured 2 of the Final 8 spots in this tournament. Both of these teams have been favored in every round, so something's got to give.
Yankees 114-48 (Pythag 114-48) Mgr. Joe Torre (AL MoY)
1st in AL East
d. Rangers 3-0 in ALDS
d. Indians 4-2 in ALCS (MVP-David Wells)
d. Padres 4-0 in World Series (MVP-Scott Brosius)
d. #124 2004 Cardinals 2-0 (MVP: Bernie Williams/Tino Martinez)
d. #69 1910 Cubs 3-1 (MVP-Orlando Hernandez)
d. #28 1961 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Bernie Williams)
d. #117 1972 A's 4-1 (MVP-David Wells/Mariano Rivera)
All-Stars 3B Scott Brosius, SS Derek Jeter (3rd AL MVP) OF Paul O'Neill, SP David Wells (3rd AL Cy Young) OF Bernie Williams
Hall of Famers: Derek Jeter, Tim Raines, Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre
125-50 regular/postseason, won the AL East by 22. 41 games over .500 by the All Star Break. David Wells threw a perfect game in May. Darryl Strawberry had a cancer diagnosis in October.
Orioles 108-54 (Pythag 104-58) Mgr Earl Weaver
1st in AL East
d. Twins 3-0 in ALCS
d. Reds 4-1 in World Series (MVP-Brooks Robinson)
d. #116 1958 Yankees 2-1 (MVP-Eddie Watt)
d. #57 2013 Red Sox 3-1 (MVP-Boog Powell)
d. #45 1947 Yankees 3-2 (MVP-Mark Belanger)
d. #125 1909 A's 4-3 (MVP-Brooks Robinson/Mike Cuellar)
All-Stars SP Mike Cuellar (4th AL Cy Young) 2B Davey Johnson, SP Dave McNally (2nd AL Cy Young) SP Jim Palmer, (5th Cy Young) 1B Boog Powell (AL MVP) OF Frank Robinson, 3B Brooks Robinson
Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver
Baltimore scored 60 runs in their 8 postseason games, they won 19 of their last 22 in the regular season. Baltimore pitchers threw 60 complete games. They were 33-15, 52-18, won the AL East by 15 games.
REGION FOUR RECAP - HOW THE '70 ORIOLES GOT HERE
The '70 Orioles have already knocked off 2 Yankees teams as they get ready to face the '98 club. The first victim was the #116th seed, the 1958 Yanks. Like the 1977 Yankees, this Oriole team lost their first game, and since round 1 was best of three, they faced elimination right from the jump. The Orioles take game two 3-1, Dave McNally going 7, Eddie Watt getting Enos Slaughter to ground to third with 2 on in the ninth to end it. And in game 3, down 3-0 in the 8th, Baltimore stormed back to score 4 runs; Watt again with men on base in the 9th inning, gets Yogi to fly to center to end the series to earn the MVP
Next to go down was the 2013 Red Sox, the 57th seed. Again, Baltimore lost game one and again, came back to tie it up in game two; Boog Powell leading the way with 4 hits. Baltimore went down quickly, 5-1 in game 3 and stormed all the way back to win 16-9, both Frank and Brooks Robinson hitting big homers. Baltimore took game 4 and the series on a complete game from Jim Palmer and MVP Boog Powell hitting a 3 run homer, his third of the series.
The 45th seeded 1947 Yankees fell in the Regional Semi-Finals; Powell came up big again in game one with 5 RBI and Jim Palmer threw a complete game 6 hitter. The Yanks took game 2 and then Mike Cuellar outdueled Allie Reynolds 2-1 to take game 3. Palmer threw his second complete game of the series in game 4 - but Baltimore only got 3 hits and fell 3-1, forcing a showdown game 5. Baltimore was down to its last out, down 7-6 in the bottom of the 12th, two outs and a man on third - Mark Belanger (who would win the MVP) singled home the tying run off Joe Page. And then in the 13th inning Paul Blair singled home Don Buford to give the Orioles the series.
As was the case with the Region 8 winners, the '38 Yankees, this Oriole team has been favored in every matchup and that was true in the Regional Final when they faced the 125th seeded, 1909 A's. Mike Cuellar shut out Philadelphia in game 1, 3 hits, no walks, took just 99 pitches. The A's took the next three to grab control of the series; Baltimore down a seemingly insurmountable 3 games to 1. Game 5 was Cuellar again - again he shuts out the A's to send the series back to Baltimore. The Orioles took game 6, Don Buford scoring 4 runs to set up the only 7th game we've had so far in the entire tournament. 2-2 in the 8th inning; Brooks Robinson singles home Frank to give the Orioles the lead - and at 5-4 in the 9th, Robinson made a game saving play at third to rob Harry Davis and put the Orioles into the Elite 8, Brooks and Cuellar shared MVP.
REGION FIVE RECAP - HOW THE '98 YANKEES GOT HERE
The top remaining seed in the tournament is the 1998 Yankees; they came in as the 5th overall seed and they enter the Elite 8 having played to that level. They now have won 137 games; if they win this whole thing - they'll hit 149.
First to fall - the 124th seed 2004 Cards, the Yanks took both games, Rivera saving both games; Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez each had four base hits and a homer over the two game span and shared the MVP.
In Round 2, the Yanks took on the 1910 Cubs - the 1909 Cubs are still around; Region 3 Champs; we'll recap their trip next - the 1910 group was the 69th overall seed and played some nice ball (although not in game one, when Orlando Hernandez shut them out 10-0). In fact, New York took both games at home, but then Orval Overall shut them out in game 3; but that was that - Hernandez came back in game 4 and the Yanks shut the Cubs out again, 2-0, Rivera getting his third save of the tournament. Hernandez earning MVP honors.
The Regional Semis were a step up in competition - the Yanks taking on the Yanks, 1998 v 1961. '98 took game one, getting a dozen hits and winning 7-4. Rivera got his 4th save in the tournament. 1961 unleashed its power in game 2, bashing 6 home runs to even the series. Great Game 3 - Bernie Williams threw out Roger Maris at the plate in the bottom of the tenth to keep the game at 2-2, Scott Brosius singled home Tino Martinez in the 11th to give '98 the lead, and then with 2 on and two out in the bottom - Rivera got Mickey Mantle to fly to the deepest part of right field to end the game. 1998 clinched in game 4, David Cone beating Whitey Ford 2-1, Rivera earning his 5th save of the tournament, Bernie Williams wins the MVP with a 2 run homer to add to his huge game 3 throw.
In the Regional Final, the Yanks took on the 117th seeded 1972 A's, David Wells went 6 shutout innings to take game 1 - Bernie hit another 2 run homer - Rivera recorded his 6th save. The A's took game 2 and the series shifted to Oakland - where the '98 A's swept all 3 games to end it. David Cone was the star of game 3, 8 innings, 4 hits. Brosius hit a 3 run homer. The Yanks were down 1-0 in the 9th inning of game 4; but after tying to score on a Paul O'Neill homer off of Rollie Fingers, Homer Bush came off the bench for a pinch single to give the Yanks the lead. Rivera added his 7th save and the Yanks were up 3 games to 1. David Wells finished Oakland off in game 5, Rivera got his 8th save of the tournament and the two shared MVP honors.
That's the top half of the bracket.
1938 Yankees v. 1977 Yankees
1998 Yankees v. 1970 Orioles
The winners of those two series will meet in the Final Four, and the winner of that series will go on to play for the Championship.
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