6 spots left. 2 about to get claimed.
25. 1908 Chicago Cubs v. 104. 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
-3 Cubs teams from this era have already advanced; we will see this core group multiple times in the next round - for the Dodgers, it's Jackie Robinson's last chance to move forward. Both these clubs won the World Series.
Dodgers-Walter Alston
3B Robinson (36) 95 2.5
CF Snider (28) 169 7.4
C Campanella (33) 152 5.6
RF Furillo (33) 130 4.1
1B Hodges (31) 127 4.4
SS Reese (36) 103 3.7
LF Amoros (25) 95 1.4
2B Gilliam (26) 83 2.2
P Newcombe (29) 128 6.2
Bench
SP2 Loes (25) 114 1.7
SP3 Erskine (28) 108 1.8
Same lineup every day for the Dodgers, all RH pitchers.
Cubs-Frank Chance
2B Evers (26) 143 5.1
CF Howard (30) 109 1.2
1B Chance (31) 119 4.1
C Kling (32) 118 4.9
SS Tinker (27) 118 7.4
LF Sheckard (29) 101 1.1
RF Schulte (25) 88 .3
3B Steinfeldt (32) 88 1.9
P Brown (31) 160 8.1
Bench
SP2 Reulbach (25) 116 4.7
SP3 Overall (27) 123 2.6
Same lineup every day, all RH pitchers. Cubs are seed faves, they have WAR advantage at 2B-SS-and all 3 SP
1st: 31 year old RH Three Finger Brown was 29-9 with a 1.47 ERA, after an out, he walks Duke Snider, then gives up a Roy Campanella single - after the second out he walks Gil Hodges to load them up -- but he escapes unscathed.
1st: 29 year old RH Don Newcombe was 20-5, 3.20 -- he gives up a leadoff single to Johnny Evers but nothing else.
2nd: Sandy Amoros walks, then Jim Gilliam singles - Don Newcombe hit the hell out of the ball in '55, he had the second best OPS+ on the team; if I could, I'd have hit him third -- he rips a single to right center to score the run. After the first out, the best hitter on the team, Duke Snider, doubles home another run and then Campanella singles home two more. Gil Hodges singles after the second out, then Pee Wee Reese reached on an error to score the 5th run -- the Dodgers have batted around - Sandy Amoros is back up again, singling home another run -- another Cub error puts Gilliam on for another run -- it's an enormous inning - Dodgers 7 Cubs 0
2nd: Jimmy Sheckard singles with two out, that's it.
3rd: Jackie Robinson singles, that's it.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Hodges walks, Reese reached again on error and then Brown hits Amoros - this has gotten out of hand for the Cubs - Gilliam singles to score two, after an out Robinson walks - it ends there. Dodgers 9 Cubs 0
4th: 1-2-3
5th: After an out, Hodges singles, Reese walks - after the second out, Gilliam singles home another run - and then Newcome singles home his second run - Robinson singles home the 12th Dodger run - Dodgers 12 Cubs 0
5th: Sheckard doubles with one out, that's it.
6th: 28 year old RH Carl Lundgren enters, gives up a Campanella single, that's it.
6th: Lundgren/Evers/Howard all single to load them up -- the Cubs get one on a Chance groundout, but nothing else. Dodgers 12 Cubs 1
7th: Amoros singles with one out, that's it.
7th: Steinfeldt doubles with two out, that's it.
8th: 1-2-3
8th: Howard walks with one out, nothing else.
9th: Campanella walks, after an out, Gil Hodges tripled and it's a Brooklyn Baker's Dozen. The Cubs game 2 starter was going to be Ed Reulbach - but it will not be, he enters now - and he gets hit - Reese triples to score the 14th run -- Amoros doubles to score the 15th, it's a tournament high. And then Jim Gilliam gets his 4th hit of the day and it is a doozy -- he hits a ball to center that shoots into the right field corner, getting away from everyone -- and Gilliam keeps running -- all the way around -- for the first inside the park home run in the tournament. It is 17-1. It is 17-1! Newcombe singles. Robinson walks. This Reulbach move is a disaster. Snider then walks to load the bases - the Dodgers have batted around for the second time - Campanella sac fly makes it 18 runs. And then Carl Furillo triples -- that scores two more and it's 20! The Dodgers go into Chicago as underdogs (by seed, not notably, not by WAR) and they hang 20 on the Cubs. Dodgers 20 Cubs 1
9th: The Dodgers best relief arm is 24 year old RH Don Bessent - 1-2-3
Dodgers 20
Cubs 1
WP Newcombe
LP Brown
Wow.
20 runs on 20 hits for Brooklyn. Everyone in the lineup hit. Robinson reached 4 times, Snider 3, Campanella 4 times with 3 RBI, Furillo just once - but it was a triple that scored 2. How about 5 times for Gil Hodges with a triple of his own. He also scored 4 runs. Reese also scored 4, reaching twice, with a triple. Amoros reached 4 times, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored. Jim Gilliam reached 4 times, hit that inside the park home run, 5 RBI and 3 runs scored. And Newcombe had 3 hits, 2RBI, 2 runs scored. He also went 8 innings and just gave up the one run.
Wow.
Evers, Howard, Sheckard all reached twice.
We head to Brooklyn. The Dodgers are one win away from moving on.
2B Evers (26) 143 5.1
CF Howard (30) 109 1.2
1B Chance (31) 119 4.1
C Kling (32) 118 4.9
SS Tinker (27) 118 7.4
LF Sheckard (29) 101 1.1
RF Schulte (25) 88 .3
3B Steinfeldt (32) 88 1.9
SP3 Overall (27) 123 2.6
3B Robinson (36) 95 2.5
CF Snider (28) 169 7.4
C Campanella (33) 152 5.6
RF Furillo (33) 130 4.1
1B Hodges (31) 127 4.4
SS Reese (36) 103 3.7
LF Amoros (25) 95 1.4
2B Gilliam (26) 83 2.2
SP2 Loes (25) 114 1.7
1st: 25 year old RH Billy Loes can pitch Brooklyn into the next round and this Ebbets Field crowd is already rabid today having seen their Dodgers hang 20 on the Cubs in game one. 10-4, 3.59. He walks Johnny Evers, but that's all.
1st: It was supposed to be Reulbach - but he was used in relief in game one; so the Cubs move 27 year old RH Orval Overall up, 15-11, 1.92. He gives up a leadoff walk to Robinson - 36 year old Jackie then steals second and scores on a Duke Snider double and the Dodgers are off and running again. Cubs 0 Dodgers 1
2nd: Jimmy Sheckard walks with two out, Frank Schulte singles, nothing else.
2nd: Pee Wee Reese walks, Loes helps himself with a base hit - and then Jackie Robinson hits one of the left field foul pole - a three run shot - that might be the blow that puts the Dodgers into the next round - the enormous - earth shattering roar from this Brooklyn crowd as Robinson rounds the bases. Cubs 0 Dodgers 4
3rd: With one out, Evers/Howard single, but nothing results.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Sheckard doubles, nothing else.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Robinson singles, steals second again, moves to third on an out - and scores when Campanella reaches by error. 5 runs for the Dodgers and Robinson's played a role in all of them. Cubs 0 Dodgers 5
6th: Chance walks, nothing else.
6th: Hodges walks, that's all.
7th: Sheckard walks, Schulte singles - Cubs have them on the corners with nobody out and this could be their last stand - Loes gets a Steinfeldt double play, that scores the first Chicago run. Cubs 1 Dodgers 5
7th: The Dodgers best bench bat is 30 year old RH Frank Kellert - he pinch singles with one out, after the second out, Snider walks, but that's all.
8th: 28 year old RH Clem Labine won 13 games and he's the new Dodger pitcher; 1-2-3
8th: Carl Lundgren comes on for Chicago - he gives up a one out Hodges walk, that's it.
9th: Sheckard walks with two out - but it ends here for the Cubs.
Cubs 0
Dodgers 5
WP Loes
LP Overall
Loes goes 8 and the Dodgers pitching just whips the Cubs. Robinson reached 7 times in the series with the big homer today. Snider 5 times, Hodges 7 times, Reese 5. Let's say that Robinson and Newcombe, with apologies to Gilliam, are co-MVPs.
The '55 Dodgers move on - they'll face the winners of this one:
40. 1995 Cleveland Indians v. 89. 1923 New York Yankees
-Cleveland looking for a third team to push forward; the Yankees looking for their third team from the 1920s. The Indians won the pennant; the Yankees won the whole thing.
Yankees-Miller Huggins
DH Smith (30) 122 1.1
RF Ruth (28) 239 13.1 (I think this is the best year for anyone in the tournament)
LF Meusel (26) 117 1.2
CF Witt (27) 107 2.6
2B Ward (26) 101 3.9
1B Pipp (30) 95 1.6
C Schang (33) 84 .6
3B Dugan (26) 81 1.8
SS Scott (30) 54 0
P Hoyt (23) 131 3.3
Bench
SP2 Pennock (29) 126 4.8
SP3 Jones (30) 109 2.8
Pretty straightforward for the Yankees; 20 year old Gehrig was great, but in too limited action to be eligible here. Yankees going R-L-R, the bullpen is not good.
Indians-Mike Hargrove
CF Lofton (28) 110 3.4
3B Thome (24) 157 5.6
LF Belle (28) 177 8.2
RF Ramirez (23) 147 3.7
DH Murray (39) 129 2.7
1B Sorrento (29) 116 1.1
2B Baerga (26) 108 3.4
C Alomar (29) 107 1.7
SS Vizquel (28) 78 2.4
P Martinez (41) 152 4.3
Bench
SP2 Ogea (24) 154 2.3
SP3 Hershiser (36) 121 3.5
39 year old Eddie Murray will play first when the series moves to NY; a 43 year old Dave Winfield was not good in '95, but he is available to pinch hit. Indians are seed favorites and have the WAR advantage at C-SS-3B-LF-CF-SP1-SP3
1st: Dennis Martinez is a 41 year old RH, 12-5, 3.08 -- he gives up a leadoff single to Elmer Smith; nothing else.
1st: 23 year old RH Waite Hoyt takes the ball for the Yankees - 17-9, 3.02 -- he gives up a first pitch triple to Kenny Lofton - we just saw Lofton with the 2002 Giants (he tripled) and here he is, 7 years prior, getting it going for the Tribe. Jim Thome follows with a single and it's 1-0 -- Albert Belle walks, but Hoyt limits the damage. Yankees 0 Indians 1
2nd: Wally Schang singles with two out, nothing else.
2nd: Carlos Baerga singles, that's it.
3rd: Martinez gets the first two - but then Babe Ruth hits a titanic shot to right center that might still be traveling and it's tied. Yankees 1 Indians 1
3rd: After an out, Thome and Belle single, Thome scores on a Manny Ramirez groundout, Yankees 1 Indians 2
4th: Wally Pipp gets hit with two out - Schang walks - but nothing else.
4th: After two out, Sandy Alomar singles, Omar Vizquel/Kenny Lofton walk to load them up - but Hoyt gets through it.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: After an out, Manny Ramirez/Eddie Murray single - after the second out, Baerga singles home the Indians third run. Yankees 1 Indians 3
6th: Bob Meusel doubles and Whitey Witt walks - but the Yanks do not score.
6th: Omar Vizquel singles and steals second - after an out, Jim Thome doubles, that's his third hit and the Indians are stretching this lead. Yankees 1 Indians 4
7th: Everett Scott singles with two out, nothing else.
7th: Eddie Murray and Paul Sorrento single - after an out, Sandy Alomar singles home another Cleveland run. 23 year old RH George Pipgras is the new Yankee pitcher - he gives up a run scoring single to Vizquel and then Kenny Lofton hits his second triple of the game - it clears the bases and this one is over. After the second out, Albert Belle singles home another run. Manny Ramirez then singles - 31 year old RH Carl Mays comes on and ends the inning. Yankees 1 Indians 9
8th: Ruth singles - two out later, Aaron Ward hits a two run homer. Hargrove turns to a pitcher almost as old as Martinez, 38 year old lefty Bud Black comes on - he gives up a base hit to Pipp, then a base hit to Schang - and then Joe Dugan hits a 3 run homer -- the Yankees have scored 5 in the inning - it might be too little, too late, but this is a heck of a comeback. 31 year old RH Eric Plunk comes on to end the inning. Yankees 6 Indians 9
8th: Sorrento and Baerga single - after two out, Vizquel singles to get a little insurance. Yankees 6 Indians 10
9th: 1-2-3
Yankees 6
Indians 10
WP Martinez
LP Hoyt
21 hits for the Indians. Lofton reached 3 times with 2 triples. Thome reached 3 times. So did Belle. 2 for Ramirez/Murray/Sorrento. 3 for Baerga, 2 for Alomar - and Vizquel reached 4 times.
For the Yankees, Ruth reached twice with a homer, Ward and Dugan both homered - and Schang reached three times.
We head to New York - Yankees need a win.
RF Ramirez (23) 147 3.7
LF Belle (28) 177 8.2
3B Thome (24) 157 5.6
1B Murray (39) 129 2.7
2B Baerga (26) 108 3.4
C Alomar (29) 107 1.7
CF Lofton (28) 110 3.4
SS Vizquel (28) 78 2.4
SP2 Ogea (24) 154 2.3
CF Witt (27) 107 2.6
RF Ruth (28) 239 13.1
LF Meusel (26) 117 1.2
2B Ward (26) 101 3.9
1B Pipp (30) 95 1.6
C Schang (33) 84 .6
3B Dugan (26) 81 1.8
SS Scott (30) 54 0
SP2 Pennock (29) 126 4.8
1st: 29 year old lefty Herb Pennock stands between the Indians and the next round; 19-6, 3.13 - he walks Jim Thome with two out - then throws a wild pitch that moves Thome up a bag - and then Eddie Murray, getting the start at first today, singles Thome home and Cleveland has scored in the first. Indians 1 Yankees 0
1st: 24 year old RH Chad Ogea can pitch the Indians into the next round - 8-3, 3.05 -- 1-2-3
2nd: Sandy Alomar singles, nothing else.
2nd: Wally Pipp walks with one out, that's it.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Whitey Witt reaches on a 2 out error and Babe Ruth walks - Ogea gets through it.
4th: Baerga walks with two out, nothing else.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Lofton leads off with his third triple of the series - but Pennock strands him at third.
5th: Joe Dugan singles, nothing else.
6th: Albert Belle doubles, two out later Baerga gets hit - but nothing else.
6th: 1-2-3 -- the Yankees have one hit.
7th: 1-2-3 - the Indians have just 4 hits.
7th: Ogea's throwing a one hitter but he got lifted in the top of the inning so now Cleveland goes to the pen - Eric Plunk gets the call here. 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3 - great start by Pennock, but will it be enough?
8th: Everett Scott singles, and out later Witt walks - that brings up Ruth - this is the big spot - tying run in scoring position -- Plunk gets him. 22 year old RH Julian Tavarez has ten wins and he comes on now - and he ends the inning.
9th: George Pipgras is the new Yankee pitcher; he gives up base hits to Murray and Baerga - can the Indians find some insurance -- they can't - two outs later Lofton walks, but Pipgras escapes and we head to the bottom of the 9th, still 1-0.
9th: You want to see a guy who had an all time great season? Jose Mesa is the Cleveland closer, 46 saves and a 1.13 ERA. 1-2-3 and it done.
Indians 1
Yankees 0
WP Ogea
LP Pennock
2 hitter for the 4 Indian pitchers today. Belle and Thome reached 4 times in the series. So did Murray, Baerga reached 5 times. So did Lofton and he had 3 triples; that's enough, Lofton is the MVP and the Indians will take on the '55 Dodgers next.
