63. 1948 World Champion Cleveland Indians v. 127. 1967 World Champion St Louis Cardinals
4 spots claimed - 28 still to go. All 4 teams that have moved forward are World Champions and so will be the winner of this series.
Indians 97-58 Mgr. Lou Boudreau
Won AL Pennant
d. Braves in WS
d. #66. 1954 Giants (MVP: Lary Doby/Dale Mitchell)
All-Stars: SS Lou Boudreau (AL MVP) SP Bob Feller (5th AL MVP) 2B Joe Gordon, 3B Ken Keltner, SP Bob Lemon,
Hall of Famers: Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Bob Feller, Joe Gordon, Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige, Bill McKechnie (3rd base coach)
Cardinals 101-60 Mgr. Red Schoendienst
Won NL Pennant
d. Red Sox in WS
d. #2 1927 Yankees (MVP-Dick Hughes)
All-Stars: OF Lou Brock, 1B Orlando Cepeda (NL MVP) SP Bob Gibson, C Tim McCarver (2nd NL MVP)
Hall of Famers: Lou Brock, Steve Carlton, Orlando Cepeda, Bob Gibson
Cardinals Lineup
LF Brock (28) 127 4.9
CF Flood (29) 128 4.8
1B Cepeda (29) 164 7.0
C McCarver (25) 136 6.3
RF Maris (32) 116 2.9
2B Javier (30) 105 2.2
3B Shannon (27) 93 .2
SS Maxvill (28) 67 2.2
P Hughes (29) 123 3.9
Bench
SP2 Carlton (LH) (22) 110 3.5
SP3 Gibson (31) 110 3.7
Schoendienst will send out the same 8 every day; his two Hall of Fame pitchers are ready in games 2 and 3.
CF Doby (24) 134 3.6
SS Boudreau (30) 165 10.2
2B Gordon (33) 135 6.2
3B Keltner (31) 146 6.5
LF Mitchell (26) 119 2.9
1B Robinson (27) 91 .9
RF Tucker (30) 86 .9
C Hegan (27) 94 2.8
SP Bearden (LH) (27) 168 5.0
Bench
RF Clark (25) 117 1.3
P Lemon (27) 144 7
SP3 Feller (29) 114
Platoon in LF; Indians have HOF pitchers going in games 2 and 3.
WAR Advantage:
C Cardinals
1B Cardinals
2B Indians
SS Indians
3B Indians
LF Cardinals
CF Indians
RF Cardinals
SP1 Indians
SP2 Indians
SP3 Cardinals
Bullpen (est) Indians
Indians 7 Cards 5 - Indians have seed advantage, they have WAR advantage, they have the best position player, Boudreau - they're solid favorites.
GAME ONE
1st: Region 2 is underway with 27 year old lefty Gene Bearden 20-7, 2.43. Bearden was 2nd in the AL Rookie of the Year and he'll never have another year like this in a 7 year big league career. He gives up a 2 out single to Orlando Cepeda, that's all.
1st: 29 year old RH Dick Hughes was the MVP of the Cardinals upset of the 1927 Yankees in Round 1, 16-6, 2.67, he was 2nd in NL Rookie of the Year this year and next year is the end of his career. He gives up a first pitch single to Larry Doby, that's all.
2nd: Roger Maris doubles; Maris is 32 now, he won back to back AL MVP Awards in '60 and '61, of course breaking the single season home run record. This is his first season in St Louis, the Yankees traded him for Charley Smith and next year is his last season in baseball. Julian Javier follows with a single and that scores the game's first run. Hughes walks two outs later and that's all. Cardinals 1 Indians 0
2nd: Eddie Robinson draws a one out walk, Robinson broke in in '42, missed 3 years for the War, this is is third year back and his last year in Cleveland, the Indians are going to send him to the Senators for Mickey Vernon and Early Wynn. That's all.
3rd: Curt Flood singles. Flood broke in with the Reds at 18, the Cards got him in '58, he won his 5th straight Gold Glove this year, which was also his best year with the bat and next year he'll finish 4th for the MVP. That's all for the inning.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Joe Gordon singles, we just saw him in Region 1 with the Yankees, he came to Cleveland last year for Allie Reynolds, finished 7th in the AL MVP last year, then finished 6th this year, really his last top level season. And then Ken Keltner puts the Tribe in front with a 2 run homer. Dale Mitchell singles, the inning ends Cardinals 1 Indians 2
5th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Bearden.
5th: Jim Hegan homers to lead off the inning, he broke in in '41, missed the same 3 years for the WAR that we've seen other miss, came back to the Indians in '46 and will make 5 AL All Star teams right in this stretch of his career. He'll be in the bigs until 1960. Cardinals 1 Indians 3
6th: Cepeda singles, Cepeda came up as 20 year old with the first ever San Francisco Giants team in '58 and won the Rookie of the Year. He made the next 6 NL All Star teams, the Giants traded him to St Louis early in the '66 season for Ray Sadecki (this was a bad decision) and he won the NL MVP this year. That's all. Cards need to start hitting the ball.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Julian Javier singles, he came up in '60, slid into the lineup as the Cardinal second baseman and that's where he's remained. He finished 9th as the NL MVP this year, that's all for St Louis - Bearden just hasn't been in trouble since the 2nd.
7th: The Cards turn to 23 year old RH Ron Willis with a 2.67 ERA, 1-2-3
8th: Bobby Tolan comes off the bench to hit for the pitcher and he walks, Tolan came up at 19 years old in '65, at the end of the '68 season he's sent with Wayne Granger to the Reds for Vada Pinson. Lou Brock then singles to send Tolan to third and the Cards have some action. Flood grounds out and it scores a run, after the second out Tim McCarver walks -- and then Maris triples -- it clears the bases and the Cardinals have struck - scored 3 runs to take the lead here in the top of the 8th. 28 year old RH Steve Gromek had a 2,84 ERA in 130 IP and he comes on now to end the inning Cardinals 4 Indians 3
8th: 31 year old lefty Al Jackson comes on for the Cards, 9 wins and a 3.95 ERA, 1-2-3
9th: 30 year old Ed Klieman comes on to try to keep the Indians in this one, he hits Mike Shannon, but that's all -- we go to the bottom of the 9th.
9th: 30 year old lefty Joe Hoerner has 14 saves and a 2.59 ERA and he comes on looking to close this out -
Joe Gordon is first - he grounds to short.
Ken Keltner is next - he pops up to first.
And Dale Mitchell hits a shot deep to right -- but Maris gathers it and the Cardinals have stolen game one.
Cardinals 4
Indians 3
WP Willis
LP Bearden
Combined 5 hitter for this Cardinal staff, they still trailed late but 3 in the 8th and this St Louis club, who beat the '27 Yankees, just keeps winning.
Cepeda reached twice
Maris reached twice, triple/double
Javier had two hits
For the Indians, both Keltner and Hegan homered.
Game 2 - battle of Hall of Famers in Cleveland.
LF Brock (28) 127 4.9
C McCarver (25) 136 6.3
1B Cepeda (29) 164 7.0
RF Maris (32) 116 2.9
CF Flood (29) 128 4.8
2B Javier (30) 105 2.2
3B Shannon (27) 93 .2
SS Maxvill (28) 67 2.2
SP2 Carlton (LH) (22) 110 3.5
SS Boudreau (30) 165 10.2
2B Gordon (33) 135 6.2
3B Keltner (31) 146 6.5
CF Doby (24) 134 3.6
RF Clark (25) 117 1.3
LF Mitchell (26) 119 2.9
C Hegan (27) 94 2.8
1B Robinson (27) 91 .9
P Lemon (27) 144 7
GAME TWO
1st: Indians dropped Game 1 and turn to RH Bob Lemon to get the split. 20-14, 2.82. Lemon's 27, he broke in two years go after 3 years in the military. This was the first of 7 straight seasons on the AL All Star team. He led the league with 10 shutouts and finished 5th in the AL MVP race. He'll spend his entire career in Cleveland, leading the league in wins three times. 1-2-3
1st: Lemon's opponent is a fellow future Hall of Famer; Lefty Steve Carlton is 22, 14-9, 2.98, he came up two years prior, will make 3 NL All Star teams in St Louis and then head to Philadelphia in '72 where he will win 4 Cy Young Awards as a Phillie (Cards dealt him for Rick Wise). He gives up a Keltner base hit with two out, that's all.
2nd: Curt Flood singles with one out, nothing else.
2nd: Allie Clark walks and he will come all the way around to score on a Dale Mitchell double. Mitchell came up in '46, he'll spend all but the last 19 games of his career with the Indians. After the first out, he scores on an Eddie Robinson single. Cards 0 Indians 2
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: After an out, Cepeda singles and Maris gets hit - but Lemon keeps them off the board.
4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Carlton.
5th: Dal Maxvill singles with one out, he's been with the club for 5 years, last year was his first as a starter; he'll win the only Gold Glove of his career next year, which is also the best year he'll ever have with the bat (probably not a coincidence). He's left standing at second.
5th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Carlton
6th: After an out, Cepeda reaches by error and Maris walks, still - nothing for St Louis.
6th: 1-2-3, 14 straight for Carlton - we're getting what we wanted out of this Hall of Fame matchup, both clubs with just 3 hits.
7th: 1-2-3, still just 3 hits allowed by Lemon
7th: Hegan singles with one out, and after the second out, Lemon singles. Boudreau then walks to load the bases - and Joe Gordon singles home two runs - that might have evened up this series. Cards 0 Indians 4
8th: 1-2-3, Lemon is cruising.
8th: Ron Willis pitched in game 1 and he's back, after he out he gives up back to back singles to Clark/Mitchell and then Hegan/Robinson/Lemon rip off 3 more singles, each plating a run. Schoendienst is out to the mound, he will bring in 30 year old RH Jack Lamabe, he gets an out then walks Gordon, that's it - but this one is over. Cardinals 0 Indians 7
9th: 1-2-3
Cards 0
Indians 7
WP Lemon
LP Carlton
Complete game 3 hit shutout for Bob Lemon evens the series. He had 3 hits himself.
For the Indians, Hegan added two hits to his game 1 homer, Gordon/Clark/Robinson all reached twice.
Cepeda has reached three times
Maris has reached three, triple/double
We go to St Louis for Game 3 - featuring a matchup of legendary fireballers.
CF Doby (24) 134 3.6
SS Boudreau (30) 165 10.2
2B Gordon (33) 135 6.2
3B Keltner (31) 146 6.5
LF Mitchell (26) 119 2.9
RF Clark (25) 117 1.3
1B Robinson (27) 91 .9
C Hegan (27) 94 2.8
SP3 Feller (29) 114
LF Brock (28) 127 4.9
C McCarver (25) 136 6.3
1B Cepeda (29) 164 7.0
RF Maris (32) 116 2.9
CF Flood (29) 128 4.8
2B Javier (30) 105 2.2
3B Shannon (27) 93 .2
SS Maxvill (28) 67 2.2
SP3 Gibson (31) 110 3.7
GAME THREE
1st: We got a fun matchup here in an important game as the series shifts to St Louis all tied at a game apiece. The Cards send Bob Gibson to the mound; 31 years old, 13-7, 2.98. Gibson's a career Cardinal - up in '59, he's a year away from his historical '68 season when he has a 1.12 ERA. He'll win that Cy Young and also again in '70. He retires after the '75 season. Lou Boudreau doubles with one out, but that's it.
1st: Gibson matches up against Bob Feller. 29 years old, 19-15, 3.56 - he's basically Gibson from a prior generation - up at the age of 17, 3 consecutive top 5 AL MVP finishes from '39-41 and then he was off to the War for three years. He led the league in wins in '46 and '47 and here we are in '48. His last year is '56; each season spent in Cleveland. He gets one, then Tim McCarver singles. McCarver comes all the way around to score on a Cepeda triple - and then Cepeda scores on a Maris base hit. Flood then walks - it ends there, Indians 0 Cardinals 2
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Lou Brock broke in with the Cubs in '61, sent to the Cards for Ernie Broglio in '64 - he finishes 7th in the NL MVP race this year, 6th next year, 6th again in '73 and then second in '74 when he stole 118 bases at the age of 35. He walks here with two out and steals second, but that's all.
3rd: Jim Hegan singles and two outs later Lou Boudreau singles; Boudreau came up a decade ago at the age of 20, he finished 5th in the AL MVP race in '40, the first of 5 straight years he was on the All Star team, had 6th straight ars of top 10 MVP finishes prior to '48 - and he won the MVP this year. He's been managing the Indians since '42. That's all Gibson allows, he has 2 strikeouts.
3rd: Cepeda follows his triple with a double, but Feller bears down. Feller has 2 strikeouts.
4th: Ken Keltner is the Indian third baseman; up in '37, he took that third base job when he was 21 in '38, 5 straight AL All Star teams to start the decade, then missed a year for the War, back in '46 -- '48 is the best year of his career, with that 146 OPS+. He walks, an out later Clark singles, but it ends here. 3 strikeouts for Gibson.
4th: Mike Shannon is the Cardinal third baseman; up in '62, he's been the St Louis RF the past few years, but moved to the hot corner this season - next year he'll finish 7th in the NL MVP and retire after the '70 season. He hits Feller's first pitch of the inning over the left field wall; Feller's going to strike out two, that gives him four, but it's Indians 0 Cardinals 3
5th: Boudreau doubles with 2 out, but nothing results.
5th: McCarver gets hit, Cepeda then hits his second triple of the day -- and on the next pitch Roger Maris bombs a two run shot - that's a 6-0 Cardinal lead and it sure looks like St Louis is about to go up 2 games to 1. Flood is then aboard on an error and Javier singles -- and then Mike Shannon hits his second homer in as many innings - a 3 run shot - it's 9-0 Cards; they are rocking and rolling here at Busch -- that's the end of the day for Feller - and coming on for the Indians is Satchel Paige. Paige is 41 years old and had a helluva year with a 2.48 ERA - it's his rookie season in MLB; Jackie Robinson having been signed by the Dodgers just the year prior. Paige will make the AL All Star team when he is 46 years old with the Browns and pitch 3 innings for the A's when he is 58 years old. He gets out of the inning, Indians 0 Cardinals 9
6th: 1-2-3, 4 strikeouts for Gibson.
6th: McCarver/Cepeda walk back to back - and after an out Curt Flood hits a 3 run homer - the St Louis Cardinals have just obliterated the Indians today and they will take a 2-1 lead. 32 year old RH Bud Muncrief enters, he gets an out, gives up a Shannon single, and ends the inning. Indians 0 Cards 12
7th: Hegan doubles with one out, but that's all and a half dozen Gibson Ks.
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Keltner draws a two out walk - he comes all the way around to score on a Dale Mitchell double, Allie Clark then singles Mitchell home and that ends Gibson's day. 30 year old RH Jack Lamabe comes on, he gives up a Robinson single and a run scoring Hegan double and that's 3 plated for the Indians 3 Cardinals 12
8th: RH Steve Gromek enters, 1-2-3
9th: Larry Doby walks - but that's all the Indians muster.
Indians 3
Cardinals 12
WP Gibson
LP Feller
The Cards take game 3 and now need to win either of the next two games to advance.
Cepeda has reached 7 times with two triples
Maris has reached five times, triple/HR
Flood homered today and Shannon homered twice
For the Indians, Hegan has added 5 hits to his game 1 homer
Boudreau got 3 hits today
One more in St Louis - can the Cardinals close this out?
CF Doby (24) 134 3.6
SS Boudreau (30) 165 10.2
2B Gordon (33) 135 6.2
3B Keltner (31) 146 6.5
LF Mitchell (26) 119 2.9
RF Clark (25) 117 1.3
1B Robinson (27) 91 .9
C Hegan (27) 94 2.8
SP Bearden (LH) (27) 168 5.0
LF Brock (28) 127 4.9
CF Flood (29) 128 4.8
1B Cepeda (29) 164 7.0
C McCarver (25) 136 6.3
RF Maris (32) 116 2.9
2B Javier (30) 105 2.2
3B Shannon (27) 93 .2
SS Maxvill (28) 67 2.2
P Hughes (29) 123 3.9
GAME FOUR
1st: Dick Hughes returns for the Cards in Game 4 - can they finish off the Indians? He gets two - but then Joe Gordon lines a homer to RF and Cleveland jumps on top. Indians 1 Cardinals 0
1st: Gene Bearden is once again his opponent, he walks Cepeda with 2 out, that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Javier singles with one out, that's all.
3rd: Larry Doby, the first Black player in the American League, singles with 2 out. He'll make 7 All Star teams with the Indians and in '54 will be 2nd in the AL MVP. That's it for the Indians.
3rd: Hughes singles with one out, that's it.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Cepeda singles - an out later Maris singles - but Cepeda is gunned down by Doby trying to go to third on the play -- just a helluva shot by Doby to cut down the Cards best chance to tie the score.
5th: Allie Clark was platooning to start the series, Boudreau has now just left him in LF - he came up with the Yankees last year, Cleveland acquired him for Red Embree, he'll be a career part time player. Right here - he triples - and then scores on a Robinson groundout. Indians 2 Cardinals 0
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Boudreau singles with one out - that's all.
6th: Cepeda keeps hitting - a two out double, that's all Bearden allows.
7th: 1-2-3, Hughes has only allowed 4 hits.
7th: 1-2-3, Bearden's only allowed 5. But he's got the shutout.
8th: Ron Willis takes the ball for the Cards - 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3 -- big, big outing for Bearden in a must win game for the Tribe.
9th: Al Jackson in for St Louis - he gives up back to back 1 out singles for Keltner and Mitchell; and then aftet the second out Eddie Robinson doubles down the RF line - it clears the bases - and that should send this series back to Cleveland. Indians 4 Cards 0
9th: Flood is first - and he rips a double off the wall.
Cepeda then walks - have to assume Bearden's nearing the end.
McCarver then doubles - that scores the Cards first run - it ends Bearden's day but there are men on second and third and nobody out.
30 year old RH Russ Christopher comes on to face Maris -- and pops him up.
Julian Javier is next - he lines to Boudreau - and that's two.
Mike Shannon works a full count -- and then walks. That loads the bases - that means the tying runs are on base.
Another full count - this time to Maxvill -- and now it's 4-2.
The backup catcher Dave Ricketts is called on to hit - a base hit can tie this game -- but he grounds to Boudreau - flip to second - and it's over.
Indians 4
Cardinals 2
WP Bearden
LP Hughes
For the Indians, Hegan has 5 hits and a homer
Boudreau got 4 hits in games 3 and 4
Gordon homered in game 4, Clark triples
For St Louis -
Cepeda has reached 9 times with two triples
Maris has reached 6 times, triple/HR
Flood has homered and Shannon homered twice
Back to Cleveland. Winner Take All.
LF Brock (28) 127 4.9
C McCarver (25) 136 6.3
1B Cepeda (29) 164 7.0
RF Maris (32) 116 2.9
CF Flood (29) 128 4.8
2B Javier (30) 105 2.2
3B Shannon (27) 93 .2
SS Maxvill (28) 67 2.2
SP2 Carlton (LH) (22) 110 3.5
SS Boudreau (30) 165 10.2
2B Gordon (33) 135 6.2
3B Keltner (31) 146 6.5
CF Doby (24) 134 3.6
RF Clark (25) 117 1.3
LF Mitchell (26) 119 2.9
C Hegan (27) 94 2.8
1B Robinson (27) 91 .9
P Lemon (27) 144 7
GAME FIVE
1st: Well, here we go. Game 5. Sold out Cleveland Stadium. Bob Lemon threw a complete game 3 hit shutout in game 2 - he's back again on the mound. After an out, he walks McCarver. Nothing else.
1st: Young Steve Carlton is once again Lemon's opponent. After two outs, he walks Keltner, that's all.
2nd: Shannon walks with 2 out, Maxvill then singles - it ends there.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: McCarver singles with one out - nothing else.
3rd: 1-2-3, Carlton's yet to allow a hit.
4th: After two out, Javier/Shannon single back to back -- but Lemon keeps the Cards off the board.
4th: Joe Gordon singles, the first Indian hit - and then Keltner walks -- Larry Doby then singles to left - it scores the first run of the game. Cards 0 Indians 1
5th: 1-2-3, Lemon has a lead now and he mows through the 5th.
5th: Hegan singles and Robinson walks and Lemon - who had 2 hits back in game 2 - punches a single through the hole for a second Indian run. Boudreau then grounds into a double play - and that scores the third Cleveland run. Cards 0 Indians 3
6th: 1-2-3 -- Bob Lemon now dropping the hammer on the Cardinals.
6th: Keltner and Doby single - Carlton gets an out, and then a Mitchell groundout scores the 4th Cleveland run. Cardinals 0 Indians 4
7th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Lemon -
7th: Boudreau and Gordon single with two out - that's all.
8th: Lemon gets 2 more, then walks McCarver and gives up a Cepeda single - but that's it.
8th: Ron Willis enters - he gives up a Doby single and nothing else.
9th: 3 outs from the end of the series - 3 outs left to get for Lemon.
Flood grounds to Gordon - one away.
Javier flies to Mitchell -- two away
And Shannon grounds to Gordon - onto first and it is over.
Cardinals 0
Indians 4
WP Lemon
LP Carlton
5 hit complete game shutout for Lemon - he shut out the Cardinals in both Games 2 and 5 - just a dominant effort for Bob Lemon, the unquestioned MVP of this series.
5 teams have reached the round of 32, who will face these '48 Indians?
