Cubs v. Yankees
19. 1953 World Champion New York Yankees v. 46. 1971 AL Champion Baltimore Orioles
Region 3 ends with a good one. Of the 11 teams that have advanced, only 2 are Yankees, fewer than one might expect given how many Yankee squads advanced to this round; there is also currently not a Baltimore team that has moved forward. The 12th team of 32 is about to make the next round.
Yankees 99-52 Mgr. Casey Stengel
Won AL Pennant
d. Dodgers in WS
d. #110 1998 Astros (MVP-Joe Collins)
All-Stars OF Hank Bauer, C Yogi Berra (2nd AL MVP) OF Mickey Mantle, 1B Johnny Mize, RP Allie Reynolds, SS Phil Rizzuto, RP Johnny Sain
Hall of Famers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Phil Rizzuto, Casey Stengel
Orioles 101-57 Mgr. Earl Weaver
1st in AL East
d. A's in ALCS
lost to Pirates in WS
d. #83 1940 Reds (MVP-Frank Robinson)
All-Stars OF Don Buford, SP Mike Cuellar, SP Jim Palmer, 1B Boog Powell, 3B Brooks Robinson (4th NL MVP) OF Frank Robinson (3rd NL MVP)
Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver
Orioles-Earl Weaver
LF Buford (34) 153 5
1B Powell (29) 138 3.3
RF Robinson (35) 153 3.5
CF Rettenmund (28) 149 5.5
2B Johnson (28) 125 4.2
C Hendricks (30) 105 1.9
3B Robinson (34) 114 5.6
SS Belanger (27) 97 4.6
P Palmer (25) 126 4.3
Bench:
SP2 McNally (LH) (28) 117 2.8
SP3 Dobson (29) 116 3.8
Famously, this Oriole team had 4 twenty game winners, Cuellar is the odd man out. Also out is CF Paul Blair, the other outfielders just have too much bat to sit.
Yankees-Casey Stengel
LF Woodling (30) 146 3.8
C Berra (28) 141 5.6
CF Mantle (21) 144 4.8
1B Collins (30) 120 1.3
RF Bauer (30) 130 3.9
3B McDougald (25) 113 3.7
SS Rizzuto (35) 103 3.4
2B Martin (25) 94 1.5
P Lopat (LH) (35) 152 3.9
Bench:
Gm2 Ford (LH) (24) 123 3.4
Gm3 Raschi (34) 111 2.6
Couple of bench bats had big years for the Yankees - 40 year old Johnny Mize is also available and dangerous as a pinch hitter.
WAR Advantage
C-Yankees
1B-Orioles
2B-Orioles
SS-Orioles
3B-Orioles
LF-Orioles
CF-Orioles
RF-Yankees
SP1-Orioles
SP2-Yankees
SP3-Orioles
Bullpen-Yankees
Orioles 8 Yankees 4 -- Yanks have the seed advantage, but Orioles have strong WAR advantage and when they blasted their way through Round One, I suggested they smelled like a tough out and will ride that belief into this round and say Baltimore is favored.
GAME ONE
1st: As we just saw with the '78 Yankees - this Yankee team will be familiar as the 1952 Yankees have already competed (lost, to the 2017 Dodgers) in this round. So, most of these players have been discussed. 35 year old lefty Eddie Lopat is among that group - this year he was 16-4, 2.42, it is the best season of his career, he leads the league in ERA. He gives up a first pitch single to Don Buford and an out later walks Frank Robinson. Lopat gets one more - but then gives up a run scoring single to Davey Johnson ans Baltimore has scored first. Orioles 1 Yankees 0
1st: We've also already seen the '79 Orioles in this round; now, almost all of this roster had turned over 8 years later so most of these guys we have yet to talk about - but we have already seen Jim Palmer in this round; here he is a 25 year old RH, 20-9, 2.68. He made his second All Star team this season. After an out, he gives up back to back singles to Berra and Mantle - but that's all.
2nd: Brooks Robinson singles. Robinson is 34; he's an Oriole lifer - broke in back in '55, so he played against some of these Yankees -- he was 18 years old. Became the full time third baseman in '58, third in the MVP in '60 - he won his first Gold Glove that year - he'd win 15 more. Top 10 MVP finish in '62. Won the MVP in '64. Top 5 finishes in '65 and '66. Finished 7th last year and this year - he finished 4th. He'll become a part timer in '76 and finish his career in '77. Lopat gets the next two, then walks Buford and gives up a single to Boog Powell that loads the bases. But he escapes.
2nd: Gil McDougald doubles. He was the third baseman for that '52 team, so we've discussed him. He has a ten year big league career, all with New York. He's part of 5 World Champions. Palmer gets the next 3, he's struck out 3.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Gene Woodling walks. He was the left fielder on last year's team - this year he led the league in OBP, which is why he's leading off (I construct the lineups, choose the starting pitchers, I don't choose relievers or pinch hitters, the simulation does that - I control before but not during the game, that's the nature of this simulation engine). In '55 the Yankees trade Woodling to Baltimore, he's going to play with Brooks Robinson. That's all - and now Palmer has struck out 5.
4th: Mark Belanger singles with one out. Belangers' 27 - broke in back in '65, became the full time shortstop in '68 - so he's playing right next to Robinson on the left side of the infield for the next decade. Belanger winning 8 gold gloves of his own. This year was his second. After the second out, Buford walks again, he's reached base 3 times in 4 innings. Boog Powell then walks so the Orioles have loaded the bases again - and again - Lopat escapes.
4th: Hank Bauer singles with one out. Bauer's 30, was the Yankee RF last year as well, he was an AL All Star both years. After the second out Rizzuto singles - but Palmer ends the threat.
5th: Merv Rettenmund singles. He broke in back in '65 at the age of 25, he's a career part time player, this is the only season he'll get more than 400 plate appearances. He's sent to Cincinnati before the '74 season for Ross Grimsley and was on the bench for the '75 Reds team which has already advanced in this round. Davey Johnson singles - the Orioles are in business, 2 on and nobody out - Ellie Hendricks singles to score a run - Brooks Robinson singles to score a second run. Lopat gets through the rest of the inning, but now it's Orioles 3 Yankees 0
5th: Lopat and Woodling open with singles -- but Palmer gets his 6th K and maintins the shutout.
6th: Boog Powell walks. Baltimore's put the leadoff man on in 4 of 6 innings. Powell's 29, he was 19 a decade ago when he broke in - became the Oriole left fielder the following season. He moves to first in '65 and has a top 5 MVP finish the next season. He's second in the MVP in '69 and wins it in '70. His last All Star selection was this year - in '75 he's shipped to Cleveland for Dave Duncan and his last season is as a Dodger in '77. Frank Robinson doubles - two men in scoring position with a 3 run lead. But Lopat holds the line.
6th: Joe Collins was MVP of the Round one series and he doubles. Collins was the first baseman on last year's team - like McDougald he plays all of a ten year career with the Yankees. Palmer is now up to 8 strikeouts and maintains the shutout headed to the 7th.
7th: 28 year old RH Tom Gorman is the new Yankee pitcher; he's got a 3.39 ERA - he gives up a 2 out single to Palmer, but that's all.
7th: With 2 outs, Woodling walks and Berra singles -- that brings Mantle to the plate, he's the potentialn tying run -- Palmer gets him, he now has 9 Ks.
8th: 1-2-3
8th: Palmer gets two - then gives up a homer to McDougald - that breaks the shutout and brings the Yankees within 2. Orioles 3 Yankees 1
9th: 1-2-3
9th: Bottom of the 9th, can the Yankees find 2 runs?
31 year old lefty Pete Richert gets the call. 3.47. He strikes Billy Martin out.
Don Bollweg is a 32 year old backup first baseman who had a terrific year with the bat, a 142 OPS+ and he hits for the pitcher. He walks.
And then Gene Woodling singles. Two on, just one out -- Yankees trail by 2.
AND YOGI HITS A 3 RUN HOMER TO WALK IT OFF!
Stunning - stunning - stunning turn of events here in the Bronx - Weaver goes to the pen in the 9th and just two outs away from victory - Richert gives up a 3 run homer to Yogi Berra to flip game one for the Yankees. The Yankees pour, pour out of the dugout to celebrate at home plate with Yogi Berra.
Orioles 3
Yankees 4
WP Gorman
LP Richert
3 scoreless innings for Gorman, sneaky hero today.
For the Yankees --
Woodling reached 4 times
Yogi had 3 hits including the huge, huge home run
McDougald had 2 hits including a homer
For the Orioles --
Buford reached 3 times
Powell reached 3 times
Frank reached twice
Johnson reached twice
Brooks reached twice
One more in Yankee Stadium - can the Orioles shake this one off?
Orioles
LF Buford (34) 153 5
1B Powell (29) 138 3.3
RF Robinson (35) 153 3.5
CF Rettenmund (28) 149 5.5
2B Johnson (28) 125 4.2
C Hendricks (30) 105 1.9
3B Robinson (34) 114 5.6
SS Belanger (27) 97 4.6
SP2 McNally (LH) (28) 117 2.8
Yankees
RF Bauer (30) 130 3.9
LF Woodling (30) 146 3.8
CF Mantle (21) 144 4.8
C Berra (28) 141 5.6
3B McDougald (25) 113 3.7
1B Collins (30) 120 1.3
SS Rizzuto (35) 103 3.4
2B Martin (25) 94 1.5
Gm2 Ford (LH) (24) 123 3.4
GAME TWO
1st: Whitey Ford is a 24 year old lefty, 18-6, 3.00. He was in the military last year, so we haven't seen Ford yet in this round. 2nd in Rookie of the Year in '50, this is his first year back from the service and next year will be his first of ten All Star selections. He finishes 3rd in the Cy Young race in '56, won it in '61, third in MVP in '63. He retires as a Yankee in '67. He walks Don Buford, but that's all.
1st: The Orioles got shook in game one and you can feel the weight of that just looking at Baltimore as they take the field here. Tasked with overcoming that is 28 year old LH Dave McNally. 21-5, 2.89. McNally was just 19 when he broke in with the Orioles in '62, he was 5th in the AL MVP race in '68. Had 3 consecutive top 5 Cy Young finishes the next three seasons (4th this year) his last All Star selection will be '72 and he'll finish his career in Montreal in '75. 1-2-3
2nd: Merv Rettenmund walks and Davey Johnson hits a 2 run homer to give Baltimore the lead. Johnson broke in in '65, third in the AL Rookie of the Year in '66. All Star selections from '68-70. This year was his third straigh Gold Glove (remember, Belanger and Robinson also have Gold Gloves) Two years from now he'll be dealt to Atlanta and finish his career as a Cub in '78. Ellie Hendricks singles, it ends here, Orioles 2 Yankees 0
2nd: McDougald singles with one out, that's all.
3rd: Boog Powell draws a one out walk and Frank Robinson and Merv Rettenmund both single and the bases are loaded with nobody out. Ford walks Johnson. 3-0. Ford walks Hendricks. 4-0. And then Ford gives up a monstrous grand slam to Brooks Robinson -- it is 8-0 Orioles and this one looks like it is over early. Ford is out of the game, 25 year old lefty Bill Miller comes on. He walks Belanger and after the second out Don Buford hits a two run homer -- this Oriole team was just unstoppable at the plate in Round one and this is exactly what we saw. Bomb after bomb after bomb. Orioles 10 Yankees 0
3rd: Billy Martin walks and after an out, Bauer singles and Woodling walks and the Yankees have loaded them up. Mickey Mantle singles to score 2. Orioles 10 Yankees 2
4th: Johnson singles with two outs, Hendricks moves him to third with a single and then Brooks Robinson drives in another run with a base hit. Orioles 11 Yankees 2
4th: Joe Collins walks and an out later Billy singles. It ends there.
5th: Boog Powell hits a two out double and then scores on a Frank Robinson double. Time for the third Yankee pitcher, 35 year old RH Johnny Sain. Orioles 12 Yankees 2
5th: Mantle doubles with one out, that's all.
6th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Sain gets the first two, then gives up a Rettenmund double. That's all.
8th: 1-2-3, McNally has retired 11 in a row.
9th: Hendricks doubles - that' s all.
9th: 40 year old RH Dick Hall gets the call to finish the game, he's got a 4.98 ERA. After an out, Rizzuto singles, but it ends here.
Orioles 12
Yankees 2
WP McNally
LP Ford
Well, if there was a hangover after game one it wasn't evident for long, the Orioles bats blast Baltimore back in business.
For the Orioles --
Buford has reached 5 times and homered
Powell has reached 5 times
Frank has reached 4x
Rettenmund reached 3x in game 2
Johnson has reached 5x with a homer
Hendricks reached 4x in game 2
Brooks has reached 4x with a grand slam
For the Yankees-
Woodling has reached 5 times
Mantle reached twice in game 2
Martin reached twice in game 2
Yogi had 3 hits including the huge, huge home run
McDougald reached 3x including a homer
We're going to Baltimore for Games 3-4
Yankees
LF Woodling (30) 146 3.8
C Berra (28) 141 5.6
CF Mantle (21) 144 4.8
1B Collins (30) 120 1.3
RF Bauer (30) 130 3.9
3B McDougald (25) 113 3.7
SS Rizzuto (35) 103 3.4
2B Martin (25) 94 1.5
Gm3 Raschi (34) 111 2.6
Orioles
LF Buford (34) 153 5
1B Powell (29) 138 3.3
RF Robinson (35) 153 3.5
CF Rettenmund (28) 149 5.5
2B Johnson (28) 125 4.2
C Hendricks (30) 105 1.9
3B Robinson (34) 114 5.6
SS Belanger (27) 97 4.6
SP3 Dobson (29) 116 3.8
GAME THREE
1st: It's a game apiece, but Baltimore has dominated these two games on the road and they dominated their round one series. Pat Dobson goes today. 29, RH, 20-8, 2.90. Dobson broke in with Detroit in '67, went to the Padres and this is his first season in Baltimore; Orioles got him in a 6 player deal for not a lot. At the end of next year - he and Davey Johnson are shipped to the Braves. Dobson finishes his career in Cleveland in '77. With two outs, he gives up back to back singles to Mantle and Collins, that's it.
1st: 34 year old RH Vic Raschi goes for New York - 13-6, 3.33. Raschi came up in '46, made the All Star team from '48-50. Top 10 in the MVP race in '51 and pitched for last year's team. This is the last good season of his career - he's sold to St Louis after the season and finished with the A's in '55. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Rettenmund walks and an out later so does Ellie Hendricks. The Orioles catcher is 30, up just 2 years - outside of 17 games with the Cubs in '72 he'll be in Baltimore until the middle of the '76 season when he's part of a big trade with the Yankees - Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman, Grant Jackson to New York for Rick Dempsey, Scotty McGregor, Tippy Martinez, Rudy May. Some key components of the '79 Orioles team we've already seen lose in this round were dealt from the Yankees. So - Hendricks has already advanced in this round, as the backup catcher for the '77 Yankees. And Hendricks has already lost in this round, he gets 1 at bat for those '79 Orioles. It ends there.
3rd: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Dobson
3rd: Dobson doubles - he didn't have an extra base hit all year. An out later Boog Powell walks - but Raschi hangs tough and this pivotal game 3 remains scoreless.
4th: Bauer walks with 2 out - that's all.
4th: Johnson singles and an out later Brooks Robinson walks - and that is where it stops.
5th: Billy Martin singles with one out - we saw Billy last year as the Yankee second baseman; also as the manager of the '77 team that has already advanced with Ellie Hendricks as the backup to Munson. After the second out Gene Woodling hits a 2 run homer and it's the Yankees who have jumped out. Yankees 2 Orioles 0
5th: Frank Robinson walks with 2 out. At 35 years old, Robinson is still the best hitter on this team. Rookie of the year as a 20 year old in 1956 with the Reds. Top 10 MVP finishes in '57 and '59. Won the MVP in '61, 4th in '62. 4th in '64 and off to Baltimore in '66 for Milt Pappas in a robbery. He wins the MVP for Baltimore that year, 3rd in '69 and 3rd this year, his final year in Baltimore. He and Pete Richert go to the Dodgers for, among others, Doyle Alexander who was in that Hendricks trade discussed in the 2nd inning. He ends with Cleveland in '76. Rettenmund then singles - but Raschi escapes again.
6th: Collins draws a one out walk and Bauer singles. That's all.
6th: Hendricks walks and an out later so does Belanger. After the second out Buford walks and the bases are loaded with 2 out -- and Boog Powell comes through with a base hit that ties the game. That ends Raschi's day - Tom Gorman comes on and ends it. Yankees 2 Orioles 2
7th: Pete Richert is a 31 year old lefty and he gets the call as the pens will battle it out the rest of the way. 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Mantle walks and an out later Bauer singles -- runners on the corners with just one out in a tied game 3 - Eddie Watt is a 30 year old RH and he comes on. His first pitch goes to the backstop, Mantle scores and it's 3-2. McDougald walks, it ends there. Yankees 3 Orioles 2
8th: Gorman gets 2 then walks Andy Etchebarren, hitting for the pitcher - but it ends there, great outing for Gorman, gives the Yanks the chance to take the series lead.
9th: 28 year old RH Tom Dukes is the next Orioles pitcher - 1-2-3 and we go to the bottom.
9th: Boog Powell walks. He's the potential tying run and Frank Robinson is coming to the plate. That's going to bring Casey out to the mound and Allie Reynolds, 36 year old RH, into the game.
Robinson pops to second. One out.
Rettenmund flies to right. Two out.
Davey Johnson doubles to left --there's a moment where you think Powell is going to test the cut off man -- but he just doesn't have those kinds of legs. But that means the tying run is at third. The winning run is at second. Two outs. Game 3. Future Yankee Ellie Hendricks to the plate.
He hits s sinking liner to center -- if it falls in - the Orioles take this game - but Mantle tumbles into the catch just before the ball could land safely - a great play by Mantle and the Yankees take game 3.
Yankees 3
Orioles 2
WP Gorman
LP Richert
The Yankees come into Baltimore, take game 3 and are just a game away from moving on.
For the Yankees-
Woodling has reached 6 times with a homer
Mantle reached 4x in 2-3, scored winning run, prevented winning run
Collins reached twice in game 3
Bauer 3 times in game 3
Martin reached 3x in game 2-3
Yogi had 3 hits including the huge, huge home run
McDougald reached 4x including a homer
For the Orioles --
Buford has reached 6 times and homered
Powell has reached 8 times
Frank has reached 5x
Rettenmund reached 5x in game 2-3
Johnson has reached 7x with a homer
Hendricks reached 6x in game 2-3
Brooks has reached 5x with a grand slam
Yankees-Casey Stengel
LF Woodling (30) 146 3.8
C Berra (28) 141 5.6
CF Mantle (21) 144 4.8
1B Collins (30) 120 1.3
RF Bauer (30) 130 3.9
3B McDougald (25) 113 3.7
SS Rizzuto (35) 103 3.4
2B Martin (25) 94 1.5
P Lopat (LH) (35) 152 3.9
Orioles
LF Buford (34) 153 5
RF Robinson (35) 153 3.5
CF Rettenmund (28) 149 5.5
1B Powell (29) 138 3.3
2B Johnson (28) 125 4.2
3B Robinson (34) 114 5.6
C Hendricks (30) 105 1.9
SS Belanger (27) 97 4.6
P Palmer (25) 126 4.3
The Game one pitching matchup is here again for Game 4 - Can Palmer keep the Orioles alive?
1st: Jim Palmer dominated the Yankees back in Game 1 only to have it all undone by a Yogi three run walkoff. Can he keep the O's alive? He gets two - then walks Mantle and gives up a Collins single, but that's all.
1st: The sold out Memorial Stadium crowd is unlikely to rattle the veteran lefthander Eddie Lopat - 1-2-3
2nd: With one out, Rizzuto doubles and scores on a Martin double. It's the Yankees who score first. Lopat walks - and then after the second out Yogi Berra hits another 3 run homer -- another 3 run homer by Yogi and now it's 4-0 and this series (and the MVP Award) sure feel like they're a step away from wrapped. Yankees 4 Orioles 0
2nd: With one out, Davey Johnson triples and then Brooks Robinson, who hit that game 2 grand slam - hits a 2 run homer and the Orioles have cut the lead in half. Hendricks singles, that's all. Yankees 4 Orioles 2
3rd: McDougald hits a two out double and then scores on a Rizzuto single - Palmer really getting hit today. Yankees 5 Orioles 2
3rd: Frank Robinson hits a one out triple - how about Baltimore hitting two triples today - and then scores on a Rettenmund groundout. Yankees 5 Orioles 3
4th: Woodling walks with one out, but Palmer strands him.
4th: Johnson walks and then Brooks Robinsin adds to that homer with a double. Two in scoring position and nobody out. Lopat gets one -- but then Mark Belanger doubles down the right field line -- everyone will score and the Memorial Stadium roar tells the story - this game is tied. Yankees 5 Orioles 5
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Rizzuto singles, that's his third hit today. Two outs later Woodling walks. And Yogi Berra hits another 3 run homer!! This is now the best offensive performance of the tournament - Berra wins game one, then in game 4 hits two three run home runs -- it is 8-5, just as the Orioles crawled back into the game - once again, the Yankee catcher silences the city of Baltimore. Pete Richert enters and the inning ends. Yankees 8 Orioles 5
6th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Lopat
7th: Collins walks. Bauer walks. But Richert keeps the Orioles hopes alive.
7th: Buford hits a 2 out single but thats it. The Yankees are 6 outs away.
8th: Eddie Watt is next for Baltimore, 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3, Lopat has totally righted the ship after the 4th inning and now the Yankees are about to clinch this series.
9th: Mantle hits a one out single - nothing else. Bottom.
9th: Tom Gorman is tasked with ending this.
Hendricks pops to second.
Belanger grounds to third.
Etchebarren comes off the bench, Baltimore's last hope - and he pops to Rizzuto. Scooter squeezes the ball into his glove and it is the Yankees who move on, that ends Region 3, they are the 12th team into the next round and will meet the 1909 Cubs.
Yankees 8
Orioles 5
WP Lopat
LP Palmer
There's no need to talk about anyone else - Yogi won both games 1 and 4, he hit three three run homers. He's the MVP.
