#54 1969 AL Champion Baltimore Orioles v. #118 1917 NL Champion New York Giants
22 teams are in the Round of 32. The 1970 Orioles are in that number. The Orioles have one shot left following this series. The 1904, 1912, 1922 Giants have all advanced. They also have another entrant still to come.
Orioles 109-53 Mgr. Earl Weaver
1st in AL East
d. Twins in NLCS
lost to Mets in WS
d. #75 1949 Yankees (MVP-Mike Cuellar/Jim Palmer)
All-Stars: OF Paul Blair, 2B Davey Johnson, SP Dave McNally (4th AL Cy Young) 1B Boog Powell (2nd AL MVP) 3B Brooks Robinson, OF Frank Robinson (3rd AL MVP)
Cy Young: SP Mike Cuellar
Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver
Giants 98-56 Mgr John McGraw
Won NL Pennant
lost WS to White Sox
d. #11 1911 A's (MVP-Benny Kauff)
Hall of Famers: High Pockets Kelly, Ross Youngs, John McGraw
Giants-John McGraw
C Rariden (29) 115 1.8
LF Burns (27) 146 6.4
3B Zimmerman (30) 119 5.3
CF Kauff (27) (LH) 138 4
1B Holke (24) (SH) 107 1.2
SS Fletcher (32) 103 6.8
RF Robertson (27) (LH) 106 1.9
2B Herzog (31) 93 2.1
P Schupp (26) (LH) 130 4.5
Bench
2B Smith (22) (SH) 86 .7
C McCarty (28) 98
SP2 Perritt (25) 135 2.5
SP3 Sallee (32) (LH) 117 2.1
Possible 2B platoon; hot hand at C.
Orioles-Earl Weaver
LF Buford (32) 128 (SH) 4.5
2B Johnson (26) 107 3.5
RF Robinson (33) 165 6.5
1B Powell (27) 160 (LH) 6.2
CF Blair (25) 122 6.9
C Etchebarren (26) 96 1.6
SS Belanger (25) 95 4.3
3B Robinson (32) 92 4.5
P Cuellar (32) 149 (LH) 5.2
Bench
C Hendricks (28) (LH) 100 2.4
OF Rettenmund (26) 104
RF May (25) (LF) 87
1B Salmon (28) 130
LF Motton (28) 168
SP2 Palmer (23) 152 3.9
SP3 McNally (26) 111 (LH) 3.1
Platoon at C.
WAR Advantage:
C-Push
1B-Orioles
2B-Orioles
SS-Giants
3B-Giants
LF-Giants
CF-Orioles
RF-Orioles
SP1-Orioles
SP2-Orioles
SP3-Orioles
Bullpen-Orioles
WAR: Orioles 8 Giants 3 - Orioles have the seed advantage, Orioles have the WAR advantage driven by that huge pitching advantage. Best position player is essentially a push. Baltimore a solid favorite to advance.
GAME ONE
1st: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland. The co-MVPs for the Orioles in Round One were Jim Palmer and today's pitcher, Mike Cuellar. Cuellar is a 32 year old lefty, 23-111, 2.38 - we've seen all of these Orioles already, that '70 team has advanced. Cuellar won the Cy Young this year and with a 149 ERA+, this is the best season of his career. Cuellar was great in the '69 postseason, 8 innings against the Twins in the ALCS with 2 earned and in 16 World Series innings against the Mets, his ERA was 1.13. 1-2-3
1st: 26 year old lefty Ferdie Schupp is Cuellar's opposite number. 21-7, 1.95; Schupp broke in in '13, this is the only year he'd ever win 20+ games, he's shipped to the Cardinals in '19 for Frank Snyder and finishes with the White Sox in '22. Don Buford greets him with a single and two pitches later Davey Johnson doubles him home. Baltimore takes the lead immediately. Giants 0 Orioles 1
2nd: Art Fletcher singles with 2 out. we've seen Fletcher with the '12 Giants team that has already advanced. He led the league in being hit by pitches this season, one of five times he was the leader in that category. The inning ends here.
2nd: Andy Etchebarren singles, he and Hendricks are fully in a catching platoon. Etchebarren hit .154 in his 65 at bat postseason career. That's all.
3rd: Buck Herzog singles. Herzog was also with the '12 Giants; in his postseason career he hit .245 in 94 at bats. That's all.
3rd: Frank Robinson singles with 2 out. In 8 postseason series, Robinson hit 10 homers. That's all.
4th: Heinie Zimmerman singles; we've seen him with the Cubs; he's advanced already with the '09 version. This season, he led the league in RBI. After an out, Walter Holke singles, but Cuellar stops them here.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Herzog singles again; that's it.
5th: Brooks Robinson singles; between '64-'71 this is his lightest season with the bat. Strong postseason career - .303 batting average in 145 at bats. Two outs later he's standing at second and he scores on a Johnson base hit -- 2 RBI on the day for Johnson. Giants 0 Orioles 2
6th: Cuellar gets two, but then Walter Holke homers. Holke broke in in '14 at the age of 21, in '19 he and Bill Rariden, today's catcher, will be sent to the Reds for Hal Chase. Giants 1 Orioles 2
6th: Frank Robinson hits the first pitch deep, deep, deep in the left field stands to get Baltimore that run back. Two outs later Etchebarren walks, that's all. Giants 1 Orioles 3
7th: 1-2-3
7th: After two outs, Buford walks and Johnson singles. Three hit day for Johnson; he hit just .225 in 111 postseason at bats. That's all.
8th: After an out, Zimmerman homers and the Giants close to a run once again. Giants 2 Orioles 3
8th: Schupp gets two - but then Etchebarren, who hit just 3 regular season homers - homers here, is that the insurance that wraps this up? Giants 2 Orioles 4
9th: Cuellar remains in the game - needing three outs - he gets two, but then Herzog doubles to bring the tying run to the plate.
But that's all.
Giants 2
Orioles 4
WP Cuellar
LP Schupp
The Orioles pitching was their big advantage in the series and Cuellar throws a complete game to win game one.
Orioles
Buford 2x
Johnson 3x
Frank Robinson 2x/wHR
Etchebarren 3x/wHR
Giants
Zimmerman 2x/wHR
Holke 2x w/HR
Herzog 3x
CF Kauff (27) (LH) 138 4
LF Burns (27) 146 6.4
1B Holke (24) (SH) 107 1.2
RF Robertson (27) (LH) 106 1.9
3B Zimmerman (30) 119 5.3
SS Fletcher (32) 103 6.8
C McCarty (28) 98
2B Herzog (31) 93 2.1
SP2 Perritt (25) 135 2.5
LF Buford (32) 128 (SH) 4.5
1B Powell (27) 160 (LH) 6.2
RF Robinson (33) 165 6.5
CF Blair (25) 122 6.9
C Hendricks (28) (LH) 100 2.4
2B Johnson (26) 107 3.5
SS Belanger (25) 95 4.3
3B Robinson (32) 92 4.5
SP2 Palmer (23) 152 3.9
GAME TWO
1st: Mike Cuellar was co-MVP of the round one win for the Orioles and he just threw a complete game. The other co-MVP was Jim Palmer and he's on the mound. 23 year old RH, 16-4, 2.34. Palmer led the league in winning percentage this year; in the ALCS, he beat the Twins giving up 2 earned in 9. And in the World Series he lost to the Mets, giving up 4 earned in 6. Benny Kauff singles on the first pitch; an out later Walter Holke singles. Dave Robertson follows with a run scoring single and the Giants are out in front. Giants 1 Orioles 0
1st: The Giants counter with 25 year old RH Pol Perritt, 17-7, 1.88. He broke in with the Cards back in '12, the Giants got him in '15. This is the best year of his career. He'll finish his career in Detroit in '21. Boog Powell singles with one out, Frank Robinson follows with a single and Paul Blair then singles home the tying run. Ellie Hendricks is behind the plate today for Baltimore - and he singles home the go ahead run. Blair then scores on a Davey Johnson groundout. Giants 1 Orioles 3
2nd: Buck Herzog laces a ball down the right field line - it kicks away from Robinson - and Herzog is on the move -- Herzog rounds second and he is not breaking stride -- Robinson hits the cutoff man Johnson - there is going to be a play at the plate.......and Herzog is safe! Buck Herzog hits an inside the park home run and the Giants have cut this lead to 3-2. Perritt helps himself with a single, it ends here. Giants 2 Orioles 3
2nd: With two out, Don Buford and Boog Powell single back to back. Buford spent the first half of his career with the White Sox - came to Baltimore last year in a deal for Luis Aparicio; he'll be here the rest of his career, retiring in '72. The Orioles don't take advantage.
3rd: With one out, Palmer hits Holke, but that's all.
3rd: Johnson hits a two out single, that's it.
4th: Zimmerman singles. That's all.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Perritt.
6th: Holke walks, that's it.
6th: Belanger singles with 2 out, that's it.
7th: Herzog singles with one out, Joe Wilhoit comes on to hit for the pitcher and he singles. But Palmer escapes.
7th: The Giants have one strong bullpen arm - it's Fred Anderson, 31 year old RH with a 1.44 ERA; he gets an out, then gives up back to back singles to Buford and Powell. Robinson grounds out to score another Orioles run and then Paul Blair doubles home one more. Giants 2 Orioles 5
8th: Holke walks. Robertson singles. Big spot here -- Earl Weaver comes to the mound and brings in Pete Richert, 29 year old lefty, 2.20. He gets 2 - but then gives up a Fletcher base hit that brings the Giants closer. Giants 3 Orioles 5
8th: 1-2-3
9th: Baltimore is 3 outs away from going up 2-0, Eddie Watt is a 28 year old RH with a 1.65 ERA - 1-2-3
Giants 3
Orioles 5
WP Palmer
LP Perritt
Gritty performance by Palmer leads Baltimore to the home sweep.
Orioles
Buford 4x
Powell 3x in game 2
Blair 2x in game 2
Johnson 4x
Frank Robinson 4x/wHR
Etchebarren 3x/wHR
Giants
Zimmerman 3x/wHR
Holke 6x w/HR
Robertson 2x in game 2
Herzog 5x w/HR
We go to New York - Giants in the big hole.
Orioles-Earl Weaver
LF Buford (32) 128 (SH) 4.5
2B Johnson (26) 107 3.5
RF Robinson (33) 165 6.5
1B Powell (27) 160 (LH) 6.2
CF Blair (25) 122 6.9
C Etchebarren (26) 96 1.6
SS Belanger (25) 95 4.3
3B Robinson (32) 92 4.5
SP3 McNally (26) 111 (LH) 3.1
C Rariden (29) 115 1.8
LF Burns (27) 146 6.4
3B Zimmerman (30) 119 5.3
CF Kauff (27) (LH) 138 4
1B Holke (24) (SH) 107 1.2
SS Fletcher (32) 103 6.8
RF Robertson (27) (LH) 106 1.9
2B Herzog (31) 93 2.1
SP3 Sallee (32) (LH) 117 2.1
GAME THREE
1st The series shifts to the Polo Grounds; the Giants in the enormous hole. We just saw Slim Sallee advance with the '19 Reds - two years prior, he's a member of the '17 Giants and he's standing on the mound. 18-7, 2.17 and he added 4 saves, which led the league. Davey Johnson hits a one out double, Frank Robinson singles him to third, and then a Boog Powell sac fly puts the Orioles in front. Orioles 1 Giants 0
1st: The Orioles come at you with some starting pitching - Dave McNally is a 26 year old lefty looking for the sweep.20-7, 3.22. McNally was 4th in the Cy Young this year; when the guy who finished 4th in the Cy Young is your third starter, you like your chances. Bill Rariden singles, George Burns singles. Heinie Zimmerman singles and the Giants have loaded the bases only 7 pitches into the game. A Kauff double play scores a run - and then Holke singles home the second. Orioles 1 Giants 2
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Davey Johnson hits a one out single; Boog Powell hits a two out single. That's it.
3rd: Burns singles after an out. Burns was on the roster for the '12 team that has already advanced, but didn't see action as he was in his second season at the age of 22. Just two years later, Burns is 4th in the MVP, this year he led the league in walks and runs scored. Just before the '22 season, he's sent to the Reds for Heinie Groh and finishes with the Phils in '25. Zimmerman follows with a single, but that's all.
4th: Belanger singles with one out - nothing else.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for McNally
6th: Frank Robinson singles. Boog Powell doubles. Orioles in business here - and Paul Blair triples both of them home. Blair's advanced both with next year's Oriole team and as a backup with the '77 Yankees. Blair was an All-Star twice, this was one of those years. Sallee gets an out but then Belanger singles home another run. Fred Anderson is back on -- the Giants need to stem this tide right now -- Brooks Robinson reaches by error and then a McNally double scores one more. Huge inning for the Orioles - and they now lead Orioles 5 Giants 2
6th: Holke singles with 2 out, that's it.
7th: 1-2-3
7th: 9 outs from the sweep. Dave Robertson singles. Robertson has already advanced twice as a bench player - his first year in the league was 1912 --- and his last year was 1922. Robertson led the league in homers this year - in '19 the Giants deal him to the Cubs for Phil Douglas and he comes back for 42 games in '22. McNally gets one, and then McGraw goes to his bench for the great Jim Thorpe. Whoa. Thorpe was a college football star in '11 and '12, leading Carlisle to the National Championship. In the '12 Summer Olympics he won gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon; in '13 he joins the Giants, this year he started the season with the Giants - was sent to the Reds - and then back to the Giants. His MLB career ends with the Braves in '19 (he was also playing professional football, winning titles with the Canton Bulldogs in '16, '17, '19). Thorpe singles. McNally gets the second out and then Burns singles to cut the deficit to 5-3. Zimmerman then singles to cut it to 5-4 and that ends McNally's day. Pete Richert comes on; inning ends. Orioles 5 Giants 4
8th: The Giants 4th starter is 27 year old lefty Rube Benton and he's the new pitcher; 1-2-3.
8th: After an out, Fletcher and Robertson single -- tying run in scoring position for the Giants -- and Herzog singles. The Giants have come all the way back to tie the score at 5. Joe Wilhoit comes on to hit -- and he reaches via error that scores the go ahead run. Orioles 5 Giants 6
9th: The Giants were dead and buried but now are 3 outs from their first win in the series. 25 year old RH George Smith enters - he gives up a Brooks Robinson single.
But that's it.
Orioles 5
Giants 6
WP Benton
LP Richert
Huge, huge comeback for the Giants - on the precipice of elimination, they get 2 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th to stay alive.
Giants
Burns 3x in game 3
Zimmerman 6x/wHR
Holke 8x w/HR
Robertson 4x in game 2-3
Herzog 6x w/HR
Orioles
Buford 2x
Johnson 5x
Frank Robinson 4x/wHR
Powell 2x in game 3
Belanger 2x in game 3
Etchebarren 3x/wHR
The Game One starters return - can the Giants force Game 5?
LF Buford (32) 128 (SH) 4.5
2B Johnson (26) 107 3.5
RF Robinson (33) 165 6.5
1B Powell (27) 160 (LH) 6.2
CF Blair (25) 122 6.9
C Etchebarren (26) 96 1.6
SS Belanger (25) 95 4.3
3B Robinson (32) 92 4.5
P Cuellar (32) 149 (LH) 5.2
C Rariden (29) 115 1.8
LF Burns (27) 146 6.4
3B Zimmerman (30) 119 5.3
CF Kauff (27) (LH) 138 4
1B Holke (24) (SH) 107 1.2
SS Fletcher (32) 103 6.8
RF Robertson (27) (LH) 106 1.9
2B Herzog (31) 93 2.1
P Schupp (26) (LH) 130 4.5
GAME FOUR
1st: Ferdie Schupp on the mound for the Giants. 9 innings from now - are we headed back to Baltimore? Don Buford doubles. Davey Johnson immediately singles him home and it's 1-0. Orioles 1 Giants 0
1st: Mike Cuellar won game one and he looks to close out the series today. Burns singles with one out, that's it.
2nd: Etchebarren singles with one out, Brooks Robinson singles with 2 out. Mike Cuellar had two triples during the season and he triples both men home now. Buford then singles Cuellar home - the Orioles are not messing around today, Orioles 4 Giants 0
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Herzog singles, two outs later, Burns singles him home. Orioles 4 Giants 1
4th: Belanger singles with one out, after the second out Brooks Robinson singles and Cuellar gets hit. That's all.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3, Schupp's retired 7 straight.
5th: Dave Robertson homers to give this crowd some life, it's 4-2. After an out Schupp singles, and after the second out, he scores on a Burns base hit - and the Giants are coming back again. Zimmerman walks - that's it - but we got a ballgame here at the Polo Grounds. Orioles 4 Giants 3
6th: Paul Blair homers -- the Orioles aren't giving up this lead without a fight. Orioles 5 Giants 3
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Johnson singles with 2 out, that's all.
7th: Herzog singles. The tying run comes to the plate with nobody out. Joe Wilhoit onto pinch hit. And he triples home Herzog! The Giants have cut it to 5-4, the tying run is 90 feet away. Weaver decides to stick with Cuellar and he buckles down and gets out of the inning. Orioles 5 Giants 4
8th: To the bullpen - Fred Anderson again for the Giants. He gives up a Powell base hit - but it doesn't go further.
8th: Cuellar still in the game. 6 outs from ending the series. He gets two -- but then gives up a double to Fletcher. Once again, tying run in scoring position. But once again - Cuellar gets through it and now Baltimore is 3 outs away.
9th: Belanger singles - after an out, Curt Motton, hitting for the pitcher - walks. After the second out -- Davey Johnson singles home Belanger. Thats the insurance run. Orioles 6 Giants 4
9th: Here's Eddie Watt. 3 outs away.
Buck Herzog is first. Grounds to Powell. One out.
Jim Thorpe comes off the bench to hit - he grounds back to Watt. Onto first. Two out.
Bill Rariden singles.
Tying run to the plate. 2 out. Burns grounds to Belanger -- flip to Johnson -- ballgame.
Orioles 6
Giants 4
WP Cuellar
LP Schupp
It wasn't easy - but Cuellar goes 8 innings for his second win of the series.
Davey Johnson reached 8 times in the series, including that big insurance run late today; he and Cuellar share the MVP.
