14. 1909 Chicago Cubs v. 19. 1953 World Champion New York Yankees
The 2011 Phillies await the winner of this one; the final Tinker/Evers/Chance Cubs team against our first Round of 32 look at one of Casey's Yankees squads. The Cubs just beat the '78 Yankees in the previous round. Whichever team wins this series will have home field advantage in the best of 7 Regional Final against a Phillies team that is now 8-0 in the tournament.
Cubs 104-49 (Pythag: 109-44) Mgr. Frank Chance
d. #115 2004 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Ed Reulbach)
d. #78 1978 Yankees 3-2 (MVP-Orval Overall)
Hall of Famers: Three Finger Brown, Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker
This Cub team had a 109-44 pythagorean record and finished in 2nd in the NL, 6 1/2 behind the Pirates. The Cubs won the pennant in '06, '07, '08, '10. The pitching staff had a 1.75 ERA. This team was looking to three-peat, the Cubs having won the World Series in '07 and '08.
Yankees 99-52 (Pythag 101-50) Mgr. Casey Stengel
Won AL Pennant
d. Dodgers 4-2 in World Series
d. #110 1998 Astros 2-0 (MVP-Joe Collins)
d. #46 1971 Orioles 3-1 (MVP-Yogi Berra)
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
Fifth consecutive World Series win for the Yankees.
Yankees
LF Woodling (30) (LH) 146 3.8
C Berra (28) (LH) 141 5.6
CF Mantle (21) (SH) 144 4.8
1B Collins (30) (LH) 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:
LF Renna (28) 132
1B Bollweg (32) (LH) 142
OF Noren (28) (LH) 103
1B Mize (40) (LH) 101
Gm2 Ford (LH) (24) 123 3.4
Gm3 Raschi (34) 111 2.6
Probably Casey rolls the same 8 out every day, but Renna and Bollweg had strong years with the bat, and if Woodling or Collins doesn't hit in Chicago, maybe there's a swap. McDonald is the 4th starter should the Yanks advance.
Cubs
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
P Brown (32) 193 8.5
Bench:
C Archer (26) 71 .7
2B Zimmerman (22) 93 .1
1B Howard (31) (LH) 63
SP2: Overall (28) 179 8.5
SP3: Reulbach (26) 143 5
Archer and Moran are the same guy, light hitting RH catchers, if Chance can get one of them to hit, he'll play. Kroh will get the nod over Pfiester as the 4th starter if the Cubs move on.
Lineups:
C-Berra
1B-Chance
2B-Evers
SS-Tinker
3B-McDougald
LF-Woodling
CF-Mantle
RF-Bauer, Yanks 5-3 advantage in position players, with a stronger bench, with Yogi, the top position player
SP1-Brown
SP2-Overall
SP3-Reulbach - the Cubs sweep all 3 starting pitchers; the Cubs are pretty similar to that Phillies team, veteran infielders who played together forever and some huge arms.
Pen-Push, Hagerman from the Cubs is the best pen arm, but the Yanks have more depth
Cubs 6 Yanks 5 -- so, Cubs have the home field and the WAR advantage really pushed by those two top starting pitchers who can throw twice. We'll say its the Cubs who are favored here.
GAME ONE
1st: Lot of unlikely teams still alive in the tournament; neither the '77 Yankees nor the '17 Dodgers were favored to reach anywhere near the Final 8 - and the '11 Phillies came in as the 126th overall seed. That's not true with these two teams; this matchup was favored at the outset of the tournament. Throwing for the Cubs is Three Finger Brown; 32 year old RH, 27-9, 1.31. Brown also added 7 saves, leading the league. 1-2-3.
1st: The Yanks go with Eddie Lopat, 35 year old lefty, 16-4, 2.42. Lopat led the league in ERA, ERA+, WHIP and K/9. Harry Steinfeldt singles with one away, nothing results.
2nd: Gil McDougald singles after 2 outs. McDougald has been the Yanks every day third baseman each year of his 4 year career, he shifts to second next season. Phil Rizzuto follows with a base hit. Billy Martin reaches via error and the Yanks are on the board. Lopat comes through with a base hit of his own - and now it's 2-0. Yankees 2 Cubs 0
2nd: 1-2-3, Lopat spent the first 4 years of his career with the cross town White Sox, so he's used to pitching in Chicago.
3rd: Yogi Berra singles to right. Yogi was MVP of the Yanks Round 2 win; he's advanced already to the Final 8, part of Billy's coaching staff with the '77 Yanks. 28 year old Berra has been an All Star 6 straight seasons and finished 2nd in the AL MVP. From '50-56, Yogi was in the top 5 every season. That's it.
3rd: Pat Moran doubles with one out - the Cubs have two light hitting right handed catchers, Moran gets the first shot in the series. He's 33, in his final season with the Cubs; they sell him to the Phillies. That's all Lopat allows.
4th: Billy Martin singles with 2 away; Billy's 25, in his 4th season - he'll play 7 more, but never had more than 500 at bats in any year but this one. That's all Brown allows.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Jimmy Sheckard walks, he's 30 - led the league in sacrifices. He steals second - Lopat gets two, then Moran singles him home and the Cubs are on the board. Three Finger Brown helps himself with a double - and that's where it ends. Yanks 2 Cubs 1
6th: Joe Collins walks; the Yankee first baseman was MVP of their round one win. Collins realy scuffled in the '53 Series, hitting .167. Brown stops it here. Tight game 1 here at the West Side Grounds.
6th: Player/manager Frank Chance singles. With a 110 OPS+, this is Chance's lightest year offensively since 1899 when he was 22. Chance steals second - then scores on a Harry Steinfeldt base hit and the Cubs have evened this up. Johnny Evers singles - Cubs have something going now - after an out, Joe Tinker singles and the Cubs have the lead. Lopat gets Frank Schulte to ground out - but it scores another run. That ends Lopat's day, 28 year old RH Tom Gorman is on - he's got a 3.39 ERA. He gets out of it. Yankees 2 Cubs 4
7th: 1-2-3, Brown's allowed just 5 hits and the Cubs are 6 outs from taking game 1
7th: Solly Hofman doubles with one away. He's 26, been in the league since he was 20 and this is his best year so far with the bat, with a 115 OPS+. That's all Gorman allows.
8th: Gene Woodling singles. Woodling's 30, it's his 11th year - in Woodling's 17 year big league career he led the league in one category one time -- it's this year, in OBP. Yogi walks - Yanks in business -- Brown toughens through it and now is 3 outs from game one.
8th: Sheckard walks with one away - after the second out Schulte singles - Moran then walks and the bases are loaded. Henie Zimmerman comes on to hit -- he reaches on an error - there's the insurance run. Yankees 2 Cubs 5
9th: 27 year old RH Irv Higginbotham has a 2.19 ERA -
McDougald lines to short.
Rizzuto singles. Billy walks. Tying run to the plate.
Andy Carey comes on to hit and he grounds out.
And so does Woodling and it's over.
Yankees 2
Cubs 5
WP Brown
LP Lopat
Sv Higginbotham
8 innings, gave up 6 hits, Brown stops the Yankees in game 1.
Hofman 1x/double
Chance 1x
Steinfeldt 2x
Evers 1x
Sheckard 2x
Tinker 1x
Schulte 1x
Moran 3x/double
Woodling 1x
Berra 2x
Collins 1x
McDougald 1x
Rizzuto 2x
Martin 2x
LF Woodling (30) (LH) 146 3.8
C Berra (28) (LH) 141 5.6
CF Mantle (21) (SH) 144 4.8
1B Collins (30) (LH) 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
Gm2 Ford (LH) (24) 123 3.4
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
SP2: Overall (28) 179 8.5
GAME TWO
1st: Like the '11 Phillies who await the winner of this Regional semi-final, starting pitching has carried the day for the 1909 Cubs. 28 year old RH Orval Overall, MVP in the Cubs round 2 win, is on the hill today. 20-11, 1.42. Overall led the league in Ks and K/9. It's the best year he'll ever have. 1-2-3.
1st: Whitey Ford looks to even the series for New York; 24 year old lefty, 18-6, it's his first year back after 2 spent in the military. Solly Hofman starts with a single and he scores when Frank Chance doubles on the next pitch. After an out, Johnny Evers doubles and the Cubs are up 2-0. Evers is 27 and it's his 7th year as Chicago's every day second sacker. Yankees 0 Cubs 2
2nd: Joe Collins doubles. New York's first extra base hit of the series. He doesn't score.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Hofman singles again, two outs later Steinfeldt walks, that's all.
4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Overall.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: McDougald singles with one out, just the second Yankee hit of the day and nothing happens.
5th: Pat Moran walks with one away, that's all.
6th: Woodling singles with one out, but the Yankees can't dent the scoreboard.
6th: 1-2-3, Ford hasn't given up a hit since the 3rd.
7th: Mickey Mantle singles, it's the first time he's reached. Mantle's 21, it's his third season, second All Star appearance. He'll make the All Star team each subsequent year until '66. Collins then singles and New York's in business - Hank Bauer grounds into a DP, it scores a run. Yankees 1 Cubs 2
7th: Evers walks, and out later Tinker walks - he's 28 in his 8th season as Cub shortstop, Frank Schulte singles and the Cubs get that run back. Ford walks Moran - an Overall sac fly makes it 4-1. Hoffman then doubles - it scores 2, the Cubs up 6-1 and it looks like they've won game 2. Yankees 1 Cubs 6
8th: 1-2-3
8th: 25 year old lefty Bill Miller for the Yanks - 4.76. Harry Steinfeldt doubles, an out later Jimmy Sheckard walks - that's all.
9th: Overall stays on to finish up - Woodling reaches on an error, two outs later Collins walks, and then Bauer singles to load them up. McDougald reaches on another error - it scores a run - Chance goes to the pen for Higginbotham, and he ends it.
Yankees 2
Cubs 6
WP Overall
LP Ford
Sv Higginbotham
The Yanks get just 6 hits, like Brown in game 1, Overall is just too strong here in game 2 - Higginbotham saves both games.
Hofman 4x/2 doubles
Chance 2x/double
Steinfeldt 4x/double
Evers 3x/double
Sheckard 3x
Tinker 2x
Schulte 2x
Moran 5x/double
Woodling 2x
Mantle 1x
Berra 2x
Collins 4x/double
McDougald 3x
Bauer 1x
Rizzuto 2x
Martin 2x
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
SP3: Reulbach (26) 143 5
LF Woodling (30) (LH) 146 3.8
C Berra (28) (LH) 141 5.6
CF Mantle (21) (SH) 144 4.8
1B Collins (30) (LH) 120 1.3
RF Noren (28) (LH) 103
3B McDougald (25) 113 3.7
SS Rizzuto (35) 103 3.4
2B Martin (25) 94 1.5
Gm3 Raschi (34) 111 2.6
GAME THREE
1st: Hard not to start thinking about a Phillies/Cubs Regional Final, given the similarities between those two squads, but 34 year old RH Vic Raschi stands on the Yankee Stadium mound looking to hold that matchup for another day. 13-6, 3.33. It's Raschi's last season in New York and his last good year. He walks Jimmy Sheckard with one away and nothing else.
1st: Cubs MVP in their round one win was 26 year old RH Ed Reulbach, 19-10, 1.78. Mickey Mantle singles with one out, time for the Mick to get it going if the Yanks are going to stick around. That's it.
2nd: Harry Steinfeldt draws a one out walk, Joe Tinker walks - and Pat Moran, unlikely hitting star, reaches for the sixth time in the series with a run scoring single. Johnny Evers walks after the second out, That's all. Yankees 0 Cubs 1
2nd: Gil McDougald walks with one out, that's all.
3rd: Solly Hofman singles - he's now reached 5 times. 2 outs later Steinfeldt walks, Raschi holds them.
3rd: The Yankees just haven't gotten things going at all in this series; after an out, Woodling and Berra single back to back, Mantle hits a sac fly that ties the score. Joe Collins then singles - but that's it. Yankees 1 Cubs 1
4th: Pat Moran doubles - again; Pat Moran! Evers walks an out later and then a Sheckard sac fly puts the Cubs back on top. Cubs 2 Yankees 1
4th: Scooter singles with one away, that's it.
5th: Frank Schulte singles with one away, that's all.
5th: Yogi singles with one away, an out later Collins walks - but the Yanks can't capitalize.
6th: 1-2-3, Raschi has allowed just 4 hits.
6th: 1-2-3, Reulbach maintains the lead, the Cubs 3 outs from a sweep.
7th: Tom Gorman on the mound for New York - 1-2-3, Yankee pitching giving their side a chance today.
7th: Woodling singles with one away - but again, New York does not score and now are 6 outs from elimination.
8th: Gorman hits Chance, then walks Schulte, but he gets the next 3, the Yanks are still in this thing.
8th: Collins and Noren walk. Big spot here - Reulbach induces a big double play -- but then Rizzuto triples to score the tying run. Irv Higginbotham comes on - gets out of it. Cubs 2 Yankees 2
9th: 9th inning, deadlocked - Yanks need to win to stay alive; Evers hits a one out single, Casey goes to the pen for 36 year old RH Allie Reynolds, 13 wins, 13 saves, 3.41. He gets through it and we head to the bottom.
9th: 23 year old RH Rip Hagerman for the Cubs, 1.82 ERA - he's the best bullpen arm in the series - he walks Woodling with one out - then Mantle singles with two outs -- winning run in scoring position -- but they don't get it.
10th: The Yanks go with 35 year old RH Ray Scarborough, 3.29. 1-2-3
10th: Irv Noren singles - Noren got the start in place of Hank Bauer today, Casey looking to get another lefty bat in the lineup. Chance goes to the pen -- and he goes with the Game 2 winner Orval Overall - that's a big decision, that's going to knock Overall out of a potential game 5 winner take all start if the Yankees can get there. Chance wants to knock New York out right now. Overall walks McDougald - winning run now in scoring position with nobody out -- and then Rizzuto walks.
Bases loaded. Nobody out. 2-2 game. Martin fly ball to left -- Sheckard catches - Sheckard throws home -- Noren slides in under the tag -- ballgame.
Cubs 2
Yankees 3
WP Scarborough
LP Hagerman
The Yanks escape; taking game 3 in extras and forcing the series to go at least one more day. Chicago got just 5 hits - the Cubs don't score after the 4th inning.
Woodling 5x
Mantle 3x
Berra 4x
Collins 7x/double
McDougald 5x
Noren 2x
Bauer 1x
Rizzuto 5x/triple
Martin 2x
Hofman 5x/2 doubles
Chance 2x/double
Steinfeldt 6x/double
Evers 6x/double
Sheckard 4x
Tinker 3x
Schulte 4x
Moran 7x/2 doubles
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
P Brown (32) 193 8.5
LF Woodling (30) (LH) 146 3.8
C Berra (28) (LH) 141 5.6
CF Mantle (21) (SH) 144 4.8
1B Collins (30) (LH) 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
GAME FOUR
1st: The Yankees are still alive and if they can force a game 5 - the Cubs will be without their scheduled starter, having used Overall out of the pen in game 3. Eddie Lopat comes out to the mound for New York - He pitched in one game in the '53 Series and beat the Dodgers, complete game, 2 earned. 1-2-3
1st: Three Finger Brown's the best pitcher in this series, true in their respective seasons, true in this series. Woodling singles. He's reached 6 times. Nothing results.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Rizzuto hits a 2 out single. He's reached 6 times -- and he comes all the way around to score on a Billy Martin triple. Martin had 6 triples all year - this one's bigger than all of them and gives New York a lead. Cubs 0 Yankees 1
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down.
3rd: Another single for Woodling. Again, nothing.
4th: 1-2-3, 12 up, 12 down.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Sheckard singles with one out, the Cubs have a baserunner. Lopat strands him.
5th: Lopat walks with one out - that's it.
6th: 1-2-3, Eddie Lopat - what more can you say? 35 year old lefthander has given up just one baserunner in a must win game for the Yanks.
6th: Joe Collins singles with one away - he's reached 8 times. He doesn't score. Helluva game.
7th: Can Lopat find 9 more outs and send this series back to Chicago? Frank Chance singles and a wild pitch sends him to second. Lopat gets an out - then gives up a Johnny Evers triple and the score is tied at 1. Lopat's done - Tom Gorman comes on for the Yanks - gets out of it. Cubs 1 Yankees 1
7th: 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3, the Yankee pen was great in game 3 - Gorman leading the way and here he is again. Gorman's in his second season, they'll sell him to the A's in '55.
8th: Yogi singles with one away; 6th Yankee hit of the day - after an out, Collins singles, but Brown ends the inning here and we're still all tied at 1.
9th: Hofman walks. Yogi throws him out trying to swipe second; Gorman gets the second, then gives up a Steinfeldt single and hits Evers. 2 on. 2 out. All tied at a run. Big spot.
Sheckard grounds to Collins - he takes it to the bag and Gorman holds on. Big couple of days for Gorman.
9th: 1-2-3 -- Brown goes all 9 - and again we head to extras.
10th: Allie Reynolds now gets the ball. He's an All Star at the age of 36; next year is his final season. He gets one - but then Schulte reached on an error and, of course - it's Pat Moran who hits the big blow of the series; a double that scores the go ahead run. Ray Scarborough enters, finishes the inning. The Cubs are 3 outs from the win. Cubs 2 Yankees 1
10th: Irv Higginbotham comes on - is he about to end this series?
Don Bollweg is on to hit -- grounds to first - Chance keeps it.
Woodling strikes out.
Yogi hits a screaming line drive -- Evers lays out and snares it and its over.
Cubs 2
Yankees 1
WP Brown
LP Reynolds
Sv Higginbotham
Tinker jumps atop his double play partner - Moran runs to the mound - here come the Cubs from the dugout - the 1909 Cubs have won this series and move to the Region 3 Final.
Hofman 6x/2 doubles
Steinfeldt 7x/double
Evers 7x/double, triple
Moran 8x/3 doubles
Pat Moran played in 77 games this season; hit .220 -- but reached more than any other Cub, had more extra base hits than any other Cub, and won the series in the 10th today.
He's the MVP.
