#24. 1938 World Champion New York Yankees v. #56. 2001 AL West Champion Seattle Mariners
The 1995 Indians await the winner of this one, the last Regional Semi-final remaining. Here's the last Yankee team, the last chance for Gehrig and DiMaggio to make the Elite 8. They take on the Mariners team that won 116 games and then lost to the Yankees in the ALCS. Their manager is Lou Piniella, already in the next round with the '77 Yankees (who will meet the winners of this Region). If the Yankees win this one, they'll have home field advantage in the Regional Final against Cleveland - if Seattle wins, the Indians will host game 1.
Yankees 99-53 (Pythag 97-55) Mgr Joe McCarthy
Won AL Pennant
d. Cubs 4-0 to win World Series
d. #105 1957 Braves 2-0 (MVP-Joe Gordon)
d. #41 2019 Dodgers 3-1 (MVP-Frankie Crosetti/Joe Gordon)
All-Stars Bill Dickey (2nd AL MVP) Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Johnny Murphy, Red Rolfe, Red Ruffing (4th AL MVP)
Hall of Fame: Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Joe Gordon, Red Ruffing, Joe McCarthy
Another Joe McCarthy team, third straight World Championship for the Yankees, it hadn't been done before. They win it again next year. Won the AL by 9.5.
Mariners 116-46 (Pythag 109-53) Lou Piniella (AL Mgr of Year)
1st in AL West
d. Indians 3-2 ALDS
lost to Yankees 4-1 ALCS
d. #73 1913 A's 2-1 (MVP-Ichiro Suzuki)
d. #9 1905 Giants 3-1 (MVP-Freddy Garcia)
All-Stars: 2B Bret Boone (3rd AL MVP) OF Mike Cameron, SP Freddy Garcia (3rd NL Cy Young) DH Edgar Martinez, RP Jeff Nelson, 1B John Olerud, RP Kazuhiro Sasaki OF Ichiro Suzuki (AL MVP, AL RoY)
Hall of Famers: Edgar Martinez
Randy Johnson was traded in '98, Ken Griffey after the '99 season, ARod left after the 2000 seasons and this year they had 116 regular season wins, tied the major league record. Ichiro's rookie season. They started off 20-5. Freddy Garcia got the win in the All Star game.
Mariners-Lou Piniella
RF Suzuki (27) (LH) 126 6
1B Olerud (32) (LH) 136 5.2
2B Boone (32) 153 8.1
3B McLemore (36) (SH) 115 3.6
CF Cameron (28) 123 5.7
LF Martin (33) (LH) 93 .7
SS Guillen (25) (SH) 87 2.7
C Lampkin (37) (LH) 78 1.1
P Garcia (24) 135 5.3
Bench
DH Martinez (38) 160 6.1
C Wilson (32) 90 2.3
3B Bell (28) 92 3.3
LF Javier (37) 109 (SH) 2.1
SP2 Moyer (38) (LH) 120 3.5
SP3 Sele (31) 115 2.7
Platoons at C-LF-and Bell/Guillen is a platoon, with McLemore shifting to short against LH. Abbott is the 4th starter if they advance.
Yankees-Joe McCarthy
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
P Ruffing (33) 138 6.1
Bench
C Glenn (29) 67
2B Knickerbocker (26) 73
LF Hoag (30) 75
LF Powell (29) 76
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
The 3 LF share the position and DH when the series moves to Seattle. Otherwise, this is it. Pearson is the 4th starter if they advance.
Lineups:
C-Dickey
1B-Olerud
2B-Boone
SS-Crosetti
3B-Rolfe
LF-Push
CF-Push
RF-Suzuki
DH-Martinez
SP1-Ruffing
SP2-Gomez
SP3-Push
Pen-Mariners
WAR: Yanks 5 Mariners 5 -- despite all the Hall of Famers it's actually the Mariners who have the position player advantage, the Yanks the rotation advantage. And it's Boone who is the best position player in the series. Yanks have the better seed and homefield, they're slight favorites.
GAME ONE
1st: Here we go, last Regional Semi Final in the tournament; of course it kicks off at Yankee Stadium. Red Ruffing on the hill; 33 year old RH, 21-7, 3.31. Ruffing spent his first 7 seasons in Boston; this is his 9th with the Yankees and he was 4th in the MVP, leading the AL in wins. Ichiro Suzuki greets him with a single and an out later Bret Boone hits one over the wall in left - and the Mariners leap out in front. Mariners 2 Yankees 0
1st: Freddy Garcia was the Mariners MVP in round 2 and gets the ball here. 24 year old RH, 18-6, 3.05. Garcia's in his 3rd season, he was 3rd in the Cy Young, led the AL in ERA and HR/9. Bill Dickey singles with 2 out. Tommy Henrich singles. That's it.
2nd: Al Martin doubles; Martin's platooning in left, he's 33, spent his first 8 seasons with the Pirates, then 1 in San Diego before coming to Seattle last year. This is his last year with the Mariners. An out later Tom Lampkin singles home a run. After the second out, Ichiro doubles home another run. Mariners off and running in game one. Mariners 4 Yankees 0
2nd: Frankie Crosetti walks with 2 away; Crosetti's 27, he's in his 7th of what will be 17 Yankee seasons. He led MLB in steals and hit by pitches this season. That's all.
3rd: After an out, Mark McLemore singles. McLemore's at third today, he'll move around a little bit. The Mariners utilityman is 36, spent 5 seasons with the Angels, brief stops in Cleveland and Houston, 3 years in Baltimore and 5 in Texas. He came to Seattle last season. Mike Cameron singles. That's it.
3rd: Joe DiMaggio walks. This is DiMaggio's last remaining team in the tournament. DiMaggio's 23, his third season, he was 6th in the MVP. In his 13 year career, DiMaggio finished out of the top 10 three times in the MVP vote. That's all.
4th: Carlos Guillen walks. Guillen's in a platoon; he's 25, it's his 4th season. Ruffing gets two and then Ichiro triples - Ichiro is a homer short of the cycle through 4 innings in game 1 and the Mariners add another run. Mariners 5 Yankees 0
4th: George Selkirk walks with 1 out. It's Selkirk's 5th season of a 9 year Yankee career. That's it.
5th: McLemore singles with one out, Al Martin singles with 2 out - and Carlos Guillen singles home the 6th Mariner run of the day. Ruffing is gone, 28 year old RH Steve Sundra comes on, 4.80 and ends the inning. Mariners 6 Yankees 0
5th: Gehrig singles with 2 out - this is Gehrig's last team standing; Lou's 35, it's his final full season, he plays in 8 games next year.
6th: Olerud's hit with 2 out, that's it.
6th: Garcia hits Selkirk with 2 out - and that wakes up the Yankee dugout; that sure looked like a receipt for the top of the inning and there's some chirping going on now.
7th: 1-2-3
7th: Garcia's given up just 3 hits. He gets one and then DiMaggio blasts a homer to left - huge roar for DiMaggio as he breaks up the shutout. Mariners 6 Yankees 1
8th: 30 year old RH Wes Ferrell is the next Yankee pitcher; he's got an 8.10 ERA, that has to be the worst ERA in the tournament. He walks Lampkin with one out and that's all.
8th: 1-2-3, Garcia, Mariner MVP in the last round, is 3 outs from a complete game win in Yankee Stadium.
9th: 27 year old RH Joe Beggs for the Yanks; 5.40. 1-2-3
9th: Jeff Nelson enters for the Mariners; 34 year old RH, 2.76 - he walks Crosetti with one out and then walks a pinch hitter, Bill Knickerbocker, but thats the end.
Mariners 6
Yankees 1
WP Garcia
LP Ruffing
4 hits allowed by Garcia over 8 innings; a triple/double/single for Ichiro and the Mariners cruise in game one.
Suzuki 3x/triple, double
Olerud 1x
Boone 1x/HR
McLemore 2x
McLemore 2x
Cameron 1x
Martin 2x/double
Guillen 2x/double
Lampkin 2x
DiMaggio 2x/HR
Gehrig 1x
Dickey 1x
Henrich 1x
Selkirk 2x
Crosetti 2x
SS McLemore (36) (SH) 115 3.6
2B Boone (32) 153 8.1
CF Cameron (28) 123 5.7
1B Olerud (32) (LH) 136 5.2
RF Suzuki (27) (LH) 126 6
LF Javier (37) 109 (SH) 2.1
3B Bell (28) 92 3.3
C Wilson (32) 90 2.3
SP2 Moyer (38) (LH) 120 3.5
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Powell (29) 76
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
GAME TWO
1st: This might be the final game of the Regionals at Yankee Stadium; Joe McCarthy calls on 29 year old Lefty Gomez, 18-12, 3.35. Gomez spends all but the final 4 innings of his career as a Yankee. This is his 9th season. He made his 6th straight All Star team. 1-2-3
1st: Lou Piniella is up a game and turns to his 38 year old lefty, Jamie Moyer. 20-6, 3.43. Moyer had a 25 year big league career, he pitched until he was 49. This is his 6th year in Seattle after stints with the Cubs, Rangers, Cards, Orioles, Red Sox, He finished 4th in the Cy Young this year. He gives up a 1 out single to DiMaggio - but strikes out everyone else.
2nd: John Olerud hits the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left and the Mariners are again out in front. Olerud's 32, in his second season in Seattle after 8 in Toronto and 3 with the Mets. Olerud is a future Yankee, for 49 games in '04. He made his second and last All Star team this season. Gomez gets the next 3. Mariners 1 Yankees 0
2nd: Frankie Crosetti hits a 2 out single and then Jake Powell, getting the start against a LH today, hits a 2 run homer and the Yankees take their first lead of the series. Powell's 29, spent his first 4 years in Washington, this is his third in New York, he hit two homers all year - but gives the Yanks a boost right now. Gomez helps himself with a double and then Joe Gordon singles. That's it. Mariners 1 Yankees 2
3rd: 1-2-3, Gomez has 4 Ks
3rd: Bill Dickey hits a one out single. 17 big league seasons, all in New York. Dickey's 31, this is his 11th year in pinstripes. He was 2nd in the MVP. That's it.
4th: Olerud draws a two out walk and then Gomez loses Ichiro - but that's all.
4th: Powell singles with one away and after the second out Joe Gordon doubles him home. Like DiMaggio, Gordon is 23, he's in his rookie season. DiMaggio walks, that's all. Mariners 1 Yankees 3
5th: 1-2-3, Gomez has allowed just one hit.
5th: Dickey walks and Tommy Henrich hits a 2 run homer and the Yanks extend this lead - huge roar in the Bronx, the Yankees fighting back from their game one loss. Henrich's 25, in his second season of what will be an 11 year Yankee career. Mariners 1 Yankees 5
6th: Gomez gets two and then Mike Cameron hits a line drive that just clears the left field wall. Cameron's 28, spent portions of 4 seasons with the White Sox and this is his second year in Seattle. Cameron made his only All Star team this year and won his first of 3 Gold Gloves. Mariners 2 Yankees 5
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Ichiro singles. Ichiro's a 27 year old rookie, won AL MVP and Rookie of the Year. For the first 10 years of his MLB career, Suzuki makes the All Star team and wins the Gold Glove. Ichiro led the AL in hitting this year and led MLB in hits and steals. Stan Javier walks. Gomez shuts it down here and the Yanks are 6 outs from tying this thing up.
7th: Jeff Nelson takes over for Seattle. He pitched the 9th inning of game one; Nelson spent his first 4 years in Seattle - then 5 in New York, coming over in the Tino Martinez trade. Then back to the Mariners this year, where, at the age of 34, he makes his only career All Star team. And in the middle of '03 - Seattle deals him back to New York for Armando Benitez. If there's a guy who should be pitching in a Mariners/Yankees series it's Jeff Nelson. He gets 2 - then gives up Tommy Henrich's second homer of the day - the Yanks are going to take game 2 and head to Seattle with this series deadlocked. Mariners 2 Yankees 6
8th: McLemore walks with one out, Boone singles - Cameron walks and the Mariners have loaded the bases. But Gomez escapes - he's given up just 4 hits and now is just 3 outs from the win.
8th: Arthur Rhodes is next for Seattle - 31 year old lefty, 8 wins and a 1.72 ERA. Crosetti greets him with a double, Two outs later he scores on a Gordon base hit. Mariners 2 Yankees 7
9th: Ichiro is safe via error and two outs later scores on a Dan Wilson base hit. McCarthy goes to the pen for his closer, Johnny Murphy. 29 year old RH, 8 wins, 11 saves, 4.24. Murphy spent the first dozen seasons of his career in NY, this is the 6th, he made the All Star team and led the league in saves. He ends the game.
Mariners 3
Yankees 7
WP Gomez
LP Moyer
Strong 8_ from Gomez (he threw 129 pitches, which maybe is a thing to be aware of if he pitches game 5) Henrich hits a couple of homers and the series heads to Seattle all even at 1.
DiMaggio 4x/HR
Gehrig 1x
Dickey 3x
Henrich 3x/2 HR, 3 game 2 RBI
Selkirk 2x
Crosetti 4x/double
Gordon 3x/double
Powell 2x/HR
Suzuki 5x/triple, double
Olerud 3x/HR
Boone 2x/HR
McLemore 3x
McLemore 3x
Cameron 3x/HR
Martin 2x/double
Guillen 2x/double
Lampkin 2x
Javier 1x
Wilson 1x
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
DH Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Powell (29) 76
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
RF Suzuki (27) (LH) 126 6
1B Olerud (32) (LH) 136 5.2
DH Martinez (38) 160 6.1
2B Boone (32) 153 8.1
3B McLemore (36) (SH) 115 3.6
CF Cameron (28) 123 5.7
LF Martin (33) (LH) 93 .7
SS Guillen (25) (SH) 87 2.7
C Lampkin (37) (LH) 78 1.1
SP3 Sele (31) 115 2.7
GAME THREE
1st: Safeco Field, a matchup Seattle fans have been waiting for - in 2001 after a 116 win season they lost the ALCS to the Yankees, the Yankees return today, game 3 of the Region 8 Semi-Final. Aaron Sele stands on the mound; 31 year old RH, 15-5, 3.60. Sele spent 5 years in Boston, 2 in Texas and arrived in Seattle last year. DiMaggio laces the first pitch into center for a base hit. Gehrig then follows with a single to right center. Dickey then reaches on an error and a run scores. After an out, Red Rolfe doubles everyone home. It's the Yankees who jump out early in game 3. Yankees 3 Mariners 0
1st: Spud Chandler takes the ball for New York. 30 year old RH, 14-5, 4.03. Chandler spends his entire 11 year career in New York, this is year two. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Bret Boone walks. Boone's 32. He spent the first two years of his career here in Seattle, then to the Reds, Braves, Padres before coming back this year for the best year of his career. 3rd in the AL MVP, most RBI in the league. That's all Pearson allows.
3rd: Gehrig singles again, that's it.
3rd: Al Martin walks and steals second, moves to third on the first out and scores on a Tom Lampkin groundout. Lampkin's 37, platooning behind the plate. This is Lampkin's third year in Seattle after stops in Cleveland, San Diego, Milwaukee, San Francisco and St Louis. Yankees 3 Mariners 1
4th: Rolfe and Selkirk open with back to back singles. Rolfe then scores on a Gordon sac fly. After the second out Powell singles -- and then DiMaggio with the big blow - a triple that clears the bases and the Yankees are whipping the Mariners in game 3. Sele walks Gehrig and Dickey - but it ends here. Yankees 6 Mariners 1
4th: Edgar Martinez is in the lineup for the first time as the series adds a DH and he singles with 1 out. Edgar's 38. He spends his entire 18 year career in Seattle. This is year 15, Edgar makes his 6th All Star team, it ends here.
5th: Rolfe singles, that's all.
5th: 1-2-3, just one hit allowed by Chandler.
6th: Powell singles and comes all the way around to score on a DiMaggio double; DiMaggio now just a homer away from a cycle. The Yankees are rolling here in game 3. 28 year old RH Ryan Franklin comes on now for Seattle, 3.56. He ends it. Yankees 7 Mariners 1
6th: Lampkin reaches on an error and an out later Olerud gets hit for the second time in the series; Olerud can't continue - Ed Sprague will run for him and he's likely to play first base for the remainder of the series. Big blow to the Mariners. Martinez walks to load the bases, Boone singles home a run - a second run scores on a McLemore groundout, Cameron walks to load the bases and then Martin walks - and the Mariners have 3 runs on the board. Yankees 7 Mariners 4
7th: Selkirk walks with one out and an out later Crosetti walks - that's all.
7th: Yankee closer Johnny Murphy is brought on - will McCarthy look to get 9 outs out of his right arm? 1-2-3
8th: Dickey walks with 2 out - that brings on Jeff Nelson, he's pitched in each game in the series and he ends it.
8th: Edgar leads off with a double. Boone then reaches on error and scores on a McLemore groundout - that makes it 7-5 and this Safeco crowd is stomping their feet. Cameron singles - tying runs on base, just one out. Yankees go back to the pen for Ivy Andrews, 31 year old RH, 3.00 ERA, he's the best arm in their pen. He gets the next two - just 4 hits today for Seattle Yankees 7 Mariners 5
9th: Selkirk walks with one away - that's it.
9th: Andrews stays on - 3 outs away from giving the Yanks a 2-1 lead.
Lampkin grounds to second.
Ichiro singles. Tying run to the plate.
Ed Sprague -- grounds to Rolfe -- over to Gordon -- onto Gehrig --- double play!
Yankees 7
Mariners 5
WP Chandler
LP Sele
Sv Andrews
Combined 5 hitter by Yankee pitching; DiMaggio goes triple/double/single and the Yankees are one game away from the Region 8 Final.
DiMaggio 7x/HR, triple, double, 3 game 3 RBI
Gehrig 4x
Dickey 5x
Henrich 3x/2 HR, 3 game 2 RBI
Selkirk 5x
Crosetti 5x/double
Gordon 3x/double
Powell 4x/HR
Rolfe 3x/double
Suzuki 6x/triple, double
Olerud 4x/HR
Boone 4x/HR
McLemore 3x
McLemore 3x
Cameron 5x/HR
Martin 4x/double
Guillen 2x/double
Lampkin 2x
Javier 1x
Wilson 1x
Martinez 3x/double
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
DH Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Powell (29) 76
P Ruffing (33) 138 6.1
RF Suzuki (27) (LH) 126 6
DH Martinez (38) 160 6.1
2B Boone (32) 153 8.1
SS McLemore (36) (SH) 115 3.6
CF Cameron (28) 123 5.7
1B Sprague (33) 119
LF Martin (33) (LH) 93 .7
3B Bell (28) 92 3.3
C Lampkin (37) (LH) 78 1.1
P Garcia (24) 135 5.3
GAME FOUR
1st: Freddy Garcia shut the Yankees down in game one; if he can do it again today we head back to New York for game 5. 1-2-3
1st: Red Ruffing got knocked around back in game one; can he right the ship and pitch the Yankees into the last Regional Final? Edgar singles with 1 out. That's it.
2nd: Red Rolfe walks with one away. That's it.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: David Bell singles. Bell's 28, he's had two separate stints with Cleveland and one with the Cards before arriving in Seattle in '99. An out later Ichiro singles - that's all.
4th: Scoreless in Seattle as we go to the 4th. Gehrig walks - that's it.
4th: Bret Boone hits a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left center and the Mariners take the lead. There's a curtain call for Boone - this Seattle crowd starved to extend their Mariners life one more day. Yankees 0 Mariners 1
5th: 1-2-3, Garcia's yet to allow a hit.
5th: Al Martin singles. 2 outs later Lampkin singles - that's all.
6th: With one out, Jake Powell punches a base hit to right. That's it.
6th: Bret Boone again - doubling with one out, but Ruffing strands him at third. Let's go to the 7th, super, super tight one here in game 4.
7th: Gehrig walks --- and then Bill Dickey hits a 2 run shot over the wall in right - and there's a jubilant Yanke dugout - the Bombers take the 2-1 lead on just their second hit of the day. That's the end of Garcia's day - Jeff Nelson, who else? gets the call. He gets two, walks Selkirk, and ends it. Yankees 2 Mariners 1
7th: 1-2-3, stalwart effort for Ruffing today.
8th: Arthur Rhodes for Seattle - 1-2-3
8th: Near Panic at the Safeco, they need to find a run. Edgar walks with 2 out, Boone singles and McLemore walks. Bases loaded. 2 out. Mariners down a run. Bottom of the 8th.
And Ruffing escapes.
9th: Dickey singles with one away and that's all.
9th: Ruffing stays on. 3 outs from a complete game win that moves the Yankees to face the Indians in the Region 8 Final.
Ruffing strikes out Sprague.
Martin flies to left.
Bell flies to left -- Powell has it. Ballgame.
Controlled joy from the Yankees - it's a team with legends, they expect to win - they won - bitter, bitter disappointment in Seattle as the Mariners fall again to the Yankees.
Yankees 2
Mariners 1
WP Ruffing
LP Garcia
The Yankees got 3 hits. 3 hits! But one of them was a 2 run Dickey homer and Ruffing's complete game wins the series.
DiMaggio 7x/HR, triple, double, 3 game 3 RBI
Dickey 7x/HR
Henrich 3x/2 HR, 3 game 2 RBI
Really 3 choices for MVP - Henrich the hitting star in game 2, DiMaggio in 3, Dickey in 4.
Let's say Dickey and DiMaggio share this one.
