#24. 1938 World Champion New York Yankees v. #40. 1995 AL Champion Cleveland Indians
Well, here we are. 7 teams have advanced to the Elite 8, one spot remains and it will be claimed by one of these two clubs. These Indians have already knocked off 2 Yankees squads in the tournament, sweeping both. The winner of this series will be playing in our next series - they will kick off the Elite 8 against the '77 Yankees.
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)
d. #56 2001 Mariners 3-1 (MVP-Joe DiMaggio/Bill Dickey)
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.
Indians 100-44 (Pythag 93-51) Mgr. Mike Hargrove (3rd AL Mgr of Year)
1st in AL Central
d. Red Sox 3-0 ALDS
d. Mariners 4-2 ALCS (MVP-Orel Hershiser)
lost to Braves 4-2 World Series
d. #89. 1923 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Kenny Lofton)
d. #105 1955 Dodgers 3-2 (MVP-Manny Ramirez)
d. #72 1951 Yankees 3-0 (MVP-Chad Ogea/Carlos Baerga)
All-Stars: 2B Carlos Baerga, OF Albert Belle (2nd AL MVP) OF Kenny Lofton, SP Dennis Martinez, RP Jose Mesa (2nd AL Cy Young, 4th AL MVP) OF Manny Ramirez
Hall of Famers: Eddie Murray, Jim Thome, Dave Winfield
Short season, only 144 games, Indians first pennant since '54. Jose Mesa gave up 8 earned runs all year. Indians won the AL Central by 30 games. First season in Jacobs Field.
Indians-Mike Hargrove
CF Lofton (28) (LH) 110 3.4
LF Belle (28) 177 8.2
RF Ramirez (23) 147 3.7
3B Thome (24) (LH) 157 5.6
1B Perry (25) 117
2B Baerga (26) (SH) 108 3.4
C Alomar (29) 107 1.7
SS Vizquel (28) (SH) 78 2.4
P Martinez (41) 152 4.3
Bench
DH Murray (39) (SH) 129 2.7
C Pena (38) 75
OF Kirby (31) (LH) 45
1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116 1.1
IF Espinoza (33) 51
DH Winfield (43) 49
SP2 Ogea (24) 154 2.3
SP3 Hershiser (36) 121 3.5
SP4 Nagy (28) 103
First base platoon and Murray might also see action at first in New York. All RH starters. You'd like to see Winfield come off the bench in a big spot at Yankee Stadium.
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
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
Bench
LF Powell (29) 76
C Glenn (29) 67
2B Knickerbocker (26) 73
LF Hoag (30) 75
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
P Ruffing (33) 138 6.1
P Pearson (29) 115
Ruffing threw the last game of the semi-final, so he's in the third slot here. Gomez is the only lefty starter for either club. DH could be a hot hand.
Lineups:
C-Dickey
1B-Gehrig
2B-Gordon
SS-Crosetti
3B-Thome
LF-Belle
CF-DiMaggio
RF-Ramirez
DH-Murray, Yanks have the 5-3 advantage in position players
SP1-Gomez
SP2-Ruffing
SP3-Hershiser
SP4-Pearson
Pen-Indians
WAR: Yanks 8 Indians 5, Yanks a little better in both arms and bats, although Belle is the best player in the series. Yanks have the better seed, they're at home field - they're favored.
GAME ONE
1st: Lefty Gomez stands on the mound at Yankee Stadium as the last Regional Final gets underway. 29 years old. 18-12, 3.35. Gomez is from the San Francisco Bay Area; signed with the Yankees in '29 and broke in in '30. Won 24 games in '32, was 5th in the MVP and won Game 2 of the World Series. In '33 Gomez married a Broadway star, June O’Dea and was the winning pitcher in the first All Star game (Gomez started the first 3 All Star games) In '34 Gomez was 26-5, led the AL in ERA and was 3rd in the MVP. Gomez won 2 games in the '36 World Series. In '37 Gomez led the league in wins, ERA, started his 4th All Star Game and won 2 games in the World Series. This year he led the league in shutouts, third in wins, third in ERA, started his 5th All Star game and won his 6th World Series game against zero losses. Kenny Lofton leads off with a triple; might be the first leadoff triple of the tournament. But Gomez leaves him at third.
1st: Cleveland counters with Dennis Martinez. 12-5, 3.08, 41 year old RH. Martinez was the first Nicaraguan to make the big leagues; signed with the Orioles in '73, called up in '76. Martinez led the league in complete games in '79 and in wins in '81, when he finished 5th in the Cy Young. Martinez went to rehab for alcohol addiction following the '83 season and was dealt to Montreal in mid '86. In '91 a 37 year old Martinez was 5th in the NL Cy Young and led all MLB in ERA and following the '93 season he signed with Cleveland. He made the All Star team this year, threw 7 scoreless in game 6 of the ALCS. He walks Joe DiMaggio, Two outs later DiMaggio crosses the plate on a Tommy Henrich single - those two were co-MVPs for the Yanks in the Regional Semi-Final and here we are again. Indians 0 Yankees 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: George Selkirk walks. Selkirk's 30, Canadian, he's in left this year, but before that he replaced the Babe in right. The Yankees signed Selkirk in '31 and brought him up in '34 when Earle Combs fractured his skull. Selkirk hit two homers in the '36 World Series. That's all.
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Gomez
3rd: Lou Gehrig singles with one away. The 35 year old first baseman is from Manhattan, went to Columbia on a football scholarship, signed with the Yankees in '23 and came up for the first time that same year. In '24 he and Ty Cobb got into a fistfight and in '25 he took Wally Pipp's first base job. Gehrig hit .348 in the '26 World Series and then he won the MVP in '27 (the same year Ruth hit 60 homers, there used to be a rule that once you won the MVP you couldn't win it again) In 1927 Gehrig hit .373, 47 homers, 173 RBI. Gehrig hit .545 in the '28 World Series. In 1929 Gehrig hit .379, 41 homers, 174 RBI. In '31 he hit 341, 46 homers, 184 RBI. In '32 .349, 34 homers, 151 RBI. In a June game against the A's, Gehrig hit four homers and in the World Series that year Gehrig hit .529. In 1933 Gehrig set the mark for consecutive games played at 1308 and in 1934 (Ruth's last Yankee season) Gehrig hit .363, 49 homers, 165 RBI. Gehrig was named Yankee captain in '35 and hit .354 in '36 with 49 homers and 152 RBI (DiMaggio's rookie year). Last year Gehrig hit .351, 37 homers, 159 RBI. That's all.
4th: Albert Belle walks. Belle's 28, from Shreveport, went to LSU. Cleveland drafted him in the second round in '87. Belle came up initially in '89, changed his name from Joey in '90, had top 10 MVP finishes in '93 and '94 and hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in '95, finishing 2nd in the MVP. Belle had a 1.047 OPS in this year's World Series. Two outs later Herb Perry singles, that's all.
4th: Martinez gets two then gives up a Joe Gordon single. The rookie second baseman is 23, born in LA, grew up in Portland, went to University of Washington and signed with the Yankees in '36, after the '37 season Tony Lazzeri was let go, Gordon got the second base job this year. He hit .400 in the World Series. Frankie Crosetti then singles and that's all.
5th: Sandy Alomar singles. Alomar's 29, Puerto Rican, his dad was a big league second baseman with multiple clubs. The Padres signed him in '83 and came up for the first time in '88, his younger brother Roberto was also a Padre. Sandy was blocked by Benito Santiago and was dealt after the '89 season to the Indians for Joe Carter. In '90 Alomar became the first rookie catcher to start the All Star game and was a unanimous Rookie of the Year. Omar Vizquel doubles down the right field line - Alomar tries to score all the way from first -- but is gunned down on a relay home by Joe Gordon. Big play there - Tommy Henrich making the nice play in right - hitting the cutoff man - and Gordon gunning down Alomar, preserving the shutout for Gomez. After the second out, Lofton walks and then Cleveland ties the score anway on a Belle base hit. Indians 1 Yankees 1
5th: Bill Dickey singles with 2 out. Dickey's 31, from Louisiana, went to Little Rock College, signed with the Yankees in '27 and up in late '28. Dickey became the starting catcher in '29 and hit .324. In '30, he hit .339. In '31, .327. Dickey was suspended a month in '32 for breaking Carl Reynolds (Senators) jaw. Dickey had top 5 MVP finishes in '36, '37 and finished second this year. That's all.
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Red Rolfe homers to dead center and the Yankees go out in front. The Yankee third baseman is 29, from New Hampshire, went to Dartmouth (Ivy Leaguers on the corners for the Yankee infield) signed with the Yankees in '31 and briefly debuted. Rolfe came up for good in '34 and won the third base job. He led the league in triples in '36. This year, Rolfe hit .311. Selkirk singles and two outs later Gomez walks. That's all - but the Yanks regain the lead. Indians 1 Yankees 2
7th: Alomar opens with a single but that's it.
7th: Bullpen for Mike Hargrove; Eric Plunk is a 31 year old RH with a 2.67 ERA. He gets two then walks Tommy Henrich. Henrich's 25, from Canton, Ohio - the Indians signed him in '33; Judge Landis declared him a free agent in '37 after Henrich filed a grievance with the Indians. Although Henrich was a native Ohioan, his boyhood favorite team was the Yankees, he signed with the Bombers and came up later that year. The inning ends.
8th: Kenny Lofton tripled in the first and he doubles here, the Indians placing the tying run in scoring position. Lofton's 28, from Chicago, went to Arizona on a basketball scholarship, in his junior year he was the 6th man on the '88 Wildcat team that made the Final Four. Later that year, the Astros took him in the 17th round and in '89 was the point guard for the Sweet 16 Wildcats. The Astros called him up in '91 and dealt him to the Indians following the season. Lofton was 2nd in the Rookie of the Year in '92, hit .325 in '93, finished 4th in the MVP in '94. This year he led the AL in triples. Belle follows with a double and the Indians tie the score. That ends the day for Gomez- Johnny Murphy comes on; 28 year old RH, 8 wins, 11 saves, 4.24 -- and Manny Ramirez singles to right -- it scores Belle and Cleveland has its first lead of the day. An out later Herb Perry singles and after the second out Alomar singles home another run -- big inning for the Tribe as they burst out in front. Indians 4 Yankees 2
8th: Julian Tavarez takes over for Cleveland. 22 year old RH, 10 wins, 2.44. Frankie Crosetti draws a 2 out walk. The Yankee shortstop is 27, like Gomez and DiMaggio, he's from San Francisco. Signed with the Yanks in '30 and up in '32. Crosetti was an All Star in '36 and led the league in steals this year. That's all.
9th: 31 year old RH Ivy Andrews for the Yanks, 3.00 even. He gets two - but then Belle homers to center - that looks like the insurance run. Indians 5 Yankees 2
9th: 29 year old Jose Mesa for the Tribe. A 1.13 ERA and 46 saves.
DiMaggio flies to center.
Gehrig rips a base hit to center.
Dickey pops up to second.
And Henrich flies to left -- Belle has an easy one.
3 in the 8th, 1 in the 9th, the Indians come all the way back and take game one, they still haven't lost a game to any Yankees club in the tournament.
Indians 5
Yankees 2
WP Plunk
LP Gomez
Sv Mesa
Homer, double, 3RBI for Belle - Cleveland takes game one.
Lofton 3x/triple, double
Belle 4x/HR, double, 3 Game 1 RBI
Ramirez 1x
Perry 2x
Alomar 3x
Vizquel 1x/double
DiMaggio 1x
Gehrig 2x
Dickey 1x
Henrich 2x
Rolfe 1x/HR
Selkirk 2x
Gordon 1x
Crosetti 2x
CF Lofton (28) (LH) 110 3.4
3B Thome (24) (LH) 157 5.6
LF Belle (28) 177 8.2
RF Ramirez (23) 147 3.7
1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116 1.1
2B Baerga (26) (SH) 108 3.4
C Alomar (29) 107 1.7
SS Vizquel (28) (SH) 78 2.4
SP2 Ogea (24) 154 2.3
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
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
GAME TWO
1st: The Yanks lose a late game one lead, making game two super important as they don't want to head to Cleveland down 2-0. Spud Chandler looks to prevent that. 30 year old RH, 14-5, 4.03. Chandler's from Georgia, played football and baseball at Georgia, signed with the Yankees in '32, didn't get called up until '37. A sore elbow kept him from this year's World Series. Kenny Lofton singles, Bill Dickey guns him out trying to steal second. After the second out Albert Belle doubles - that's it.
1st: 24 year old RH Chad Ogea for the Indians. 8-3, 3.05. Ogea's from Louisiana, went to LSU, won the clinching game in the '91 College World Series. Cleveland took him in the third round in '91, came up in '94, joined the rotation in the middle of this season. He only appeared once in the '95 postseason, in a relief role. He gets one, then Lou Gehrig doubles, Bill Dickey walks - Ogea doesn't allow a run.
2nd: Carlos Baerga singles with 1 out. Baerga's 26, from Puerto Rico, signed at 17 with the Padres. He was dealt to Cleveland in that Alomar/Joe Carter deal prior to the '90 season and came up that year. Baerga made the All Star team in '92 and '93. Baerga hit .400 in this year's ALCS. That's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: With one out, Lofton reaches by error and Jim Thome walks. Thome's 24, from Peoria, went to Illinois Central College, the Indians took him in the 13th in '89 and he came up for the first time in late '91. Thome was platooning at third by '94 and was the every day third baseman this year - hitting 4 homers in the '95 postseason. Chandler escapes.
3rd: Crosetti singles, that's all. Still scoreless headed to the 4th.
4th: Alomar singles with 2 out. Omar Vizquel follows with a single. Vizquel's 28, Venezuelan, signed at 16 with Seattle, came up in '89 and became the Mariners starting shortstop. Vizquel won his first Gold Glove in '93 and was dealt to Cleveland at the end of the season. Chandler escapes.
4th: Bill Dickey reaches on an error - is erased on a double play and then Red Rolfe - who homered in game one - does it again now, just clearing the RF wall for the game's first run. Indians 0 Yankees 1
5th: Lofton singles. An out later Dickey guns him down again trying to take second, Belle doubles one more time - and that's it.
5th: Crosetti singles with one out, that's all.
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Tight game 2 in the Bronx, Gehrig and Dickey single back to back. Ogea gets the next 3 and we head to the 7th, Yanks clinging to the 1-0 lead.
7th: 1-2-3, Chandler has retired 7 straight, still up 1-0.
7th: Ogea gets 2, Myril Hoag, 30 year old RH bat, comes off the bench to hit for Chandler and singles. But that's all.
8th: Johnny Murphy comes on for the Yanks - 6 outs left to get. With one out, Belle walks. That's it.
8th: The Rolfe homer is still the only run on the board. Eric Plunk takes the ball for Hargrove and walks Gehrig. That's all.
9th: Ivy Andrews is on now - 3 outs from the win.
Baerga smashes a double to center. Tying run in scoring position with nobody out.
Alomar flies to left.
Vizquel flies to right.
Dave Winfield comes off the bench. Winfield is 43 years old, it's the final season of his career. This is his only season in Cleveland - he spent the 80s right here in Yankee Stadium.
Winfield hits a ball to the deepest part of right center -- but it hangs up for DiMaggio - he makes the catch at the base of the wall to end the game.
Indians 0
Yankees 1
WP Chandler
LP Ogea
Sv Andrews
7 shutout innings for Chandler, the Rolfe homer holds up - we will move to Cleveland for the next 3 games of the series, all tied at 1.
DiMaggio 1x
Gehrig 5x/double
Dickey 3x
Henrich 2x
Rolfe 2x/2HR
Selkirk 2x
Gordon 1x
Crosetti 4x
Hoag 1x
Lofton 5x/triple, double
Belle 7x/HR, 3 double, 3 Game 1 RBI
Ramirez 1x
Perry 2x
Alomar 4x
Vizquel 2x/double
Baerga 2x/double
Thome 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
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
DH Hoag (30) 75
P Ruffing (33) 138 6.1
CF Lofton (28) (LH) 110 3.4
3B Thome (24) (LH) 157 5.6
LF Belle (28) 177 8.2
RF Ramirez (23) 147 3.7
DH Murray (39) (SH) 129 2.7
1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116 1.1
2B Baerga (26) (SH) 108 3.4
C Alomar (29) 107 1.7
SS Vizquel (28) (SH) 78 2.4
SP3 Hershiser (36) 121 3.5
GAME THREE
1st: The Region 8 Final shifts to Jacobs Field. 36 year old RH Orel Hershiser on the mound; 16-6, 3.87. Hershiser's from Buffalo, went to Bowling Green, the Dodgers took him in the 17th round in '79 and brought him up in late '83. In '84, Hershiser had a 34 inning scoreless streak and was third in the Rookie of the Year. In '85 he was 19-3 with a 2.03 ERA and was third in the Cy Young. He was 4th in the Cy Young in '87 and broke the consecutive scoreless innings record in '88, winning the Cy Young. Hershiser pitched in 4 games in the '88 NLCS, throwing a 5 hitter in game 7. He finished 4th in the Cy Young the following year, then had shoulder surgery and really fell off the table. He signed with Cleveland this year and rebounded with his best season since '89. Hershiser was MVP of this year's ALCS. He gets 1 and then Lou Gehrig launches a blast - a moon shot to left center to give the Yanks the lead. Bill Dickey follows with a double. That's all. Yankees 1 Indians 0
1st: Red Ruffing is the Yankee ace and he gets the ball today. 33 year old RH, 21-7, 3.31. Ruffing's from Illinois, signed with the Red Sox at 19 and came up quickly; he was in their rotation at 20, losing 18 games. Early in the 1930 season Boston sold Ruffing to the Yankees and turned around his career. He won 15 in '30 and hit .364. In '32 he had the second best ERA in the AL. He was 8th in the MVP last year and 4th this year. Jim Thome singles with 1 out, after the second out, Ruffing hits Manny Ramirez. Ramirez is 23, from the Dominican, went to HS in NYC. The Indians took him 13th overall in '91, brought him up in '93 and he was second in the Rookie of the Year last year. Ramirez was an All Star this season. That's all.
2nd: Joe Gordon walks with one out. Myril Hoag is DH'ing today and he singles after the second out. Hoag's 30, from Sacramento, came up in 31, had a 13 year career the first 7 seasons as a Yankee and the final two in Cleveland (also headed to Cleveland - Joe Gordon, for this final four seasons) Joe DiMaggio then doubles everyone home - nice start to game 3 for the Bombers. Yankees 3 Indians 0
2nd: Carlos Baerga singles with 1 away, that's all.
3rd: Bill Dickey walks and then Tommy Henrich mashes a 2 run homer to right center - the Yanks are mashing Hershiser. Yankees 5 Indians 0
3rd: Lofton singles. Thome singles. Belle walks. Bases loaded and nobody out. Ruffing gets a huge 5-2-3 double play from Ramirez - but then hits Eddie Murray to load the bases again. Paul Sorrento singles to score 2. Carlos Baerga singles home a run. Sandy Alomar singles home a run and like that - the Indians have plated four and chased Ruffing from the game. 30 year old Wes Ferrell for the Yankees with his 8.10 ERA. Ferrell spent the first 7 seasons of his career right here in Cleveland. He walks Vizquel - that's all, but the Indians bat around the Jacobs Field crowd is jubilant - and now it's Yankees 5 Indians 4
4th: Crosetti singles - an out later DiMaggio just crushes a 2 run homer to left center - New York playing big boy ball today. Hargrove now goes to the pen for Ken Hill, 29 year old RH, 3.98. Gehrig singles - that's it. Yankees 7 Indians 4
4th: Jim Thome walks. McCarthy goes back to the pen for Steve Sundra, 28 year old RH, 4.80. He gets a double play then gives up a Ramirez single. Eddie Murray follows with a single. That's all.
5th: Selkirk doubles with 1 out and Crosetti reaches after the second - Hoag then doubles home both - the Yankees just hammering the ball today. Yankees 9 Indians 4
5th: Alomar singles with 2 away, that's it.
6th: Bill Dickey hits a 1 out double. That's it.
6th: 1-2-3, nice bullpen outing for Sundra.
7th: Selkirk doubles and scores on a Gordon base hit. 2 outs later DiMaggio walks - that's all. Yankees 10 Indians 4
7th: 1-2-3, how about Sundra?
8th: 1-2-3
8th: Johnny Murphy for the Yankees - he walks Baerga and then Alomar triples Baerga home. After the first out, Alomar scores on a Lofton groundout. Yankees 10 Indians 6
9th: Hill gets the first then walks the bases loaded - Gordon, Crosetti, Hoag. And then walks DiMaggio to score the 11th. Bud Black is brought on - 38 year old lefty, 6.85. He hits Gehrig - and that's an interesting development - Bud Black comes in from the end of the bullpen with the game out of hand and hits Gehrig on the leg with his first pitch. And then Bill Dickey hits a rocket -- a grand slam to right center -- the New York Yankees have come into Cleveland and just Bombed the Indian pitching staff. Tommy Henrich walks. That's all. Yankees 16 Indians 6
9th: Albert Belle rips a monster homer to left. McCarthy brings on 27 year old RH Joe Beggs, 5.40. He ends it.
Yankees 16
Indians 6
WP Sundra
LP Hershiser
A 5 RBI day for DiMaggio paces the Bombers Game 3 explosion. 10 extra base hits for New York.
DiMaggio 5x/HR, double, 5 game 3 RBI
Gehrig 8x/double, HR
Dickey 7x/2 double, HR, 4 game 3 RBI
Henrich 4x/HR
Rolfe 2x/2HR
Selkirk 4x/2 doubles
Gordon 4x
Crosetti 6x
Hoag 4x/double
Lofton 6x/triple, double
Belle 9x/2HR, 3 double, 3 Game 1 RBI
Ramirez 2x
Perry 2x
Alomar 7x/triple
Vizquel 3x/double
Baerga 5x/double
Thome 4x
Murray 1x
Sorrento 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
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
DH Hoag (30) 75
P Pearson (29) 115
CF Lofton (28) (LH) 110 3.4
3B Thome (24) (LH) 157 5.6
LF Belle (28) 177 8.2
RF Ramirez (23) 147 3.7
DH Murray (39) (SH) 129 2.7
1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116 1.1
2B Baerga (26) (SH) 108 3.4
C Alomar (29) 107 1.7
SS Vizquel (28) (SH) 78 2.4
SP4 Nagy (28) 103
GAME FOUR
1st: The Indians swept the '23 Yankees in round one and the '51 Yankees in the Regional semi-final. But after getting hit with a 16 spot in game 3 they trail in this series 2 games to 1. Charles Nagy looks to even things up; 28 year old RH, 16-6, 4.55. Nagy's from Connecticut, went to UConn, was on the '88 Olympic team. Cleveland drafted him 17th overall that year, brought him up in '90 and he was 8th in the Rookie of the Year in '91. In '92, Nagy made the All Star team and was 7th in the Cy Young. He gets one and then hits Gehrig in the back - Gehrig got hit at the end of game 3 and now at the beginning of Game 4; Gehrig stays down at the plate for 30 seconds, but then rises and very slowly makes his way to first base. The legendary Gehrig, 35, in his final full season, hit twice in the series. That's it.
1st: Monte Pearson for the Yanks. 29 year old RH, 16-7, 3.97. Pearson's from Oakland, another Yankee from the San Francisco Bay Area. And he came up with Cleveland - pitched here the first four seasons of his career. The Yanks got him in '36. He walks Belle with 2 outs, Belle's reached 10 times, leading both clubs. Ramirez then singles, that's all.
2nd: Selkirk singles with one out and then Joe Gordon homers to left. A big blast for Gordon puts the Yanks out in front. Crosetti doubles. After the second out, Joe DiMaggio singles him home. DiMaggio follows up a 5 RBI game 3 with a rjun scoring single here. The Great DiMaggio is 23, from San Francisco, signed with the Yanks in '35 and came up in '36, led MLB in triples and finished 8th in the MVP. After the year he got the key to the city of San Francisco - not bad at 21. In '37 DiMaggio led MLB in runs, homers, slugging and total bases and finished second in the MVP. This year he finished 6th. Gehrig - essentially immobile, thrashes a double to center and that scores another. Yankees 4 Indians 0
2nd: With 2 out, Alomar and Vizquel single, that's all.
3rd: Rolfe doubles and two outs later scores on a Crosetti single - the Yankees took game 2 1-0 and since then the offense has just battered this Indian pitching. Yankees 5 Indians 0
3rd: Thome walks and an out later so does Manny - but no runs result.
4th: Dickey doubles with 2 out and Henrich walks, that's all.
4th: Baerga doubles, an out later Vizquel doubles and the Tribe hits the scoreboard. Lofton singles home Vizquel and Thome walks. After the second out Manny singles home the third run of the frame. Ruffing walks Murray. That's all - Yankees 5 Indians 3
5th: After 2 outs, Crosetti singles, his third hit of the day. Hoag follows with a double that scores him. That's it for Nagy - Ken Hill comes on and ends the inning. Yankees 6 Indians 3
5th: Baerga singles. An out later Vizquel singles, thats his third hit of the day. After the second out Ruffing walks Thome - but Ruffing escapes.
6th: Henrich singles with two out and Rolfe walks. That's it.
6th: Johnny Murphy comes on for the Yanks. 1-2-3
7th: Crosetti walks with one out, that's it.
7th: 1-2-3, Murphy comes into the game and sets down 6 straight.
8th: Dickey walks with one out. That's it.
8th: Ivy Andrews comes on, McCarthy will look to get the final 6 outs. Thome and Belle draw one out walks. That's it for Andrews - Joe Beggs comes on as the tying run comes to the plate. Beggs escapes.
9th: 1-2-3, how about Ken Hill throwing 4 scoreless?
9th: Beggs gets one and then Baerga singles. That's it.
The Yanks jump out to the early lead; the bullpen throws 4 scoreless innings and now New York has a commanding 3-1 lead. McCarthy announces after the game that Gehrig will be out of the lineup in game 5. The Iron Horse will not play with the injured back.
Yankees 6
Indians 3
WP Ruffing
LP Nagy
Sv Beggs
One more at Jacobs Field, must win for the Tribe.
DiMaggio 6x/HR, double, 5 game 3 RBI
Gehrig 10x/2double, HR
Dickey 9x/3 double, HR, 4 game 3 RBI
Henrich 6x/HR
Rolfe 4x/2HR, double
Selkirk 5x/2 doubles
Gordon 5x/HR
Crosetti 10x/double
Hoag 5x/2double
Lofton 7x/triple, double
Belle 11x/2HR, 3 double, 3 Game 1 RBI
Ramirez 5x
Perry 2x
Alomar 8x/triple
Vizquel 6x/2double
Baerga 8x/2double
Thome 8x
Murray 2x
Sorrento 1x
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
1B 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
DH Powell (29) 76
RF Hoag (30) 75
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
CF Lofton (28) (LH) 110 3.4
LF Belle (28) 177 8.2
RF Ramirez (23) 147 3.7
3B Thome (24) (LH) 157 5.6
1B Perry (25) 117
2B Baerga (26) (SH) 108 3.4
C Alomar (29) 107 1.7
SS Vizquel (28) (SH) 78 2.4
DH Winfield (43) 49
P Martinez (41) 152 4.3
GAME FIVE
1st: Cleveland's back is all the way up against the wall, down 3-1, just one spot remaining in the Elite 8. Is this the final game of the Regionals? Dennis Martinez for the Tribe. DiMaggio singles on the first pitch. Bill Dickey singles on the second pitch. And then Tommy Henrich, playing first base today - doubles both men home. After an out, a Selkirk sac fly makes it Yankees 3 Indians 0
1st: Big 3 run lead for Lefty Gomez who looks to close out this series. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: DiMaggio singles again and then Dickey rockets a homer to dead center - it's his second homer of the series and now it's time to start thinking about the MVP, it's time to start thinking about the Elite 8 matchups; these Yankees would be facing the '77 Yankees if this result holds. Yankees 5 Indians 0
3rd: Alomar singles. That's it.
4th: 6 innings remain in the Regionals. Crosetti reaches on a 1 out error, Jake Powell is in the lineup today and he walks, after the second out -- Joe DiMaggio ends it - a majestic homer to center field - a 3 run beauty that makes this game 8-0 and it's all done now. It's all done now - the '38 Yankees will join the '98 Yankees and the '77 Yankees in the Elite 8. Dickey walks, it ends here. Yankees 8 Indians 0
4th: Albert Belle doubles and an out later Thome walks - that's all.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Alomar singles with one out and Vizquel walks - that's all.
6th: Hoag singles with 2 away, that's all.
6th: Lofton singles, Belle singles, Gomez gets his third double play in as many innings, this from Ramirez, it scores a run. Yankees 8 Indians 1
7th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3, 6 outs from the win
8th: Bud Black enters for the Indians; walks Crosetti with 2 out, that's all.
8th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Gomez, he's allowed just 5 hits and the Yankees are going to win this series.
9th: Joe DiMaggio gets one more for good measure - a one out homer to left center, his third of the series, leaving no doubt about the MVP. Yankees 9 Indians 1
9th: Gomez stays on, 3 outs away.
Belle singles.
Gomez strikes out Manny
Gomez strikes out Thome
Herb Perry grounds to third -- Rolfe throws onto Henrich - and it's over.
Celebration at the mound - Gehrig is here, he comes out to celebrate with his teammates; the Yankees come into Cleveland, take 3 straight and win the Region 8 Final.
Yankees 9
Indians 1
WP Gomez
LP Martinez
Complete game 5 hitter for Gomez, 8 Ks - DiMaggio hits 2 homers, 4 RBI.
DiMaggio 9x/3HR, double, 5 game 3 RBI, 4 RBI game 5, 4 runs game 5
Gehrig 8x/double, HR
Dickey 10x/2 double, 2HR, 4 game 3 RBI
Three big bats for the Yankees in the series; Dickey a step above Gehrig and DiMaggio a step above that.
The Elite 8 is set. Joe DiMaggio the final MVP of the Regionals.
