14. 1909 Chicago Cubs v. #54 1969 AL Champion Baltimore Orioles
In our 4th and Final Elite 8 matchup it's the '09 Cubs, favored in every matchup to date, taking on the 2nd Oriole team we see in the Elite 8, the '69 club. Neither of these teams won the World Series, as was the case with the other Elite 8 matchup in this half of the bracket, the Astros against the Dodgers. Meanwhile, in the top half - all 4 teams entering this round still standing were World Champions, guaranteeing us a World Champion v Non World Champion to meet for all the money, which is excellent. We've seen the '70 Orioles lose in this round. The Cubs are the last NL team in the field.
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-Orvall Overall)
d. #19 1953 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Pat Moran)
d. #126 2011 Phillies 4-2 (MVP-Frank Schulte)
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.
Orioles 109-53 (Pythag 110-52) Mgr. Earl Weaver
1st in AL East
d. Twins 3-0 in ALCS
lost to Mets 4-1 in World Series
d. #75 1949 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Mike Cuellar/Jim Palmer)
d. #118 1917 Giants 3-1 (MVP-Davey Johnson/Mike Cuellar)
d. #43 1928 Yankees 3-0 (MVP Don Buford)
d. #6 2016 Cubs 4-2 (MVP-Boog Powell)
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
109 wins, 19 games ahead of the Tigers in AL East. Same year – heavily favored Orioles lost to Mets, heavily favored Colts lost to Jets (and best NBA record – Bullets, lost in playoffs to Knicks), 1970 team also in field, this team had best winning % in Orioles history.
Orioles-Earl Weaver
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
P Cuellar (32) 149 (LH) 5.2
Bench
C Etchebarren (26) 96 1.6
OF Rettenmund (26) 104
RF May (25) (LF) 87
SP2 Palmer (23) 152 3.9
SP3 McNally (26) 111 (LH) 3.1
SP4 Phoebus (27) 101
The Orioles platoon at C, but that's the only change they are likely to make.
Cubs
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
SP Brown (32) 193 8.5
Bench:
C Archer (26) 71 .7
2B Zimmerman (22) 93 .1
1B Howard (31) (LH) 63
P Overall (28) 179 8.5
Game 3: Reulbach (26) 143 5
Game 4: Kroh (22) (LH) 155
Cubs go with the hot bat behind the plate if they can find one.
Lineups:
C-Hendricks
1B-Powell
2B-Evers
SS-Tinker
3B-Robinson
LF-Buford
CF-Blair
RF-Robinson
SP1-Brown
SP2-Overall
SP3-Reulbach
SP4-Kroh
Pen-Orioles
WAR: Orioles 7 Cubs 6 -- Its the Orioles lineup against the Cubs pitching in this series; the top position players are all Orioles and the two highest WAR in the series are Cub pitchers. Cubs have the better seed, giving them home field - it's close, the Cubs are narrow favorites.
GAME ONE
1st: The last time we saw the Orioles they were celebrating in Chicago having knocked off the 2016 Cubs in Wrigley. They come to the plate here at the West Side Grounds, the prior Cub home, with the final spot in the Final Four on the line. Opposing them is Mordecai Three Finger Brown; 32 year old RH, 27-9, 1.31. Brown led MLB in wins and led the NL in complete games and saves. He's a 2 time World Champion and a member of the Hall of Fame. 1-2-3
1st: 32 year old lefty Mike Cuellar takes the hill for Baltimore - co MVP for these Orioles in each of the first two rounds. 23-11, 2.38. Cuellar won the Cy Young this season. Frank Chance walks with 1 out. After the second out Johnny Evers singles - that's it.
2nd: Paul Blair doubles. We've seen this entire Oriole team from the 1970 Orioles loss in this round. Blair's a 25 year old CF, .285/.327/.477. Blair made the All Star team, won the Gold Glove, led the AL in sacrifices. Brown gets two - and then Paul Blair steals home! The first steal of home in the tournament - huge call by Weaver, Blair steals home and Baltimore scores the first run of the series. Orioles 1 Cubs 0
2nd: Joe Tinker singles with one out. The Cubs shortstop is 28, .256/.280/.372. Tinker will retire a 2 time World Champion and he's a member of the Hall of Fame. That's all.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3, Brown's retired 9 straight.
4th: Frank Chance singles. The first baseman/manager is 32, .272/.341/.346. He retires as a 2 time World Champion and is in the Hall of Fame. That's all.
5th: Mark Belanger singles with 2 away. The shortstop is 25. .287/.351/.345. Belanger won the Gold Glove this year. That's all.
5th: Frank Schulte doubles with one out. The RF is 26, .264/.298 (the Cubs could take a walk or two, I'm just sayin')/.357. Two years from now, Schulte will be NL MVP. As with many of these Cubs, he retires as a 2 time World Champion. Cuellar picks him off second base for the second out and so he's not in scoring position when Pat Moran singles and the Cubs do not score; baserunning on both sides the key to game one so far.
6th: Boog Powell walks with 2 out. The big first baseman is 27, .304/.383/.559. Powell's an All Star, 2nd in the AL MVP. He will win that MVP next season. That's all - Brown holding Baltimore to just 2 hits on the day.
6th: Cuellar gets 2 and then walks Johnny Evers. The second baseman is 27; .263/.369/.337. 5 years from now he'll be NL MVP as a Brave. He retires as a 3 time World Champion and like Brown, Tinker, Chance, he is in the Hall of Fame. That's all though - Paul Blair's steal of home grows larger and larger as it remains the only run on the board.
7th: 1-2-3 -- still just 2 Oriole hits, Brown dominant today.
7th: Jimmy Sheckard doubles with 1 out and the tying run is in scoring position. The LF is 30, .255/.346/.335 -- Sheckard led the NL in sacrifices and will retire as a 2 time World Champion. Cuellar strands him at second - big stop by the Oriole lefty - we head to the 8th, still 1-0.
8th: 1-2-3, Brown couldn't have done much more today - can the Cubs reward him?
8th: Solly Hofman singles with 1 away. The Cub CF is 26, .285/.351/.351. But he's left at first base by Cuellar - great pitchers duel here in game one of our final series of the round.
9th: The Cubs pen is really shallow; you're likely to see the same two guys multiple times; 27 year old RH Irv Higginbotham gets the call here. 2.19. Higginbotham was acquired from the Cards during the season, pitched in 19 games with the Cubs and his big league career ends here. Don Buford rips a double. The LF is 32, .291/.397/.417. After an out - Frank Robinson doubles - it scores Buford and is that the insurance run that salts this away? Orioles 2 Cubs 0
9th: Cuellar stays on - 3 outs from the complete game win.
Harry Steinfeld tops a ball just in front of the plate - Hendricks pounces and throws him out.
Tinker flies to right.
Sheckard draws a walk - that brings the tying run to the plate -- can these Cub fans will a comeback?
Schulte grounds to second -- Johnson easy throw to first. Ballgame.
Mike Cuellar continues his great tournament run with a complete game shutout and the O's take game one.
Orioles 2
Cubs 0
WP Cuellar
LP Brown
Buford 1x/double
Powell 1x
FRobinson 1x/double
Blair 1x/double
Belanger 1x
Hofman 1x
Chance 2x
Evers 2x
Tinker 1x
Sheckard 2x/double
Schulte 1x/double
Moran 1x
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
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
P Overall (28) 179 8.5
GAME TWO
1st: The Cubs got shut out in game one; they need a big effort from Orval Overall to tie this series up. 28 year old RH, 1.42. He led MLB in Ks, K/9 and shutouts. 2 Time World Champion. 1-2-3.
1st: Jim Palmer looks to match Mike Cuellar's game one effort. 23 year old RH. 16-4, 2.34. He led the AL in winning percentage this year. He's going to win the Cy Young in '73, '75, '76 and be elected to the Hall of Fame. Johnny Evers walks. Jimmy Sheckard walks. Palmer can't find the plate. Solly Hofman singles and the Cubs have their first run of the series with nobody out. Palmer settles down. Orioles 0 Cubs 1
2nd: Ellie Hendricks singles with one out; he's platooning behind the plate. .244/.333/.383. That's all.
2nd: Joe Tinker reaches on an error; two outs later he's standing on second and he scores on an Evers double. This Chicago crowd loves it. Orioles 0 Cubs 2
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Frank Schulte walks with 2 out and that's all.
4th: Frank Robinson walks with 1 out. The legendary RF is 33; .308/.415/.540 (I love a 3/4/5 slashline) he and Powell have the best bats for either side and it's not close. He was an All Star this year and led the AL in being hit by pitches. Robinson won the MVP in both '61 and '66; he won the Triple Crown in '66; he is a 2 time World Champion and in the Hall of Fame. That's all - 5 Ks for Overall.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Brooks Robinson singles with 2 out. The Hall of Fame third baseman is 32; .234/.298/.395 (why is Brooks Robinson hitting 8th? that's why). He won the Gold Glove this year; back in '64 he was AL MVP. Jim Palmer follows with a base hit. 2 on, 2 out - Can the Orioles get on the board? Nope.
5th: Palmer walks Evers and Sheckard, wildness again biting him. Evers then swipes third. Palmer induces a Hofman double play - it scores another and the Cubs tack on a run to their lead. Orioles 0 Cubs 3
6th: Powell singles; Robinson reaches on an error and with nobody out, the Orioles are in business. Blair singles. Based loaded. Nobody out. Hendricks singles -- it scores two runs. Johnson grounds to the right side - they get the runner at second - fail to turn the double play and the tying run crosses the plate. 3 Oriole runs in the 6th even up this game. Still just one out. Overall gets the next two - but the damage is done. Orioles 3 Cubs 3
6th: Palmer's only allowed 2 hits today. 1-2-3
7th: Tense here in Chicago - we are heading to Baltimore for game 3 and you know the Cubs do not want to be down 2-0. Powell singles again, with 2 away, and Robinson walks. 2 on, 2 out -- Overall escapes.
7th: Palmer hit for himself in the top of the inning; should Weaver have pulled him and gone to the pen? Chance is making that choice now, taking Overall down for a hitter. Palmer gets him, then gives up an Evers single. Hofman singles after the second out so the Cubs now have 2 on, 2 out - big spot in the tie game - Weaver sticks with the right hander Palmer and he gets out of it.
8th: Irv Higginbotham is back on the mound for Chicago. 1-2-3
8th: Palmer's given up 4 hits on the day but he is out of the game for Pete Richert. 29 year old lefty, he's basically the lefty closer, 12 saves, 7 wins, 2.20. 1-2-3
9th: Brooks Robinson singles - potential go ahead run now on base to lead off the 9th. Higginbotham gets 2, Robinson is on second - 2 out -- and Boog Powell rocks a double - Robinson scores and Baltimore had broken this tie. 23 year old RH Rip Hagerman is the other half of the Oriole pen; 1.82. After 1909, Hagerman won't pitch another big league game for 5 seasons. He walks Frank Robinson - that's all but Baltimore is 3 outs away from taking game two.
9th: The RH closer is Eddie Watt; 28 years old, 5 wins, 16 saves, 1.65.
Pat Moran grounds to short -- one away.
31 year old left handed bat Del Howard comes off the bench to hit - fly to right.
Evers singles. Cubs stay alive.
Sheckard singles.
Tying run at second. Winning run at first. Two outs.
Watt gets an easy ground ball from Hofman - Davey Johnson is up - to first - ballgame.
Great outing by Palmer follows a great outing by Cuellar - Powell doubles home the winning run in the 9th and the Orioles take both games in Chicago and have grabbed this series.
Orioles 4
Cubs 3
WP Richert
LP Higginbotham
Sv Watt
Buford 1x/double
Powell 4x/double
FRobinson 4x/double
Blair 2x/double
Belanger 1x
Hendricks 2x
BRobinson 2x
Hofman 3x
Chance 2x
Evers 7x/double
Tinker 1x
Sheckard 5x/double
Schulte 2x/double
Moran 1x
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Archer (26) 71 .7
Game 3: Reulbach (26) 143 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
SP3 McNally (26) 111 (LH) 3.1
GAME THREE
1st: Red hot Memorial Stadium crowd - their Orioles are two outs away from heading to Houston to play the 2019 Astros for the pennant in an all American League final four. Dave McNally stands on the mound; 26 year old lefty, 20-7, 3.22 McNally made the All Star team this year and finished 4th in the Cy Young. The Cubs load the bases - Hofman reaches via error, Chance singles and Evers walks. Nobody out here in the top of the first - Harry Steinfeldt gets his first hit of the series - a single that scores two. McNally gets the next 3 -- Cubs 2 Orioles 0
1st: Staked to the lead is Ed Reulbach; Cub MVP back in round one. 26 year old RH, 19-10, 1.78. 1-2-3
2nd: Hofman singles with 2 out, that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down.
4th: Sheckard walks. That's all.
4th: Don Buford doubles. Slow start for a lot of the Oriole bats in the series; a way that 1970 was stronger is that Merv Rettenmund had that big year giving the O's 4 legitimate offensive threats in the OF and this year he's strictly the 4th OF. Buford's a 32 year old LF, .291/.397/.417 -- Powell walks - two on and no one out. Reulbach gets the next 3.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Davey Johnson reaches on an error - moves to second on a balk - goes to third on an out and scores on a Brooks Robinson sac fly. Johnson's 26, .280/.351/.391; he made the All Star team this year and won the Gold Glove. Cubs 2 Orioles 1
6th: 1-2-3, each game featuring strong starting pitching, just 3 hits allowed by McNally
6th: Only one hit from the Orioles today; it was that Buford double and he singles here. But that's all.
7th: Sheckard singles - 2 outs later Archer walks, but McNally keeps it here.
7th: Blair singles. Orioles looking for that tying run. They don't get it.
8th: Great pichers duel in a series of great starting pitching. Evers draws a two out walk and that's all. McNally holding that deficit at a run.
8th: Brooks Robinson walks. 38 year old future Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver goes to his bench for his best bat, Curt Motton, 28, RH, in 104 plate appearances this year had a 168 OPS+. He singles. Robinson goes to third -- runners on the corners. Nobody out. Baltimore crowd smelling blood. Buford walks to load the bases.
Big spot now. Loaded. Nobody out. The Cubs manager is standing at first base; Chance is 32, in his fifth season as player/manager, he has just led the Cubs to back to back World Championships. He'll go on to manage the Yankees for two years and the Red Sox for a season.
Chance takes one, leaving Reulbach in. He walks Powell and the score is tied.
That's it for Reulbach - Irv Higginbotham enters. He gets two.
Bases loaded. 2 out. 2-2 ---- the count runs full to Ellie Hendricks; multiple pitches fouled off -- long, long at bat.
Ball four. Hendricks walks and the go ahead run scores. Cubs 2 Orioles 3
9th: Eddie Watt for Baltimore. 3 outs from essentially ending this series.
Joe Tinker singles. Tying run on.
Sheckard grounds to Johnson - flip to Belanger for one -- over to first - not in time.
Watt strikes out Schulte.
Archer grounds to short -- Belanger throws to first. And that's all.
Just 5 hits for the Cubs 4 for the O's - but again, it's Baltimore who wins the pitcher's duel to take a 3-0 lead that seems impossible to be ovetaken.
Cubs 2
Orioles 3
WP McNally
LP Reulbach
Sv Watt
Buford 4x/2 double
Powell 6x/double
FRobinson 4x/double
Blair 3x/double
Belanger 1x
Hendricks 3x
BRobinson 3x
Hofman 4x
Chance 3x
Evers 9x/double
Tinker 2x
Sheckard 7x/double
Schulte 2x/double
Moran 1x
Steinfeldt 1x
Archer 1x
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
Game 4: Kroh (22) (LH) 155
LF Buford (32) 128 (SH) 4.5
RF Robinson (33) 165 6.5
1B Powell (27) 160 (LH) 6.2
CF Blair (25) 122 6.9
2B Johnson (26) 107 3.5
C Etchebarren (26) 96 1.6
SS Belanger (25) 95 4.3
3B Robinson (32) 92 4.5
SP4 Phoebus (27) 101
GAME FOUR
1st: Minute Maid Park in Houston is readying itself for the next round; they will host game one if the 1969 Orioles win this series and at 3 games to 0 -- the 1969 Orioles are going to win this series. Will it be a sweep? 27 year old RH Tom Phoebus is looking to accomplish that. 14-7, 3.52. 1-2-3
1st: If the Cubs are going to crawl from the hole it starts with 22 year old lefty Rube Kroh. 9-4, 1.65. Frank Robinson singles with one out. That's all.
2nd: Harry Steinfeldt doubles. That's it.
2nd: Davey Johnson singles with one out. That's it.
3rd: Solly Hofman singles with two out. Frank Chance follows with a double and the Cubs are in business in the third -- but that's it.
3rd: Brooks Robinson singles with one out. That's all.
4th: Jimmy Sheckard hits a 2 out single. Frank Schulte singles. Pat Moran is intentionally walked to load the bases and bring the pitcher to the plate. It works.
4th: Paul Blair reaches on a two out error and he will come all the way around to score on a Davey Johnson double. Baltimore has taken the lead. Cubs 0 Orioles 1
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Kroh.
6th: Frank Robinson singles - but is thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Powell and Blair follow with singles. It ends here. We move to the 7th - Orioles are 9 outs from the sweep.
7th: Schulte singles - but that's it - Phoebus just steamrolling this Cub lineup.
7th: Kroh walks Curt Motton with 2 out, he was hitting in the pitchers spot. But that's all.
8th: Pete Richert comes on. The Orioles are 6 outs from the sweep. 1-2-3
8th: Irv Higginbotham for Chicago. Powell singles with one out. That's all.
9th: We started over 6 months ago with 128 teams. 3 outs from now we may be at 4.
Eddie Watt for the Orioles. Steinfeldt grounds to third. One away.
Tinker leans over the plate and a ball glances off of him - he's awarded the base - Weaver is heated - Weaver in the face of the umpire -- he just avoid ejection.
Sheckard singles to left center. That brings the tying run in scoring position.
Frank Schulte laces a line drive -- that's snared by Brooks Robinson - great diving stop by Robinson, he catches it in the air - that is two outs.
Pat Moran is the Cubs last chance.
He grounds to second. Johnson onto first -- that's it.
Huge celebration on the Oriole mound -- the 1969 Orioles sweep the Cubs and they march, they steam, into the Final Four.
Cubs 0
Orioles 1
WP Phoebus
LP Kroh
Sv Watt
This series was all about Oriole pitching - all four starters were great, but it was Cuellar who threw the complete game shutout to kick things off and he's the MVP.
