AL Star I at NL All Star II
AL leads 3 games to 0
George Brett hit a grand slam in lead the AL in game one; Jimmie Foxx reached base five times and the AL takes both games at home. In game three, Joe Mauer homered and tripled, and the AL is one away from moving forward into the winners bracket. One more loss and the NL heads to the losers bracket.
We stay at Wrigley for Games 4 RH Juan Marichal pitching for the NL, the lefty Rube Waddell going for the AL. The AL will return to their game 1 lineup, the LH lineup that hits against the RH Marichal. For the NL, they are able to go with any position players they want, as it is an elimination game for them.
American League I
LF Williams
RF Ruth
1B Gehrig
CF Mantle
3B Brett
2B Collins
SS Ripken
C Dickey
LHP 1904 Rube Waddell
National League II
2B Robinson
1B Goldschmidt
RF Clemente
LF Sosa
SS Banks
3B Santo
C Posey
CF Raines
RHP 1965 Juan Marichal
Top 1
NL has their backs against the ivy covered wall today, down 3 games to 0, here's game 4 at Wrigley. On the mound, a 27 year old Juan Marichal. 22-13, 2.13 with what would be a career best 169 ERA+.
1946 Ted Williams leading off, he went 2-5 in game one; he flies to right to open game 4.
1923 Babe Ruth does not have a hit - but he has walked four times; he singles to right.
1927 Lou Gehrig homered and had 3 RBI in game 1 -- AND HE BOMBS A BALL - THATS OUT ONTO WAVELAND AVENUE - GEHRIG CLEARS THE BLEACHERS, ONTO THE STREET, 2-0.
The AL strikes fast in game 4, Lou Gehrig with his second home run of the series. The Iron Horse was 20 when he broke in with the Yankees in '23, he became the starting first baseman in '25, he led the AL in triples in '26 and this year won the AL MVP, his 220 OPS+ would be the highest of his career.
1957 Mickey Mantle was 2-4 in game one and flies to right for the second out.
1980 George Brett hit a grand slam in game one, AND HE HITS A LONG DRIVE...THAT....JUST DISAPPEARS OVER THE CENTER FIELD WALL -- George Brett homers in the first and the AL is up 3-0. Brett was 20 when he broke in back in '73, he was third in the AL Rookie of the Year in '74 and led all MLB in triples in '75 and '76. 3 years later Brett finished 3rd in the AL MVP and this year was 1980, where Brett won the MVP.
1915 Eddie Collins went 2-4 in game 1, Marichal strikes him out but the damage is done, 3-0.
Bottom 1
1904 Rube Waddell is a 27 year old lefty, he pitched in Chicago for season, with the Orphans in '01. 25-19, 1.62. 167 ERA+.
1951 Jackie Robinson went 2-4 with a walk in game 2, and he drops a bunt down the third base line on the first pitch of the game --- it stays fair and it's a base hit.
2015 Paul Goldschmidt is 1-5 with a walk, Waddell strikes him out.
1967 Roberto Clemente went 1-2 with 2 walks in game 2, Waddell strikes him out; Robinson was running on the pitch and takes second.
2001 Sammy Sosa is 0-6, Cubs are hitting 4-5-6 for the NL here in Wrigley today; Sosa bloops a single to right center, Robinson scores and the NL dents the lead. 3-1. Sosa was 20 when he broke in with the Rangers in '89, he was sent out at the deadline to the White Sox as part of a deal with Harold Baines headed the other way. He became a Cub three years later as part of a deal for George Bell. Sosa's first All Star team nod was '95, his first 40 homer season was '96. And then in '98, it started - 66 home runs, then 63 in '99, 50 in 2000 and this is 2001, when his 203 OPS+ would be the highest of his career.
1959 Ernie Banks went 2-4 in game 2 and he walks here, two on two out for 1967 Ron Santo who went 1-3 with a walk in game 2. Waddell gets him to ground to second, Collins flips to Ripken and the inning is over.
Top 2
1991 Cal Ripken was hitless in game 1 and he grounds to second.
1937 Bill Dickey was also hitless in game 1, with a walk, he slaps a single to center.
Waddell successfully bunts Dickey over to second. Two away.
Back to the top of the order, Williams is 0-1 -- he ropes a single to right center -- Dickey will come around to score and the AL lead is 4-1. 1946 was Williams's first season back after losing three for WWII and he won the AL MVP. Williams led the AL in OPS+ at the ages of 22 and 23 -- then lost 3 years - and then led the AL in OPS+ the first four years he was back. Ted Williams didn't hit below .317 in any big league season until he was 40.
Ruth walks. That's 5 walks for Ruth, he has 1 hit.
Gehrig walks - the bases are loaded with 2 away; this AL squad is threatening to end this series right now.
Mantle clears the bases with a 3 run double to right -- everyone will score -- it is 7-1 and the AL All Star team is about to sweep their way into the winners bracket. The Mick was 25 in 1957, it was the second of his back to back MVP seasons. Between '55-64 he led the AL in OPS+ all but two years, 1963 where he played only 65 games - and this year, where his OPS+ was a career best 221.
Brett homered back in the first -- and he blasts a triple here; Brett running forever, George Brett triples off Juan Marichal and that will be the last batter he faces, Mantle jogs home and it is 8-1. In his career, Brett played in 43 postseason games (all but 3 either ALCS or World Series). His career OPS was 1,023.
2018 Jacob DeGrom pitched 2/3 of an inning back in game 1 and he comes on in relief of Marichal now.
DeGrom gets Collins to ground to second. And the inning is over.
Bottom 2
At 8-1, this series is pretty clearly over.
Posey singles to right center.
Raines fouls to third.
DeGrom fouls to third.
Robinson grounds to first to end the inning.
Top 3
Ripken flies to center.
Dickey grounds to first.
Rube Waddell hits a 2 out single and the inning stays alive.
AND TED WILLIAMS HITS A LINE SHOT DEEP INTO THE RIGHT FIELD BLEACHERS, THE ROUT IS ROUTING. 10-1.
Ruth walks. Again.
Gehrig singles to right center.
And then Mickey Mantle follows up his second inning double with a triple - everyone score -- the AL is letting the pigeons loose. 12-1.
Brett grounds to second.
Bottom 3
Goldschmidt grounds to second.
Clemente strikes out.
Sosa flies to left.
Top 4
Collins was 0-2, but he leads off with a double to center.
Ripken pops to short.
Dickey singles to right -- Collins will score 13-1.
DeGrom walks Waddell - just a brutal day for the NL in an elimination game.
Williams gets his third hit of the day, a single to right that scores Dickey 14-1. Waddell takes third on the throw home.
Ruth grounds to second - flip to short for 1 -- onto first --- Ruth beats it out, Waddell scores 15-1.
Gehrig flies to center and the frame ends.
Bottom 4
Banks grounds to short.
Santo singles to center.
BUSTER POSEY HITS A 2 RUN HOMER TO LEFT; Posey came into the game 4-7 in the series, earned the spot here against a RH, and he's 2-2 today. 15-3.
Raines reaches on a Waddell throwing error.
DeGrom fails to get a bunt down (no, he should not be hitting) and strikes out.
Robinson singles to left, Raines running on the pitch and the NL has men on the corners.
Goldschmidt grounds to third and the inning is over.
Top 5
Mantle walks.
Brett flies to right.
Collins grounds to third.
Ripken grounds to short.
Bottom 5
Clemente singles to right.
Sosa singles to left.
Banks singles to right - a Ruth throw sails into the crowd, Clemente scores, Sosa to third, Banks to second. 15-4.
Santo grounds to first, Gehrig goes to the bag - Sosa scores. 15-5.
Posey singles to right -- Buster Posey is 3-3 and has had a great series, Banks is going to score. 15-6.
Raines rips a triple -- Posey is going to score and the NL has another run. 15-7.
NL going to the bench for Willie McCovey. Waddell walks him.
Robinson singles to left - it is his third hit of the day, Raines scores. 15-8.
That's all for Waddell - making his first appearance of the series is a 28 year old RH, 2000 Pedro Martinez. 2 on. 1 out. Goldschmidt grounds to short. Clemente pops to short and the inning is over.
NL hasn't made a game of it - they still trail by 7 runs and we're headed to the 6th, but if you turned the channel, maybe you're turning back.
Top 6
2018 Max Scherzer comes on for the NL, he got hit hard in his prior appearance in the series.
Dickey grounds to second.
Pedro pops to third.
Williams grounds to first and it's a quick one.
Bottom 6
Sosa strikes out.
Banks works a walk.
Santo strikes out.
Posey singles to right - that's a 4 hit day for Buster Posey; he has 8 hits in the series. 2 on, 2 out.
And Raines singles to right -- Banks will score, one more for the NL, 15-9.
Scherzer hits for himself, and shouldn't, and he flies to left to end the inning.
Top 7
BABE RUTH HITS THE FIRST PITCH ACROSS THE STREET! WHOA. 16-9. Ruth was 0-1 with a couple of walks, had only one hit in the series as the NL has been very careful with him - Scherzer throws him a fastball and there's the result.
Gehrig's 1-2 with a walk, he pounds a double off the wall in left.
Mantle's walked, doubled, tripled, AND HE HITS A 2 RUN HOMER TO DEAD CENTER! 18-9, Do not bring this left handed hitting lineup from the AL into Wrigley - they are pounding away.
Brett grounds to first.
Collins grounds to short - Banks goes deep into the hole for that one, maybe the best play so far.
Ripken walks.
Dickey flies to right.
There have been 31 hits today.
Bottom 7
Robinson grounds to short.
Goldschmidt singles to left center.
Pedro strikes out Clemente and Sosa back to back. AL six outs from wrapping up the series.
Top 8
Pedro strikes out.
Williams walks.
6-4 Fielders choice for Ruth.
Gehrig ground to second.
Bottom 8
Banks flies to left.
Santo grounds to short.
Posey grounds to short and we head to the 9th.
Top 9
Only story remaining is Mantle, he is a single away from a cycle.
Scherzer strikes him out.
Brett walks.
2021 lefty Josh Hader makes his first appearance of the series.
Collins beats out a slow grounder to short.
Ripken walks to load the bases.
Dickey goes 4-6-3 and it's the bottom of the 9th.
Bottom 9
Raines strikes out.
1932 Mel Ott comes on to hit for Hader. He doubles to center.
Robinson grounds to first and the AL is one away.
Pedro strikes out Goldschmidt and it is done.
American League I 18 National League II 9
American League Sweeps the Series. 4-0.
AL - Series MVP Lou Gehrig
Williams Series Totals: 5-10, walk, HR, 4 RBI, 3RS
Ruth Series Totals: 3-7, 5 walks, HR, 2 RBI, 7 RS
Gehrig: 5-10, walk, 2 HR, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 6 RS
Mantle: 5-9, 2 walks, HR, triple, double, 7 RBI, 5RS
Brett: 4-8, 3 walks, 2 HR, triple, 6 RBI, 2RS
Collins: 4-10, walk, 2 doubles, 3RBI RS
Ripken: 0-8, 2 walks
Dickey: 2-10, walk, RBI, 2RS
Henderson: 2-9, walk, double, RBI, 3 runs scored, SB
Lajoie: 6-9, 3 doubles, RBI, RS
Foxx: 4-5, 3 walks, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, RS
DiMaggio 4-9, triple/double, 3 RBI, RS
Cobb: 1-9, RBI, stolen base
ARod: 1-8, HBP, double, RS
Boudreau: 1-7, walk
Mauer: 3-7, walk, HR, triple, 2RBI, 2RS
Johnson, 1-0, 9 IP, 1 ER 9 hits, 3 walks, 4 Ks
Newhouser: 1-0, 8 IP, 1 ER, 7 hits 2 Ks, 6 Walks
Walsh 1-0 8.1 IP 2 ER, 7 hits, 3 Ks 4 BB
Martinez: 1-0, 4.2 IP, 1ER, 4 hits, 6 Ks, 1 BB
Rivera Sv .2 IP
Waddell: 4.1 IP, 8 ER, 12 hits, 4 Ks, 2BB
Clemens: 1 IP, 1 K, 1 Walk
NL Series Totals
Robinson: 5-11, walk, RBI, 3RS
Goldschmidt: 1-11, walk, double, RBI
Clemente: 2-7, 2 walks, RBI, RS
Sosa: 2-11, RBI, RS
Banks: 3-7, 2 walks, RBI, 2RS
Santo: 2-8, 2 walks, RBI, RS
Posey: 8-12, walk, HR, double, 4RBI, 2RS
Raines: 4-12, walk, triple, double, 2RBI, 2RS
McCovey: 1-4, 3 walks, double, RS
Ott: 3-9, double
Chipper 3-8, walk
Gwynn 1-8, RS, SB
Yount 3-8, RS
Utley 0-6, 2 walks
Dawson: 0-3, walk
Carter 0-4
Alexander, 0-1 6 IP 2ER 4 hits, 5 walks, 4 Ks
Hubbell, 0-1 8 IP, 6 ER, 13 hits 3 Ks/4 walks.
Kershaw 0-1 9 IP, 4 ER, 10 H, 6 Ks/2BB
Marichal 0-1 1.2 IP, 8 ER, 7 hits, 1 K/2BB
Scherzer 4.2 IP, 10 earned
DeGrom 4 IP, 8 earned
Hader .2 IP
