The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 3)

last group

Half the Elite 8 for the AL is set.  Let's start working on the other half with Group 3.

3. 1942 Yankees (lost WS-Joe McCarthy)

v.

30. 1932 Yankees (World Champions-Joe McCarthy)

Catcher: Dickey (35) v. Dickey (25) Winner: Yankees 32-Dickey

First Base: Hassett (30) v. Gehrig (29)  Winner: Yankees 32-Gehrig

Second Base: Gordon (27) v. Lazzeri (28)Winner: NYY 42-Gordon

Shortstop: Rizzuto (24) v. Crosetti (21)  Winner: NYY 42-Rizzuto

Third Base: Crosetti  (31) v. Sewell (33) Winner: NYY 32-Sewell

Left Field: Keller (25) v. Chapman (23)Winner: NYY 42-Keller

Center Field: DiMaggio (27) v. Combs (33) Winner: NYY 42-DiMaggio

Right Field: Henrich (29) v. Ruth (37) Winner: NYY 32-Ruth

SP1: Bonham (28) v. Gomez (23) Winner: NYY 42-Bonham

SP2: Chandler (34) v. Ruffing (27) Winner: NYY 32-Ruffing

SP3: Ruffing (37) v.  Pipgras (32) Winner: NYY 42-Ruffing

Closer: Murphy (33) v. Brown (25)Winner: NYY 32-Brown

Team Offense: 1932

Team Pitching: 1932

1932 10  1942  6 --- tied through the matchups; and really tied - both the position players and the pitchers were flat footed ties - but the '32 team narrowly (and I mean, narrowly) wins both of the totals and they pull the upset.

The 1932 New York Yankees - one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history

14. 1929 A's (World Champions)

v.

83. 1985 Blue Jays (lost ALCS)

Catcher: Cochrane (26) v. Whitt (33)Winner: Phil-Cochrane

First Base: Foxx (21) v. Upshaw(28)  Winner: Phil-Foxx

Second Base: Bishop (29) v. Garcia (28) Winner: Phil-Bishop

Shortstop: Dykes (32) v. Fernandez (23) Winner: Tor-Fernandez

Third Base: Hale (32) v. Iorg (30)  Winner: Tor-Iorg

Left Field: Simmons (27) v. Bell (25) Winner: Phil-Simmons

Center Field: Haas (25) v. Moseby (25) Winner: Tor-Moseby

Right Field: Miller (34) v. Barfield (25) Winner: Tor-Barfield
DH Boley (32) v. Burroughs (34) Winner: Tor: Burroughs

SP1: Grove (29) v. Stieb (27) Winner: Phi-Grove

SP2: Walberg (32) v. Alexander (34) Winner: Tor-Alexander

SP3: Earnshaw (29) v. Key (24)  Winner: Push

Closer: Shores (25) v. Caudill (28) Winner: Phi-Shores

Team Offense: Phi

Team Pitching: Phi

A's 10 Jays 6 - remember the game we just had?  Tied headed into the totals, but then one side won both titles by just a little bit?  Same.  

The 1929 Philadelphia A's - one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

14. 1929 A's (World Champions)

v.

30. 1932 Yankees (World Champions-Joe McCarthy)

Catcher: Cochrane (26) v. Dickey (25)  Winner: Phil-Cochrane

First Base: Foxx (21) v. Gehrig (29)   Winner: Push

Second Base: Bishop (29) v. Lazzeri (28)Winner: NYY-Lazzeri

Shortstop: Dykes (32) v. Crosetti (21)  Winner: Phi-Dykes

Third Base: Hale (32) v. Sewell (33)  Winner: NYY-Sewell

Left Field: Simmons (27) v. Chapman (23) Winner: Phil-Simmons

Center Field: Haas (25) v. Combs (33)Winner: NYY-Combs

Right Field: Miller (34) v. Ruth (37) Winner: NYY-Ruth

SP1: Grove (29) v. Gomez (23) Winner: Phi-Grove

SP2: Walberg (32) v.  Ruffing (27) Winner: NYY-Ruffing

SP3: Earnshaw (29) v. Pipgras (32)  Winner: Phi-Earnshaw

Closer: Shores (25) v. Brown (25)Winner: Phi-Shores

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: Phi

A's 8 Yankees 7 - The A's ride a pitching advantage to a narrow win and they move forward to the Elite 8.

The 1929 Philadelphia A's are one of the 8 greatest teams in American League history.

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (NL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 7)

last group

The '75 Reds await the winner of Group 7 - who will join them in the Elite 8?


7. 1909 Pirates (World Champions-Fred Clarke)

v.

103. 1958 Braves (lost WS-Fred Haney)

Catcher: Gibson (28) v. Crandall (28)Winner: Pirates:Gibson

First Base: Abstein (26) v. Torre (26) Winner: Mil-Torre

Second Base: Miller (22) v.Schoendienst (35) Winner: Pit-Miller

Shortstop: Wagner (35) v. Logan (32) Winner: Pit-Wagner

Third Base: Barbeau (27) v. Mathews (26) Winner: Mil-Mathews

Left Field: Clarke (36) v. Covington (26) Winner: Pit-Clarke

Center Field: Leach (31) v. Bruton (32)Winner: Pit-Leach

Right Field: Wilson (25) v. Aaron (24) Winner: Mil-Aaron

SP1: Willis (33) v. Spahn (37) Winner: Mil-Spahn

SP2: Camnitz (27) v. Burdette (31) Winner: Pirates-Camnitz

SP3: Maddox (22) v. Rush (32) Winner: Push

Closer: Adams (27) v. McMahon (28) Winner: Pit-Adams

Team Offense: Pirates

Team Pitching: Pirates

Pirates 11 Braves 4 - form holds, the Pirates control both offense and pitching and move to the sweet 16.

The 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates, one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.

10. 1907 Cubs (World Champions-Frank Chance)

v. 

23. 1911 Giants (lost WS-John McGraw)

Catcher: Kling (31) v. Meyers (30) Winner: Chi-Kling

First Base: Chance (30) v. Merkle (22)Winner: Chi-Chance

Second Base: Evers (25) v. Doyle (24) Winner: Push

Shortstop: Tinker (26) v. Fletcher (26) Winner: NYG-Fletcher

Third Base: Steinfeldt (31) v. Devlin (31) Winner: Chi-Steinfeldt

Left Field: Sheckard (28) v. Devore (23) Winner: Push

Center Field: Slagle (33) v. Snodgrass (23)Winner: NYG-Snodgrass

Right Field: Schulte (24) v. Murray (27)Winner: Chi-Schulte

SP1: Overall (26) v. Mathewson (30)  Winner: NYG-Mathewson

SP2: Brown (30) v. Marquard (24) Winner: NYG-Marquard

SP3: Lundgren (27) v. Ames (28) Winner: Chi-Lundgren

Closer: Taylor (33) v. Crandall (23) Winner: NYG-Crandall

Team Offense: NYG

Team Pitching: NYG

Giants 9 Cubs 5 - Tied coming into the totals -- but the Giants took them both to move to the Sweet 16.

The 1911 New York Giants - one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.

7. 1909 Pirates (World Champions-Fred Clarke)

v.

23. 1911 Giants (lost WS-John McGraw)

Catcher: Gibson (28) v. Meyers (30)Winner: Pirates:Gibson

First Base: Abstein (26) v. Merkle (22)Winner: NYG-Merkle

Second Base: Miller (22) v.Doyle (24)Winner: NYG-Doyle

Shortstop: Wagner (35) v. Fletcher (26)Winner: Pit-Wagner

Third Base: Barbeau (27) v.  Devlin (31) Winner: NYG-Devlin

Left Field: Clarke (36) v.  Devore (23) Winner: Pit-Clarke

Center Field: Leach (31) v. Snodgrass (23)Winner: NYG-Snodgrass

Right Field: Wilson (25) v. Murray (27)Winner: Pit-Wilson

SP1: Willis (33) v. Mathewson (30) Winner: NYG-Mathewson

SP2: Camnitz (27) v.  Marquard (24) Winner: Push

SP3: Maddox (22) v. Ames (28) Winner: NYG-Ames

Closer: Adams (27) v. Crandall (23) Winner: Pit-Adams

Team Offense: Pirates

Team Pitching: NYG

Giants 8 Pirates 7 - Oh, son - McGraw and Mathewson do it again; the Giants ride a pitching advantage to stick their second team into the elite 8.

The 1911 New York Giants - one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.

The National League Elite 8 is halfway complete - and you're going to see the same game twice, offense v. defense: 

1976 Reds
1905 Giants
1975 Reds
1911 Giants

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 7)

last group

The 1927 Yankees await the winner of Group  7 - who will emerge to face them?


26. 1971 Orioles (lost WS-Earl Weaver)
v.

71. 1975 A's (lost ALCS-Al Dark)

Catcher: Hendricks (30) v. Tenace (28) Winner: A's-Tenace

First Base: Powell (29) v. Rudi (28) Winner: A's-Rudi

Second Base: Johnson (28) v. Garner (26) Winner: Orioles-Johnson

Shortstop: Belanger (27) v. Campaneris (33) Winner: Orioles-Belanger

Third Base: Robinson (34) v. Bando (31) Winner: Orioles-Robinson

Left Field: Buford (34) v. Washington (20)Winner: Orioles-Buford

Center Field: Blair (27) v. North (27) Winner: A's-North

Right Field: Robinson (35) v. Jackson (29) Winner: A's-Jackson

DH: Rettenmund (28) v. Williams (37) Winner: Orioles-Rettenmund

SP1: Cuellar (34) v. Blue (25)  Winner: A's-Blue

SP2: Dobson (29) v. Holtzman (29)Winner: Orioles-Dobson

SP3: Palmer (25) v. Bosman(31)Winner: Orioles-Palmer

Closer: Watt (30) v. Fingers (28) Winner: A's-Fingers

Team Offense: Orioles
Team Pitching: A's

Orioles 9 A's 8 - Oakland came in seeded 71st and just missed the Sweet 16; one more matchup win would have gotten them home.  As it is - Orioles bats carry the day and they move forward.

The 1971 Baltimore Orioles - one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

106. 1985 Yankees (2nd in AL East-no playoffs-Yogi Berra)

v.

55. 1920 Indians (World Champions-Tris Speaker)

Catcher: Wynegar (29) v. O'Neill (28) Winner: Cle-O'Neill

First Base: Mattingly (24) v. Johnston (32)Winner: NYY-Mattingly

Second Base: Randolph (30) v. Wambsganss (26) Winner: NYY-Randolph

Shortstop: Meachem (24) v. Chapman (29) Winner: Cle-Chapman

Third Base: Pagliarulo (25) v. Gardner (34) Winner: Cle-Gardner

Left Field: Griffey (35) v. Jamieson (27)  Winner: NYY-Griffey

Center Field: Henderson (26) v. Speaker (32)  Winner: NYY-Henderson

Right Field: Winfield (33) v. Smith (27) Winner: Cle-Smith

DH: Baylor (36) v. Evans (25) Winner: Cle-Evans

SP1: Guidry (34) v. Bagby (30) Winner: Cle-Bagby

SP2: Niekro (46) v. Coveleski (30) Winner: Cle-Coveleski

SP3: Cowley (26) v. Caldwell (32) Winner: Cle-Caldwell

Closer: Righetti (26) v. Uhle (21)Winner: NYY-Righetti

Team Offense: Yankees

Team Pitching: Indians

Indians 10 Yankees 7 - Narrow wins in RF/DH plus nearly every pitching point carry the Tribe into the Sweet 16

The 1920 Cleveland Indians - one of the 16 Greatest Teams in American League history

26. 1971 Orioles (lost WS-Earl Weaver)

v.

55. 1920 Indians (World Champions-Tris Speaker)

Catcher: Hendricks (30) v. O'Neill (28) Winner: Indians-O'Neill

First Base: Powell (29) v. Johnston (32) Winner: Orioles-Powell

Second Base: Johnson (28) v. Wambsganss (26)  Winner: Orioles-Johnson

Shortstop: Belanger (27) v. Chapman (29) Winner: Orioles-Belanger

Third Base: Robinson (34) v. Gardner (34) Winner: Orioles-Robinson

Left Field: Buford (34) v. Jamieson (27) Winner: Orioles-Buford

Center Field: Blair (27) v. Speaker (32) Winner: Indians-Speaker

Right Field: Robinson (35) v. Smith (27) Winner: Indians-Smith

DH: Rettenmund (28) v. Evans (25)  Winner: Orioles-Rettenmund

SP1: Cuellar (34) v. Bagby (30)  Winner: Indians-Bagby

SP2: Dobson (29) v. Coveleski (30)Winner: Indians-Coveleski

SP3: Palmer (25) v. Caldwell (32)Winner: Orioles-Palmer

Closer: Watt (30) v. Uhle (21) Winner: Orioles-Watt

Team Offense: Orioles
Team Pitching: Indians

Orioles 10 Indians 7 - Baltimore gets enough out of their pitching to add to their strong bats and make their way into the Elite 8.


The 1971 Baltimore Orioles - one of the 8 greatest teams in American League history.

Half of the AL Elite 8 is set:

1939 Yankees
1998 Yankees
1927 Yankees
1971 Orioles

Back to the NL - lets add one more team to its Elite 8.  

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (NL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 2)

last group

Two teams are into the NL Elite 8 - the '76 Reds and the '05 Giants.  Who will join them from Group 2?

2. 1902 Pirates (1st in NL-no playoffs-Fred Clarke)
v.
31. 1997 Braves (lost NLCS-Bobby Cox)

Catcher: Smith (27) v. Lopez (26) Winner: Braves-Lopez

First Base: Bransfield (27) v. McGriff (33)Winner: Pirates-Bransfield
Second Base: Ritchey (28) v. Lemke (31) Winner: Pirates-Ritchey
Shortstop: Conroy (25) v. Blauser (31)  Winner: Braves-Blauser
Third Base: Leach (24) v. Jones (25) Winner: Pirates-Leach
Left Field: Clarke (29) v. Klesko (26) Winner: Pirates-Clarke
Center Field: Beaumont (25) v. Lofton (30) Winner: Push
Right Field: Wagner (28) v. Jones (20)Winner: Pirates-Wagner
SP1: Chesbro (28) v. Smoltz (30) Winner: Braves-Smoltz
SP2: Phillippe (30) v. Glavine (31) Winner: Braves-Glavine
SP3: Tannehill (27) v. Neagle (28) Winner: Braves-Neagle
Closer: McLaughlin (26) v. Wohlers (27) Winner: Braves-Wohlers
Team Offense: Pirates
Team Pitching: Braves

Braves 8 Pirates 7 - the 2nd overall seed in the National League is out - those Braves arms are just tough to beat, they needed a clean sweep and they got a clean sweep.  If Kenny Lofton doesn't earn that push in CF, probably the Pirates take the tiebreaker.  

The 1997 Atlanta Braves are one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.  

15. 1975 Reds (World Champions-Sparky Anderson)
v.
18. 1908 Giants (2nd in NL-no playoffs-John McGraw)


Catcher: Bench (27) v. Bresnahan (29) Winner: Cin-Bench
First Base: Perez (33) v. Tenney (36) Winner: Cin-Perez
Second Base: Morgan (31) v. Doyle (21) Winner: Cin-Morgan
Shortstop: Concepcion (27) v. Bridwell (24) Winner: Cin-Concepcion
Third Base: Rose (34) v. Devlin (28) Winner: Push
Left Field: Foster (26) v. McCormick (27) Winner: Cin-Foster
Center Field: Geronimo (27) v. Seymour (35) Winner: Cin-Geronimo
Right Field: Griffey (25) v. Donlin (30) Winner: NYG-Donlin
SP1: Nolan (27) v. Mathewson (27)Winner: NYG-Mathewson
SP2: Billingham (32) v. Wiltse (28) Winner: NYG-Wiltse
SP3: Norman (32) v. Crandall (20) Winner: NYG-Crandall
Closer: Eastwick (24) v. Malarkey (29) Winner: Cin-Eastwick
Team Offense: Cin
Team Pitching: NYG

Reds 9 Giants 6 - it might be a preview of the Elite 8 matchup already in the books; the Reds bats beat the Giants arms.

The 1975 Cincinnati Reds - one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history

15. 1975 Reds (World Champions-Sparky Anderson)
v.
31. 1997 Braves (lost NLCS-Bobby Cox)

Catcher: Bench (27) v. Lopez (26) Winner: Cin-Bench
First Base: Perez (33) v. McGriff (33)Winner: Cin-Perez
Second Base: Morgan (31) v. Lemke (31) Winner: Cin-Morgan
Shortstop: Concepcion (27) v. Blauser (31) Winner: Atl-Blauser
Third Base: Rose (34) v. Jones (25) Winner: Cin-Rose
Left Field: Foster (26) v. Klesko (26) Winner: Cin-Foster
Center Field: Geronimo (27) v. Lofton (30)  Winner: Atl-Lofton
Right Field: Griffey (25) v. Jones (20)Winner: Atl-Jones
SP1: Nolan (27) v. Smoltz (30)Winner: Atl-Smoltz
SP2: Billingham (32) v. Glavine (31)Winner: Atl-Glavine
SP3: Norman (32) v. Neagle (28) Winner: Atl-Neagle
Closer: Eastwick (24) v. Wohlers (27)Winner: Cin-Eastwick
Team Offense: Cin
Team Pitching: Atl

Reds 9 Braves 8 - it took a tiebreaker; this Reds team just has very little pitching, and they are matched against a tremendous Braves staff - but Eastwick gets the Reds a point from the closer's spot, that forced the tiebreak - and then the Reds offensive total is just too overwhelming to deny. The Big Red Machine earns their 2nd spot in the Elite 8!


The 1975 Cincinnati Reds - one of the 8 greatest teams in National League history

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 2)

last group

2 teams have advanced to the American League Elite 8 - who will join them from Group 2?

2. 1927 Yankees (World Champions-Miller Huggins)

v.

98. 1950 Red Sox (3rd in AL-no playoffs-Steve O'Neill)

Catcher: Collins (30) v. Tebbetts (37) Winner: NYY-Collins

First Base: Gehrig (24) v. Dropo (27) Winner: NYY-Gehrig

Second Base: Lazzeri (23) v. Doerr (32) Winner: NYY-Lazzeri

Shortstop: Koenig (22) v. Stephens (29) Winner: Bos-Stephens

Third Base: Dugan (30) v. Pesky (31)  Winner: Bos-Pesky

Left Field: Meusel (30) v. Williams (31) Winner: Bos-Williams

Center Field: Combs (28) v. DiMaggio (33) Winner: NYY-Combs

Right Field: Ruth (32) v. Zarilla (31)Winner: NYY-Ruth

SP1: Hoyt (27) v. Parnell (28)Winner: Push

SP2: Pennock (30) v. Dobson (30)Winner: Sox-Dobson

SP3: Shocker (36) v. Stobbs (20) Winner: NYY-Shocker

Closer: Moore (30) v. Kinder (30) Winner: NYY-Moore

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: NYY

NYY 11 Sox 4 - I mean, how do you beat these guys?  The arms are pretty good and the bats are as good as have ever been. 

The 1927 New York Yankees - one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

70. 2002 Red Sox (2nd in AL East-no playoffs-Grady Little)

v.

47. 1922 Browns (Orioles) (2nd in AL-no playoffs-Lee Fohl)

Catcher: Varitek (30) v. Severeid (31)Winner: StL-Severeid

First Base: Clark (30) v. Sisler (29) Winner: StL-Sisler

Second Base: Sanchez (34) v. McManus (22) Winner: StL-McManus

Shortstop: Garciaparra (28) v. Gerber (30) Winner: Bos-Garciaparra

Third Base: Hillenbrand (26) v. Ellerbe (26) Winner: Bos-Hillenbrand

Left Field:  Henderson (43) v. Williams (32) Winner: StL-Williams

Center Field: Damon (28) v. Jacobson (31)Winner: Bos-Damon

Right Field: Nixon (28) v. Tobin (30) Winner: Bos-Nixon
DH: Ramirez (30) v. Shorten (30)Winner: Bos-Ramirez

SP1: Lowe (29) v. Shocker (31)Winner: Bos-Lowe

SP2: Martinez (30) v. Vangilder (26) Winner: Bos-Martinez

SP3: Burkett (37) v. Davis (31) Winner: Bos-Burkett

Closer: Urbina (28) v. Pruett (21)Winner: StL-Pruett

Team Offense: StL

Team Pitching: Push

Bos 8 StL 7 - ooooh, the Browns won the offensive total -- but the Sox won the lineup matchups; meanwhile the Sox won the pitching matchups...but the pitching total was a push.  In the end - it was Boston by a nose.  

The 2002 Boston Red Sox are one of the 16 Greatest Teams in American League history.

2. 1927 Yankees (World Champions-Miller Huggins)
v.
70. 2002 Red Sox (2nd in AL East-no playoffs-Grady Little)

Catcher: Collins (30) v. Varitek (30) Winner: NYY-Collins

First Base: Gehrig (24) v. Clark (30)Winner: NYY-Gehrig

Second Base: Lazzeri (23) v. Sanchez (34) Winner: NYY-Lazzeri

Shortstop: Koenig (22) v. Garciaparra (28) Winner: Bos-Garciaparra

Third Base: Dugan (30) v. Hillenbrand (26)   Winner: Bos-Hillenbrand

Left Field: Meusel (30) v.  Henderson (43) Winner: NYY-Meusel

Center Field: Combs (28) v.  Damon (28) Winner: NYY-Combs

Right Field: Ruth (32) v. Nixon (28) Winner: NYY-Ruth
DH: Morehart (27) v. Ramirez (30) Winner: Bos-Ramirez

SP1: Hoyt (27) v. v, Lowe (29)Winner: Bos-Lowe

SP2: Pennock (30) v. Martinez (30) Winner: Sox-Martinez

SP3: Shocker (36) v. Burkett (37) Winner: NYY-Shocker

Closer: Moore (30) v. Urbina (28) Winner: NYY-Moore

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: Sox

NYY 10 Sox 7 - Boston gave it a helluva run - but the Yankees can win enough pitching points to add to their clubbing offense and they move forward.

The 1927 New York Yankees - one of the 8 greatest teams in American League history.