128 Team MLB Tournament - Region 5 Final: 1998 World Champion New York Yankees v. 1972 World Champion Oakland A's

 Dodgers v A's

#5. 1998 World Champion New York Yankees v. #117 1972 World Champion Oakland A's

The '98 Yankees have now won 133 games total.  They face Reggie, Catfish and their '72 A's team that has only lost once in the tournament.  The winner will face the 1970 Orioles in the Elite 8.

Yankees 114-48 (Pythag 114-48) Mgr. Joe Torre (AL MoY)

1st in AL East

d. Rangers 3-0 in ALDS

d. Indians 4-2 in ALCS (MVP-David Wells)

d. Padres 4-0 in World Series (MVP-Scott Brosius)

d. #124 2004 Cardinals 2-0 (MVP: Bernie Williams/Tino Martinez)

d. #69   1910 Cubs 3-1 (MVP-Orlando Hernandez)

d. #28   1961 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Bernie Williams)

All-Stars 3B Scott Brosius, SS Derek Jeter (3rd AL MVP) OF Paul O'Neill, SP David Wells (3rd AL Cy Young) OF Bernie Williams

Hall of Famers: Derek Jeter, Tim Raines, Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre

125-50 regular/postseason, won the AL East by 22. 41 games over .500 by the All Star Break. David Wells threw a perfect game in May. Darryl Strawberry had a cancer diagnosis in October. 

A's 93-62 (Pythag: 97-58) Mgr. Dick Williams

1st in AL West

d. Tigers 3-2 in ALCS 

d. Reds 4-3 in World Series (MVP-Gene Tenace)

d. #12 1942 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Ken Holtzman/Catfish Hunter)

d. #76 1946 Cardinals 3-1 (MVP-Bert Campaneris)

d. #85 1942 Dodgers 3-0 (MVP-Catfish Hunter)

All-Stars: 3B Sal Bando, SS Bert Campaneris, SP Ken Holtzman, SP Catfish Hunter (4th AL Cy Young) OF Reggie Jackson, OF Joe Rudi (2nd AL MVP)

Hall of Famers: Orlando Cepeda, Rollie Fingers, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi

California’s first World Champions that weren’t the Dodgers. We’ve seen Reggie and Catfish with the ’77 Yankees, Reggie missed the Series, injured in ALCS. Last daytime weekday game in WS history.

LF Rudi (25)        151    4.9

1B Epstein (29)  (LH)  163    4.5

CF Jackson (26) (LH)  149   4.7

3B Bando (28)     116     4.6

C Duncan (26)     105    2.4

RF Mangual (25)  97

DH Tenace (25)   97

2B Cullen (30)     88       .4

SS Campaneris (30)  84  4.4

P Hunter (26)      140     6.3

Bench:

RF Alou (33) (LH)       110    .3

2B Brown (32)  38

CF Hendrick (22)  54

SP Holtzman (26) (LH)   114  4 

SP3 Odom (27)          115   1.4

SP4 Blue (22) (LH)    102

A's platooning in RF. Whichever catcher shows a hot bat is likely to play.  Not an evident DH.

LF Raines (38)  (SH)    107   1.1

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

DH Strawberry (36) (LH) 132  1.5 

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

SP Wells (35) (LH)    127  5.2

Bench: 

LF Curtis (29)   90   2.9

DH Davis (38)   (SH) 116

C Girardi (33)   85

IF Sojo (33)       37

P Hernandez (32)   132   3.7

SP Cone (35)    125  5.3

P Pettitte (26) (LH) (104)

Platoon at DH and left. 

Lineups:

C-Posada

1B-Epstein

2B-Knoblauch

SS-Jeter

3B-Brosius

LF-Rudi

CF-Williams

RF-O'Neill 

DH-Strawberry, Yankees dominate the position players, 7-2

SP1-Hunter

SP2-Push

SP3-Cone

SP4-Push

Pen-Yankees

WAR: Yankees 9 A's 3 - Yankees have an enormous seed advantage, an enormous WAR advantage, and Jeter, the best position player in the series.  It would be a significant upset if the A's beat them.

GAME ONE

1st: The 1977 Yankees, 2017 Dodgers, 1909 Cubs, 1970 Orioles all wait.  One of these two teams join them.  David Wells stands on the Yankee Stadium mound. He's a 35 year old lefty, 18-4, 3.49. Wells is from Southern California; the Jays drafted him in the second round in '82. In '84 he was the third ever pitcher to get Tommy John surgery and came up for the first time in the summer of '87. In '92, Wells threw four scoreless relief innings in the World Series. The Jays released Wells just before the '93 season and he headed to Detroit, where, apparently, in '95 he was nearly traded for a Yankee prospect named Mariano Rivera.  Wells wound up dealt to the Reds; won 16 games and was sent to the Orioles in '96. He signed with the Yankees in the offseason and won 16 games.  This year, Wells threw a perfect game against the Twins in May, then started the All Star game, then was ALCS MVP.  He gets two, then Reggie Jackson singles.  Thats all.

1st: Co-MVP in the A's round one win, MVP in the Regional Semi-Final - 26 year old RH Catfish Hunter comes to the mound.  One day, this will be his home ballpark, but he doesn't know that yet.  21-7, 2.04. Catfish is from North Carolina; in his junior year of high school he struck out 29 in one game.  All-State in football, state champion in track. 5 no hitters his senior year.  Hunter signed with the A's in '64, was 19 years old when he debuted with the big club in '65. The A's were in Kansas City then, moving to Oakland in '68, in May, he threw a perfect game against the Twins (30 years and one week later, Wells would do the same thing against the same team) In '71, Hunter won 21.  This year he had the third best ERA in the league; won game 2 of the World Series and then came out of the pen to win Game 7.  He was 4th in the Cy Young. 1-2-3

2nd: Gene Tenace walks with 2 away.  The 25 year old Tenace is DH'ing today; he's from Pennsylvania, American Legion teammates with Larry Hisle and Al Oliver. The A's drafted him in the 20th round in '65 and he came up in '69. He split time this year with Dave Duncan behind the plate.  That's all.

2nd: Paul O'Neill singles with one out.  O'Neill's 35, from Columbus, Ohio, drafted in the 4th round by the Reds in '81, came up in late '85. O'Neill hit .471 in the '90 NLCS; after the '92 season, the Reds sent him to New York for Roberto Kelly and he hit .311 in '93. In '94 O'Neill won the batting title, hitting .359 and was 5th in the MVP. In '95, he hit .300 and in '96 had an OBP of .402. O'Neill hit .324 in '97 and made his 4th trip to the All Star game. That's all.

3rd: Joe Rudi singles with one out. Rudi's 25, from Northern California, he signed with the A's in '64, came up briefly in '65, and was on the field when Catfish threw a perfect game in '68 (rare battle of two pitchers who threw perfect games in this one; that's the headline) In '71 Rudi became Oakland's full time left fielder and this year he was runner up in the AL MVP. That's it.

3rd: Tim Raines singles with 2 out.  The 38 year old Raines is from Florida; drafted by the Expos in the 4th round back in '77, came up in '80 and then full time in '81, when he stole 20 bases in his first 19 games. He was 2nd in the NL Rookie of the Year.  In '83, after a drug rehab stint, he led the league in steals for the third time and also runs scored. In '84, he led in steals and doubles.  In '85 Raines made his 5th straight All Star team and was third in both hitting and OBP. Raines won the batting title in '86, hitting .334. In '87, Raines hit .330 and led in runs scored and was All Star MVP. At the end of the '90 season, Montreal shipped him to the White Sox. In '93, at the age of 33, Raines had a .401 OBP and hit .444 in the ALCS. Following the '95 season, he was sent to the Yankees.  That's all.  Catfish vs Wells here in the Bronx.  Game One.  Region 5 Finals.

4th: Sal Bando doubles. The 28 year old third baseman is from Cleveland, went to Arizona St and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1965 College World Series. The A's took him in the 6th round that year.  Bando came up at the end of the '66 season; he was the starting third baseman for the AL All Star team in '69 and was named A's captain. Last year, Bando was 2nd in the AL MVP.  Wells gets the next 3.

4th: Darryl Strawberry singles. Strawberry is DH'ing against RH, which means he may not start again unless the series goes to a game 7. Strawberry's 36, from LA, played high school ball against John Elway. He was the first overall pick in the '80 draft by the Mets and came up in '83 and won the Rookie of the Year.  In '87, Strawberry hit 39 homers and in '90, he hit 37 and then signed as a free agent with the Dodgers. The Dodgers let him go after a drug rehab stint in '93, he spent '94 in San Francisco and signed with the Yankees in '95. Strawberry hit 24 homers this year and played in more games than in any season since '91. A cancer diagnosis kept him from the World Series.  2 outs later O'Neill singles, but that's all.

5th: Tim Cullen singles. Cullen's from San Francisco; went to Juniper Serra High School in San Mateo, future high school of Barry Bonds and Tom Brady.  Cullen went to Santa Clara, played both basketball and baseball and signed with the Red Sox in '63, would be drafted away by the Senators. Cullen debuted in '66 as a shortstop and was dealt to the White Sox before the '68 season. Cullen was sent back to the Senators and (now the Rangers) they released him at the end of last year.  The A's signed him this year, and he played in 72 games, largely at second base.  That's all.  Catfish and Wells battle on.  

5th: Derek Jeter singles. Jeter's 24, born in New Jersey, grew up in Michigan, the Yankees took him 6th overall in '92. He came up for the first time in '95 and was the every day shortstop in '96. Jeter hit .412 in the '96 ALDS, .417 in the ALCS and won the Rookie of the Year, this year Jeter was 3rd in the AL MVP and dated Mariah Carey. An out later Chuck Knoblauch singles, Jeter going to third -- and he comes in to score the game's first run on a Raines sac fly. Bernie Williams was the hero of the Regional Semi-Final for the Yankees and he hits a 2 run homer to right center here - the Yankee partisans roaring their approval as Williams circles the bases with another home run.  Strawberry then doubles as the wheels have fallen off for Hunter; that's all, but it's a strong inning.  A's 0 Yankees 3

6th: 1-2-3

6th: O'Neill singles.  That's it.  We head to the 7th.

7th: 1-2-3, Wells has set down 9 straight, getting stronger as the game moves along and he's 6 outs away from securing game one.

7th: Williams draws a 2 out walk, but that's all as Hunter just guts his way through it.

8th: 1-2-3, 12 in a row for Wells.

8th: 1-2-3, Catfish matches, but is it too late?

9th: Wells is throwing a 4 hitter - but his day is over. 28 year old RH Mariano Rivera has 36 saves and a 1.91 ERA. Rivera's from Panama, signed with the Yanks in 1990, debuted as a starter in '95 and was moved to the pen before season's end. In '96 Rivera was 3rd in the AL Cy Young and gave up 1 earned in 14 postseason innings. Rivera became the full time Yankee closer last year. 1.83 ERA, 43 saves. In this year's postseason, Rivera had 6 saves and didn't give up an earned run.  

Mike Epstein is first - grounds to short.

Reggie is next.  Grounds to third.

Bando then doubles and Dave Duncan follows with a run scoring single.  The A's get to Rivera and have the tying run coming to the plate.

Angel Manguel grounds to Knoblauch, easy throw to first and it ends.

A's 1

Yankees 3

WP Wells

LP Hunter

Sv Rivera

Wells goes 8 shutout innings; Williams hits a 2 run homer. The Yanks take game 1.

Raines 1x

Williams 2x/HR

Strawberry 2x/double

O'Neill 3x

Jeter 1x

Knoblauch 1x

Rudi 1x

Jackson 1x

Bando 2x/2doubles

Duncan 1x

Cullen 1x

1B Epstein (29)  (LH)  163    4.5

CF Jackson (26) (LH)  149   4.7

LF Rudi (25)        151    4.9

RF Alou (33) (LH)       110    .3

3B Bando (28)     116     4.6

C Duncan (26)     105    2.4

DH Tenace (25)   97

2B Cullen (30)     88       .4

SS Campaneris (30)  84  4.4

SP Holtzman (26) (LH)   114  4 

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

DH Davis (38)   (SH) 116

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

LF Curtis (29)   90   2.9

P Hernandez (32)   132   3.7

GAME TWO

1st: The '98 Yankees continue to roll on; Orlando Hernandez was MVP in their round 2 win and he gets the ball today. 32 year old RH, 12-4. Hernandez is Cuban; his half brother Livan won the World Series as a Marlins rookie the year prior. Hernandez defected from Cuba at the end of '97 and walked right into this Yankees rotation this year. He won a game both in the ALCS and the World Series and was 4th in the Rookie of the Year. He gets one - then hits Reggie.  Joe Rudi singles and it sends Reggie to third, from which he scores on a Matty Alou groundout.  The A's take a lead.  A's 1 Yankees 0

1st: Can Ken Holtzman even up this series for the heavy underdog A's? 26 year old lefty, 19-11, 2.51, co-MVP of Oakland's round one win.  Holtzman's from St Louis, went to Illinois; the Cubs took him in the 4th round in '65 and debuted with the big club that year.  Holtzman went 9-0 in '67 with a 2.53 ERA; in '69 he no-hit the Braves in August. Holtzman won 17 in '70, and in '71 he threw another no hitter, against the Reds in June. In the offseason, Oakland acquired Holtzman for Rick Monday. He made the All Star team this year.  Jeter singles. That's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: With one out, Chili Davis homers to right to tie the game.  The 38 year old Davis is platooning at DH with Strawberry. Chili's Jamaican; moved to LA as a boy. Went to the same high school as Sparky Anderson and Don Buford and played ball against Strawberry and Eric Davis. San Francisco drafted Davis in the 11th round in '77 and he came up in '81, playing for Frank Robinson.  Davis was 4th in the Rookie of the Year in '82 and made the All Star team in '84 and '86. In '88, Chili signed with the Angels; and in '91, with the Twins.  Back to the Angels the following year, Davis had 112 RBI in '93. After the '96 season, he was dealt to the Royals and prior to this year he signed with the Yankees. Chili missed most of the season with an ankle injury, playing in just 35 games.  A's 1 Yankees 1

3rd: Epstein gets hit with one out, Hernandez has hit two.  After the second out - Joe Rudi doubles Epstein home and Oakland again takes the lead.  Mike Epstein's 29, born right here, in the Bronx, moved to LA as a teen.  Played football at Cal for Marv Levy. Was on Team USA in the '64 Olympics and then signed with Baltimore. In '67, Epstein was sent to the Senators and called up to play first. He hit 30 homers in '69 with a swing retooled by Senators manager Ted Williams.  Epstein and Donald Knowles were shipped to the A's in '71; he hit .270 this year, got into a fight with Reggie late in the season and wound up losing first base playing time to Gene Tenace.  Matty Alou then hits a big shot -- a 2 run homer and the A's go up A's 4 Yankees 1

3rd: Chad Curtis singles; he's in left today against the lefty Holtzman. Curtis is 29, went to Grand Canyon, the Angels took him in the 45th round in '89. Curtis came up in '92, was dealt to the Tigers for Tony Phillips in '95. Went to the Dodgers, then to the Indians where he got into a fight with Kevin Mitchell and was sent to the Yankees last year for David Weathers. 2 outs later Scott Brosius singles him home.  A's 4 Yankees 2

4th: Dave Duncan homers to right -- the A's brought their bats today. Oakland's catcher is 26, he'll be platooning with Tenace when the series shifts to Oakland. Grew up in Dallas, moved to San Diego, signed with the A's in '63, met Tony LaRussa in A ball, Duncan would eventually be LaRussa's pitching coach for many, many years.  Duncan got a taste of the big club in '64, up for good in '68, made the AL All Star team last year.  Duncan had 19 homers this year.  A's 5 Yankees 2

4th: Tino Martinez singles with 2 out.  Martinez is from Tampa, stayed home for college ball was on the '88 Olympic Team.  Seattle drafted him in '88, came up in '90, had 31 homers in '95. The Yankees acquired Martinez and Jeff Nelson in the offseason. Martinez was second in the AL MVP in '97. That's all.  

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Curtis walks - but that's it.

6th: Duncan singles with 2 out, that's all.

6th: Jorge Posada singles with one away. The Yankee backstop is 27, he's Puerto Rican, his brother Leo played for the A's. Posada went to Calhoun CC in Alabama, drafted by the Yankees in the 24th round in '90. He came up briefly in '95, for good last year when he was Jor Girardi's backup. Davis walks - can the Yanks put something together here? Martinez singles to load the bases - Holtzman gets the second out. Curtis and Jeter then work back to back run scoring walks. The Yankees draw close.  A's 5 Yankees 4

7th: 1-2-3

7th: Oakland goes to the pen for Donald Knowles, 30 year old lefty, 5 wins, 11 saves, 1.37. He walks Brosius.  The Yankee third baseman is 31; he's from Oregon, the A's took him in the 20th round in '87, called up in '91, homered in his first big league game. Brosius hit .304 in '96 and after the '97 season was dealt to the Yankees for Kenny Rogers; game 3 will be a homecoming when the series shifts west.  Brosius made his only ever All Star team this year and was MVP of the World Series. That's all.  

8th: 1-2-3, Hernandez retires 7 straight. Oakland has just 5 hits.

8th: 1-2-3, good outing for Knowles and we head to the 9th.

9th: 31 year old lefty Mike Stanton comes on; with his 5.47 ERA, he's probably not Torre's best option in this spot.  1-2-3

9th: Rollie Fingers gets the call.  25 year old RH, 11 wins, 21 saves, 2.51. Fingers is from Southern California, signed with the A's in '64, came up in '68 in the A's first season in Oakland, he was primarily a starter all the way until last year when he was moved full time to the pen. 

Fingers strikes out Curtis.

Jeter grounds to Epstein, he takes it himself.

Bernie foul pop - Bando long run - tumbling into the dugout -- making the catch to end the game.  

Homers by Alou and Duncan even up this series - we head to Oakland for 3.

A's 5

Yankees 4

WP Holtzman

LP Hernandez

Sv Fingers

Rudi 3x/double

Jackson 2x

Bando 2x/2doubles

Duncan 3x/HR

Cullen 1x

Epstein 1x

Alou 1x/HR

Raines 1x

Williams 2x/HR

Strawberry 2x/double

O'Neill 3x

Jeter 3x

Knoblauch 1x

Brosius 2x

Posada 1x

Davis 2x/HR

Martinez 2x

Curtis 3x

LF Raines (38)  (SH)    107   1.1

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

SP Cone (35)    125  5.3

1B Epstein (29)  (LH)  163    4.5

CF Jackson (26) (LH)  149   4.7

LF Rudi (25)        151    4.9

RF Alou (33) (LH)       110    .3

3B Bando (28)     116     4.6

C Duncan (26)     105    2.4

2B Cullen (30)     88       .4

SS Campaneris (30)  84  4.4

SP3 Odom (27)          115   1.4

GAME THREE

1st: Oakland Coliseum. Game 3, Region 5 Final.  Blue Moon Odom on the mound for the hometown A's. 27 year old RH, 15-6, 2.50. Odom's from Macon, Georgia, went to the high school that produced Little Richard and Otis Redding. Odom threw 8 no hitters in HS. He signed with the A's in '64 and got a big league taste later that year.  Odom came up for good in '68, won 16 and made the All Star team. In '69, Odom was 15-6, 2.92 and made another All Star game. Prior to this season, Odom was shot trying to prevent a home invasion. In the '72 ALCS he gave up 0 earned runs in 14 IP and 2 runs in 11 IP in the World Series.  He gives up a Tim Raines single, that's all.

1st: The Yankees turn to David Cone. 35 year old RH, 20-7, 3.55. Cone's from Kansas City, drafted by the Royals in the third round in '81. Cone came up in '86 and prior to the next season was dealt to the Mets for Ed Hearn. Cone was 20-3 in '88, 2.22, 3rd in the NL Cy Young. Cone led the league in Ks in both '90 and '91. Late in '91 he struck out 19 Phillies in one game. A year later he was off to Toronto for Jeff Kent. Following the season, he signed with the Royals.  Cone made the All Star team in '94, the following year he was dealt twice, first to the Jays and then to the Yankees. Cone made the All Star team in '97. Joe Rudi doubles with 2 out - and then scores when Matty Alou reaches on an error. Yankees 0 A's 1

2nd: Jeter walks with one out, that's it.

2nd: Dave Duncan walks. That's it.

3rd: Raines walks with one out. That's it.

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Martinez singles with one out.  Nothing else.

4th: Matty Alou walks.  Alou is platooning in RF, hit a big game 2 home run.  He's 33, from the Dominican, signed with the Giants in '56 along with both his brothers. Alou came up in '60 and was dealt to the Pirates after the '65 season. In '66, Alou hit .342, almost always playing against solely RH pitchers. In '67, he hit .338, in '69, in '68 .332. Prior to the '71 season, Alou was dealt to the Cards and Oakland acquired him late this season.  Next year-  he'll be a Yankee.  That's it.

5th: Raines walks again, with 2 away, but that's it.  Odom's allowed just 2 hits.  Pivotal game 3.

5th: 1-2-3, Cone strikes out the side.  He's got 7 Ks and the A's have just one hit - but they do have the lead.

6th: Posada singles; O'Neill doubles.  The Yankees in business. Martinez singles - it scores both men and just like that New York is out in front. Jeter reaches on an error and then - in front of his longtime Oakland fans - Scott Brosius hits a 3 run bomb and the Yankees have exploded all over Odom in the 6th.  Donald Knowles, up in a hurry, comes on.  He gets the next 3.  Yankees 5 A's 1

6th: Alou singles with 2 away, just Oakland's second hit. That's all.

7th: Posada singles again, with one out. That's all.

7th: Duncan walks. That's all.

8th: 34 year old RH Bob Locker for the A's, 6 wins, 10 saves, 2.65. Jeter singles. That's it.

8th: Epstein doubles, just the third Oakland hit. An out later Rudi singles -- A's in business - Cone gets the second out, then walks Bando to load the bases.  Bases loaded.  2 out.  Cone gets out of it.  We head to the 9th.

9th: 1-2-3, the A's pen goes 4 scoreless.  

9th: Mike Stanton enters for Torre, like Wells in game 1, Cone has a dominant 8 innings.  Stanton gets 2, then walks pinch hitter Ollie Brown - and then ends it.

Yankees 5

A's 1

WP Cone

LP Odom

Cone goes 8, gives up 4 hits, Brosius hits a 3 run homer and the Yankees go up 2-1.

Raines 4x

Williams 2x/HR

Strawberry 2x/double

O'Neill 4x/double

Jeter 5x

Knoblauch 1x

Brosius 3x/HR

Posada 3x

Davis 2x/HR

Martinez 4x

Curtis 3x

Rudi 5x/2doubles

Jackson 2x

Bando 3x/2doubles

Duncan 5x/HR

Cullen 1x

Epstein 2x/double

Alou 3x/HR

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

LF Curtis (29)   90   2.9

P Pettitte (26) (LH) (104)

LF Rudi (25)        151    4.9

1B Epstein (29)  (LH)  163    4.5

CF Jackson (26) (LH)  149   4.7

3B Bando (28)     116     4.6

C Duncan (26)     105    2.4

RF Mangual (25)  97

2B Cullen (30)     88       .4

SS Campaneris (30)  84  4.4

SP4 Blue (22) (LH)    102

GAME FOUR

1st: Nearly a must win game for Oakland - on the mound, a 22 year old lefty, Vida Blue.  6-10, 2.80. Vida's from Louisiana, recruited to play both football and baseball, drafted by the A's in the second round in '67, up for the first time in '69. In '71, Blue struck out 17 Angels in one game and was the AL All Star starter.  He went 24-8, 1.82, winning both the MVP and the Cy Young. 1-2-3

1st: Blue opponent is another young lefty, 26 year old Andy Pettitte. 16-11, 4.24. Pettitte's from Baton Rouge, moved to Houston as a boy. The Yankees took him in the 22nd round in 1990 and came up in '95, winning 12 and finishing 3rd in AL Rookie of the Year. In '96 Pettitte was an All Star, beat John Smoltz in Game 5 of the World Series, won 21 games and finished 2nd in the Cy Young. In '97, Pettitte was 18-7, 2.88 and this year he won the clinching game of the World Series. He gets 2 - and then gives up a rocket - a moonshot home run to Reggie Jackson, deep into left field - Reggie slowly trots his way around the bases and the A's are on top.  We haven't profiled Reggie in this series - but did discuss him with that '77 Yankees club that won Region 1. Bando follows with a double. That's all.  Yankees 0 A's 1

2nd: Posada doubles with one out, after the second out, Chuck Knoblauch singles. The Yankee second baseman is 29, from Houston, went to Texas A&M, the Twins took him in the first round in '89. He was Rookie of the Year in '91, won the Gold Glove in '97 and then was sent to the Yankees.  Knoblauch hit 17 homers this year.  Blue escapes.

2nd: Angel Mangual walks; the 25 year old is platooning with Alou in RF. Mangual's from Puerto Rico, the Pirates signed him in '66. In late '70 he was sent to the A's for Mudcat Grant. Mangual was third in the AL Rookie of the Year in '71. That's it.

3rd: Pettitte did not have a hit in 1998 - he singles here. An out later Bernie Williams walks. The Yankee CF is 29, MVP of the Regional semi-final. He's Puerto Rican, played Little League ball against Pudge Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez. The Yankees signed him on his 17th birthday. Williams came up for the first time in '91, he became the Yankee every day CF in '93. In '95 Williams hit .307 and in the ALDS hit .429. In '96 Williams hit 29 homers and was the ALCS MVP. Williams won the Gold Glove in '97 and made the All Star team. This year, Bernie hit .339, winning the batting title, with 26 homers was 2nd in the league in OBP and 7th in the MVP.  That's all.

3rd: Epstein singles with one out - that's it.

4th: Knoblauch draws a two out walk, that's it.

4th: Duncan walks. Tom Cullen singles an out later. It ends here.

5th: 1-2-3, Vida's allowed just 3 hits and maintains the shutout.

5th: Epstein singles with one away, That's all.  Pettitte and Blue, tooth and nail here in game 4.

6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Blue.

6th: Cullen singles with 2 away and that's all.  We go to the 7th, still just 1-0.

7th: 1-2-3, 10 in a row for Vida Blue - the A's clinging to the 1-0 lead. 

7th: Blue's day is over, big move from Williams, Mike Hegan pinch singles to lead off the inning for the A's. That's as far as it goes.  

8th: Donald Knowles for the A's.  Strong work from the A's pen throughout the series.  Can they get 6 more outs? Williams draws a 2 out walk, but nothing else.

8th: Pettitte's day is over; only 1 allowed, Mike Stanton gets the call.  He hits Bando, that's it.  

9th: Rollie Fingers comes on - 3 outs from tying this series at 1.

And Paul O'Neill hits his first pitch over the wall to left center and ties the score!  This Oakland crowd is stunned - they had their big closer on the mound, 3 outs to get this shutout and it's all gone in one pitch.  Posada and Martinez hit back to back singles and the Yankees now have the go ahead run in scoring position with nobody out.  Fingers gets the next 2.  2 on, 2 out, 1-1 game.  25 year old Homer Bush comes on to hit for the pitcher.  Fingers quickly gets him down 0-2, and then Bush singles!  Posada comes around to score and the Yankees take the lead in the 9th!  Jeter follows with a run scoring single of his own - Fingers is done, Bob Locker comes on to end the inning - but the Yankees have come back and taken the lead.  Yankees 3 A's 1

9th: Mariano Rivera to the mound.  

Cullen singles to left.  That brings the tying run to the plate - can Oakland come back?

Bert Campaneris flies to left.  

Matty Alou comes on to hit - fly to center.

2 away.  Joe Rudi hits an easy ground ball to short - onto first and it's done.

Yankees 3

A's 1

WP Stanton

LP Fingers

Sv Rivera

The Yankees score 3 in the 9th, Homer Bush coming off the bench with a 2 out RBI single, and now they have a lock on this series.  

Raines 4x

Williams 4x/HR

Strawberry 2x/double

O'Neill 5x/double, HR

Jeter 6x

Knoblauch 3x

Brosius 3x/HR

Posada 5x/double

Davis 2x/HR

Martinez 5x

Curtis 3x

Rudi 5x/2doubles

Jackson 3x/HR

Bando 4x/3doubles

Duncan 6x/HR

Cullen 4x

Epstein 4x/double

Alou 3x/HR

Mangual 1x

LF Raines (38)  (SH)    107   1.1

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

SP Wells (35) (LH)    127  5.2

LF Rudi (25)        151    4.9

1B Epstein (29)  (LH)  163    4.5

CF Jackson (26) (LH)  149   4.7

3B Bando (28)     116     4.6

C Duncan (26)     105    2.4

RF Mangual (25)  97

2B Cullen (30)     88       .4

SS Campaneris (30)  84  4.4

P Hunter (26)      140     6.3

GAME FIVE

1st: Catfish Hunter will be a Yankee in 3 seasons, but today he looks to keep his A's alive.  In 15 innings pitched in the '72 ALCS Hunter had a 1.17 ERA and in the World Series he went 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA. He gives up a leadoff single to Raines. Hunter gets one - but then Posada hits a 2 run jack - a homer to dead center and the Yankees go up early.  Hunter gets the second out, then Martinez singles - and Jeter homers to left.  Derek Jeter hits a 2 run home run - the Yankees want to end this series right now.  Yankees 4 A's 0

1st: David Wells won game 1 and is staked to a big lead here. Wells was 1-0 in the '98 ALDS, didnt give up an earned run.  Then he was ALCS MVP, 2-0, 2.87.  Then he was 1-0 in the World Series (albeit with an ERA over 6).  He gives up a leadoff base hit to Rudi, then Mike Epstein smashes his own 2 run homer and the A's cut the deficit right in half.  Yankees 4 A's 2

2nd: Knoblauch singles. That's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Posada singles, he and Jeter have reached 7 times, leading both clubs. That's it.

3rd: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Wells.

4th: Jeter singles.  8 times aboard for Jeter. Brosius singles and sends Jeter to third.  Are the Yankees about to put this out of reach?  A Knoblauch sac fly adds a run.  Yankees 5 A's 2

4th: Duncan doubles with 1 out and that's all.

5th: O'Neill singles, his 9th inning homer tied the score in game 4.  That's it.

5th: Rudi doubles with 2 out but that's it and its starting to get late in Oakland.

6th: 1-2-3

6th: Reggie doubles.  2 out later Mangual singles him home and the A's get one back. Yankees 5 A's 3

7th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Catfish. 

7th: Rudi singles with 2 out.  3 hits today for Joe Rudi. That's all.  6 outs left for the Yankees.

8th: Martinez draws a 2 out walk, that's all.

8th: Torre goes to the pen for Mike Stanton.  He gets one, then walks Bando.  That's it.

9th: Donald Knowles for the A's - Brosius doubles.  And he scores on a Knoblauch base hit - that could do it - that could send the Yankees into the Elite 8.  Yankees 6 A's 3

9th: Mariano Rivera one more time - he saved both games 1 and 4 and 3 more outs sends the Yankees into the next round.

Cullen lines--right at Martinez.

Campaneris...grounder to Knoblauch - onto first.

Mike Hegan to hit.  He tops a grounder right back to Rivera -- throw to first and its done.

The Yankees sweep all 3 games in Oakland and they win Region 5 - Posada hugs Rivera - the infield converges on the mound - Chambliss and Randolph hug Torre; those 2 are already in the Elite 8 as players; the 5 teams are in the Elite 8 and 2 of them are Yankees.

Yankees 6

A's 3

WP Wells

LP Hunter

Sv Rivera

So, Wells beats Hunter twice, Rivera saves 3 games - the Yankees spread the hits around.

Williams 4x/HR

O'Neill 6x/double, HR

Jeter 8x/HR

Brosius 5x/HR, double

Posada 7x/double, HR

Not really a ton of distance among all of those bats - we'll say the two pitchers are your co-MVPs.

128 Team MLB Tournament - Region 5 Semi-Final: 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers v. 1972 World Champion Oakland A's

 Yankees v. Yankees

#85. 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers v. #117 1972 World Champion Oakland A’s

The '98 Yankees await the winner of this one; it's the final Brooklyn team in the field against the last A's club.  Will Reggie be heading to Yankee Stadium to take on the Bombers?

Dodgers 104-50 (Pythag 102-52) Mgr Leo Durocher

2nd in NL

d. #44 1986 Mets 2-1 (MVP: Pete Reiser)

d. #108 1909 Tigers 3-0 (MVP: Kirby Higbe/Curt Davis)

All-Stars 2B Billy Herman, OF Ducky Medwick, C Mickey Owen (4th NL MVP) SS Pee Wee Reese, OF Pete Reiser, 3B Arky Vaughan, SP Whit Wyatt

Hall of Famers: Billy Herman, Ducky Medwick, Pee Wee Reese, Arky Vaughan, Leo Durocher

104 wins, but 2 behind the Cardinals in the NL.

A's 93-62 (Pythag: 97-58) Mgr. Dick Williams

1st in AL West

d. Tigers 3-2 in ALCS 

d. Reds 4-3 in World Series (MVP-Gene Tenace)

d. #12 1942 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Ken Holtzman/Catfish Hunter)

d. #76 1946 Cardinals 3-1 (MVP-Bert Campaneris)

All-Stars: 3B Sal Bando, SS Bert Campaneris, SP Ken Holtzman, SP Catfish Hunter (4th AL Cy Young) OF Reggie Jackson, OF Joe Rudi (2nd AL MVP)

Hall of Famers: Orlando Cepeda, Rollie Fingers, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi

California’s first World Champions that weren’t the Dodgers. We’ve seen Reggie and Catfish with the ’77 Yankees, Reggie missed the Series, injured in ALCS. Last daytime weekday game in WS history.

A's-Dick Williams

1B Epstein (29)  (LH)  163    4.5

CF Jackson (26) (LH)  149   4.7

LF Rudi (25)        151    4.9

RF Alou (33) (LH)       110    .3 

3B Bando (28)     116     4.6

C Duncan (26)     105    2.4

2B Cullen (30)     88       .4

SS Campaneris (30)  84  4.4

P Hunter (26)      140     6.3

Bench:

RF Mangual (25)  97

C Tenace (25)   97

2B Brown (32)  38

CF Hendrick (22)  54

SP Holtzman (26) (LH)   114  4 

SP3 Odom (27)          115   1.4

A's platooning in RF, but all the Dodger pitchers are RH. Whichever catcher shows a hot bat is likely to play.  Vida Blue will get the 4th start if the A's advance.

Dodgers-Leo Durocher

CF Reiser (23) (LH) 143  4.5

1B Camilli (35)  (LH) 144  5.1

RF Walker (31) (LH)  126  2.8

LF Medwick (30)  115  2.1

3B Vaughan (30) (LH)  100  2.7

C Sullivan (31) (LH)  98  .4

SS Reese (23)   98    6.1

2B Herman (32)  95   3.2

SP Wyatt (34)   120  3.3

Bench

C Owen (26)      87    2.6 

OF Rizzo (29)   83

OF Galan (30) (SH)  97

3B Riggs (32) (LH) 100

SP Davis (38)   139  3.7 

SP3 Higbe (27)   101  1.3

Platoon at catcher. Johnny Allen is the 4th starter if the Dodgers advance.  

Lineups:

C-Push, all 4 catchers might play in the series

1B-Camilli

2B-Herman

SS-Reese

3B-Bando

LF-Rudi

CF-Push

RF-Walker, Dodgers have the position player advantage, 4-2

SP1-Hunter

SP2-Holtzman

SP3-Push, A's catch up with the starting pitching

Pen: Dodgers, despite Fingers, it's Brooklyn with the deeper pen.  

WAR: 5-4, Dodgers have the better seed, the slightly better WAR, and Reese is the best position player in the series.  Brooklyn is favored.  

GAME ONE

1st: The 2017 Dodgers won Region 2; the 1942 Dodgers look to advance to the Region 5 Finals and that starts here with Whit Wyatt.  34 year old RH, 19-7, 2.73. Wyatt made his 4th (last) All Star team this year. His big season was '41, when he was 3rd in the NL MVP. Mike Epstein opens with a walk. Wyatt gets one, but then Joe Rudi doubles. Matty Alou follows with a double that clears the bases and Oakland jumps out in front. A's 2 Dodgers 0

1st: Catfish Hunter takes the ball for the A's. 26 year old RH, 21-7, 2.04. Hunter won 20+ games 5 straight years; he's in that stretch here, this is year 2 and he finished 4th in the AL Cy Young. He led MLB in winning %. In 3 years, he'll be a Yankee - he's already advanced to the Elite 8 with the 1977 Yanks.  Dixie Walker singles with 2 away, that's all.

2nd: Bert Campaneris singles with one away. The 30 year old shortstop was MVP for Oakland in their previous round, he made his second (of 6) All Star teams this year and led the league in sacrifices.  That's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: Billy Herman singles; the Dodger second baseman is 32, he made the All Star team this year for the first time as a Dodger after 8 with the Cubs. That's it.

4th: Sal Bando singles; Oakland's third baseman is 28, he made his second (of 4) All Star teams this year.  That's it.

4th: Arky Vaughan singles with 2 away; the Dodger third baseman is 30, this is his first year in Brooklyn after a decade as the Pirates shortstop, he made 8 straight All Star apperances with the Pirates and made the squad again this season. Billy Sullivan is platooning at catcher for Durocher and he singles, but Catfish keeps the shutout.

5th: Reggie Jackson singles with 2 out, Reggie's a 26 year old center fielder; he made his third All Star team this year (he's got 11 more coming) and next year he'll win his only MVP Award.  Reggie, of course, has already advanced into the Elite 8 with the '77 Yanks.  Wyatt stops it here.

5th: Pete Reiser singles with 2 away, Reiser's a 23 year old CF, he was 2nd in the MVP last year, 6th this year - and he'll miss the next 3 seasons for the War.  Reiser led the league in steals this season. Dolph Camilli follows with a base hit. But that's all - and we head to the 6th, Catfish holding onto the shutout.

6th: Bando singles again, with one away. Nothing results.

6th: 1-2-3 -- we head to the 7th.

7th: Mike Epstein singles with 2 away, Oakland's first baseman is 29, it's his second and last season as an A - dude could hit, career OPS+ was 130.  That's all.

7th: Sullivan leads off with a single and an out later Herman walks.  Can Brooklyn score? No.

8th: Dodger closer Hugh Casey comes on; 28 year old RH with 6 wins, 13 saves and a 2.25 ERA. He led MLB in saves and is about to miss the next 3 seasons for the War.  He walks Bando with 2 away, but that's all.

8th: Dolph Camilli hits a 3-2 Hunter fastball over the wall in right to cut the deficit in half.  Brooklyn's first baseman is 35, he finished 8th in the NL MVP this year after winning it last season. He led the league in intentional walks. Dick Williams leaves Catfish in - he gets the next 3.  A's 2 Dodgers 1

9th: 1-2-3, Casey keeps Oakland off the board and we head to the bottom of the 9th.

9th: Williams has Rollie Fingers ready to go - but leaves Hunter on.

Sullivan grounds to second.

Reese flies to center.

And Catfish strikes out Billy Herman to end it.  Complete Game One victory for Catfish Hunter.

A's 2

Dodgers 1

WP Hunter

LP Wyatt

116 pitches for Hunter in going the distance and giving game one to the A's, they got all the runs they'd need on the 2 run Matty Alou double in the first.

Epstein 2x

Jackson 1x

Rudi 1x/double

Alou 1x/double

Bando 3x

Campaneris 1x

Reiser 1x

Camilli 2x/HR

Walker 1x

Vaughan 1x

Sullivan 2x

Herman 1x

1B Epstein (29)  (LH)  163    4.5

CF Jackson (26) (LH)  149   4.7

LF Rudi (25)        151    4.9

RF Alou (33) (LH)       110    .3 

3B Bando (28)     116     4.6

C Tenace (25)   97

2B Cullen (30)     88       .4

SS Campaneris (30)  84  4.4

SP Holtzman (26) (LH)   114  4 

SS Reese (23)   98    6.1

CF Reiser (23) (LH) 143  4.5

1B Camilli (35)  (LH) 144  5.1

RF Walker (31) (LH)  126  2.8

LF Medwick (30)  115  2.1

2B Herman (32)  95   3.2

3B Vaughan (30) (LH)  100  2.7

C Owen (26)      87    2.6 

SP Davis (38)   139  3.7 

GAME TWO

1st: One more at Ebbets Field, perhaps the last time in the tournament.  Curt Davis looks to make that less likely. Co-MVP in the last round for Brooklyn; 38 year old RH, 15-6, 2.36. Davis didn't make the bigs until he was 30 and will pitch until he's 42.  Mike Epstein singles to open the game and then Reggie rips a double to the wall in left center - Epstein steams all the way around the bases to score.  Bando walks two outs later, Oakland is again out to a first inning lead.  A's 1 Dodgers 0

1st: Ken Holtzman takes the ball for Oakland.  26 year old lefty. He and Catfish were co-MVPs in the A's round one win.  19-11, 2.51. It's Holtzman's first year in Oakland and he makes his first All Star team. Like Reggie and Catfish, he's on the '77 Yankee team that won Region One.  When Holtzman was a Cub, he was managed by Durocher; the Dodgers skipper today. He gives up a one out Reiser double. That's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Billy Herman singles with 2 away, that's all.

3rd: Rudi singles with 2 out, that's all.

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Bando singles,  Gene Tenace singles.  Dave Duncan got the call behind the plate in game one and Tenace takes game 2.  He's 25, in what will be a 15 year career, this is Tenace's worst season with the bat other than his first and last.  Tim Cullen then singles home Bando and it's A's 2 Dodgers 0

4th: Reiser singles and then Dolph Camilli - who homered in game one does it again here and it ties the game - huge Brooklyn roar as the Bums are on the board.  A's 2 Dodgers 2

5th: Rudi singles again with 2 away, that's all.

5th: 1-2-3

6th: 1-2-3

6th: Camilli walks with 2 out and Dixie Walker puts the Dodgers in front with a double to left center. Walker's 31, a year away from making his first All Star team. Ducky Medwick singles - that's all, but the Dodgers have their first lead in the series.  A's 2 Dodgers 3

7th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Davis, and the Dodgers are 6 outs from knotting up this series.

7th: Arky Vaughan doubles, Holtzman buckles down and gets the next 3.  Another tight, tight game here at Ebbets. 

8th: Hugh Casey threw 2 hitless in game one and he's back on today. Rudi singles with one away, 3 hits for Joe Rudi; the Oakland left fielder is 25, this is his career year, he finished 2nd in the AL MVP, led the league in hits and triples. Alou singles, but Casey gets through it and Brooklyn is 3 outs away from the win.

8th: Walker singles with 2 out - but Holtzman gets through it.  

9th: Casey's 3 outs away.

Cullen leads off - flies to center.

Campaneris slaps a single to left.  Can Oakland plate him?

Mike Hegan is a 29 year old first baseman; left handed, he had a big year with the bat and comes off the bench to hit.  

Campaneris steals second - big, daring move for Dick Williams - the tying run is in scoring position - and Hegan drives him home with a base hit!  Oakland ties the game at 3.

22 year old George Hendrick is sent in to run for Hegan.

Epstein singles - That's it for Casey, Durocher turns to Ed Head, 24 year old RH, 10 wins, 3.56.  Go ahead run in scoring position - still just one out.

Reggie flies to the track in center - Hendrick tags up, makes it to third.  

And Joe Rudi does it - his 4th hit of the day is a single to right that plates Hendrick and the A's - Those Swingin' A's - score two in the 9th inning.  A's 4 Dodgers 3

9th: Rollie Fingers enters.  25 year old RH, 11 wins, 21 saves, 2.51. Fingers is a year away from his first of 7 All Star selections.  

Billy Herman singles.  That's the tying run.

Vaughan flies to left.  One away.

Herman looks to steal second -- but Tenace guns him down - two outs.

Mickey Owen pops up on the infield...Cullen takes it...ballgame

A's 4

Dodgers 3

WP Holtzman

LP Casey

Sv Fingers

Rudi gets 4 knocks including the game winner and the A's head to Oakland one win away from the Regional Final.

Epstein 4x

Jackson 2x/double

Rudi 5x/double

Alou 2x/double

Bando 5x

Campaneris 2x

Tenace 1x

Cullen 1x

Reiser 3x/double

Camilli 4x/ 2HR

Walker 3x/double

Vaughan 1x

Sullivan 2x

Herman 3x

Medwick 1x

CF Reiser (23) (LH) 143  4.5

1B Camilli (35)  (LH) 144  5.1

RF Walker (31) (LH)  126  2.8

LF Medwick (30)  115  2.1

3B Vaughan (30) (LH)  100  2.7

C Sullivan (31) (LH)  98  .4

SS Reese (23)   98    6.1

2B Herman (32)  95   3.2

SP3 Higbe (27)   101  1.3

1B Epstein (29)  (LH)  163    4.5

CF Jackson (26) (LH)  149   4.7

LF Rudi (25)        151    4.9

RF Alou (33) (LH)       110    .3 

3B Bando (28)     116     4.6

C Duncan (26)     105    2.4

2B Cullen (30)     88       .4

SS Campaneris (30)  84  4.4

SP3 Odom (27)          115   1.4

GAME THREE

1st: Blue Moon Odom stands on the Oakland Coliseum mound; a win today and the A's will head to Yankee Stadium for Game 1 of the Region 5 Final.  27 year old RH, 15-6, 2.50. Odom was lights out in the '72 postseason - 2-0 in the ALCS, didn't give up an earned run in 14 innings.  0-1 in the World Series, but with a 1.59 ERA in 11 innings.  1-2-3

1st: Kirby Higbe goes for the Dodgers, 27 year old RH, 16-11, 3.25. Higbe's big year was last year when he as 7th in the MVP.  He gives up a leadoff single to Epstein; that's all.

2nd: Ducky Medwick singles. Medwick's 30, he had 3 top 5 MVP finished back in the 30s with St Louis; he made his second NL All Star team as a Dodger this year.  Vaughan singles, Sullivan walks and the Dodgers have them loaded with nobody out.  Pee Wee Reese grounds out, it scores a run.  Herman singles to score another. Dodgers 2 A's 0

2nd: Dave Duncan is behind the plate today, he gets hit with one out.  Duncan's 26, made his only ever All Star team last year.  That's all.

3rd: Dixie Walker triples with one away - Odom strands him.  

3rd: Reggie singles with 2 out.  Rudi singles, he's reached 6 times, leading both clubs - and then Matty Alou singles to cut the deficit in half.  Alou is 33, platooning in RF, but all the Dodger pitchers are RH, so we've seen him every day.  He came over from the Cards during the season, played in just 32 games and is off to the Yankees next year.  Dodgers 2 A's 1

4th: Vaughan and Sullivan have back to back singles. Reese walks and again the Dodgers have loaded the bases.  Pee Wee Reese does not have a hit in the series; he's 23, made his first All Star team this year and is about to lose the next 3 seasons for the War.  Odom gets two - then walks Reiser to force a run and throws a wild pitch for another.  Dodgers 4 A's 1

4th: Tim Cullen singles with one out; he's a 30 year old second baseman, it's his only year in Oakland and his last year in the bigs. That's it.

5th: Dixie Walker walks. That's it.

5th: 1-2-3, Higbe was co MVP in the prior round and looks to be extending this series anothe day.

6th: Reese walks with one away, Herman follows with a base hit - but Odom escapes.

6th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Higbe, the Dodgers are 9 outs away from game 4.

7th: Oakland's best bullpen arm is Donald Knowles, 30 year old lefty with 5 wins, 11 saves and a 1.37 ERA.  He gets one, then walks Camilli and Walker, then walks Medwick and the Dodgers have loaded the bases - but they don't extend the lead.

7th: Just 5 hits today for Oakland. 1-2-3, 11 straight for Higbe, the game one starters need to get ready to go.  

8th: 34 year old RH Bob Locker enters for the A's, 6 wins, 10 saves, 2.65. 1-2-3

8th: Rudi walks with 2 outs and Alou singles -- could be the last chance for Oakland to do something today - Bando singles, it scores a run.  Higbe then walks Duncan to load the bases.  And Tom Cullen comes through - he doubles home 2 runs - and this game is tied!  They are going wild here in Oakland - Cullen had 8 doubles all season - but he comes through in this huge spot to tie this game.  All of this happening with 2 outs.  Hugh Casey comes on for the third straight game and ends it.  Dodgers 4 A's 4

9th: Locker stays on; 1-2-3

9th: Ed Head is Brooklyn's new pitcher - 28 year old Ollie Brown, a RH bat, comes off the bench to hit - he singles but is erased on a double play.  AND THEN REGGIE JACKSON HOMERS TO LEFT FIELD AND ITS DONE!

Reggie Jackson hits a walk off homer to left -- the A's are streaming from the dugout - the fans are pouring out on the field -- it is a full celebration here in Oakland - Reggie Jackson hits a walk off home run to sweep the Dodgers and move Oakland into the Region 5 Final!

Dodgers 4

A's 5

WP Locker

LP Head

Jackson 4x/double, HR

Rudi 7x/double

Alou 4x/double

Rudi was the only consistent bat for Oakland in the series; Alou had the big game one hit and Reggie just won game 3.  Let's say the MVP is Hunter, his complete game one win setting the tone for the series.  

128 Team MLB Tournament - Region 5 Semi-Final: 1998 World Champion New York Yankees v. 1961 World Champion New York Yankees

 Region 4 Final

#5. 1998 World Champion New York Yankees v. #28. 1961 World Champion New York Yankees

A main event anywhere in the world; the top remaining seed in the field, the 125 win '98 Yankees against a Yankees team from 37 years prior - Maris/Mantle and the '61 squad. 

Yankees 114-48 (Pythag 114-48) Mgr. Joe Torre (AL MoY)

1st in AL East

d. Rangers 3-0 in ALDS

d. Indians 4-2 in ALCS (MVP-David Wells)

d. Padres 4-0 in World Series (MVP-Scott Brosius)

d. #124 2004 Cardinals 2-0 (MVP: Bernie Williams/Tino Martinez)

d. #69   1910 Cubs 3-1 (MVP-Orlando Hernandez)

All-Stars 3B Scott Brosius, SS Derek Jeter (3rd AL MVP) OF Paul O'Neill, SP David Wells (3rd AL Cy Young) OF Bernie Williams

Hall of Famers: Derek Jeter, Tim Raines, Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre

125-50 regular/postseason, won the AL East by 22. 41 games over .500 by the All Star Break. David Wells threw a perfect game in May. Darryl Strawberry had a cancer diagnosis in October. 

Yankees 109-53 (Pythag 103-59) Mgr. Ralph Houk

Won AL Pennant

d. Reds 4-1 in World Series

d. #101 1949 Dodgers 2-1 (MVP-Roger Maris/Hal Reniff)

d. #37   2002 Angels 3-0 (MVP-Whitey Ford/Bill Stafford)

All-Stars RP Luis Arroyo, OF Yogi Berra, SP Whitey Ford (AL Cy Young, 5th AL MVP) C Elston Howard, SS Tony Kubek, OF Mickey Mantle (2nd AL MVP) OF Roger Maris (AL MVP) 1B Moose Skowron

Hall of Famers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, 

Maris hits 61 homers, from June 1 on they won 70% of their games; Yogi, Ford and Mantle are all also on the '53 team that advanced to this round (Yogi's also on the '47 team that advanced to this round)

LF Berra (36)   (LH)    115    2.6

DH Blanchard (28) (LH) 168   3

CF Mantle (29)  (SH) 206   9.9

RF Maris (26)  (LH)  167   6.2

C Howard (32)   153   5.6 

1B Skowron (30)  113  1.3

SS Kubek (25) (LH)   90    3.3

3B Boyer (24)     79     3.7

2B Richardson (25)  67  -1.2

SP Ford (32)  (LH)     115    6

Bench:

LF Cerv (36)   124      1  

LF Lopez (31)                64

P Stafford (22)   139   3.6 

SP3 Terry (25)      118    3.3

Platoons at C and LF, the RH Sheldon will be the 4th starter should they advance.

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

DH Davis (38)   (SH) 116

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

LF Curtis (29)   90   2.9

SP Cone (35)    125  5.3

Bench: 

LF Raines (38)  (SH)    107   1.1

DH Strawberry (36) (LH) 132  1.5 

C Girardi (33)   85

IF Sojo (33)       37

SP Wells (35) (LH)    127  5.2

P Hernandez (32)   132   3.7

Platoon at DH and left. It'll be Pettitte who gets the 4th starters spot if they advance. 

Lineups: 

C-Howard

1B-Martinez

2B-Knoblauch

SS-Jeter

3B-Brosius

LF-Push

CF-Mantle, easily the best player in the series

RF-Maris

DH-Blanchard

SP1-Ford

SP2-Wells

SP3-Hernandez

Pen-1998

WAR: 1998 7 1961 5, '98 isn't better by much, but they're better and favored here.

GAME ONE

1st: Yankee Stadium will be the site for every game of this Regional Semi-Final; for the first time in the tournament, two representatives of the same franchise face off.  Two dominant World Champions, each of which has just lost one game in the tournament.  David Cone gets the game one ball for '98.  He's a 35 year old RH, 20-7, 3.55. Cone was 4th in the AL Cy Young this year; his 4th career top 5 finish. His 20 wins led the league.  He walks Mickey Mantle with 2 away, that's all.  

1st: '61 counters with 32 year old lefty Whitey Ford, 25-4, 3.21. Ford won the Cy Young this year and was 5th in the AL MVP. Ford led the league in wins, winning %, FIP. With one out, Bernie Williams homers just inside of the left field foul pole - this is going to be a loud, loud, divided crowd, split down generational lines, the younger Yankee fans roaring their approval as the '98 center fielder circles the bases. Chili Davis walks after the second out and then Jorge Posada singles  That's all.  1961 0 1998 1

2nd: Elston Howard doubles.  32 year old Howard only catching against the RH Cone because the DH is in play in games 1-2. Howard made his 5th straight All Star team this year; he was 10th in the AL MVP. Cone gets one, then gives up a base hit to Tony Kubek. That's all.

2nd: Tino Martinez walks. The 30 year old first baseman had his big year the season before, when he was 2nd in the AL MVP. That's all Ford allows.

3rd: Johnny Blanchard draws a one out walk. Blanchard's DH'ing tonight; he's the Yankee catcher against RH pitchers normally.  The 28 year old never had another year close to this one, slugging .613. Mantle singles, Roger Maris walks and 1961 has loaded the bases. Howard clears the bases with a double; 3 runs score, a big roar from the older fans.  1961 3 1998 1

3rd: Scott Brosius singles with 2 away. Brosius is 31, he makes the All Star team this year for the only time in his career.  That's all

4th: 1-2-3

4th: Paul O'Neill singles to right center with one out, the Yankee RF is 35, made his 5th and final All Star team this year; this is the 6th straight season (and last) that O'Neill hit .300 or higher. Martinez walks, Chuck Knoblauch walks and 1998 has loaded the bases. Chad Curtis is in left today against the lefty Ford and he singles home a run. That's all.  1961 3 1998 2

5th: Blanchard and Mantle single back to back.  Mickey Mantle has now reached 3 times; he's 29, finished 2nd in the AL MVP this year for the second straight season. This was his 7th career top 5 finish. He led the league in walks, slugging, and OPS+.  A Maris sac fly scores a run. 1961 4 1998 2

5th: Williams doubles; Bernie's 29, this is the best year he'll ever have with the bat, he hit .339. Williams was 7th in the MVP and won his 2nd Gold Glove. After an out, Chili Davis comes through with a run scoring single.  1961 4 1998 3

6th: 1-2-3

6th: With one out, Knoblauch walks. The second baseman is 29, his first year in pinstripes; he never made an All Star team in NY, his last appeance was the year prior, which was also his only Gold Glove. Curtis walks, tying run in scoring position --- Ford gets the second out then walks Williams - bases loaded - 2 out -- and it's Brosius who comes through; a 2 run double that gives 1998 the lead. 1961 4 1998 5

7th: Yogi walks with one out.  Yogi's already advanced as a coach with the '77 Yankees - on that team are Willie Randolph and Chris Chambliss who are both here, coaching for the '98 Yankees.  Cone gets the next two.

7th: 22 year old RH Hal Reniff is the new 1961 pitcher. 2.58. O'Neill singles with one out, Martinez follows with a single, Knoblauch singles O'Neill home and it's 1961 4 1998 6

8th: Joe Torre turns the game over to his pen; Mike Stanton enters, 31 year old lefty, 5.47.  He gets one - and then Elston Howard bombs a homer to left that draws 1961 within a run.  1961 5 1998 6

8th: Williams walks, an out later Chili Davis comes through again with a run scoring double. Davis is platooning at DH in the series; likely this is his only action - he's 38, in his first year in New York. Davis had a 19 year big league career and hit the ball in 17 of them.  Davis played in just 35 games this season.  Ralph Houk's out to the mound; it's now 28 year old RH Jim Coates. He's got 11 wins and a 3.44 ERA. He gets through it.  1961 5 1998 7

9th: The Sandman Enters; 28 year old RH Mariano Rivera comes on, 36 saves, 1.91.  Rivera's just 4 years into his career. 

Clete Boyer leads off.  Easy grounder to short.

Bobby Richardson is next.  Easy fly ball to left.

Yogi is the last hope for 1961 -- he hits a line drive to right -- that hangs up enough for O'Neill to make a nice play to end the game.

1961 5

1998 7

WP Cone

LP Ford

Sv Rivera

The '98 team rips a dozen hits (everyone but Jeter) and get game one.

Williams 4x/ HR, double

Brosius 2x/double

Davis 3x/double

Posada 1x

O'Neill 2x

Martinez 3x

Knoblauch 3x

Curtis 2x

Berra 1x

Blanchard 2x

Mantle 3x

Maris 1x

Howard 3x/HR 2 doubles

Kubek 1x

LF Cerv (36)   124      1  

C Howard (32)   153   5.6 

CF Mantle (29)  (SH) 206   9.9

RF Maris (26)  (LH)  167   6.2

DH Blanchard (28) (LH) 168   3

1B Skowron (30)  113  1.3

SS Kubek (25) (LH)   90    3.3

3B Boyer (24)     79     3.7

2B Richardson (25)  67  -1.2

P Stafford (22)   139   3.6 

LF Raines (38)  (SH)    107   1.1

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

DH Strawberry (36) (LH) 132  1.5 

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

SP Wells (35) (LH)    127  5.2

GAME TWO

1st: Back at it, Game 2 - 1961 looking to even the series up against David Wells.  35 year old lefty. 18-4, 3.49. Wells is 3rd in the Cy Young this year; led the league in winning %, shutouts, WHIP, K/9, K/BB. He gets one, then gives up a base hit to Elston Howard. Wells walks Mickey Mantle and then - Look Out -- Roger Maris just thumps one - a three run homer into Monument Park; an absolute bomb to center field and 1961 bolts out in front.  1961 3 1998 0

1st: Bill Stafford is staked to that lead. 22 year old RH, 14-9, 2.68. He's in his second season, had a no decision in his only start in the Series this year.  Tim Raines is in the lineup against RH pitchers and he singles. 2 outs later Paul O'Neill walks. That's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Scott Brosius singles with one out, he had a big 2 run double in game one and was World Series MVP. Jorge Posada singles. The Yankee catcher is 27, is his first season as an every day player.  Chuck Knoblauch walks and we're loaded. But Stafford gets through it again.

3rd: Bob Cerv is in the lineup today against the lefty Wells and he doubles.  Cerv's 36, platooning in left with Yogi. He came over in a deal during the season and played in 57 games with New York in '61. Elston Howard then singles Cerv home and now it's 4-0. After the first out -- Good God he did it again, Roger Maris blasts a 2 run shot to dead center and even the 1998 fans are roaring their approval - Maris has two monster homers and 1961 is rolling today.  Johnny Blanchard follows with another home run.  Wells is out of the game; Ramiro Mendoza, 26 year old RH comes on.  10 wins, 3.25. He gets through it.  1961 7 1998 0

3rd: 1-2-3 

4th: 1-2-3

4th: Derek Jeter singles; it's his first hit of the series. Jeter's 24, it's his 3rd full season in the bigs, he finished 3rd in the AL MVP, led the league in runs scored. 2 outs later Knoblauch singles, Raines then walks and 1998 has loaded them again -- and again, Stafford escapes.

5th: Elston Howard singles. 3 hits for Howard today. Mantle walks, an out later Blanchard singles and its 1961 8 1998 0

5th: Tino Martinez singles with 2 away, Jeter follows with a single and again, again, 1998 can't cross the plate.

6th: Bobby Richardson singles with 2 away. The Yankee second baseman is 25, he won his first of 5 straight Gold Gloves this year.  His bat is bad, 67 OPS+. That's all.

6th: Stafford's day is done and Bob Turley enters.  30 year old RH, 5.75 ERA.  He gets two and then Raines ends the shutout with a homer to center. Rock Raines is 38, he's 11 years past his last All Star appearance. 1961 8 1998 1

7th: The next Yankee pitcher is Mike Buddie, 27 year old RH, 5.62 ERA as both managers scraping the bottom of their pens here in an 8-1 ballgame.  Mantle walks with one out, after the second out - Johnny Blanchard hits his 2nd homer of the day and now it is 10-1.  Torre's back out to the mound, it's Darren Holmes, 32 year old RH, 3.33, and he gives up another home run, this one to Moose Skowron.  Tony Kubek then walks - Game 2 is over and it is a beating, 1961 11 1998 1

7th: Darryl Strawberry singles; Strawberrys DH'ing against RH pitchers; at 36, he's 7 years distant from his last All Star game.  Paul O'Neill follows with a base hit.  Tino Martinez singles and '98 has loaded the bases with nobody out.  Turley walks Jeter and it's 11-2. Houk goes back to the pen, 32 year old RH Al Ditmar, 4.64.  He gives up a single to Brosius and it's 11-3.  A Posada double play scores one more run.  So, this game is long out of hand, but this helps a little.  1961 11 1998 4

8th: 1-2-3

8th: Bernie Williams singles with one out, that's it.

9th: 31 year old lefty Mike Stanton on for 1998; and 1961 gets one more homer - Mantle hits a majestic, soaring shot that clears the left field foul pole.  Maris walks, that's all. 1961 12 1998 4

9th: 3 outs left to even the series - Martinez walks, Jeter singles - and after one out, Posada homers to right center - a 3 run shot that makes it 12-7.  22 year old RH Hal Reniff now comes on, 2.58. He gets the second out, then walks Raines - and ends it.  

1961 12

1998 7

WP Safford

LP Wells

15 hits for 1998 - but 1961 unleased the power today; 6 homers, which might be the high for a single game in the tournament and this series is tied.

Berra 1x

Blanchard 5x/2 HR

Mantle 7x/HR

Maris 4x/2 HR

Howard 6x/HR 2 doubles

Kubek 2x

Cerv 1x/double

Skowron 1x/HR

Richardson 1x

Williams 5x/ HR, double

Brosius 4x/double

Davis 3x/double

Posada 3x/HR

O'Neill 4x

Martinez 6x

Knoblauch 5x

Curtis 2x

Raines 4x/HR

Strawberry 1x

Jeter 4x

LF Raines (38)  (SH)    107   1.1

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

P Hernandez (32)   132   3.7

LF Berra (36)   (LH)    115    2.6

C Blanchard (28) (LH) 168   3

CF Mantle (29)  (SH) 206   9.9

RF Maris (26)  (LH)  167   6.2

1B Skowron (30)  113  1.3

SS Kubek (25) (LH)   90    3.3

3B Boyer (24)     79     3.7

2B Richardson (25)  67  -1.2

SP3 Terry (25)      118    3.3

GAME THREE

1st: We move...well, nowhere, other than 37 years back..to 1961, which means no DH, but we stay at Yankee Stadium for pivotal Game 3. 25 year old RH Ralph Terry on the mound; 16-3, 3.15. A year from now, Terry is MVP of the '62 World Series. Tim Raines greets him with a base hit. That's all.

1st: 32 year old RH Orlando Hernandez was MVP of 1998s win in the previous round and he goes today. 12-4, 3.13. He was 4th in the AL Rookie of the Year.  Yogi walks. An out later Mantle walks, he's reached 8 times, leading both teams. That's it.

2nd: Scott Brosius singles with one out. That's all.  

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: Bobby Richardson walks and then Hernandez hits Terry.  But Hernandez escapes it - 1961 has yet to get a hit.  

4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Terry - different game than the offensive explosion we've seen so far.

4th: Mantle singles, 1961's first hit - and the Mick has reached 9 times. Maris follows with a walk. Maris is 26; he hit two monster home runs in game 2. This was the back half of his consecutive MVP seasons.  He broke the single season home run record with 61, he led the league in runs scored, RBI and total bases. Again - Hernandez escapes.  

5th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Terry

5th: Terry doubled twice during the season - he doubles here with one out. Hernandez holds it here; both clubs with just two hits today as the pitching steps up.

6th:  Williams singles with 2 out - but that's all.

6th: Mantle walks, he keeps getting on base.  That's all Hernandez allows and we're still scoreless.  

7th: Martinez singles. That's it.  

7th: Richardson doubles with one away -- can 1961 punch this one across and will that be enough? Hernandez gets the second out -- but then Yogi comes through with a run scoring single and 1961 has broken the logjam in this crucial Game 3.  Blanchard singles.  Mantle singles.  He's reached 11 times.  Bases loaded for Maris -- Torre leaves Hernandez in and Il Duque gets him.  1998 0 1961 1

8th: 6 outs to get and Houk turns to his closer, 34 year old lefty Luis Arroyo.  15 wins, 29 saves, 2.15. This is his career year, the only All Star season of his career - Arroyo finished 6th in the AL MVP. Knoblauch greets him with a single.  An out later Raines walks, Tying run in scoring position.  And Bernie comes through - Williams singles to score Knoblauch and tie this game and tie this series.  That's all.  1998 1 1961 1

8th: Mike Stanton comes on for Torre; 1-2-3, big inning for Stanton.  

9th: 1-2-3, Arroyo buckles down and we go to the bottom of the 9th.  

9th: With one out, 31 year old backup OF Hector Lopez pinch singles.  Potential winning run on base.  But Stanton gets the next two and we head to the 10th.

10th: Hal Reniff is the new 1961 pitcher. Brosius walks. Reniff gets the next two and then 25 year old second baseman Homer Bush pinch hits -- and down an 0-2 count battles all the way back for a walk.  Go ahead run in scoring position.  2 away.  And it's Tim Raines who comes through with a base hit -- Brosius scores - 1998 takes the lead - Rock Raines singles and it's 1998 2 1961 1

10th: Mariano Rivera to the mound.  3 outs away.

Mickey Mantle rips a single.  Mantle an on base machine in the series. 

Maris singles.  Mantle goes all the way to third and 1961 has them on the corners. Nobody out.

And Skowron flies to left -- Raines doesn't really have a play home - Mantle scores and it's tied again.

Kubek singles -- Maris goes to third - and the winning run is at third base - Rivera getting hit by this big 1961 offense - winning run at third base.  

Boyer flies to shallow center -- Maris headed home -- Bernie with the bullet through - there's going to be a collision at the plate - Maris barrels in to Posada --

And Posada holds on!  Maris is out - Bernie Williams guns Roger Maris out at the plate and the game continues!  Bernie Williams saves this game - saves the day - and we head to the 11th!  1998 2 1961 2

1th: Reniff gets one, Martinez then reaches on an error - Reniff gets the second out, Martinez moving into scoring position.  Houk goes to the pen  - Jim Coates is a 28 year old RH, 11 wins, 3.44  -- and Brosius singles to right -- it scores Martinez -- the '98 Yankees have again taken this lead.  Posada walks - that's all, but again, it's 1998 who pulls ahead.  1998 3 1961 2

11th: Rivera still on; rough 10th inning, but now he has a chance to get this win.

Richardson grounds to short.  

33 year old third baseman Billy Gardner on to pinch hit -- easy fly to left.

Yogi singles.  1961 stays alive. 

Blanchard singles.  

Tying run in scoring position.  Winning run at first.  2 outs.

Mickey Mantle comes to the plate.  Rivera vs Mantle in the biggest spot of the series.  Classic moment.

And Mantle hits a long one -- deep - deep to right field -- O'Neill catches it at the base of the wall and it's over.

1998 3

1961 2

WP Rivera

LP Reniff

A roller coaster here - 1998 down 1-0 going to the 8th inning, Bernie singles home the tying run, Raines the go ahead run -- 1961 came back against Rivera to tie the score -- but Bernie throws out Maris at the plate to keep 1998 alive; they come back with a Brosius RBI in the 11th and with 2 on and 2 out - Rivera gets Mantle and ends the game.  And now 1998 is just one game away from the Region 5 Final.

Williams 7x/ HR, double

Brosius 7x/double

Davis 3x/double

Posada 4x/HR

O'Neill 4x

Martinez 7x

Knoblauch 6x

Curtis 2x

Raines 7x/HR

Strawberry 1x

Jeter 4x

Berra 4x

Blanchard 7x/2 HR

Mantle 12x/HR

Maris 6x/2 HR

Howard 6x/HR 2 doubles

Kubek 3x

Cerv 1x/double

Skowron 2x/HR

Richardson 3x

SS Jeter (24)       127   6.3

CF Williams (29) (SH) 160  5.6

3B Brosius (31)     121    5

C Posada (26)   (SH)    115    3.4

RF O'Neill (35) (LH)     130  5.4

1B Martinez (30) (LH)  124   3.6

LF Raines (38)  (SH)    107   1.1

2B Knoblauch (29)  102  3.8

SP Cone (35)    125  5.3

LF Berra (36)   (LH)    115    2.6

C Blanchard (28) (LH) 168   3

CF Mantle (29)  (SH) 206   9.9

RF Maris (26)  (LH)  167   6.2

1B Skowron (30)  113  1.3

SS Kubek (25) (LH)   90    3.3

3B Boyer (24)     79     3.7

2B Richardson (25)  67  -1.2

SP Ford (32)  (LH)     115    6

GAME FOUR

1st: Rematch of Game One - 1961 needs to win to force a showdown game 5.  The great Whitey Ford on the mound.  Ford was the regular season MVP and the World Series MVP, He went 2-0 in the World Series, didn't give up an earned run.  1-2-3

1st: David Cone can pitch 1998 into the Region 5 Final.  Cone was 2-0 in the '98 postseason, going 24 innings and giving up 6 earned.  With 2 out, Mantle singles.  If '61 falls today, don't blame the Mick, he has reached 13 times.  Maris follows with a single. That's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Clete Boyer singles with one out, it's Boyer's first hit of the series. The Yankee third baseman is 24, his second season as the every day third baseman, he'll hold the job through '66. Richardson singles.  That's all.

3rd: 1-2-3. 9 up, 9 down.

3rd: 1-2-3, early on, this resembles game 3.

4th: Jeter walks - and then Bernie Williams hits a 2 run homer to put 1998 in front.  It's Williams' second homer of the series, and when you consider he saved game 3 by throwing Maris out at the plate, if 1998 closes this out today he has to be considered the MVP frontrunner.  1998 2 1961 0

4th: Boyer singles again, with 2 away, but that's all. 

5th: Raines singles with one out, he's reached 8 times, tied with Bernie for club lead, and didn't play in game 1.  That's it - Ford has 6 Ks.

5th: 1-2-3

6th: Jeter doubles; Jeter got it going in game 3 and here's his first extra base hit.  Ford strikes out 2 more for a total of 8.  

6th: Mantle singles again, he's reached 14 times.  Maris singles - Mantle goes around to third and he scores on a Skowron double play. Tony Kubek doubles.  The Yankee shortstop is 25, he made his 3rd and final All Star team this year.  Cone then hits Boyer - 2 on, 2 out - but that's all.  1998 2 1961 1

7th: 1-2-3. 9 Ford Ks.

7th: Ford stays in the game and draws a walk - but that's all.

8th: Just 3 hits off of Ford today, but one was a 2 run Williams homer and it's the margin.  Knoblauch singles.  2 outs later Williams walks and that's it.  

8th: Just 6 outs to go, Cone on the mound and you can see Rivera start to stir in the bullpen. 

Cone strikes out Mantle.

Cone strikes out Maris.

Moose Skowron singles - can 1961 keep this going?

They can't - Kubek grounds to first and 1998 is 3 away.  

9th: Hal Reniff comes on for 1961, he gives up a 1 out O'Neill single but that's it.  

9th: So- you're Joe Torre; Cone is still strong; Rivera's already pitched twice in the series and went 2 innings in game 3.  What do you do?

Cone goes to the pen.  Mariano Rivera comes on.  3 outs from ending the series.

Boyer grounds to short.

Richardson grounds to third.

Bob Cerv off the bench to hit -- 1961 down to their last man -- 

Cerv fly ball to right -- it's an easy one for O'Neill and it's done.  No huge celebration for 1998 - the two generations of Yankees shaking hands on the field - united applause from the crowd - 1998 has moved on to the Region 5 Final.

1998 2

1961 1

WP Cone

LP Ford

Sv Rivera

Williams 7x/ 2HR, double

Brosius 7x/double

Martinez 7x

Knoblauch 7x

Raines 8x/HR

Williams and Raines have the best series with the bats - Cone was great today and Rivera won a game and saved two -- but he did blow the save in game 3, a game 1998 would have lost if not for the Williams throw home - add that to his 2 run homer being the only runs '98 scored today and it's an easy MVP decision.