128 Team MLB Tournament: Region 3 v Region 6: Elite 8 Preview and Regional Recap

 Region 2 v Region 7

14. 1909 Chicago Cubs v. #54 1969 AL Champion Baltimore Orioles

In our 4th and Final Elite 8 matchup it's the '09 Cubs, favored in every matchup to date, taking on the 2nd Oriole team we'll see in the Elite 8, the '69 club.  Neither of these teams won the World Series, as is the case with the other Elite 8 matchup in this half of the bracket, the Astros against the Dodgers.  Meanwhile, in the top half - all 4 teams still standing are World Champions, guaranteeing us a World Champion v Non World Champion to meet for all the money, which is excellent.

Cubs 104-49 (Pythag: 109-44)  Mgr. Frank Chance

d. #115 2004 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Ed Reulbach)

d. #78  1978 Yankees 3-2 (MVP-Orvall Overall)

d. #19  1953 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Pat Moran)

d. #126 2011 Phillies 4-2 (MVP-Frank Schulte)

Hall of Famers: Three Finger Brown, Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker

This Cub team had a 109-44 pythagorean record and finished in 2nd in the NL, 6 1/2 behind the Pirates. The Cubs won the pennant in '06, '07, '08, '10.  The pitching staff had a 1.75 ERA. This team was looking to three-peat, the Cubs having won the World Series in '07 and '08. 

Orioles 109-53 (Pythag 110-52) Mgr. Earl Weaver

1st in AL East

d. Twins 3-0 in ALCS

lost to Mets 4-1 in World Series

d. #75 1949 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Mike Cuellar/Jim Palmer)

d. #118 1917 Giants 3-1 (MVP-Davey Johnson/Mike Cuellar)

d. #43   1928 Yankees 3-0 (MVP Don Buford)

d. #6     2016 Cubs 4-2 (MVP-Boog Powell)

All-Stars: OF Paul Blair, 2B Davey Johnson, SP Dave McNally (4th AL Cy Young) 1B Boog Powell (2nd AL MVP) 3B Brooks Robinson, OF Frank Robinson (3rd AL MVP)

Cy Young: SP Mike Cuellar 

Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver

109 wins, 19 games ahead of the Tigers in AL East. Same year – heavily favored Orioles lost to Mets, heavily favored Colts lost to Jets (and best NBA record – Bullets, lost in playoffs to Knicks), 1970 team also in field, this team had best winning % in Orioles history. 

REGION THREE RECAP: HOW THE 1909 CUBS GOT HERE

The Cubs kicked off against the 115th seeded 2004 Red Sox, In Game 1, Three Finger Brown threw a 6 hitter, Johnny Evers had 3 hits and the Cubs won 7-1. They lost Game 2 to Pedro Martinez, meaning they had the showdown game back in Chicago. Ed Reulbach came up huge with a 1 hitter, the Cubs won 5-1, Brown and Reulbach sharing MVP honors.

In Round 2, the Cubs faced the #78th seed, the 1978 Yankees, sequel to the '77 team that would go on and win Region 1.  The Yanks had game one in hand, 5-2 in the 9th, Goose Gossage on the mound - and Joe Tinker hit a 3 run homer that tied the score.  It took 14 innings - but the Yanks still came away with an 8-5 win.  Game 2 was another extra innings affair - New York took a 3-2 lead in the 11th and brought on Gossage again - Three Finger Brown was the game 1 starter for Chicago, came out of the pen in game 2 - was left in to hit off of Gossage - and he cracked a miraculous 2 run double that won the game for the Cubs.  That's 25 innings of baseball in the first two games of the series.  The Cubs lost game three 1-0 and so had to win both games 4 and 5 to advance.  Game 4 again went into extra innings, Frank Schulte singled home Johnny Evers in the 10th to give the Cubs what turned out to be the winning run in a 5-4 game. And then in game 5 Orval Overall threw a one hitter and hit his second home run of the series; the Cubs won 3-0 and knocked the Yankees out. Overall winning the MVP

In the Regional semi-Final the Cubs faced another Yankees squad, the 19th seeded '53 Yanks. Brown took game one, went 8 innings, gave up 6 hits. Overall did him one better in game 2, going the whole way and giving up those same 6 hits. The Yanks took game 3 and game 4 was 1-1 in the 10th, Frank Schule scores on a Pat Moran double, it gives the Cubs the lead and they hold on to end the series.  Moran reached 8 times in the series and won the MVP.

And in the Regional Final, the opponent was the 126th seeded 2011 Phillies. Like the 2019 Astros, the Phillies entered this matchup undefeated - that remained true after game one; Roy Halladay went the whole way to beat the  Cubs.  Ed Reulbach evened things up with a complete game win in Game 2 and the Phils seeming invincibility was punctured. Three Finger Brown matched Reulbach with a complete game win of his own in game 3; and in game 4 the Cubs scores 7 runs off Phillies relievers in the 8th and 9th to win 8-4. Halladay shut the Cubs out in game 5 and the series headed back to Chicago, Cubs up 3 games to 2.  4-4 in the bottom of the 9th - Frank Schulte pulled a Travis Ishikawa - he hit a walk off home run to dead center to give the Cubs the Regional Championships and earn the MVP.

REGION SIX RECAP: HOW THE 1969 ORIOLES GOT HERE

The 54th overall seed - the 1969 Orioles.  Their first round matchup was against the #75th seeded '49 Yanks. Mike Cuellar threw a 4 hit shutout in game one; then Jim Palmer a 1 hitter in game two; the Orioles swept both games and the two starters shared MVP honors.

In round 2, the Orioles faced the 1917 Giants, seeded #118. Cuellar again came through, a complete game win to start the series.  Palmer followed by winning game 2, the Giants got 2 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th to come back and take game 3 but Cuellar went 8 in game 4, the Orioles won 6-4, he and Davey Johnson, who reached 8 times in the series, shared the MVP.

In the semi-final, the Orioles faced the final Babe Ruth team standing, the 43rd seed, the '28 Yanks.  Cuellar went 8 to win game one; the Orioles had 20 hits including 8 doubles. 5 RBI for Johnson.  Palmer threw a 3 hitter to take game 2 and the Orioles swept by taking game 3. Don Buford reached 11 times and had 4 doubles, giving him the MVP

And in the Regional Final the Orioles had to overcome the 6th overall seed in this tournament, the 2016 Cubs. Cuellar did it again here, like Verlander, like Kershaw, he moved to 4-0 with a 6 hitter in game one; Baltimore pounding 5 homers.  As he's done in each series, Palmer was right behind and the Orioles took game 2, three Baltimore pitchers giving up 4 hits.  The Cubs took game 3 - but then Baltimore native Tom Phoebus went 7 innings to take game four for the Orioles, 11-1. Boog Powell and Elrod Hendricks each homering twice. The Cubs got to Cuellar in game 5, they had a 13-5 lead going to the bottom of the 9th - Baltimore staged an amazing comeback, scoring 7 runs - but that left them one short and the Cubs sent the series back to Wrigley, still trailing 3 games to 2.  Palmer finished Chicago off in game 6 with 8 scoreless in a 3-0 win.  Powell had 4 homers in the series to take the MVP.

So, that's the bottom half of the bracket.

2019 Astros v. 2017 Dodgers

1909 Cubs v. 1969 Orioles

And so - we've reached the end of the talking.  It's time to do it.  There are just 7 series left to play in this tournament.  There's not going to be much previewing, not going to be a lot of biographical content during the games. We've done all that stuff.  It's really just time to play baseball and crown the winner of this tournament.

128 Team MLB Tournament: Region 2 v Region 7: Elite 8 Preview and Regional Recap

 Region 4 v Region 5

#26. 2019 AL Champion Houston Astros v. 98. 2017 NL Champion Los Angeles Dodgers

The hottest team going as we hit the Elite 8 is the Astros and it ain't close - they have run the table, swept all four series, just steamrolling their way through this tournament.  They face a real world rival - in the 2017 the Dodgers lost a controversial World Series (not at the time, but as it turns out, the Astros had a sign stealing system that would cost AJ Hinch and the GM their jobs) to the Astros.  This is really close to a rematch.  

Astros 107-57 (Pythag 107-55) Mgr AJ Hinch (5th AL MoY)

1st in AL West

d. Rays 3-2 in ALDS

d. Yankees 4-2 in ALCS (MVP-Jose Altuve)

lost to Nationals 4-3 in World Series

d. #103 1948 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Michael Brantley)

d. #90   1949 Red Sox 3-0 (MVP-Yuli Gurriel)

d. #122  1999 Braves 3-0 (MVP- Carlos Correa/Josh Reddick)

d. #54    1954 Yankees 4-0 (MVP-Michael Brantley)

All-Stars: OF Michael Brantley, 3B Alex Bregman (2nd AL MVP) SP Gerrit Cole (2nd AL Cy Young) RP Ryan Pressly, OF George Springer, SP Justin Verlander (AL Cy Young)

Third straight 100 win season, best record in MLB. Everyone fired in offseason for sign stealing. First team ever to both lead in most pitching Ks and fewest hitting Ks.

Dodgers 104-58 (Pythag: 102-60) Mgr. Dave Roberts (2nd NL Mgr of Year)

Won NL West

d. Diamondbacks 3-0 in NLDS

d. Cubs 4-1 in NLCS (MVP: Chris Taylor/Justin Turner)

lost World Series 4-3 to Astros

d. #31. 1912 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Clayton Kershaw/Rich Hill)

d. #34  1952 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Chris Taylor)

d. #63  1948 Indians 3-0 (MVP-Clayton Kershaw)

d. #18  1944 Cardinals 4-2 (MVP-Yasiel Puig)

All-Stars: 1B Cody Bellinger (NL ROY) RP Kenley Jansen (5th NL Cy Young) SP Clayton Kershaw (2nd NL Cy Young) SS Corey Seager, 3B Justin Turner, SP Alex Wood

This was the Dodgers 5th straight NL West champion, they won more games than any LA team ever.

REGION TWO RECAP: HOW THE '17 DODGERS GOT HERE

The 2017 Dodgers entered as the 98th overall seed; like the '77 Yankees, they've battled uphill all tournament. Their climb to the Elite 8 started with the 31st seed, the 1912 Red Sox, Clayton Kershaw got his first win of the tournament, going 8 in Game 1, adding two hits of his own.  The Dodgers lost game 2 - so game 3 was a showdown in Fenway.  Rich Hill went 8 and shut the Sox out, 5-0. The two starting pitchers sharing MVP.  

Next was the 34th seeded '52 Yankees.  Kershaw won his second game, going 7 strong to kick this series off and again, helping himself with the bat.  Alex Wood then won Game 2 and the Dodgers went home to LA, needing just one win to move to the Regional Semi-Final.  They got 3 hit in Game 3 by Vic Raschi and were 2-2 in the 9th inning of game 4 when Kike Hernandez doubled home Chris Taylor with the series clinching run.  Taylor reached 10 times in the series for the MVP.

In the Region 2 Semi-Final, the Dodgers met the #63rd seeds, the '48 Indians. Kershaw went to 3-0 in the tournament with a complete game 3 hitter with 0 walks.  LA took the second game in Cleveland, Logan Forsythe hitting a big homer.  And in Game 3 Rich Hill beat Bob Feller and the Dodgers had the sweep; Kershaw got this MVP all by himself.  

And then came the Regional Final - the '44 Cards, 18th overall seeds.  Kershaw, again, starts the Dodgers off with a win, 8 innings, 5 hits allowed.  Kerhsaw moves to 4-0 for the tournament. Yasiel Puig hits a big home run.  The Dodgers went into the 9th inning of Game 2 down 5-4 and scores 6 runs to beat the Cards. Puig again with the big blow, a 2 run triple.  St Louis took the next two games, really blasting Kenta Maeda in Game 4, winning 14-1 and now the series was all tied up at 2 games each.  In Game 5, Kershaw went 9 scoreless, batting Red Munger step for step - in the bottom of the 10th, still scoreless, Corey Seager singled home Joc Pederson to give LA the 1-0 win and send the series back to St Louis with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.  It ended in Game 6 - Puig had four hits, took the MVP, and LA won 10-4.  

REGION SEVEN RECAP: HOW THE '19 ASTROS GOT HERE

There are 7 teams who come into the Elite 8 playing good baseball.  But there's one team playing perfect baseball. The 2019 Astros are undefeated.

Just like that '77 Yankees v. '38 Yankees matchup - whereas the '17 Dodgers have been the underdog in each round; the '19 Astros have been favored.  The 26th overall seed started their undefeated run beating the '48 Yankees, seeded #103. Yordan Alvarez hit a big game one homer and the Astros took the first game 7-6, in Game 2, Gerrit Cole went 8, gave up 2 hits in a 12-2 laugher.  Michael Brantley had 5 hits in the series for the MVP. 

The 90th seeded 1949 Red Sox fell next.  Complete game one win for Justin Verlander, 9 Ks, 0 walks.  Game 2 was tied at 7 in the 8th when Carlos Correa singled home George Springer with what turned out to be the winning run.  And the Astros completed their second sweep by taking game 3 9-6, Yuli Gurriel reached 9 times for the series and was the MVP.

The 122nd overall seed, the 1999 Braves, were the Regional semi-final opponents.  Gerrit Cole outdueled Kevin Millwood 2-0 in game 1, Correa hit a big homer in that one.  Verlander went to 3-0 in the tournament by beating Greg Maddux in game 2; and Josh Reddick hit a grand slam in game 3 to finish the sweep; he and Correa named co-MVPs.

Finally - the '54th seeded 1954 Yankees were swept clean in the Regional Final.  In Game 1 Cole went 8, gave up 3 hits, the Astros pounded Yankee pitching 11-1. Things got worse for New York in Game 2 as the Astros tallied another 16 runs, Jose Altuve with 5 RBI.  Verlander went to 4-0, matching Kershaw; that's an appealing Game 1 matchup for the Elite 8.  Wade Miley went 7 strong in Game 3, allowing just 5 hits and the Astros shut out the Yanks.  And finally Zach Greinke got his first start of the tournament and completed the sweep in game 4; Brantley got the nod for the MVP in a crowded field.

That's 3 series down - one to go.

128 Team MLB Tournament: Region 4 v Region 5: Elite 8 Preview and Regional Recap

 Region 1 v Region 8

#5. 1998 World Champion New York Yankees v. 13. 1970 World Champion Baltimore Orioles

It's the highest remaining overall seed, the '98 Yankees, who now have amassed 137 wins, against this Oriole club who basically secured 2 of the Final 8 spots in this tournament.  Both of these teams have been favored in every round, so something's got to give.  

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)

d. #117 1972 A's 4-1 (MVP-David Wells/Mariano Rivera)

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. 

Orioles 108-54 (Pythag 104-58) Mgr Earl Weaver

1st in AL East

d. Twins 3-0 in ALCS

d. Reds 4-1 in World Series (MVP-Brooks Robinson)

d. #116 1958 Yankees 2-1 (MVP-Eddie Watt)

d. #57   2013 Red Sox 3-1 (MVP-Boog Powell)

d. #45   1947 Yankees 3-2 (MVP-Mark Belanger)

d. #125 1909 A's 4-3 (MVP-Brooks Robinson/Mike Cuellar)

All-Stars SP Mike Cuellar (4th AL Cy Young) 2B Davey Johnson, SP Dave McNally (2nd AL Cy Young) SP Jim Palmer, (5th Cy Young) 1B Boog Powell (AL MVP) OF Frank Robinson, 3B Brooks Robinson

Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver

Baltimore scored 60 runs in their 8 postseason games, they won 19 of their last 22 in the regular season. Baltimore pitchers threw 60 complete games.  They were 33-15, 52-18, won the AL East by 15 games.  

REGION FOUR RECAP - HOW THE '70 ORIOLES GOT HERE

The '70 Orioles have already knocked off 2 Yankees teams as they get ready to face the '98 club.  The first victim was the #116th seed, the 1958 Yanks. Like the 1977 Yankees, this Oriole team lost their first game, and since round 1 was best of three, they faced elimination right from the jump.  The Orioles take game two 3-1, Dave McNally going 7, Eddie Watt getting Enos Slaughter to ground to third with 2 on in the ninth to end it.  And in game 3, down 3-0 in the 8th, Baltimore stormed back to score 4 runs; Watt again with men on base in the 9th inning, gets Yogi to fly to center to end the series to earn the MVP

Next to go down was the 2013 Red Sox, the 57th seed. Again, Baltimore lost game one and again, came back to tie it up in game two; Boog Powell leading the way with 4 hits. Baltimore went down quickly, 5-1 in game 3 and stormed all the way back to win 16-9, both Frank and Brooks Robinson hitting big homers. Baltimore took game 4 and the series on a complete game from Jim Palmer and MVP Boog Powell hitting a 3 run homer, his third of the series.

The 45th seeded 1947 Yankees fell in the Regional Semi-Finals; Powell came up big again in game one with 5 RBI and Jim Palmer threw a complete game 6 hitter. The Yanks took game 2 and then Mike Cuellar outdueled Allie Reynolds 2-1 to take game 3.  Palmer threw his second complete game of the series in game 4 - but Baltimore only got 3 hits and fell 3-1, forcing a showdown game 5.  Baltimore was down to its last out, down 7-6 in the bottom of the 12th, two outs and a man on third - Mark Belanger (who would win the MVP) singled home the tying run off Joe Page. And then in the 13th inning Paul Blair singled home Don Buford to give the Orioles the series.  

As was the case with the Region 8 winners, the '38 Yankees, this Oriole team has been favored in every matchup and that was true in the Regional Final when they faced the 125th seeded, 1909 A's.  Mike Cuellar shut out Philadelphia in game 1, 3 hits, no walks, took just 99 pitches. The A's took the next three to grab control of the series; Baltimore down a seemingly insurmountable 3 games to 1.  Game 5 was Cuellar again - again he shuts out the A's to send the series back to Baltimore.  The Orioles took game 6, Don Buford scoring 4 runs to set up the only 7th game we've had so far in the entire tournament.  2-2 in the 8th inning; Brooks Robinson singles home Frank to give the Orioles the lead - and at 5-4 in the 9th, Robinson made a game saving play at third to rob Harry Davis and put the Orioles into the Elite 8, Brooks and Cuellar shared MVP.

REGION FIVE RECAP - HOW THE '98 YANKEES GOT HERE

The top remaining seed in the tournament is the 1998 Yankees; they came in as the 5th overall seed and they enter the Elite 8 having played to that level.  They now have won 137 games; if they win this whole thing - they'll hit 149.  

First to fall - the 124th seed 2004 Cards, the Yanks took both games, Rivera saving both games; Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez each had four base hits and a homer over the two game span and shared the MVP.  

In Round 2, the Yanks took on the 1910 Cubs - the 1909 Cubs are still around; Region 3 Champs; we'll recap their trip next - the 1910 group was the 69th overall seed and played some nice ball (although not in game one, when Orlando Hernandez shut them out 10-0). In fact, New York took both games at home, but then Orval Overall shut them out in game 3; but that was that - Hernandez came back in game 4 and the Yanks shut the Cubs out again, 2-0, Rivera getting his third save of the tournament.  Hernandez earning MVP honors.

The Regional Semis were a step up in competition - the Yanks taking on the Yanks, 1998 v 1961. '98 took game one, getting a dozen hits and winning 7-4. Rivera got his 4th save in the tournament.  1961 unleashed its power in game 2, bashing 6 home runs to even the series.  Great Game 3 - Bernie Williams threw out Roger Maris at the plate in the bottom of the tenth to keep the game at 2-2, Scott Brosius singled home Tino Martinez in the 11th to give '98 the lead, and then with 2 on and two out in the bottom - Rivera got Mickey Mantle to fly to the deepest part of right field to end the game.  1998 clinched in game 4, David Cone beating Whitey Ford 2-1, Rivera earning his 5th save of the tournament, Bernie Williams wins the MVP with a 2 run homer to add to his huge game 3 throw.  

In the Regional Final, the Yanks took on the 117th seeded 1972 A's, David Wells went 6 shutout innings to take game 1 - Bernie hit another 2 run homer - Rivera recorded his 6th save.  The A's took game 2 and the series shifted to Oakland - where the '98 A's swept all 3 games to end it.  David Cone was the star of game 3, 8 innings, 4 hits.  Brosius hit a 3 run homer.  The Yanks were down 1-0 in the 9th inning of game 4; but after tying to score on a Paul O'Neill homer off of Rollie Fingers, Homer Bush came off the bench for a pinch single to give the Yanks the lead.  Rivera added his 7th save and the Yanks were up 3 games to 1.  David Wells finished Oakland off in game 5, Rivera got his 8th save of the tournament and the two shared MVP honors.  

That's the top half of the bracket.

1938 Yankees v. 1977 Yankees

1998 Yankees v. 1970 Orioles

The winners of those two series will meet in the Final Four, and the winner of that series will go on to play for the Championship.  

128 Team MLB Tournament: Region 1 v Region 8: Elite 8 Preview and Regional Recap

 Region 8 Final

#24. 1938 World Champion New York Yankees  v. #97. 1977 World Champion New York Yankees

The 7th Yankees World Champions vs. the 21st Yankees World Champions.  Winners advance the Final Four, playing for the pennant. They face the winners of the 1970 Orioles v. 1998 Yankees.  3 out of the 4 teams in this half of the bracket are Yankees.  They have no teams remaining in the bottom half of the bracket, that means, it will not be Yankees v. Yankees in the World Series (only the Orioles have the chance to do that)

Yankees 99-53 (Pythag 97-55) Mgr Joe McCarthy

Won AL Pennant

d. Cubs 4-0 to win World Series

d. #105 1957 Braves 2-0 (MVP-Joe Gordon)

d. #41   2019 Dodgers 3-1 (MVP-Frankie Crosetti/Joe Gordon)

d. #56   2001 Mariners 3-1 (MVP-Joe DiMaggio/Bill Dickey)

d. #40   1995 Indians 4-1   (MVP0 Joe DiMaggio)

All-Stars Bill Dickey (2nd AL MVP)  Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Johnny Murphy, Red Rolfe, Red Ruffing (4th AL MVP)

Hall of Fame: Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Joe Gordon, Red Ruffing, Joe McCarthy

Another Joe McCarthy team, third straight World Championship for the Yankees, it hadn't been done before.  They win it again next year.  Won the AL by 9.5.  

Yankees 100-62 (Pythag: 99-63) Mgr. Billy Martin

Won AL East

d. Royals 3-2 in ALCS 

d. Dodgers 4-2 in World Series (MVP-Reggie Jackson)

d. #32. 2007 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Reggie Jackson)

d. #33  1943 Cardinals 3-1 (MVP-Graig Nettles)

d. #65  1984 Tigers 3-2 (MVP-Chris Chambliss/Don Gullett)

d. #16  1975 Reds 4-1 (MVP-Graig Nettles)

All-Stars: OF Reggie Jackson, RP Sparky Lyle (AL Cy Young) C Thurman Munson, 3B Graig Nettles (5th AL MVP) 2B Willie Randolph

Hall of Famers: Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Bobby Cox (first base coach)

Reggie's first year in New York; also the year of the blackout.  Steinbrenner feuded with Billy - Billy feuded with Reggie.  Reggie said he was the straw that stirs the drink - it's the Bronx Zoo Yankees.  The front half of back to back Champions.

REGION ONE RECAP - HOW THE 1977 YANKEES GOT HERE

The 1977 Yankees were the 97th overall seed so had to climb a steep hill.  First to fall was the 32nd seed, the 2007 Red Sox; the Yanks lost the first game, making them a game from elimination right off the bat.  Cliff Johnson and Lou Piniella homered in game 2 and the Yankees beat Curt Schilling to force game 3.  They went to Fenway and beat the Sox, Reggie Jackson hit a 3 run homer and was named MVP.

Next to fall was the 33rd seed, the 1943 Cardinals. In game 1, New York trailed 6-2 in the 9th inning and scored 9 runs and in game 2, a Graig Nettles two run homer in the 13th gave the Yanks a 4-2 win.  The Yanks dropped game 3, but Ron Guidry gave up 2 hits in 8 innings and the Yanks shut out St Louis 8-0 to clinch the series.  Nettles was named MVP.

The Regional Semi-Final saw the Yanks take on the 65th seeded '84 Tigers; Detroit took game one; Cliff Johnson hit two game two homers to even the series. Detroit took Game 3 on an 8 RBI day for Ruppert Jones and once again, the Yanks were a loss away from elimination. Guidry again came up big, complete game 10-3 win.  Another winner take all game on the road - Chris Chambliss provided the Yanks their only runs with a 3 run homer, Don Gullett thew 118 pitches, with the tying and winning runs on base - Sparky Lyle struck out Darrell Evans to end the series.

And then the biggest hurdle of all - in the Region 1 Final the Yankees faced the 16th overall seed, the Big Red Machine, the '75 Reds.  The Yanks lost game one, but again it was Guidry who brought them back, 8 innings, 6 Ks, Lyle striking out Pete Rose with the bases loaded to end the game. The Yankees blasted through game 3 with a tournament record 21 runs, Chambliss with a half dozen RBI. Nettles' 4th homer of the series paced the Yanks to a game 4 win and then New York wrapped it up in game 5 when Roy White hit two homers and Nettles hit his 5th of the series and took another MVP.  

REGION EIGHT RECAP - HOW THE 1938 YANKEES GOT HERE.

The 1938 Yankees came into the tournament as the 24th overall seed; Gehrig/DiMaggio/Dickey, you would have expected they'd perform and they have performed.  It started against Hank Aaron and the 105th seeded Milwaukee Braves. Red Ruffing went 8 innings to win game one and then the Yanks went to Milwaukee, took game 2 and swept the Braves.  Joe Gordon was the MVP on the strength of a homer and a couple of doubles. 

The 2017 Dodgers won Region 2 - in Round 2, the '38 Yankees faced the 2019 Dodgers, the 41st seed. Ruffing again got New York off to a good start, 8 innings, one allowed in a 2-1 game one win.  Clayton Kershaw handed New York its first loss in game 2 - but the Yankee offense came through in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium; Frankie Crosetti driving in 5. New York ended it in Game 4, Ruffing winning 7-6.  Joe Gordon hit a 3 run homer and he and Crosetti shared MVP.

In the Regional Semi-Final, the Yankees took on the 2001 Mariners, the 56th overall seed.  New York dropped game one, but Tommy Henrich hit 2 game two homers, Lefty Gomez threw 129 pitches, and the Yankees evened the series.  Game 3 was DiMaggio - finishing a homer short of a cycle to move the Yanks within a game of the Regional Final.  And then Ruffing threw a complete game to clinch the series; Bill Dickey hitting a 2 run homer to share MVP with DiMaggio.

And in the series we just saw, the Yanks met the '95 Indians in the Region 8 Final, Cleveland was the 40th overall seed - so the thing to note as you consider the Elite 8 matchup we're about to see - the '77 Yanks have been underdogs in all 4 rounds -- the '38 Yankees have been favorites in all 4 rounds.  Cleveland scored 3 in the 8th and 1 in the 9th to take game 1 from the Yanks; game 2 was a pitchers duel, Spud Chandler threw 7 shutout innings, a Red Rolfe homer provided the game's only run.  In a parallel to the '77 Yankees scoring 21 in game 3 of their Regional Final -- the '38 Yankees hung 16 on the Indians in game 3.  DiMaggio with 5 RBI.  The bullpen came through in game 4 with 4 scorless to preserve a 6-3 win, and then Lefy Gomez threw a complete game 5 hitter to clinch the series; DiMaggio with 2 more homers to take the MVP.

And so there we go.  2 Yankee World Champions meet in the Elite 8 - winner moves onto the Final Four where they will play for the pennant.  

128 Team MLB Tournament - Region 8 Final : 1938 World Champion New York Yankees v. 1995 AL Champion Cleveland Indians

 Yankees v. Mariners

#24. 1938 World Champion New York Yankees  v. #40. 1995 AL Champion Cleveland Indians 

Well, here we are.  7 teams have advanced to the Elite 8, one spot remains and it will be claimed by one of these two clubs.  These Indians have already knocked off 2 Yankees squads in the tournament, sweeping both.  The winner of this series will be playing in our next series - they will kick off the Elite 8 against the '77 Yankees.  

Yankees 99-53 (Pythag 97-55) Mgr Joe McCarthy

Won AL Pennant

d. Cubs 4-0 to win World Series

d. #105 1957 Braves 2-0 (MVP-Joe Gordon)

d. #41   2019 Dodgers 3-1 (MVP-Frankie Crosetti/Joe Gordon)

d. #56   2001 Mariners 3-1 (MVP-Joe DiMaggio/Bill Dickey)

All-Stars Bill Dickey (2nd AL MVP)  Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Johnny Murphy, Red Rolfe, Red Ruffing (4th AL MVP)

Hall of Fame: Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Joe Gordon, Red Ruffing, Joe McCarthy

Another Joe McCarthy team, third straight World Championship for the Yankees, it hadn't been done before.  They win it again next year.  Won the AL by 9.5.  

Indians 100-44  (Pythag 93-51) Mgr. Mike Hargrove (3rd AL Mgr of Year)

1st in AL Central

d. Red Sox 3-0 ALDS

d. Mariners 4-2 ALCS (MVP-Orel Hershiser)

lost to Braves 4-2 World Series

d. #89. 1923 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Kenny Lofton)

d. #105 1955 Dodgers 3-2 (MVP-Manny Ramirez)

d. #72   1951 Yankees 3-0 (MVP-Chad Ogea/Carlos Baerga)

All-Stars: 2B Carlos Baerga, OF Albert Belle (2nd AL MVP) OF Kenny Lofton, SP Dennis Martinez, RP Jose Mesa (2nd AL Cy Young, 4th AL MVP) OF Manny Ramirez

Hall of Famers: Eddie Murray, Jim Thome, Dave Winfield

Short season, only 144 games, Indians first pennant since '54. Jose Mesa gave up 8 earned runs all year. Indians won the AL Central by 30 games. First season in Jacobs Field.

Indians-Mike Hargrove

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

1B Perry (25) 117

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

P Martinez (41)   152   4.3

Bench

DH Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

C Pena (38) 75

OF Kirby (31) (LH) 45

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1 

IF Espinoza (33) 51

DH Winfield (43) 49

SP2 Ogea (24)      154   2.3

SP3 Hershiser (36)  121  3.5

SP4 Nagy (28)   103

First base platoon and Murray might also see action at first in New York.  All RH starters.  You'd like to see Winfield come off the bench in a big spot at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees-Joe McCarthy

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

1B Gehrig (35)  (LH)  132   4

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

LF Selkirk (30) (LH)   99    1.3

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136   4.6

Bench

LF Powell (29) 76

C Glenn (29) 67

2B Knickerbocker (26) 73

LF Hoag (30) 75  

SP3 Chandler (30) 113

P Ruffing (33)     138   6.1

P Pearson (29)    115

Ruffing threw the last game of the semi-final, so he's in the third slot here.  Gomez is the only lefty starter for either club.  DH could be a hot hand.

Lineups:

C-Dickey

1B-Gehrig

2B-Gordon

SS-Crosetti

3B-Thome

LF-Belle

CF-DiMaggio

RF-Ramirez

DH-Murray, Yanks have the 5-3 advantage in position players

SP1-Gomez

SP2-Ruffing

SP3-Hershiser

SP4-Pearson

Pen-Indians

WAR: Yanks 8 Indians 5, Yanks a little better in both arms and bats, although Belle is the best player in the series.  Yanks have the better seed, they're at home field - they're favored.

GAME ONE

1st: Lefty Gomez stands on the mound at Yankee Stadium as the last Regional Final gets underway. 29 years old. 18-12, 3.35. Gomez is from the San Francisco Bay Area; signed with the Yankees in '29 and broke in in '30. Won 24 games in '32, was 5th in the MVP and won Game 2 of the World Series. In '33 Gomez married a Broadway star, June O’Dea and was the winning pitcher in the first All Star game (Gomez started the first 3 All Star games) In '34 Gomez was 26-5, led the AL in ERA and was 3rd in the MVP. Gomez won 2 games in the '36 World Series. In '37 Gomez led the league in wins, ERA, started his 4th All Star Game and won 2 games in the World Series.  This year he led the league in shutouts, third in wins, third in ERA, started his 5th All Star game and won his 6th World Series game against zero losses.  Kenny Lofton leads off with a triple; might be the first leadoff triple of the tournament. But Gomez leaves him at third. 

1st: Cleveland counters with Dennis Martinez.  12-5, 3.08, 41 year old RH. Martinez was the first Nicaraguan to make the big leagues; signed with the Orioles in '73, called up in '76. Martinez led the league in complete games in '79 and in wins in '81, when he finished 5th in the Cy Young. Martinez went to rehab for alcohol addiction following the '83 season and was dealt to Montreal in mid '86. In '91 a 37 year old Martinez was 5th in the NL Cy Young and led all MLB in ERA and following the '93 season he signed with Cleveland. He made the All Star team this year, threw 7 scoreless in game 6 of the ALCS.  He walks Joe DiMaggio, Two outs later DiMaggio crosses the plate on a Tommy Henrich single - those two were co-MVPs for the Yanks in the Regional Semi-Final and here we are again. Indians 0 Yankees 1

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: George Selkirk walks.  Selkirk's 30, Canadian, he's in left this year, but before that he replaced the Babe in right.  The Yankees signed Selkirk in '31 and brought him up in '34 when Earle Combs fractured his skull. Selkirk hit two homers in the '36 World Series. That's all.

3rd: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Gomez

3rd: Lou Gehrig singles with one away.  The 35 year old first baseman is from Manhattan, went to Columbia on a football scholarship, signed with the Yankees in '23 and came up for the first time that same year.  In '24 he and Ty Cobb got into a fistfight and in '25 he took Wally Pipp's first base job.  Gehrig hit .348 in the '26 World Series and then he won the MVP in '27 (the same year Ruth hit 60 homers, there used to be a rule that once you won the MVP you couldn't win it again) In 1927 Gehrig hit .373, 47 homers, 173 RBI. Gehrig hit .545 in the '28 World Series. In 1929 Gehrig hit .379, 41 homers, 174 RBI. In '31 he hit 341, 46 homers, 184 RBI. In '32 .349, 34 homers, 151 RBI. In a June game against the A's, Gehrig hit four homers and in the World Series that year Gehrig hit .529. In 1933 Gehrig set the mark for consecutive games played at 1308 and in 1934 (Ruth's last Yankee season) Gehrig hit .363, 49 homers, 165 RBI. Gehrig was named Yankee captain in '35 and hit .354 in '36 with 49 homers and 152 RBI (DiMaggio's rookie year). Last year Gehrig hit .351, 37 homers, 159 RBI. That's all.

4th: Albert Belle walks. Belle's 28, from Shreveport, went to LSU. Cleveland drafted him in the second round in '87. Belle came up initially in '89, changed his name from Joey in '90, had top 10 MVP finishes in '93 and '94 and hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in '95, finishing 2nd in the MVP. Belle had a 1.047 OPS in this year's World Series.  Two outs later Herb Perry singles, that's all.

4th: Martinez gets two then gives up a Joe Gordon single. The rookie second baseman is 23, born in LA, grew up in Portland, went to University of Washington and signed with the Yankees in '36, after the '37 season Tony Lazzeri was let go, Gordon got the second base job this year.  He hit .400 in the World Series. Frankie Crosetti then singles and that's all.

5th: Sandy Alomar singles. Alomar's 29, Puerto Rican, his dad was a big league second baseman with multiple clubs. The Padres signed him in '83 and came up for the first time in '88, his younger brother Roberto was also a Padre. Sandy was blocked by Benito Santiago and was dealt after the '89 season to the Indians for Joe Carter. In '90 Alomar became the first rookie catcher to start the All Star game and was a unanimous Rookie of the Year. Omar Vizquel doubles down the right field line - Alomar tries to score all the way from first -- but is gunned down on a relay home by Joe Gordon.  Big play there - Tommy Henrich making the nice play in right - hitting the cutoff man - and Gordon gunning down Alomar, preserving the shutout for Gomez.  After the second out, Lofton walks and then Cleveland ties the score anway on a Belle base hit.  Indians 1 Yankees 1

5th: Bill Dickey singles with 2 out.  Dickey's 31, from Louisiana, went to Little Rock College, signed with the Yankees in '27 and up in late '28.  Dickey became the starting catcher in '29 and hit .324. In '30, he hit .339. In '31, .327. Dickey was suspended a month in '32 for breaking Carl Reynolds (Senators) jaw.  Dickey had top 5 MVP finishes in '36, '37 and finished second this year. That's all.  

6th: 1-2-3

6th: Red Rolfe homers to dead center and the Yankees go out in front.  The Yankee third baseman is 29, from New Hampshire, went to Dartmouth (Ivy Leaguers on the corners for the Yankee infield) signed with the Yankees in '31 and briefly debuted. Rolfe came up for good in '34 and won the third base job. He led the league in triples in '36. This year, Rolfe hit .311. Selkirk singles and two outs later Gomez walks. That's all - but the Yanks regain the lead.  Indians 1 Yankees 2

7th: Alomar opens with a single but that's it.

7th: Bullpen for Mike Hargrove; Eric Plunk is a 31 year old RH with a 2.67 ERA. He gets two then walks Tommy Henrich.  Henrich's 25, from Canton, Ohio - the Indians signed him in '33; Judge Landis declared him a free agent in '37 after Henrich filed a grievance with the Indians. Although Henrich was a native Ohioan, his boyhood favorite team was the Yankees, he signed with the Bombers and came up later that year.  The inning ends.

8th: Kenny Lofton tripled in the first and he doubles here, the Indians placing the tying run in scoring position. Lofton's 28, from Chicago, went to Arizona on a basketball scholarship, in his junior year he was the 6th man on the '88 Wildcat team that made the Final Four. Later that year, the Astros took him in the 17th round and in '89 was the point guard for the Sweet 16 Wildcats. The Astros called him up in '91 and dealt him to the Indians following the season.  Lofton was 2nd in the Rookie of the Year in '92, hit .325 in '93, finished 4th in the MVP in '94. This year he led the AL in triples.  Belle follows with a double and the Indians tie the score.  That ends the day for Gomez- Johnny Murphy comes on; 28 year old RH, 8 wins, 11 saves, 4.24 -- and Manny Ramirez singles to right -- it scores Belle and Cleveland has its first lead of the day.  An out later Herb Perry singles and after the second out Alomar singles home another run -- big inning for the Tribe as they burst out in front.  Indians 4 Yankees 2

8th: Julian Tavarez takes over for Cleveland.  22 year old RH, 10 wins, 2.44. Frankie Crosetti draws a 2 out walk.  The Yankee shortstop is 27, like Gomez and DiMaggio, he's from San Francisco.  Signed with the Yanks in '30 and up in '32. Crosetti was an All Star in '36 and led the league in steals this year.  That's all.

9th: 31 year old RH Ivy Andrews for the Yanks, 3.00 even.  He gets two - but then Belle homers to center - that looks like the insurance run.  Indians 5 Yankees 2

9th: 29 year old Jose Mesa for the Tribe.  A 1.13 ERA and 46 saves.  

DiMaggio flies to center.

Gehrig rips a base hit to center.

Dickey pops up to second. 

And Henrich flies to left -- Belle has an easy one.

3 in the 8th, 1 in the 9th, the Indians come all the way back and take game one, they still haven't lost a game to any Yankees club in the tournament.

Indians 5

Yankees 2

WP Plunk

LP Gomez

Sv Mesa

Homer, double, 3RBI for Belle - Cleveland takes game one.

Lofton 3x/triple, double

Belle 4x/HR, double, 3 Game 1 RBI

Ramirez 1x

Perry 2x

Alomar 3x

Vizquel 1x/double

DiMaggio 1x

Gehrig 2x

Dickey 1x

Henrich 2x

Rolfe 1x/HR

Selkirk 2x

Gordon 1x

Crosetti 2x

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1 

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

SP2 Ogea (24)      154   2.3

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

1B Gehrig (35)  (LH)  132   4

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

LF Selkirk (30) (LH)   99    1.3

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

SP3 Chandler (30) 113

GAME TWO

1st: The Yanks lose a late game one lead, making game two super important as they don't want to head to Cleveland down 2-0.  Spud Chandler looks to prevent that.  30 year old RH, 14-5, 4.03.  Chandler's from Georgia, played football and baseball at Georgia, signed with the Yankees in '32, didn't get called up until '37. A sore elbow kept him from this year's World Series. Kenny Lofton singles, Bill Dickey guns him out trying to steal second.  After the second out Albert Belle doubles - that's it.

1st: 24 year old RH Chad Ogea for the Indians. 8-3, 3.05. Ogea's from Louisiana, went to LSU, won the clinching game in the '91 College World Series. Cleveland took him in the third round in '91, came up in '94, joined the rotation in the middle of this season.  He only appeared once in the '95 postseason, in a relief role.  He gets one, then Lou Gehrig doubles, Bill Dickey walks - Ogea doesn't allow a run.

2nd: Carlos Baerga singles with 1 out.  Baerga's 26, from Puerto Rico, signed at 17 with the Padres. He was dealt to Cleveland in that Alomar/Joe Carter deal prior to the '90 season and came up that year.  Baerga made the All Star team in '92 and '93. Baerga hit .400 in this year's ALCS. That's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: With one out, Lofton reaches by error and Jim Thome walks.  Thome's 24, from Peoria, went to Illinois Central College, the Indians took him in the 13th in '89 and he came up for the first time in late '91. Thome was platooning at third by '94 and was the every day third baseman this year - hitting 4 homers in the '95 postseason.  Chandler escapes.

3rd: Crosetti singles, that's all.  Still scoreless headed to the 4th.

4th: Alomar singles with 2 out. Omar Vizquel follows with a single.  Vizquel's 28, Venezuelan, signed at 16 with Seattle, came up in '89 and became the Mariners starting shortstop.  Vizquel won his first Gold Glove in '93 and was dealt to Cleveland at the end of the season.  Chandler escapes.

4th: Bill Dickey reaches on an error - is erased on a double play and then Red Rolfe - who homered in game one - does it again now, just clearing the RF wall for the game's first run. Indians 0 Yankees 1

5th: Lofton singles. An out later Dickey guns him down again trying to take second, Belle doubles one more time - and that's it.

5th: Crosetti singles with one out, that's all.

6th: 1-2-3

6th: Tight game 2 in the Bronx, Gehrig and Dickey single back to back. Ogea gets the next 3 and we head to the 7th, Yanks clinging to the 1-0 lead.  

7th: 1-2-3, Chandler has retired 7 straight, still up 1-0.

7th: Ogea gets 2, Myril Hoag, 30 year old RH bat, comes off the bench to hit for Chandler and singles.  But that's all.

8th: Johnny Murphy comes on for the Yanks - 6 outs left to get. With one out, Belle walks.  That's it.  

8th: The Rolfe homer is still the only run on the board. Eric Plunk takes the ball for Hargrove and walks Gehrig.  That's all.

9th: Ivy Andrews is on now - 3 outs from the win.

Baerga smashes a double to center.  Tying run in scoring position with nobody out.

Alomar flies to left.

Vizquel flies to right. 

Dave Winfield comes off the bench.  Winfield is 43 years old, it's the final season of his career.  This is his only season in Cleveland - he spent the 80s right here in Yankee Stadium.

Winfield hits a ball to the deepest part of right center -- but it hangs up for DiMaggio - he makes the catch at the base of the wall to end the game.

Indians 0

Yankees 1

WP Chandler

LP Ogea

Sv Andrews

7 shutout innings for Chandler, the Rolfe homer holds up - we will move to Cleveland for the next 3 games of the series, all tied at 1.  

DiMaggio 1x

Gehrig 5x/double

Dickey 3x

Henrich 2x

Rolfe 2x/2HR

Selkirk 2x

Gordon 1x

Crosetti 4x

Hoag 1x

Lofton 5x/triple, double

Belle 7x/HR, 3 double, 3 Game 1 RBI

Ramirez 1x

Perry 2x

Alomar 4x

Vizquel 2x/double

Baerga 2x/double

Thome 1x

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

1B Gehrig (35)  (LH)  132   4

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

LF Selkirk (30) (LH)   99    1.3

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

DH Hoag (30) 75  

P Ruffing (33)     138   6.1

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

DH Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1 

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

SP3 Hershiser (36)  121  3.5

GAME THREE

1st: The Region 8 Final shifts to Jacobs Field.  36 year old RH Orel Hershiser on the mound; 16-6, 3.87. Hershiser's from Buffalo, went to Bowling Green, the Dodgers took him in the 17th round in '79 and brought him up in late '83. In '84, Hershiser had a 34 inning scoreless streak and was third in the Rookie of the Year. In '85 he was 19-3 with a 2.03 ERA and was third in the Cy Young. He was 4th in the Cy Young in '87 and broke the consecutive scoreless innings record in '88, winning the Cy Young. Hershiser pitched in 4 games in the '88 NLCS, throwing a 5 hitter in game 7. He finished 4th in the Cy Young the following year, then had shoulder surgery and really fell off the table.  He signed with Cleveland this year and rebounded with his best season since '89. Hershiser was MVP of this year's ALCS. He gets 1 and then Lou Gehrig launches a blast - a moon shot to left center to give the Yanks the lead.  Bill Dickey follows with a double. That's all.  Yankees 1 Indians 0

1st: Red Ruffing is the Yankee ace and he gets the ball today.  33 year old RH, 21-7, 3.31. Ruffing's from Illinois, signed with the Red Sox at 19 and came up quickly; he was in their rotation at 20, losing 18 games.  Early in the 1930 season Boston sold Ruffing to the Yankees and turned around his career. He won 15 in '30 and hit .364. In '32 he had the second best ERA in the AL. He was 8th in the MVP last year and 4th this year.  Jim Thome singles with 1 out, after the second out, Ruffing hits Manny Ramirez.  Ramirez is 23, from the Dominican, went to HS in NYC. The Indians took him 13th overall in '91, brought him up in '93 and he was second in the Rookie of the Year last year.  Ramirez was an All Star this season.  That's all.

2nd: Joe Gordon walks with one out.  Myril Hoag is DH'ing today and he singles after the second out.  Hoag's 30, from Sacramento, came up in 31, had a 13 year career the first 7 seasons as a Yankee and the final two in Cleveland (also headed to Cleveland - Joe Gordon, for this final four seasons) Joe DiMaggio then doubles everyone home - nice start to game 3 for the Bombers.  Yankees 3 Indians 0

2nd: Carlos Baerga singles with 1 away, that's all.

3rd: Bill Dickey walks and then Tommy Henrich mashes a 2 run homer to right center - the Yanks are mashing Hershiser.  Yankees 5 Indians 0

3rd: Lofton singles.  Thome singles.  Belle walks.  Bases loaded and nobody out.  Ruffing gets a huge 5-2-3 double play from Ramirez - but then hits Eddie Murray to load the bases again.  Paul Sorrento singles to score 2.  Carlos Baerga singles home a run.  Sandy Alomar singles home a run and like that - the Indians have plated four and chased Ruffing from the game.  30 year old Wes Ferrell for the Yankees with his 8.10 ERA. Ferrell spent the first 7 seasons of his career right here in Cleveland.  He walks Vizquel - that's all, but the Indians bat around the Jacobs Field crowd is jubilant - and now it's Yankees 5 Indians 4

4th: Crosetti singles - an out later DiMaggio just crushes a 2 run homer to left center - New York playing big boy ball today.  Hargrove now goes to the pen for Ken Hill, 29 year old RH, 3.98.  Gehrig singles - that's it.  Yankees 7 Indians 4

4th: Jim Thome walks. McCarthy goes back to the pen for Steve Sundra, 28 year old RH, 4.80. He gets a double play then gives up a Ramirez single. Eddie Murray follows with a single.  That's all.  

5th: Selkirk doubles with 1 out and Crosetti reaches after the second - Hoag then doubles home both - the Yankees just hammering the ball today. Yankees 9 Indians 4

5th: Alomar singles with 2 away, that's it.

6th: Bill Dickey hits a 1 out double. That's it.

6th: 1-2-3, nice bullpen outing for Sundra.

7th: Selkirk doubles and scores on a Gordon base hit.  2 outs later DiMaggio walks - that's all.  Yankees 10 Indians 4

7th: 1-2-3, how about Sundra?  

8th: 1-2-3

8th: Johnny Murphy for the Yankees - he walks Baerga and then Alomar triples Baerga home.  After the first out, Alomar scores on a Lofton groundout.  Yankees 10 Indians 6

9th: Hill gets the first then walks the bases loaded - Gordon, Crosetti, Hoag.  And then walks DiMaggio to score the 11th. Bud Black is brought on - 38 year old lefty, 6.85. He hits Gehrig - and that's an interesting development - Bud Black comes in from the end of the bullpen with the game out of hand and hits Gehrig on the leg with his first pitch.  And then Bill Dickey hits a rocket -- a grand slam to right center -- the New York Yankees have come into Cleveland and just Bombed the Indian pitching staff.  Tommy Henrich walks. That's all.  Yankees 16 Indians 6

9th: Albert Belle rips a monster homer to left.  McCarthy brings on 27 year old RH Joe Beggs, 5.40. He ends it.

Yankees 16

Indians 6

WP Sundra

LP Hershiser

A 5 RBI day for DiMaggio paces the Bombers Game 3 explosion. 10 extra base hits for New York.  

DiMaggio 5x/HR, double, 5 game 3 RBI

Gehrig 8x/double, HR

Dickey 7x/2 double, HR, 4 game 3 RBI

Henrich 4x/HR

Rolfe 2x/2HR

Selkirk 4x/2 doubles

Gordon 4x

Crosetti 6x

Hoag 4x/double

Lofton 6x/triple, double

Belle 9x/2HR, 3 double, 3 Game 1 RBI

Ramirez 2x

Perry 2x

Alomar 7x/triple

Vizquel 3x/double

Baerga 5x/double

Thome 4x

Murray 1x

Sorrento 1x

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

1B Gehrig (35)  (LH)  132   4

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

LF Selkirk (30) (LH)   99    1.3

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

DH Hoag (30) 75  

P Pearson (29)    115

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

DH Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1 

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

SP4 Nagy (28)   103

GAME FOUR

1st: The Indians swept the '23 Yankees in round one and the '51 Yankees in the Regional semi-final.  But after getting hit with a 16 spot in game 3 they trail in this series 2 games to 1. Charles Nagy looks to even things up; 28 year old RH, 16-6, 4.55. Nagy's from Connecticut, went to UConn, was on the '88 Olympic team.  Cleveland drafted him 17th overall that year, brought him up in '90 and he was 8th in the Rookie of the Year in '91. In '92, Nagy made the All Star team and was 7th in the Cy Young. He gets one and then hits Gehrig in the back - Gehrig got hit at the end of game 3 and now at the beginning of Game 4; Gehrig stays down at the plate for 30 seconds, but then rises and very slowly makes his way to first base.  The legendary Gehrig, 35, in his final full season, hit twice in the series.  That's it.

1st: Monte Pearson for the Yanks.  29 year old RH, 16-7, 3.97. Pearson's from Oakland, another Yankee from the San Francisco Bay Area. And he came up with Cleveland - pitched here the first four seasons of his career. The Yanks got him in '36. He walks Belle with 2 outs, Belle's reached 10 times, leading both clubs. Ramirez then singles, that's all.

2nd: Selkirk singles with one out and then Joe Gordon homers to left.  A big blast for Gordon puts the Yanks out in front. Crosetti doubles. After the second out, Joe DiMaggio singles him home.  DiMaggio follows up a 5 RBI game 3 with a rjun scoring single here.  The Great DiMaggio is 23, from San Francisco, signed with the Yanks in '35 and came up in '36, led MLB in triples and finished 8th in the MVP. After the year he got the key to the city of San Francisco - not bad at 21. In '37 DiMaggio led MLB in runs, homers, slugging and total bases and finished second in the MVP.  This year he finished 6th. Gehrig - essentially immobile, thrashes a double to center and that scores another. Yankees 4 Indians 0

2nd: With 2 out, Alomar and Vizquel single, that's all.

3rd: Rolfe doubles and two outs later scores on a Crosetti single - the Yankees took game 2 1-0 and since then the offense has just battered this Indian pitching. Yankees 5 Indians 0

3rd: Thome walks and an out later so does Manny - but no runs result.  

4th: Dickey doubles with 2 out and Henrich walks, that's all.

4th: Baerga doubles, an out later Vizquel doubles and the Tribe hits the scoreboard. Lofton singles home Vizquel and Thome walks. After the second out Manny singles home the third run of the frame. Ruffing walks Murray. That's all - Yankees 5 Indians 3

5th: After 2 outs, Crosetti singles, his third hit of the day. Hoag follows with a double that scores him. That's it for Nagy - Ken Hill comes on and ends the inning. Yankees 6 Indians 3

5th: Baerga singles. An out later Vizquel singles, thats his third hit of the day. After the second out Ruffing walks Thome - but Ruffing escapes. 

6th: Henrich singles with two out and Rolfe walks.  That's it.

6th: Johnny Murphy comes on for the Yanks.  1-2-3

7th: Crosetti walks with one out, that's it.

7th: 1-2-3, Murphy comes into the game and sets down 6 straight.  

8th: Dickey walks with one out. That's it.

8th: Ivy Andrews comes on, McCarthy will look to get the final 6 outs.  Thome and Belle draw one out walks. That's it for Andrews - Joe Beggs comes on as the tying run comes to the plate.  Beggs escapes.

9th: 1-2-3, how about Ken Hill throwing 4 scoreless?  

9th: Beggs gets one and then Baerga singles. That's it.

The Yanks jump out to the early lead; the bullpen throws 4 scoreless innings and now New York has a commanding 3-1 lead.  McCarthy announces after the game that Gehrig will be out of the lineup in game 5.  The Iron Horse will not play with the injured back.  

Yankees 6

Indians 3

WP Ruffing

LP Nagy

Sv Beggs

One more at Jacobs Field, must win for the Tribe.

DiMaggio 6x/HR, double, 5 game 3 RBI

Gehrig 10x/2double, HR

Dickey 9x/3 double, HR, 4 game 3 RBI

Henrich 6x/HR

Rolfe 4x/2HR, double

Selkirk 5x/2 doubles

Gordon 5x/HR

Crosetti 10x/double

Hoag 5x/2double

Lofton 7x/triple, double

Belle 11x/2HR, 3 double, 3 Game 1 RBI

Ramirez 5x

Perry 2x

Alomar 8x/triple

Vizquel 6x/2double

Baerga 8x/2double

Thome 8x

Murray 2x

Sorrento 1x

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

1B Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

LF Selkirk (30) (LH)   99    1.3

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

DH Powell (29) 76

RF Hoag (30) 75  

SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136   4.6

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

1B Perry (25) 117

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

DH Winfield (43) 49

P Martinez (41)   152   4.3

GAME FIVE

1st: Cleveland's back is all the way up against the wall, down 3-1, just one spot remaining in the Elite 8.  Is this the final game of the Regionals?  Dennis Martinez for the Tribe. DiMaggio singles on the first pitch.  Bill Dickey singles on the second pitch. And then Tommy Henrich, playing first base today - doubles both men home. After an out, a Selkirk sac fly makes it Yankees 3 Indians 0

1st: Big 3 run lead for Lefty Gomez who looks to close out this series. 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: DiMaggio singles again and then Dickey rockets a homer to dead center - it's his second homer of the series and now it's time to start thinking about the MVP, it's time to start thinking about the Elite 8 matchups; these Yankees would be facing the '77 Yankees if this result holds.  Yankees 5 Indians 0

3rd: Alomar singles. That's it.  

4th: 6 innings remain in the Regionals.  Crosetti reaches on a 1 out error, Jake Powell is in the lineup today and he walks, after the second out -- Joe DiMaggio ends it - a majestic homer to center field - a 3 run beauty that makes this game 8-0 and it's all done now.  It's all done now - the '38 Yankees will join the '98 Yankees and the '77 Yankees in the Elite 8.  Dickey walks, it ends here.  Yankees 8 Indians 0

4th: Albert Belle doubles and an out later Thome walks - that's all.

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Alomar singles with one out and Vizquel walks - that's all.

6th: Hoag singles with 2 away, that's all.  

6th: Lofton singles, Belle singles, Gomez gets his third double play in as many innings, this from Ramirez, it scores a run. Yankees 8 Indians 1

7th: 1-2-3

7th: 1-2-3, 6 outs from the win

8th: Bud Black enters for the Indians; walks Crosetti with 2 out, that's all.

8th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Gomez, he's allowed just 5 hits and the Yankees are going to win this series.  

9th: Joe DiMaggio gets one more for good measure - a one out homer to left center, his third of the series, leaving no doubt about the MVP.  Yankees 9 Indians 1

9th: Gomez stays on, 3 outs away.  

Belle singles.

Gomez strikes out Manny

Gomez strikes out Thome

Herb Perry grounds to third -- Rolfe throws onto Henrich - and it's over.  

Celebration at the mound - Gehrig is here, he comes out to celebrate with his teammates; the Yankees come into Cleveland, take 3 straight and win the Region 8 Final.  

Yankees 9

Indians 1

WP Gomez

LP Martinez

Complete game 5 hitter for Gomez, 8 Ks - DiMaggio hits 2 homers, 4 RBI.

DiMaggio 9x/3HR, double, 5 game 3 RBI, 4 RBI game 5, 4 runs game 5

Gehrig 8x/double, HR

Dickey 10x/2 double, 2HR, 4 game 3 RBI

Three big bats for the Yankees in the series; Dickey a step above Gehrig and DiMaggio a step above that.  

The Elite 8 is set.  Joe DiMaggio the final MVP of the Regionals.