November, 2020 Athlete of the Month

 October.

Patrick Mahomes.  Runners-up: Dustin Johnson, DeShaun Watson, Jaret Patterson

11 months are in the books for the most unusual season anyone reading this has ever seen watching big time sports.  One remains.  Here are the current nominees for 2020 Athlete of the Year:

January-Joe Burrow

February - Damien Williams

March -Sabrina Ionescu

April- Chu-Yu Hsien

May-Manuel Neuer

June-Robert Lewandowski

July-Cristiano Ronaldo

August-Mookie Betts

September - Anthony Davis

October- Corey Seager

November - Patrick Mahomes

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.