The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (NL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 5)

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One spot left in the National League elite 8 - the winner of this group will face the 1944 St Louis Cardinals.

5. 1942 Cardinals (World Champions-Billy Southworth)

v.

92. 1957 Braves (World Champions-Fred Haney)

Catcher: Cooper (27) v. Crandall (27)  Winner: StL-Cooper

First Base: Hopp (25) v. Torre (25) Winner: Mil-Torre

Second Base: Brown (32) v. Schoendienst (34) Winner: Mil-Schoendienst

Shortstop: Marion (25) v. Logan (31) Winner: StL-Marion

Third Base: Kurowski (24) v. Mathews (25)Winner: Mil-Mathews

Left Field: Musial (21) v. Covington (25) Winner: Stl-Musial

Center Field: Moore (30) v. Bruton (31)  Winner: StL-Moore

Right Field: Slaughter (26) v. Aaron (23)  Winner: Mil-Aaron

SP1: Cooper (29) v. Spahn (36)  Winner: StL-Cooper

SP2: Beazley (24) v. Burdette (30)  Winner: StL-Beazley

SP3: Lanier (26) v. Buhl (28) Winner: StL-Lanier

Closer: Gumbert (32) v. McMahon (27)  Winner: StL-Gumbert

Team Offense: Mil

Team Pitching: StL

Cards 10 Braves 6 - wooosh, St Louis steams into the next round.

The 1942 St Louis Cardinals - one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.

12. 1901 Pirates (1st in NL-no playoffs-Fred Clarke)

v.

21. 1974 Dodgers (lost WS-Walter Alston)

Catcher: Zimmer (40) v. Yeager (25) Winner: LAD-Yeager

First Base: Bransfield (26) v. Garvey (25)Winner: LAD-Garvey

Second Base: Ritchey (27) v. Lopes (29)Winner: Pit-Ritchey

Shortstop: Wagner (27) v. Russell (25) Winner: Pit-Wagner

Third Base: Leach (23) v. Cey (26)Winner: LAD-Cey

Left Field: Clarke (28) v. Buckner (24) Winner: Pit-Clarke

Center Field: Beaumont (24) v. Wynn (32) Winner: LAD-Wynn

Right Field: Davis (26) v. Crawford (27) Winner: Push

SP1: Phillippe (29) v. Messersmith (28)Winner: LAD-Messersmith

SP2: Chesbro (27) v.  Sutton (29) Winner: Pit-Chesbro

SP3: Tannehill (26) v. Rau (25)Winner: Pit-Tannehill

Closer:  Wiltse (29) v. Marshall (31)Winner: LAD-Marshall

Team Offense: LAD

Team Pitching: LAD

Dodgers 10 Pirates 5 - Tight headed to the totals - but LA takes them both and moves into the sweet 16.

The 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers - one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.

5. 1942 Cardinals (World Champions-Billy Southworth)

v.

21. 1974 Dodgers (lost WS-Walter Alston)

Catcher: Cooper (27) v. Yeager (25)  Winner: StL-Cooper

First Base: Hopp (25) v. Garvey (25) Winner: LAD-Garvey

Second Base: Brown (32) v. Lopes (29) Winner: LAD-Lopes

Shortstop: Marion (25) v. Russell (25) Winner: StL-Marion

Third Base: Kurowski (24) v. Cey (26)Winner: LAD-Cey

Left Field: Musial (21) v. Buckner (24) Winner: Stl-Musial

Center Field: Moore (30) v. Wynn (32)  Winner: LAD-Wynn

Right Field: Slaughter (26) v. Crawford (27)   Winner: StL-Slaughter

SP1: Cooper (29) v. Messersmith (28)  Winner: StL-Cooper

SP2: Beazley (24) v. Sutton (29) Winner: StL-Beazley

SP3: Lanier (26) v. Rau (25) Winner: StL-Lanier

Closer: Gumbert (32) v. Marshall (31) Winner: LAD-Marshall

Team Offense: LAD

Team Pitching: StL

StL 9 LAD 7 - the Cards dominate the pitching matchups/totals and move into the Elite 8

The 1942 St Louis Cardinals - one of the greatest 8 teams in National League history.

Previewing the American League Elite 8 - the 8 Greatest Teams in AL History

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Three days until The American League Elite 8.  Here are the 4 matchups.

1939 New York Yankees-Joe McCarthy
v.
1998 New York Yankees-Joe Torre

2017 Houston Astros-AJ Hinch
v.
1934 Detroit Tigers-Mickey Cochrane

1927 New York Yankees-Miller Huggins
v. 
1971 Baltimore Orioles-Earl Weaver

1929 Philadelphia A's-Connie Mack
v.
1969 Baltimore Orioles-Earl Weaver

The 1939 New York Yankees went 106-45, won the AL by 17 games and then swept the Reds in the World Series.  It was the 4th straight World Championship for New York. They led the league in both runs scored and runs allowed, outscoring opponents by 411 runs.  This was Gehrig's last season; his #4 became the first number ever retired in MLB. 

The 1998 New York Yankees went 114-48, won the AL East by 22 games, they swept the Rangers in the ALDS, beat the Indians 4-2 in the ALCS, and then swept the Padres in the World Series. That's a total of 125 wins, most in MLB history. This was the first of 3 straight World Championships for the Yankees.

The 2017 Houston Astros went 101-61, won the AL West by 21 games, they beat the Red Sox 3-1 in the ALDS, beat the Yankees 4-3 in the ALCS, and then beat the Dodgers 4-3 to win the World Series, the first World Championship in Astros history.  They had the best slugging percentage and the fewest strikeouts in MLB.  

The 1934 Detroit Tigers went 101-53, won the American League by 7 games...and then lost the World Series to St Louis 4-3 (Ducky Medwick slid hard into Marv Owen at third in game 7, Tigers fans threw garbage at Medwick when he came out to play LF in the bottom of the inning and he was removed from the game for his own protection). This was Mickey Cochrane's first season as a Tiger (he was player/manager) and became the first catcher named AL MVP.  Detroit averaged over 7 runs/game in August. 

The 1927 New York Yankees went 110-44, won the American League by 19 games, and then swept the Pirates in the World Series. The Yankees went wire-to-wire, never falling out of first place. Babe Ruth broke the single season home run record, hitting 60.  Ruth hit more homers than 3/4 of the teams in MLB in '27. They came back the next year and swept the Series again (the '98-'99 Yankees would also do that). 

The 1971 Baltimore Orioles (defending World Champions) went 101-57, won the AL East by a dozen games, swept Oakland in the ALCS...and then lost the World Series to the Pirates 4-3.  They're one of only two clubs in MLB history with four 20 game winning pitchers.  

The 1929 Philadelphia A's went 104-46, won the American League by 18 games, the beat the Cubs 4-1 in the World Series. The A's finished second to that monster Yankee club in both '27 and '28 before breaking through here. The Cubs struck out 50 times in that 5 game World Series.  

The 1969 Baltimore Orioles went 109-53, won the AL East (this was the first season for divisions) by 19 games, swept the Twins in the first ever ALCS..and then lost the World Series to the underdog Mets 4-1. 

So - there you have it.  The 8 greatest teams in American League history.  The next time we see them, we'll slice them in half.  

Athlete of the Month, January 2019

last year

James Harden.

Runners-up: Trevor Lawrence, Ndamukong Suh, Tom Brady

One month down, 11 to go in the Race for the 2019 Athlete of the Year.

January-James Harden

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 5)

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This is it.  1 spot left in the American League Elite 8.  Winner takes on the 2017 Houston Astros

5. 2018 Astros (lost ALCS-AJ Hinch)

v.

37. 1938 Yankees (World Champions-Joe McCarthy)

Catcher: Stassi (27) v. Dickey (31) Winner: NYY-Dickey

First Base: Gurriel (34) v. Gehrig (35) Winner: NYY-Gehrig

Second Base: Altuve (28) v. Gordon (23)  Winner: Astros-Altuve

Shortstop: Correa (23) v. Crosetti (27)  Winner: NYY-Crosetti

Third Base: Bregman (24) v. Rolfe (29) Winner: Astros-Bregman

Left Field: Gonzalez (29) v. Selkirk (30)  Winner: Astros-Gonzalez

Center Field: Marisnick (27) v. DiMaggio (23) Winner: NYY-DiMaggio

Right Field: Reddick (31) v. Henrich (25)Winner: NYY-Henrich

DH: Gattis (31) v. Hoag (30) Winner: Hou-Gattis

SP1: Verlander (35) v.  Ruffing (33)  Winner: Hou-Verlander

SP2: Keuchel (30) v. Gomez (29)Winner: NYY-Gomez

SP3: Cole (27) v. Pearson (29)Winner: Hou-Cole

Closer: Rondon (30) v. Murphy (29) Winner: Hou-Rondon

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: Astros

Astros 9 Yankees 8 - Yankees offense against Astros pitching - super, super close; but the Astros just do edge out the Bombers to move into the sweet 16.

The 2018 Houston Astros - one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

117. 1980 Orioles (2nd in AL East-no playoffs-Earl Weaver)

v.

44.  1934 Tigers (lost WS-Mickey Cochrane)

Catcher: Dempsey (30) v. Cochrane (31) Winner: Tigers-Cochrane

First Base: Murray (24) v. Greenberg (23)` Winner: Tigers-Greenberg

Second Base: Dauer (27) v. Gehringer (31) Winner: Tigers-Gehringer

Shortstop: Belanger (36) v. Rogell (28) Winner: Tigers-Rogell

Third Base: DeCinces (29) v. Owen (28) Winner: Orioles-DeCinces

Left Field: Lowenstein (33) v. Goslin (33)  Winner: Tigers-Goslin

Center Field: Bumbry (33) v. White (25) Winner: Orioles-Bumbry

Right Field: Singleton (33) v. Fox (25) Winner: Orioles-Singleton

DH: Crowley (33) v.  Walker (26) Winner: Push

SP1: McGregor (26) v. Bridges (27) Winner: Tigers-Bridges

SP2: Flanagan (28) v. Rowe (24) Winner: Tigers-Rowe

SP3: Stone (32) v. Marberry (35)  Winner: Orioles-Stone

Closer: Stoddard (27) v. Auker (23)  Winner: Tigers-Auker

Team Offense: Tigers

Team Pitching: Push

Tigers 10 Orioles 4 - easy pickings for Detroit, the Tigers move into the sweet 16.

The 1934 Detroit Tigers -one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

5. 2018 Astros (lost ALCS-AJ Hinch)
v.
44.  1934 Tigers (lost WS-Mickey Cochrane)

Catcher: Stassi (27)  v. Cochrane (31) Winner: Tigers-Cochrane

First Base: Gurriel (34) v. Greenberg (23)` Winner: Tigers-Greenberg

Second Base: Altuve (28)  v. Gehringer (31) Winner: Tigers-Gehringer

Shortstop: Correa (23) v. Rogell (28) Winner: Tigers-Rogell

Third Base: Bregman (24) v. Owen (28) Winner: Astros-Bregman

Left Field: Gonzalez (29) v. Goslin (33)  Winner: Tigers-Goslin

Center Field: Marisnick (27) v. White (25) Winner: Tigers-White

Right Field: Reddick (31)  v. Fox (25) Winner: Astros-Reddick

DH: Gattis (31)v.  Walker (26) Winner: Tigers-Walker

SP1: Verlander (35) v. Bridges (27) Winner: Astros-Verlander

SP2: Keuchel (30) v. Rowe (24) Winner: Tigers-Rowe

SP3: Cole (27) v. Marberry (35)  Winner: Astros-Cole

Closer: Rondon (30) v. Auker (23)  Winner: Tigers-Auker

Team Offense: Tigers

Team Pitching: Astros

Tigers 11 Astros 6 - Detroit's offensive advantage just swarms the Astros and the Tigers claim the last spot in the Elite 8.

The 1934 Detroit Tigers - one of the 8 greatest teams in American League history.

Tomorrow - we break down the Elite 8 matchups - the tournament reaches the very best teams in AL history.

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (NL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 4)

last group

One more National League Elite 8 matchup to put together.

4. 1944 Cardinals (won WS)

v.

36. 1949 Dodgers (lost WS)

Catcher: Cooper (29) v. Campanella (27) Winner: Dodgers-Campanella

First Base: Sanders (27) v. Hodges (25)  Winner: Push

Second Base: Verban (28) v. Robinson (30) Winner: Dodgers-Robinson

Shortstop: Marion (27) v. Reese (30) Winner: Dodgers-Reese

Third Base: Kurowski (26) v. Cox (29) StL-Kurowski

Left Field: Litwhiler (27) v. Hermanski (29) Winner: Dodgers-Hermanski

Center Field: Hopp (27) v. Snider (22)  Winner: StL-Hopp

Right Field: Musial (23) v. Furillo (27) Winner: StL-Musial

SP1: Cooper (31) v. Newcombe (23)  Winner: Dodgers-Newcombe

SP2: Lanier (28) v. Roe (33)  Winner: Dodgers-Roe

SP3: Wilks (28) v. Hatten (32)Winner: Cards-Wilks

Closer: Schmidt (28) v. Palica (21)Winner: Dodgers-Palica

Team Offense: StL

Team Pitching: StL

Cards 8 Dodgers 7 - the Cards were way down headed to the totals; they needed to take both totals to advance - and they did.  

The 1944 St Louis Cardinals are one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history

13. 1942 Dodgers (2nd in NL-no playoffs-Leo Durocher)

v.

20. 1953 Dodgers (lost WS-Charlie Dressen)

Catcher: Owen (26) v. Campanella (31)Winner: Brook 1953-Campanella

First Base: Camilli (35) v. Hodges (29)  Winner: Brook 1942-Camilli

Second Base: Herman (32) v. Gilliam (24) Winner: 1953-Gilliam

Shortstop: Reese (23) v. Reese (34)  Winner: Brook 1942-Reese

Third Base: Vaughan (30) v. Cox (33) Winner: 1942-Vaughan

Left Field: Medwick (30) v. Robinson (34) Winner: Brook 1953-Robinson

Center Field: Reiser (23) v. Snider (26) Winner: 1953-Snider

Right Field: Walker (31) v. Furillo (31) Winner: Brook 1953-Furillo

SP1: Higbe (31) v. Erskine (26)Winner: 1953-Erskine

SP2: Wyatt (34) v. Meyer (29) Winner: 1942-Wyatt

SP3: Davis (38) v. Loes (23) Winner: 1942-Davis

Closer: Casey (28) v. Hughes (30) Winner: 1942-Casey

Team Offense: 1953

Team Pitching: 1942

1953  9   1942  8 -- the '53 club's offense overcomes the '42 club's pitching to move on.

The 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers - one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.

4. 1944 Cardinals (won WS-Billy Southworth)

v.

20. 1953 Dodgers (lost WS-Charlie Dressen)

Catcher: Cooper (29) v. Campanella (31)Winner: Dodgers-Campanella

First Base: Sanders (27) v. Hodges (29)  Winner: Dodgers-Hodges

Second Base: Verban (28) v. Gilliam (24) Winner: Dodgers-Gilliam

Shortstop: Marion (27) v. Reese (34) Winner: StL-Marion

Third Base: Kurowski (26) v. Cox (33) StL-Kurowski

Left Field: Litwhiler (27) v. Robinson (34)  Winner: Dodgers-Robinson

Center Field: Hopp (27) v. Snider (26)  Winner: Dodgers-Snider

Right Field: Musial (23) v. Furillo (31) Winner: StL-Musial

SP1: Cooper (31) v. Erskine (26)  Winner: StL-Cooper

SP2: Lanier (28) v. Meyer (29)  Winner: StL-Lanier

SP3: Wilks (28) v. Loes (23) Winner: Cards-Wilks

Closer: Schmidt (28) v. Hughes (30)Winner: Dodgers-Hughes

Team Offense: Brook

Team Pitching: StL

Cards 9 Dodgers 8 - There were 3 Dodger teams in this group, all looking to find a spot in the Elite 8 - but its St Louis who comes through, using their pitching advantage to win the tiebreaker here.

The 1944 St Louis Cardinals - one of the 8 greatest teams in National League history.