13. 1970 World Champion Baltimore Orioles v. 125. 1909 Philadelphia Athletics
The 1977 Yankees, 2017 Dodgers, 1909 Cubs await the winners here; if the A's win, Connie Mack will earn a spot in the Elite 8 and two teams from the same season, neither one of which won the pennant, will be in the final 8. It's Mack's last shot. Weaver will get another shot, the '69 Orioles are still alive in the bottom half of the bracket, but his group will likely be solid favorites here.
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)
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.
A's 95-58 (Pythag 102-51) Mgr. Connie Mack
d. #4 1942 Cardinals 2-1 (MVP-Harry Krause/Eddie Plank)
d. #61 1921 Giants 3-1 (MVP Jack Barry/Simon Nicholls)
d. #100 1922 Giants (3-2) (MVP-Harry Krause)
Hall of Famers: Home Run Baker, Chief Bender, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, Connie Mack
The A's had a 102-51 pythag and finished 3 1/2 behind the Tigers.
Athletics
LF Heitmuller (26) 135 1.7
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
C Livingston (29) 99 2.4
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
SP Plank (LH) (33) 138 5.3
Bench:
LF Hartsell (35) (LH) 121 2.1
C Thomas (28) 79
CF Ganley (34) (LH) 55
P Krause (LH) (20) 174 4.8
SP Bender (25) 147 5.5
SP4 Morgan (30) 147
Orioles
LF Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
CF Blair (26) 114 5.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Etchebarren (27) 82 .6
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
SP Cuellar (33) (LH) 105 3.5
Bench:
CF Rettenmund (27) 156 4.3
C Hendricks (29) (LH) 92 1.5
SS Salmon (29) 86 .1
1B Crowley (23) (LH) 116
P Palmer (24) 134 6.3
SP McNally (27) (LH) 113 4.7
SP4 Hardin (26) 104
Lineups:
C: Push, we might see all 4 catchers in the series.
1B: Powell
2B: Collins, best player in the series
SS: Push
3B: Baker
LF: Buford
CF: Blair
RF: Robinson, the Orioles OF gives them the position player advantage
SP1: Plank, both clubs had to go to 5 games in the semi-final, so they begin with their third starters
SP2: Pamer
SP3: Bender
SP4: Morgan, A's have the better starting pitching, despite Orioles 3 20 game winners
Pen: Orioles
WAR: Orioles 6 A's 5 - Orioles have the far better seed, giving them home field and, albeit slight, the lineup advantage - they're favored.
GAME ONE
1st: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore. The last team to make the upper half of the Elite 8 is about to claim its spot. On the mound for the Orioles is a 33 year old lefty, Mike Cuellar. 24-8, 3.48. Cuellar's Cuban, developed a screwball while in the Cardinals system and came up for the first time in the middle of '64, a year later, dealt to the Astros. Cuellar was 2nd in ERA in the NL in '66. Made the All Star team in '67, had a 2.74 ERA in '68. Baltimore dealt for him before the '69 season. Cuellar won 23, had a 2.38 ERA, was co-winner of the Cy Young, won Game One of the World Series. Cuellar had 21 complete games this year. He won Game 5 to clinch the World Series. Eddie Collins singles with one away, that's it.
1st: The A's counter with their own 33 year old lefty, Eddie Plank. 19-10, 1.76. Plank was born in Gettysburg in 1875, signed with the A's in '01, had 28 complete games. He won 23 in '03, 26 in '04, 24 in '05. Plank went 19-6 in '06, won 24 in '07, had a 2.17 ERA in '08. His 1.76 ERA this year is his career best. Don Buford reaches by error and he comes all the way around to score on a Frank Robinson double. Boog Powell walks. Plank gets the next 3. A's 0 Orioles 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3, Cuellar sets down 8 straight.
3rd: Don Buford doubles. Buford is 33, grew up in Los Angeles, played baseball and football at USC, signed with the White Sox in '59, came up as a third baseman in late '63, second in the league in steals in '66 and then dealt to Baltimore in the offseason with Luis Aparicio headed the other way. Baltimore, obviously, already had a third baseman and Buford was moved to the outfield. Buford hit .318 in the postseason this year. Plank strands him.
4th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Cuellar
4th: Davey Johnson singles with one out. The Orioles second baseman is 27, an Army brat, moved around the country, settled in San Antonio, played baseball and basketball at Texas A&M. Signed with the Orioles in '62. Johnson first came up in '65, got the second base job in '66, hit .286 in the World Series. Johnson made the All Star team and won a Gold Glove in '69, replicated that again this year. Johnson hit .364 in this year's postseason. That's all.
5th: Danny Murphy singles. Murphy's 32, from Philadelphia, started with the Giants in 1900, sold to the A's in '02. Murphy was the A's second baseman until Eddie Collins took that job in '08 and Murphy went to the OF. Murphy hit .281 this year. That's all - just two hits for the A's.
5th: Buford's aboard again, singling with one out. That's all.
6th: Strong pitching should be expected in this series and we see that in game one. After two out, Cuellar hits Plank. That's it.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Super tight as we hit the 7th. 1-2-3, Cuellar still has only given up 2 hits.
7th: 1-2-3, Plank's set down 8 straight.
8th: Rube Oldring singles with 2 out. Oldring's 25, from NYC. Signed with the A's in late '05, wound up playing some games with the Highlanders before they were the Yankees, and then back to the A's in 1906. Oldring got the CF job in '07. He's left on base, Cuellar's 3 outs away from wrapping up game one.
8th: 1-2-3, Plank's given up just 4 hits he rolls hard into the 9th inning.
9th: Topsy Hartsel comes off the bench to hit for Plank - Cuellar 3 outs away from the shutout
Hartsel grounds to Johnson.
Heinie Heitmuller is next, he grounds to short.
Eddie Collins to the plate - A's down to their last man - he grounds to Johnson, throw to first, and its over.
A's 0
Orioles 1
WP Cuellar
LP Plank
Mike Cuellar outduels Eddie Plank; 3 hit, no walk complete game shutout. Only 99 pitches to take game one. All singles for the A's.
Buford 2x/double
Frank Robinson 1x/double
Powell 1x
Johnson 1x
Collins 1x
Murphy 1x
Oldring 1x
LF Hartsell (35) (LH) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
C Livingston (29) 99 2.4
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
P Krause (LH) (20) 174 4.8
LF Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
CF Blair (26) 114 5.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Etchebarren (27) 82 .6
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
P Palmer (24) 134 6.3
GAME TWO
1st: Mike Cuellar threw a 3 hit, no walk shutout in game one and here comes Jim Palmer in game 2. 24 year old RH, 20-10, 2.71. Palmer was born in NYC, moved to LA, his stepfather (Max Palmer) was an actor and wound up in Scottsdale. The Orioles signed him out of high school. Palmer was just 19 when he made the big club at the beginning of '65. In game 2 of the '66 World Series Palmer threw a 4 hitter, beating Sandy Koufax in his final game. Palmer tore his rotator cuff the next year, coming back in '69 with the second best ERA in the AL. Palmer won Game One of the Series this year, beating the Reds. 1-2-3
1st: Harry Krause goes for the A's, Krause's a 20 year old lefty. 18-8, 1.39. Krause's from San Francisco, went to St Marys, signed with the A's last year and, as a rookie this season, had 6 shutouts. Don Buford singles. That's it.
2nd: Danny Murphy singles; he's gunned down by Etchebarren trying to swipe second - that means the bases are empty when Harry Davis homers to center. The A's first baseman is 35, nicknamed Jasper, Davis is from Philadelphia, signed with the Giants in 1895. Caught rheumatism in '96 and was dealt to the Pirates, managed by Connie Mack. Bounced around and wound up with the A's in '01, now managed by Mack. In '02, he led the AL in doubles, in '04 he started a multi-year run of leading the AL in homers. In '05, Mack named him captain. A's 1 Orioles 0
2nd: With 2 out, Andy Etchebarren walks. The 27 year old is platooning at catcher for Earl Weaver; he's from southern California, turned down an offer to play football at the Naval Academy to sign with the Orioles in '61, came up late '62, and stuck in '66; he made a couple of All Star teams and started platooning with Hendricks in '68. Plank hits Mark Belanger; but that's all.
3rd: Jack Barry singles. The A's shortstop is 22, from Connecticut, went to Holy Cross, signed in '08 and became the starting shortstop (like Belanger, glove first) this year. Krause bunts him over and Topsy Hartsel drives Barry home with a single. A's 2 Orioles 0
3rd: Boog Powell draws a 2 out walk. Powell's 28, from Florida, pitched in the Little League World Series, signed with the Orioles out of high school, called up late '61. In '64, Powell hit 39 homers, in '65 he moved to first base from the outfield, in '67, Powell made the All Star team. Last year he hit 37 homers and batted .304 and finished second in the MVP. This year, Powell was the AL MVP, hitting 37 homers. Powell hit .294 in the Series. That's all.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Davey Johnson doubles with one out. That's it.
5th: Barry singles again. That's it.
5th: Palmer helps himself with a single, just Baltimore's third hit. That's all and Krause's struck out 5.
6th: Eddie Collins doubles. The A's second baseman is 22. Went to Columbia, played football, signed with the A's in '06 (actually debuted under a pseudonym while still at Columbia) His first full season was '08 and this year he hit .347. Home Run Baker singles and it's 3-0. 2 outs later Rube Oldring singles and it's 4-0. Barry walks - big lead now for the A's 4 Orioles 0
6th: 1-2-3, still just 3 hits, 6 Ks for Krause.
7th: Topsy Hartsel reaches on an error. Hartsel's 35, platooning in left, from Ohio, signed with Louisville in 1899, bounced around and eventually reached the A's in 1902. That year he led the league in walks and steals. In '05 Hartsel had a .409 OBP, leading the league, in '07, his OBP again led the league. An out later Home Run Baker singles and after the second out Harry Davis drives everyone home with a triple that probably has tied up this series. A's 6 Orioles 0
7th: 1-2-3, 9 in a row for Krause, who has struck out 8. We're going to Philadelphia tied at a game.
8th: 1-2-3
8th: The A's go to the pen, 30 year old RH Rube Vickers, he's got a 3.40 ERA. Don Buford singles. 2 outs later Paul Blair walks. Brooks Robinson follows with a run scoring single. That's enough for Mack, he brings in Jimmy Dygert, a 24 year old RH with 9 wins and a 2.42 ERA. He ends it. A's 6 Orioles 1
9th: After an out, Collins singles and steals second. 5 run lead in the 9th and Collins is stealing second. File that away. Home Run Baker singles him home. The A's third baseman is 23, he's got 3 hits today. Baker's from Maryland, signed with the A's last year and this is his rookie season. He led the league in triples and was 4th in slugging. Ty Cobb spiked him in August on a tag at third. A's 7 Orioles 1
9th: Dygert gets 2, then gives up a pinch single to Merv Rettenmund and walks Don Buford. Frank Robinson singles home a run but the game ends here.
A's 7
Orioles 2
WP Krause
LP Palmer
Collins 3x/double
Murphy 2x
Oldring 2x
Hartsel 1x
Baker 3x
Davis 2x/HR, triple
Barry 3x
Buford 5x/double
Frank Robinson 2x/double
Powell 2x
Johnson 2x/double
Blair 1x
Brooks Robinson 1x
Etchebarren 1x
LF Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
CF Rettenmund (27) 156 4.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Hendricks (29) (LH) 92 1.5
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
SP McNally (27) (LH) 113 4.7
LF Heitmuller (26) 135 1.7
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
C Thomas (28) 79
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
SP Bender (25) 147 5.5
GAME THREE
1st: All tied up at a game apiece; Shibe Park, Philadelphia - Chief Bender stands on the mound in this Best of 7 Region 4 Final. 25 year old RH, 18-8, 1.66. Bender's Native American, from Minnesota, wound up at the Carlisle Indian School that produced Jim Thorpe. Bender signed with the A's in '03, debuting in the bigs at 19 and won 17 as a rookie. 1-2-3.
1st: Dave McNally for the O's. 27 year old lefty, 24-9, 3.22. McNally's from Montana, signed with the Orioles at 18, came up in late '62. In Game 4 of the '66 World Series, he threw a clinching 4 hit shutout. McNally was 5th in the AL MVP in '68 and started the '69 season 15-0. McNally threw an 11 inning 3 hitter in the ALCS. This year, he hit a grand slam in Game 3 of the World Series. Heinie Heitmuller walks, Eddie Collins lines a double to right center, Heitmuller comes all the way around and the A's are on the board. Home Run Baker then doubles Collins home. McNally gets the next 3, but damage done. Orioles 0 A's 2
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down for Bender.
3rd: Baker doubles again, this time with 2 away. McNally strands him.
4th: Boog Powell singles and the Orioles reach base. 2 outs later Brooks Robinson walks. The 33 year old third baseman is from Little Rock, signed with the Orioles in '55. His first full big league season was '58, he was third in the AL MVP in '60 behind Maris and Mantle. Robinson won that award in '64, leading the league in RBI. In 1969 Robinson got both his 200th homer and 2000th hit. This year he hit .429 in the Series and was named MVP. That's all.
4th: Harry Davis singles. That's it.
5th: Mark Belanger doubles with one away. The 26 year old SS is from Massachusetts. Signed with the Orioles in '60, played for Earl Weaver at 3 different stops in the system. His rookie year was '67, he hit .333 in this year's ALCS. After the second out, Belanger scores on a Don Buford double. Boog Powell then ties the score with a base hit. Orioles 2 A's 2
5th: Eddie Collins draws a 2 out walk that's it.
6th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3, this series is dead even, a game each, 2-2 here, each team with just 4 hits.
7th: After an out, Belanger doubles again. Bender gets through it.
7th: McNally's day is done - Pete Richert gets the ball. Jack Barry singles with one away, after the second out, Heinie Heitmuller singles home the go ahead run. Orioles 2 A's 3
8th: Jimmy Dygert for the A's, 6 outs from taking game 3. He walks Boog Powell. Frank Robinson singles. Robinson's 34, from Oakland, signed with the Reds in '53. Robinson was 20 in his rookie season, 1956, won the NL Rookie of the Year, in '61 won the MVP. In 1962, Robinson hit .342 with 39 homers. The Reds dealt him to Baltimore after the '65 season. In his first Baltimore season Robinson won the Triple Crown, the AL MVP and the World Series MVP. Robinson hit .308 in '69, .306 this year. Merv Rettenmund grounds into a double play, scoring the tying run. Orioles 3 A's 3
8th: 29 year old RH Eddie Watt is next for the O's, 7 wins, 12 saves, 3.25. 1-2-3
9th: Ellie Hendricks is catching today and he singles with 1 out. Hendricks is 29, from the Virgin Islands. Hendricks was property of a couple of different organizations before signing with the Orioles in '67 and hitting the bigs in '68. That's it.
9th: 29 year old RH Dave Leonhard for the Orioles, he's got a 5.08 ERA. He gets 2, then gives up a Barry single. That's all and we head to the 10th.
10th: 30 year old RH Rube Vickers for the A's, he gets two, then Frank Robinson singles. That's all.
10th: Heinie Heitmuller opens with a single and steals second - the winning run sits at second base, Leonhard still on for the Orioles, he gets the next 2 - and then Danny Murphy doubles Heitmuller home and its done. Jubilation in Philadelphia - Heitmuller scores - the A's pour out of the dugout, they pound on Heitmuller at the plate - the A's take game 2 and take a 2-1 series lead.
Orioles 3
A's 4
WP Vickers
LP Leonhard
Collins 5x/ 2 double
Murphy 3x/double
Oldring 2x
Hartsel 1x
Baker 5x/2 doubles
Davis 3x/HR, triple
Barry 5x
Heitmuller 3x
Buford 6x/ 2 doubles
Frank Robinson 4x/double
Powell 4x
Johnson 2x/double
Blair 1x
Brooks Robinson 2x
Etchebarren 1x
Hendricks 1x
Belanger 2x/2 doubles
LF Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
CF Rettenmund (27) 156 4.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Hendricks (29) (LH) 92 1.5
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
SP4 Hardin (26) 104
LF Hartsell (35) (LH) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
C Thomas (28) 79
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
SP4 Morgan (30) 147
GAME FOUR
1st The A's beat the Orioles in 10 in game 3 and now have a solid pitching advantage in Game 4. 30 year old RH Cy Morgan on the mound. 16-11, 1.65. Morgan played semi-pro in West Virginia, then onto Massachusetts and signed with the Browns in 1903. Onto the Red Sox in '06, pitching with fellow "Cy" Young. He was dealt to the A's this June. Buford walks, he's reached 7 times leading both teams. That's all.
1st: Baltimore's out of 20 game winners, they turn to a 26 year old RH Jim Hardin. 6-5, 3.53. Hardin's from Tennessee, was a high school catching rival of Tim McCarver, signed with the Mets in '62. The Orioles swiped him in '65 and he came up in '67. Hardin won 18 in '68, he did not pitch in this year's postseason. Eddie Collins walks with one out. He's reached 6 times, leading the A's. That's all.
2nd: Davey Johnson walks with one out, nothing results.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3, neither club has a hit
4th: Frank Robinson rips a double, first hit of the day. An out later Brooks Robinson singles him home and it's Orioles 1 A's 0
4th: Topsy Hartsel singles, Philadelphia's first hit. Collins singles and the A's have action. An out later Danny Murphy, who won game 3, reaches by error that score a run. Orioles 1 A's 1
5th: Buford walks again, after two out - Boog Powell then singles. That's all.
5th: Ira Thomas walks with one away. Thomas is 28, splitting catching duties in the series. He's from upstate New York. The future Yankees signed him in '05, sold to the Tigers in '08, this was his first season in Philadelphia, their veteran catcher Doc Powers died early in the season. That's all.
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Weaver got everything he could have asked from Hardin and he turns the game to his pen, Pete Richert taking the ball first. Home Run Baker singles with 2 away -- and then he comes all the way around to score on a Danny Murphy triple. The A's take the lead here in game 4. Harry Davis singles Murphy home. The Orioles have only 3 hits today and have got to get it going. Orioles 1 A's 3
7th: Ellie Hendricks walks. Mark Belanger singles. Big spot in this series. Morgan gets one and then walks Buford. Buford keeps getting on base in the series -- bases loaded for the big bats -- Powell comes through with a base knock, it scores a run. Frank Robinson hits one to the deepest part of the park, it's hauled in - but scores the tying run. Morgan's done - Jimmy Dygert enters and ends it. Orioles 3 A's 3
7th: Eddie Watt enters for Baltimore. Jack Barry singles with one away, after the second out - it's Hartsel, he drives Barry home with a base hit and again the A's are out in front. Orioles 3 A's 4
8th: Hendricks draws a two out walk, but that's it - Dygert is 3 outs away from giving the A's a 3-1 lead in this Region 4 final.
8th: Dave Leonhard lost game 3, he enters here. Murphy and Davis hit back to back one out singles - Rube Oldring singles -- that sure could be it as it scores another run. Marcelino Lopez finishes the inning for Baltimore. Orioles 3 A's 5
9th: Baltimore in a bad spot now. Can they somehow come back here.
Dygert stays on - Paul Blair is the hitter off the bench, grounds to short.
Buford lines...right at Davis.
Boog Powell singles.
Frank Robinson singles.
2 on, 2 out, Orioles trail by 2.
Merv Rettenmund harmlessly flies to center and its done.
Orioles 3
A's 5
WP Dygert
LP Watt
The Orioles were solid favorites to become the 4th team to make the Elite 8 - but it would take a monumental effort now, the A's have won 3 straight and are now just a game from advancing.
Collins 7x/ 2 double
Murphy 5x/double, triple
Oldring 3x
Hartsel 3x
Baker 6x/2 doubles
Davis 5x/HR, triple
Barry 6x
Heitmuller 3x
Thomas 1x
Buford 9x/ 2 doubles
Frank Robinson 6x/ 2 doubles
Powell 7x
Johnson 2x/double
Blair 1x
Brooks Robinson 3x
Etchebarren 1x
Hendricks 3x
Belanger 3x/2 doubles
LF Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
CF Blair (26) 114 5.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Etchebarren (27) 82 .6
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
SP Cuellar (33) (LH) 105 3.5
LF Heitmuller (26) 135 1.7
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
C Livingston (29) 99 2.4
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
SP Plank (LH) (33) 138 5.3
GAME FIVE
1st: Super amped up crowd in Shibe Park, their A's are a game away from advancing to the Elite 8. Eddie Plank lost game one, 1-0, he's on today. He gives up a one out Boog Powell single, Powell's reached 8 times in the series, but that's all.
1st: Mike Cuellar threw a masterful 3 hit shutout in game one and he needs to similarly be good today. Eddie Collins walks; he's reached 8 times. That's all.
2nd: Davey Johnson singles with 2 away. Andy Etchebarren follows with a single, the Orioles don't score.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Cuellar helps himself with a base hit. Buford and Powell follow with walks and the Orioles have them loaded with nobody out and really, really must capitalize. Plank gets one - then walks Paul Blair and Baltimore is on the board. Brooks Robinson then singles home another, and after the second out Davey Johnson singles home a third. Orioles 3 A's 0
3rd: Jack Barry singles. Cuellar gets the next 3.
4th: After 2 out, Buford and Powell walk back to back - Plank wild today - that's all.
4th: Home Run Baker walks, that's all.
5th: Paul Blair walks. Blair's 26, signed with the Mets in '61 after high school in Los Angeles, debuted in late '64. In '69, the glove first center fielder had 26 homers. This April, he hit 3 homers in a game and hit .474 in the Series. That's all.
5th: 1-2-3, just one hit allowed by Cuellar.
6th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Cuellar, he's been the best player in this series.
7th: Frank Robinson hits a one out single, that's all.
7th: Paddy Livingston singles with one away, but that's it. Cuellar rolls on.
8th: Etchebarren singles with 2 way, that's it.
8th: Cuellar is 6 outs away from sending this series back to Baltimore for game 6. Topsy Hartsel pinch doubles. Hartmuller singles and the A's are in business now. Cuellar sucks it up, gets the next 3 - big, big, bit outing for Mike Cuellar.
9th: Jimmy Dygert for the A's, Buford singles with one away, after the second out Frank Robinson walks. That's it. Bottom of the 9th.
9th: Complete game 3 hitter for Cuellar in game 1 - he comes out to the mound for the 9th having given up 4 hits.
Danny Murphy singles.
Harry Davis smokes a liner to short - great dive by Belanger, who catches it for out number one.
Cuellar walks Livingston - tying run to the plate.
Oldring grounds to Belanger - flip to Johnson for one -- Oldring beats out the throw to first.
Barry grounds to Robinson - easy throw to first. Ballgame.
Orioles 3
A's 0
WP Cuellar
LP Plank
A second complete game shutout for Cuellar, he is keeping his club alive in this series, we head back to Baltimore, A's still up 3-2.
Buford 12x/ 2 doubles
Frank Robinson 8x/ 2 doubles
Powell 10x
Johnson 4x/double
Blair 3x
Brooks Robinson 4x
Etchebarren 3x
Hendricks 3x
Belanger 3x/2 doubles
Collins 8x/ 2 double
Murphy 6x/double, triple
Oldring 3x
Hartsel 4x
Baker 7x/2 doubles
Davis 5x/HR, triple
Barry 7x
Heitmuller 4x
Thomas 1x
Livingston 2x
LF Hartsell (35) (LH) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
C Livingston (29) 99 2.4
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
P Krause (LH) (20) 174 4.8
LF Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
CF Rettenmund (27) 156 4.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Etchebarren (27) 82 .6
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
P Palmer (24) 134 6.3
GAME SIX
1st: There has not been a game 7 yet in the tournament (to be fair, this is only the 4th best of 7 series) if Jim Palmer comes up big today, we'll see one. Sold out Memorial Stadium crowd and they've got their guy on the mound. 1-2-3
1st: Harry Krause was co-MVP in round one, MVP all by himself in the regional semi-final and he's on the mound for the A's. He walks Buford, the Orioles leadoff man has reached base 13 times on the series. He walks Frank Robinson. Boog Powell singles and it scores a run; Merv Rettenmund got the start in center today - he singles and scores a run. Krause gets an out - then a Davey Johnson groundout scores a run. Andy Etchebaren singles - Mark Belanger walks, It ends here the Orioles bat around in the first inning of a must win game. A's 0 Orioles 3
2nd: Paddy Livingston singles with 2 out, That's it.
2nd: Frank Robinson singles with one away. Boog Powell walks. After the second out, Brooks Robinson then singles home a run - the Orioles really jumping out in front today. Davey Johnson singles, another run. A's 0 Orioles 5
3rd: Palmer gets 2 - Topsy Hartsel and Eddie Collins single - that's all.
3rd: Belanger walks, a double play later Buford walks, Frank Robinson singles - Boog Powell singles and there's another run. A's 0 Orioles 6
4th: Danny Murphy singles, a double play later Paddy Livingston singles, Rube Oldring hits a 2 run homer and the A's are on the board. A's 2 Orioles 6
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Hartsel singles with one out, thats it.
5th: Belanger singles, an out later, Buford doubles him home - Don Buford has really just kept hitting. Frank Robinson singles home Buford, there's another run and you can start thinking about game 7 right now. Rube Vickers comes on for the A's, after the second out he hits Rettenmund that's all. A's 2 Orioles 8
6th: Murphy singles, an out later Livingston singles, that's it.
6th: Game 3 starters Chief Bender and Dave McNally will be going for all the money - game 7. 1-2-3
7th: Hartsel walks with one away, that's it.
7th: Jimmy Dygert for the A's, he gets one - but Buford singles, Don Buford, really getting it done, Frank Robinson walks - and Boog Powell doubles home another run. Big game 6 for both Robinson and Powell. Rettenmund sac fly adds another. A's 2 Orioles 10
8th: Murphy and Davis single with one out, Livingston doubles to score a run, sure looks like Palmer's out of gas. He walks Oldring then gets the second out. 22 year old Scotty Barr comes on to hit, Barr hit .078 on the season - but Palmer walks him and that's another run. Hartsel then singles home 2 more - it's a big inning for the A's, the deficit down to 4. Pete Richert comes on for the Orioles - An error on a Collins grounder scores one more -- it's a 5 run 8th inning for the A's 7 Orioles 10
8th: Jack Coombs, the A's 5th starter, comes on for the first time in the series, 26 year old RH, 12 wins, 2.32. Johnson singles - that's all.
9th: 3 outs away from the 2 best words in all of sport -
Richert gets Murphy to ground to Powell. One.
Davis grounds to Robinson. Two.
Livingston singles -
Oldring lazy fly ball to Buford to end the game.
A's 7
Orioles 10
WP Palmer
LP Krause
Sv Richert
Buford scores 4 runs, the Orioles offense finally busts out and we will see you for Game 7.
Buford 16x/ 4 doubles
Frank Robinson 13x/ 2 doubles
Powell 14x/double
Johnson 6x/double
Blair 3x
Brooks Robinson 5x
Etchebarren 4x
Hendricks 3x
Belanger 6x/2 doubles
Rettenmund 2x
Collins 9x/ 2 double
Murphy 9x/double, triple
Oldring 5x/HR
Hartsel 8x
Baker 7x/2 doubles
Davis 6x/HR, triple
Barry 7x
Heitmuller 4x
Thomas 1x
Livingston 7x/double
LF Heitmuller (26) 135 1.7
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
C Livingston (29) 99 2.4
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
SP Bender (25) 147 5.5
LF Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
CF Blair (26) 114 5.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Hendricks (29) (LH) 92 1.5
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
SP McNally (27) (LH) 113 4.7
GAME SEVEN
1st: 5th in the AL MVP in 1968, 4th in the Cy Young in 1969, 2nd in the Cy Young this season, Dave McNally takes the mound at Memorial Stadium. Game 7. Winner wins Region 4 and moves to the Elite 8. Heavy, heavy, heavy pressure packed environment for this one. Heinie Heitmuller leads off with a double, it's his first extra base hit of the series, platooning in left field. McNally then gets the next two - but Danny Murphy comes through with a double of his own to score the run. The A's right fielder has reached ten times in the series and won game 3 with a 10th inning walk off base hit. A's 1 Orioles 0
1st: Last year, Chief Bender had a 1.75 ERA, this year it was 1.66 and he led the league in FIP and K/BB. He walks Don Buford -- the Oriole offense has been entirely carried by the top 3 men in the order, Buford has now reached 17 times, that's a tournament record for one series. Boog Powell walks. That's 15 times on base for Powell. Bender gets an out - then gets a Paul Blair groundout, but it scores the tying run. A's 1 Orioles 1
2nd: Paddy Livingston had 5 hits in game 6 and he singles with one out. That's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Bender helps himself with a double; McNally gets the next 3.
3rd: Buford walks again, with one away - but Bender stops it there.
4th: All tied up in the 4th, Game 7 -- Harry Davis singles with one out. 7 times on base for Davis. Paddy Livingston singles again, 7 straight hits for Livingston. The A's have men on the corners, just one away. McNally gets the next 2.
4th: 1-2-3, the Orioles do not have a hit. Game 7 still tied.
5th: Benfer doubles again. He had 5 doubles all season, two today. An out later Eddie Collins singles. He's reached 10 times, the A's again have men on the corners with just one away. But again McNally wriggles out of it.
5th: Elrod Hendricks singles, Baltimore has a hit. That's all Bender allows and we head to the 6th inning.
6th: After one out, Davis singles again. After the second out - it's the 8th straight hit for Livingston; just a remarkable stretch for the A's backstop -- but again - but again - McNally escapes.
6th: 1-2-3, 10 hits for the A's - one lonely single for the O's, but we go to the 7th all tied up. Game 7.
7th: Jack Barry singles - that ends Bender's day, Topsy Hartsel comes on to hit - Bender leaves the game absolutely dominant. McNally gets Hartsel and then another - Barry on third with 2 away - and Eddie Collins punches a base hit to right center - Barry scores easily and the A's pull out in front here in Game 7. That's it for McNally, Pete Richert comes on - he ends it. A's 2 Orioles 1
7th: Jimmy Dygert now for the A's as Mack turns the game over to his pen. Dygert hits Brooks Robinson. Then gives up back to back base hits to Johnson and Hendricks and the Orioles have loaded the bases with nobody out. Trailing 2-1. Game 7. Dygert gets one - Rettenmund enters to hit for Richert -- and hits a sac fly that ties the score. Even again. A's 2 Orioles 2
8th: Eddie Watt now for Baltimore. All tied. Game 7. Are you not entertained?
Danny Murphy flies to left.
Harry Davis walks.
Watt strikes Livingston out.
Oldring flies to left and we head to the bottom of the 8th.
8th: Dygert stays on for the A's.
Powell grounds to short.
Frank Robinson walks.
Paul Blair singles just over Barry's head into left field and now the Orioles have the go ahead run in scoring position.
Brooks Robinson rips a single to left center -- Frank doesn't break stride - Oldring fields the ball cleanly and throws home...
Safe.
Frank Robinson scores the go ahead run and the Orioles take a 3-2 lead.
Davey Johnson hits a ground ruled double - Blair scores and now it's 4-2 Orioles and this sold out crowd is out of their mind - Baltimore was down 3 games to 1 - Cuellar threw hit second complete game shutout - then the Oriole bats came up huge in game 6 and today, after getting absolutly stymied by Bender, the Orioles have come up big against the Philly pen and take a 4-2 lead.
Rube Vickers enters for the A's, Ellie Hendricks hits a sac fly and it will end A's 2 Orioles 5
9th: Dave Leonhard comes on for the Orioles. 3 outs to go.
Barry grounds to third. One.
Scotty Barr comes on to hit. Leonhard strikes him out.
Heitmuller singles. The A's stay alive.
Eddie Collins singles. The tying run comes to the plate with 2 outs.
Home Run Baker doubles. Heitmuller scores -- Collins will score! It's 5-4! The A's cut it to 5-4!
Leonhard walks Murphy. 2 on. 2 out. Tying run in scoring position.
Harry Davis rips a grounder down the left field line -- no! Robinson fully dives to snare it - Robinson the long throw --- got him! Brooks Robinson saves the series - fully laying out to stop what certainly would have been a double that at least - at least ties this game and it is all over - the 1970 Baltimore Orioles join the 1977 Yankees, the 2017 Dodgers, the 1909 Cubs in the Elite 8!!!
A's 4
Orioles 5
WP Watt
LP Dygert
Sv Leonhard
The A's outhit the Orioles 15-6 --- and lost.
Buford 18x/ 4 doubles
Frank Robinson 14x/ 2 doubles
Powell 15x/double
Big series for the top of the Orioles order - but the MVPs here are Brooks Robinson, who both had the game winning hit and the game saving play today - and Mike Cuellar, with 2 shutouts.
