‘29 Mack-men sweep ‘39 Bombers

The '29 A's pitching was potent as all 3 starters (Grove, Earnshaw, and Walberg) go the distance for wins.  Philly pitching held the '39 Yankees to 3 runs over 3 games.  Yankee HOF hitting starts DiMaggio and Dickey go for a combined 1 for 21 at the plate.  --Steve Tate--

Grove CG victory	Earnshaw 2 hit SO	Simmons

GAME 1 - Yankee Stadium
Lefty Grove vs Red Ruffing
1929 A's 2, 1939 Yankees 1
Awesome pitcher's duel between played out between two HOF'ers at the Big Ball Orchard up in the Bronx.  Lefty Grove's "bend don't break" strategy played out to perfection as evidenced by his giving up just 1 run on 12 hits in a complete game effort.  Ruffing left for a pinch hitter after 7 with the game tied at 1-1.  An error, by of all people...Joltin Joe, led to Mickey Cochran scoring on Al Simmons single in the 8th.  After giving up a 1 out single to Frank Crosetti in the bottom of the 9th Grove got pinch hitter Rosar to hit into a game ending 6-4-3 DP.
A's lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Yankee Stadium
George Earnshaw vs Lefty Gomez
A's 1, Yankees 0
If you like pitcher's duels, this game was right up your alley.  George Earnshaw would make Al Simmons' 1st inning homer stand up with a nifty 2 hit shutout.  Gomez went 8 and made just that one mistake to Simmons, but because the Yankee bats went silent Gomez took the loss.
A's lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Shibe Park
Hildebrand vs Rube Walberg
A's 7, Yankees 2
Philly's bats came to life with a 5 run outburst in the bottom of the 4th.  Al Simmons was once again the hitting star with his 3 for 4 performance.  Mule Haas went deep as did pitcher Walberg.  New York finally got on the board with 2 runs in the 6th, but the A's answered back with solo runs in the 6th and 7th to snuff out New York's chances.
A's win series 3-0

Frank Robby’s 3 run shot in game 5 pulls it out for the O’s over the A’s

1974 Oakland 5, 1970 Baltimore 4
Hunter vs Palmer
Baltimore opened the scoring in the 1st with a Powell single scoring Buford. Adding to their lead in the 4th as Palmer,Buford and Johnson singled in runs. In the top of the 6th Oakland got on the board a lead off single by North followed by Bando and Jackson back to back homeruns. In the 8th Oakland finally took the lead as Fosse doubled scoring Jackson and Rudi. Winning pitcher Lindblad save for Fingers and losing pitcher Richert. Game MVP Ray Fosse 3 for 4 with 2 doubles 2 RBIs

Oakland 4 Baltimore 9
Blue vs McNally
Oakland opened the game with 3 runs as the first 5 batters reached base. McNally the  settled down and closed out the inning. Oakland coasted along until the 5th when Blue allowed 4 singles and 2 doubles and the Orioles scored 5. In the 8th Baltimore added 4 more runs as all 9 players went to the plate. Winning pitcher McNally losing pitcher Blue. Game MVP Frank Robinson 2 for 4 with a double and 4 RBIs

Baltimore 8 Oakland 7-12 innings
Cuellar vs Holtzman
Oakland scored two in the 1st when North lead off with  solo homerun. Jackson not to be outdone also homered. Baltimore got those back with 4 singles in the top of the 2nd.In the 3rd Jackson got hi 2nd homerun of the game. Baltimore tied it back up in the 4th as Belanger tripled in Johnson. In the 6th Baltimore got its first lead of the game as Rettenmund tripled and scoring Brooks Robinson and then scored himself on a fielders choice. Bando hit a solo homerun for the as in the bottom of the 6th. In the bottom of the 7th Oakland scored 2 to take back the lead on 4 walks and two singles.In the top of the 8th Baltimore took back the lead Belanger was walked scoring Brooks Robinson and Johnson scored on a fielders choice. In the bottom of th 9th a lead off triple by Claudell Washington was subsequently brought him in on a fielders choice. In the top of the 12th Johnson doubled scoring Rettenmund. Winning Pitcher Lopez, Losing pitcher Fingers, both Watt and Fingers had blown saves. Game MVP Mark Belanger 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs and a triple.

Baltimore 3 Oakland 8
Phoebus vs Hunter
Baltimore opened the game with a run in the top of the 1st. Oakland tied it when Jackson  ground out scoring Green. In the 6th Oakland got 2 more as Tenace homered with Jackson on board. In the 7th Powell put one out of the park bringing Baltimore within one. In the bottom of the 7th Campenaris walked then Bando and Jackson had back to back homeruns. They added 2 more in the 8th.Baltmore’s comeback was short as Brooks singled in Frank Robinson but that was all they mustered. Winning pitcher Hunter, Losing pitcher Phoebus. Game MVP Catfish Hunter 6 hit complete game.

Oakland 4 Baltimore 7
Blue vs Palmer
Both teams traded runs in the st. In the bottom of the 3rd Blair was walked, Buford singled, Frank Robinson struckout then Powell, Brooks Robinson and Johnson singled scoring 3. Oakland was hurt when Campaneris left the game with an injury. In the 4th Rudi doubled and Tenace brought him in with a homerun. In the 6th Oakland tied it up as Tenace got his 2nd homerun of the game. In the bottom of the 8th a double by Frank Robinson scored 3. Wining pitcher Hall Save Lopez Losing pitcher Blue Moon Odom game MVP Frank Robinson 2 for 3 with a double and 3 RBIs.

Baltimore catchers did a great job stopping Oakland from stealing bases in this series throwing out 7 of 10 attempts. There were 4 in game injuries during the series, 3 for Oakland Blue, Knowles and Campaneris and Baltimore Pitcher Phoebus. Baltimore managed by Ron Burnette, Oakland Robert Chisholm.

‘55 Boys of Summer sweep the M&M Boys

The “Duke of Flatbush”	Luis Arroyo	“The Quiet Man” Gil

Game One - Brooklyn 6 New York 5 - Newcombe vs. Ford
Whitey Ford struggled right out of the gate, giving up 3 runs in the top of the 1st on a 3-run shot by Duke Snider, 1 in the 3rd on a solo homerun by Gil Hodges, and 2 more in the 4th.  Yankees closed the gap to 6-5 on a leadoff homerun by Elston Howard in the 8th.  New York had 2 on in the bottom of the 9th, but Howard popped out to third to end the game.
Game Two - Brooklyn 8 New York 5 - Erskine vs. Terry
The Dodgers touched up Terry for 4 runs in the fourth inning, but the Yanks chipped away to tie the game in the 6th.  In the 8th, Brooklyn chased reliever Luis Arroyo with 4 runs to take an 8-4 lead into the 9th.  The Yankees loaded the bases with 1 out, but they could only manage a sacrifice fly from Bill Skowron.
Game Three - New York 4 Brooklyn 5  - Terry vs. Podres
Johnny Podres got injured in the top of the 2nd when he got hit by a line drive from the bat of Mantle.  Karl Spooner came in and shut the Yankees down until the 5th when he got ejected along Jim Gilliam and Roger Maris after a bench clearing brawl.  Meanwhile, the Dodgers behind Gil Hodges and Jackie Robinson jumped out to a 5-0 lead and breezed into the 9th.  In the top of the 9th, New York plated 4 runs and had the tying run at third when Tony Kubek grounded out to end the game.
Sportswriters had a field day with the fact that top of the Yankees lineup, Richardson (.143), Kubek (.154), Mantle (.182), Maris (.143), and Berra (.091) was totally ineffective against the Dodger's pitching staff.

--submitted by Brandon Hayes--

1911 A’s sweep 1906 Cubs in 3

GAME 1 - West Side Grounds
Chief Bender vs Mordecai Brown
1911 A's 10, 1906 Cubs 3
The anticipated pitcher's duel between Chief Bender and Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown never materialized.  Bender was solid giving up 2 earned (3 total) runs, while going the distance.  Brown gave up 8 runs (7 earned) in 8 innings.  The bottom of Philadelphia's lineup did all the damage.  The number 7 and 8 hitters Jack Barry (3-4, 2 runs) and Jack Lapp (3-5, 6 RBI) carried the offensive load.  Backstop Lapp was a double shy of the cycle.
A's lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - West Side Grounds
Cy Morgan vs Ed Reulbach
A's 2, Cubs 1
Frank "Home Run" Baker led off the game by taking one on the elbow.  A error by Frank Chance at 1st put runners on 1st and second.  Stuffy McInnins delivered a 1 out single to plate Baker and make it 1-0.  Rube Oldring's grounder to 1st scored Eddie Collins to make it 2-0.  That would be all the runs the A's would muster on the day.  Thankfully for the A's Cy Morgan looked more like Cy Young and allowed just 1 run in the 4th and blanked the Cubbies the rest of the way.  Reulbach was the hard luck loser thanks to Chance's error.
A's lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Shibe Park
Jack Taylor vs Jack Coombs
A's 5, Cubs 3
Philly kept up their 1st inning dominance by tallying 3 in the opening stanza.  After "Home Run" Baker led off with a single, Eddie Collins executed a perfect hit and run to put runners on the corners for Danny Murphy, who tripled both gents in to make it two zip.  With 2 outs Oldring single to make it 3-0.  Chicago made it a game but cutting the A's lead to 1 with 2 runs in the 4th thanks to a Frank Schulte homer.  The dominant A's answered right back with 2 in the bottom of the inning to go back up by 3 and never looked back.
A's win series 3-0

'27 Yankees defeat '12 Giants 3-1

Indeed, Gehrig and Ruth were a handful for the Giants, but not in the way expected. Ruth was mostly a singles hitter (no homers), albeit at a .438 clip. Gehrig supplied the power with 2 HRs and 8 RBI.

McGraw’s Giants were not intimidated by Murderer’s Row either with the first 3 games being 1-run affairs, with the finale seeing Mac’s men matching the powerful Yanks run-for-run in a slugfest.

GAME ONE – The Yanks struck first in the B2 when Tony Lazzeri raced home on a Buck Herzog error. The Giants defense was costly in this one with 3 miscues. “Poosh ‘em Up” Tony then pushed ‘em home in the B3 when his single plated Babe Ruth. The Jints countered in the T4 when Beals Becker doubled home “Laughing” Larry Doyle and then scored to tie in on Fred Snodgrass’s squeeze bunt. The Bronx Bombers quickly responded in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back doubles by “Jumping” Joe Dugan and “Nig” Grabowski to lead it off. Mark Koenig would later single in Grabowski to make it 4-2. Yankee starter Waite Hoyt would allow just one more run (only 5 total hits) the rest of the way as he completed the 4-3 victory. Rube Marquard took the loss. 

GAME TWO – Jeff Tesreau was the surprise starter for the Giants, but it turned out to be   the right call as the right-hander went the distance to even the series with a 3-2 win. Tesreau tallied the Jints first run when Snodgrass doubled him home in the B3. “Chief” Meyers swatted a solo home run in the 6th to make it 2-0. Red Murray singled home Doyle in the 8th to make it 3-0, but the Yanks were not about to be shut out. They scored twice in the B8 when Ruth scored on a passed ball and Earle Combs singled home Bob Meusel. The 9th was also tense as Koenig tripled with one out. Then Ruth and Lou Gehrig were both intentionally walked. The strategy worked as Meusel hit into a 4-6-3 DP to end it. Urban Shocker started and lost for the Yanks.

GAME THREE – “Big Six” Christy Mathewson finally climbed the hill for McGraw’s troups and had the best of things early on as the Giants jumped out to a 3-1 lead. That was erased in the T4 on an RBI single by Ruth (4-5, 3 RBI) and a 2-run clout by Gehrig. Ruth drove in another in the 5th. Yankees starting and winning pitcher Dutch Reuther singled in another run in the 8th to go up 6-3. But the Giants were going to put up a fight for Matty. PH Art Wilson led off the B8 with a homer. Doyle doubled and scored on a Snodgrass base knock. It just wouldn’t be enough as “Cy” Moore faced the minimum in the 9th for the save and a 6-5 Bombers win. Mathewson went the whole way, yielding 14 hits.

GAME FOUR – A wild one at the Polo Grounds despite a 15-mph wind blowing in. Of course, if you go down the lines here, it does not matter about the winds. The Jints mostly had this figured out as Meyers, Snodgrass and Fred Merkle all went deep. However, the biggest blow was probably Gehrig’s 3-run bomb in the T1. It set the tone, and proved to be the difference maker in a 14-11 Yankee win in the finale. The Bronx Bombers will go on to play the 1911 Athletics in the second round. Here are just a few of the staggering numbers in this one. Lou Gehrig was just a 3B shy of the cycle as he had 4 hits and 6 RBI. Combs did him one better in the hits department with 5. The Yanks as a team collected 21 safeties. The Giants had 17 hits of their own with Snodgrass and Murray leading the charge with 4 each. Bob Shawkey picked up the win in relief, while Marquard (0-2) was beaten like a drum and departed after 2 innings trailing 10-2.

--submitted by Bruce Thomas--

‘42 Swifties sweep ‘53 Bombers in 3 straight

It was the 1940s National League vs the 1950s American League in a series featuring signature franchises from their respective leagues. Arguably the greatest Cardinal squad of all time, the 1942 club lead by Billy Southworth, squared off against the only team to complete a "Five-peat" in baseball history, the 1953 New York Yankees lead by the great Casey Stengel.

The first two games were played in a packed house at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, and the Cardinals looked quite comfortable at home, thank you. A 10 hit attack, coupled with two Yankee errors less than stellar control by the Bombers hurlers, and dominate pitching by Mort Cooper made for a lopsided 9-1 victory in the lid lifter. The Cardinals wasted no time in this one, putting all the runs they would need on the board in the bottom of the first after Cooper disposed of the Yankees in order in the top half.

Marty Marion started things with a single off of Whitey Ford, but was gunned down at second by Yogi Berra on a busted hit and run play. But Terry Moore, who swung and missed on the hit and run, then doubled. Enos Slaughter walked, and rookie Stan Musial timed a Ford off-speed pitch and hit one into the right field pavilion to put the Redbirds up by 3.

Cooper kept the Yankees at bay, pitching out of second-and-third-no-out jam in the second, and the Cardinals put 2 apiece across in each of the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings to cruise to victory. Cooper ended the day with 9 strikeouts, while Yankee hurlers walked 8 Swifites.

Game two was more of the same, and probably even more dominate for the Cardinals. They coasted to a 10-2 win behind 14 hits, 5 walks, and again the Yankees committed two miscues. Cardinal starter Johnny Beazley notched a complete game four hitter. The Cardinal offense was incredibly balanced, with every position player getting a hit, and no less than five players got two hits. Johnny Sain and Allie Reynolds were roughed up by the Cardinals, with Sain getting so frustrated he was kicked out of the game in the fourth inning for arguing with the ump on a questionable call in walking Slaughter.

The scene shifted to the Bronx for game three, with soft tossing lefty Eddie Lopat hoping to get the Bombers back in to the series, facing fellow southpaw Max Lanier. Lopat frustrated the Cardinals bats, as he went through the order relatively easy through the first four innings. But the Yankees offense was not able to muster up much against Lanier either, finally breaking through with a run in the fourth. It looked like a big inning for the Yankees when Yogi Berra lead off with a double, and Mickey Mantle and Gil McDougald walked loading the bases with no outs. Big Bill Renna came to the plate with a chance to break it open, and hit one right back to Lanier, who fired home for the force out. Don Bollweg then struck out, and with Lopat up it looked like Lanier had dodged a bullet. But lo and behold, Max walked Lopat to force in a run. He then got Billy Martin on an easy fly to Terry Moore in center to end the threat.

The Redbirds came right back to take the lead on singles by Ray Sanders and Jimmy Brown, a sacrifice bunt by Lanier, and a big two run single off the bat of Marty Marion.
The Yankees tied it in the seventh when after Lanier struck out Lopat looking, Bill Martin doubled. The Cardinals went to the bullpen to summon righthander Howie Krist to face Phil Rizzuto, but Rizzuto foiled the strategy with a double of his own to plate Martin. Krist then retired Hank Bauer, and manager Bike Mike again went to the pen to get another Howie, lefty Pollet this time, to face Yogi Berra. But Pollet lost Berra to a base on balls, but then rebounded to strike out Mickey Mantle batting righthanded.

Lopet and Pollet traded shutout innings in the eighth. Lopat then got Musial and Walker Cooper to start the 9th. But then lightning struck, as Whitey Kurowski launched a slow curve to right, just deep enough to get over the wall to put the Redbirds up 3-2.
With righthander "Gunboat" Gumbert warming up in the bullpen, Bike Mike stuck with Pollet to start the ninth despite three righthanded hitters due up. Pollet was equal to the task however, retiring Martin, Rizzuto and Bauer in order, with Bauer going down on strikes, to seal the win and the series. 

‘98 Bombers defeat ‘09 Phightin’s in 5

Utley	Posada	Irabu	Ibanez	Williams

Game 1 - Yankee Stadium
Philadelphia 14, New York 4
J.A. Happ vs David Cone

Philadelphia breaks a 3-3 tie with a 5 run uprising in the 7th inning highlighted by a Chase Utley grand slam.  The starters David Cone and JA Happ were gone early and didn't figure in the outcome.  The Phillies pounded the Yanks in game 1 14-4 to take a 1-0 lead in the best of five series.

Game 2 - Yankee Stadium
New York 9, Philadelphia 6
Jamie Moyer vs David Wells

New York goes with David Wells and Philly counters with Jamie Moyer.  Cliff Lee awaits his turn.  Moyer only lasts 4 innings and gives up 5 runs.  Jorge Posada goes 3 for 3 and hits 2 homeruns to lead the Yankee attack.  David Wells goes 7 innings with 4 earned to pickup the win.  Rivera gets the save.  New York hits a total of 5 homeruns to even the series 1-1.

Game 3 - Citizens Bank Ballpark
New York 10, Philadelphia 4
Hideki Irabu vs Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee finally gets the call but he wishes he didn't.  The Yanks score 5 runs in the 1st and hammer the Philly ace for 9 runs with 7 earned.  The Bronx Bombers continue to use their muscle and power to take a 2-1 lead in the series.  Hideki Irabu picks up the win pitching 8 1/3 innings while allowing 4 runs.  Ryan Howard hit his second homer of the series.

Game 4 - Citizens Bank Ballpark
Philadelphia 6, New York 4
Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez vs Cole Hamels

The Phils facing elimination hand the ball to Cole Hamels and he delivered.  Hamels goes 7 2/3 innings while striking out 7 and only giving up 3 runs.  Raul Ibanez hit a clutch homerun to breakup a 4-4 tie and give the Phils another game.  El Duque started for the Yanks but Darren Holmes suffered the loss.

Game 5 - Yankee Stadium
New York 13, Philadelphia 3
Joe Blanton vs David Cone

The Bronx Bombers take the series with another big offensive performance.  The Yanks pounded 17 hits and scored 13 runs as Joe Blanton suffered the loss.  The Phillies used 5 starters in the series and none of them had much success.  David Cone picks up the win going 7 2/3 innings.  Andy Pettite was not used at all and will be fresh for the next series.

Series Summary:  This series was all about hitting and no pitching.  The Phillies scored 33 runs and the Yanks scored 40 runs.  This was expected as both teams have big name sluggers.  Bernie Williams gets the MVP honors going 8 for 21 with 2 homers.  Jorge Posada was well deserving also going 8 for 13 with 2 homers. 

-- submitted by Frank Aluzzi--

Mets/Reds Series Revisited

How did the Mets Win:  New York seemed to get the key clutch hits when needed plus their starting pitching was able to go at least 6 innings in all 4 games including two 8+ inning stints.  As a team the Mets out hit Cincy .308 to .238.  The "table setters", Dykstra and Backman were on base all the time and Knight and Hernandez drove them in.  McDowell saved 2 games and even though he made fans nervous, he did come through

How did the Reds lose:  Bench and Foster hit below the Mendoza line and Rose hit barely over it.  Their starting pitching, which they knew wasn't going to be as strong as New York's, was not able to keep them close.  Norman and Billingham didn't make it out of the 4th inning and Nolan's 6 innings of work did not qualify for the "highly coveted" quality start, since he gave up 4 runs during that stint.

Series MVP:  Ray Knight (.471-HR-4 RBI)

GAME 4 - “O Yeah” – Mets 3, Reds 0

9/5 - GAME 4 - Shea Stadium
Mets 3, Reds 0
Pat Darcy vs Bobby Ojeda
The best kept secret in New York in 1986 was Bobby Ojeda, simply known to the fans as "Bobby O".  Ojeda, who was a sub .500 pitcher before coming to New York in the offseason found lightning in a bottle and posted an 18-5 record with the best ERA on the staff.  If the Reds took him lightly they would be sadly mistaken as Bobby O spent 8 innings throwing junk that confounded the Hall of Fame hitters on the Big Red Machine.  Ojeda would leave the game after tossing 8 shutout innings, while scattering 4 hits.  Cincy never had a runner advance past second.  Backed up by an RBI double from Mex and a RBI single from Backman in the first as well as an RBI single by Nails in the 4th, Ojeda made a 3-0 lead seem like 30-0.  Roger McDowell would come on in the 9th and give up a lead off single to Rose.  The sinkerballing specialist then got Foster to ground into an around the horn 5-4-3 DP and for good measure got one more groundball out when Doggie hit a one hopper to Santana at short to end it.
Mets win series 3-1

GAME 3 - “Hall of a win” – Reds 4, Mets 3 (10 inn)

9/4 - GAME 3 - Shea Stadium
Reds 4 Mets 3 (10 inn)
Fred Norman vs Sid Fernandez
With their backs planted firmly against the wall appropriately nicknamed "elimination" Cincy came out swinging or more aptly looking.  Sid "the squid" Fernandez gave up a lead off single to Concepcion then proceeded to walk 4 out of the next 6 batters to virtually hand the Reds a 2-0 lead.  That lead would be erased by one swing of Ray Knight's bat in the bottom of the 4th as the 1986 World Series MVP hit a 2 run shot to make it 2-2.  On the play Norman got some sort of whiplash type injury that resulted in him leaving the game.  Cincy would trot out 5 relievers in hopes of forcing their way into a game 4.  Fernandez, as usual, threw a game's worth of pitches in just 6 innings, so New York was forced to go to the pen a bit earlier than they wanted to.  Joe Morgan's RBI ground out in the 7th gave the Reds a 3-2 lead, but the resilient Mets tied it up once again on an RBI triple by Knight who was a double short of a cycle.  No further scoring occurred after 9 full innings of play, so this tension riddled game headed into "extras".  Jesse Orosco would start his second inning of work for the Amazin's by getting Foster to pop out to Santana at short.  Perez walked then moved to second on Geronimo's weak roller to Backman at second.  Merv Rettenmund was called on to pinch hit and delivered an RBI single to center to put the Reds up 4-3.  Tom Hall was given the job of closing out the Mets in the bottom of the 10th, but right off the bat he made the fans watching at home in the Queen City very nervous.  Hometown Matinee Idol Lee Mazzilli led off the 10th with a pinch hit single.  Tim Teufel followed that with a walk to put runners on 1st and second with nobody out and the top of the order coming to bat.  Mookie flew out to center and Hall fanned Mex and Knight to end it.  Cincy was able to squeek this one out and live to fight another day.
Mets lead series 2-1

GAME 2 - “That sinking feeling” – Mets 4, Reds 3

9/2 - GAME 2 - Riverfront Stadium
Dwight Gooden vs Gary Nolan
Mets 4, Reds 3
Lenny "Nails" Dykstra led the game off with a triple and scored on a sac fly that Darryl  Strawberry lifted to center.  RBI singles by Gary "Kid" Carter and Nails made it 3-0 as "Doc" proceeded to mow down the fabled "Big Red Machine" for 5 shutout innings.  After light hitting Rafael Santana singled home Knight to make it 4-0 in the 6th Cincy's bats caught fire.  Concepcion lined a clean single to left with 1 out in the bottom of the 6th only to see Griffey make the second out by lining out to left.  1975 NL MVP Joe Morgan showed why he earned that award by launching a line shot bullet over the fence in right center to make it a 4-2 ball game.  Gooden would settle back into his groove until the 9th when Cincy decided to not go quietly.  "Doggie" Perez fought off a Gooden heater with just enough strength to get it to clear the right field wall to take it 4-3.  Gooden was done after 8 1/3 innings of work where he fanned 8 and gave up 3.  Jesse "Uh-Oh" Orosco came on to get lefty Cesar Geronimo, but instead served up a line shot single through the middle.  Roger McDowell was summoned to face righty pinch hitter Merv Rettenmund.  The sinker ball specialist got Rettenmund to ground into a force play at second.  Concepcion followed with a single, then took second on an errant throw to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out and the Reds down by a run.  Griffey needed a single, but his line on hop liner bounced right into Santana's glove and the Met shortstop tagged Concepcion who strayed off the base for the final out of the game.
Mets lead series 2-0

“The Opening Salvo” – Amazin’s 9, Reds 7

9/1 - GAME 1 - Riverfront Stadium
Ron Darling vs Jack Billingham
Mets 9, Reds 7
To start the tournament off Mets manager Bill Keller took a page right out of Davey Johnson's book and decided to give the ball to Yalie Ron Darling in the series opener.  Unlike his Game 1 performance in the '86 Series, Darling was very hittable today.  Thankfully for "RJ" his opponent, Jack Billingham, was knocked around like a hockey puck.  After both teams exchanged solo runs in the 1st New York blew the doors off of Billingham's wagon with a huge 5 run 2nd inning all with 2 out.  Mookie Wilson's 2 run homer made it 3-1 and 3 batters later Kevin Mitchell's 3 run blast made it 6-1.  Ray Knight's RBI single in the 5th made it 7-1, but the Amazin's never do anything the easy way.  Darling, who was rock solid for the first 4 innings was tagged for 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th to make it a 7-5 ballgame.  George Foster exacted some sort of revenge against his former mates by leading the inning off with a solo blast.  Tony Perez single, but the next two batter made out and Darling looked like he was going to get out without any additional damage.  Dave Concepcion's long RBI single to right scored "Doggie".  Ken Griffey's RBI single was followed by "Little Joe" Morgan's RBI double, which made it a game once again.  "Mex" added an RBI single in the sixth and Mitchell's RBI single in the 8th made it a 4 run lead, which Roger McDowell almost blew in the 9th.  New York's sinker ball specialist gave up an RBI single to Morgan and a run scoring ground out to Pete Rose to make it 9-7.  Johnny Bench grounded out sharply to Knight at third to end the game.
Mets lead series 1-0

Bracket Setup

Orign of the Tournament

After reading Neyer and Epstein's Baseball Dynasties - The Greatest Teams of All time, I thought it would be a great theme for a tournament.  Neyer and Epstein rated these dynasties over a 3 year period, but decided to not use conventional ratings like winning % or Pythagorean.  Instead they decided to use SD (Standard Deviation) in order to show their dominance over their league during that time frame.  The book was published in 2000.  They rated 15 teams.  In order to round out the tournament I decided to add the 2009 Phillies as the 16th team due to their dominance over the NL from 2007-10 and to represent the new milenium.

The tournament will consist of 4 rounds with the first 2 rounds being best of 5 and the final 2 rounds being a best of 7 series.  Official start date is Friday 5/20, but some of the series will be played earlier.  All games will be played h2h online vs 16 different human managers.  You can click here to view the official tournament website.

Let the games begin !!!