61 Bombers sweep 69 O's.

The 1961 Yankees completed an improbable sweep of the 1969 Baltimore Orioles, a club that had clinched the division title coming in to the series. The sweep was the culmination of a second half turn-around on the part of the Yankees, who stood at 10-11 just past the midway point after dropping 2 of 3 to the lowly ’77 Angels.

Pitching keyed the sweep, with starters Rollie Sheldon, Whitey Ford and Ralph Terry all turning in dominant efforts. Elston Howard’s three run homer broke up a 2-2 game in the opener, as the Yankees went on to win 8-4.

Whitey Ford scattered four hits through 9 innings in game two, but Mike Cuellar was almost as tough and the game went to the bottom of the ninth tied 1-1. Eddie Watt was on the mound for Baltimore, and got the first two Yankee hitters. Yogi Berra was called on to hit for Hector Lopez, and singled. Clete Boyer worked a walk, and John Blanchard came on to hit for Ford. Blanchard turned on a 2-2 pitch and yanked it into the left field bleachers for a game winning 3 run homer – what might be referred to a “walk off” homer in the future. Super-sub Blanchard finished the season with a .355 average, and 9 homers, only one shy of glorified teammates Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.

Game three saw the Yankees win 5-1 over Dave McNally, as Howard hit another home run and Roger Maris had a clutch, two out two run single.

The Orioles will remain a favorite to win the KPD25 AL pennant, but the Yankees hope to continue their second half success in to the post season.

Bike Mike

'74 Dodgers sweep '69 Amazin's to even their record at 20-20

Shea Stadium
GAME 1
Rau vs Koosman
74-Dodgers 3, 69-Mets 2

The 17-20 Dodgers headed back east to their NYC roots to face the '69 Amazin's (15-22).  The series opener featured a battle of portsiders.  LA got on the board first when Davey Lopes singled with one out in the 3rd and promptly swiped second.  Billy Bucks was rewarded with his patience at the plate with an RBI single to make it 1-0.  NY tied up the game in the home half of the 4th on a solo homer by Cleon Jones.  The Dodgers scored 2 in the 5th to take a 3-1 lead over a New York team that doesn't score many runs.  LA's Doug Rau tired after 7 1/3 solid innings and handed the ball off to everyday reliever Mike Marshall, who got out of the inning without any damage.  In the bottom of the 9th Eddie Kranepool worked out a pinch hit lead off walk off of Marshall, but backup catcher Duffy Dyer grounded into a rally killing DP.  Lefty Art Shamsky came to the plate as a pinch hitter for Buddy Harrelson and smashed a line shot homer over the 338 marker in right field.  Sadly for the Amazin's Wayne Garrett grounded out weakly to short to end the game.

GAME 2
Sutton vs Ryan
Dodgers 11, Mets 9 (11 inn)

In a battle of future HOF'ers neither man would factor into the decision.  Ryan, who rubbed up a nasty blister, made a quick exit with 2 outs in the 4th.  Sutton would last into the 7th, but he was yielding more runs than a 6 pack of burritos from Taco Bell.  Both teams' offense got on track today in this see saw battle.  New York was protecting a one run lead heading into the 9th, but pen ace Ron Taylor gave up a one out solo homer to Ron Cey to tie it.  Neither team scored in the 10th.  LA would score 3 times in the 11, with 2 runs coming off a tape measure shot by catcher Joe Ferguson.  New York wasn't going to go easy in the bottom of the 11th as Mike Marshall (3.2 IP) began to tire.  After Cleon Jones led off the inning with a single, Rocky Swoboda got caught looking.  PH Bobby PFeil singled to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Eddie Kranepool, who doubled to put runners on 2nd and 3rd.  With Jones scoring easy the Dodgers were holding on tightly to their season and a 2 run lead with relief ace Marshall fading faster than a Sunday golfer's tee shot.  Knowing that Marshall was at the end of the line LA brough in knuckleballer Charlie Hough who saved the day by fanning Grote and Harrelson.

GAME 3
Zahn vs Seaver
Dodgers 6, Mets 5 (13 inn)

With their season on the line the Dodgers had to choose between rookie southpaw Geoff Zahn and veteran southpaw Al Downing.  Zahn had been used primarily out of the pen, while Downing was the team's swing man.  Since Tommy John went down with an elbow injury that most won't even remember minutes from now, the team had to choose another lefty.  Zahn got the call, but it wouldn't be easy since his opposing number turned out to be "The Franchise", Tom Seaver.  With the score 2-1 LA after 4 1/2 innings of play the Amazin's jumped all over Zahn and scored 4 runs to go up 5-2.  If NY has vintage Seaver the game is over.  It sure looked that way until the top of the 8th.  Buckner led off the inning with a walk and stoke second, then scored off a Wynn single.  Ferguson walked, but was thrown out at the plate on Willie Crawford's double.  Wynn scored to make it 5-4.  With 2 out Cey singled home Crawford to tie the game.  Zahn would exit in the 8th thankful that the game was tied.  Veteran reliever Jim Brewer got the final 2 outs in the inning.  Neither team scored in the 9th and the game headed toward extra innings.  Seaver would pitch 10 innings before giving way to spot starter Jim McAndrew.  LA also went to a spot starter, lefty Al Downing, who proceeded to blank NY in 5 innings of relief ball.  Finally in the top of the 13th Ron Cey hit a solo shot with 2 outs over McAndrew to put LA up by one.  LA continued to go with Downing to finish off the game since he was in a groove and closer Mike Marshall had thrown 70 pitches the two previous nights.  Downing got PH Al Weis to ground out to short.  Buddy Harrelson single with one out, but PH Jerry Grote hit into a tailor made 4-6-3 DP to end the game and NY's season.  LA managed to even their record at 20-20 with this 3 game sweep, which gives them an outside shot at a wild card.