54-NYY defeats 61-NYY to reach all '54 final

In a series that looked to be a promising start for the 1961 Yankees against their 1954 counterparts, the ’54 squad stunned the ‘61s with a 4 run ninth inning in game one to overcome a 5-2 deficit, then went on to win the final two games in all but shutout fashion.

The ’61 club had things in command in game one, as Roger Maris got them started quickly pounding a 3-run homer in the top of the first inning. Both teams tallied two runs after that through 8. Manager Bike Mike elected to lift a tiring Whitey Ford after 8, and brought in usually reliable reliever Luis Arroyo to close things down with a three run lead.

But in what seems to be a recurring theme of bizarre events in post season games for Bike Mike’s teams, Arroyo and his bullpen mates turned in to what would later be known as “Rick Ankiel syndrome”, sometimes called “Steve Blass disease”. The usually solid Arroyo gave up two walks, and two singles, getting out none of the four batters he faced.

On came Roland Sheldon, another strong hurler during the regular season. But this time Sheldon walked both hitters he faced.  Bike Mike tried Jim Coates, to see if he could stem the tide of the bases-loaded-no-out situation, with the score now 5-4. No go; Hank Bauer lined a game winning two-run single to complete the comeback.  The ’61 Yankee bullpen line for the inning showed  seven batters faced, no outs recorded, 3 hits, 4 walks, 4 runs. A legendary meltdown for the record books.

The game one collapse obviously did a number on the ’61 team’s confidence, as they never scored another run in the series. Well, technically they did manage to put one across in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 3 with two outs, but by then they were down 10-0 and the ’54 team’s players not on the field were already popping the champagne.

Bob Grim threw a 4-hit complete game shutout in game two, and Yogi Berra had 3 of the 9 ’54 hits

including a home run as the ’54 club took a commanding two game lead with a 3-0 victory.

Game three was all ’54, as they piled up 13 hits and 10 runs in a blowout. Andy Carey, Irv Noren, Bill Skowron, and Gil McDougald each had 2 hits, and Allie Reynolds went 8 1/3 innings striking out 7 without a walk to lead the onslaught.

Going back to game one for one final bit of the bizarre, the ’61 team had the early 3-0 lead on the Maris homer, as Mickey Mantle walked to open the top of the third. Elston Howard then singled, putting two on and no out. But wait, the game suddenly locked up!! It was a run time error, and thus we had to shut down and resume the game. Upon resuming, Howard had lost his hit, and was back at bat. This time he grounded out, with Mantle running on the play so Mick went to second. So now there is one on and one out, rather than two on and no out. Maris then walked, and Skowron singled. Mick tried to score from second on the hit with about a 2/3 chance to score, but was gunned down at the plate. Hector Lopez then struck out. Had the Elston Howard phantom hit stood, and Maris then walked to load the bases with no out, and Skowron then singled, could the ’61 team have put the game out of reach early? We will never know, but it just adds to the lore of the bizarre in that first game.

Such is life. Good luck to the ’54 Yankees, and hopefully we will see some exciting LCS games.

Bike Mike

'53 Boys of Summer Drop '74 LAD in 4

A series guaranteed to tickle the fancy of any Dodgers fan, regardless of locale, whether Brooklyn or Los Angeles.  The top seeded Classic NL 1953 Brooklyn Bums hosted the Number 4 seed
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers, hot off a 1 game Wild Card win versus the '75 Reds, at Ebbets Field.

This series featured the top hitting team, '53 Brooklyn, versus the number 2 pitching team in the league, '74 Los Angeles.

-------------------------------------

Game 1 - Ebbets Field

The first game featured one of the anchors of the Los Angeles team's pitching, Don Sutton, against the league's Wins (7 regular season wins), and K leader (74 K's), Carl Erskine.  Erskine,
is a bit of a surprise for Brooklyn, as he won (or tied for 1st) 2 of the 3 pitching Triple Crown categories, falling a bit shy in ERA.

The '53 Boys of Summer, despite having the obviously weaker pitching staff, had a glaring advantage, as they had 3 days of rest, so everyone on staff was well rested.  The L.A. Boys weren't
as fortunate, coming off a 1-game Wild Card game versus '75 Cincinnati, so staff ace Messersmith would have to wait until game 3.

'53 Brooklyn jumped out to a 3 run lead in the top of the 1st, led by Jackie Robinson's 2-run HR (5th of the season).  Bill Buckner left the game after lining out to 2nd, being replaced by
Von Johnson in left field.

Goose eggs by both pitchers until the top of the 5th, when The Duke of Flatbush doubled home Carl Erskine.  Campy adds a 2-run HR (12th of the season) to put Brooklyn up, 6-0.

3rd baseman Billy Cox, having a career year for the Brooklyn Boys (.323/6/29), scores Gil Hodges on a groundout to 2nd.  '53 Dodegers up 6-0.

Los Angeles avoids the shutout in the top of the 8th when Billy Buck's replacement in left field, Von Joshua, continues to show he can hit (.467/0/3 in limited duty during the regular
season) with a solo HR off Oisk. 

This would be it for both teams, as the Elder Bums take Game 1 of the 5 game series, 7-1.

Both pitchers go the distance, but what a difference in statlines:

'74 Sutton L(3-5)   (8.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 1 W, 3 K)
'53 Erskine W (8-2) (9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 W, 9 K) while facing just 6 over the minimum

GWRBI: Jackie Robinson (5)

MVP: Erskine (3)

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Game 2 - Ebbets Field

Second game of the series sees Southpaw Tommy John (3.66 ERA/2W/5L/27BB/27K/1CG on the

season) taking the mound for the '74 Dodgers, while '53 Brooklyn sends surprise phenom Clem Labine
(2.61 ERA/6W/0L/1Sv/15BB/17K) to the rubber.

League leader in steals, 2B Davey Lopes singles in the first, extending his hit-streak to 12 games.  Buckner singles, sending Lopes to 2nd.  The 1974 MVP, 1B Steve Garvey, grounds to 1st,
moving Lopes to 3rd, and Buckner to 2nd.  Labine strikes out CF Jimmy Wynn, and C Joe Ferguson flies out to right center, as L.A. fails to capitalize on having 2 men in scoring position.

Tommy John has a 1-2-3 inning, retiring the side.  RF Willie Crawford (.331/2HR/11RBI) starts off the bottom of the 2nd with a single to RF.  3B Ron Cey (.286/10/33) singles up the middle,
advancing Crawford to 3rd.  SS Bill Russell (  )grounds into a double play, scoring Crawford, to give L.A. their first lead of the series, 1-0.  Tommy John doubles to left center, with
Lopes flying out to the center field warning track, for the 3rd out of the inning.

Brooklyn 1B Gil Hodges singles in the bottom of the 2nd.  Carl Furillo flies out to deep leftfield, but Furillo holds at 1st.  Duke Snider flies down rightfield line, with Furillo once
again holding at 1st.  Junior Gilliam grounds to 2nd, reaching 1st on an error by Lopes, Hodges advances to 2nd.  "The Captain," PeeWee Reese grounds to John, who throws him out at 1st. 
L.A. 1, Brooklyn 0.

Bill Buckner leads off the top of the 3rd with a single to left center.  Garvey walks, Buckner to 2nd.  Jimmy Wynn flies deep to centerfield, advancing Buckner to 3rd.  Joe Ferguson hits a
sacrifice fly to center, scoring Buckner, for out number 2.  Crawford grounds to 3rd, forcing Garvey at 2nd.  L.A. 2, Brooklyn 0.

Bottom of the 3rd is uneventful, with no scoring.

Bottom of the 4th begins with Hodges flying out to shallow rightfield.  Furillo lines a single to right, Snider with groundout to to Lopes, Furillo advances to 2nd, 2 out.  Jim Gilliam
doubles off the rightfield wall, scoring Furillo.  Brooklyn now down by 1 run.  The Captain doubles off the wall in left-center, Gilliam scores.  Labine flies to deep left-center for the
3rd out of the inning.  Even up at 2 a [iece, after 4.

Bottom of 5, Campy walks with 2 outs.  Hodges singles to left, Campanella moves to 3rd.  On a passed ball by Ferguson, the opposing catcher, Campanella, scores.  Hodges moves to 2nd. 
Furillo ends the inning, grounding out to 2nd.  L.A. 2, Brooklyn 3.

This chases L.A. starter Tommy John, and reliever extraordinaire Mike Marshall takes the mound.  Snider grounds out to 2nd, Gilliam walks, but is thrown out attempting to steal 2nd, fir out
2.  Reese singles to center, and Marshall strikes out the opposing pitcher, Labine to wrap up the 6th.  Still 2-3.

Lopes leads off the 7th with an infield single.  Buckner walks, Lopes to 2nd.  Garvey flies out to center for the first out.  Jimmy Wynn grounds to 3rd, forcing Buckner at 2nd, while
Lopes advances to 3rd.  2 out.  Joe Ferguson grounds a single up the middle, scoring Lopes.  Wynn moves to 2nd.  Crawford grounds out to 1st for out 3.  L.A. 3, Brooklyn 3

Jackie grounds out to short for out 1.  Cox is safe at first on a rare error by sure handed Garvey.  Campanella doubles off the wall down the left field line, scoring Cox from 1st.  Hodges
adds a 2-run HR to left.  L.A. 3, Brooklyn 6.  Furillo singles to right, followed by K's on Snider and Gilliam.

Top of 8, Cey strikes out, followed by Russell grounding out to 1st.  Johnny Podres replaces Labine in the 8th, striking out pinch hitter Rick Auerbach.  Scores remains 3-6.

Knuckleballer Charlie Hough takes the mound in the bottom of the 8th.  Reese grounds out to 3rd, followed by a single to center by the pitcher Podres.  Robinson doubles to rightfirld,
moving Podres 90 feet to 3rd.  Billy Cox grounds to short, scoring Podres.  2 outs.  Roy Campanella  smacks a 413 foot homer to dead center, scoring 2.  Hodges strikes out to end the
inning.  L.A. 3, Brooklyn 9.

Speedster Lopes leads off the top of the 9th.  Billy Buck grounds into a 4-3 double play.  Steve Garvey grounds out to Podres to end the game.

Final: '74 L.A. 3, '53 Brooklyn 9

'74 John                  (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 W, 2 K)
'74 Marshall L(7-2)  (2.0 IP, 4 H, 2,ER, 1 W, 3 K)
'74 Hough                (1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 W, 1 K)

'53 Labine W(7-0)   (7.2 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 3 W, 5 K)
'53 Podres S(1)       (1.1 IP, 1  H, 0 ER, 0 W, 1 K)

GWRBI: Campanella (4)

MVP: Johnny Podres (1)  (1 for 1, 1 R, .429 on the year)

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Game 3 - Chavez Ravine

Down 2 games to none, the series shifts to Los Angeles, and much warmer climes (game time temp of 81 degrees), where the SoCal Dodgers are in a do-or-die situation, needing to win 3
straight to continue in the playoffs.

The staff ace for the local Boys of Summer is handed the ball for this most important game of the season (so far), Andy Messersmith, 1974 NL Wins leader.  He faces a lesser known journeyman
pitcher for the Brooklyn dodgers, Bob Miliken

While Messersmith was the workhorse for the local team (5.15 ERA, 5W, 4L, 85.2IP, 28BB, 62K)), Rowe was used in a multitude of roles (4.04 ERA, 2W, 2L, 2Sv, 49.0IP, 9G, 6GS, 1CG), and being
a spot starter versus as needed against any team.

After a scoreless 3 and a 1/2 innings, Popeye armed L.A. 1st baseman Steve Garvey planted his 5th HR of the seson 400 feet over the left-center wall to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead after 4
innings, in what is turning out to be a pitcher's duel.

With 2 out in the bottom of the 5th SS Bill Russell walks, and after Messersmith lays down a successful sacrifice bunt to Campanella, he does his job, moving Russell into scoring position
at 2nd base.  Lopes lines out to The Captain at SS, for out 2 of the inning.  Bill Buckner singles to center, scoring Russell.  West Coast 2, East Coast 0.  Buckner ends the inning when
thrown out at 2nd by Campanella on a steal attempt.  Buckner's 3rd caught steal attempt on the season, against 9 SB.

In the top of the 7th, with 2 out, the visiting Boys load the bases on 3 walks by Messersmith (to Hodges, Miliken and Gilliam).  Up to the plate steps the batting leader, Jackie Robinson,
hitting .382 to date, and .500 on the season (2 for 4) with the bases loaded.  Andy Messersmith faces perhaps his toughest at bat of the season, and does something few pitchers have been
able to do, all season: strike out Robinson (only his 8th K in 173 AB on the season) to end the inning, and avoid any runs after getting himself into this jam.

After a 3 up, 3 down bottom of the 7th for Miliken, All-star backstop Roy Campanella hits a 401 foot solo homerun to center, his 14th of the season, to cut L.A.'s lead in half.  Brooklyn 1,
L.A.2.  Brooklyn can not continue the momentum, and Furillo grounds out to Messersmith, and Hodges lines out to The Penguin to end the 8th.

Mike Marshall pitches the 9th, and faces 4 batters to end the game.  He pickes up his 5th Save of the year.

Final: '53 Brooklyn 1, '74 L.A. 2

'53 Miliken W(2-3)            (7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 W, 3 K)
'53 Wade                          (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 W, 0 K)

'74 Messersmith W(6-4)   (8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 W, 4 K)
'74 Marshall S(5)              (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 W, 0 K)

GWRBI: Garvey (1)

MVP: Andy Messersmith (3)

-------------------------------------

Game 4 - Chavez Ravine


Game 4 comes down to another do or die game for the local Boys of Summer, the '74 Los Angeles

Dodgers, who held off a potent hitting team in last night's game, turning a hitting fest of a
series into a pitchers duel, that saw just 3 runs scored in the game, where the first 2 games tallied a total of 20 runs.

Tonight's game sees 2 southpaws with similar names facing each other.  Preacher Roe for the visiting '53 Bums gets the call, while the '74 Dodgers send Doug Rau to the mound for the home
Boys.

Both left-handers have been used in 9 games by their respective teams, but in different ways.  '74 L.A.'s Rau started 10 games, and made no relief appearances.  His stat line for the
season: 3.32 ERA, 62.1IP, 3W, 3L, 32BB, 45K.

He faces a lesser known journeyman pitcher for the '53 Ddodgers, Preacher Roe, one of only 2 southpaws on the entire east coast Boys' club.  In contrast, the west coast Dodgers sport a
staff of 5 left-handers with 9 active pitchers on their 25 man rosters.

Preacher Roe was used in a multitude of roles (4.33 ERA, 2W, 1L, 27.0IP, 9G, 4GS), and as a spot starter versus teams heavily laden with left-handed hitters.

Brooklyn leftfielder Jackie Robinson started the game off with a walk, followed by a 360 foot homerun down the leftfield lien by 3B Billy Cox, his 7th of the year.  Campanella struck out,
followed by a long fly ball to the centerfield warning track by 1B Gil Hodges.  2 outs.  RF Carl Furillo lines a triple down the thirdbase line, and is driven in by CF Duke Snider, who
reaches first on an infield single.  2B Junior Gilliam flies out to left-center for the third out.  Brooklyn 3, L.A. 0.

Bottom of the 2nd sees leadoff CF Jimmy Wynn walking, with RF Joe Ferguson advancing him to 2nd on a sacrifice fly to deep center.  3B Ron Cey walks, and we now have men on 1st and 2nd,
with 1 out.  C Steve Yeager singles to rightfield, scoring Wynn, and moving Cey to 3rd.  SS Bill Russell lines out to PeeWee, followed by P Doug Rau grounding out to his counterpart, to end
the inning.  '53 Brooklyn 3, '74 L.A. 1.

Brooklyn fails to score in the top of the 3rd on a hit, a walk and a rare error by Golden Glove 1B Steve Garvey, his 2nd in 3 games, and only his 4th all season.
Top of the 4th begins with The Captain lining out to 3B, and Roe striking out.  Jackie walks followed by the most unlikely of heroes, Billy Cox, who hits his 2nd homerun of the game, a 412
foot shot to left center.  Campanella caps the inning with a deep fly to right-center field.  Brooklyn 5, L.A. 1 after 4 in the books.

Hodges walks to lead off the 5th, followed by an infield single by The Reading Rifle, which moves Hodges to 2nd.  Duke walks, loading the bases with no one out.  Junior grounds to Russell,
forcing Snider at 2nd, allowing Hodges to score, and advances Furillo to 3rd.  PeeWee cracks a 353 shot down the leftfield line, his 3rd of the year,  scoring 3.  Brooklyn now up 9 to 1. 

Preacher walks, followed by Robinson grounding to short, Roe moves to 2nd.  Cox ends the inning with a flyout to deep center. 

Top of the 5th sees Yeager lining a single between third and short.  Yeager moves to 2nd on Russell's grounder to third, out number 1.  Pinch hit extraordinaire Manny Mota pinch hits for
Rau, singling up the middle, and moves Yeager to 3rd.  Lopes pops out to second for the 2nd out.  Buckner singles to right, scoring Yeager, and Mota takes third.   '53 Brooklyn 8, '74 L.A.

2.  With runers on 1st and 3rd, Garvey hits his 6th HR of the season, a 396 foot shot to the right-center alley.  Wynn can't keep the rally alive, and grounds out to Hodges at 1st. 
Brooklyn 9, L.A. 5.

Lefty Al Downing now pitching for L.A., gets Campy to line out to 2nd for the first out of the 6th.  Hodges singles a grounder between third and short.  Furillo grounds to 3rd, moves Hodges
to 2nd.  The Silver Fox beats out an infield hit, allowing Hodges to score from 2nd on a throwing error by Cey.  Snider moves to 2nd.  Gilliam ends the inning by grounding to second. 
Brooklyn 10, L.A. 5.

Mike Marshall enters to pitch the last 2.0 innings, but the home team is unable to produce anymore runs, and Roe goes the distance for a complete game victory, his 3rd of the season.  Rau
takes the loss, his 4th.

The early victory means the Boys of Summer, eastcoast version face either the '62 Giants or the '77 Phillies for a chance to advance to the KOD25 World Series. 

The '74 Dodgers should walk proud, as they came far, facing a potent '53 Brooklyn team that gets the hits when they need them, and has seen their pitching stand up to the best in the
league.  Congratulations to Marc Weiss for managing a great season!

Final: '53 Brooklyn 10, '74 L.A. 5, Brooklyn takes the series 3 games to 1, and advances to the NLCS.

'53 Roe W(3-1)          (7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 W, 3 K)

'74 Rau L(3-4)           (5.0 IP, 7 H, 9 ER, 6 W, 3 K)
'74 Downing              (2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 W, 1 K)
'74 Marshall, M         (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 W, 3 K)

GWRBI: Billy Cox (3)

MVP: Billy Cox (4)

--Submitted by Geoff Kroll--

MODERN NLWC: 90 Reds survived 85 Cards

An exciting game between two evenly matched teams. As expected, it was a pitchers duel for most of the game. It was scoreless until the 6th when Jack Clark singled in Ivan Dejesus with the game's first run. Dejesus was subbing for Ozzie who was injured running down the first base line way back in the first inning. An obvious big blow to the Cardinals.

Then came the fateful 7th inning. In the top half, St. Louis catcher Darrell Porter deposited a Rijo fastball into the right centerfield seats to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead but in the bottom of the 7th is where the wheels came off. Danny Cox, breezing along through the first 6 innings gave up a leadoff single to Paul O'Neill and a walk to Eric Davis, followed by a rare error on Terry Pendleton to load the bases. Pinch hitter Herm Winningham  drove in O'Neill on a Sac Fly to make it 2-1. Another walk by Cox loaded the bases again for Barry Larkin and brought Whitey Herzog out of the dugout to call for Bill Campbell to shut down the rally, however, Larkin had other plans as he slammed  a single to center to bring in 2 more to give the Reds the lead. Still another single by Billy Hatcher made it 4-2. 

From there the Nasty Boys, Dibble and Myers closed it out for game MVP Jose Rijo and the 90 Reds survive to the next round. 

Great game Bruce. 

--submitted by Mike Hill--