Mathewson - UPDATE

Mathewson has been unstoppable!

I mentioned Mathewson' work in the first round of the tournament in the post "Big Six" in APBA, he has now played his season openers for the 1904 Giants & 1912 Giants, plus I forgot to mention his exhibition against the 1917 White Sox prior to the tournament as well.

His Career numbers for me in 7 APBA starts:

• 6-0 record.
• 4 Complete Games (2 Shutouts)
• Only 10 ER's allowed in 62 innings of work (1.45 ERA)!
• 42 K's & 11 BB's allowed (all 11 walks coming from his 1904 edition in 4 GS).
• 30 hits allowed + his 11 BB's, giving him a .661 WHIP!

The Kansas City Monarchs (1920 - 1950)

The Kansas City Monarchs are one of the best known and most successful teams in Negro League history & were owned by J.L. Wilkinson, a white businessman. The Monarchs won a total of ten pennants, tying for the most with the Homestead Grays, and suffered only one losing season during their entirety with the Negro Leagues. That one season was during World War II, when the roster was decimated by the loss of players to military service.

The Monarchs also are the first team to win the initial Negro League World Series in 1924 between the Negro National League & Eastern Colored League, and again in the reinstated World Series in 1942 between the Negro National League & Negro American League. Won three consecutive pennants (narrowly missing a fourth) from 1923-1925 & 1929. They would drop out of the Negro National League, and would be a independent team until 1937, when the Monarchs joined as a charter member of the new Negro American League. They would win the pennant in it's first season 1937, and go on to win four consecutive pennants from 1939-1942 & one more in 1946.

In 1942, the first World Series since 1927, the Kansas City Monarchs would sweep the Homestead Grays in four games. In 1946, the Monarchs would lose a hard-fought seven-game series to the Newark Eagles.

After the 1948 season, Wilkinson would sell the franchise to Tom Baird, who continued to operate the Monarchs through the 1950's, but by then the league has lost it's major status & was strictly a minor-league operation.

A Break in the Action

I have a few APBA projects and future ideas in the works. Presently, I'm trying to catch up all my APBA Baseball Tournament games ("Tournament of Champions"), do all the recaps of the played series, I have not purchased the GTOP Volume 3 yet (Greatest Teams of the Past), so the tournament with the stats & waiting to purchase Volume 3 next month, will likely resume in April.

I have also decided that my Heritage League that has 36 teams, will likely cut their first season in half to make a few less projects. The 2nd-half schedule is a duplicate of the first half anyways, so no competitive balance is sacrificed. The 2nd Season and beyond for the Heritage League will all take place on APBA  BBW (Baseball for Windows) here on out -- Once I acquire all the GTOP volumes & BATS 2 (Baseball All-Time Stars) on disks. I just think it will be more fun and easier to keep the stats for that particular league, plus if I ever decide to add real-life members who want to manage in the league as well.

I currently own the first two volumes of the GTOP's, and have already constructed the divisions and league formats for a league called the Stars & Stripes League or "Crazy 48's". 2 Leagues with 4 divisions of 6 teams each (Yes, 48 teams)! The playoff format will be that of the NFL of all things, the top two teams will get first-round series byes. The home teams during series will have pitchers bat if they are a National League team or a pre-DH era American League team, so that teams can still stay true to their teams' natures on the most part. I will do a separate post with more details on this league & it's rules pretty soon here -- but here are the teams (with their Pythagorean winning percentages) that will be involved in this crazy project down below:

The 06' Cubs went 116-33, and have an all-Grade A APBA rotation with solid infield.

STARS LEAGUE

Division I 
1927 New York Yankees (.708)
1931 Philadelphia Athletics (.638)
1912 New York Giants (.662)
1929 Chicago Cubs (.618)
1934 St. Louis Cardinals (.588)
1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords (N/A)

Division II
1942 St. Louis Cardinals (.695)
1937 New York Yankees (.669)
1946 Boston Red Sox (.630)
1940 Cincinnati Reds (.627)
1937 New York Giants (.586)
1944 St. Louis Browns (.571)

Division III
1969 Baltimore Orioles (.679)
1975 Cincinnati Reds (.660)
1968 Detroit Tigers (.636)
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates (.623)
1962 Los Angeles Dodgers (.588)
1971 San Francisco Giants (.543)

Division IV
2001 Seattle Mariners (.673)
1998 Atlanta Braves (.654)
1985 Toronto Blue Jays (.615)
1993 Philadelphia Phillies (.574)
1981 Montreal Expos (.556)
1999 Texas Rangers (.543)

STRIPES LEAGUE

Division I
1906 Chicago Cubs (.757)
1904 New York Giants (.693)
1912 Boston Red Sox (.671)
1917 Chicago White Sox (.656)
1925 Washington Senators (.596)
1914 Boston Braves (.582)

Division II
1954 Cleveland Indians (.674)
1953 New York Yankees (.669)
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers (.643)
1960 Pittsburgh Pirates (.597)
1971 Oakland Athletics (.590)
1969 New York Mets (.568)

Division III
1986 New York Mets (.636)
1984 Detroit Tigers (.611)
1977 Philadelphia Phillies (.605)
1983 Baltimore Orioles (.593)
1980 Kansas City Royals (.568)
1976 Los Angeles Dodgers (.543)

Division IV
1998 New York Yankees (.667)
1995 Cleveland Indians (.646)
2007 Boston Red Sox (.623)
1993 San Francisco Giants (.605)
2002 Oakland Athletics (.593)
1998 San Diego Padres (.574)

I tried to place the teams in time periods to balance things out, and avoided same team names in same divisions, Boston will be represented twice in the Stripes (Division I) with the 1912 Boston Red Sox & 1914 Boston Braves. I also questioned if I was biting off more than I can chew, and actually went along the league layout and thought of sacrificing some teams to make it easier on me, but I think each team (even the 1944 St.Louis Browns) will bring out interesting story-lines & twists to the season. Teams like the 1984 Tigers would probably get hammered if they are stuck with nothing but .620/.630 and above winning percentages, so that's why teams such as the Browns, 37' Giants, 62' & 76' Dodgers, 98' Red Sox, 80' Royals, and 98' Padres are involved as well. The wife encouraged me to keep all 48, she knew that I would regret it, if I made cuts.

Like I have said before, I will have more information in a future post on this project.

E-APBay

Okay... It's a bit of a goofy title for this post, but I think you all know where I am going with this. So the wife and I recently got back our federal taxes, and we are taking care of business with payments to places that we NEED to pay off. But that doesn't mean we can not maybe buy ourselves a little prize or not. I already bought a $10 box of 2013 Topps Baseball Cards, some top holders for my cards & a Fantasy Baseball Magazine (The only reason to love February, right?!).

I've been window shopping on E-Bay for APBA Baseball Cards. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it must have been some time since I've looked for cards on E-Bay, because now there seems to be an abundance of APBA Cards on the site, compared to nil a long time back. So now I'm like a kid in a candy store, and I've got my Baseball Reference.com up with the E-Bay site, $2.00?! Oh they only won 62 games, yeah that makes more sense.

Chili Davis of the 89' Angels.

There is teams that you forget about like the 1989 California Angels, they were a pretty good team with great hitting, good rotation & bullpen -- My friend Sgt. Dan will probably agree with me on that, I completely forgot about this team, and when I brought them up on Baseball Reference, I found out they won 91 games actually (really good for a third place team), remember the Oakland Athletics went on to win the division and World Series in the unfortunate sad news 1989 season (Rose, Giamatti & the quake). They did finish 8 back, and one game behind 2nd-place Kansas City. Their team OPS is not quite something to brag about, but they had really good defense and feisty hitters. Their team leader in HRs was Chili Davis with only 22, but they had 7 players in the lineup in double-figures in that category: Jack Howell had 20 HRs (with 90 RBI), Lance Parrish added 17 HRs (despite a .238 average), Johnny Ray added 16 HRs (I loved watching this guy play, an underrated star for a few years there), Brian Downing (14), Claudell Washington (13) and a young Devon White adding 12 HRs -- which White added 44 steals and great defense. The team also had Tony Armas on the bench with 11 HRs.

The rotation was anchored by 38 year-old (Hall of Famer) Bert Blyleven (17-5, 2.73 ERA), followed by Mike Witt (a off-year of 9-15, 4.54 ERA), Kirk McCaskill (15-10, 2.93 ERA), Chuck Finley (16-9, 2.57 ERA & 156 K's in 199.2 IP) & fresh-faced Michigan star Jim Abbott at 12-12, 3.92 ERA in just over 181 innings. If this team had Witt pitching to his best potential, this team could have made a really good run; their bullpen also had Bryan Harvey (25 Saves, 3.44 ERA), Willie Fraser (3.24 ERA in 92 IP), Greg Minton (a real dependable, consistent reliever in the 80's) with a 2.20 ERA in 90 Innings, Bob McClure pitched excellent with a 1.55 ERA in 52.1 Innings, while Rich Monteleone added a 3.18 ERA in 40 innings.

Lynn on the cover of SI during 1975.

Sorry about the history lesson, and getting a bit off-track there... but there was teams such as this on E-Bay that can be interesting little buys or additions to doing league tournaments or teams of the past replays. Then I found a more recognizable team such as the 1975 Boston Red Sox (Yes, Carlton wave that ball fair!), are you kidding me?! I need to make a bid on this. This team is not among any of the Greatest Teams volumes (which personally i think is a shame, because the 75' series is considered one of the best & most dramatic World Series), but I understand APBA wants to sell the 1975 APBA Season as well, and they already have the 1975 Cincinnati Reds in Greatest Teams of the Past.

So I made a bid on the 1975 Boston Red Sox, always loved this team and how can you not? There is Fred Lynn who literally splashed onto the scene with his MVP/Rookie of the Year season, with Bostonians starting to whisper his name as the next Williams or Yastrzemski -- he would never be either of those two studs, but he would be a pretty darn good player for a little while at least. Then there is aging Carl Yastrzemski himself, with stars Jim Rice & Dwight Evans. Luis Tiant, love this guy, love the way he talks, love his herky-jerky deliverance of the ball ('Is he throwing it to third?!'), and another colorful character in Bill "The Spaceman" Lee. I was looking good for awhile on the bid, entering the last 6-8 hours people starting out-bidding me, my bid was for $5.50 and $2.00 for shipping & handling. It's now (with 30 minutes left) at $10.50 (plus the $2), $12.50 for one team (even though it would be a nice addition to the collection) is a bit more than I would like to pay.

But back to some of the absurd E-Bay listings, and the fact people are actually making bids on it as well. We return to the 1975 Reds, remember it's part of one of the Greatest Teams of the Past volumes -- the team (and only the team) is going for $26.00! Say what?! The Greatest Team volume, you can get for $40, along with 19 other great teams.

Another E-Bay listing had me scratch my head with a posting for 20 blank APBA cards for $20.00, I'm sorry, but you can buy like 100 blank cards for something like $4-$6 on the APBA site.

Cool Dodgers' infield bobbleheads of Cey, Russell, Lopes & Garvey.

Another posted the 1976 American League Los Angeles Dodgers, last I checked they are in the National League buddy, I guess it could have been worse... they could have said the 1976 American League Brooklyn Dodgers, LOL!

Another Dodger posting on E-Bay had the 76-78 Brooklyn Robins of 1922 (Dodgers) for Buy it now (or best offer) at $24.84?! Not sure why it had to be a weird price on top of the fact that it's over-priced! Here's my best offer $1.00 -- Sure it has Zack Wheat & Dazzy Vance, but that's what BATS is for. A better deal would be for the 1901 Brooklyn Superbas, 3rd place at 79-57 (81-55 Pythagorean record) with Willie Keeler & Bill Donovan for $2.99 ($1.50 S&H).

I got really excited when I saw that someone was posting 108 Seasons on APBA for Windows for $125 (Buy It Now) -- I would have tried to go in on it with my brothers, went to sleep thinking about how cool would it to own 108 seasons of what 112?! Endless possibilities! Woke up, to realize my crusty eyes must have read that wrong (Choose 20 seasons) from 108 Seasons.

Ohhhhh.... that makes more sense, bummer.

"The Big Six" in APBA

Also known as "The Christian Gentleman", Christy Mathewson was one of baseball's most dominant pitchers to ever play the game. He was ranked on ESPN's recent Top 125 Countdown at #29 (even though I would have had him higher than that, and higher than a couple pitchers that were ranked higher than him), and is on two of my teams (the 1904 & 1912 New York Giants) during the APBA Tournament of Champions that I am conducting.

During his first two series, he showed exactly why he was one of the best ever:

• 1904 Giants: 1-0 record, 2 GS, CG/SHO, 1.42 ERA, 15 K & 4 BB (.684 WHIP) in 19 IP.
• 1912 Giants: 2-0 record, 2 GS, CG, 1.59 ERA, 11 K & no walks (.471 WHIP) in 17 IP.

A combined 3-0 record, 4 GS, 2 CG (1 SHO), 1.50 ERA, 26 K & 4 BB (.583 WHIP) in 36 Innings!

He was also great with the bat, so far in this tournament, with the 04' Giants, he only had one hit in 5 at-bats, but it was a RBI double -- but it was his work with the bat for the 1912 Giants, in which he went 4-for-6 (.667), another RBI double, 2 runs, and a bases-on-balls; an OPS of 1.547 during 2 games.

His APBA Pitching Grades for the two series:

• 1904 Giants: A&C-XZ
• 1912 Giants: A-YZZ

STARS & STRIPES - The Games so far...

I'm doing some exhibitions with the two All-Star Negro League teams I've constructed, the Negro "Stars" & Negro "Stripes" team. They are doing a bit of a barnstorming tour in which they will play each other, and other MLB teams of the past.

At this point, the Stripes are undefeated at 3-0, and the Stars are 3-1 (only losing to the Stripes) -- in which both teams are a combined 5-0 against MLB teams, and outscoring those teams a combined 44 runs.

Keeping it cool: Cool Papa Bell.

The tour started with both teams playing each other in a see-saw battle between Negro League greats, I plan to do a game recap of this at some point -- it was a really good game, the Stripes edged the Stars 7-6. Both starting pitchers Satchel Paige (Stars) and "Smokey" Joe Williams (Stripes) were not factors as they both allowed plenty of runs in short outings. Paige did strikeout 6 however in his 4 IP (5 ER's allowed). Willard Brown and Cool Papa Bell were the stars from that game, each getting 3 RBI for the Stripes in their victory debut. Brown went 2-for-4, HR, 3B & scored twice; Bell 2-for-5, 3B, SB.

Game #2/ Stripes @ 25' Washington (A)
The Stripes get to be the first to face an MLB team, and their first challenger are the 1925 Washington Senators, both teams #2 SP's face off against one another; Willie Foster (Stripes) A-XYZ against aging Walter Johnson (Senators) B-X.

The game was scoreless until the top of the 3rd, when Josh Gibson slammed a 3-run HR off the "Big Train" Johnson. Judy Johnson added to the mix with a 2-run double in the 6th Inning. The Senators only run came off an RBI single in the bottom of the third, all 5 of Washington's hits were singles off Foster; Foster pitched 7 Innings of 0 ER/1 R, 4-hit ball with 6 strike outs & one walk allowed.

Game #2/ Stars vs. 46' Boston (A)
A close game through it's entirety, Ray Brown (Stars) allowed 2 ER & 5 hits in 8 innings, without a strikeout against the Ted Williams & the American League Champion Boston Red Sox. Tex Hughson for Boston, pitched 7 Innings, allowing only 5 hits & 2 ER's. Turkey Stearnes broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth, with a 2-run HR off of Boston reliever Clem Dreisewerd. Stripes' closer Jose Mendez came in for the save, including a strike out of Williams.

Stars' Bullet Joe Rogan.

Game #3/ Stars @ 98' Atlanta
This game belonged to the Stars' Bullet Joe Rogan (A-Y) who was pitching a no-hitter into the 7th Inning against the 1998 Atlanta Braves, which was broken up by Javy Lopez with a single to right. Rogan would go on to shutout the Braves in a complete one-hit gem against the Braves' John Smoltz (B-XYZ), allowing 3 walks while striking out three. Not only Rogan pitched a gem, he would be one of the offensive forces for the Stars, knocking in a 3-run HR off of Smoltz in the top of the 6th (ending his night). Cuban star OF-Christobal  Torriente (2-for-4, 3B, RBI, SB & 2 runs) and 1B-Mule Suttles (2-for-4, 3B, RBI & run) were factors as well.

Game #3/ Stripes vs. 86' New York (N)
I was curious to see how this scrappy Mets team would do against the Stripes, they swept the 1984 Detroit Tigers in a 4-game exhibition series -- which I felt was pretty impressive. They were far from impressive against the Stripes though, the Stripes exploded out of the gate and had a 7-run lead (after 2 innings), 15-run lead (after 4 innings), losing the game in a 20-0 shutout to the Stripes' Leon Day, who allowed only 2 hits & 4 walks, while striking out 8 Mets. The Mets allowed a ridiculous 22 hits!

Judy Johnson: The best Negro 3B ever.

LF-Pete Hill had a big day, who went 3-for-6, 2 HR's, 5 RBI, 3 runs & a steal; while 3B-Judy Johnson had a even bigger day, going 5-for-6, 2 HR's, 6 RBI, 2B and 2 runs. Catcher Josh Gibson added a 3-run HR, 1B-Jud Wilson went 2-for-6, 2-run HR & 3 runs, while Day (the star pitcher) went 2-for-4, with a ribbie and run. Each player in the starting lineup contributed with at least a hit, plus Bruce Petway (C) and Spot Poles (OF) contributed off the bench as well.

Mets' #3 starter Bobby Ojeda (A-YZ) allowed 7 hits, 7 ER & 2 BB's after only two innings; while Rick Aguilera came out for relief and allowed the same in hits & ER's in 2 innings as well.






Game #4/ Stars vs. 25' Washington (A)
The 1925 Washington Senators produced more better with the bat against the Stars, but this game was nowhere as close, as the Stars prevailed 14-5. Leadoff hitter Ossie Bluege (3B) was the Senators' star, going 2-for-5 with a HR, 2 RBI & double.First Baseman Joe Judge added a triple & 2 RBI.

The Stars' Rube Foster coasted through his first 5 innings with no runs allowed, until he ran into a mess and allowed 3 runs in the top of the 6th, to close the gap 4-3 Stars.

Firpo Marberry of the Senators allowed the game to get out of hand, including a Grand Slam by third baseman Biz Mackey (2-for-4, HR, 5 RBI) in the bottom of the 7th. Turkey Stearnes added a 2-run HR & Grant Johnson came off the bench to hit two RBI doubles in two at-bats. Buck Leonard finally broke out of his slump, hitting 5th, with 2 singles (including an RBI) in 4 at-bats.

Absent-Minded Baseball

Harper's 2013 Topps Baseball Card.

So the wife and I got our federal taxes back, pretty quickly I must say. We got hungry and we are getting some big things (bills) out of the way.

So we also got to treat ourselves and I got myself a small box (72 cards) of the new 2013 Topps Baseball Cards - great looking cards I must say. I actually landed a Roberto Clemente Die-Cut Card called "Cut to the Chase" which is cool, because he is also one of my favorite players in Major League History, and I am one of those fans that believes #21 should be retired as well.

Anyways, the theme of this year's Topps Baseball Cards is "The Chase". Young stars have a special set called "Chasing the Dream" (got a Jacob Turner & Giancarlo Stanton card of that); on the regular issue cards it would say CAREER CHASE:  under the general birth info, birth place, etc.

For example:

• R.A. Dickey - CAREER CHASE: With 61 Wins, Dickey is 450 away from Cy Young's all-time record of 511. That's all? Just 450 wins away!?
• Joe Nathan - CAREER CHASE: With 298 saves, Nathan is 310 saves away from Mariano Rivera's all-time record of 608. Too bad that he's 38!
• Denard Span - CAREER CHASE: With 260 runs, Span is 2,035 away from Rickey Henderson's all-time record of 2,295.
• Mark Teixeira - CAREER CHASE: With 338 Home Runs, Teixeira is 424 away from Barry Bond's all-time record of 762.

Believe me there is a point to all of this, the next card had me going through the roof, especially when you consider the record holder of the card (above) being held by that of a steroid head!

• Andrew McCutchen - CAREER CHASE: With 629 hits, McCutchen is 3,627 away from the all-time record of 4,256.

Really, Topps? Really Baseball? You know that Bud Selig had to have his hand in this somewhere. (By the way wasn't he supposed to have left office like 5 years ago?!) You might be thinking, 'what did I miss here? I don't get it.' Hey Topps, who has the all-time hits record in MLB history? Oh yeah, a guy that never used performance enhancing drugs, a man who should definitely be in the Hall of Fame! 

PETE ROSE

Oh man, not another guy crying about Pete Rose, you're thinking... To make sure this wasn't a misprint on the back of the card, I checked others... NOPE. He was purposely left off the card, so we have new kids being introduced to the game of baseball & collecting cards asking their dads, who is the all-time hits leader? and why was he not listed? They had no problem placing Barry Bonds' name with 762 Home Runs (with no asterisk, I may add), when we all know that Hank Aaron is still the true HR King. Rose played the game harder than anybody ever played the game, he still owns countless records -- always played aggressively, ask Ray Fosse about that -- from his All-Star experience that ruined the rest of his career. Rose played so hard, he even took out Fosse guarding home plate during an All-Star Game that was nothing more than an exhibition.

When are we going to stop punishing this guy? We don't punish Ty Cobb for being a racist, Babe Ruth for being a womanizer, or Mickey Mantle for being a drunk.

He hasn't been elected in the Hall of Fame, because no one who is eligible to place him on the ballot is allowed to do so -- I often wonder if they were at least allowed, would they vote him in?

The steroid guys are all eligible, they aren't banned from the game. So I guess we are teaching kids today:  if you want to be the next Bryce Harper or Mike Trout, that it's okay to do steroids. I'm not saying they did at all, in fact I don't think either one of them have, I'm just saying to get your feet in the door, to get a big draft signing bonus, the temptation is probably difficult to ignore -- plus it does not help that we just slap the hands of Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Manny Ramirez and say "You were bad boys, but sure... you can have some cake, and possibly some Hall of Fame Ice Cream as well"

Good News: I got my Clemente card.

Buck Leonard (Player Profile)

BUCK LEONARD (First Base)

Walter Fenner Leonard

Nickname: "Buck"

Career: 1933 - 1950

Teams

Brooklyn Royal Giants (1933)

Homestead Grays (34'-50')

Mexican League (51'-55')
Minor Leagues (1953)

Bats: Left / Throws: Left

Height: 5'10"     Weight: 185

Born: Sept 8, 1907 -- Rocky Mount, NC

Died: November 27, 1997 -- Rocky Mount, NC

Inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame (1972)

Lifetime Batting Avg: .341

vs. Majors (Exhibitions): .382

APBA Affiliations: Negro STARS Team (Barnstorming Tour)

• Left-Handed part of the power tandem with Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays for 9 consecutive Negro National League Championships (1937 - 1945).

• Seasonal Averages from 1939 - 1945: .363, .372, .275, .265, .327, .290 & .375.

• Smart, team player with smooth swing and smooth fielding. Considered the greatest Negro League First Baseman ever, many called him the "black Lou Gehrig".

• In 1952, GM Bill Veeck (of the St.Louis Browns) asked if Leonard would like to play for the Browns, Leonard turned him down feeling that he was past his prime.

• 1953: At age 48, Leonard batted .312 with 13 HR's in 62 games (Central Mexican League).

• Ranked #65 overall of all baseball players ever, in Bill James' "The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract" (2001).

Louis Santop (Player Profile)

LOUIS SANTOP (Catcher)

Louis Santop Loftin (real name)

Nickname: "Big Bertha"

Career: 1909-1926

Teams

Fort Worth Wonders (1909)

Oklahoma Monarchs (1909)

Philadelphia Giants (09'-10')

New York Lincoln Giants (11'-14', 1918)

Brooklyn Royal Giants (14'-17', 1919)

Chicago American Giants (1915)

New York Lincoln Stars (15'-16')

Hilldale Daisies (17'-26')

Military Service (18'-19')

Santop Bronchos (27'-31')

Bats: Left / Throws: Right

Height: 6'4"     Weight: 240

Born: Jan 17, 1890 -- Tyler, TX

Died: Jan 6, 1942 -- Philadelphia, PA

Inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame (2006)

Lifetime Batting Avg: .406

vs. Majors (Exhibitions): .316

APBA Affiliations: Negro STARS Team (Barnstorming Tour)

• One of the Negro League's earliest superstars, power hitter, earned the nickname "Big Bertha" for his tape-measured Home Runs during the dead-ball era.

• Solid, strong-armed catcher who's excellent at blocking the plate.

• Caught for "Smokey"/"Cyclone" Joe Williams & "Cannonball" Dick Redding.

• Used to put on a pregame throwing demonstrations prior to playing MLB teams in exhibitions. Throwing from his knees to all the infield positions in front of all-white crowds; the fans loved it.

• Served the Navy in World War I from 1918 - 1919.

• Good mannered, but once got into a fight with Oscar Charleston, and broke three of Charleston's ribs in the process.

• Eventually was relieved by up-and-coming catcher Biz Mackey, at the age of 35.

Negro League Stars

NEGRO LEAGUE - STARS Team
(Inducted in Baseball's Hall of Fame - Indicated in Orange)

Leonard: Considered the black Lou Gehrig.

C - Louis Santop

C / P - Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe

1B - Buck Leonard

MGR / 1B / OF - Buck O'Neill

2B / 3B - Tubby Scales

2B / SS - Grant "Home Run" Johnson

SS - John Henry "Pop" Lloyd

3B / C - Biz Mackey

3B / 1B - George "Tank" Carr

3B / SS - Newt Joseph

LF / 1B - Oscar Charleston

CF - Turkey Stearnes

RF - Christobal Torriente

OF / 1B - George Suttles

OF - Jimmy Crutchfield

SP - Satchel Paige   (A-XYZZ)

SP / OF - Ray Brown   (A-Z)

SP / OF - "Bullet Joe" Rogan   (A-Y)

SP / 1B- Rube Foster   (B-Z)

P - Maxwell Manning   (B-Z)

P - Dicta Johnson (B-Y)

P / RP - Jose Mendez   (C / B*-YZ)

Current Record: 3 - 1     (+18 Scoring)

SCHEDULED EXHIBITIONS                         W/L              Score     

Game #1 - @ Negro League Stripes                  L                   7 - 6

Game #2 - vs. 46' Boston (A)                               W                  4 - 2

Game #3 - @ 98' Atlanta (N)                                W                  8 - 0
Game #4 - vs. 25' Washington (A)                      W                 14 - 5


*** More Information in time. ***

Negro League Stripes

NEGRO LEAGUE - STRIPES Team
(Inducted in Baseball's Hall of Fame - Indicated in Orange)

Gibson: Considered the black Babe Ruth.

C / OF / 3B - Josh Gibson

C / 1B / OF - "Buddy" Petway

1B / 3B - Jud Wilson

1B - Ben Taylor

2B / SS - Bingo DeMoss

SS / 3B - Willie Wells

SS - Dobie Moore

3B - Judy Johnson

3B / 2B - Newt Allen

LF - Cool Papa Bell

CF - Willard Brown

RF - Preston "Pete" Hill

OF - Frog Redus

OF - Spot Poles

OF / 2B / 1B / SS- Lorenzo "Piper" Davis

SP / OF - Joe "Cyclone" Williams   (A&C-XZ)

SP - Willie Foster   (A-XYZ)

SP / 2B/ OF - Leon Day   (A-X)

SP - Nip Winters   (A-YZ)

P - Lefty McKinnis   (B-Z)

P - Ted "High Pockets" Trent   (B-Y)

P / RP - Hilton Smith   (C / B*-Y)

Current Record: 4 - 0     (+42 Scoring)

SCHEDULED EXHIBITIONS                W/L                   Score     

Game #1 - vs. Negro Stars                        W                        7 - 6

Game #2 - @ 25' Washington (A)             W                        6 - 1
Game #3 - vs. 86' New York (N)               W                       20 - 0

Game #4 - vs. 08' WABL Braves              W                       16 - 0
Game #5 - @ 46' Boston (A)

***More Information in time.***

53' N.Y. Yankees vs. 71' Oakland A's (APBA Tourney)

I still wonder, why APBA picked the 1971 Oakland Athletics over their three-peat dynasty from 1972-1974 that followed? There is plenty of questions when it comes down to the Greatest Teams of the Past Volumes 1-3.

Anyways, Oakland will have to face off against Yogi Berra & Mickey Mantle's 1953 New York Yankees, it will definitely be no easy task. The Yankees are the #4 seed in the Cobb Bracket, while Oakland is #13.

GAME 1

at Old Yankee Stadium / New York

Vida Blue brings his monster season into New York hoping to strike first blood with the Yankees in this series. Blue has a impressive 24-8 record, with a 1.82 ERA & 301 strikeouts, 8 shutouts in 312 innings! His APBA Grade is that of a A&C-XY. He will face off against the Yankees' young ace Whitey Ford (18-6, 3.00 ERA, 110 K's & 110 BB's in 207 innings (B-W).

Campaneris had a productive Game 1 for A's.

Bottom of the 1st

Gene Woodling leads off with a double against Blue, as Hank Bauer drives him in with an RBI single with no outs, Blue settles down and gets Berra, Mantle & Collins 1-2-3. Yankees 1, Athletics 0

Bottom of the 2nd

Bert Campaneris's bad throw pulls 1B-Mike Epstein off the base, as Yankees' Third Baseman Gil McDougald reaches first safely on the error. Phil Rizzuto gets a one-out double off of Blue, as Blue then walks the pitcher Whitey Ford. Bases loaded for Woodling, who already has a double -- the threat is over though as Blue gets Woodling to ground into a inning-ending double-play.

Top of the 3rd

One-out double by Bert Campaneris gets things started for Oakland. After a Joe Rudi strikeout at the plate, the future "Mr.October" Reggie Jackson steps up to the plate and delivers a game-tying single with 2 outs. Sal Bando delivers a single against Ford to move Reggie to second. First & second with 2 outs, Dave Duncan gets an RBI single, as Rick Monday follows that up by striking out. Athletics 2, Yankees 1

Top of the 6th

With two outs, Rick Monday hits a solo HR off Ford over Reggie Jackson's head. 

Athletics 3, Yankees 1

Bottom of the 6th

Vida Blue who has settled down and taken control of the game by allowing only 1 run & 4 hits in 5 innings, gets Mickey Mantle to fly out and a K against Joe Collins. With two outs, Gil McDougald singles to right field, in which Billy Martin (future MGR for both clubs) gets an RBI double. Athletics 3, Yankees 2

Whitey Ford taken out after 7 innings. His line for the night was 7 hits, 3 ER, 9 strikeouts & a walk. Bob Kuzava comes in to relieve.

Bottom of the 8th

Yogi Berra leads off the bottom with a solo shot to right field, Blue shakes his head in disgust. Blue walks Mantle, but gets Collins, McDougald & Martin to leave the inning tied up. Yankees 3, Athletics 3

Berra is congratulated with his game-tying HR in the eighth.

Top of the 9th

Mike Epstein leads off and hits a grounder towards second baseman Billy Martin, in which Martin bobbles the ground ball. Dick Green singles off of Kuzava and moves Epstein to third. Green then steals second on Berra. Runners now on 2nd & 3rd, no outs and the Oakland Athletics decide to hand Tommy Davis a bat (pinch-hitting for Blue), he has some pop. Davis flies out, fails to advance the runner from third. The pitcher turns and fires to third to get Epstein out at third, Epstein was caught napping with a big lead off of third base. Two outs, with a man on second, Bert Campaneris flies out to center. The Yankees stomp out the possible Oakland rally. Wow.

Bottom of the 9th

Oakland brings in Bob Locker from the bullpen, since Davis pinch-hit for Blue. Locker gets the lead-off hitter Phil Rizzuto to fly out to right. The Yankees decide to go to the bench, that'll be it for the Yankees' reliever Bob Kuzava, who pitched two innings, allowed one hit, no runs, a K & picked-off runner. The pinch-hitter will be Don Bollweg (.297, 6 HR & 24 RBI in 155 at-bats). Locker delivers the pitch in which Bollweg sends the ball towards the Yankees' short porch in right, it's gone! WALK-OFF Home Run for Bollweg! The Athletics had the Yankees at the mercy in the top of the 9th, and let this game slip out of their grasps. 

FINAL SCORE:

53' YANKEES       4

71' ATHLETICS   3

WP - Kuzava (NYY) / LP - Locker (OAK)

Bollweg: The unlikely hero in Game 1.

POST-GAME:

• Bert Campaneris (OAK): 2-for-5, 2B, SB & Run.
• Hank Bauer (NYY): 2-for-3, 2B, BB & RBI.
• Rick Monday (OAK): 1-for-4, solo HR.
• Yogi Berra (NYY): 1-for-4, solo HR.
• Mickey Mantle (NYY): 0-for-3, BB.
• Vida Blue (OAK): 8 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 4 K's & 3 BB's.
• Whitey Ford (NYY): 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 9 K's & 1 BB.
• Don Bollweg (NYY): Walk-off pinch-hit HR.

GAME 2

at Old Yankee Stadium / New York

The Athletics lost a game that they very much needed in Game 1, against a very-favored Yankees team; we'll see if Catfish Hunter (21-11, 2.96 ERA, 181 K's) can even this series up against the Yankees' Vic Raschi (13-6, 3.33 ERA).

Top of the 2nd

Rick Monday strikes with a lead-off double off of Raschi. Vic Raschi answers back by getting Gene Tenace and Mike Epstein to ground out & fly out. With two outs, Tommy Davis playing second base today for the Athletics, drives in a RBI single and then steals second base. Catfish Hunter fails to help his own cause by flying out to left. Athletics 1, Yankees 0

Bottom of the 6th

Yankees' starting pitcher Vic Raschi breaks up Catfish Hunter's bid for a no-hitter with a single over short. Hunter's plunks Gene Woodling with a pitch. Runners on 1st & 2nd, with no outs, and the Yankees' Hank Bauer who was 2-for-3 in Game 1, steps up to the plate. Hunter gets Bauer to hit into a much-needed double-play, moving the baserunner Raschi to third base in the process. Hunter's sudden absence of control continues to plague him, as he throws a wild pitch allowing Raschi to score. Hunter gets Berra to ground out, but not before the damage has been done. Yankees 1, Athletics 1

Vic Raschi is taken out of the game after 7 strong innings of 4-hit ball, allowing only 1 ER & 2 walks, while striking out 3 batters.

Game 2's Catfish Hunter.

Bottom of the 7th

Catfish Hunter walks the Mickey Mantle to lead off the inning. Gil McDougald follows that up with a single, placing runners on 1st & 2nd. The Yankees decide to pinch-hit for Johnny Mize, who struck out in his two previous at-bats against Hunter -- going with Game 1's hero Don Bollweg. With one out, Bollweg again delivers with an RBI single, driving in Mantle (Yankees take the lead). Hunter then walks Phil Rizzuto, bases are now loaded.

Oakland Manager Dick Williams has seen enough, and elects to take Hunter out of the game, and go with lefty Darold Knowles. Catfish was on cruise control through the first 5 innings, until hitting a wall in the 6th. The Yankees choose to pinch-hit for Raschi, who had a single earlier in the game that resulted in a run; Yankees go with pinch-hitter Bill Renna (.314, 2 HR & 13 RBI in 121 at-bats) which results in a Fielder's Choice at home, as it was hit right to the pitcher. Bases remain loaded with two outs, a little more breathing room for Oakland, as Gene Woodling steps up to the plate, he's been on base twice with a walk & Hit by Pitch. Woodling hits a single though short as he drives in two runners. Oakland brings in Mudcat Grant to get Hank Bauer to ground out, finishing the inning.

Yankees 4, Athletics 1

Woodling was all over the place in Game 2.

Bottom of the 8th

Charlie Silvera (now playing for Yogi Berra) hits a lead-off double off of Grant. Mickey Mantle steps up to the plate and lines to Bert Campaneris, in which he responds quickly by doubling up Berra at second -- double-play! Mantle remains hitless in 6 at-bats. After a single by Gil McDougald, Grant gets Billy Martin to ground out, avoiding damage. 

Top of the 9th

Allie Reynolds comes in to close out the game for the Yankees, by getting Oakland to go out 1-2-3, capping it off with a strike out of Rick Monday.

FINAL SCORE:

53' YANKEES       4

71' ATHLETICS   1

WP - Raschi (NYY) / LP - C.Hunter (OAK) / SV - A.Reynolds (NYY)

POST-GAME:

• Gil McDougald (NYY): 2-for-4, two singles.
• Gene Woodling (NYY): 1-for-2, single (2 RBI), BB & HBP.
• Rick Monday (OAK): 1-for-3, 2B, BB & Run.
• Tommy Davis (OAK): 1-for-3, RBI & SB.
• Don Bollweg (NYY): Key pinch-hit RBI single & Run. Bollweg has gave Yankees their first leads in both Game 1 & Game 2.
• Vic Raschi (NYY): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 K's & 2 BB's.
• Catfish Hunter (OAK): 6.1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER/R, 4 K's & 3 BB's. All hits and runs, plus 2 BB's & HBP came after 5 full innings of work.

GAME 3

at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum / Oakland

Oakland's faithful come packing into the stands, and hoping for any life that remains in this series. The series has come down to some key moments, leaving Athletics fans wondering what could have been if they won Game 1, and if Catfish stayed hot in Game 2. It all comes down to Game 3's match-up between Oakland's Chuck Dobson (15-5, 3.81 ERA & 100 K's in 189 IP) and New York's veteran starter Johnny Sain (14-7, 9 SV, 3.00 ERA, 84 K's in 189 IP). The Yankees decided to keep Ed Lopat for the next series, if they end up winning it tonight, trying to stretch Ford and Raschi's innings as well for this long tournament.

Top of the 1st
The Athletics' Chuck Dobson walks the first batter in Gene Woodling. Joe Collins hits into a Fielder's Choice getting Woodling out at second. Hank Bauer follows that with a single, moving Collins to second. Yogi Berra (batting clean-up for the first time this series, due to struggling Mickey Mantle) steps up to the plate with one out and singles to left driving in Collins. Runners on first and third, as Mantle hits into a double-play. All that noise for only one run. Yankees 1, Athletics 0

Bottom of the 4th
Reggie Jackson starts the inning off with a single to left, as Jackson takes off for second on the first pitch to  Dave Duncan, runner on second. Duncan ends up striking out. Mike Epstein gets a free pass to first, which is followed by a fly out from Gene Tenace. Johnny Sain then walks Dick Green to load the bases with two outs. Manager Dick Williams (of Oakland) decides it's now or never, and elects to have Tommy Davis pinch-hit for the pitcher Dobson, despite the fact Dobson settled down after the first inning with a respectable performance through 4 innings (2 hits, 1 ER allowed). Davis (batted .324, with 3 HR & 42 ribbies through 219 at-bats) has some pop; Sain delivers the pitch and Davis grounds it to Martin who flips it to first for the final out. Score remains the same, Yankees 1, Athletics 0

Mudcat Grant comes in for relief work in the 5th & 6th inning, allowing no runs, 2 hits, 2 walks & K.

Game 3 starter: Johnny Sain (NYY).

Top of the 7th
Bob Locker now in relief for the Athletics faces off against his first batter in Billy Martin. Locker gets a quick two strikes on Martin, in which Martin answers with a solo shot to right field in almost the same area as Bollweg's walk-off shot was in Game 1. Locker is feeling like a goat, as Martin adds an insurance run for the Yankees. The fact is Locker is no goat, the Athletics have only 3 hits, and are lucky that the Yankees have stranded quite a few runners at this point. Yankees 2, Athletics 0

Bottom of the 9th
Johnny Sain comes on out to try to finish a complete game, he has pitched really well. Gene Tenace flies out to left. Joe Rudi gets walked, that is the only negative aspect of Sain's performance tonight, his fifth walk, despite only 3 hits allowed. The Athletics will have Mike Hegan pinch-hit for the pitcher Locker, Hegan's father Joe is playing for the 1954 Cleveland Indians this tournament. Hegan gets his pitch, or so he thought as he hits into a Fielder's Choice as Andy Carey (now playing second) throws to Billy Martin now playing short, Rudi dives in hard, and is out... and is injured, he'll be helped off the field. The game all comes down to Bert Campaneris with Hegan at first & two outs. Campaneris flies to left, Woodling comes down with it. A complete game shutout for Sain & a sweep for the 1953 New York Yankees!

FINAL SCORE:
53' YANKEES       2
71' ATHLETICS   0
WP - Sain (NYY) / LP - C.Dobson (OAK)


POST-GAME:

• Billy Martin (NYY): 2-for-4, solo HR.
• Hank Bauer (NYY): 2-for-3, BB.
• Johnny Sain (NYY): CG, SHO, 9 IP, 3 H, 5 K's & 5 BB's.
• Chuck Dobson (OAK): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER & 2 BB's.
• Mike Epstein (OAK): 0-for-2, 2 BB's & reached first on error.

SERIES RECAP: 53' YANKEES Sweep 71' ATHLETICS

• Don Bollweg (NYY): Series MVP with only two at-bats! Walk-off HR in Game 1 & Go-ahead run in Game 2; the unlikely hero. 2-for-2, HR, 2 RBI & 2 runs.
• Hank Bauer (NYY): 4-for-10, all singles, RBI.
• Mickey Mantle (NYY): Hitless in 9 at-bats, 1 run.
• Bert Campaneris (OAK): led Oakland with 3 hits; 2 SB's.

Next Opponent: The Winner of the 1961 New York (A) (5) vs. 1991 Minnesota (A) (12)

APBA Replays

I've been on the APBA Baseball Group page on Facebook, and it's really cool because just like me, there are other people that have some pretty cool APBA Baseball projects going on. I'm currently doing an APBA Tournament of Champions with 64 teams (NCAA-style bracket), the early to mid rounds are best-of-five series and the Final Four onward is the best-of-seven. Another APBA fan who happens to be a Angels fan is doing a pretty impressive 50 team Angels bracket of all the Angels teams in the last 50 years. There is always great topics going on in the APBA Baseball Group, and season or series replays is (of course) a very popular topic for sure.

So it got me wondering, if I was to do a season replay with cards... because let's face it, BBW (computer) would be easier, yet not as fun or as dramatic -- The seasons below are the ones that came to mind first.

The Cards in 1981? They won it all in 82'.

• 1981 Baseball Season Replay: We all know it was a shortened season, and that it was the first time Major League Baseball used the Division Championship Series format (which would not return again until the 1995 season due to league realignment and new expansion teams). I've always wondered who would have won the divisions straight through in a 162 game season, with the original setup of just the four division winners going to their respective League Championship Series. Both the St.Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds both overall had the best records in the N.L. Divisions, and if it was your typical season -- it would have been them going to the playoffs instead of the Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers & Houston Astros. 1981 had a first half and a second half division winners due to the 1981 Players Strike, in which the first-half & second-half winners played each other in a Division Championship Series, followed by a League Championship Series. In the A.L., the cool thing is that the teams with the best record (Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers) also won a spot (a division-half championship). The interesting part to me, is that the Kansas City Royals won the A.L. West (2nd half) Division Championship, but were actually in 4th place with a losing record of 50-53, 11 games back of Oakland in normal format; The Texas Rangers actually finished second (5 games back). It was a lot closer in the A.L. East, with teams such as the Baltimore Orioles (1 GB), Detroit Tigers (2 GB), New York Yankees (2nd half winner, 2 GB) & the Boston Red Sox (2.5 GB) -- a four team race would have been exciting to watch in 162 games!

• 1984 Baseball Season Replay: Let me say nothing is ever in the bag when it comes to Baseball, and thank goodness that the Detroit Tigers with their impressive MLB record start of 35-5, finished with championship glory. In APBA, I have yet to experience success with the 1984 Detroit Tigers, during exhibitions and etc. (believe me I have a story already in the draft works on this team) -- So it makes me wonder with all the usual twists and turns during an APBA season, or weird things where players like Rod Carew struggle to bat above .220 (Is there such thing called "Rolling Slumps" in APBA?) -- I wonder can the Detroit Tigers duplicate history in 1984? Another fair question would be can the Chicago Cubs get past the San Diego Padres? 

Gwynn: How .400 was within reach.

• 1994 Baseball "Strike" Season Replay: Many people have often wondered what would have actually happened, some rather forget about this "black mark" in baseball history. I've personally wondered what would it have been like to see my favorite player Tony Gwynn, batting .400 -- Knowing that his best two months are usually his last two months, I feel in my heart of hearts, he would have done it. There would be other things at state, Matt Williams chasing Roger Maris' 61 Home Runs & the fate of the Montreal Expos for that matter -- who had the league's best record 74-40 record (on pace for 105 wins) were 6 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the new division format we know today. The Reds and Astros were neck to neck in the N.L. Central, Dodgers were winning the N.L. West (barely above .500) -- not to mention the Astros and Braves were in a tight Wild Card race (which is interesting since the two teams would have a few upcoming playoff series match-ups). In the American League, the New York Yankees (who have not been in the playoffs since 1981's Strike Season) were in first place of the A.L. East at 70-43, Chicago White Sox led the upstart Cleveland Indians (constant cellar dwellers) by a game in the Central, and the Texas Rangers led the Oakland Athletics by a game, with a lousy 52-62 record (10 games below .500!) -- that may be the one good thing that came out of the strike! It's also fair to note that the Indians led the Wild Card, a few games over division rival Kansas City (64-51) and Baltimore (63-49) in the East. The Royals would go on to have only one winning season since, and that is back in 2003.

2012 A.L. ROY: Mike Trout.

• 2012 Baseball Season Replay: Sure, it just happened. But to me, 2012 may go down as an epic season for we witnessed some amazing performances from the surprising Oakland Athletics, not to mention the Baltimore Orioles. We also witnessed probably one of the top rookie seasons easily in MLB history with the Los Angeles Angels' star outfielder Mike Trout; and a Triple Crown winner in Miguel Cabrera (the first winner in 45 years!). We also saw the rise of the Washington Nationals, who were already showing possible signs to make that step & a feisty St.Louis Cardinals team that nearly went to the World Series for a chance to repeat. In the end, the San Francisco Giants would go on to defeat the Detroit Tigers -- to win their second in three years.

Back to 1984, an interesting perspective that came to me, if the 1984 Season was done in the same matter as today's division formats, the Toronto Blue Jays would have won the A.L. East (89-73), Detroit would have won the A.L. Central, 20 games ahead of second-place Kansas City Royals (who actually won the A.L. West in 84') with Minnesota in third (23 GB). The A.L. West, in today's format would have been the California Angels at 81-81! The A.L. Wild Card would have been the New York Yankees at 87-75, just beating out the Boston Red Sox (86-76) and the Baltimore Orioles (85-77)!

Oh it gets better, in the National League, we would have seen the New York Mets win the N.L. East, while the Chicago Cubs (who won the 84' East) would win the N.L. Central, and the San Diego Padres winning the N.L. West. The N.L. Wild Card in all this? The St.Louis Cardinals at 84-78 -- who would go on to the World Series in 1985 against Kansas City.

I'm sure more replays would come to mind, everyone has their own choices and favorite seasons -- many other seasons come to mind such as 1967 (in which 4 teams in the A.L. were separated by 3 games!), 1969 (If it wasn't for that black cat, could the Cubs have won the N.L. East?), 1982 & 1987 come to mind -- there are so many!

What's yours?

04' N.Y. Giants vs. 62' L.A. Dodgers (APBA Tourney)

Both teams in a weird sense are non-playoff teams. The 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers lost a "tie-breaker" playoff series to the San Francisco Giants, 2 games-to-1 that determined the National League Pennant, while the 1904 New York Giants won the National League, but due to Manager John McGraw and their owner John T. Brush, they refused to play the American League Champion Boston Americans, expressing that the A.L. (the Junior Circuit) was the inferior league. Both franchises have a long rivalry while both were in New York, and now are in California. Plus both of these two teams are anchored by a two-headed monster in their starting rotations; the Giants have Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity, while the Dodgers have Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax -- both teams' #3 and #4 starting pitchers drop off considerably compared to their top 2 starters.

The difference between these clubs may be that one team (the Giants) are from the "Deadball Era" while the Dodgers are a team from the "Expansion Era". 

GAME 1

at New York / Polo Grounds

The "Big Six" Mathewson in full control in Game 1.

It's a Hall of Fame match-up between the Dodgers' Don Drysdale (25-9, 2.83 ERA & 232 K's) against the Giants' Christy Mathewson (33-12, 2.03 ERA & 212 K's)!

Bottom of the 3rd

Roger Bresnahan (CF) leads off the 3rd with a double, three batters later and with two outs, First Baseman Dan McGann drives in Bresnahan with an RBI double. Giants 1, Dodgers 0

Top of the 7th

The Dodgers came close to threatening as Frank Howard and Ron Fairly had back-to-back singles. Now with a pinch-runner for Howard (in Larry Burright) on second, and Fairly on first, with only one out -- the Dodgers have their chance against Mathewson. Dodgers' Catcher Johnny Roseboro would move the runners up by grounding out, but the rally would die with a strikeout to Jim Gilliam.

Bottom of the 8th

The Dodgers, now with reliever Eddie Roebuck on the mound (Drysdale allowed only one ER in 7 IP) -- found themselves in a bit of trouble with a lead-off single by Dan McGann; in which McGann then stole second. Two batters later (with one out), Bill Dahlen drives in McGann with a single, followed by Billy Gilbert hitting into a Fielder's Choice (getting the lead runner Dahlen). Giants' catcher John Warner would drive a single to left, and move the runner (Gilbert) to 3rd base; Warner steels second. Runners on 2nd & 3rd with two outs, Dodgers make a pitching change and bring in relief pitcher Larry Sherry; Sherry loads up the bases by walking Roger Bresnahan. Bases loaded for George Browne, who hits into a FC (as the Dodgers get Bresnahan at second). Giants 3, Dodgers 0

Top of the 9th

Christy Mathewson finishes off the Dodgers by striking out Ron Fairly, in a complete game, 4-hit, shutout!

FINAL SCORE:

04' GIANTS        3

62' DODGERS   0

WP - Mathewson (NYG) / LP - Drysdale (L.A.)

POST-GAME:

• Christy Mathewson (NYG): Player of the Game; allowing only 4 hits & a walk, while striking out 6 Dodgers in a complete-game, shutout.
• Don Drysdale (L.A.): 7 IP, 7 H, ER, 6 K's & 1 BB in a great effort.
• Roger Bresnahan (NYG): 2-for-3, 2B, run & 2 BB's.
• Dan McGann (NYG): 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, SB & HBP.
• John Warner (NYG): 2-for-4, SB
• Ron Fairly (L.A.): 2-for-3, 2B, BB.

GAME 2

at New York / Polo Grounds

The Dodgers will hope to tie the series against another superb pitcher in Joe McGinnity, who led the 1904 National League with 35 victories & a 1.61 ERA (in 408 innings of work)! It's another Hall of Fame match-up between pitchers as the Dodgers send Sandy Koufax (14-7, 2.54 ERA & 216 K's in 184 IP) up to the mound -- it's not Koufax's best season (APBA Grade of B-K) vs. McGinnity's APBA Grade of A&C-YZ!

McGinnity allows only 3 hits & 1 ER.

Bottom of the 2nd

With runners on first and third & one out, Giants' starting pitcher Joe McGinnity helps his own cause by flying out deep to drive in the runner (Bill Dahlen) from third. Giants 1, Dodgers 0

Bottom of the 3rd

With George Browne on 2nd Base, the Giants' Art Devlin (3B) smacks in a two-out RBI double to add to the Giants lead. Giants 2, Dodgers 0

Top of the 6th

Maury Wills who reached first on a bobbled routine grounder to Giants' shortstop Bill Dahlen, moves to second on a ground out by Willie Davis. With two outs, Frank Howard powers a 2-run HR off of McGinnity, to tie the game up. Giants 2, Dodgers 2

Bottom of the 7th

The Dodgers bring in reliever Ron Perranoski for Koufax to start the bottom-half, with a 2-2 tie. Walks the lead-off runner Roger Bresnahan, who then moves to second on a ground out by George Browne. With two outs, Sam Mertes drives in a go-ahead RBI single. Giants 3, Dodgers 2

Bottom of the 8th

Art Devlin starts off the inning with a single to right, followed by a single from Bill Dahlen. Runners on 1st & 2nd, no outs; Perranoski gets Billy Gilbert to hit into a double-play, moving the base runner (Devlin) to third base. The Giants' Manager/Player John McGraw decides to pinch-hit for catcher Frank Bowerman. The decision pays off as he drives in Devlin, then gets greedy trying to make second as Roseboro guns down McGraw at second for the inning's final out. An insurance run for New York! Giants 4, Dodgers 2

Top of the 9th

The Giants leave in McGinnity, who finishes off the Dodgers 1-2-3 for back-to-back complete games by New York Giants' pitchers. They have allowed only 1 ER (2 runs) in 18 innings!

FINAL SCORE:

04' GIANTS         4

62' DODGERS    2

WP - McGinnity (NYG) / LP - Perranoski (L.A.)

POST-GAME:

• Joe McGinnity (NYG): 3 hits & 1 ER allowed in complete game; 4 K's & 4 BB. Making him the Player of the Game.
• Roger Bresnahan (NYG): 1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB & R. Has reached base 7 times during the first two games with an .636 On-Base Percentage!
• Art Devlin (NYG): 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R
• Maury Wills (L.A.): 1-for-4, SB & R.

GAME 3

at Los Angeles / Dodger Stadium

The 1904 Giants are in full control of the series, out-hitting the 62' Dodgers 19-7 in the first two games. Game 3 will be between the Giants' Dummy Taylor (21-15, 2.34 ERA & 138 K's; a APBA Grade B-Y) against the Dodgers' Johnny Podres (15-13, 3.81 ERA & 178 K's; C-YZ). The odds are very favorable for the Dodgers as the series shifts back to Los Angeles.

Top of the 1st

The Giants get things rolling by scoring three runs on two defensive errors by Maury Wills and Tommy Davis. Giants' Dan McGann will add to the trouble with an RBI double. Giants 3, Dodgers 0

Top of the 2nd

Roger Bresnahan (playing catcher) hits an RBI double off of Podres to score in CF-Mike Donlin.

Giants 4, Dodgers 0

Top of the 3rd

The Dodgers who have scored only 3 runs in the first two games, finds themselves down by 5 runs when Giants' RF-George Browne scores on a Sacrifice Fly by 2B-Billy Gilbert. Giants 5, Dodgers 0

Top of the 4th

Mike Donlin scores from third base on the botched drop by Dodgers' LF-Wally Moon.

Giants 6, Dodgers 0

Willie Davis: Dodgers' Game 3 spark plug.

Bottom of the 4th

Dodgers start the bottom half down 6-0. A lead-off single by CF-Willie Davis, followed by a single by Frank Howard & a walk to Ron Fairly loads the bases up for the suddenly alive Dodgers, who only had two hits the previous three innings. Dodgers' catcher Johnny Roseboro hits into a Fielder's Choice, driving in Willie Davis from third; Fairly out at second, as Howard moves to 3rd. Giants 6, Dodgers 1

Roseboro steals second; which is followed by a passed ball as the ball was bumbled by Giants' catcher Bresnahan who had a hard time locating the ball as big, Frank Howard scores and Roseboro moves to 3rd base. Giants 6, Dodgers 2

Still only one out, Dummy Taylor walks Jim Gilliam; runners on 1st and 3rd for the Dodgers -- which is followed by a sac fly from Wally Moon. Giants 6, Dodgers 3

The Dodgers' Lee Walls comes in to pinch-hit for pitcher Johnny Podres, and moves Gilliam up to second base with a single to left; followed by RBI single by Maury Wills. Taylor decides to intentionally walk Tommy Davis to face off against Willie Davis. Giants 6, Dodgers 4

Bases loaded, two outs -- as Dummy Taylor delivers a pitch he would like back as Willie Davis sends the ball to deep center field, GRAND SLAM! Davis, who was the very same player that started this rally, puts the Dodgers in the lead; Taylor is taken out of the game after 3.2 innings. Dodgers 8, Giants 6

Bottom of the 5th

After back-to-back singles by Jim Gilliam and Wally Moon, Dodgers' reliever Eddie Roebuck drives in both base runners with a single off of Giants' reliever Chaucer Elliott. Dodgers 10, Giants 6

The Giants fail to recover as Dodger relievers Eddie Roebuck and Ron Perranoski combine for 5 shut-out innings in relief, allowing only one hit.

FINAL SCORE:

62' DODGERS   10

04' GIANTS         6

WP - Roebuck (L.A.) / LP - D.Taylor (NYG)

POST-GAME:

• 8-run bottom of the 4th for the Dodgers; so far is the biggest run production in a single-inning during the tournament.
• 5 errors by 62' Dodgers, none for the 04' Giants.
• Willie Davis (L.A.): 2-for-5, Grand Slam, single, 2 runs & 4 RBI; Player of the Game.
• Frank Howard (L.A.): 2-for-4, 2B, BB & R.
• Wally Moon (L.A.): 2-for-3, RBI & R.
• Eddie Roebuck (L.A.): 3 IP, 1 H, no runs, 2 K & BB; 2-run insurance single as hitter.
• Mike Donlin (NYG): 2-for-5, 3 runs.
• Roger Bresnahan (NYG): 2-for-5, RBI double, R.

GAME 4

at Los Angeles / Dodger Stadium

The Dodgers are alive for one more day. At one moment in Game 3, they were down 6-0 going into the bottom of the fourth (appearing to be on the verge of elimination) as Willie Davis sparked a rally for an incredible 8-run outburst. Does the Dodgers still have magic up their sleeves? We will find out, as the Dodgers send Don Drysdale back to the mound on three days rest; the Giants elect to "not panic" by putting Hooks Wiltse out on the mound, instead of bringing Christy Mathewson a day early to seal the deal. Wiltse, had a 13-3 record, 3 SV, 2.84 ERA & 104 K's in 164.2 Innings in 1904 for the Giants.

Top of the 4th

The Giants' Sam Mertes hits a lead-off double off Drysdale, and then steals third base (off of backup catcher Doug Camilli, giving Johnny Roseboro a day off). Art Devlin with one out, scores Merte on a sacrifice fly. Giants 1, Dodgers 0

Bottom of the 4th

Ron Fairly reaches second on a throwing error by Giants' shortstop Bill Dahlen. Jim Gilliam follows that up with a game-tying RBI double off of Wiltse. Dodgers 1, Giants 1

Wiltse (NYG) puts in a worthy effort of 8 K's, 1 ER in 7 Innings.

Top of the 8th

With one out, Mike Donlin comes in to pinch-hit for Giants' starting pitcher Wiltse, and gets a single off of Drysdale. Donlin then steals second, as Roger Bresnahan gets an RBI single. For Bresnahan that is now 11 times he has reached base in the first 4 games. Giants 2, Dodgers 1

Bottom of the 8th

One out with bases loaded, the Dodgers' 3B-Lee Walls drives in Frank Howard from third on a sacrifice fly off of Red Ames to left, Giants will prevent any more scoring. Dodgers 2, Giants 2

Bottom of the 10th

Red Ames, coming in for his 3rd inning of relief faces Frank Howard, which Howard with the first pitch sends it into the stands of Dodger Stadium for a walk-off blast to right! Howard's 2nd HR of the series.

FINAL SCORE:

62' DODGERS   3

04' GIANTS        2   (10 Innings)

WP - Perranoski (L.A.) / LP - Ames (NYG)

Howard: Game 4 hero!

POST-GAME:

• Frank Howard (L.A.): Walk-off HR, 2-for-4 RBI, Intentional walk.
• Jim Gilliam (L.A.): 2-for-4, 2 2B's & RBI.
• Roger Bresnahan (NYG): 2-for-5, SB, RBI.
• Hooks Wiltse (NYG): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER/1 R, 8 K & 3 BB's.
• Don Drysdale (L.A.): 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 6 K & 2 BB's.

GAME 5

at New York / Polo Grounds

The good news is that the series will be back at the Polo Grounds for the Giants, who won the first two games very decisively. The bad news is that since the top of the 4th of Game 3, the Giants are being outscored by the Dodgers 13-2. Just like in the first two games, it will once again be a Hall of Fame match-up between starting pitchers; this time between Christy Mathewson (NYG) & Sandy Koufax (L.A.)!

Top of the 1st

Maury Wills reaches first on a walk & then steals second base as Frank Howard continues where he left off with a 2-run blast off of Mathewson; his 3rd of the series. Dodgers 2, Giants 0

Top of the 3rd

Sandy Koufax hits a lead-off solo HR to right off of Mathewson, helping his own cause. The Dodgers have now scored 3 runs in the first 3 innings of Game 5, matching the combined total that they scored at the Polo Grounds for Games 1 & 2! Dodgers 3, Giants 0

Bottom of the 4th

LF- Sam Mertes of the Giants hits a 2-out solo HR to right field off of Koufax. Dodgers 3, Giants 1

Bresnahan goes cold in Game 5.

Bottom of the 5th

Lead-off HR by 3B- Art Devlin of the Giants. Koufax then walks Billy Gilbert, who then moves to second base on a ground-out by catcher John Warner. With 2 outs, Giants' pitcher Christy Mathewson shows Koufax that he can also handle a bat, by driving in Gilbert with a double. Giants 3, Dodgers 3

The game would go scoreless for 8 consecutive innings, Mathewson would go a strong 10 innings, allowing 5 hits & 3 runs; while striking out nine Dodgers, walking three.

Top of the 14th

Frank Howard gets a lead-off single, Ron Fairly follows with a walk; in which Johnny Roseboro drives the ball to center, Howard tries to score -- but is gunned down by an excellent throw by CF- Roger Bresnahan. Runners on first and third, one out; Jim Gilliam drives in both runners with a single over third.

Dodgers 5, Giants 3

Bottom of the 14th

After 4 innings of great relief by Ron Perranoski, the Dodgers go with Larry Sherry to close out the game. The Dodgers' bullpen have not allowed a run now in 14 consecutive innings! Sherry has only pitched 1/3 of an inning in the series. He walks 3B- Art Devlin, who then attempts to steal 2nd, which he is gunned down by Johnny Roseboro -- momentum breaker, as Sherry strikes out both Bill Dahlen and Billy Gilbert to make the Dodgers pull off this improbable comeback!

FINAL SCORE:

62' DODGERS   5

04' GIANTS        3   (14 Innings)

WP - Perranoski (L.A.) / LP -  Ames (NYG) / SV - Sherry (L.A.)

The Dodgers' bullpen: Roebuck, Perranoski & Sherry  - got the job done!

POST-GAME:

• Ron Perranoski (L.A.): 4 Innings of relief, recorded 2nd win of series, 3 K's & BB.
• Eddie Roebuck (L.A.): 3 Innings of relief, no hits, 4 BB's.
• Sandy Koufax (L.A.): 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R & BB allowed; no K's -- but hit a solo HR off of Mathewson in the third inning!
• Maury Wills (L.A.): 3 SB's for single-game tournament record.
• Frank Howard (L.A.): 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, Int BB.
• Roger Bresnahan (NYG): 0-for-6, never reaching base (After 11 times on base in previous four games)!
• Art Devlin (NYG): 2-for-5, HR, RBI, BB; 1 SB & twice caught stealing (including 14th inning).
• Sam Mertes (NYG): 2-for-5, HR, BB.
• Christy Mathewson (NYG): 10 IP, 5 H, 3 ER/R, 9 K & 3 BB's; RBI 2B off Koufax.

SERIES RECAP: 62' DODGERS COMEBACK, 3-2!

• Dodgers' bullpen: No runs & only 4 hits allowed in the last 15 innings!
• Ron Perranoski (L.A.): 2-1 record, 1.80 ERA, 7 K & 4 BB's, 7 hits in 10 IP (Series Co-MVP with Frank Howard).
• Eddie Roebuck (L.A.): 1-0 record, 2.70 ERA, 3 K & 6 BB's, 4 hits in 6.2 IP.
• Frank Howard (L.A.): .421 AVG, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 Runs, 8 hits & 1.469 OPS.
• Christy Mathewson (NYG): 1-0, 1.42 ERA, 15 K & 4 BB's, 9 hits (.684 WHIP) in 19 IP.
• Don Drysdale (L.A.): 0-1, 1.80 ERA & 12 K's (1.000 WHIP) in 15 IP.
• Roger Bresnahan (NYG): .333, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 7 hits, .440 OBP, SB (.916 OPS).
• Red Ames (NYG): 0-2, BS, 5.14 ERA, 7 K & 4 BB (1.429 WHIP) in 7 innings of relief.

NEXT OPPONENT: The Winner of the 86' New York (N) (5) / 67' St. Louis (N) (12) series.