APBA Announces Greatest Teams of the Past IV!

Great news in the APBA Baseball world...

APBA has announced the release of Greatest Team of the Past IV!

Here are the National League teams representing this latest set...

• 1919 Cincinnati Reds
• 1922 New York Giants
• 1930 St. Louis Cardinals
• 1935 Chicago Cubs
• 1948 Boston Braves
• 1950 Philadelphia Phillies
• 1962 San Francisco Giants
• 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates
• 1980 Houston Astros

The American League Teams...

• 1911 Philadelphia Athletics
• 1921 New York Yankees
• 1922 St. Louis Browns
• 1933 Washington Senators
• 1948 Cleveland Indians
• 1959 Chicago White Sox
• 1961 Detroit Tigers
• 1969 Minnesota Twins
• 1978 Boston Red Sox
• 1993 Toronto Blue Jays

I'm really excited about the news for several reasons...

First off, it's been long overdue, the wait that is... plus now there is brand new excitement for this hobby, I think APBA has done a great job of late, in being active on plenty of new APBA products such as APBA Go, the yearly playoff team sets, reintroducing All-Star Team sets, and now the new GTOP IV & with all the recent activity by the company, I have a feeling that GTOP V may not be far around the corner.

Source, my friend Pastor Rich Zawadzki noted: 14 of the 20 single teams [from this set] have been out of print for a long time; Printed by APBA previously in the old World Series set (1921 Yankees & 1930 Cardinals) or GTOP (1911 A's, 1919 Reds, 1922 Giants, 1922 Browns, 1933 Senators, 1935 Cubs, 1948 Indians, 1948 Braves, 1950 Phillies, 1959 White Sox, 1962 Giants & 1974 Dodgers).

Only the 1961 Tigers, 1969 Twins, 1978 Red Sox, 1979 Pirates, 1980 Astros & the 1993 Blue Jays are new to the single teams fold. 

Rich has been instrumental in helping me acquire plenty of teams in the past, when he would notice them on eBay, he would message me the link. I have since put together a pretty solid APBA teams collection, nothing quite like his impressive collection though. 

Just recently I have tried to acquired the long sought-after 1922 Browns team, along with the 1930 Cardinals, 1950 Phillies & 1959 White Sox off of an APBA Facebook Group member who posted those available teams among other teams, I messaged him, also tagged his name, and got no responses... So naturally at the time, I was bummed out.

Then to read this morning that these teams are part of the Greatest Team of the Past IV, I was thrilled by this news.

Teams of GTOP IV that I already own...

• 1911 Philadelphia Athletics
• 1919 Cincinnati Reds
• 1948 Boston Braves
• 1948 Cleveland Indians
• 1962 San Francisco Giants
• 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates

This doesn't mean though, that these new GTOP IV sets might not be different, usually with reissued team sets, not to mention the fairly new 'K' and 'R' strikeout ratings, you will definitely get some new modifications. I do also remember that the GTOP sets, now also have the Master Card ratings on the cards as well... so I'm still thrilled to get these modified duplicates.

I'm pretty excited about this, and you should be too...

$40 for 20 great teams, to me that's quite a deal, I hope this means more GTOP sets to come, in the near feature.

Way to go, APBA!

Here is the link to the APBA Baseball store...

http://apba.stores.yahoo.net/apbabaseball.html

Small Changes on Site

Just for everyone's information, I made a few changes to my site. I decided to delete my Heritage Baseball League page & Negros League Project page -- and placed the information of those two projects under a page called "Other Projects".

The Heritage Baseball League finished after only a 20-game season, and a tournament that watched the Buffalo Bison win the title. I plan to eventually return to a similar style league, involving the BATS 2, the seasons I have on computer, plus players here & there from all the World Series teams that I own on the computer. I want to make a league with 40 teams, where the emphasis on the league will have more role players than teams stacked with superstars. Each team will also have a payroll of $80 million each -- I will be using this site I found, that has great salary formulas of every player that has ever played.

Meanwhile, I have also been placing salaries on my APBA Baseball Cards, in case I ever do a face-to-face salary-based league, with friends locally -- that's a bit of a pipe-dream, worst comes to worst, I will play it solitaire or have some of my online friends be General Managers at least. I have a on-going APBA player card database in my Microsoft Excel program with players, duplicate options, their primary fielding grades with other fielding options, speed & injury ratings.

I know, right? Where do you find the time, Shawn?
Believe me, I dig for that time.

The Negro League Project was a fun, but brief project. I made two Negro League All-Star teams, in which they played each other once, and then played a few teams from the GTOP sets from APBA Baseball. The results of the exhibitions are in the Negro League section of the Other Projects page as well. I would like to get around and play a Negro League season eventually, involving the 20 Negro Leagues presented by APBA -- or at least a tournament.

* * * * * * * * * *

I will continue with a new post following this post, in a bit of a continuation on all the projects that I have been doing through APBA via cards & computer, which ones that are wrapping up, which ones will continue, as well as ideas for others.

New Additions

I have added some new additions to my APBA Collection, on eBay I got a group of 1985 teams to go along with two out-of-print Great Teams of the Past. I also added a limited-time only of 11 APBA disks containing all the World Series teams for only $60 on APBA Stadium.com!

• 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1969 Atlanta Braves
• 1985 Kansas City Royals
• 1985 Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1985 New York Mets
• 1985 Toronto Blue Jays - which I already have from one of the greatest teams of the past volumes, but it came with the other 3 teams on eBay, so I'm up a copy & will be probably unloading the team on eBay myself.

• New APBA WORLD SERIES disks (BBW) - Each disk contains World Series teams from each decade, 11 disks total for $60 or $10 per disk.

Now the only thing that is frustrating me, is the fact I have yet to receive this, after a week. I was excited (and hoping) to play during my week's paid vacation at least. One thing is for sure, I'll be having a lot of fun with this, when it arrives.

My APBA Collection

You can check out my collection anytime at the My APBA Collection page of the blog, I just wanted to do a "if you have not noticed" post on my collection to date. My collection is not nearly as big as many out there, but I'm starting to get aggressive to add to the collection, I hope to have quite the collection some day. World Champions are indicated in Red.

INDIVIDUAL SEASONS

1976 APBA Baseball Cards (majority of set)
1991 APBA Baseball Cards (plus XB's)
1992 APBA Baseball Cards (plus XB's)
1993 APBA Baseball Cards (plus XB's)

2007 APBA Baseball Cards (Complete Set)

2008 APBA Baseball Cards (Complete Set)

The 2007 World Champion - Boston Red Sox

SPECIAL COMPLETE SETS

Baseball's All-Time Superstars (BATS)

Best of the 26 Original Franchises
(produced in 1998)

GREATEST TEAMS of the PAST

Volume 1

1904 New York Giants (N)

1917 Chicago White Sox (A)

1927 New York Yankees (A)

1929 Chicago Cubs (N)

1931 Philadelphia Athletics (A)

1934 St.Louis Cardinals (N)

1946 Boston Red Sox (A)

1953 Brooklyn Dodgers (N)

1953 New York Yankees (A)

1960 Pittsburgh Pirates (N)

1969 Baltimore Orioles (A)

1975 Cincinnati Reds (N)

1977 Philadelphia Phillies (N)

1980 Kansas City Royals (A)

Bless You Boys - The Detroit Tigers of 84'.

1984 Detroit Tigers (A)

1986 New York Mets (N)

1993 San Francisco Giants (N)

1995 Cleveland Indians (A)

1998 Atlanta Braves (N)

2001 Seattle Mariners (A)

George Brett won 3 Batting Titles in 3 different decades.

1906 Chicago Cubs

Volume 2

1906 Chicago Cubs (N)

1912 New York Giants (N)

1912 Boston Red Sox (A)

1914 Boston Braves (N)

1925 Washington Senators (A)

1937 New York Yankees (A)

1940 Cincinnati Reds (N)

1942 St. Louis Cardinals (N)

1954 Cleveland Indians (A)

1962 Los Angeles Dodgers (N)

1968 Detroit Tigers (A)

1969 New York Mets (N)

1971 Oakland Athletics (A)

1971 Pittsburgh Pirates (N)

1983 Baltimore Orioles (A)

1985 Toronto Blue Jays (A)

1993 Philadelphia Phillies (N)

1998 New York Yankees (A)

1998 San Diego Padres (N)

2002 Oakland Athletics (A)

No.21 - Roberto Clemente

Other Individual "Greatest Teams"

1906 Chicago White Sox (A)
1937 New York Giants (N)

1944 St. Louis Browns (A)

1971 San Francisco Giants (N)

Satchel Paige of the Monarchs.

NEGRO LEAGUE Set

1910 Chicago Leland Giants

1913 New York Lincoln Giants

1916 Indianapolis ABCs

1917 Chicago American Giants

1921 Chicago American Giants

1924 Kansas City Monarchs

1925 Hilldale Daisies

1926 Atlantic City Bacharach Giants

1927 Chicago American Giants

1929 Baltimore Black Sox

1930 St. Louis Stars

1931 Homestead Grays

1933 Chicago American Giants

1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords

1938 Homestead Grays

1942 Kansas City Monarchs

1943 Birmingham Black Barons

1945 Cleveland Buckeyes

1946 Newark Eagles

1948 Birmingham Black Barons

INDIVIDUAL APBA Teams

1922 New York Giants (N)
1933 New York Giants (N)
1940 Detroit Tigers (A)
1949 Detroit Tigers (A)
1955 Chicago White Sox (A)
1976 Los Angeles Dodgers (N)
1981 Montreal Expos (N)
1985 California Angels (A)
1998 Boston Red Sox (A)

1999 Texas Rangers (A)
2004 Texas Rangers (A)
2006 Detroit Tigers (A)
2007 Boston Red Sox (A)
2008 Philadelphia Phillies (N)
2011 Detroit Tigers (A)
2012 Detroit Tigers (A)
2012 Los Angeles Angels (A)
2012 San Francisco Giants (N)
2012 Washington Nationals (N)

DUPLICATE Teams

1953 Brooklyn Dodgers (N)

1953 New York Yankees (A)


APBA Baseball for Windows (BBW)
APBA Baseball for Windows (Version 5.75, Upgrade 10)
1921 Season
1961 Season
2008 Season
2010 Season
2011 Season
2012 Season

Playing Your 45's

A few months back on the APBA Baseball Facebook Group Page, the discussion came up on how many teams that have fielding grades 1 (that had over 45 fielding points).

Here is a list of teams that have a Fielding 1 (45 & above):

1931 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS (Fielding 1 / 47)

C - Mickey Cochrane (9)

1B - Jimmie Foxx (5)

2B - Max Bishop (9)

SS - Joe Boley (8)

3B - Jimmy Dykes (6)

OF - Al Simmons (3)

OF - Mule Haas (3)

OF - Bing Miller (2)

SP - Rube Walberg (2)

1953 BROOKLYN DODGERS (Fielding 1 / 45)

C - Roy Campanella (9)

1B - Gil Hodges (5)

2B - Jim Gilliam (7)

SS - Pee Wee Reese (9)

3B - Billy Cox (6)

OF - Carl Furillo (3)

OF - Duke Snider (3)

OF - Jackie Robinson (1)

RP - They have relievers with a fielding (2), which gives them 45 points -- no starting pitchers with (2) & none of the other outfielders have a fielding (2), if so Robinson could move to second to give the Dodgers a starting lineup with a 45.

1984 DETROIT TIGERS (Fielding 1 / 45)

C - Lance Parrish (9)

1B - Dave Bergman (4)

2B - Lou Whitaker (9)

SS - Alan Trammell (9)

3B - Tom Brookens (5)

OF - Larry Herndon (2)

OF - Chet Lemon (3)

OF - Kirk Gibson (2)

SP - Jack Morris (2)

1985 TORONTO BLUE JAYS (Fielding 1 / 45)

C - Ernie Whitt (8)

1B - Willie Upshaw (4)

2B - Damaso Garcia (9)

SS - Tony Fernandez (9)

3B - Garth Iorg (5)

OF - George Bell (2)

OF - Lloyd Mosebay (3)

OF - Jesse Barfield (3)

SP - Dave Stieb (2)

2001 SEATTLE MARINERS (Fielding 1 / 46)

C - Dan Wilson (9)

1B - John Olerud (5)

2B - Bret Boone (8)

SS - Carlos Guillen (9)

3B - David Bell (5)

OF - Mark McLemore (2)

OF - Mike Cameron (3)

OF - Ichiro Suzuki (3)

SP - Freddy Garcia (2)

I also like to note that besides the Mariners winning 116 games, they also had a bullpen of...

RP - Jose Panigua      C*-YW

RP - Norm Charlton      B*-XYZ

RP - Ryan Franklin      B*-YZ

RP - Jeff Nelson      A*-KYW

RP - Arthur Rhodes      A&C*-KYZ

RP - Kazuhiro Sasaki      B*-XYZ

While their entire rotation is all B starters, while Joel Pineiro (B-Y) pitched in only 75 innings, so he could either be used as a spot starter or reliever. While the lineup's OPS (a DH in Edgar Martinez) is one of the best you will find, and there is a few good bench options as well.

NOTABLE TEAMS THAT FALL SHORT OF 45:

Where is the 1976 Dodgers with that great infield? Try 42, The 1906 Cubs with Tinkers-Evers-Chance? 42 again. The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords fell one point short of 45, if they just had another (3) in their outfield to go with Cool Papa Bell & Jimmy Crutchfield, or a pitcher with a grading above 1 for that matter.

Well this is all I have for now, I'm sure there is more, if you do know more... feel free on replying, would love to hear from ya!

Stars & Stripes League ("Crazy 48's")

A couple weeks ago I posted that I was going to do a league of 48-teams, separated into two leagues of 4 divisions of 6 teams each. This is the break down of the set-up & etc.

SCHEDULING FORMAT

• All series are four games each (Starting Pitchers 1-4).

• Each team plays their division rival - 8 games each (40 games total).

• Each team plays the other 18 league teams, 4 games each (72 total); 2 Home/2 Road games for the 4-game series. The teams in the same-league match-ups with the worst Pythagorean Winning percentage hosts the first two games of the series. For example: If the 1927 New York Yankees play the 1940 Cincinnati Reds. The Reds will host the first two games of the four-game series, I'm doing this so that teams that are weaker have a better chance against tougher teams who likely have very strong #1 & #2 starting pitchers.

• INTER-LEAGUE ACTION: The upper 12 teams of one league (according to their Pythagorean winning pcts.) will play each of the opposite league's 12 upper teams, 4 games each (2 H/2 A set-up like the same league system); as the lower 12 teams of one league will play the opposite league's lower 12 teams, 4 games each (for a total of 48 games).

• The total games for a season will be 160 games for each of the 48 teams, next season I will have a smaller group, and taking an idea from Sgt. Dan's Tournament, the division winners will automatically be back for the next Stars & Stripes season. 

LEAGUE RULES & PLAY

• All teams will use a 4-man rotation, teams can interchange with spot starters, a lot of the modern day teams will have to do a lot to keep their starters fresh; while teams from the dead-ball era have an abundance of innings to use. Due to those dead-ball era teams having virtually no bullpen, the teams can use their #1 SP for one inning of relief on the #3 game, and the #2 SP for one inning of relief on the #4 game. I'm calling it the "Mathewson/McGinnity" Rule, because the 1904 Giants come quickly to mind. The team will have the option, but chances are with these M&M boys, they will just pitch a complete game most often than not.

• There is an Innings & At-Bats limits for season totals set. If a pitcher goes over, he goes down a grade for the rest of the season. For example: Johnny Podres pitched 255 innings in 1962 in 40 games started, which is perfect -- since this is a 160-game season using a 4-man rotation, which means probably 40 starts for Podres. His 1962 Card has him as a Grade C-YZ, he's going to want to average no more than 6 1/3 innings per start -- sure sometimes he'll get knocked out early and other times he may go for a shutout. But let's say that he is at start 37, and the Dodgers had to depend on him more than they figured they would, he passes Inning #255, he's now a D-YZ for the remainder of the season. UNLESS he faces a batter over his at-bats limit, and now he's a C-YZ for that match-up only unless he faces others over their at-bats limits. Think of it like a platoon-advantage situation, or whatever... if a batter is over his at-bats limits, and the pitcher is not -- the pitcher's grade goes up, if a pitcher is above his innings, batter is not (pitching grade down) and if both are over or both are not over go with the cards.

• Negro League Cards - I have the Pittsburgh Crawfords of 1935 competing, there is no limits on any at-bats or innings, well... because there is no proper record of all that. They are however all J-4's, which might get interesting, plus their entire roster consists of 16 players (10 batters & 6 pitchers), pitchers bat when the team is at home. The pitchers consist of two A pitchers in Satchel Paige & Leroy Matlock, the rest are all D's. The lineup however has 4 other Hall of Famers to go with Paige, in Josh Gibson, Oscar Charleston, Judy Johnson & Cool Papa Bell. We'll have to see how this one plays out. I thought about adding the All-Star Negro teams, the Stripes and Stars teams, but I felt they may be too powerful, I plan to keep doing their barnstorming exhibition tours. That said, doesn't mean I won't add them in the future, one thing's for sure... the next season will also have another great Negro team of the past.

• Change of reliever in the middle of the inning, if you bring a left-hander to face a left-handed hitter, for that first batter only, the pitching grade goes up. Right vs. right, first batter only - same deal. Switch-hitters are not effected of course, you go by the grade on the card, and the team batting can counter back with a pinch-hitter to take away the advantage. This makes pitchers like the 1984 Detroit Tigers' RP- Bill Scherrer more valuable than if you were to have him come in to relieve between the innings. For example: The Tigers' Milt Wilcox (Grade C-Y) is now in the 6th (and we all know how Sparky doesn't like keeping his starters in too terribly long, hence the nickname "Captain Hook"), the Tigers are up 3-2 against Kansas City, 2 outs Wilcox just walked John Wathan and now has to face George Brett who bats left steps up to the plate, Sparky signals to the bullpen -- he wants Scherrer (normally a C*-Y) who will be upgraded to a B*-Y for this at-bat only, if they get Brett out it pays off  -- if they don't, than you have Scherrer (who has returned to a C*-Y), do you keep him in or do you bring in another reliever? Many people probably already use this, but in case they didn't I like to use it, makes bullpen's move useful that may have a lot of C*'s in their back-end of the bullpen.

There is a good chance (especially with the modern era teams) they will go over their limits in pitching, some teams' #1 & #2's pitched only 220 innings. At-Bat & Innings limits will reflect for a 162-game season, so teams that only played 149 to 154 games or whatever will be adjusted to 162 games, as will years effected by players strikes such as 1981, 1994 & 1995.

*** If you don't remember the league setup, take another look here. ***

Detroit's Demise

Sparky looks on, as the 84' team fizzles out early.

Back in 1984, the Detroit Tigers came roaring out of the gates with a Major League record 35-5 start, first place the entire length of the season. We all know the story, Willie Hernandez's Cy Young & MVP season, Gibby's shot off Gossage in the World Series; so why can I not get them to win in APBA Baseball? LOL!

No, seriously?

During a 4-game exhibition series against the 1986 New York Mets, they ended up getting swept! So when they were matched up against the 1980 Kansas City Royals, who have only two 'B' Starting Pitchers and only one 'B' reliever (Dan Quisenberry), and a mediocre lineup -- I figured they would be going on to Round 2 in the Wagner Bracket of my APBA Tournament of Champions.

Counting the exhibition series and the tournament series against K.C., the 84' Tigers' combined record is a miserable 2-7! It doesn't help the fact that the 1968 Detroit Tigers were sent home in the first round (losing their series 3-1), but their match-up against the 1929 Chicago Cubs was a tough one. The Tigers only had to worry about George Brett, and apparently Clint Hurdle who had Tiger fans cursing his name.

Hurdle, went 8-for-19 (.421), HR, 2 2B's & 3B, plus 6 RBI's. He went 3-for-7 in the clincher, a triple shy of the cycle with 3 ribbies. He only got as much playing time due to Amos Otis's struggles at the plate.

Lance Parrish and Chet Lemon, each had 3 HR's in the series; while Lou Whitaker (the lead-off man) had a lousy series, batting .136 (3 hits in 22 at-bats)!



The tournament will continue soon, while I continue to calculate results & statistics, while also working on plenty of series recaps from the tournament as well. I also have bought poster-boards to show my tournament in the near future (I tell ya fitting in 64 teams is tough!).

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.

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)

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.