[TSmith1969]

Semifinal Series

Boston def. Baltimore, 3-0
The Boston Red Sox swept first place Baltimore with a dominant pitching performance, allowing just two runs in three games. Steve Carlton, acquired in a trade with St. Louis for his namesake Carlton Fisk, won Game 1 3-1 on a three-run homer by George Scott. Ray Culp edged Dave McNally 3-1 in Game 2, and Dick Ellsworth anchored a 7-hit shutout in Game 3. Rico Petrocelli hit .583 with 2 RBIs.

Detroit def. Oakland, 3-2
The A's and Tigers split the first two games at Tiger Stadium with 9-0 and 9-1 blowouts. Rick Monday homered and drove in four in Oakland's Game 1 win, a four-hit shutout by Chuck Dobson, and Mike Stanley and Jim Northrup combined for five hits, including two homers, and and four RBIs, and Earl Wilson went the distance for Detroit in Game 2. In Game 3, Rick Monday homered again and Rollie Fingers earned a two-inning save and in Game 4, Denny McLain anchored a three-hit shutout in a 1-0 pitcher's duel with Dobson. In the decider, the Tigers turned back a 4-3 deficit with a four-run eighth inning that featured homers by Bill Freehan and Willie Horton.


World Series

Boston def. Detroit, 4-1
Carl Yastrzemski hit .522-3-9 and Reggie Smith hit .286-3-7, as the Red Sox outscored Detroit 35-25 to win their first World Series since 1918.
Game 1 - BOS 7-3 -- Carlton wins, Lyle saves, Yaz 3-5, HR
Game 2 - DET 9-7 -- Culp 0.2, allowed 6 runs in 1st
Game 3 - BOS 3-2 -- Ellsworth 7.1 shutout innings, Reggie Smith 2-run HR in 1st
Game 4 - BOS 11-6 -- Yaz 2 HR, 5 RBI, Freehan 4-5, 2 RBI for DET
Game 5 - BOS 7-5 -- Kaline grand slam in 4th, Mike Andrews 2-4, HR, 3 RBI

Awards
Rookie of the Year -- Rollie Fingers, OAK -- 15-5, 2.02, 25 saves, 1.11 WHIP
Cy Young Award -- Mike Cuellar, BAL -- 20-8, 2.57, 169 K, 1.09 WHIP
MVP -- Rico Petrocelli, BOS -- .329-39-109, 1.063 OPS