PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #55
1977 Boston Red Sox (97-64) vs 1952 St. Louis Browns (64-90)
It is really unfortunate that the Red Sox of the late seventy's did not end up with a championship, a similar story played out in 1977 where the club won 97 games under Don Zimmer but still missed the postseason by a game and a half. The club had age on it but the experience worked in their favor as Fergie Jenkins headlined the staff along with Luis Tiant, but eight total pitchers started games in double digits and not one man reached 200 innings. Young arms like Don Aase and Bob Stanley bring depth while Bill Campbell saved 31 games and struck out 114 batters for a 7.3 K per 9. Zimmer was not one too wait and would makes changes often and uncustomary. It truly all worked for Boston because their lineup really was super talented. Twenty four year old Jim Rice took the lead on notice with a .320 average and .593 SLG. Butch Hobsen drove in 112 runs while 40 year old Carl Yastrzemski still had it driving in 102 with an .877 OPS. Fred Lynm had a bit of a down year but was still a fan favorite as was Dwight Evans who only played in 73 games.The WAR leader and along with Yaz the leader of the team had to be their allstar catcher Carlton Fisk. Fisk hit .315 with a .402 OBP while displaying power at the plate, but even more so, Fisk had developed into one of the most dependable defensive catchers in the game. Anyway you slice it, this is a very good club and are no doubt runaway favorites in this series with St. Louis.
In likely his very best season in the majors at 41 years old, the legend of Satchel Paige will enter our tournament and it is what the field of dreams is all about. Paige won 12 games in 62 and was used in a variety of roles including 10 saves and 2 shutouts. Good old Satch made the all star game and even garnered some MVP votes, how he is used by Marty Marion should be interesting. Duane Pillette made 30 starts and could have been alot worse with a 109 ERA+. Tommy Byre lost 14 games and struggled while Bob Cain and Ned Garver usually did a good enough job to keep their club in the game. The weak hitting lineup was really where the problem was with this club as no one scored over 70 runs or hit over 20 home runs. Bob Nieman slugged .466 with 18 bombs but had almost no support. Clint Courtney was a good hitting catcher driving in 50 runs while hitting .286. Marty Marion himself played in over 60 games but only hit .247 and the player manager used a big number of position players to try to find a formula to generate runs. The opposition for the Browns is not an easy one, and even if their pitching staff can hold water, and everyone expects Paige to perform on the big stage, the lack of offense and power just can not be overlooked.
Game 1 At Fenway Park
Rain 49
1952 Browns..................0
1977 Red Sox................4
WP: L. Tiant (1-0) LP: S. Paige (0-1)
HR: B. Hobson (1)
POG: Luis Tiant
1977 Red Sox Lead Series 1-0
Luis Tiant stole the show against the legend Satchel Paige as the as the Cuban star threw an 8 hit shutout striking out four on 132 pitches. Forty one year old Paige ran into trouble early when Jim Rice tripled in a run and after allowing three in the first two innings, Paige settled down but was given no support from his offense. Butch Hobson also went 2-3 with a solo home run. The Red Sox open on the right foot.
Game 2 At Fenway Park
Cloudy 53
1952 Browns................6
1977 Red Sox..............7
WP: F. Jenkins (1-0) LP: D. Pillette (0-1) S: B. Campbell (1)
HR: D. Evans (1), D. Kryhoski (1)
POG: Jim Rivera
1977 Red Sox Lead Series 2-0
The Red Sox continued where they left off and a Dwight Evans 2 run home run in the 4th gave them an early 4-0 lead behind Fergie Jenkins. The Browns did rally with 5 runs late and Bill Campbell had to work an inning plus to close the door and send the Browns back home down 2. Jim Rivera went 4-5 with 3 doubles.
Game 3 At Sportsmans Park
Partly cloudy 56
1977 Red Sox....................0
1952 Browns......................1
WP: B. Cain (1-0) LP: R. Cleveland (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Bob Cain
1977 Red Sox lead series 2-1
Pinch hitter Tom Wright lined a double down the line to score Jim Dyck in walk off fashion ending a scoreless battle at Sportsmans Park. Bob Cain went the distance striking out seven and keeping hope alive for the Browns in the series. Reggie Cleveland pitched well in this one and battled for nine innings without any offensive support. He himself had the only extra base hit in the game for his losing side, a 6th inning double.
Game 4 At Sportsmans Park
Cloudy 60
1977 Red Sox......................4
1952 Browns........................3
WP: D. Aase (1-0) LP: E. Harrist (0-1) S: B. Campbell (2)
HR: F. Lynn (1), J. Rice (1), D. Kryhoski (2)
POG: Don Aase
1977 Red Sox Lead Series 3-1
Fred Lynn hit a two run home run that was followed by a solo shot by Jim Rice an inning later and the show of power was enough tonight to carry Don Aase to a deserved win. Aase send seven innings and worked out of a number of narrow sports allowing 3 runs and striking out four. Bill Campbell came in and worked two great innings to save the effort and the game as Don Zimmer's team is now one win away from moving on. Earl Harrist takes the loss in 6 innings of work.
Game 5 At Sportsmans Park
Clear 62
1977 Red Sox....................11
1952 Browns......................10
WP: L. Tiant (2-0) LP: S. Paige (0-2) S: B. Campbell (3)
HR: J. Rivera (1), F. Lynn (2)
POG: Fred Lynn
The legend fell hard today as age was just too much for Satchel Paige who allowed 8 earned runs on 12 hits and was pulled in the 4th inning. Fred Lynn went 3-5 with 5 RBI and a 3 run home run in a 17 hit effort by Boston. St. Louis did not want to bow out quietly and made a desperate comeback. With two outs and a man on in the ninth, the manager for the Browns, Marty Marion pinch hit himself, but grounded out to end the series. Bill Campbell closes out another one and the Red Sox take it in five.
1977 Boston Red Sox Win Series 4 games to 1
Series MVP:
Fred Lynn
(.353, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .824 SLG, 2 2B, 2 R)