Well, it's official - I am too old for this s&%t...
To be honest, despite remaining close throughout August we never really look like threatening as the Dodgers seem to be cruising and the Phillies look far more likely to catch them.
Then everything changes.
The Dodgers (a year later than IRL...) lose 11 straight to start September and all of a sudden both ourselves and Philly are in with a shot. As Brooklyn keep struggling and the Phils run hot-and-cold, we catch fire from mid-month.
With just three games to play, and us in the middle of a 5-game win string, the race looks like this:
We duly win the first two of those games, with the Phils splitting theirs and the Dodgers' capitulation complete as they are eliminated:
Which brings us to Game 154. We are at Cincy, the Phils at the Jints.
The Phils win easily, 10 to 5.
We are leading 2-1 with two out in the bottom 9th, needing just that third out to lock down the pennant.
It never comes.
The next day, we travel to Philly for the tiebreak and lose it 4-0.
Game. Over.
Yep.
WAYYYYY too old.
The Red Sox see off all comers to claim the AL title. The final standings look like this:
Here are our final season screenshots. Not much to add - very proud of the lads for hanging in there, but a better side wouldn't have let this one slip away. We need to be that side.
Batting titles to Minnie Miñoso (347; 1st) and Richie Ashburn (339; 1st). Eddie Mathews leads both leagues with 39 HR, Duke Snider with 111 RBI.
Bob Rush is the only 20-game winner in the MLB with 22, while the relatively unheralded Johnny Antonelli posts the low ERA of 2.35, well clear of the others. Curt Simmons is the King of K with 189 and Hersh Freeman and Bill Sayles tie for the most saves with 27.
Final Top 20s and Leaders
Monthly Award Winners
August
American League
- Batter – Dick Kryhoski (White Sox): 357 / 8 HR / 27 RBI
- Pitcher – Billy Loes (Browns): 4-0 / 1.13 / 32 K / 47.2 IP
- Rookie – Harvey Kuenn (Tigers): 345 / 0 HR / 11 RBI
National League
- Batter – Eddie Mathews (Braves): 384 / 10 HR / 26 RBI
- Pitcher – Bob Rush (Cubs): 5-1 / 2.76 / 35 K / 58.2 IP
- Rookie – Eddie Mathews
September
American League
- Batter – Bobby Doerr (Red Sox): 430 / 3 HR / 24 RBI
- Pitcher – Lew Burdette (Red Sox): 5-0 / 2.70 / 12 K / 50 IP
- Rookie – Harvey Haddix (Indians): 2-1 / 3.12 / 19 K / 34.2 IP
National League
- Batter – Eddie Mathews (Braves): 337 / 7 HR / 23 RBI
- Pitcher – Robin Roberts (Phillies): 4-1 / 1.24 / 23 K / 51 IP
- Rookie – Eddie Mathews
Milestones and Observations of Note
- 2500 Hits: Joe DiMaggio
- 2000 Hits: Lou Boudreau, Bob Elliott
- A 13-game losing streak in late July and early August all but kills off the Senators’ run at the playoffs.
- Already sputtering a bit, the Yanks’ cause takes a further hit when SP Harry Feldman is ruled out for the rest of the season with some elbow problems. The Cubs also lose a key player when a torn labrum pulls down the curtain on Chico Carrasquel’s 1952 season.
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