[JerryShoe]

The Royals CS opponent were the Boston Red Sox, who fought the Yankees tooth and nail all summer before coasting to a 5-game lead to win the East with 100 wins. The lineup was led by the historically correct Carlton Fisk in his rookie year (.315/32/107), Reggie Smith (.295/31/114) and Carl Yastrzemski (.301). They had 2 20-game winners in Lynn McGlothen (21-10/ 2.63), another first-year Bostonian who was an actual midseason callup, and actual Brewer Jim Colborn with a 20-7/2.98 log. They had a deep bullpen with Sparky Lyle (26 Saves/2.24 and not traded to the Yankees), Lindy McDaniel (2.76 after being traded by me for Garmen, Lee and Muser-apparently not my best deal) and Bobby Bolin (2.21). Bolin was in Boston in '72, but via San Francisco and Milwaukee and in OOTP traded directly from the Giants. I changed the OOTP postseason schedule to conform to history, so the ALCS opened in KC for 2 games, a day off and then 3 in Boston. McGlothen and Tiant were the starters and the staff aces showed their stuff. El Tiante was magnifico, with no Bostonian venturing past first base and surrendering just 2 hits and 2 walks with 12 strikeouts. Meanwhile, McGlothen kept getting into and then out of trouble. He allowed 2 baserunners on in the 1st, the first 2 to reach base in the 4th, bases loaded in the 5th, another frame with the first 2 hitters getting on in the 6th. After leaving 10 on base in the first 6 innings, he finally had a 1-2-3 7th before being lifted for Lyle in the 8th, but Sparky flamed out. After getting the first out, he gave up back-to-back walks before Concepcion doubled. One out later, Berry singled him and Rojas in to complete the scoring in the 3-0 opener.
Game #2 started out WAY different than the first, with the Sox breaking out for 2 runs right off the bat, so to speak. Palmer got the first out, then surrendered back-to-back walks and both runners scored as Yastrzemski and Fisk both gambled and won off the OF arms of Garr and Cruz. The Royals got 1 back in the bottom half on Cruz' triple and Berry's groundout which was countered with Fisk's solo shot in the 3rd. The Royals tied the game in the next inning when Rojas doubled Muser pinch-singled to put runners on the corners with the top of the order coming up. Cruz and Berry came through with hits and it looked like the game would end then and there with Allen and Evans coming up with 2 on and 1 out, but Colborn put them away. From then on in regulation, Colborn settled down and Lyle and McDaniel shut out the Royals while Burgmeier and Segui did the same before Allen hit one out of the park off Bolin to start (and end) the 10th. Having disposed of 2 20-games winners, I was hoping for a sweep since I had a third ace, Stottlemyre, up my sleeve, but Jim Lonborg pitched like the ace it was 1967. The Sox scored single runs on a solo by Smith and small-ball: Mike Andrews single, Lonborg’s sacrifice and Andrews scoring on his successful running gamble on Juan Beniquez’ single. KC used small-all themselves in scoring 2 runs in the 5th on 3 singles, a sacrifice and a squeeze by Berry who was safe at first, but Allen killed the rally with a DP grounder. Segui loaded the bases to start the 9th, got a force at home but on the next grounder the sure-handed Conception threw away the ball on his throw home to end the game.
The Sox tied the CS in Game #4 as McGlothen pitched much better this time and Tiant couldn't keep out of trouble. Boston scored twice in the 3rd on Andrews’ solo shot followed by a double by Beniquez, who beat Garr’s throw home on Yaz’ single. In the next inning, Tiant allowed 3 2-out walks with another Concepcion error with McGlothen batting to finish the scoring as Lynn threw a 3-hit shutout.
I surpassed history again by winning the AL flag 8 years early. Palmer went against Ken Brett, the CS' first southpaw starter, so McRae led off and played left field. He flew out to start the game, but Allen hit a 2-run homer for a 2-0 Royal lead, which was extended to 3-0 in the 3rd with back-to-back doubles by McRae and Berry. Smith homered in the 4th to end Palmer's shutout, but Fosse hit a 3-run blast in the 6th to seemingly put the game out of reach. This is never the case In Fenway Park, and in the home half Yaz singled and Fisk homered to start off the frame. 2 singles and a walk loaded the bases, but pinch-hitter Deron Johnson struck out. Colborn drew a relief assignment in this game and walked in a run to end the game's scoring, but things got hairy again during Boston's last licks, when they loaded the bases before Segui struck out Joe LaHoud.
In the World Series, we faced off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (101-61) who defeated the Cincinnati Reds in 4 games after the Reds defeated the Astros in a 163rd game. Pittsburgh featured historical Pirates Manny Sanguillen (.325, 4th in the NL), Dave Cash (.274), Richie Hebner (.296, 24 HRs and 106 RBIs, good for 5th), Willie Stargell (32 HRs and also 106 RBIs, 5th) Freddie Patek (good shortstopping with 52 steals and 5th best; no wonder they refused to trade him to me), Al Oliver (.308) and of course Roberto Clemente (.295) along with supersub Gene Clines (.313 with 15 triples, good for 2nd). Actual Buc hurlers were Dock Ellis (22-12, 2.99, wins were 2nd best and 20 CG 3rd), Bob Moose (18-7, 2.30 for 4th and 21 CG 2nd) and Bruce Dal Canton (16-10, 3.07). To this cast was added Ron Fairly (.294/29/91, acquired for a backup receiver and a second-line reliever), Phil Niekro (16-9, 2.77 for Matty Alou), Jim Brewer (2.00 with 4th most 24 saves for prospect Angel Mangual) and free agent signing Ed Acosta (2.03). Niekro was a timely trade since Steve Blass seemed to suffer his eponymous “disease” (5.15 in OOTP as opposed to historical 19-8. 2.49).
Pitt took the opener, 4-1, even though it seemed they were outplayed. KC kept threatening but not scoring, leaving 6 men on in 1the first 4 frames by which time Clemente had driven in Cash, who reached on Allen’s error. Even when the Royals scored, it seems they should have scored more. They tied in in the 5th when the first 2 batters reached, then bases loaded with 1 out, but only managed 1 run on a sac fly and even that was the result of Cruz running (successfully challenging Stargell's arm) more than hitting. Unfortunately, Stottlemyre threw better to batters (6-hit complete game) than to first; his throwing error led to a PH single by Clines and 2 more unearned runs.
In a repeat of the opener, starters Tiant and Ellis were masterful and KC kept squandering chances. Leaving 2 men on in the 1st and another after Evans 4th inning solo and he came up empty twice in later innings with runners aboard. The Pirates used 3 singles to bring in tying run and s singles with a sac fly for the go ahead. Royal pitching gave up 2 earned in 2 games and have 2 losses to show for it. Ellis went 7 innings, giving up 6 hits and a walk and then Brewer earned a tough 2-inning save to go with his Game #1 win.
The third game featured a fabulous pitching duel, Niekro and Palmer matching zeros for 8 innings. The “real” Palmer faced the Pirates twice in 2 World Series, with a 3.09 ERA in 4 starts with only a 1-1 W-L to show for it. OOTPalmer fared not much betters, giving up only 3 hits while Niekro matched him frame-for-frame. KC continue to leave men on, including Palmer singling and moving to second on Stargell's misplay only to be left stranded there 3 outs later. When he finally had to be removed in the home 8th, his PH May walked and moved to 2nd on Berry's hit, but Allen flew out to end the threat. Burgmeier came in, loaded the bases with 2 out, left for Carroll who gave up a PH 2-RBI hit from Bob Robertson. Evans tried to start a rally with an opening single, but Niekro once shut the home team KC down. So far we scored 2 runs in 3 games.
For the fourth game, Stottlemyre was tasked to avert a sweep, and he looked to do his best when he failed to sacrifice and then, seemingly tired of his mates’ inability with the stick, took matters in his own hands and doubled in the first KC lead of the Series. But then Cruz and Berry then left another 2 on. Unfortunately, he hit better than he pitched, which was uncharacteristically bad. He gave 5 runs right back in the 3rd, Patek being the ignition when he singled in 2, stole third and scored on Oliver’s triple, who later scored himself. Patek added another ribby in next inning and Hebner’s 8th inning 2-run blast ended Pirate scoring. KC finally scored 2 runs in 9th so as not to completely embarrass themselves. Dal Canton pitched an 8-hit complete game.
In a Series highlighted by top-notch hurling, the only Royals who hit were Berry (.412) and Fosse (.312). For the Pirates, Cash (.333, 3 Runs) and Hebner (.357, triple, homer, 4 Runs, 3 RBI) starred. OOTP named Niekro as MVP, assuming because it was the best of great pitching performances, but by the time he took the hill his team already won 2 games. My choice is a hitter, Hebner, scoring a run in each game. As an aside, this is the second time in 2 replays that the Pirates thwarted my Championship hopes, having previously disposed of my 1968 Yankees. BradK and (maybe) Luckymann might be proud, although I did have to outlast Luckymann’s Athletics to get this far.
As to annual honors, Johnny Bench duplicated history and won the NL MVP while Fisk took the AL; actual winner Allen (from my team rather that the ChiSox) finished second. OOTP imitated real life with the Cy Youngs as Steve Carlton took the NL Cy Young and Gaylord Perry won, although Perry was traded to the Twins and not the Indians. The Rookie-of-the-Year went against history, with OOTP selecting Rick Reuschel rather than Jon Matlock and the AI made a curious choice in the AL. McGlothen won, which is fine, but he beat actual winner Fisk, who was the MVP.

Upcoming: 1962-69 New York Mets (in a separate thread)