[Nick Soulis]

Series #26
Preliminary Round



1940 Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 78-76
Finish: 4th in NL
Manager: Frankie Frisch
Ball Park: Forbes Field
WAR Leader: Arky Vaughn (6.9)
Hall of Famers: (4)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/1940.shtml

1999 Montreal Expos
Record: 68-94
Finish: 4th in NL East
Manager: Felipe Alou
Ball Park: Olympic Stadium
WAR Leader: Vladimir Guerrero (4.4)
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MON/1999.shtml
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Game 1
At Forbes Field
1999 Montreal Expos 1
1940 Pittsburgh Pirates 2
WP: R. Sewell (1-0) LP: T. Armas (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Rip Sewell (9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 134 P)
Johnny Rizzo walk off single in 9th

Game 2
At Forbes Field
1999 Montreal Expos 1
1940 Pittsburgh Pirates 2
WP: M. Brown (1-0) LP: D. Hermanson (0-1)
HR: M. Mordecai (1)
POG: Mace Brown (9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 109 P)
Spud Davis 2-4 RBI

Game 3
At Olympic Stadium
1940 Pittsburgh Pirates 5
1999 Montreal Expos 4
WP: K. Heintzeman (1-0) LP: C. Pavano (0-1)
HR: F. Seguignol (1), C. Widger (1), A. Vaughn (1)
POG: Ken Heintzeman (9 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W)
Arky Vaughn HR, 2 R

Game 4
At Olympic Stadium
1940 Pittsburgh Pirates 0
1999 Montreal Expos 4
WP: J. Vazquez (1-0) LP: B. Kilinger (0-1)
HR: V. Guerrero (1)
POG: Javier Vazquez (9 IP, 8 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 113 P)
Mike Mordecai 2-4, 3 RBI, 2 2B

Game 5
At Olympic Stadium
1940 Pittsburgh Pirates 5
1999 Montreal Expos 6 (10 inn)
WP: U. Urbina (1-0) LP: J. Lanning (0-1)
HR: B. Fullmer (1), J. Rizzo (1)
POG: Johnny Rizzo (2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Shane Andrews game winning sacrafice fly 10th inning

Game 6
At Forbes Field
1999 Montreal Expos 3
1940 Pittsburgh Pirates 5
WP: M. Brown (2-0) LP: D. Hermanson (0-2) J. Lanning (1)
HR: J. Rizzo (2), G. Blum (1)
POG: Johnny Rizzo (3-4, HR, 2 RBI, R)
Arky Vaugh 2-4 2 RBI

1940 Pittsburgh Pirates Win Series 4 Games To 2
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Veteran Pirates Take Care of Expos
Winning All Games At Forbes, Bucs Move On



In a best-of-seven playoff series, the 1940 Pittsburgh Pirates managed to overcome the 1999 Montreal Expos, securing their victory in six intense games. This showdown, pitting two very different eras of baseball against each other, offered fans a unique opportunity to witness the clash of legends from the past and present.

The series opened at Forbes Field, and it was a true pitcher's duel. The 1940 Pirates narrowly edged the 1999 Expos, winning 2-1. Pirates' Rip Sewell was the star of the game, pitching a complete game and allowing only one run. Johnny Rizzo, who would go on to be the series MVP, delivered a walk-off single in the ninth inning to secure the win for the Pirates.

The second game, also at Forbes Field, was another low-scoring affair, with the Pirates winning 2-1 again. Mace Brown was the standout performer for the Pirates, pitching a complete game and allowing only one run. Mace Brown's exceptional performance was pivotal in securing the Pirates' second consecutive victory.

As the series shifted to Olympic Stadium in Montreal, the 1940 Pirates faced their first setback. The Expos managed to win Game 3 with a score of 5-4, with Frank Seguignol and Arky Vaughn hitting home runs. The Pirates' Ken Heintzeman pitched a complete game, but the Expos pulled through to get their first win of the series.

The Expos' 1999 ace, Javier Vazquez, made a statement in Game 4 at Olympic Stadium, throwing a shutout against the 1940 Pirates. Vladimir Guerrero powered the Expos to a 4-0 victory with a home run, while Vazquez's exceptional performance on the mound was instrumental in securing the win.

Game 5 at Olympic Stadium took an extra inning to decide the winner, with the Expos ultimately coming out on top, 6-5. Johnny Rizzo was the hero of the game, hitting a crucial home run and driving in two runs. Shane Andrews delivered a game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to seal the Expos' victory, extending the series.

Back at Forbes Field for Game 6, the 1940 Pirates were determined to close out the series. Led by Johnny Rizzo's impressive performance, which included another home run, the Pirates defeated the Expos 5-3. Rizzo's three hits and two RBIs were pivotal in securing the victory, and Arky Vaughn contributed with a 2-4 performance and two RBIs.

With a 4-2 series win, the 1940 Pittsburgh Pirates emerged as the champions in this unique showdown of baseball history. Their superior pitching, with Mace Brown delivering two crucial victories, and Johnny Rizzo's standout hitting performances made the difference in this best-of-seven series. Despite the loss, the 1999 Montreal Expos put up a valiant effort and provided baseball fans with an exciting and memorable series. Johnny Rizzo was named the series MVP, and his .333 batting average and .585 slugging percentage played a significant role in the Pirates' triumph.

Series MVP:

(.333, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, .968 OPS)