American League
Detroit Tigers (99-63) v Chicago White Sox (96-66)
We get a repeat of last year in the AL with the White Sox looking for a third straight pennant and the Tigers looking for their first World Seris appearance since the championship 1967 season. It’s a team of great strengths but also obvious shortcomings that Detroit sends out here. Cecil Cooper has had an extraordinary season and is the main guy for them here. If he, Chet Lemon and Don Baylor catch fire then the Tigers will go a long way. But the pitching can get a bit shaky and after those big three there are a lot of slappy hitters, so they are a bit of an unknown quantity. The defending champs look good again and if they play to their full abilities then they, too, will take a lot of beating. Should be a fascinating contest here, as was the case a year ago.
The Sox come out all guns blazing with a big 8-2 road win in Game 1 but the Tigers squeeze past them 3-2 in a thrilling 11-inning Game 2 to get back on even terms.
The Tigers go ahead for the first time with a 7-3 Game 3 win and then, despite blowing an early lead, finish the job in dramatic fashion with a 6-5 win in 11.
Veteran Catcher Tim McCarver nabs the MVP gong.
National League
Houston Astros (90-72) v Pittsburgh Pirates (88-74)
We’ve got our work cut out for us against the Astros, with whom we split the regular season games six apiece. Their pitchers don’t give up many runs and, while their hitting can go quiet in spells, it won’t take a lot of runs to win their share of games. Our hitters have been sensational this year but this will be a true test for them and our pitching is nowhere near where we’d like it to be. Dave Kingman’s ineligibility paves the way for Wayne Nordhagen to return for the playoffs and with Lee Lacy also out (but perhaps available if we make the WS) we’ll need to be very good indeed to get to the next stage, especially with them having the home field advantage. We do get Dave Tomlin back in time and he comes in for Dave Hamilton.
Ron Guidry gives us a tight 5-3 win in the opener but despite Candy Man giving us a strong outing against The Bird we lose the second game walkoff in 10 to send the series to Pittsburgh knotted at one.
Jerry Reuss struggles again in Game 3 but we almost pinch it with a late rally before coming up a run short in a 7-6 final.
Bruce Kison has been solid for us this year and it’s all on him to keep us alive against lefty Ken Kravec. With Pops hitting less than a buck to this point, Dave Kingman’s absence hurts all the more and, while he chimes in with 3 hits and 3 RBI in this one, we lose a wild 10-9 slugfest to bow out ungracefully to give the Astros their first NL pennant and a maiden World Series berth.
Chris Chambliss is named MVP.
