[Nick Soulis]

Series #155



1970 St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 76-86
Finish: 4th in NL East
Manager: Red Schoendienst
Ball Park: Busch Stadium
WAR Leader: Bob Gibson (10.1)
Franchise Record: 6-5
Hall of Famers: (5)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/1970.shtml

1918 Boston Braves
Record: 53-71
Finish: 7th in NL
Manager: George Stallings
Ball Park: Braves Field
WAR Leader: Red Smith (3.7)
Franchise Record: 1-3
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BSN/1918.shtml
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Cards Get Past Brave Fight
Brock Leads St. Louis To Six Game Series Win



Game 1
At Busch Stadium
1918 Boston Braves 3
1970 St. Louis Cardinals 1
WP: D. Rudolph (1-0) LP: B. Gibson (0-1) S; H. Canavan (1)
HR: D. Rudolph (1)
POG: Dick Rudolph (7.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 111 P)
1918 Braves Lead Series 1-0

In a tense Game 1 of the best-of-seven Field of Dreams series between the 1918 Boston Braves and the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals, the Braves emerged with a 3-1 victory to take an early series lead. Boston's ace, Dick Rudolph, put on a vintage display, holding the Cardinals' offense to just one run across 7.2 innings, scattering six hits while striking out four. Rudolph also helped his own cause with a solo home run off Bob Gibson in the third inning, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead. In the eighth, Red Smith extended Boston’s lead with a clutch double, bringing home another run. Though the Cardinals rallied in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out RBI single from Dick Allen, reliever Hugh Canavan shut down the threat to earn the save. Smith’s two-hit performance and Rudolph’s standout pitching earned Boston the opener at Busch Stadium, with 40,462 fans in attendance under clear skies. The series continues tomorrow, with Boston aiming to build on their 1-0 lead.

Game 2
At Busch Stadium
1918 Boston Braves 1
1970 St. Louis Cardinals 2
WP: C. Taylor (1-0) LP: A. Nehf (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Chuck Taylor (9 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 112 P)
Series Tied 1-1

In Game 2 of this Field of Dreams series, the 1918 Boston Braves fell short to the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals, with the Cardinals securing a 2-1 win to even the series at 1-1. Chuck Taylor, the standout performer and Player of the Game, pitched a commanding complete game, limiting the Braves to just one run on eight hits and recording four strikeouts. St. Louis jumped ahead early, with a first-inning RBI double by Joe Torre setting the tone, followed by Chuck Taylor helping his own cause with a two-out RBI single in the second. Art Nehf kept Boston within reach, pitching eight strong innings, but the Braves struggled to capitalize, stranding seven runners. Their lone run came in the sixth, with Ray Massey driving in the only score for Boston. The series will shift to Braves Field for Game 3, where Boston looks to capitalize on their home turf advantage.

Game 3
At Braves Field
1970 St. Louis Cardinals 3
1918 Boston Braves 2 (10 inn)
WP: R. Cleveland (1-0) LP: H. Canavan (0-1)
HR: J. Kelly (1)
POG: Steve Carlton (8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 124 P)
1970 Cardinals Lead Series 2-1

In a thrilling Game 3 at Braves Field, the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals edged the 1918 Boston Braves 3-2 in ten innings to seize a 2-1 series lead in this Field of Dreams matchup. Lefty ace Steve Carlton showcased his brilliance, going eight strong innings and allowing just two earned runs on five hits while striking out five. The game was a tense back-and-forth affair, with Boston’s Joe Kelly breaking the scoreless tie with a solo homer in the third, only for the Cardinals to even it up in the fourth. Carlton’s dominance kept the Braves in check until Dick Allen stepped up in the tenth, delivering a clutch, two-out double that drove in Jose Cardenal, putting the Cardinals up 3-2. Relief pitcher Ronny Cleveland held off the Braves in the bottom half to seal the win. Under clear skies and a brisk breeze, the Boston faithful of 20,436 watched as their team fought hard but ultimately fell short against St. Louis’s late-game heroics.

Game 4
At Braves Field
1970 St. Louis Cardinals 2
1918 Boston Braves 8
WP: B. Hearn (1-0) LP: J. Reuss (0-1)
HR: L. Brock (1)
POG: Johnny Rawlings (3-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI 2 R)
Series Tied 2-2

Under clear skies at Braves Field, the 1918 Boston Braves stormed to an 8-2 victory over the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals, tying the Field of Dreams series at 2-2. Johnny Rawlings shined, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored, earning Player of the Game honors. The Braves set the tone early, with Red Smith’s two-out, two-run triple in the second inning making it 4-0, part of a 3-for-5 performance where he drove in four runs. St. Louis managed a late two-run homer from Lou Brock in the eighth, but Boston’s Bill Hearn contained the Cardinals with eight efficient innings. A spirited crowd of 20,342 lent their voices to a thrilling game, with the series shifting to a decisive Game 5.

Game 5
At Braves Field
1970 St. Louis Cardinals 6
1918 Boston Braves 1
WP: B. Gibson (1-1) LP: D. Rudolph (1-1)
HR: J. Kelly (2)
POG: Bob Gibson (9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 113 P)
1970 Cardinals Lead Series 3-2

In a commanding performance, Bob Gibson propelled the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals to a pivotal 6-1 win over the 1918 Boston Braves in Game 5 of their Field of Dreams series. Playing at Braves Field on a brisk October afternoon, Gibson was nearly untouchable, scattering just four hits and striking out five across nine innings. St. Louis's bats backed their ace early, with Lou Brock doubling to open the scoring in the first, while Dick Allen and Jose Cardenal added timely hits to keep the Cardinals in control. The Braves' only answer came in the seventh inning, when Joe Kelly launched a solo homer to break Gibson's shutout. Despite this spark, Boston’s offense struggled to find momentum against Gibson's precision. With this win, St. Louis took a 3-2 series lead, pushing Boston to the brink as the series shifts back to Busch Stadium for Game 6.

Game 6
At Busch Stadium
1918 Boston Braves 2
1970 St. Louis Cardinals 14
WP: C. Taylor (2-0) LP: A. Nehf (0-2)
HR: None
POG: Lou Brock (4-5, 2 2B, 4 R, 1 SB)

In a resounding finale at Busch Stadium, the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals defeated the 1918 Boston Braves 14-2, clinching the series 4-2 and etching their name as champions of Series #155. From the outset, the Cardinals' offense came alive, with Lou Brock leading the charge. Brock, who was named Player of the Game and series MVP, set a playoff record with four runs scored, including two pivotal doubles that drove the Cardinals’ momentum. José Cardenal and Joe Torre contributed clutch hits, while Dick Allen and Joe Hague added critical RBIs that extended the lead. Cardinal pitcher Chuck Taylor kept Boston’s lineup in check, allowing only two runs across nine innings. Despite a brief push from the Braves in the second inning, errors and a lack of offensive support doomed their chances. With a jubilant crowd of 50,514 witnessing the Cardinals' explosive seventh and eighth innings, St. Louis celebrated the Field of Dreams on a clear, breezy afternoon in October.

1970 St. Louis Cardinals Win Series 4 Games To 2

Series MVP:

(.360, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 1 SB, 4 2B, 1.010 OPS)