[ZapMast]

1972 World Sim

Indianapolis Racers (2) vs. Seattle Cascades (3)

vs.


Game 6



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"Emerald Field. Seattle, Washington.
It ends here. Today… or tomorrow.
The 1972 World Sim has come down to its final chapter, and we don’t know if we’re watching the closing scene or the setup for a dramatic finale. What we do know is this: the Seattle Cascades are back home, one win away from their first-ever championship, but the Indianapolis Racers refuse to let them have it easily.
Seattle has been dominant on the road all postseason, a perfect 4-0 coming into Game 4, sweeping through Houston in the Western League Championship Series after a split at home. They carried that momentum into Indianapolis, jumping to a 3-0 series lead, and after winning Game 3, they looked unstoppable. Four wins. No losses. World Sim glory seemed inevitable.
But the Racers had other ideas.
They battled back with a decisive win in Game 4. And last night, in Game 5, with their season on the line, they shocked the baseball world—holding Seattle to just two runs before Dusty Baker’s dramatic walk-off home run sent this series back to the Pacific Northwest.
And now, with Emerald Field packed to the rafters, we are on the verge of baseball history. Two teams. One title. One moment.
For Seattle, this is their fortress, their city. They’ve been here before—winning in front of their fans, controlling the game, dictating the pace. But momentum is a funny thing, and right now, it’s riding in with the Racers. They’ve already defied the odds to force this trip back west. Can they do it again and push this to a Game 7?
Or will Seattle rise to the occasion, shut the door, and claim their place in history?
Six games in. One team on the brink. One team chasing the impossible.
This… is Game 6 of the 1972 World Sim. Let’s play ball.”



Top of the 1st – Lockwood Sets the Tone
Seattle's Skip Lockwood takes the mound as Indianapolis looks to strike early. Tony Perez leads off and swings at the first pitch, grounding it to the second baseman, who makes the play to first for the out. Dusty Baker follows and also puts the ball in play on the first pitch, grounding out to the third baseman. With two away, Billy Williams steps in and takes a called strike before fouling off a pitch to fall behind 0-2. He takes a ball, working the count to 1-2, but Lockwood freezes him with a called third strike to end the inning. A quick 1-2-3 frame for Lockwood, and Seattle comes to bat in a scoreless game.

Bottom of the 1st – Messersmith Works Around a Single
Andy Messersmith takes the ball for Indianapolis, looking to keep Seattle off the board early. Wes Parker starts the inning by swinging through the first pitch, then taking a called strike to fall into an 0-2 hole. He lays off a ball before going down swinging for the first out. Glenn Beckert follows and lines a single past the shortstop into left field. With one on, Al Bumbry watches a ball, then another, as Beckert swipes second base. Now ahead 2-0, Bumbry takes a called strike before fouling one off to even the count. He works it full but pops out to the first baseman in foul territory for the second out. Frank Robinson steps in and takes a ball before evening the count at 1-1. He then lifts a deep fly ball to left field, but Williams tracks it down to retire the side. Seattle gets a man into scoring position, but Messersmith keeps them off the board, and we remain scoreless heading to the second.

Top of the 2nd – Lockwood Sets Indy Down in Order
Skip Lockwood quickly retires Indianapolis in the second. Buddy Bell leads off and chops a soft grounder in front of the plate, where the catcher fields it and throws to first for the out. Tito Fuentes works ahead 3-0 but takes a strike before lifting a fly ball to right for the second out. Ellie Rodriguez jumps on the first pitch and sends a fly ball to left-center, but the defense tracks it down for the third out. A clean frame for Lockwood as Seattle maintains the scoreless tie.

Bottom of the 2nd – Messersmith Keeps Seattle Quiet
Andy Messersmith works efficiently to keep the Cascades off the board. Dave Duncan starts the inning by getting ahead in the count 2-0 before grounding a routine ball to short, where the play is made to first for the out. Joe Torre follows and drives a deep fly ball to center, but it's caught for the second out. Sonny Jackson steps in and battles to a 2-1 count before rolling a grounder to second, where the throw to first is in time. Messersmith works a perfect inning, keeping the game scoreless through two.

Top of the 3rd – Soderholm’s Leadoff Double Goes to Waste
Indianapolis looks to break the scoreless tie as Eric Soderholm leads off the third with authority, ripping a double into right field on an 0-1 pitch. Juan Beniquez steps in but quickly falls behind 0-2 after a pair of called strikes. He fights off two pitches, but with a 1-2 count, he swings through strike three for the first out. Andy Messersmith follows and works the count to 1-2 before he, too, goes down swinging. With two outs, Tony Perez steps in and takes a pair of strikes before evening the count at 2-2. A wild pitch allows Soderholm to advance to third, but Perez can't capitalize, grounding out to short to end the inning. The Racers threaten but fail to score, keeping it 0-0 heading to the bottom half.

Bottom of the 3rd – Seattle Leaves Two Stranded
Seattle gets a leadoff baserunner as Mike Anderson draws a walk after working the count full. With a sacrifice bunt, the pitcher moves Anderson into scoring position at second. Wes Parker steps in next, taking a ball before fouling one off. After getting ahead in the count 3-1, he takes ball four, putting two men on with one out. Glenn Beckert looks to cash in but lifts a fly ball to right for the second out. Al Bumbry battles through a six-pitch at-bat but goes down swinging, stranding both runners and keeping the game scoreless heading to the fourth.

Top of the 4th – Indianapolis Breaks Through
Dusty Baker leads off for Indianapolis and jumps on the first pitch, ripping a double down the left side. Billy Williams follows, grounding out to second. Buddy Bell steps in and works the count to 2-2 before lining a single into center, scoring Baker from second to put the Racers on the board. Bell advances to second on the throw home. With a runner on second base, Tito Fuentes takes a ball before lifting a fly ball to right for the second out. Ellie Rodriguez follows but gets under one, popping out to second to end the inning. Indianapolis grabs the lead with one run on two hits, leaving one stranded.

Bottom of the 4th – Messersmith Keeps Seattle Quiet
Frank Robinson leads off the inning, taking a called strike before evening the count. He fouls off the next pitch but then rolls a ground ball to short, where the play is made to first for the out. Dave Duncan steps up next, taking a strike before grounding out to first on a routine play with the pitcher covering. Joe Torre follows, swinging at the first pitch and sending a grounder to short, where it's fielded cleanly and thrown to first for the third out. A quick inning for Messersmith as Seattle goes down in order.

Top of the 5th – Lockwood Holds the Line
Eric Soderholm steps in to start the inning and quickly falls behind 0-2 after two called strikes. He takes a ball but then bounces a grounder back to the mound, where the pitcher makes the play to first for the out. Juan Beniquez follows, swinging at the first pitch and lifting a fly ball to center, where it’s caught for the second out. Andy Messersmith works a 1-1 count but then grounds a routine ball to second, where the throw to first is in time for the third out. Lockwood keeps the Racers off the bases in a smooth inning.

Bottom of the 5th – Messersmith Keeps Seattle in Check
Sonny Jackson leads off the inning by taking a called strike before evening the count at 1-1. He fouls one off but then lifts a line drive to center, where it’s caught for the first out. Mike Anderson steps in and works a 3-2 count, but swings through strike three for the second out. The pitcher comes to the plate next and takes the count to 1-2, before bouncing a ground ball past second for a two out knock. Wes Parker comes up and pops the first pitch he sees to the catcher in foul ground and the side is retired. Indianapolis maintains its slim 1-0 lead as Messersmith continues to roll.

Top of the 6th – Perez Swipes a Bag but Indianapolis Comes Up Empty
Tony Perez leads off the inning by showing patience at the plate, taking three straight balls before a called strike brings the count to 3-1. He lays off ball four and takes his free pass to first. Dusty Baker follows and battles through a full count, fouling off one pitch along the way, but ultimately goes down swinging for the first out. With Billy Williams at the plate, a pickoff throw to first keeps Perez honest before the count starts. Williams takes a called strike, then lines out to right field for the second out. Perez, still on first, decides to make a move, successfully swiping second base. Buddy Bell steps in next, taking a strike before working the count even at 1-1. A second called strike puts him behind, and after taking a ball, he swings through strike three to end the inning. Despite the stolen base, Indianapolis fails to add to their lead, and it remains 1-0.

Bottom of the 6th – Bumbry’s Speed Creates a Threat, but Seattle Strands Two
Glenn Beckert leads off the inning, taking a called strike and a ball before bouncing a grounder to third, where the play is made for the first out. Al Bumbry steps in and quickly falls behind 0-1 before evening the count at 1-1. He watches two balls go by to move ahead 3-1 but then fouls off a pitch to bring it full. On the payoff pitch, he slaps an infield single to first and beats the throw. With Frank Robinson at the plate and the count 2-0, Bumbry takes off for second, successfully swiping the bag. A balk call moves him up to third, increasing the pressure. Robinson stays patient, drawing a four-pitch walk to put runners at the corners with one out. Dave Duncan digs in and takes a called strike, then a ball, before fouling off another to go down 1-2. He swings through the next pitch for strike three, and now it’s up to Joe Torre to bring the runner home. Torre takes a ball, then a called strike to even the count at 1-1. On the next pitch, he bounces a grounder to second, where the play is made to first, ending the inning. Seattle threatens, but Indianapolis holds on to the slim 1-0 lead.

Top of the 7th – Lockwood Holds Firm
Tito Fuentes leads off for Indianapolis and works a 2-0 count before taking a called strike. He then gets under a pitch and lifts a high fly ball to center, where it is caught for the first out. Ellie Rodriguez follows, taking two straight balls before grounding one to third, where the throw to first is in time for the out. With two down, Eric Soderholm steps in and watches three straight balls go by, eventually drawing a walk on a 3-0 count. With speed on first, Juan Beniquez takes a ball before Soderholm takes off for second and swipes the bag successfully. Beniquez works ahead to a 2-0 count but then gets under a pitch and sends it out to center, where it is tracked down for the third out. Lockwood keeps the Racers off the board again, and Seattle remains within a run, trailing 1-0.

Bottom of the 7th – Messersmith Keeps Seattle in Check
Sonny Jackson steps in for Seattle and takes a ball, then a called strike to even the count. He fouls off the next pitch before laying off a ball outside. At 2-2, he swings through strike three for the first out. Mike Anderson follows and quickly falls behind 0-2 after a called strike and a foul. He stays alive by taking a ball, but then ropes a hard line drive to third, where it finds a fielder's glove for the second out. Skip Lockwood, staying in to hit, takes a ball, then a called strike, before fouling off back-to-back pitches. He manages to make contact on the next, bouncing a ground ball up the middle for an infield single. With a runner on first, Wes Parker looks to extend the inning. He takes a ball, then a called strike, before swinging through another pitch to fall behind 1-2. The next pitch gets past him for strike three, and Seattle comes up empty again. Messersmith holds firm, and Indianapolis takes its 1-0 lead into the eighth.

Top of the 8th – Indianapolis Adds Insurance
Andy Messersmith leads off the inning for Indianapolis and works the count in his favor, taking three straight balls before drawing a four-pitch walk. With a runner aboard, Tony Perez steps in and takes a ball before fouling one off. On the next pitch, Messersmith takes off for second, and the throw down is off target, allowing him to advance to third on the error. Now with a runner ninety feet away, Perez looks to capitalize but lines out to center, unable to bring the run home. Dusty Baker follows, taking a ball, then a called strike, before working the count to 2-2. He lifts a deep liner to center, and Messersmith tags up and scores on the sacrifice fly, giving Indianapolis a 2-0 lead. Billy Williams steps in next and wastes no time, sending the first pitch in the air to center for a routine flyout. The Racers manufacture a key run without a hit, stretching their lead as they head to the bottom of the eighth.

Bottom of the 8th – Seattle Breaks Through
Seattle comes to bat trailing 2-0, looking for a spark. Glenn Beckert leads off and drives a liner to short left, but it's caught for the first out. Al Bumbry follows, putting the ball in play, and a defensive miscue at first allows him to reach on an error, giving the Cascades a much-needed baserunner. Frank Robinson steps in and remains patient, taking three straight balls before earning a walk, moving Bumbry into scoring position. With two on and one out, Dave Duncan digs in, watching a called strike before fouling one off to fall behind 0-2. He then lays off a pitch in the dirt but stays aggressive on the next offering, sending a sharp grounder down the third base line for a double. Bumbry comes around to score, cutting the deficit to 2-1, while Robinson advances to third. That prompts Indianapolis to make a move, calling on reliever RHP Clay Carroll. Joe Torre steps up, taking a ball, then a strike, then another ball, before grounding out to shortstop 6-3. The Racers' infield keeps the runners in place, recording the second out. With the tying run still on third and the go-ahead run at second, Seattle turns to pinch-hitter Don Baylor. He works the count to 3-1 but chops a grounder to third, where the play is made at first to end the threat. The Cascades get on the board, but Indianapolis clings to a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth.

Top of the 9th – Indianapolis Looks for Insurance
Indianapolis looks to add an insurance run in the ninth. Matty Alou comes off the bench to pinch-hit and takes a called strike before evening the count at 1-1. After working the count to 2-1, he lifts a fly ball to deep center, but it's hauled in for the first out. Tito Fuentes follows, fouling off the first pitch before grounding one to first with the pitcher covering for the second out. With two away, Ellie Rodriguez steps in, taking a ball before watching a strike even the count at 1-1. He swings and misses at the next pitch, then fights off a foul ball to stay alive. He lays off two close pitches to work the count full before ripping a line drive into right for a single, keeping the inning alive. Eric Soderholm follows, taking a ball, then swinging and missing to even the count at 1-1. He watches another ball go by before rolling a grounder to short, where the play is made for the fielder’s choice to end the inning. Indianapolis leaves one on and takes a slim 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Bottom of the 9th – Seattle Battles to Stay Alive
Seattle enters the bottom of the ninth trailing by a run, needing a clutch rally to win the championship. Mike Anderson leads off and fouls off the first pitch before grounding a slow roller toward short. He hustles down the line, and the play is too close at first—Anderson is safe with an infield single. A pinch-hitter is called upon, and Tim McCarver steps in, taking a ball before lofting a fly ball to center field, where it is caught for the first out. Wes Parker follows, swinging through the first pitch before taking a ball to even the count. He fights off another pitch foul but then beats out a slow roller to the right side for another infield hit, putting the tying run in scoring position. Jerry Kenney enters as a pinch-runner at second, and the tension in Emerald Field rises. Glenn Beckert steps up and takes a called strike before fouling one off, falling behind 0-2. He takes a big swing and misses—strike three. Seattle is down to its final out. Al Bumbry steps in, taking a ball, then another to move ahead 2-0. He fouls one off before lining a sharp single into left. Kenney races around third as the throw comes in, but he slides in safely—Seattle ties the game at 2-2, and Parker advances to third. The Cascades are now a base hit away from a walk-off title. Frank Robinson steps to the plate, taking a ball before evening the count at 1-1. He swings through the next pitch, falling behind 1-2, takes a ball, fouls off the next one. He lays a close one to work the count full, then takes a mighty cut—strike three! The Racers escape with the game still tied, but Seattle delivers in the clutch to force extra innings. It’s 2-2 heading to the tenth!

Top of the 10th – Indianapolis Goes Quiet
With the World Sim hanging in the balance, Indianapolis looks to regain the lead in extra innings. Seattle turns to a fresh arm, bringing in left-hander Darold Knowles. Juan Beniquez steps in and takes a ball before rolling a routine grounder to third for the first out. The Racers send up pinch-hitter Garry Maddox, who fouls off the first pitch, then takes two straight balls. He watches a called strike before swinging through the next pitch for strike three. With two outs, Tony Perez digs in, swinging at the first pitch and lining a soft out to short to end the inning. A quick and efficient frame for Knowles as Seattle keeps the game tied at 2-2, heading to the bottom of the tenth.

Bottom of the 10th – Bare Keeps Seattle in Check
With a chance to walk it off and claim the championship, Seattle steps in against Ray Bare, who takes over on the mound for Indianapolis. Dave Duncan leads off, taking two called strikes to quickly fall behind 0-2. He then lifts a fly ball to center, but it's an easy out for the first out of the inning. Joe Torre follows, swinging through the first pitch before fouling another off, putting him in an 0-2 hole. Bare stays aggressive, getting Torre to chase for a strikeout. With two outs, Bob Heise steps in and works a 1-1 count before fouling another one back. He lays off the next pitch to even it at 2-2 but then lines out to left to end the inning. Indianapolis holds firm as Bare sends Seattle down in order, keeping the score tied 2-2 as we move to the 11th.

Top of the 11th – Knowles Keeps Indy Quiet
Darold Knowles takes the mound for Seattle, looking to keep the game tied. Dusty Baker leads off and fouls the first pitch down the right-field line before lifting a fly ball to center for the first out. Billy Williams follows, taking a ball before taking a called strike. On a 1-1 count, he lines a soft shot to second base, but it's caught for the second out. Roy Foster steps in, showing patience and working the count to 3-0 before Knowles battles back with a called strike. On 3-1, Foster makes solid contact, but he lines out to second, ending the inning. Seattle gets a clean frame from Knowles, keeping it 2-2 as they come to bat in the bottom of the 11th with a chance to win it all.

Bottom of the 11th – Seattle Walks It Off to Win the World Sim!
Ray Bare takes the mound for Indianapolis as Seattle looks to capture the championship in dramatic fashion. Roger Repoz leads off and quickly delivers, lining a single into center field to put the winning run aboard. Kurt Bevacqua comes in to pinch-hit and drops down a perfect sacrifice bunt, sprinting up the line as the throw to first is too late—everyone is safe! Seattle now has runners on first and second with nobody out. Wes Parker steps up and pops out in foul territory to first base for the first out. Glenn Beckert follows and takes a ball before swinging through a pitch to even the count. On 1-1, he rips a ground ball past the first baseman and into right field for a single. Repoz rounds third and races home, sliding in safely as the throw comes in too late—Seattle wins! The Cascades storm the field in celebration as they take Game 6 by a score of 3-2 in 11 innings, securing their first-ever World Sim championship!


Seattle Claims the 1972 World Sim Championship in Extra-Inning Thriller!
In a game that embodied the intensity of the entire series, the Seattle Cascades walked off in the bottom of the 11th to capture their first-ever World Sim championship. Indianapolis, riding a wave of momentum after winning Games 4 and 5 at home, came into Emerald Field determined to force a decisive Game 7. The Racers held the lead for most of the night, scratching across single runs in the fourth and eighth innings, but Seattle refused to go quietly. A crucial eighth-inning rally, capitalizing on an error and a clutch double from Dave Duncan, brought them within one before a dramatic ninth-inning single from Al Bumbry forced extras.

The tension reached its peak in the 11th, with Roger Repoz setting the table with a leadoff single before a perfectly placed bunt by Kurt Bevacqua put two on with no outs. After a popout, Glenn Beckert stepped up and sent the city of Seattle into celebration mode, drilling a ground ball into right field to bring home the championship-winning run.

Seattle’s pitching was the backbone of their championship run, with Skip Lockwood delivering an outstanding performance in Game 6, going nine strong innings while allowing just two runs. The bullpen, led by Darold Knowles, kept Indianapolis off the board in extras, setting the stage for Beckert’s heroics.

For Indianapolis, it was a crushing end to a resilient postseason. The Racers battled back from a 3-0 deficit, extending the series to six games and proving they were never out of it. Their pitching was outstanding throughout, with Andy Messersmith delivering a stellar performance in Game 6, holding Seattle to just one unearned run through seven and a third innings.

But in the end, it was Seattle’s year. The Cascades, dominant on the road throughout the playoffs, protected their home turf when it mattered most. They finished the postseason with an impressive 8-3 record, dismissing Houston in the Western League Championship Sim in five games before outlasting Indianapolis in a grueling six-game battle.

The celebration belongs to Seattle, the first-ever World Sim champions. Indianapolis fought to the very end, but the Cascades were simply too strong. A season filled with drama, comebacks, and unforgettable moments comes to a close with Seattle hoisting the trophy.

Congratulations to the
Seattle Cascades
the 1972 Champions of the
National Baseball League!

⚾Play the NimBLe way!

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