Last ** team ** standing

[webrian]

**** THE ELITE EIGHT ****

BRACKET CHAMPIONSHIPS

*** BRACKET A ***

No. 5 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers vs. No. 2 2018 BOSTON RED SOX

*** BRACKET B ***

No. 2 1929 Philadelphia Athletics vs. No. 1 2001 SEATTLE MARINERS

*** BRACKET C ***

No. 3 2016 Chicago Cubs vs. No. 1 2019 HOUSTON ASTROS

*** BRACKET D ***

No. 2 1944 St. Louis Cardinals vs. No. 1 1998 NEW YORK YANKEES


Which of these series are you most excited about?

[webrian]

Eight teams. Eight fan bases. Eight stadiums.

These are all that remain from the 48 teams we began this tournament with.

No matter what happens in this round, these will be the final tournament games played at Ebbets Field, Shibe Park, Sportsman's Park, and old Yankee Stadium.

The Final Four and Last Team Championship Series will be played at modern ball yards.

Ebbets Field vs. Fenway Park

Shibe Park vs. Safeco Field

[webrian]

Eight teams. Eight fan bases. Eight stadiums.

These are all that remain from the 48 teams we began this tournament with.

No matter what happens in this round, these will be the final tournament games played at Ebbets Field, Shibe Park, Sportsman's Park, and old Yankee Stadium.

The Final Four and Last Team Championship Series will be played at modern ball yards.

Daikin Park vs. Wrigley Field

Yankees Stadium vs. Sportsman's Park

[webrian]

BRACKET A CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

No. 5 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers vs. No. 2 2018 BOSTON RED SOX

At Boston Fenway Park

GAME ONE: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 6 — It takes quite a hunch to pinch hit for your star player in the ninth inning. Boston skipper Alex Cora must have had a premonition. With a runner on and 1 out in the bottom of the ninth, Cora called back right-handed Mookie Betts so he could send up right-handed Ian Kinsler, against right-handed Dodgers reliever Clem Labine. The move made little sense on the surface — but it worked. Kinsler hit a 357-foot, opposite-field homer to right field to walk off a series-opening victory. ... The 2018 Red Sox had leads of 2-0 and 6-3, but the 1953 Dodgers erased both of them. A 2-run homer over the Green Monster by C Roy Campanella gave Brooklyn a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning. The Red Sox struck back for 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth, getting 3 of them on a massive blast over the Monster by 1B Steven Pearce. Later, light-hitting C Sandy Leon clubbed another homer, a solo shot that mimicked the trajectory of Carlton Fisk's famous 1975 World Series homer, just grazing the foul pole as it cleared the wall. ... The Red Sox took their 6-3 lead to the top of the eighth inning, but reliever Ryan Brasier squandered it. The Dodgers loaded the bases on 2 singles and a walk, then Campanella lined a double into the leftfield corner, plating 2 runs to make it 6-5. Carl Furillo followed with a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Jackie Robinson to score the tying run. ... Campanella and Robinson had 2 hits apiece for Brooklyn, with Robinson scoring 2 runs and Campanella driving in 4. ... J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts each drove in a run in the first inning to give Boston its 2-0 lead. ... Dodgers RHP Carl Erskine had a mixed-bag type of day: 5 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 2 W, 9 K, and a no-decision. Boston LHP Chris Sale allowed just 3 runs (1 earned) over 7 innings on 4 hits with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. Reliever Matt Barnes earned the ‘W’ for Boston.

GAME TWO: Dodgers 5, Red Sox 1 — Duke Snider went 3-for-5 with a pair of homers and an RBI double to lead the 1953 Dodgers. ... The “Duke of Flatbush” showed he could also rule Fenway for at least one day. He drove in 4 of Brooklyn’s 5 runs to help the Dodgers pull even in the series. ... Meanwhile, Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe held the 2018 Red Sox to 1 run on 5 hits over 6.1 innings. The Red Sox got their only run from a Steven Pearce homer in the bottom of the fourth. The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead on Carl Furillo’s solo homer in the second, followed by Snider’s RBI double in the third inning. Snider added a solo blast over the Green Monster in the fifth inning, then hammered a 410-footer for a 2-run shot in the eighth. ... Bob Milliken earned the save with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

At Brooklyn Ebbets Field

GAME THREE: Dodgers 8, Red Sox 2 — The 2018 Red Sox are beginning to understand how the 1953 Dodgers took down the mighty 1927 Yankees: their pitchers rise to the occasion, and that lineup doesn’t relent. Now the question is, what can the Red Sox do about it? ... Boston skipper Alex Cora had much to ponder after the Dodgers boat-raced his squad at noisy Ebbets Field. The Dodgers cranked 4 home runs — 3 of them during a 5-run sixth inning — and held Boston scoreless after the first inning. Roy Campanella went deep twice, including a 3-run blow off reliever Matt Barnes during that sixth inning. Duke Snider went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Pee Wee Reese went 3-for-5 with 3 runs scored, and he also homered during that sixth inning. ... Dodgers RHP Russ Meyer allowed just 2 runs (1 earned) over 6.2 innings with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts before yielding to reliever Jim Hughes, who didn’t allow a baserunner over the final 2.1 innings. ... Boston appeared to have the early momentum. Andrew Benintendi briefly silenced the boisterous crowd with a solo homer. Three batters later, Brock Holt barreled an RBI triple to deep centerfield. An RBI single by Duke Snider in the bottom of the first cut the lead to 2-1, but the Red Sox maintained their slim advantage for 5 and a half innings. BoSox LHP David Price looked sharp for 5 innings, but after Reese’s homer leading off the bottom of the sixth, the Sox unraveled. A fielding error at second base, followed by a Jackie Robinson single, preceded Campanella’s 3-run clout that turned the momentum for good. ... The Red Sox have another problem beside the fact that they’ve only scored 3 runs over the past 2 games: their bullpen is wearing down. Brooklyn’s talented lineup has forced Cora to use more relievers than he’d like, and in uncomfortable spots. For example, Matt Barnes, a set-up guy, had to work middle relief in this game, and he wasn’t effective. ... Both teams’ aces will pitch in Game Four. Not only will the Red Sox hope they can hit Carl Erskine like they did in Game One, but they’re praying they can get 6 or 7 good innings out of Chris Sale.

GAME FOUR: Dodgers 6, Red Sox 0 — Welp. For the 2018 Red Sox, this game was like going to the dentist with a toothache and having the wrong tooth pulled. Brooklyn ace Carl Erskine pitched a 3-hit masterpiece while Chris Sale struggled, and Roy Campanella continued his reign of terror against Boston pitchers. ... Sale and Erskine matched zeros until the fourth inning, when Sale got wild and started getting hit. Sale walked Jim Gilliam and Duke Snider to start the bottom of the fourth, and then he hit Jackie Robinson with a pitch to load the bases. And then Voldemort — err, Campanella — stepped in with bases loaded and nobody out. To Sale’s credit, he got 2 called strikes past Campy to start the at-bat. But then the big catcher dug in, fouling off 5 pitches during what turned into a 9-pitch at-bat, and drew another walk, forcing in the game’s first run. Carl Furillo and Bobby Morgan followed with RBI singles, and another run came home on a double play. The Dodgers led 4-0 after that fourth inning. Sale stayed in the game, but only to give up a 401-foot solo homer to Campanella in the bottom of the sixth, making it 5-0. ... Meanwhile, Erskine simply cruised: 9 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 9 K, making him the sixth pitcher to reach a game score of at least 90 in this tournament. ... Sale lasted 6 innings and 106 pitches, and then Eduardo Rodriguez relieved him for the final 2 innings. ... The Red Sox will do their damnedest to delay or deny elimination from here on out.

GAME FIVE: Dodgers 4, Red Sox 3 — The Red Sox’ damnedest wasn’t quite good enough. In many ways, the 2018 Sox played their best game of the series: They put an 0-for-3 collar on Roy Campanella, got a key 2-run homer from Andrew Benintendi, and even saw a pair of hits from Mookie Betts, who was 0-for-15 coming into this game. But in the end, the Dodgers applied more pressure than the Red Sox bullpen could handle. With the bases loaded, the score tied 3-3, and 2 out in the bottom of the eighth, Craig Kimbrel walked DH George Shuba to force in the go-ahead run. ... Boston’s Brock Holt worked Dodgers reliever Johnny Podres for a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, but then Rafael Devers hit into a double play, and Christian Vasquez hit an easy ground ball to third base for the final out. ... With Campanella tamed, it was Duke Snider who stepped up. He hit an RBI single in the first to give Brooklyn a 1-0 lead, then he blasted a 2-run homer in the bottom of the third to snap a 1-1 tie. Boston’s Andrew Benintendi tied the game again with his 2-run jolt in the top of the sixth inning. ... Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello pitched well, allowing just 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits through 6 innings, with 0 walks and 3 strikeouts. Ryan Brasier came in and pitched a scoreless seventh, though the Dodgers did leave a pair of runners on. In the bottom of the eighth, with Snider, Jackie Robinson, and Campanella due up, BoSox skipper Alex Cora decided to bring out his closer Craig Kimbrel. Snider greeted Kimbrel with a single. Robinson hit into a forceout, and Campanella was hit by a pitch. Carl Furillo drew a 5-pitch walk to load the bases. Kimbrel was struggling. Still, Cora stuck with him, as the bottom third of the Brooklyn lineup was due — and perhaps Kimbrel could overpower them. Gil Hodges grounded into a fielder’s choice forceout at home for the second out. Kimbrel got Shuba down 1 ball and 2 strikes in the count but then issued 3 straight balls to walk in the go-ahead run. Campanella trotted home smiling and clapping his hands as Brooklynites cheered. It was only 4-3, but it already felt like a done deal. Kimbrel calmly got the last out to keep the score close, but the Red Sox could muster no rally in the ninth. ... Fans roared and confetti billowed from the stands as the 1953 Dodgers hugged and celebrated on the field. The No. 5 seed that started this tournament in the Wild Card round is going to the FINAL FOUR! ... The 1953 DODGERS WIN the series, 4 games to 1, outscoring the 2018 Red Sox, 29 to 14.

MVP-1: Dodgers CF Duke Snider: 9-for-18, 3 HR, 2 doubles, 9 RBI, 6 runs scored, .524 OBP

MVP-2: Dodgers C Roy Campanella: 8-for-18, 4 HR, 1 double, 10 RBI, 6 runs scored, .524 OBP

MV-Pitcher: Dodgers RHP Carl Erskine: 1-0, SO, 14 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 11 H, 2 W, 18 K

1953 DODGERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.286, 48-of-168); Extra-Base Hits: 17 (7 doubles, 10 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-1; Double Plays-Errors: 2-2; Walks-Strikeouts: 17-34 (-17).

2018 RED SOX TEAM STATS: Batting: (.204, 33-of-162); Extra-Base Hits: 11 (1 triple, 3 doubles, 7 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 4-2; Double Plays-Errors: 6-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 10-36 (-26).

[webrian]

BRACKET B CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

No. 2 1929 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS vs. No. 1 2001 SEATTLE MARINERS

At Seattle Safeco Field/T-Mobile Park

GAME ONE: Athletics 5, Mariners 2 — Lefty Grove didn’t have his sharpest stuff on the mound, but he had enough to subdue the 2001 Mariners. ... Grove spent six innings protecting a narrow 1-0 lead before his hitters came through with a big inning. That was the seventh, when Seattle RHP Freddy Garcia gave up singles to Jimmy Dykes and Sam Hale, and then walked Max Bishop to load the bases with 1 out. After a short conference on the mound, Garcia stayed in to face A’s CF Mule Haas, who yanked a 2-run double off the top of the right-field wall. That was the end of the day for Garcia. Arthur Rhodes came in to face Mickey Cochrane, who poked a 2-run single through the left side of the infield, running the score to 5-0. ... The Mariners got a couple of late runs, but Grove finished the game. His line: 9 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 W, 3 K. ... Cochrane, whose RBI single in the first gave the A’s a 1-0 lead, finished with 3 hits and 3 RBI.

GAME TWO: Mariners 2, Athletics 1 — Edgar Martinez made his first hit in this series a memorable one. With 1 out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Martinez clubbed a 405-foot solo homer to right-centerfield to walk off a series-tying victory. ... The game-winning blast came off Athletics starter George Earnshaw, who had held the Mariners to 1 run on 4 hits the previous 8 innings while locked in a duel with Seattle LHP Jamie Moyer. Moyer earned the complete-game win, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Earnshaw walked 3 and struck out 6. ... All in all, this was one of the quickest, most efficient games of the whole tournament. The game flew by, remaining scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Bret Boone homered to give the M’s a 1-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, the A’s Jimmie Foxx manufactured a run almost all by himself. He drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, stole third base, then barely beat the throw home on a short sacrifice fly by Jimmy Dykes. ... The series now swings cross-country to Philadelphia, where Seattle’s Aaron Sele (15-5, 3.60 ERA) will battle Athletics LHP Rube Walberg (18-11, 3.60).

At Philadelphia Shibe Park

GAME THREE: Mariners 3, Athletics 2 — The 2001 Seattle Mariners have survived their share of close games, extra-inning marathons, and gut-check situations to get this far in the tournament. That experience paid off in a grinding, 3-2 victory over the 1929 Athletics in Game Three. ... The Athletics took a 2-1 lead on a 2-run bomb by Al Simmons in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Mariners didn’t panic; in fact, they didn’t even take out starting pitcher Aaron Sele after he’d given up the 387-foot, 114-mph rocket. In fact, Sele finished 8 complete innings, giving up only those 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and no strikeouts. ... The mighty M’s tied the game in the top of the eighth inning off A’s reliever Bill Shores. Mark McLemore singled and advanced to third on a 1-out single by Edgar Martinez. Next, John Olerud hit a high, slow chopper toward deep shortstop. Philadelphia SS Jimmy Dykes got to it and threw home, but McLemore was too fast and scored easily. ... In the top of the ninth, with 1 out, Seattle pinch-hitter Al Martin hit a squibber back toward the mound. Shores fielded it but threw wildly to first base, allowing Martin to run all the way to second. Next, Ichiro Suzuki sliced an opposite-field double down the leftfield line, plating Martin for a 3-2 lead. The Mariners had an opportunity to break the game open when Olerud came to bat with 2 outs and the bases loaded. But A’s manager Connie Mack brought in his only left-handed reliever, Carrol Yerkes, and he retired Olerud on a lineout to centerfield. ... In the bottom of the ninth, A’s catcher Mickey Cochrane crushed a Kaz Sasaki pitch deep to left-centerfield for a leadoff triple. It seemed the A’s would push the tying run across — but no. Sasaki got Simmons to pop out to first, got Jimmie Foxx to hit a sharp groundout to shortstop, then induced Bing Miller to a game-ending flyout to center. ... The Mariners have taken a 2 games to 1 lead but now must face Lefty Grove again.

GAME FOUR: Athletics 1, Mariners 0 — The 1929 Athletics got all the offensive production they’d need from their first 2 batters of the game. Max Bishop led off with a triple into the right field corner. Mule Haas followed with a sharp single past second base to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead. Mariners starter Freddy Garcia spent the next 6 innings pitching out of jams to keep the Mariners in the game, but to no avail. Lefty Grove was just too good this time. The Philly ace went 7.1 innings, scattering 9 singles while walking 2 and striking out 8. Seattle regularly threatened Grove. In fact, Mark McLemore, Bret Boone, and Edgar Martinez went a combined 7-for-11 against him, with 1 walk — but Grove used his splitter/forkball combination masterfully to get strikeouts and weak grounders whenever he needed. However, the strain it put on Grove’s arm to do that caused him to run out of gas in the eighth inning. Regular stopper Bill Shores needed rest after throwing 44 pitches in Game Three, so Connie Mack turned to slow-baller Howard Ehmke, who did not allow a baserunner over the final 1.2 innings. ... It was a frustrating game for Garcia, who struggled with his control but always got key outs when he needed. His line: 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 6 W, 2 K. ... The A’s have evened the series at 2 games apiece.

GAME FIVE: Athletics 5, Mariners 2 — Mule Haas hit a 2-run homer and Al Simmons went 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI as the 1929 Athletics moved to within one win of reaching the Final Four. ... Seattle LHP Jamie Moyer had pitched brilliantly in a 2-1 Game Two victory, but this time he struggled. Philadelphia pounced on him for 3 runs in the third inning, then added single tallies in the fourth (a Jimmy Dykes homer) and fifth (Simmons RBI double) to take control. Moyer lasted just 4.2 innings. ... Meanwhile, A’s RHP George Earnshaw was dominant, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits while walking 4 and striking out 10. Earnshaw ran out of steam with 1 out in the ninth, but Bill Shores got the last 2 outs to earn the save. Can the 1929 Athletics wrap it up in Seattle? It’s a tough assignment.

At Seattle Safeco Field/T-Mobile Park

GAME SIX: Athletics 6, Mariners 5 — The 1929 Philadelphia Athletics are headed to the Final Four after a resilient, come-from-behind victory over the 2001 Mariners. In a contest defined by missed opportunities for Seattle—which left 13 men on base—the veteran Athletics found their spark exactly when it mattered most. ... Trailing 5-3 in the eighth, Philadelphia faced Seattle’s elite setup man Jeff Nelson. After Al Simmons ignited the dugout with a leadoff double, Jimmie Foxx—mired in a 2-for-20 slump—erased the deficit in one motion, crushing a 115-mph, two-run blast to left to knot the game, 5-5. ... The drama peaked in the ninth. Connie Mack turned to 36-year-old journeyman George Burns for a rare pinch-hit appearance, and the veteran delivered a leadoff double. Following a Mule Haas single, Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane lofted a deep sacrifice fly to center, allowing Burns to trot home with the go-ahead run. ... The A’s took an early 3-0 lead on 4 consecutive singles in the first inning and then an RBI double by C Mickey Cochrane in the top of the second. But the Mariners roared back, fueled by Mike Cameron’s 3-RBI performance, including a tie-breaking, 2-run double in the bottom of the third that chased LHP Rube Walberg from the mound. Philadelphia’s bullpen walked a tightrope for the rest of the game without giving up another run. Jack Quinn, Eddie Rommel, and Bill Shores combined for 6.1 innings of scoreless relief, surviving a constant barrage of baserunners. ... The game ended on a 111-mph line drive from pinch-hitter Al Martin that was snared by third baseman Sammy Hale, leaving the 116-win Mariners and their fans in stunned silence. ... The M’s had an exciting and vindicating run, defeating the 2017 Dodgers and the 2004 Red Sox, but finally fell to one of baseball’s most legendary clubs. ... The 1929 ATHLETICS WIN the series, 4 games to 2, outscoring the 2001 Mariners, 20 to 14.

MVP-1: Athletics LF Al Simmons: 9-for-25, HR, 4 doubles, 4 RBI, 3 runs scored

MVP-2: Mariners CF Mike Cameron: 8-for-20, 1 HR, 3 doubles, 5 RBI, 2 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Athletics LHP Lefty Grove: 2-0, SO, 16.1 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 16 H, 4 W, 11 K

1929 ATHLETICS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.238, 46-of-193); Extra-Base Hits: 17 (2 triples, 11 doubles, 4 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 4-1; Double Plays-Errors: 4-3; Walks-Strikeouts: 15-18 (-3).

2001 MARINERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.258, 53-of-205); Extra-Base Hits: 11 (7 doubles, 4 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 5-2; Double Plays-Errors: 4-2; Walks-Strikeouts: 17-46 (-29).

[webrian]

BRACKET C CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

No. 3 2016 CHICAGO CUBS vs. No. 1 2019 HOUSTON ASTROS

At Houston Daikin Field/Minute Maid Park

GAME ONE: Astros 6, Cubs 0 — Houston starter Justin Verlander opened the Bracket C Championship Series the same way he ended Game Seven of the semifinals: in total domination mode. Verlander limited the 2016 Cubs to 2 singles and 1 walk while striking out 10 in a complete-game shutout. He retired the first 13 batters he faced, 6 of them on strikeouts. By the time the Cubs had their first baserunner, the Astros led 5-0, and the game felt like it was already over. ... Astros DH Yordan Alvarez did most of the damage with a 3-run homer in the first inning off Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. Josh Reddick had an RBI triple in the second inning, then eventually scored on Michael Brantley’s double. ... The dirty truth is that the 2019 Astros could have beaten the Cubs much worse. Chicago pitching issued 11 walks and 2 hit batsmen (13 free bases) while striking out only 2 Astros hitters. Houston had only 5 hits. ... More on Verlander: In this tournament so far, there have been only 3 mound performances reaching a Gamerscore of 92. Verlander has *two* of them, back-to-back. The other one is a *no-hitter* by 1970 Orioles’ left-hander Mike Cuellar, who accomplished the feat against the 2016 Cubs. ... Chicago will try to shrug this off and regroup, just like they did in their 5-game series victory over the 1970 O’s.

GAME TWO: Cubs 6, Astros 2 — The 2016 Cubs got a pair of 3-run homers and a complete-game 3-hitter from Jake Arrieta to even this series at a game apiece. ... Ben Zobrist tagged a 386-foot homer to right-centerfield in the top of the first inning off Astros starter Gerrit Cole. Later, in the eighth inning, Cubs C Willson Contreras added another 3-run bomb off reliever Ryan Pressly to give his side some breathing room. The Astros pulled within 3-2 with a 2-run homer by George Springer in the bottom of the third but couldn’t muster much else against Arrieta. The Cubs’ right-hander allowed just 2 runs on 3 hits in 9 innings, with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. Cole took the loss, despite lasting 7.1 innings. He walked 4, struck out 4.

At Chicago Wrigley Field

GAME THREE: Cubs 1, Astros 0 (14 innings) — It seemed the game would never end. All day long, pitching reigned supreme. Hitters swung and missed, or hit into easy outs, every time a runner got into scoring position. Astros starter Zack Greinke pitched 9 innings. Cubs starter Jon Lester finished 8 innings. The Astros used three relief pitchers in extra innings; the Cubs sent four to the mound. Both teams masterfully leveraged their relievers, and the goose eggs kept crawling by. Then, in the bottom of the fourteenth, Kris Bryant drew a 1-out walk against Astros reliever Joe Smith. Next, Anthony Rizzo belted a high fly toward centerfield, where CF George Springer drifted back, back, back, and then almost fell as the ball soared past him and off the ivy. Bryant sprinted around second base and toward third as cheers erupted, then accelerated around third and toward home. Bryant crossed the plate standing up and was greeted by delighted teammates. ... Rizzo’s game-winning double gave the Cubs a 2 games to 1 lead just as they’re about to face Justin Verlander again. There’s no telling how big this win might turn out to be. ... It’s a shame for Astros RHP Greinke, who pitched beautifully: 9 IP, 0 R, 3 H (all singles), 0 W, 3 K, all on just 101 pitches. ... Lester was tough too: 8 IP, 0 R, 5 H (all singles), 5 W, 2 K. ... The Astros came close to scoring in the top of the seventh when they loaded the bases with 2 out. But C Robinson Chirinos grounded out to third to end the threat. ... The Cubs’ bullpen was dominant. Pedro Strop, Aroldis Chapman, Hector Rondon, and Carl Edwards Jr combined for: 6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 7 K.

GAME FOUR: Cubs 3, Astros 2 — A pair of Astros fielding errors in the late innings gave the 2016 Cubs enough of an opening to beat Justin Verlander and claim a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in this series. ... Verlander wasn’t quite as sharp as in his recent outings, but he was plenty effective. Through 6 innings, the Houston ace was working on a 2-hit shutout, and the Astros had a 1-0 lead courtesy of Robinson Chirinos’ solo homer off Kyle Hendricks in the top of the sixth. That homer was the first hit given up by Hendricks after setting down the first 16 Astros he faced. ... It all started going against Verlander in the bottom of the seventh: Ben Zobrist hit a leadoff single. Willson Contreras hit a slow grounder to third, but Alex Bregman booted it. Next, a pitch hit Javier Baez, loading the bases with nobody out. Chris Coghlan bounced a single through the right side of the infield, scoring both Zobrist and Contreras, but Baez ran into an out at third base. Verlander then retired both Addison Russell and Jason Heyward to end the inning, but too late. Now the Cubs led 2-1. ... In the bottom of the eighth, the Cubs added another run. Dexter Fowler walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kris Bryant lifted a fly ball to left-center. Astros LF Michael Brantley got to it but bobbled and then dropped the ball! That allowed Fowler to score, making it 3-1. ... Hendricks took that lead into the top of the ninth, but the Astros still had some fight in them. With 1 out, Jose Altuve hit a triple off the top of the wall in right field, missing a home run only by inches. Bregman singled him home to cut the margin to 3-2. So, Cubs skipper Joe Maddon brought in fire-balling closer Aroldis Chapman. Yordan Alvarez grounded out to first, and then Carlos Correa struck out swinging to end the game. Correa (“Throw me your fastball, b*tch!”) is now 0-for-16 in this series. ... Had it not been for 2 late errors—especially Brantley’s dropped fly ball in the eighth—the Astros’ ninth-inning run would have tied the game or even taken the lead. Now the 2016 Cubs have a chance to clinch their Final Four berth at home, in Game Five. The Astros will have to pull out all the stops from here on out.

GAME FIVE: Cubs 7, Astros 0 — When the 2019 Astros needed Gerrit Cole the most, he just wasn’t there. A 5-star pitcher with a 20-5 record and 326 strikeouts in 212 innings, Cole could have tipped the scales in Houston’s favor in this series. But ... he didn’t have it; not in Game Two, and certainly not in this one, as the 2016 Cubs ran out to a 4-0 lead after 3 innings and never looked back. ... Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez collected 3 hits apiece and combined for 5 RBI to power the Cubs. Meanwhile, RHP Jake Arrieta tossed a 4-hit shutout, striking out 7 and walking 3. Rizzo homered off Cole in the bottom of the first inning. Baez had an RBI double and scored a run in the second as Chicago took a 3-0 lead. Baez added a solo homer in the sixth. All told, Cole lasted 3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits with 1 walk, 1 strikeout. ... As the Cubs and their fans anticipated the final out in the ninth inning, the dejected Astros went quietly with a flyout, a groundout, and a Yuli Gurriel swinging strikeout to end the series. The Cubs are in the FINAL FOUR! ... The 2016 CUBS WIN the series, 4 games to 1, outscoring the 2019 Astros, 17 to 10.

MVP-1: Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo: 5-for-21, HR, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored

MVP-2: Astros RHP Justin Verlander: 1-1, SO, 17 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 W, 14 K

MV-Pitcher: Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta: 2-0, SO, 18 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 5 W, 11 K

2016 CUBS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.187, 31-of-166); Extra-Base Hits: 10 (6 doubles, 4 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 5-4; Double Plays-Errors: 4-6; Walks-Strikeouts: 15-28 (-13).

2019 ASTROS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.133, 22-of-165); Extra-Base Hits: 7 (3 triples, 1 double, 3 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 0-4; Double Plays-Errors: 4-6; Walks-Strikeouts: 24-28 (-4).

[webrian]

BRACKET D CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

No. 2 1944 St. Louis Cardinals vs. No. 1 1998 NEW YORK YANKEES

At New York Yankee Stadium

GAME ONE: Yankees 4, Cardinals 3 — Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius delivered clutch RBI doubles during a 3-run eighth inning for the 1998 Yankees. New York trailed the 1944 Cardinals 3-1 after 7 innings and faced ace reliever Red Munger in the bottom of the eighth. Derek Jeter drew a leadoff walk, and after an out, Paul O’Neill singled to put runners at first and third. Then Martinez belted a high fly to the centerfield gap for a 2-run double to tie the score. After a second out, Brosius hit a high liner to left that sailed past Danny Litwhiler and rolled to the wall. Martinez scored easily to give the Yanks their first lead of the game. Mariano Rivera pitched an easy ninth to nail down the victory and give the highest-remaining seed a 1 game to 0 lead. ... Each team scored a run in the first inning, both on sacrifice flies. Musial’s sac fly scored Johnny Hopp in the top of the first. Chuck Knoblauch led off the bottom of the first with a triple, then scored on Jeter’s sac fly. ... The Cardinals went up 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning as RHP David Cone began to struggle. Hopp hit a leadoff single, then advanced to third on Ray Sanders’ double. Musial followed with his second sac fly of the game to give the Cards a 2-1 lead. Then Cone’s control deserted him. He issued an intentional walk to Walker Cooper, then unintentionally walked the next 2 batters to force in another run, making it 3-1 St. Louis. That was the end of Cone’s day. His line: 6 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 5 W, 6 K. ... The Cardinals’ LHP Max Lanier pitched quite well: 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 W, 7 K — but Munger couldn’t hold the 3-1 lead. ... Orlando Hernandez earned the ‘W’ for the Yankees.

GAME TWO: Cardinals 2, Yankees 1 — Baseball has forgotten, but Cardinals RHP Mort Cooper was the Greg Maddux of his era, 65-22 from 1942 to 1944. The 1998 Yankees got a stern history lesson from Mort, who went the distance for a 2-1 series-knotting victory. ... Mort Cooper went 9 innings, limiting the 1998 Yanks to 1 run on 6 hits with 0 walks, 5 strikeouts. Every out counted too, because LHP David Wells and 3 Yankee relievers held the Cardinals to just 7 hits with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. ... Grizzled St. Louis veteran Pepper Martin got his side on the board first. In the top of the third, the 40-year-old drew a leadoff walk, stole second, went to third on a groundout, then trotted home on Emil Verban’s single up the middle. The Yanks answered in the bottom of the third: Shane Spencer hit a leadoff double down the leftfield line and eventually scored on Paul O’Neill’s sacrifice fly to deep right. ... The Redbirds took the lead in the sixth inning. With 1 out, Ray Sanders singled, then stopped at third on Stan Musial’s double. Walker Cooper followed with a groundball single right through the middle of the infield. Sanders crossed the plate, but Musial got thrown out trying to score from second. The Cardinals didn’t need to score again. Mort Cooper stayed in control, retiring 12 of the last 14 Yankee batters to preserve the win.

At St. Louis Sportsman’s Park

GAME THREE: Cardinals 3, Yankees 2 — Andy Pettitte’s rough first inning doomed the 1998 Yankees in a tight loss at Sportsman’s Park. The 1944 Cardinals scored all their runs in the bottom of the first, then rode stellar pitching by LHP Harry Brecheen, Fred Schmidt, and Red Munger the rest of the day. ... The left-handed Pettitte yielded a leadoff walk to Johnny Hopp, a single to Ray Sanders, and an RBI double to Stan Musial to start the game, with Sanders stopping at third. Sanders wound up scoring on a fielder’s choice from a ball hit to deep shortstop. Musial came around on Danny Litwhiler’s RBI single. Pettitte avoided further damage, allowing only 3 singles and a walk over the next 5 innings. But a 3-run hole was too deep for the Yanks to escape. Bernie Williams hit a solo home run (the first HR by either team in this series) in the top of the fourth inning, and Scott Brosius added an RBI single in the seventh, but the Yankees could muster nothing more. Brecheen’s line: 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 1 W, 8 K. ... Schmidt got 2 outs in the top of the eighth, and Munger retired the last 4 Yankee batters to secure the win and earn the save. ... Pettitte finished 6 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.

GAME FOUR: Cardinals 7, Yankees 5 (10 innings) — Two of the 1998 Yankees’ most-trusted pitchers failed them in this game. Starter David Cone pitched 5 scoreless innings but then unraveled in the sixth. Next, closer Mariano Rivera inexplicably gave up homers in both the ninth and tenth innings. The first one, by Johnny Hopp, blew the save. The second, by Danny Litwhiler, walked off the Cardinals’ victory. ... The Yankees led 3-0 early thanks to a 2-run home run by Derek Jeter in the top of the first inning and an RBI groundout by Bernie Williams in the third. Cone took that lead to the bottom of the sixth. The Cardinals loaded the bases with 1 out on 2 singles and a walk. That’s when New York manager Joe Torre now wishes he’d taken Cone out. But the right-hander had been a bulldog lately, so Torre’s faith in him persisted. Cone walked DH Ken O’Dea to force in a run. Next, a passed ball allowed a second runner to scramble home, cutting the Yanks’ lead to 3-2. Cone struck out pinch hitter Augie Bergamo and then needed only to retire light-hitting 2B Emil Verban to escape the inning. Verban battled Cone for 8 pitches, then ripped a 2-run double up the third-base line, giving St. Louis a 4-3 advantage. ... The Cardinals replaced starter Max Lanier with reliever Blix Donnelly for the top of the seventh. He walked 2 of the first 3 batters he faced, and then Paul O’Neill shot an RBI single past shortstop to knot the score, 4-4. Tim Raines came up later in the inning with 2 outs and the bases loaded but struck out swinging. Missed opportunities like that have haunted the Yankees during this series. In the top of the ninth, Chuck Knoblauch singled and Jeter doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out. After O’Neill grounded out with the infield in, Williams drew an intentional walk to load the bases. Tino Martinez followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center, putting the Yanks back on top 5-4. Raines then singled to load the bases again with two outs, but Scott Brosius grounded out to shortstop. ... Nevertheless, a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth should have been Fort Knox safe with Rivera closing. He needed just 5 pitches to retire the first 2 hitters, but then Hopp drilled a game-tying homer over the leftfield wall. It traveled 413 feet at 113 mph and sent the Sportsman’s Park crowd into hysterics of joy. ... After reliever Ted Wilks retired the Yankees in order in the top of the tenth, Rivera stayed on for the bottom half. He walked Stan Musial to lead off the inning, but easily retired the next two batters. Then Litwhiler stepped in and crushed Rivera’s first pitch for a 2-run homer over the leftfield wall. Litwhiler circled the bases and joined a party at home plate. The 1944 Cardinals now lead this series, 3 games to 1.

GAME FIVE: Yankees 8, Cardinals 5 (12 innings) — The 1998 Yankees barely broke a sweat winning 114 games and sweeping the World Series that year. They’re sweating profusely now and are grateful to still be playing after overcoming a ninth-inning meltdown in Game Five. ... The 1944 Cardinals rallied for 4 runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. In extras, St. Louis reliever Red Munger retired 6 straight before the Yanks broke through in the top of the twelfth. Chuck Knoblauch singled but was caught stealing soon after. Derek Jeter singled for his third hit of the day, then Paul O’Neill lined a double over Stan Musial’s head in right field, putting runners at second and third. An intentional walk to Bernie Williams loaded the bases, but then Tino Martinez flew out to right field, too shallow for Jeter to score from third. Just when it started to feel like another missed opportunity, Tim Raines lined a 2-run single over first base. Scott Brosius followed with an RBI single to left, making it 8-5. This time, the Yanks held on. Ramiro Mendoza pitched around a single, 2 errors, and a walk to seal the win. ... It had to be Mendoza in the twelfth because closer Mariano Rivera blew his second save in as many games. The Yankees cruised into the ninth inning leading 5-1, with LHP David Wells going for a complete game. Wells retired Walker Cooper for the first out, but then Whitey Kurowski homered, Danny Litwhiler doubled, and Pepper Martin drew a walk, bringing the tying run to the plate. Wells departed and Orlando Hernandez entered. Yankee manager Joe Torre hoped to rest Rivera to build back his arm and confidence for Games Six and/or Seven. But “El Duque” Hernandez wasn’t effective. He got pinch hitter Augie Bergamo to fly out but then walked Ken O’Dea to load the bases. Next, he walked Johnny Hopp to force in a run, pulling St. Louis within 5-3. An exaperrated Torre strode out of the dugout to make the reluctant pitching change: out with Hernandez, in with Rivera. Ray Sanders watched 2 balls go by, then slapped Rivera’s third pitch up the middle for a 2-run single, tying the game. Hopp alertly raced to third on the throw home, putting the **series-winning** run 90 feet away. With the crowd alive and roaring, Rivera issued a no-brainer intentional walk to Stan Musial, loading the bags once more. Up came Walker Cooper, who had made the first out of this inning. Rivera got Cooper on an infield popout, and Yankee fans everywhere exhaled in relief. ... The 1944 Cardinals almost came back to win this game despite not really trying to win it. After falling behind 5-1 in the fifth inning, the Cards used mop-up reliever Al Jurisch to eat innings. St. Louis intended to rest its better relievers for Games Six and Seven, if necessary. Jurisch scattered 4 singles and a walk over 4.1 scoreless innings, making the ninth-inning comeback possible. That comeback encouraged St. Louis to use ace reliver Red Munger in extra innings. He gave up 3 runs on 5 hits over 2.2 innings to take the loss.

At New York Yankee Stadium

GAME SIX: Cardinals 9, Yankees 4 — The extra-inning drama of Games Four and Five gave way to an anticlimactic sixth and final contest. The bitter end crashed down on the 1998 Yankees in the form of a magestic ninth-inning home run by Stan Musial. His late 2-run shot traveled 452 feet and pushed the game even further out of reach. It also capped a 3-for-4, 3-RBI, 3-runs day for the Hall of Famer. ... The teams were tied 1-1 through three innings, but a solo blast by Walker Cooper in the top of the fourth put St. Louis in front, 2-1. The 1944 Cardinals took control with back-to-back RBI singles by Musial and Cooper in the top of the sixth, stretching their lead to 4-1. Those singles chased Yankee starter Andy Petttitte from the mound, forcing NY manager Joe Torre to shuffle the deck of his suddenly unreliable bullpen. ... Tino Martinez launched a 2-run blast in the bottom of the eighth to bring the Yankees within 7-4, but Musial’s towering shot in the top of the ninth extinguished that brief ray of hope. ... LHP Harry Brecheen picked up his second ‘W’ of the series, allowing 4 earned runs on 8 hits over 7.1 innings. He walked 1 and struck out 7. ... Yankee fans clung to their shrinking hopes until the end, which came when C Jorge Posada popped out to shortstop. Marty Marion squeezed it and immediately began leaping for joy. The last No. 1 seed, and the last representative of the mighty Pinstripe Empire have been eliminated. ... The 1944 Cardinals defeat the 1998 Yankees 4 games to 2, outscoring the Bombers 29 to 24.

MVP-1: Cardinals RF Stan Musial: 10-for-22, HR, 2 doubles, 7 RBI, 6 runs scored

MVP-2: Yankees SS Derek Jeter: 11-for-23, HR, 4 RBI, 3 doubles, 4 runs scored, .519 OBP

MV-Pitcher: Cardinals LHP Harry Brecheen: 2-0, 14.1 IP, 6 R, 6 ER, 14 H, 2 W, 15 K

1944 CARDINALS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.234, 50-for-214); Extra-Base Hits: 13 (1 triple, 7 doubles, 5 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 4-0; Double Plays-Errors: 9-5; Walks-Strikeouts: 28-41 (-13)

1998 YANKEES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.264, 57-for-216); Extra-Base Hits: 13 (1 triple, 8 doubles, 4 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 8-3; Double Plays-Errors: 5-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 16-43 (-27)

[webrian]

*** FINAL FOUR PREVIEW ***

Three No. 1 seeds reached the Bracket Finals/Elite Eight. All three of them fell. So, who will be the boss now that all the “final bosses” have been eliminated?

Will it be the 1944 St. Louis Cardinals, who turned out the lights on the Pinstripe Empire with a six-game victory over the 1998 Yankees? The Cards came in with a No. 2 seed and have barely been pushed while reaching this Final Four. Then again, they caught a huge break in their bracket when the 2023 Rangers upset the No. 2 seeded 1986 Mets. Those Rangers shouldn’t have been any match for those Mets, and they *weren’t* a match for these Cardinals, who swept them in four games. Now a traditional rival stands blocking the Cardinals’ path to the mountaintop.

Could it be the 2016 Chicago Cubs? The No. 3 seed in Bracket C outlasted a determined 2011 Texas Rangers squad in a seven gripping games during the quarterfinals, then went a combined 8-2 against the second-seeded 1970 Orioles and top-seeded 2019 Astros. Despite inconsistent hitting and a disconcerting walks-to-strikeouts ratio (4.7 to 5.1 per game) by their staff, the Cubs appear to be playing at their highest level. They bounced back from getting no-hit by the 1970 Orioles to handily win the next three games. They overcame Justin Verlander and the 2019 Astros in just five games, including a 1-0 Game Three triumph in 14 innings.

The 1929 Athletics would be considered the remaining favorite by most baseball historians. A 1996 issue of Sports Illustrated called them “The Team That Time Forgot” but ... who forgot them? Join any online discussion about the “Best Baseball Teams of All Time” and Connie Mack’s late-1920s powerhouse always gets mentioned early. They were built specifically to take down the mighty “Murderer’s Row” Yankees. Though these A’s supplanted that Yankee dynasty for a few years, it would be a stretch to say they specifically took them down. They could have had their chance against the 1927 Yankees in this tournament, if another team hadn’t gotten them first.

That team, of course, is the 1953 Dodgers, a No. 5 seed that has hit this tournament like a torpedo. The ‘Bums’ lineup has punished tournament foes to the tune of 11 hits per game, including 84 extra-base hits (4 per game) and 6.6 runs per game. The Dodgers’ offensive production isn’t a surprise, but their pitching? It’s been astounding. Through 21 games against the likes of the 1995 Indians, 1927 Yankees, and 2018 Red Sox, Brooklyn has posted a 2.90 team ERA, including 11 quality starts by their three-man rotation. Since they had to start in the wild-card round, the 1953 Dodgers are the only team in the Final Four that has played four series and more than 20 games.

We started with 48 teams. We’re down to four. There are only three series left to play in this little exercise. Which will be the Last Team Standing?

PHOTOS:
No. 1 — Stan Musial of the 1944 St. Louis Cardinals
No. 2 — Manager Connie Mack of the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics. His tall, magisterial presence could be uniquely intimidating to opposing clubs.
No. 3 — The 2016 Chicago Cubs celebrate yet another clutch win.
No. 4 — Roy Campanella of the 1953 Dodgers has terrorized pitchers all through this tournament.

[webrian]

FINAL FOUR SEMIFINALS PREVIEW

No. 5 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers vs. No. 2 1929 Philadelphia Athletics

The DODGERS

I’m going to be honest with you: the 1953 Dodgers were *not* supposed to make it this far. I included them in this tournament for their entertainment value; that is, great hitting and not-so-great pitching. I didn’t expect the 2023 Phillies to beat them, but I was 99 percent sure that either the 1995 Indians or 1927 Yankees would escort these “Bums” out. They flattened the Indians in five games (outscoring them 44-19!) and then, miraculously, survived being down 0 games to 3 against the Murderer’s Row Yankees. ... Even in the 1927 Yanks’ three wins against the Bums, there were signs. The Yanks were lucky to win two of those three games; one required a massive ninth-inning comeback, another turned on a collision at the plate on the last play of the game.

This team’s strength is its hitting. Holy God, do these guys rake! The lineup is a work of menacing genius, not just in the quality of the hitters, but the diabolical way they’re arrayed. Normal managers (and AI bots) would put Jackie Robinson in the leadoff spot, as he’s practically the blueprint. This team bats him *cleanup* between two typical “cleanup” busters: Duke Snider in the No. 3 hole and Roy Campanella at No. 5. And then they have another typical No. 3 (Carl Furillo) and No. 4 hitter (Gil Hodges) waiting in the sixth and seventh spots. Atop the lineup, in Pee Wee Reese and Jim Gilliam, are a pair of excellent contact hitters who rack up doubles, triples, and walks.

The result? In this tournament, against *this* level of competition, the 1953 Dodgers are averaging 6.6 runs per game. Seven of their regular position players are batting *over .300* through 21 games, and four of them have at least 18 RBI. Leading the way are CF Duke Snider (.353, 7 HR, 23 RBI) and C Roy Campanella (.321, 10 HR, 27 RBI). In 21 games, opposing starters have just two “quality starts” against these Dodgers.

The 1953 Dodgers’ bullpen is a weakness. They allowed that big ninth-inning comeback against the Yankees and have an overall 4.97 ERA in this tourney. That bullpen is responsible for four of the Dodgers’ six losses. But the starters have sparkled. The No. 1 and No. 2 starters, RHP Carl Erskine (2.34 ERA) and LHP Preacher Roe (2.18 ERA), are a combined 10-1 with four no-decisions. Each has pitched 57.2 innings. ... After they eliminated the 1927 Yankees, I wasn't surprised at all that these Dodgers bulldozed a spectacular 2018 Red Sox squad. In fact, only a walk-off pinch-hit homer by Boston’s Ian Kinsler in Game One prevented a sweep.

***

The ATHLETICS

I am far less surprised to see the 1929 Athletics in the Final Four given their historical pedigree. Nevertheless, they’ve always “underperformed” in past tournaments I’ve conducted. In those tournaments (which I did not post on these boards), the 1929 A’s always put up big individual numbers, but still found ways to lose in head-scratching ways. I used to wonder if OOTP engineers, afraid of *over-powering* these A’s, accidentally left them underpowered. It appears I’ve finally caught a more realistic version of this legendary team.

Offensively, these Athletics don’t stack up to what the 1953 Dodgers have done so far. They’re batting only .258 as a team and scoring exactly 5.0 runs per game. But here’s the thing: I don’t think they’ve approached their potential. The 1929 A’s haven’t been heavy hitters so far, but they’ve been *timely* hitters. For reference, simply go back to the Bracket B Championship Series. The 2001 Mariners hit 20 points better than the A’s, but struggled to drive runners in. ... The 1929 Athletics have been carried, so far, by LF Al Simmons (.378, 7 HR, 12 RBI) and CF Mule Haas (.305, 5 HR, 17 RBI). Haas practically beat the 1941 Yankees by himself in the quarterfinals, while Simmons has been a constant producer. Everyone else has kinda struggled, including Hall of Famers Mickey Cochrane (.197, 1 HR, 7 RBI) and Jimmie Foxx (.210, 6 HR, 15 RBI). However, both Cochrane and Foxx came through with huge clutch hits against the Mariners.

In their recent two series against the 1975 Reds and 2001 Mariners, the Athletics got a tremendous boost from their bullpen. Over those 11 games, the A’s pen has allowed just 2 earned runs in 20.2 innings, while walking two and striking out 19. The relievers did give up 27 hits in that time but left most of those runners stranded. ... The starters have performed almost exactly as their pecking order would suggest. Staff ace Lefty Grove has had one bad start (against the 1975 Reds) and five really good ones. He brings a 4-1 record and a 2.34 ERA into the Final Four, with 12 walks and 45 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. RHP George Earnshaw has pitched 42 innings, with a 3-2 record and a 3.64 ERA. And LHP Rube Walberg, the No. 3 man, has struggled, going 1-1 with 3 no-decisions and a 5.28 ERA. When the starters don’t get the decision, the bullpen does, and that group has been excellent: 4-1 with 6 saves and a 2.17 ERA over 37.1 innings of work.

***

The BOTTOM LINE

Not gonna lie, I think this Best-of-Seven series is going to be a barn burner. I have so many questions about these teams, and this series will answer them:

** Are the 1953 Dodgers a “team of destiny” in this tournament, or is the clock about the strike midnight?

** The 1929 Athletics are acknowledged as one of the best baseball clubs of all time. Are they good enough to expose a Dodgers’ pitching staff that has *greatly* overperformed so far?

** If any of these games become slugfests, do the 1929 Athletics have the firepower to keep up with these Dodgers?

** Can Lefty Grove put together a “quality start” against these hard-hitting Dodgers?

I have a hunch that the 1929 Athletics will expose these Dodgers’ pitchers. I think the A’s have hit as well as they’ve needed to so far but could still “explode” at any time — and it could happen against a bullpen that has already run up its karma bill. What I don’t know is whether that would even be enough against a Dodgers team that has bashed its way past everyone, including the 1927 Yankees.

Enough talk. It’s time to see what’s what. Play ball!


***

FINAL FOUR

TEAM STATISTICS


No. 5 1953 BROOKLYN DODGERS
(15-6 in the tournament over four series)

Teams Eliminated: 2023 Phillies (3-1), 1995 Indians (4-1), 1927 Yankees (4-3), 2018 Red Sox (4-1)

Team Batting Average: .301 ... Runs Per Game: 6.6 ... Runs Allowed: 3.2 ... Diff: +3.4

Extra-Base Hits: 84 (9 triples, 41 doubles, 34 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 12-6; Double Plays-Errors: 18-20; Walks/game-Strikeouts/game: 3.4 — 5.9.

1953 DODGERS OPPONENTS’ STATS:

Batting Average: .229 ... Runs Per Game: 3.2 ... Runs Allowed: 6.6 ... Diff: -3.4

Extra-Base Hits: 45 (2 triples, 19 doubles, 24 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 13-11; Double Plays-Errors: 18-18; Walks/game — Strikeouts/game: 2.8 — 7.0

ADDITIONAL STATISTICS

1953 DODGERS—Opponents: Quality Pitching Starts (11 — 2); Extra-Inning Wins (0 — 2); Walk-Off Wins (1 — 3); Comeback Wins: (1 — 1); Shutout Wins (2 — 0); Grand Slams (2 — 0).


***

No. 2 1929 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS
(12-5 in the tournament over three series)

Teams Eliminated: 1941 Yankees (4-2), 1975 Reds (4-1), 2001 Mariners (4-2)

Team Batting Average: .258 ... Runs Per Game: 5.0 ... Runs Allowed: 3.6 ... Diff: +1.4

Extra-Base Hits: 57 (5 triples, 26 doubles, 26 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 10-4; Double Plays-Errors: 10-10; Walks/game — Strikeouts/game: 2.8 — 4.5

1929 ATHLETICS OPPONENTS’ STATS:

Batting Average: .242 ... Runs Per Game: 3.6 ... Runs Allowed: 5.0 ... Diff: -1.4

Extra-Base Hits: 40 (7 triples, 21 doubles, 12 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 15-5; Double Plays-Errors: 18-19; Walks/game — Strikeouts/game: 3.2 — 7.6

ADDITIONAL STATISTICS:

1926 ATHLETICS — Opponents: Quality Pitching Starts: 14 — 3; Extra-Inning Wins: 2 — 0; Walk-off Wins: 1 — 2; Comeback Wins: 0 — 0; Shutout Wins: 2 — 0; Grand Slams: 0 — 0

***

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

1953 BROOKLYN DODGERS

LINEUP AND STATS SO FAR

Pee Wee Reese (SS) — .273 ... 24-for-88 ... 1 HR ... 8 RBI

Jim Gilliam (2B) — .329 ... 28-for-85 ... 1 HR ... 11 RBI

Duke Snider (CF) — .353 ... 30-for-85 ... 7 HR ... 23 RBI

Jackie Robinson (LF) — .337 ... 28-for-83 ... 4 HR ... 18 RBI

Roy Campanella (C) — .321 ... 26-for-81 ... 10 HR ... 27 RBI

Carl Furillo (RF) — .325 ... 27-for-83 ... 4 HR ... 18 RBI

Gil Hodges (1B) — .321 ... 27-for-84 ... 5 HR ... 11 RBI

Billy Cox (3B) — .300 ... 21-for-70 ... 1 HR ... 11 RBI

Bobby Morgan (3B/DH) — .129 ... 4-for-31 ... 1 HR ... 2 RBI

George Shuba (OF/DH) — .175 ... 10-for-57 ... 0 HR ... 3 RBI

STARTING PITCHERS ... Team ERA: 2.90

RHP Carl Erskine (4-0, 3 ND, 2.34 ERA) — 57.2 IP ... 15 ER ... 44 H ... 4 HR ... 20 W ... 58 K

LHP Preacher Roe (6-1, 1 ND, 2.18 ERA) — 57.2 IP ... 14 ER ... 53 H ... 9 HR ... 14 W ... 44 K

RHP Russ Meyer (2-1, 2 ND) — 32 IP ... 9 ER ... 25 H ... 3 HR ... 10 W ... 26 K

BULLPEN: (3-4, 4 saves, 4.97 ERA) — 41.2 IP ... 23 ER ... 39 H ... 8 HR ... 16 W ... 26 K

***

1929 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS

LINEUP AND STATS SO FAR

Max Bishop (2B) — .250 ... 16-for-64 ... 3 HR ... 9 RBI

Mule Haas (CF) — .305 ... 22-for-72 ... 5 HR ... 17 RBI

Mickey Cochrane (C) — .197 ... 14-for-71 ... 1 HR ... 7 RBI

Al Simmons (LF) — .378 ... 28-for-74 ... 7 HR ... 12 RBI

Jimmie Foxx (1B) — .210 ... 13-for-62 ... 6 HR ... 15 RBI

Bing Miller (RF) — .261 ... 17-for-65 ... 2 HR ... 5 RBI

Jimmy Dykes (SS) — .250 ... 14-for-56 ... 2 HR ... 8 RBI

Sam Hale (3B) — .204 ... 9-for-44 ... 0 HR ... 2 RBI

Joe Boley (SS/DH) — .228 ... 13-for-57 ... 0 HR ... 4 RBI

Homer Summa (DH) — .250 ... 4-for-16 ... 0 HR ... 0 RBI

George Burns (OF/PH) — .333 ... 1-for-3 ... 0 HR ... 0 RBI

Jim Cronin (PH/IF) — .000 — 0-for-1 ... 0 HR ... 0 RBI

STARTING PITCHERS ... TEAM ERA: 3.25

LHP Lefty Grove (4-1, 1 ND, 2.34 ERA) — 42.1 IP ... 11 ER ... 33 H ... 2 HR ... 12 W ... 45 K

RHP George Earnshaw (3-2, 1 ND, 3.64 ERA) — 42 IP ... 17 ER ... 30 H ... 6 HR ... 19 W ... 37 K

LHP Rube Walberg (1-1, 3 ND, 5.28 ERA) — 30.2 IP ... 18 ER ... 28 H ... 2 HR ... 17 W ... 19 K

BULLPEN: (4-1, 6 saves, 2.17 ERA) — 37.1 IP ... 9 ER ... 51 H ... 2 HR ... 6 W ... 28 K

[SloppyThirstin]

I'm late to the party but these are great!

[webrian]

***** THE FINAL FOUR *****

No. 5 1953 BROOKLYN DODGERS vs. No. 2 1929 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS

At Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

GAME ONE

The 1929 Athletics followed their usual script and kept the Dodgers off their own plan, thanks to another excellent start by Lefty Grove. The Philly ace locked into a pitcher’s duel with Brooklyn ace Carl Erskine for six and a half innings. A low-scoring duel was exactly what the Athletics wanted, especially in front of their home crowd. The A’s got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Max Bishop drew a walk, then advanced to third on a double by C Mickey Cochrane. Al Simmons hit a slow bouncer to third with Bishop racing home on contact. Brooklyn 3B Bobby Morgan threw home a split second too late, and it was 1-0 A’s. ... The Dodgers tied it in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by LF Jackie Robinson, scoring Duke Snider who had reached on an error. ... The A’s went back on top, 2-1, on an RBI single by SS Jimmy Dykes in the bottom of the fourth. ... While Grove racked up strikeouts, Erskine labored. After six innings, Erskine had allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks with 5 strikeouts. Connie Mack’s men got to Erskine in the seventh. Sammy Hale singled. Joe Boley walked. After Max Bishop struck out, CF Mule Haas pounded a high drive to left field that just cleared the wall for a 3-run homer! That buried the Dodgers under a four-run deficit. They’ve been capable of coming back from that — but not against Grove. He pitched a complete game, allowing 1 run (unearned) on 7 hits with 0 walks and 11 strikeouts. FINAL: Athletics 5 ... Dodgers 1.

Postgame note: The 1929 Athletics are 4-0 in series openers this tournament, all thanks to Grove. In the quarterfinals against the 1941 Yankees, Grove pitched a complete-game two-hitter with 1 walk and 12 strikeouts in an 11-1 victory. In the opener against the 1975 Reds, Grove pitched only 7.1 innings but gave up 0 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks with 11 strikeouts in an 11-0 win. Grove was slightly less dominant in the opener against the 2001 Mariners, but still pitched Philly to a 5-2 win. Now he has given the A’s a 1-0 lead in this series. In four series openers, Grove is 4-0 with a 0.79 ERA. He has pitched 34.1 innings in openers, allowing 3 earned runs on 19 hits and 7 walks, with 37 strikeouts. ... The 1953 Dodgers are hardly beaten. They lost the opening three games against the 1927 Yankees, and the opener against the 2018 Red Sox, but still rallied to win each series.

GAME TWO

The 1929 Athletics erupted for seven runs across the fifth and sixth innings, turning what had been a close game into a rout. Philadelphia grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning off an RBI double by Mickey Cochrane. The score remained 1-0 until SS Jimmy Dykes teed off for a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Later, a Mule Haas single increased the margin to 3-0, right before Cochrane added a two-run single to make it 5-0, sending Brooklyn starter Preacher Roe to the showers. ... It got worse for the Dodgers in the sixth inning. Joe Boley, who hit a total of two homers in 1929, crushed a 423-foot, 2-run homer off reliever Bob Milliken to make it 7-0. Later in that sixth, Jimmie Foxx went deep to increase the lead to 8-0. The Dodgers made the score look more respectable by scoring four late runs (three of them in the ninth) but it wasn’t that close. Reserve outfielder and DH George Shuba hit a 2-run homer for the Dodgers in the ninth. Athletics RHP George Earnshaw held the mighty Bums down long enough for his side to build their big lead. His line: 8 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 W, 7 K. ... The 1929 Athletics will take a 2 games to 0 lead to New York. FINAL: Athletics 8 ... Dodgers 4.

[webrian]

At Citi Field, New York

GAME THREE

The lights of Citi Field shone through a heavy mist all game long. The wet conditions helped the 1953 Dodgers grab an early lead, and RHP Russ Meyer kept the momentum on their side. ... With Lefty Grove looming in Game Four, the Dodgers knew they *had* to win Game Three. It didn’t seem likely early on. For the third game in a row, the 1929 Athletics seized a 1-0 lead in the first inning—this time on a bloop RBI single by Jimmie Foxx driving in leadoff batter Max Bishop. However, in the bottom of the first, Pee Wee Reese drew a leadoff walk, and then Jim Gilliam hit a grounder toward third base. Philly 3B Sam Hale scooped it, but the ball was wet, and Hale sailed it over the first baseman’s head, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Both scored on RBI groundouts to give the Bums a 2-1 lead after one. ... The Dodgers added to their lead when Jackie Robinson singled in the bottom of the fourth, then eventually scored on a Carl Furillo sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Meanwhile, Meyer rose to the occasion. Over seven innings, he allowed just 1 run on 5 hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. Athletics’ starter Rube Walberg and reliever Howard Ehmke fared worse, as Brooklyn nickeled and dimed them with single tallies in the sixth and seventh innings before putting it out of reach with a three-run eighth. A two-run double by C Roy Campanella was the big blow in that eighth inning. He and Jim Gilliam had two hits apiece. Gilliam doubled, tripled, and scored three runs. FINAL: Dodgers 8 ... Athletics 1.

GAME FOUR

The previous evening’s gloom and drizzle lifted, the sun broke out, and the 1953 Dodgers tagged Lefty Grove for a couple of early home runs. In fact, the second one, by 1B Gil Hodges, pulled the Bums within 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth. However, Philadelphia’s Mule Haas struck again with a 426-foot solo blast in the top of the fifth, and the Athletics struck for 4 more runs in the sixth to stretch their lead to 8-2. With Grove on the hill, that meant the game was practically over. And it was — for the 1929 A’s.

This tournament’s craziest and most emphatic comeback began innocuously, with a solo homer by 3B Billy Cox in the bottom of the seventh. Pfft, big deal. The A’s still had a commanding 8-3 lead. Those solo homers didn’t make much of a dent on the scoreboard but appeared to have an outsized impact on Grove’s irritable psyche. He shook off Cox’s homer and fanned Pee Wee Reese for the inning’s first out, his seventh strikeout, getting that adrenaline pumping again. But Jim Gilliam and Duke Snider both drew walks, and now Grove was glaring at the home plate umpire. Mickey Cochrane jogged to the mound to calm the seething left hander, but it didn’t work. Grove hit Jackie Robinson with a full-count pitch to load the bases, then continued to glare as Roy Campanella stepped in. Campanella had already homered in the second inning. Now he promised doom as he wagged the bat and waited for a pitch. Grove gave him a first-pitch high fastball, a clear challenge, and Campy accepted, but his vicious swing produced an infield pop-up that plopped harmlessly into Max “Camera Eye” Bishop’s glove at second base. Two outs. Grove spat and made an exasperated gesture toward the plate umpire. Now Brooklyn’s Carl Furillo stood in. He took a strike, then hit a soft liner toward second. Bishop dropped it. The ball hit his glove and bounced out. Gilliam scored, pulling the Dodgers within 8-4, and now Grove directed his death-ray stare at Bishop. Connie Mack no longer had a choice. He had to get Grove out of there before his head exploded. Besides, he’d already thrown 133 pitches, walking 5, striking out 7, and yielding 3 homers. Mack signaled for Bill Shores, not realizing then that his best reliever was carrying a bucket of gasoline with him. .... As Shores took his warm-up tosses, the A’s had time to catch their breath and size up the situation. Bases loaded. Two out. Athletics still leading 8-4. All they needed was an out. ONE out. And Brooklyn’s 7-8-9 hitters were due up.

• Shores got Gil Hodges to roll an easy ground ball to shortstop. Jimmy Dykes booted it: 8-5, bases still loaded.
  
• Shores got Bobby Morgan down 0-and-2 in the count. Then threw him four straight balls: 8-6, bases still loaded.
  
• Cox, the Dodgers’ No. 9 hitter, knocked a seeing-eye chopper through the left side of the infield. Two runs scored: 8-8, runners at first and second.
  
• Reese, 0-for-14 in the series after striking out *earlier in this inning,* sliced an opposite-field double to the right field corner. Two runs scored: 10-8 Dodgers, with Reese stopping at second.
  
• Gilliam lined a sharp single to center. Reese raced around to score: 11-8 Dodgers.
  
• Another pitching change: Jack Quinn replaced Shores.
  
• Quinn walked Snider and Robinson to re-load the bases with Campanella due up. Yikes.
  
• On a 2-2 count, Campanella hit a bouncer back to the mound. Shores threw to first for the third out, ending the long inning. The Dodgers scored 9 runs on 1 homer, 2 singles, 1 double, 5 walks, 1 hit batter, and 2 errors. And they did all that with Campanella making two easy outs.

The Dodgers still weren’t done. They batted around AGAIN in the bottom of the eighth, scoring 5 more runs on 5 singles, 2 walks, and 2 wild pitches. ... Reliever Jim Hughes, who’d entered the game to “mop up” when Brooklyn trailed 8-2, earned the win with 2.1 innings of work. The series is now even at two wins apiece, and there’s no telling where it might go from here. FINAL: Dodgers 16 ... Athletics 8.

[webrian]

At Citi Field, New York

GAME FIVE

How does a team bounce back from losing a six-run lead in a high-stakes game? If it’s the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics, they go out the next day and put another six-run lead on the board. That’s what the A’s did in Game Five. Jimmy Dykes swatted a pair of homers, including a three-run blast in the second inning, and Jimmie Foxx added a two-run swat in the third as Philadelphia seized an early 6-0 lead. Everything was going swell for the A’s, except it was still only the third inning, and the 1953 Dodgers were about to wake up. ... A 2-run double by Jackie Robinson sparked a 3-run third inning as the Bums quickly cut Philly’s lead in half. And then Brooklyn exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth.

• A 1-out single by Billy Cox was followed by a hit batter (Reese) and three consecutive walks that pushed Cox and Reese across the plate, trimming the A’s lead to 6-5.
  
• Reliever Eddie Rommel replaced starter George Earnshaw. He got Roy Campanella to ground out, but another man came home, tying the score, 6-6.
  
• A’s third baseman Sam Hale booted a Carl Furillo ground ball. Another run scored, giving Brooklyn a 7-6 lead with the bases still loaded.

Despite losing the lead, the A’s thought the worst was behind them. Rommel had faced two fearsome batters and gotten easy ground balls. Now reserve outfielder George Shuba stepped in to bat. He watched a ball and two strikes go by, then turned on a fastball, driving it 381 feet into the right field bleachers for a GRAND SLAM. 11-6, Dodgers, and pandemonium at Citi Field. ... Rommel got Cox to pop out to shortstop to end the inning, but oh, the damage! The Bums scored eight runs on *two hits* and one error in the frame.

To the Athletics’ credit, they didn’t lay down. They got RBI singles from Foxx and Dykes to get within 11-8 in the top of the fifth. Brooklyn’s Duke Snider swatted a 411-foot solo homer in the bottom of the fifth to make it 12-8, but the A’s hit right back. Mickey Cochrane lined a 2-out, 2-run double down the left field line in the top of the sixth to bring Philly within 12-10. However, another bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth gave the Dodgers another run. Reliever Johnny Podres held the Athletics down the rest of the way as Brooklyn moved to a 3 games to 2 lead in the series. FINAL: Dodgers 13 ... Athletics 10.

[webrian]

At Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

GAME SIX

The 1929 Athletics reeled back into Philadelphia having lost three straight, including back-to-back games after leading by six runs in both. They were devastated, and it showed, as Connie Mack’s mighty ball club managed just three hits in this sixth game. However, thanks to clutch pitching, those three hits — a double, a triple, and a home run — were just enough to propel the A’s to Game Seven. ... The 1953 Dodgers rode the momentum of their recent wins to an early 3-0 lead. Duke Snider walloped a two-run homer off LHP Rube Walberg in the top of the first. Bobby Morgan added a solo blast in the second. If the Athletics wanted to win, they’d have to be the ones rallying from behind this time. So ... they did! Jimmie Foxx belted a two-run homer past the leftfield foul pole in the bottom of the second inning. The ball traveled only 338 feet, but it counted. ... In the bottom of the fifth, with the score still 3-2 Dodgers, Brooklyn starter Russ Meyer had a runner on with two outs, but then his control deserted him. He walked Joe Boley and Max Bishop to load the bases. Up stepped Mule Haas, who cranked a deep drive into the right-centerfield gap for a three-run triple! That hit gave Haas a total of 10 RBI in this series, and put the 1929 A’s on top, 5-3. ... Still, it was way too early for anyone at Citizens Bank Park to start getting their hopes up. The Dodgers’ lineup kept on menacing the A’s, out-hitting them by a margin of 11 to 3 while *also* drawing 7 walks. In the top of the seventh, Howard Ehmke relieved Walberg after a leadoff single by Jim Gilliam, who then stole second, and scored on a solid single by Snider. That closed the gap to 5-4, but the Athletics held the line from there. This time, Philly pitchers survived every gut check:

• In the top of the fifth inning, with Dodger runners at second and third with two outs, Walberg got Roy Campanella to swing and miss at two straight pitches, then caught him looking with a dazzling change-up to end the threat.
  
• In the seventh, the Dodgers scored a run and then loaded the bases with two out. Ehmke got Morgan to swing and miss on strike three.
  
• Top of the eighth. Once again, the Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs and had Campanella at the plate. Reliever Bill Shores worked a full count, then struck Campy out swinging!

MENTAL. TOUGHNESS. The 1929 Athletics made it clear, whether they win this series or not; they’re sure as hell not going to fold. In total, the Dodgers left 14 runners stranded while falling one run short. Game Seven, here we come. ... FINAL: Athletics 5 ... Dodgers 4.

Postgame Note: A lot of baseball players and fans in this made-up world won’t be getting much sleep overnight between Games Six and Seven. The stakes are too high. So is the tension. But one man is going to sleep just fine tonight. He wanted this. He *prayed* for this. He’s been biding his time for three long, long days. Flexing his hand. Stretching his shoulder. Keeping mostly to himself, simmering in silence, he was *glad* his team lost Game Five, and *euphoric* when they won Game Six. Not that he showed it. Oh, no. He lost his compusure once already. He’s not doing that again. When Robert Moses Grove looks in the mirror, he sees a champion. A legend. A competitor not to be trifled with. When he puts his head on his pillow and closes his eyes, he can hear glory calling. It’s in the wind. It’s in his heartbeat. It’s on the mound at Citizens Bank Park. Calling him. Beckoning. Promising. All Mr. Grove has to do is answer that call. And then they’ll all be sorry.

[webrian]

At Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

GAME SEVEN

Pee Wee Reese drilled Lefty Grove’s fourth pitch of the game over the leftfield wall for a leadoff home run. In the top of the second, Gil Hodges doubled off Grove and later scored on a bloop single to left. And then in the third, after Grove plunked Jackie Robinson with a pitch, Roy Campanella smashed a high, deep drive off the centerfield wall for an *inside-the-park* home run, giving the 1953 Dodgers a 4-1 lead. So no, there was no “call to glory” for Robert Moses Grove in Game Seven, and if there was, he sure as hell didn’t answer it. ... However, there was glory to be had, and two players — one Dodger, one Athletic — answered the call heroically. But only one of them could advance.

The Dodger was Hodges, whose second-inning double was just the beginning of a spectacular individual performance. Hodges finished Game Seven 4-for-6 with that double plus *three* home runs, 4 RBI and 4 runs scored. He homered two batters after Campanella’s inside-the-parker to extend Brooklyn’s lead to 5-1, then added a solo shot in the seventh to make it a 7-2 advantage. Hodges’ third homer? We will get there soon.

Incredibly, one player shone even brighter than Hodges on the Game Seven stage. But this player’s heroics arrived later, bursting like a supernova to turn an already amazing series into an All-Time Classic. But before we get to him, we must put his feats in their proper context.

The 1929 Philadelphia Athletics were all but finished. They’d scored a run here and there and were barely clinging to life, trailing 7-3 after eight innings. And then the Dodgers dropped *two more runs* on them in the top of the ninth, on consecutive singles by Robinson, Campanella, and Carl Furillo, followed by an RBI groundout and a wild pitch. By the time the Athletics batted in the bottom of the ninth, the champagne was already prepared in the Dodgers’ clubhouse. A few Brooklyn reserves and coaches even broke out celebratory cigars in the dugout but hadn’t lit them yet. They crowded against the front step of their dugout to count the final three outs. With a 9-3 lead, ace Carl Erskine was closing in on a complete game. ... He didn’t make it.

• Jimmy Dykes and pinch hitter Homer Summa led off the Philly ninth with solid singles. Joe Boley worked a full count, then got thrown out on a slow groundball to second. The runners advanced to second and third. One out.
  
• Back to the top of the lineup. Max “Camera Eye” Bishop drew a walk, his 11th of this series, to load the bases. Ball four happened to be Erskine’s 131st pitch of the day, so he got yanked in favor of reliever Clem Labine.
  
• Mule Haas lined an 0-2 pitch into center for an RBI single: 9-4, bases still loaded.
  
• Mickey Cochrane worked the count full, then hit a chopper to shortstop, resulting in a forceout at the plate. Bases still loaded, TWO OUTS.
  
• Al Simmons was next. Though he came into this series with a tournament-best .378 average, Simmons stood at a miserable 2-for-28 (.071) against these Dodgers, and 0-for-4 in this game. Now, all the A’s hopes rested on his bat. He bashed the second pitch he saw into left field for another RBI single. 9-5, Dodgers. Bases still loaded, with two outs.
  
• Now Jimmie Foxx crouched in the batter’s box. He had a single and three walks in the game so far. But he also had three homers in this series. He fouled off a pitch, took a called strike, then took another pitch for a ball. The 1929 A’s were down to their final strike. Foxx took a big swing at the next pitch, trying to spoil it. He hit a high, arching drive straight down the leftfield line. It looked like it might go foul, but ... it stayed fair? It cleared the wall?? GRAND SLAM! .... 9-9 TIE!
  
• Dodgers manager Chuck Dressen left his cigar on the bench and made the slow, dispirited trudge out to the mound. He yanked the ball away from Labine so hard he could have taken a couple of fingers with it. Jim Hughes came in from the bullpen.
  
• Bing Miller gounded out to third, ending the ninth, sending Game Seven into bonus innings.

The Dodgers got a couple of runners on base with one out in the top of the tenth, but A's reliever Bill Shores struck out Robinson and got Campanella on a fly ball to end the threat. Hughes retired the A’s 1-2-3 in the bottom of the tenth. On to the eleventh!

Furillo opened the Dodgers’ half of the eleventh with a sharp single. Next came red-hot Hodges, and now Citizens Bank Park trembled with dread. Hodges crushed Shores’ third pitch, launching a towering, no-doubt-about-it MOON SHOT 417 feet to left-center. It was Hodges’ third homer of the day and his fourth in this series. Now Brooklyn regained the lead, 11-9. ... A total gut-punch! Bobby Morgan followed with a single but got caught stealing second. Billy Cox flew out, but then Reese smacked a double all the way to the wall in left-center. Shores wanted to crawl under something and disappear but had to >> focus! << on the next batter. Gilliam hammered a sizzling liner to center, another sure hit — but Haas raced in and made a *sliding catch* for the third out.

Bottom of the eleventh: Hughes came out to face the top of the A’s order. Again, the Dodgers’ benchers pressed against the front stoop of their dugout, ready to count three outs and surge into celebration. ... Bishop lined out to right field. One out. ... Haas drew a walk on six pitches. Man on first, one out. ... Cochrane, 0-for-4 with a walk, got down in the count and hit a regular fly ball. Two outs. ... Again, the 1929 A’s were down to their final out, and again, Simmons (now 3-for-29) had to save them. He sliced a looper the opposite way toward the right field line. It fell an inch inside the chalk and rolled all the way to the corner before the outfielder (Furillo) could retrieve it. Haas raced around from first to score, and Simmons galloped all the way to third with a triple. Now it was 11-10 with a man on third, two outs, and the stadium roaring back to life.

Now Double-X stepped into the batter’s box, found his stance, and waited. Foxx took a strike. He took a ball. He fouled a pitch straight back. He took another ball. Finally, he saw his pitch and he mashed it: 117-miles-per-hour. 367 feet to left. A SERIES-WINNING TWO-RUN HOMER! ... ... In a Game Seven that literally *began* with a home run and *ended* with a home run, the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics found a way to outlast the relentlessly raking 1953 Dodgers. ... FINAL: Athletics 12, Dodgers 11 (11 innings).

They are partying all night in Philly!

The 1929 Philadelphia A’s WIN the Final Four Semifinal Series, 4 games to 3, despite getting outscored 49 to 57 by the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers.

MVP-1: Athletics 1B Jimmie Foxx: 8-for-22, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 9 runs scored, .548 on-base-percentage.

MVP-2: Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges: 9-for-27, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 9 runs scored

MVP-3: Athletics 3B Jimmy Dykes: 11-for-27, 4 HR, 2 doubles, 8 RBI, 7 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Athletics LHP Lefty Grove: 1-0, 21.1 IP, 14 R, 9 ER, 22 H, 7 W, 25 K

1953 DODGERS TEAM STATS: Batting (.293, 78-for-266); Extra-Base Hits: 27 (3 triples, 11 doubles, 13 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 10-1; Double Plays-Errors: 10-5; Walks-Strikeouts: 36-53 (-17).

1929 ATHLETICS TEAM STATS: Batting (.259, 62-of-239); Extra-Base Hits: 26 (5 triples, 8 doubles, 13 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 9-3; Double Plays-Errors: 2-11; Walks-Strikeouts: 33-43 (-10).

[webrian]

Here are more statistics from the series:

[jparker2112]

howd you get those stats and recaps to post? AWESOME!!!

[webrian]

Hi, Jparker ~

I took screenshots of the stats after each series and kept the box scores after each game. To keep box scores:

1. Close the box score that pops up right after you exit the game.
2. Re-open the box score, click on the OPEN IN BROWSER button near the top right of the screen.
3. The game's box score will load in whatever your default browser is: Chrome, Safari, etc.
4. Go to File on your browser, click on Save Page As: And then name the page and click save.

For example: 1953Dodgers-29Athletics G-7

If you want the game log, click on Game Log at the top of the box score, and it will show you a complete play-by-play of the game. You can save that the same as a box score. For example: 1953Dodgers-29Athletics G-7 LOG

I haven't figured out how to post any of these things *gracefully* but posting them as a cluttered mess at the bottom at least still puts the information there.

Thank you for reading and commenting!

[SloppyThirstin]

That Dodgers-Athletics series is one of the wildest I've ever seen. I'd be talking about that game for weeks if it was a June regular season game, let alone a game 7! Great stuff.

[webrian]

That was a fun series, but it has set me back. I got a little carried away writing about it (I always do), and it has delayed getting started with the other semfinal, 2016 Cubs vs. 1944 Cardinals. However, I intend to post a preview of that series sometime this evening, and get it underway tomorrow or Thursday.

I had to post screenshots of the Dodgers-Athletics series or else people might suspect I was making it up! It looked like it would be a humdrum series for the first three games, and then it took off.

* 3 games featured 6-run comebacks

* Game Seven had a 6-run comeback in the *ninth inning* by the team which had been victimized by the earlier 6-run comebacks.

* Game Seven had a leadoff homer, an inside-the-park homer, a three-homer game by one player, a Grand Slam homer to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, and then a Walk Off homer in extra innings. I cannot think of any other real-life MLB game that had all of that!

* Game Six saw a team win despite getting outhit by a margin of 11-3.

I am much enjoying your project as well. I am really looking forward to a few of the matchups you haven't yet gotten to.