1949 Cardinals vs Phillies and Athletics vs Senators

 My next two APBA baseball series I would like to recap come from the year 1949. This is the year that NATO was formed and we saw the rise of communist China and Mao Zedong rise to power. In baseball the Brooklyn Dodgers played against the New York Yankees in the world series.

I'm focusing on a national league matchup of the St. Louis Cardinals versus the Philadelphia Phillies using the Master Game.

GAME 1: Location Shibe Park, Philadelphia PA.

This game turned out to be a pitchers duel between Howie Pollet for the visiting Cardinals and Russ Meyer from the Fightin Phillies. St Louis scored 3 in the first and 1 in the seventh which accounted for all the scoring. The Phillies were only able to get two base runners on singles from Richie Ashburn and Eddie Miller. Pollet hurled a 2 hit shutout while fanning 5. Stan Musial drove in the first run with a double which plated Red Schoendienst who had walked to leadoff the game.Final 4 - 0 Cardinals.

GAME 2: Location Sportsman's Park, St. Louis MO.

This game turns out to be another shutout. This time it is the Phillies pitching combination of Ken Heintzelman seven innings and Jim Konstanty finishing the final two innings. For the visiting Phillies Andy Seminick homered and walked three times. The Phillies racked up 12 hits on their way to a 5 to 0 win. They held Stan the Man hitless in four at bats. A rare play occurred when Buddy Blattner for the Phillies misses third when trying to score and he was out on the appeal. Final 5 - 0 Phillies

GAME 3: Location Shibe Park, Philadelphia PA.

Another pitchers duel between Al Brazle of St Louis and Robin Roberts of Philadelphia. Roberts only gave up two hits but ended up losing the game. The Cardinals' first run came on a Nippy Jones solo homerun in the 5th. Two innings later Enos Slaughter came home on a Sac Fly by Eddie Kazak. the Philllies scored their only run on back to back doubles in the 9th. Final 2 - 1 Cardinals

In the series Musial was 1 for 10. I just can't roll for that guy.

My next 1949 series was an American League tilt between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Washington Senators using the basic game.

GAME 1: Location Griffith Stadium, Washington DC

This was all the visting team from Philadelphia with Alex Kellner hurling a 2 hit shutout. It was a close game for 8 innings with the Athletics scoring single runs in the 3rd and the 6th. But in the ninth off reliever Dick Welteroth the Atheletics scored four times to make it 6 - 0. The Athletics banged out 12 hits and Wally Moses drove in 3 for the game. Final 6 - 0 Athletics

GAME 2: Location Shibe Park, Philadelphia PA

Another spectacular pitching performance but this time by Sid Hudson of the Senators who only gave up two hits to the Athletics. Washington scored single runs in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd to take a 3 -0 lead. The first run coming on a Bud Stewart leadoff homer. In the 8th the Atheletics score two on a double by Ferris Fain. The only other hit the Athletics got was a single by Nellie Fox. Hudson did walk 6 however. Washington scored one more in the 9th off reliever Bobby Shantz. Final 4 - 2 Senators.

GAME 3: Location Griffith Stadium, Washington DC

This game was close until the fifth inning when the Athletics had a five run outburst. The Athletics scored 1 iun the first, five in the 5th, two in the 7th and one in the 8th. The Senators scored single runs in the 5th and the 9th, they were only able to muster 5 hits off Joe Coleman.The Athletics had 10 hits but also aided by 4 walks and 3 errors. Hitting stars for the Athletics were Eddie Joost who had a homerun and drove in 3, Elmer Valo had two doubles and scored twice, and Pete Suder had a solo shot. Final 9 - 2 Athletics.

Next up will be 1944.

1954 Baltimore vs New York and St. Louis vs Pittsburgh

 Today I'm going to give you a two-for-one. I'll summarize two 1954 APBA series I played. The first was a three game series using the Master game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees.

This series was all Yankees. Winning game 1 5 - 0 on a complete-game three-hit shutout by Bob Grim. Interesting highlight of game 1. Bottom of the first Gil McDougald, Andy Carey, and Mickey Mantle all walk. Berra grounds into a double play; McDougald scores. Joe Collins walks, men on 1st and 3rd. Enos Slaughter gets on on an error, Carey scores. Gene Woodling gets out. They score two runs without a hit or an RBI. The Yankees walked 10 times in Game 1.

Game 2: Sees the visiting Yankees winning 4 to 2 on a complete game by Harry Byrd. Yankees score all their runs in the 2nd; the Orioles tally single runs in the 1st and 9th. Still no homeruns by either team through the first two games.

Game 3: Sees the visiting Yankees winning 7 to 4. Yankees score all 7 runs in the 2nd, culminating with a three-run shot off the bat of Yogi Berra. The Orioles had a solo homer from Jim Fridley. The Orioles scored single runs in the 5th and 7th and put up a two-spot in the 8th.

The second series was played between the St Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates using the APBA basic game.

Game 1: Sees the visiting Cardinals winning 9 to 7. St Louis had 17 hits, scoring 2 runs in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 8th and a single run in the 7th. Homeruns for St Louis came off the bats of Joe Cunningham who was 4 for 5 with 3 runs 3 RBIs and a triple and a homerun, he was double shy of the cycle and Rip Repulski who was 3 for 5 with 2 runs, 2 RBIs and the homerun. Amazingly in the 17 hits Stan Musial never got one. The Pirates racked up 14 hits of their own with a homerun off the bat of Sid Gordon. In the 9th inning of this game two pirates got injured, Jake Thies injured 10 games and Curtis Roberts injured 5 games.

Game 2: Sees the hometown Cardinals winning 8 to 1. The cardinals rack up another 14 hits off Pirate pitching. No long balls by the Cardinals but Red Schoendienst was 3 for 5 with a double, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Harvey Haddix pitched a complete game for the Cardinals. The lone Pirate run was a homerun from Jerry Lynch.

Game 3: The visiting Cardinals win 6 to 2. They score 5 of their runs in the 1st and drop Dick Littlefield's grade from a C to a D. He still made it through 5 innings before being relieved. No homeruns in this game but Stan the Man finally got his first hit of the series in that 1st inning 5 run outburst. Gordon Jones pitched a complete game for the Cardinals.

Next Up will be the 1949 season.

Detroit vs Baltimore 1957

I've finished two APBA series since the last time I posted, so this summary and the next one will be shorter than usual.

This series pits the 1957 Detroit Tigers against the 1957 Baltimore Orioles.

 Game 1 - Location, Memorial Stadium, Baltimore

Both teams' aces were facing each other, Jim Bunning vs Connie Johnson. If you like pitching duels, this game did not disappoint. The Tigers beat the home team Orioles 2 to 1 on the pitching of Bunning, and a 2nd inning 2 run homer off the bat of first baseman Ray Boone. Both pitchers went the distance.

Game 2 - Location, Briggs Stadium, Detroit

This game turned out to be another low-scoring affair with the Tigers scoring single runs in the 1st, 2nd, and 6th to win 3 to 2. The Orioles scored their two runs in the 3rd and 5th. Paul Foytack got the win with Harry Byrd getting the save. Billy Loes took the loss for the Orioles. After Al Kaline singled in the first run in the 1st he got injured sliding into second and had to leave the game. He's out for 2 games.

Game 3 - Location, Memorial Stadium, Baltimore

Game 3 finally saw the Baltimore bats come to life. Baltimore scored seven runs off of Duke Maas and Luke Sleater. They tallied nine hits and 6 of them were extra base hits. The homerun came off the bat of the youngster Brooks Robinson. On top of the hitting they got a pitching gem from Ray Moore who only gave up one run in the ninth notching a four hit complete game. The Tigers lose Charlie Maxwell for 1 game.

My next one will see the 54 Orioles against the 54 Yankees. I'll write that one in a few days.

New York vs Chicago 1957

 Today I'm back to give a summary of a recent APBA series I played. The 1957 New York Giants versus the 1957 Chicago Cubs. A match up of two future hall of famers, Willie Mays (The Say Hey Kid) and Ernie Banks (Mr. Cub). This three game series was played using the master game addition. 1957 was the last year that the Giants played in New York. After the season they left the Polo Grounds behind and moved to San Francisco.

GAME 1: Location: New York, Polo Grounds.

Visiting team Chicago got the scoring started with a first inning homerun from Chuck Tanner. In the bottom of the 2nd New York answered with a home run of their own off the bat of Whitey Lockman. The Giants scored again in the 4th and then put up a two spot in the 6th on a two-run double by Don Mueller. The Cubs scored in the 8th on a triple by Mr Cub, driving in Tanner, who had singled. The Giants win 4 to 2 on the pitching from Curt Barclay and Marv Grissom, who got the save. The biggest Highlight of the game came in the 6th, with the Cubs threatening to score, the game referred to the RP boards and the Giants pulled off a triple play with Danny O'Connell spearing the line drive, stepping on 2nd and throwing to first. Giants 4 Cubs 2

GAME 2: Location: Chicago, Wrigley Field

This game sees a pitching match-up between Ruben Gomez of the Giants and Moe Drabowsky of the Cubs. The Cubs strike first in the bottom of the first with a run scoring double by Banks driving in Tanner. Gomez is able to shut down the Cubs until the 8th when they score three more runs. The Giants were held at bay until the 6th and 7th innings when they put up two in the 6th and four in the 7th. Willlie Mays drove in two and Hank Sauer drove in three. The Giants score 2 more in the 9th to win 8 to 4.

GAME 3: Location: Chicago, Wrigley Field

This game shaped up to be a pitchers duel between Johnny Antonelli of the Giants and Dave Hillman, Dick Littlefield, and Don Elston of the Cubs. Both teams plate two in the first inning with the Giants coming from a two run blast off the bat of Mays. The Cubs scored two when the first four guys reached and Banks and Dale Long drove in the two runs. The only scoring after the first was Gail Harris coming home on a double play. Giants 3 Cubs 2

Washington vs Cleveland 1962

 My next APBA series consisted of two American League teams squaring off using the basic game. After the old Washington Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961 This 1962 Washington Senators team was an expansion team that later became the Texas Rangers. They finished last with a record of 60 - 101. The Cleveland Indians finished with a record of 80 - 82.

  

Logos are Courtesy of https://www.sportslogos.net/

GAME 1: Location, Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Municipal Stadium

On the mound for the visiting Senators is Don Rudolph a C pitcher. Toeing the rubber for the home team Indians is Jim "Mudcat" Grant a D pitcher. Needless to say this is not a pitchers duel.

Cleveland puts up a single run in the second on a solo shot by Gene Green. Each team scores one in the third. In the fourth the Indians put up three on another solo shot by Green and a two run blast by Gerald Kindall. This dropped Rudolph to a D pitcher. 

With the score 5 to 1 Cleveland, the Senators put up a 5 spot in the top of the 5th culminating with a three run shot off the bat of Jim King. Unfortunately for the Senators that would be the last of their scoring as Bill Dailey (D), Jim Perry (D), and Frank Funk (B) would shut them down for the final 4 innings. 

Cleveland went on to score single runs in the 5th, 6th, and 7th to come away with a 8 to 6 victory. Dailey got the win and Funk got the save. For the Senators their relievers of Marty Kutyna (D) and Steve Hamilton (C) were unable to keep the Indians from scoring. Kutyna took the loss.

GAME 2: Location, Washington DC, DC Stadium

This game saw Sudden Sam McDowell (D) on the hump for the visiting Indians and Claude Osteen (C) hurling for the hometown Senators.

The hometown team struck first with a 2 run single in the 3rd off the bat of Chuck Hinton. In the top of the 5th Cleveland tied the game with a two run homerun from Woody Held. 

After Osteen was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 6th the Indians got to reliever Pete Burnside (D) with one unearned run and a steal of home from Al Luplow. They surprised the Senators when John Romano took off for second on the double steal and Luplow made it home safely.

The Senators came back with two of their own in the bottom of the 7th on a two run homer from Harry Bright. But in the top of the 8th Cleveland tallied one run and the Frank Funk (B) closed it out for a two inning save and his second of the series.

GAME 3: Location, Washington DC, DC Stadium

The final game was all Cleveland with a 10 to 2 bashing of the hometown Senators. Starter Dick Donovan (B) for Cleveland pitched a complete game for his first win of the season. Starter Tom Cheney (C) only made it through 3 innings and gave up 6 runs. Relievers Ed Hobaugh (D), Steve Hamilton (C), and Jim Hannan (B) pitched the remaining 6 innings with Hobaugh not giving up any runs.

The offense for Cleveland was lead by homeruns from Jim Mahoney a solo homerun in the first, Willie Tasby a 3 run shot in the second and Chuck Essegian a two run blast in the 3rd.

That's it for this summary Cleveland took all three from Washington. My next series and recap will be the 1957 Giants versus the 1957 Cubs. Mays vs Banks. Look for my writeup on that series.

Milwaukee vs Pittsburgh 1962

 Today, I'm going to share APBA recap of my three-game series between the 1962 Milwaukee Braves and the 1962 Pittsburgh Pirates. In this particular series I played the Master Game of APBA baseball.

 

Game 1 took place at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. It was a matchup between #4 starters for each team with Bob Hendley taking the mound for the visiting Braves and Harvey Haddix hurling for the home Pirates. This game was not a pitcher's duel.

In the top of the first the Braves scored 4 runs but the Pirates came back with 2 of their own in the bottom of the frame. In the top of the fifth with the score Milwaukee 4 Pittsburgh 3 the Braves scored 3 more to take a 7 to 3 lead. In the bottom of the 6th with Hendley still on the mound the Pirates broke out the bats and scored 4 off of Hendley and 3 off of reliever Claude Raymond to take a 10 to 7 lead heading into the 7th. In the 8th inning with both starters out of the game a costly error by Dick Groat allows the Braves to score 4 runs to take an 11 - 10 lead. With Nottebart pitching for the Braves in the bottom of the 8th the Pirates looked to pitch hit for pitcher Olivo. They call on Jim Marshall who only had 2 homers in 116 plate appearances, with a man on Marshall hits a two run shot to put the Hometown Pirates in the lead 12 - 11. The Pirates call on Roy Face to close it out in the top of the 9th, and he shuts down the Braves' bats for the save.

For the Braves Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock and Eddie Mathews all homered. For the hometown Pirates both Virdon and Marshall homered and Clemente was 3 for 5 and drove in 4 runs.

Game 2 switches to County Stadium in Milwaukee with each team having their aces take the mound. For the visiting Pirates Bob Friend takes the mound and for the home team Braves Warren Spahn toes the rubber.

No scoring in this until the bottom of the third when Frank Bolling hits a two run homer. In the top of the fifth the Pirates score three unearned runs thanks to an error by leftfielder Gus Bell. In the bottom of the 7th Bell redeems himself by driving in Del Crandall with a triple. The score remained 3 to 3 until the top of the 11th when the Pirates score three runs off of reliever Nottebart. The Pirates called on Roy Face to close out the bottom of the 11th and earn his 2nd consecutive save.

For the Pirates Clemente was 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs and a triple, and Skinner was 2 for 6 with two RBIs and 2 doubles. For the Braves besides Bolling's homer and Bell's triple Hank Aaron was 2 for 5 with 2 singles. This game was more about the pitching than the hitting with friend striking out 8 in 8 innings and Spahn not giving up an earned run in 9 innings of work.

Game 3 stays in Milwaukee for the final match-up between these two teams. The Pirates are going for a sweep and the Braves hope to salvage one win in the series. This match-up saw each team throw their number-two starters: Earl Francis for the Pirates and Bob Shaw for the Braves.

This was a true pitcher's duel. Only 10 hits between the two teams and only two were extra base hits (doubles). In the top of the 5th the pirates broke a zero zero deadlock when Mazeroski doubled, after Schofield walked Francis advanced Mazeroski to third with one out Skinner hits a sacrifice fly for the only run of the game. The pitching trio of Francis 6 innings no runs 2 hits, Olivo 2 innings 1 hit and for his third consecutive save Face 1 inning no hits the shutout the likes of Aaron, Adcock and Mathews and the rest of the Braves who only mustered 3 singles. For the Braves Shaw pitched a complete game, only gave up the 1 run on 7 hits. This game was quite the contrast to game one which saw 23 runs total. 

When I finish my next match-up the 1962 Washington Senators versus the 1962 Cleveland Indians I'll post another recap. In the meantime go and roll some games of your own.

That's Frustrating

 About 11 months ago I wrote on this blog with the intent of blogging more about my APBA games and sports in general. That didn't go so well, but I promise to those who read this, I will post more APBA game recaps and other sports musings.

Currently the Stanley Cup is going on between Carolina and Vegas, I'm not a big fan of either, so for me I not to invested in it.

The NBA finals are going on between the Knicks and the Spurs. I'm pulling for the Knicks. How about those ticket prices. You cannot take your family to a playoff game without mortgaging the house.

Of course, my favorite sport, baseball, is in full swing, and we have seen a few surprises as Tampa has been exceeding expectations and others like Boston and Detroit aren't living up to expectations.

Let me hear who you are pulling for?

APBA

 I have started to resurrect my blogs and I use this one for exclusive sports talk. More often than not I plan to write about my favorite table top game, APBA (pronounced App-Baa) Baseball. I've been playing this game since 1973. The current year I am playing is 2017. Many people talk about the projects they are working on and many people play a full actual season of their favorite team. I prefer to play all my seasons and what I do is alternate between American and National League and I also alternate between the Master game and the basic game. I always do three game series. I just got done playing a three game series between the 2017 Indians and the 2017 Astros. 

Game 1: Kluber vs Peacock

Cleveland jumped all over Peacock by scoring three in the 2nd, two in the 3rd, and two in the 4th. They had homeruns by Michael Brantley and Francisco Lindor. They also scored three in the 6th off of Hoyt. Ramirez was 3 for 5 with two doubles in the Cleveland win 10 to 4. On the Houston side, the had homeruns by Beltran, Reddick and McCann but they also ended up losing Reddick for 9 games.

Game MVP: Ramirez 

 

Game 2: Keuchel vs Clevinger

This game was all Houston. They scored 8 runs off Clevinger over 4 1/3 innings. Keuchel held Cleveland to only 5 hits four of them doubles and they didn't score until the bottom of the ninth. For Houston, Altuve lead off the 1st with a homerun, Bregman was 2 for 3 with a double, homerun, 4 RBIs and two walks, and Marisnick filling in for the injured Reddick went 3 for 3 had a double, 3 RBIs and stole a base.

Game MVP: Bregman 

Game 3: Carrasco vs Verlander

This game was a bit more competitive than the first two. Houston jumped on Carrasco in the bottom of the first with three runs and another leadoff  homerun by Altuve, I think he heard the trash can. Cleveland came back with one in 2nd on a Santana solo shot and then added two in the third on back to back doubles by Ramirez and Encarnacion. In the 5th Marisnick broke the tie with a solo shot of his own. Astros scored an insurance run in the 8th and Giles closed it out in the top of the 9th with his first save.

Game MVP: Gurriel

Next series match up 2017 Phillies vs 2017 Giants playing the Basic game. I'll give a recap next time. 

 

 

D*** Yankees

The Minnesota Twins officially have a psychological problem with the Yankees. On this celebration of our Nations birth the Twins took a four game beating at the hands of the Yankees. The Yankees aren't even that good this year, Jeter, Rodriguez, Granderson, Texeira all are missing from the Bronx Bombers. Instead they field a team of rag tag players. Yet they still slug the heck out of the ball and seem to always beat the Twins.

 It wouldn't be so bad but no one but people in New York like the Yankees. Losing to them just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. In Boston they always talked about the curse of the Bambino and Boston over came that. I think it should just be the curse of the Yankees. Let's hope it doesn't take the Twins 100 years to overcome that curse.

I'm glad we only play them 6-7 times a year others the Twins might lose 162 games.

Let's hope July 5th is better than July 4th.

Bronx Cheer

How about dem Yankees!  The best hitting team money can buy and they fall flat on their face against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers sweep the Yankees in 4 straight after an exciting game one in which the Yankees had an Ibanez comeback only to fall in Extras.

The biggest blow for the Yankees came in game one when Derek Jeter broke his ankle. Huge disappointment because he is the inspiration and the straw that stirs the Yankee drink. It might actually had been a different series with Jeter at full strength.

I am not a Yankee fan at all so I am glad they lost but I like to watch good baseball and the Tigers totally dominated the Yankees after that game one. I hope the World Series will be more exciting and if it is the Cardinals I'll have to root for the Tigers. The Cardinals won last year so it is up to the Tigers to win.

Maybe just maybe the Giants can come back from a 3 to 1 deficit in games.

Pennant Races

September is a time for crisp cool air, back to school, football and of course baseball pennant races. With the introduction of one more wildcard team it has opened the door for more and more races. The usual suspects are still in the races but we have some newcomers this year.

If you live in Baltimore baseball is relevant in September again. If you live in the DC area (I know, Baltimore and DC are only a tobacco spit away from each other) you probably weren't alive the last time Washington was in a pennant race. Then there are the no name kids from Oakland playing moneyball again knocking on the door of a wildcard birth.

What are some intriguing World Series match-ups?

Baltimore vs Washington - Wouldn't that be interesting in a year when Obama and Romney are battling for the nations capital.

How about another bay battle San Francisco vs Oakland, minus the earthquake this time.

Could Texas do it for the third straight year. Are the Reds ready to create a new "Big Red Machine" and are the Chicago southsiders ready to unleash more homeruns in the post season. Never forget the Bronx Bombers. Of course I can't forget the defending champs St Louis and there is always Atlanta and the pitching of Tampa.

Who is your favorite? What match-up would you like to see?

Frankie Goes to the Southside

As a Twins fan it is time to say goodbye to Francisco Liriano. You gave us some ups, a no-hitter against the White Sox last year and 15 strikeouts against the A's earlier this month. You also gave us some downs, your injuries and your inconsistency.

I still think you could have been the ace the Twins needed they just needed you to go out and pitch. Pitch like you did over the last month on a consistent basis and you could be a premier pitcher in this league.

I wish you all the best with the White Sox except when you pitch against the Twins then be the old Frankie and give up hits and bombs. Hopefully the White Sox will use you like they are supposed to and you will find success.

I don't know much about the two players the Twins received for Liriano but they better be worth it and help the team in the future.

Twins No Nos

You might think I am going to do a retrospective on Minnesota Twins pitchers who have hurled a no hitter. Like last year's Liriano no hitter, or Eric Milton's 1999 version or how about the 1994 no hitter thrown by Scott Erickson. That would be fun but instead I am going to talk about the Twins connection to all three no-hitters thrown in baseball this year.

The first one.

• On April 21st the Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 4-0 and the Chicago pitcher was Philip Humber who threw the ultimate no hitter, a perfect game.
• Twins connection: He was part of a trade between the Mets and the Twins. He didn't pitch much for the Twins and was released and pitched for the Royals and eventually came to the White Sox. The Twins could use him this year.

The second one:

• On May 2nd Jared Weaver pitcher for the Anaheim Angels facing the Minnesota Twins proceeded to throw a no hitter. Winning by the score of 9-0.
• Twins connection: The Twins were the victims.

The third one:

• On Friday June 1st the New York Mets shutout the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0 with Johan Santana throwing his first no hitter and the Mets first in franchise history.
• Twins connection: Johan used to be the ace of the Minnesota Twins pitching staff until they traded him to the Mets for a handful of players including Philip Humber.

Three interesting Twins connections to the 2012 no hitters. Congratulations to Humber, Weaver and Santana.

99 Again

Could it be true? Could the Twins be on the road to another 99 loss season? Recent games would indicate that they are well on their way to another dismal season. I really hope not or it is going to be a long baseball season. Here are my reasons why the Twins aren't winning.

1.   Starting pitching is horrible. The starters can throw strikes but that is the problem they throw strikes right over the plate. Opposing batters can hit those out of the park.
2.   No superstar- Joe Mauer hits over 300 but most of his hits are singles and when the big hit is needed he can't deliver. They need a player who will step up and get hits when needed. How do think they won two World Series.
3.   Coaching - Gardenhire and staff are good coaches but I think it is time for a change. Sometimes a new face and a different outlook might help energize some of the players. Lariano needs someone who can figure him out and straighten him out.

Make these changes and they will avert another 99 loss season. If they stick to the status-quo then get ready for a lot of losses. They will then wonder why no one goes to Target Field.