Tue, 2 May 2000
Reps 7, Upper-Deckers 3: Worst defeated first today as the Minneapolis
Reps (3-6) used a seven run 2nd inning to beat the league leading Burke
Upper-Deckers (7-2). The Reps have won three of their last five, while
Burke has dropped two of three after a 12 game winning streak. Arky
Vaughan homered and doubled for Burke, who played their usual stellar game
with the exception of the 2nd inning. In that inning, Edd Roush and Ted
Williams drove in two runs each, as the Reps captialized on a two out rally
that started with a double by Mickey Cochrane. Mordecai "Three Finger"
Brown, who was torched for 11 runs in his last outing, pitched six decent
innings to get his first win in four outings. The defending champion Red
Dawgs now trail Burke by just 1.5 games.
Mon, 1 May 2000
Red Dawgs 6, Powers 1: The Myers Red Dawgs (5-3) won their 4th straight
game, to take sole possession of 2nd place, with a 6-1 defeat of the Karas
Powers (4-4). This battle of the champions of the last two seasons lived
up to expectations in terms of starting pitching, as Chief Bender (Red
Dawgs) and Urban Shocker (Powers) dueled. Bender was perfect through five
innings, and ultimately threw a five-hitter. Shocker allowed just two runs
in seven innings, but the Dawgs vicitimzed Powers reliever Nolan Ryan for
four more runs. The Powers' run was unearned on an error by Paul Molitor,
meaning that the Dawgs have allowed no earned runs in their last three
games, and one earned run in their last four. They now hold the league
lead in ERA.
Hits: Red Dawgs 19, Powers 5
Extra-Base Hits: Red Dawgs 1, Powers 0
Inherited Runners/Scored: Ryan 0/3
Double: Hank Greenberg
Stolen base: Bobby Bonds, Molitor
Error: Molitor
Sat, 29 Apr 2000
Upper-Deckers 2, Titans 0: Ken Griffey, Jr. drove in both runs and Tom
Seaver pitched a four-hitter as the Burke Upper-Deckers (7-1) defeated
their expansion brethren, the Tri-City Titans (3-5), 2-0. It was the 13th
win in 14 games for Burke; the Titans have dropped four straight. It was
the 4th shutout in the last six HBWRL games.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 13, Titans 4
Extra-Base Hits: None
3rd game in HBWRL history with no extra-base hits, errors, or stolen base
attempts
Winning pitcher: Seaver (2-0)
Losing pitcher: Pete Alexander (1-1)
Bob is a Lemon; Reps Bomb Again
Fri, 28 Apr 2000
Chips 5, Reps 4: Jimmie Foxx's critical RBI single in the 8th inning
capped a five run rally as the Crofton Cow Chips (3-5) dealt the
Minneapolis Reps (2-6) another disappointing loss. Reps starter Greg
Maddux left with a 4-2 lead, but reliever Bob Lemon couldn't hold it. He
also couldn't hold the lead, as he allowed three runs--two of them
inherited from Maddux--and just enough to keep the Reps in the basement.
The Chips, who won for the first time in four games, will now be only a
game out of third place at the week's conclusion. They would have been in
sole possession of last place with a loss. In unrelated news, Ken Starr
was fired as Reps manager; Kevin C. rejoins the team.
Double: Mike Piazza
Stolen base: Eddie Collins
Error: Barry Larkin
Reps Retaliate; Blank Titans
Thu, 27 Apr 2000
Reps 8, Titans 0: Jack Chesbro and Red Faber combined on a four-hitter as
the Minneapolis Reps (2-5) avenged an earlier 11-5 drubbing with an 8-0 win
over the Tri-City Titans (3-4). Chesbro, who pitched 7.1 innings of
shutout ball, has both of the Reps' wins this season--as their fifth
starter. Cicotte, widely regarded as the Titans' best pitcher, was roughed
up for four runs in the 1st inning. He settled down before allowing four
more in the 7th. Four Reps players had at least three hits, while Richie
Allen went 4-4 to lead the offensive attack. It was the third straight
loss for the Titans. Three of the league's last four games have been
shutouts. Week 8 features a battle for 2nd place, between the streaking
Powers and Red Dawgs.
Doubles: Babe Ruth, Joe Cronin, Joe Sewell
Stolen bases: George Sisler 2
Error: Willie Mays
Trends Continue for Powers, Chips
Wed, 26 Apr 2000
Powers 6, Chips 2: Ed Reulbach added a win to his all-time league-leading
total as the Karas Powers (4-3) took 2nd place with a 6-2 win over the
Crofton Cow Chips (2-5). The Powers have won four of their last five,
while the Chips have dropped four straight. The Powers broke open a 2-0
lead with a three run homerun by Mike Schmidt in the 5th inning. They
added another run to lead 6-0, and hung on to win, 6-2. The Powers'
runs--all allowed by Chips starter Christy Mathewson--are the first that
Mathewson has allowed this season. He started the year 12 shutout innings.
Wins by the Powers and Red Dawgs this "week" have tightened the pennant
race, as one unreachable Burke now leads two teams by just two games.
Mon, 24 Apr 2000
Red Dawgs 4, Upper-Deckers 0: Whitey Ford sang the blues and pitched seven
shutout innings, while Tris Speaker led a hit parade and the defending
HBWRL champion Myers Red Dawgs (4-3) handed the Burke Upper-Deckers (6-1)
their first loss in 12 games. The Dawgs, perhaps emboldened by last year's
championship trophy--which they received today--scored single runs in the
1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings against Burke starter Cy Young. It was the
highest scoring output of the season for the Dawgs, who now join Burke as
the only teams with winning records. Speaker was 3-5 with two runs scored,
while Rollie Fingers and Hoyt Wilhelm pitched an inning each of shutout
relief.
Hits: Red Dawgs 16, Upper-Deckers 9
Extra-Base Hits: Upper-Deckers 1, Red Dawgs 0
Double: Roy Campanella
Stolen bases: Jackie Robinson, Rickey Henderson, Frank Baker
Caught stealing: Campanella, Speaker, Bobby Bonds
Error: Arky Vaughan
Dawgs Make 3 Teams 3-3 and 3 Back
Wed, 19 Apr 2000
Red Dawgs 1, Titans 0: Despite an anemic nine runs scored in five games,
the defending HBWRL champion Myers Red Dawgs (3-3) claimed 2nd place (by
tiebreaker) today with a 1-0 win over the Tri-City Titans (3-3). The Dawgs
completed a home&home sweep of the Titans, relying heavily on starting
pitcher Wilbur Cooper. Cooper is the league's hottest pitcher. He tossed
a four hit shutout to clinch last year's World Series. He then allowed one
run on five hits in this season's opener. Today, he allowed four hits in
7.1 shutout innings. Thus in his last three outings, Cooper has allowed
just one run on 13 hits, in 25.1 innings. The numbers are phenomenal--an
ERA of 0.36 and H/IP of 0.51. The Dawgs needed all of Cooper's excellence
today, managing just one run. It was scored in the 6th inning, by newly
placed #9 hitter Maury Wills, who suggested the Dawgs' new lineup to begin
with. Wills also stole two bases. By virtue of the Titans' loss, Burke
now has a three game lead over three teams, and is the only team in the
league with a winning record.
Hits: Red Dawgs 7, Titans 6
Extra-base hits: Titans 1, Red Dawgs 0
Double: Willie Mays
Stolen bases: Wills 2
Error: Charlie Gehringer
Burke Scores 11; Makes it a Dozen
Wed, 19 Apr 2000
Upper-Deckers 11, Chips 1: The Burke Upper-Deckers (6-0) won their HBWRL
record 12th straight game, with a rout of the Crofton Cow Chips (2-4). It
was the Chips' third straight loss. The game was competitive--Barry
Larkin's solo homerun for the Chips tied it at 1-1 in the 6th--until the
Chips' pitching gave way. Starter Juan Marichal and reliever Curt
Schilling were tagged for 10 runs in the final three innings, as Burke
rolled to another blowout win, despite having zero extra-base hits, vs.
four for the Chips. Yogi Berra (4-5, 2R, 3RBI) led Burke's offensive
attack, but five of their nine starters had three or more hits.
Winning pitcher: Walter Johnson (2-0)
Losing pitcher: Juan Marichal (0-2)
Homerun: Larkin
Doubles: George Brett, Ty Cobb, Jimmie Foxx
Stolen base: Frank Baker
Caught stealing: Cobb
Powers Gain Split
Mon, 17 Apr 2000
Powers 3, Reps 1: The Karas Powers (3-3) took sole possession of 3rd place
with a 3-1 win over the Minneapolis Reps (1-5), earning a split in the
team's home & home series. The Reps had won 4-1 at Minneapolis in the
series' first game. Mike Schmidt's solo homerun against Reps reliever
Lefty Grove was the game's decisive blow. It came in the bottom of the 8th
inning, on the first pitch thrown by Grove, with the score tied, 1-1.
Schmidt was fired up, according to Powers GM J.Karas, because "Remember
that Kevin C. put you on the Titans last year, when you belonged on the
Powers!" Reps manager Ken Starr called the result a "setback," and vowed
to "subpoena any and all documents pertaining to why Grove sucked today."
Robin Roberts started the game in place of Addie Joss for the Powers, but
Joss ended up with the win in a relief role.
Hits: Powers 13, Reps 10
Winning pitcher: Joss (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Grove (0-1)
Thu, 13 Apr 2000
Reps 4, Powers 1: Jack Chesbro scattered nine singled through 8.2 innings
against his former teammate Stan Coveleski, as the Minneapolis Reps (1-4)
snapped a seven game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Karas Powers
(2-3). Said Reps manager Ken Starr, who won in his managerial debut, "I
knew this team could win if it got good pitching--they've been hitting well
all year." Otherwise, he declined comment, simply answering every question
with "Things are moving along swiftly." In unrelated news, J.Karas flogged
and cained his entire team. Former Power Harry Brecheen picked up the
save; while Ted Williams (3-5, RBI) and Mickey Cochrane (2 RBI) led the
offensive attack for the Reps. A 3rd inning sac fly by "Shoeless" Joe
Jackson provided the Powers' only run.
Double: Babe Ruth
Caught stealing: Gabby Hartnett
Error: Fred Clarke
*END 1st MINI-SEASON*
ROSTER MOVES
Red Dawgs change batting order to (1) Lajoie, (2) Speaker, (3) Greenberg,
(4) Ba. Bonds, (5) Terry, (6) Bo. Bonds, (7) Molitor, (8) Campanella, (9)
Wills.
Powers promote Robin Roberts to SP, delegate Addie Joss to bullpen.
Burke Stands Alone--11 Straight Wins
Tue, 12 Apr 2000
Upper-Deckers 4, Chips 3: In the league's third consecutive one run game,
the Burke Upper-Deckers (5-0) withstood a late rally by the Silicon Valley
Chips (2-3), to set an HBWRL record with their 11th straight win, 4-3. It
was the 2nd straight one run loss for the Chips, who promptly and
understandably changed their name to the Crofton Cow Chips. We don't know
what a cow chip is, and frankly we're afraid to ask. Randy "Big Unit"
Johnson was solid in his HBWRL debut for the Chips, allowing four runs in
7.1 innings. But the stars of the day were Burke starter Don Drysdale, who
bested Johnson by allowed three runs in 8.1 innings; and Ken Griffey, Jr.,
who drove in three of Burke's four runs. It was easily the closest that
any team has come to defeating Burke this season. The Reps and Powers are
next in the managerial debut of Ken Starr, and the 1st mini-season finale.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 14, Chips 13
Winning pitcher: Drysdale (1-0)
Losing pitcher: R. Johnson (0-1)
Save: Mort Cooper (3)
Homerun: Mike Piazza
Stolen base: Ty Cobb
Critical Error Decides Another Game
Tue, 11 Apr 2000
Red Dawgs 2, Titans 1: The defending HBWRL champion Myers Red Dawgs (2-3)
won their 2nd game today, thanks to some clutch hitting and an error by
Willie Mays, 2-1 over the Tri-City Titans (3-2). Both Dawgs wins have been
decided in the late innings, and have been by a 2-1 margin. In this
instance, starting pitchers Carl Mays (Titans) and Joe McGinnity (Red
Dawgs) dueled for most of the game. Mickey Mantle's 1st inning solo homer
gave the Titans a 1-0 lead, but they didn't get another hit until the 4th
inning. Hank Greenberg's RBI single tied it at 1-1 in the 6th. In the top
of the 7th, the Dawgs dodged a bullet when Pie Traynor singled with runners
on the corners and one out. A clever deek by Dawgs CF Tris Speaker and
baserunning blunder by the Titans led to the runner at third not advancing.
McGinnity then pitched out of the jam. Then with one out in the bottom of
the inning, Willie Mays dropped a fly ball off the bat of Nap Lajoie, much
to the chagrin of his starting pitcher, Brother Carl. Bobby Bonds drove in
Lajoie on the next pitch, and the Dawgs led 2-1. The Dawgs threatened
again in the 8th inning, but failed to score. McGinnity and Rollie Fingers
closed out the Titans in the 9th. The Titans loss means that Burke
clinches sole possession of 1st place, through the first mini-season. They
go for an HBWRL record 11th straight win, next.
Homerun: Mantle
Stolen base: Maury Wills
Caught stealing: Wills, Speaker, W. Mays, Hank Greenberg
Error: W. Mays
Basket Catch Creates Chaos for Chips
Mon, 10 Apr 2000
Powers 3, Chips 2: The Karas Powers (2-2) capitalized on two unearned runs
in the 7th inning to defeat the Silicon Valley Chips (2-2), 3-2 today at
Wrigley Field. The door was opened for the unearned runs in the 7th
inning. With the Chips leading 2-1, CF Ty Cobb, attempting to make a
basket catch on a fly ball by Fred Clarke, dropped the ball. It rolled all
the way to the wall, tying the game at 2-2 and giving Clarke a three base
error. Kiki Cuyler's RBI single later in the inning proved to be the game
winner. Cobb had given the Chips a 2-1 lead, with his league high 3rd
career triple, driving in two runs in the 2nd inning. That followed an RBI
single by Ernie Banks for the Powers in the 1st inning. Starters Hippo
Vaughn (Chips) and Urban Shocker (Powers) each pitched well, but neither
got a win. Vaughn was tagged with the loss, despite allowing just one
earned run. Shocker, who allowed two runs in seven innings, did not figure
in the decision.
Triple: Cobb
Doubles: Cuyler, Barry Larkin
Stolen base: George Brett
Error: Cobb
Burke Ties Record With 10th Straight Win
Fri, 7 Apr
Upper-Deckers 6, Red Dawgs 3: The Burke Upper-Deckers (4-0) continued
their domination of the rest of the HBWRL, winning 6-3 this time over the
defending champion Myers Red Dawgs (1-3). The game was scoreless through
three innings, but Burke touched up ex-teammate Chief Bender for six runs
in the middle three innings; finally chasing Bender in favor of Hoyt
Wilhelm. Wilhelm pitched out of a jam, ended up posting 2.2 shutout
innings, but it was too little too late for the Red Dawgs. The Dawgs
trailed 6-2 entering the 9th inning, when Bill Terry's RBI double scored
former Upper-Decker Paul Molitor all the way from first base, to make it
6-3. The Dawgs' rally was stopped when, with two out and Terry at third
base, Firpo Marberry struck out Maury Wills to end the game. Burke will go
for the HBWRL record--11 consecutive wins--against the Chips in Week 5.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 15, Red Dawgs 10
Winning pitcher: Tom Seaver (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Bender (0-1)
Doubles: Mark McGwire, Jackie Robinson, Barry Bonds, Terry.
Error: Tris Speaker
Titans Romp Reps
Fri, 7 Apr 2000
Titans 12, Reps 5: Greg Maddux, who had allowed seven earned runs in eight
previous career starts, was touched up for 10 in the first two innings, as
the Tri-City Titans (3-1) rolled to a 12-5 win over the hapless Minneapolis
Reps (0-4). The Reps, whose record of 10 straight wins was just tied by
Burke, have now lost seven straight games. Mickey Mantle (3-5, HR, 4 RBI)
and Charlie Gehringer (4-6, 2 R) led the offensive attack for the Titans,
who led 12-1 in the bottom of the 9th inning, before the Reps scored four
runs to make the game seem closer than it was.
Thu, 6 Apr
Upper-Deckers 7, Titans 1: The Burke Upper-Deckers (3-0) won their 9th
straight game--one shy of a record--and 3rd straight game by a six run
margin, with a 7-1 rout of the Tri-City Titans (2-1). The Upper-Deckers
now hold sole possession of 1st place, through three of 20 "weeks." They
have not lost since Week 14 of Season 13. They will attempt to tie the
record for consecutive wins (spanning seasons) (10), against the defending
HBWRL champion Myers Red Dawgs. Former Dawg Frank "Homerun" Baker, now
playing for Burke, was asked about the significance of the game. "We'll
bake them," he said, unimaginatively. Jackie Robinson and Rickey Henderson
led Burke's offensive attack, while Jim Palmer pitched eight solid innings
to pick up the win. Burke has scored 24 runs in 26 offensive innings this
season.
Homerun: J. Robinson
Double: Henderson
Stolen bases: J.Robinson, Henderson
Tue, 4 Apr
Chips 7, Reps 4: The suprising Silicon Valley Chips (2-1) got good
starting pitching again, then held off a late rally to defeat the hapless
Minneapolis Reps (0-3). The Reps, characterized by many as "the strongest
team on paper," (I doubt they are strong enough to tear a paper--or tape an
envelope) have a tall order ahead of them, as no team has ever started 0-3
and made the playoffs in the same season. The Chips scored pairs of runs
in the 1st, 2nd, and 8th innings, as well as an unearned run in the 7th.
Barry Larkin's two run double opened up a 7-2 Chips lead in the 8th and
sealed the win. Reps GM Kevin C., having watched both J. Karas and J.
Myers threaten to quit or put *'s by the season, when their team was under
not even this much hardship, simply jumped out the window. We don't think
anyone will miss him. 19th century baseball legend Cap Anson will take
over as Reps Manager on an interim basis.
Hits: Chips 16, Reps 16
Winning pitcher: Steve Carlton (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Rube Waddell (0-1)
Doubles: Larkin, Eddie Collins, Edd Roush
Stolen base: Ty Cobb
Caught stealing: Cobb, Richie Allen
Error: Roush
