08-14-00 (3) New York 14, (7) Cleveland 1: Despite the loss to Boston of Babe
Ruth, the New Yorkers won their 2nd Moonlight Title in three years,
demolishing underdog Cleveland, 14-1. It was the most lopsided game in
Moonlight history. New York struck early and often, with two runs in the
1st and seven runs in the 3rd, innings. They led 9-0 for most of the game,
until Jeff Heath broke the shutout with a solo homer. Lefty O'Doul's three
run shot made it 12-1, and New York coasted to a 14-1 win. New York joins
Philadelphia as the only teams to have won the tournament more than once.
By the way, we're all concerned about Tris Speaker's carb intake.
Hits: New York 26, Cleveland 10
Extra-Base Hits: New York 3, Cleveland 3
Winning pitcher: Whitey Ford
Losing pitcher: Stan Coveleski
Homeruns: Heath, O'Doul, Lou Gehrig
Doubles: Bill Dickey, Earl Averill
Caught stealing: Frank Baker
TOURNAMENT SUMMARY
Play-in Round:
(7) Cleveland 6, (10) Detroit 5
(8) Brooklyn 5, (9) Boston 0
Quaterfinal Round:
(4) Philadelphia 8, (5) Cincinnati 7
(3) New York 6, (6) Chicago 5 (10)
(7) Cleveland 3, (2) St. Louis 2
(1) Pittsburgh 2, (8) Brooklyn 1
Semifinal Round:
(3) New York 7, (4) Philadelphia 5
(7) Cleveland 4, (1) Pittsburgh 2
Championship:
(3) New York 14, (7) Cleveland 1
Historical Champions:
1-Philadelphia
2-Philadelphia
3-Cleveland
4-Philadelphia
5-Cincinnati
6-New York
7-Pittsburgh
8-New York
Final Rankings and Seeds for Moonlight IX:
1. New York
2. Cleveland
3. Pittsburgh
4. Philadelphia
5. St. Louis
6. Cincinnati
7. Chicago
8. Brooklyn
9. Detroit
10. Boston
NEW YORK YANKEES/METS/GIANTS
MOONLIGHT VIII TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
Moonlight Result
08-11-00 (7) Cleveland 4, (1) Pittsburgh 2: Underdog Cleveland overcame a 2-0
deficit to oust the defending champs, 4-2. They will now face New York in
the Championship Game. In the play-in round, Cleveland trailed Detroit
with 5-2, with two out and none on in the bottom of the 9th. Somehow they
escaped. Now they have upset the tournament's top two seeds--Pittsburgh
and St. Louis--to earn a berth in the finals against the 3rd seed. No team
has ever beaten the top three seeds, in succession, in a Moonlight
Tournament.
Winning pitcher: Cy Young
Losing pitcher: Jack Chesbro
Save: Stan Coveleski
Double: Al Lopez
Caught stealing: Elmer Flick, Fred Clarke
Error: Jeff Heath
Moonlight Result
08-10-00 (3) New York 7, (4) Philadelphia 5: Carl Hubbell allowed four first inning
run but then settled down, and New York rallied with homers from Joe Gordon
and Frank Baker, for a 7-5 comeback win. Each team used their prior round
starters as relievers (Rube Waddell for Philadelphia and Christy Mathewson
for New York. Both entered when the game was tied at 5-5; absolving both
of this game's starters from the decision.) It was pretty exciting. I'm
tired so that's all I have to say about the game. Next time, buy a ticket.
Hits: New York 13, Philadelphia 11 (first inning: 6-0 Philadelphia)
Extra-Base Hits: New York 6, Philadelphia 2
Homeruns: Gordon, Baker, Jimmie Foxx
Doubles: Chuck Klein, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Lefty O'Doul, Lou
Gehrig
Caught stealing: Eddie Collins
Error: Gordon
Moonlight Result
08-09-00 (1) Pittsburgh 2, (8) Brooklyn 1: Elroy Face struck out Jackie Robinson
with two on and two out in the 9th, as the defending champion Pittsburgh
team survived a scare from upstart Brooklyn. It was the 5th game of the
tournament (out of six total) to be decided by one run. The final four
features the top four seeds, with the notable exception of St. Louis.
Cleveland, themselves former champs, enter the semis as a #7 seed.
Winning pitcher: Wilbur Cooper
Losing pitcher: Sandy Koufax
Save: Face
Doubles: J. Robinson, Babe Herman, Fred Clarke, Arky Vaughan
Moonlight Result
8-07-00 (7) Cleveland 3, (2) St. Louis 2: Addie Joss pitched out of jams in the
7th and 8th innings, Earl Averill and Ray Chapman had three hits each, and
Tris Speaker made a shoestring catch with bases loaded to give Cleveland
their 2nd straight one run victory, this time over favored St. Louis.
Cleveland led 3-0, then had to hang on as St. Louis rallied, with the top
of the order (Lou Brock, Rogers Hornsby, and Stan Musial) doing most of the
damage. Musial went 4-5 and drove in the run that got his team's rally
started. Cleveland, a one-time tournament champion, advances to the
semifinal round. Four of the five games in the tournament have been
decided by one run.
Hits: Cleveland 17, St. Louis 13
Extra-Base Hits: St. Louis 2, Cleveland 0
8-05-00 (3) New York 6, (6) Chicago 5 (10 innings): For the 3rd time in four
games, a tournament game was decided by one run, as New York rallied from
5-3 down to score single runs in the 7th, 9th, and 10th innings and escape
with a 6-5 win over underdog Chicago. The decisive blow was Frank Baker's
RBI single with two out in the bottom of the 10th, against Chicago reliever
Hippo Vaughn. New York had led 3-1, but Chicago scored four runs in the
7th innings, thanks largely to an RBI single by Kiki Cuyler and an error by
Yogi Berra. Ace starters Ed Walsh (Chicago) and Christy Mathewson (New
York) were each solid but unremarkable; neither figured in the decision.
Higher seeds have won all four Moonlight games thus far.
2 out when winning run scored
Game Winning RBI: Baker
Hits: New York 25, Chicago 11
Extra-Base Hits: Chicago 2, New York 0
Winning pitcher: Joe McGinnity
Losing pitcher: Vaughn
Doubles: Frank Chance, Stan Hack
Stolen bases: Chance, Johnny Evers
Caught stealing: Chance
Error: Berra
World Series Game 8 Speaker Keeps World Title at Fenway; Dawgs Repeat
7-10-00
Red Dawgs 3, Upper-Deckers 2: Tris Speaker drove in all three runs, including the game winner in the
bottom of the 9th inning, to give the Myers Red Dawgs (19-8) their 2nd
straight HBWRL championship, with a 3-2 win over the Burke Upper-Deckers
(16-11). The Dawgs, who were actually outscored during the series, got all
four wins by one run--three of them of the "walkoff" variety. While the
game was close and came down to wire like every other game in this series,
it didn't follow the usual pattern. Burke, which had scored first in five
of the series' six games, fell behind early, when Speaker hit a two run
homer off of Cy Young. But the Deckers clawed back, ultimately tying the
game on Ken Griffey, Jr.'s RBI single--an unearned run on a Bobby Bonds
error earlier in the inning.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th, Burke went to Games 1 and
6 winner Walter Johnson. Johnson was eligible to pitch because of special
Game 7 rules. (The Dawgs also exploited those rules, but Whitey Ford
needed to throw only one pitch.) Johnson retired just one batter before
the bases were loaded, with Speaker batting. With the outfield in and the
championship on the line, Speaker hit Johnson's fastball over Burke RF
Elmer Flick's head, ending the game, series, and season.
1 out when winning run scored
Game Winning RBI: Speaker
Hits: Red Dawgs 13, Upper-Deckers 8
Extra-Base Hits: 1-1
Winning pitcher: Ford (4-1)
Losing pitcher: W. Johnson (6-1)
World Series Game 7 Deckers Force Decisive 7th Game
7-07-00
Upper-Deckers 3, Red Dawgs 0: Walter Johnson pitched 8.1 shutout
innings, and Rickey Henderson's two run 9th inning homer put on the
finishing touches, as the Burke Upper-Deckers (16-10) forced a 7th
and deciding game against the defending HBWRL champion Myers Red
Dawgs (18-8). Dawgs starter Wilbur Cooper allowed just one run in
7.1 innings, but the effort was not enough, as Johnson shut down the
Dawgs' offense. The Dawgs, who often score against relievers in the
late innings, didn't have much of a chance to today. Dennis
Eckersley needed just one pitch--one that got Barry Bonds to hit into
a double play--to save the game for Johnson.
By rule, starters may be used as relievers in Game 7. By default,
each team's Game 7 bullpen will be composed of their four remaining
starters, plus their best reliever (by stats) during the regular
season. Those relievers are Mort Cooper (Burke) and Hal Newhouser
(Myers). GMs may make changes to the bullpens anytime between now
and Game 7, which will be on Monday.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 14, Red Dawgs 11
Extra-Base Hits: 1-1
Winning pitcher: W. Johnson (6-0)
Losing pitcher: W. Cooper (3-2)
Save: Eckersley (1)
7-05-00 Red Dawgs 3, Upper-Deckers 2 (14 innings):
In the longest game in HBWRL postseason history, the Myers Red Dawgs (18-7)
outlasted the Burke Upper-Deckers (15-10), to move within one game of
repeating as HBWRL champions. The Bonds family did a number on Burke, with
solo homers by both father Bobby and son Barry. With the score tied 2-2 in
the top of the 14th, Burke loaded the bases with none out, against Dawgs
reliever Hoyt Wilhelm. But after Ken Griffey, Jr. hit into a fielder's
choice, Frank Baker's fly ball to shallow/medium center was caught by Tris
Speaker. Arky Vaughan, trying to score on the play, was gunned down at
home. (Note that, had the ball been hit one batter earlier, the much
faster Henderson would have been running.)
In the bottom of the inning, the Dawgs put on a "hit and run" with two and
two out. The elder Bonds ran from second as Maury Wills stroked a game
winning single to right, giving Burke rightfielder Elmer Flick no chance to
make a play. Like Ron Guidry in Game 4, Flick simply walked off the
field--resigned to the fact that the Dawgs had their 3rd series win--each
by one run. This competitive series could end tomorrow, but Burke has
other thoughts--Walter Johnson is 5-0 in five starts this season.
2 out when winning run scored
Game Winning RBI: Wills
Hits: Upper-Deckers 18, Red Dawgs 12
Extra-Base Hits: Red Dawgs 3, Upper-Deckers 0
Winning pitcher: Wilhelm
Losing pitcher: Firpo Marberry
Homeruns: Ba. Bonds, Bo. Bonds
Double: Bill Terry
Stolen base: Jackie Robinson
Error: Nap Lajoie
Intentional base on balls: By Marberry (Bo. Bonds)
World Series Game 4 Campanella's Single Evens Series
6-30-00
Red Dawgs 2, Upper-Deckers 1: In the 2nd straight game decided in the 9th inning, Roy Campanella's two out single lifted the Myers Red Dawgs (17-7)
to a dramatic 2-1 win over the Burke Upper-Deckers (15-9), evening this
best-of-seven series at 2-2. Burke had struck in the 4th inning on a solo
homer by Arky Vaughan, his 2nd in three at-bats (Vaughan homered twice in
89 at-bats during the regular season). Starting pitchers Tom Seaver
(Upper-Deckers) and Whitey Ford (Red Dawgs) continued to duel, with the
Dawgs tying it at 1-1 in the 7th. With two on and two out in the bottom of
the 9th, Seaver was pulled for Ron Guidry. He needed only one pitch to
undo Seaver's efforts, as he served up a fastball that Campanella drove to
centerfield.
This competitive series is now a best-of-three, and a Game 6 is ensured.
2 out when winning run scored
Game Winning RBI: Campanella
Hits: Upper-Deckers 10, Red Dawgs 9
Extra-Base Hits: Upper-Deckers 1, Red Dawgs 0
Winning pitcher: Ford (3-1)
Losing pitcher: Seaver (2-2)
World Series Game 3 Vaughan Conquers Green Monster with Dramatic Slam
6-28-00
Upper-Deckers 5, Red Dawgs 2: With his team trailing 2-1 in the
9th inning, Arky Vaughan hit a grand slam over the Big Green Monster to
lift the Burke Upper-Deckers (15-8) to an improbable 5-2 win over the Myers
Red Dawgs (16-7), astonishing a sold out Fenway Park. Starting pitchers
Jim Palmer (Burke) and Eddie Plank (Dawgs) dueled brilliantly for six
innings. Each team managed just one run--Burke on a bases loaded walk by
Mark McGwire; the Dawgs on an error by Rickey Henderson and some aggressive
baserunning by Maury Wills. In the bottom of the 7th, Hank Greenberg, who
had been dominated by Palmer all day, launched a fly ball deep to right,
scoring Nap Lajoie and giving the Dawgs a 2-1 lead. Normally reliable Hoyt
Wilhelm replaced Plank in the 9th, and retired only batter before allowing
the slam to Vaughan. Hal Newhouser retired the final two Burke hitters,
but his entry was too late. Mort Cooper retired the Dawgs in order in the
bottom of the 9th, giving Burke a 2-1 series lead.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 11, Red Dawgs 10
Extra-Base Hits: 1-1
Winning pitcher: M. Cooper (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Wilhelm (2-1)
Homerun: Vaughan
Double: Barry Bonds
Stolen bases: Wills, Lajoie
Caught stealing: Ken Griffey, Jr.
Error: Henderson
World Series Game 2
6-26-00 Red Dawgs 2, Upper-Deckers 1: Bobby Bonds' two run homerun in the
2nd was enough, and Chief Bender allowed one or fewer runs for the 3rd
straight time, as the defending HBWRL champion Myers Red Dawgs (16-6) even
the Season 14 World Series with a 2-1 win over the Burke Upper-Deckers
(14-8). Bender, who scattered eight singles through eight innings,
outdueled embattled Burke starter Cy Young. Young had struggled recently,
but pitched brilliantly today--allowing just nine singles in a complete
game effort, deleting the Bonds homer. Bonds also stole a base, was caught
stealing, and committed an error for good measure. The series is now
reduced to a best-of-five, with the Dawgs again having the momentum. They
have won 15 of their last 18 games, and four of their last five (four of
six overall) against Burke.
Hits: Red Dawgs 2, Upper-Deckers 1
Winning pitcher: Bender
Losing pitcher: Young
Save: Hoyt Wilhelm
