10-05-00 Madness 4, Defenestrators 0: With Charlton Heston in attendance, chanting various movie slogans, the
Marshall Madness (7-0) continued to shock the HBWRL with their 7th straight
win, this time over the JC-leading Ballston Defenestrators (5-2). The
Madness opened up a three game lead in the SC, while Ballston's lead over
Picadilly is now just one-half game. The Madness struck early and late,
with two runs each in the 1st and 8th innings, against Defs starter Rube
Waddell. Warren Spahn pitched 8.1 shutout innings, and Dolph Luque
augmented his 3-0 record with a save, for the Madness. Waddell and newly
acquired Defs reliever Eppa Rixey were also dominant, save for the 1st and
8th innings. Neither team was able to get an extra-base hit; the Defs
advanced a runners as far as third base only twice.
The Circus Freaks can regain 1st place in the JC with a win over the Reps
by at least five runs. A Reps win would put them just one game back in the
wildcard race, behind the Circus Freaks and Red Dawgs.
10-04-00 Powers 6, Titans 3: The Karas Powers (2-5) won their 2nd straight game
after a five game losing streak, defeating the Tri-City Titans (1-6), 6-3.
Leading 3-1, the Powers got three insurance runs in the top of the 9th
inning against Titans reliever Kevin Brown. They nearly needed all of
them. Powers starter Addie Joss was one out away from a complete game when
Chuck Klein dropped a routine fly ball. That led to two unearned runs, and
brought George Sisler to the plate as the tying run, before Steve Carlton
relieved Joss and recorded the final out. In his Powers debut, C Roy
Campanella went 2-5 with a run scored, and an RBI. The player he replaced,
Mickey Cochrane, was hitting under .200 at the time of the trade. Despite
the win and six run performance, the Powers have just one homerun through
seven games.
Hits: Powers 18,Titans 9
Extra-Base Hits: 1-1
Winning pitcher: Joss
Losing pitcher: Eddie Cicotte
Save: Carlton
Homerun: Hack Wilson
Double: Amos Otis
Error: Klein
10-04-00 Red Dawgs 4, Upper-Deckers 0: The Myers Red Dawgs (4-3) continued their
momentum from last year's World Series, and good pitching from their last
game, with a 4-0 win over the Burke Upper-Deckers (2-5). It was Burke's
third straight loss. Wilbur Cooper pitched a five hit shutout for the
Dawgs, who also won 4-0 in his last outing. He pitched 6.2 shutout innings
against the Powers in the game, meaning he now has 15.2 scoreless-innings
streak. Al Rosen homered for the 2nd straight game for the Red Dawgs, a
feat accomplished by teammate Bobby Bonds earlier in the season. That
provided the only run against Burke starter Walter Johnson through eight
innings. But Johnson was chased, and rookie J.R. Richard allowed two
inherited runners (plus one of his own) to score, leading to the 4-0 final
margin. The Dawgs have allowed only eight hits in their last two games,
for a H/IP of 0.44. Opponents are batting .129 against the Dawgs during
that timespan. Burke's Lou Brock managed just one hit, as his league
leading average slipped to near the .600 mark.
Hits: Red Dawgs 15, Upper-Deckers 5
Extra-Base Hits: Red Dawgs 1, Upper-Deckers 0
Winning pitcher: W. Cooper (2-1)
Losing pitcher: W. Johnson (1-2)
Homerun: Rosen
Stolen base: Brock
Circus Freaks Tossed Out of JC Leaders' Window;
Expansion Teams Hold First
10-03-00 Defenestrators 6, Circus Freaks 3: Harry Heilmann's two run single put his
team ahead for good, and outgoing reliever Greg Maddux earned his 2nd save
in as many games, as the Ballston Defenestrators (5-1) took over 1st place
in the JC with a 6-3 win over the Picadilly Circus Freaks (4-2). The
Circus Freaks led 2-0, and 2-1 in the 5th, when Heilmann's two run single
made it 3-2 Ballston. A costly error by Barry Larkin in the 7th inning led
to two unearned runs and gave Ballston a 5-2 lead. Defs C Johnny Bench
answered Freaks 1B Frank Chance's 8th inning RBI single with an RBI single
of his own, for the final 6-3 margin.
The result avenged an earlier 5-2 defeat for Ballston at the hands of
Picadilly; it is the Defs' only loss of the year. The Circus Freaks have
dropped two of three since a 3-0 start. Ballston and their expansion
brethren, the Marshall Madness, lead the HBWRL's two leagues, with a
combined record of 11-1 entering interleague play. "I hope it's clear now
that anyone who dares to disagree with any ludicrous proposition made by
the office of the Defs GM is ludicrous themselves," declared a confident
G.J. Cal III, Esq. "Otherwise they are in the position of saying 'yes' to
one thing and 'no' to another, which of course is inconsistent."
Winning pitcher: Grover Cleveland "Pete" Alexander (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Whitey Ford (1-1)
Save: Maddux (2)
*END 2ND MINI-SEASON*
Titans Survive Late Inning Collapse
9-29-00 Titans 6, Upper-Deckers 3: For the 3rd consecutive game, the Tri-City
Titans (1-5) were dramatically outscored in the late innings. But this
time they entered the 7th with a 6-0 lead, and hung on to upset the Burke
Upper-Deckers (2-4), 6-3. The result avenged a 13-8 loss to Burke earlier
in the season. The Titans had led 6-2 in that game. They also led 2-0 in
their 6-2 loss to the Circus Freaks, and 2-1 in their 3-2 loss to the
Defenestrators. All of those leads were lost in the 7th inning or later.
Also for the 3rd game in a row, reliever Don Gullett appeared for the
Titans, this time pitching a perfect 9th inning to save the game for
bean-balling starter Carl Mays. After six innings, the Titans led 6-0 and
had outhit Burke 14-1--Burke's only hit coming from the league's leading
hitter, Lou Brock. Burke then outscored the Titans 3-0, and outhit them
9-3, to make the final score respectable, although Brock finished at 1-5.
Burke almost did more than that. With two out in the bottom of the 8th,
"Sweet" Billy Williams batted with the bases loaded and two out. His long
drive--likely a game-winner if it cleared the wall, was caught by Al
Simmons just shy of the warning track. Mays walked a batter to start the
9th before Gullett retired the side.
Winning pitcher: C. Mays
Losing pitcher: Chief Bender
Save: Gullett
Double: Arky Vaughan
Stolen bases: George Sisler 2, Jackie Robinson
Game of Firsts for Powers
9-29-00 Powers 3, Reps 0: Ed Reulbach (1st on the all-time wins list) tossed a
shutout, and Rogers Hornsby gave the Karas Powers (1-5) their first homer
of the season, leading them to a 3-0 win over the Minneapolis Reps (2-4).
It was the Powers' first win of the season, prompting Powers GM to take
time from his constant campaining for Gore/Lieberman and proclaim the
Powers as "the best 1-5 team ever?? as long as they don't date any
aviators??" He then engaged in a discussion of the top 10 shows currently
on tv, the correlation between the stock market and the NFL Tennessee
Titans' performance; and, above all, how the 5th Commandment requires us
not to watch Ally McBeal. Reps GM Kevin C., understandably more downbeat,
simply defenestrated, as the Reps--already hitting a league low .274--were
held to just six hits by Reulbach.
9-29-00 Circus Freaks 6, Titans 2: Trailing 2-0 through six innings, the Picadilly
Circus Freaks (4-1) rallied for six unanswered runs to defeat the Tri-City
Titans (0-5) and stay ahead of the Defenestrators by tiebreaker for 1st
place in the JC. Titans starter Bob Gibson had a four hit shutout through
six innings, but a two run single by Ty Cobb tied the game at 2-2 in the
7th. The wheels came off for the Titans in the 8th, when neither Gibson
nor reliever Don Gullett could stop the Circus Freaks offense. Frank
Thomas, who went 4-4 on the day, put Picadilly ahead for good with an RBI
single. After George Brett did the same and made it 4-2, Barry Larkin
plated two, capping a four run 8th inning, giving the Circus Freaks the
win. The Titans have led in the 7th inning or later in each of their last
two losses. The result concludes Week 6.
Winning pitcher: Juan Marichal
Losing pitcher: Gibson
Doubles: Brett, Joe Sewell
Caught stealing: Larkin
Defs Toss Deckers Out a Window
9-28-00 Defenestrators 3, Upper-Deckers 1: Sandy Koufax pitched six strong
innings, and Greg Maddux earned a save in likely his last apperance as a
Defenestrator, as Ballston (4-1) took a 1/2 game lead in the JC with a 3-1
win over Burke (2-3). Burke had scored 21 runs in their previous two
games, but the now trail the Defenestrators by two games in the standings;
and perhaps more importantly, by two in the head-to-head series. Burke's
Lou Brock, the league's leading hitter, went 3-4, but it was not enough, as
the three hitters behind him (Arky Vaughan, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Mark
McGwire) went a combined 1-13. Johnny Mize drove in a pair of runs for the
Defenestrators. Maddux was sent to the Reps in a deal that will bring Eppa
Rixey to Ballston. The trade will be effective after Week 6's games.
Double: Paul Molitor
Stolen base: Frank Baker
Caught stealing: Brock, Vaughan
Dawgs Blank Powers 4-0, to 0-4
9-20-00 Red Dawgs 4, Powers 0: Barry and Bobby Bonds each had RBIs, and rookie Al
> Rosen hit a two run homer, as the Myers Red Dawgs (2-2) defeated the Karas Powers (0-4), 4-0. Pitchers Wilbur Cooper, who finally showed some of his
form from last season, and Hal Newhouser combined on the shutout. Neither
allowed an extra-base hit. The Powers' Carl Hubbell, in a rare "slot one" start, was perfect through three innings, but allowed runs in each of the
6th, 7th, and 8th. Roger Clemens warmed in the Powers' bullpen but never
entered the game. The Powers, the defending ERA champions, have allowed at least four earned runs in each of their first four games.
Hits: Powers 9, Red Dawgs 8
Extra-Base Hits: Red Dawgs 2, Powers 0
Winning pitcher: W. Cooper (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Hubbell (0-1)
Save: Newhouser (1)
Madness in a Marathon
9-26-00 Madness 6, Powers 1 (15 innings): Mickey Mantle's three run double opened
the floodgates for a five run 15th inning, as the Marshall Madness (5-0)
stayed perfect and kept the Karas Powers (0-5) winless in a thrilling game.
Starting pitchers Addie Joss (Powers) and Lefty Grove (Madness) each
allowed just one run in nine or more innings of work, but neither figured
in the decision. Both teams got good relief pitching as well. Eppa Rixey
pitched 3.2 shutout innings for the Powers, while Early Wynn and Dolph
Luque combined for six shutout innings for the Madness; although Luque had
to pitch out of trouble frequently. The Powers had the winning run at
third base with less than two out in both the 10th and 11th innings, but
Luque got two strikeouts and a double play to keep his team in it. Luke
Appling--who was 0-6 prior to a critical 15th inning at-bat, Mantle, and
Joe DiMaggio finally got to Powers reliever Urban Shocker in the 15th.
Three of the Madness' five wins have come in the 9th or extra innings;
three of the five Powers' losses have come by one run or in extra innings.
The Maids/Madness had never started 5-0; the Stickpins/Powers had never
started 0-5.
Hits: Powers 14, Madness 13
Extra-Base Hits: 3-3
Winning pitcher: Luque
Losing pitcher: Shocker
Doubles: Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski, Pete Rose, Rogers Hornsby, Amos Otis,
Fred Clarke
Caught stealing: Clarke
Errors: Honus Wagner 2
Stick With Stocks
9-26-00 Red Dawgs 9, Reps 2: ...And stay away from Bonds. That's what opposing
pitchers are saying, after the Myers Red Dawgs' (3-2) Bobby Bonds homered
in his 2nd consecutive game, giving his team a 9-2 rout of the Minneapolis
Reps (2-3). Son Barry also had a big game, going 2-5 and scoring twice.
Ted Williams' two run homer provided the Reps' only offense, as the rest of
the team managed no runs on seven hits. Meanwhile, Reps starter Mordecai
"Three Finger" Brown was shelled for nine earned runs and 16 hits in six
innings, prompting Reps GM Kevin C. to say "when we're done with him, he'll
have two fingers." The Dawgs now have sole possession of 2nd place in the
SC.
Hits: Red Dawgs 16, Reps 8
Extra-Base Hits: 3-3
Winning pitcher: Eddie Plank
Losing pitcher: M. Brown
Homeruns: Bo. Bonds, T. Williams, Bill Terry
Doubles: Edd Roush, Richie Allen
Stolen base: Ray Chapman
Caught stealing: Maury Wills
Error: Tris Speaker
Pie's Error Sinks Titans
9-22-00 Defenestrators 3, Titans 2: The Ballston Defenestrators (3-1) capitalized
on 9th inning error by Pie Traynor of the Tri-City Titans (0-4) to take a
dramatic 3-2 win on the road. The win gives them a share of 1st place in
the JC, although the Circus Freaks still hold the position by tiebreaker.
Ballston, dominated the game through six innings--outhitting the Titans
10-2--but managed only one run during that time. As Ballson starter Rube
Waddell fatigued in the 7th inning, Charlie Gehringer's two run single gave
the Titans the lead. The Defenestrators tied it at 2-2 in the 9th, and the
game could well have gone to extra innings. But Titans 3B Pie Traynor
booted Johnny Mize's line drive, allowing Rickey Henderson to score, and
giving Ballston a 3-2 lead in the top of the 9th. Greg Maddux pitched a
perfect bottom of the 9th to seal the Ballston win.
9-22-00 Upper-Deckers 8, Circus Freaks 0: The highly touted offense of the Burke Upper-Deckers (2-2) finally came to life, scoring 21 runs over two games
and today defeating the Picadilly Circus Freaks (3-1), 8-0, to avenge a 3-1
loss earlier in the season. Walter Johnson pitched eight shutout innings
and fanned six for Burke, but the decisive blow came when Ken Griffey, Jr.
hit a grand slam off of Circus Freaks starter Christy Mathewson in the 3rd,
capping a six run inning. And the league's leading batter, Burke's Lou
Brock, continued to flirt with .800, going 4-5 with two runs scored, an
RBI, and a stolen base. Burke had scored only five runs in their first two
games; Picadilly had allowed only four runs through their first three.
"This evens things up a bit," said Burke GM Mark H., apparently referring
to a table leg that he had just cut, to make it even with the other three.
9-14-00
Circus Freaks 5, Defenestrators 2:
In a tightly contested game, the Picadilly Circus Freaks (3-0) got two
insurance runs the 9th inning to seal a win over the Ballston
Defenestrators (2-1) at Yankee Stadium. It was the first loss of the year
for an expansion team, and gave Picadilly sole possession of first place in
the Junior Circuit. The Defenestrators (whose fan base is rapidly
depleting due to a literal interpretation of their name) struck first, with
an RBI single by Rickey Henderson. That came off of Circus Freaks starter
Whitey Ford, and prompted Defenestrators GM G.J. Cal, III, Esq. to
proclaim, "we may defenestrate, but not because we're afraid of the Circus
Freaks."
But Frank Chance's two run single in the 4th made it 2-1 Circus Freaks, a
lead they would never lose. Frank Thomas' solo shot for the Freaks was
matched by one for Ernie Banks in the bottom of the 8th, making it 3-2.
But Stan Musial showed he was the man, icing the victory with a two run
blast off of David Cone in the 9th. It was Cone's HBWRL debut. The
Freaks' George Brett, who entered the game leading the league in most
offensive categories, managed only one hit in five at-bats against Ballston
starter Grover Cleveland "Pete" Alexander and Cone.
Winning pitcher: Ford
Losing pitcher: Alexander
Save: Bob Lemon
Homeruns: Thomas, Musial, Banks
Stolen base: Chance
Caught stealing: Ty Cobb
Error: Tony Lazzeri
*END 1ST MINI-SEASON*
Deckers Outslug Titans
9-13-00 Upper-Deckers 13, Titans 8: The Burke Upper-Deckers (1-2) overcame a grand
slam by Bill Dickey and an early 5-2 deficit to defeat the Tri-City Titans
(0-3), 13-8. Two, two run doubles--one by Yogi Berra and one by Lou
Brock--helped Burke erase the deficit. Burke led 8-7 when Arky Vaughan's
three run homer put the game out of reach, at 11-7. Both starting pitchers
were ineffective, but Chief Bender, who allowed eight earned runs in seven
innings of work, managed a win. Titans starter Carl Mays, already
ineffective, was further victimized when Don Gullett allowed two of Mays'
inherited runners to score on the Vaughan homer. It was easily the highest
scoring game of the season thus far; and the only time we can recall that a
team got a grand slam, but didn't win the game.
