Reps Put HBWRL Title in Metrodome; Powers Dethroned
Tue, 25 May 1999
Game 6: Reps 1, Powers 0:
Walter Johnson withstood a 13-hit onslaught to record a shutout, and regular
season MVP Ted Williams' 8th inning single scored Eddie Collins, as the
Minneapolis Reps won their first championship in four years, dethroning the
three-time defending champion Powers, 1-0.
Johnson outpiched Carl Hubbell, who scattered eight hits through 8.2 innings,
but was victimized in the 8th. Hubbell had allowed just five singles through
seven innings. But Collins led off the 8th with a double, and Edd Roush's
single put runners on the corners with none out. Then Williams' hit drove in
the only run of the game, and moved Roush to second. Babe Ruth then hit into a
double play, moving Roush to third. But Hubbell struck out Lou Gehrig to
prevent an insurance run.
In the bottom of the 9th, with the Powers down to their last out, Honus Wagner
singled and stole second to provide hope to the defending champs. But Johnson
got Shoeless Joe Jackson to foul out on a 2-0 pitch to end the game, series, and
the Powers' three year championship reign.
The foul out put an end to a great game, a great series, and a great season.
See you next season, on the HBWRL report.
Winning pitcher: Johnson
Losing pitcher: Hubbell
Doubles: Collins, Tris Speaker, Yogi Berra
Stolen base: Wagner
MINNEAPOLIS REPS
HBWRL SEASON 11
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
Upcoming events: Moonlight Tournament; Season 12 draft
World Series GAME FIVE
Mon, 24 May 1999
Game 5: Reps 9, Powers 0
SORRY! OUT OF SPACE AGAIN. I WILL HAVE TO REORGANIZE WHEN I GET BACK FROM MY TRIP!
World Series GAME FOUR
Mon, 17 May 1999
Game 4: Reps 8, Powers 4:
Barry Bonds' three run homer keyed a seven run 4th inning for the Reps, as Addie
Joss was rocked in his worst outing of the season, and the Reps hung on to even
the series, 8-4. Trailing 2-1 after three innings, the Reps batted around in
the 4th, making it 8-2. Reps starter Mordecai Brown and reliever Christy
Mathewson combined to allow 17 hits, but managed to pitch out of several jams to
allow just two runs for the remainder of the game. The series is now reduced to
a best-of-three, and a Game 6 is guaranteed.
Winning pitcher: Brown
Losing pitcher: Joss
Homerun: Bonds
Doubles: Eddie Collins, Joe Jackson, Lou Gehrig
Stolen bases: Honus Wagner 2, Jackson 2, Bonds
Caught stealing: Wagner, Hornsby
Error: Arky Vaughan
Upcoming game: Season 11 World Series, Game 5:
Minneapolis Reps (13-9, Ed Walsh) at Karas Powers (14-8, Ed Reulbach)
World Series GAME THREE
Sun, 16 May 1999
Game 3: Powers 4, Reps 3 (13 innings):
In the longest World Series game in HBWRL history, Yogi Berra's bases-loaded
single with none out in the bottom of the 13th, on a 3-2 pitch, gave the Powers
an unearned run, and a dramatic comeback win over the Reps. The game seemed
suited to follow the typical pattern until the 8th. The Reps led 3-1 after 7.5
innings. Each of the previous two games had been decided by 3-1 margins. But
Harmon Killebrew ruined that with a two run homer off of Reps starter Walter
Johnson. He and Powers starter Carl Hubbell each allowed three runs in eight
innings of work. Relievers Christy Mathewson (Reps) and Joe McGinnity (Powers)
pitched masterfully as the game went into extra innings.
When Rube Waddell relieved Mathewson, things did not immediately change. After
Waddell pitched a nearly perfect 12th, Arky Vaughan booted Tris Speaker's
routine grounder to start the bottom of the 13th. After Speaker stole second,
Waddell beaned Chuck Klein. Then Killebrew, who went 5-6 and nearly hit for the
cycle, singled to load the bases with none out. Waddell found himself with the
winning run at third base and none out, despite having allowed just one hit in
the inning. Berra then worked the count full, meaning Waddell had to throw a
strike. Berra lifted Waddell's strike over the head of the drawn-in Reps
leftfielder Ted Williams, scoring Speaker and giving the Powers a 4-3 win.
Asked to comment on his game-winning hit, Berra said: "In that situation, you
know you are going to get something good to hit 90% of the time. The other half
of the time, it's better not to swing, and not lose; that is to say win, on the
ensuing walk."
The game sets the stage for a critical Game 4. Former Power Mordecai Brown will
start for the Reps. He won his first four games this season, and has not won
his last three. He'll face Powers ace Addie Joss, who allowed just one run in
Game 1. Joss can give the Powers a commanding 3-1 lead; Brown can reduce the
series to a best-of-three.
0 out when winning runs scored
Game winning RBI: Berra
Homerun: Killebrew
Doubles: Edd Roush 2, Killebrew
Stolen bases: Speaker, Honus Wagner
Caught stealing: Speaker, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig
Hit by pitch: By Waddell (Chuck Klein)
Error: Vaughan
Upcoming game: Season 11 World Series, Game 4:
Minneapolis Reps (12-9, Mordecai Brown) at Karas Powers (14-7, Addie Joss)
World Series GAME TWO
Thu, 13 May 1999
Game 2: Reps 3, Powers 1:
The Reps turned the tables on the Powers in Game 2, winning by the 3-1 margin by
which they lost in Game 1. In this more exciting game, both teams squandered
chances with the bases loaded, and the Ed pitchers Walsh (Reps) and Reulbach
(Powers) pitched out of more jams than in a jar of Smucker's.
Eddie Collins stole two bases in the first inning and scored on Babe Ruth's
single, to make it 1-0 Reps. After Barry Bonds failed to extend that lead by
hitting into a bases loaded double play in the 5th, Rogers Horsnby's solo homer
in the bottom of the 5th made it 1-1. But Bonds, given an identical
opportunity in the 7th, made no mistake. He and Edd Roush each singled with the
bases loaded, to give the Reps a 3-1 lead. When Walsh faultered in the 9th,
Christy Mathewson gave the Reps more excitement than they had hoped for.
Ultimately, the Powers got the winning run aboard, and sent Honus Wagner to the
plate with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the 9th. After Wagner
got ahead in the count, Mathewson got him to ground out to short, ending the
game and tying the series at 1-1.
Upcoming game: Season 11 World Series, Game 3:
Minneapolis Reps (12-8, Walter Johnson) at Karas Powers (13-7, Carl Hubbell)
World Series GAME ONE
Wed, 12 May 1999
Game 1: Powers 3, Reps 1:
The Powers' Addie Joss outdueled former Power Mordcai "Three Finger" Brown as
the Powers rallied to take a 1-0 lead in the series. It was the 4th straight
postseason win for the Powers, who scored three runs in the 7th inning, after
trailing 1-0 after six. Kiki Cuyler's double and Honus Wagner's RBI single (one
of his three hits) in the 7th put the Powers ahead for good, and chased Brown
from the game in favor of Christy Mathewson. As a sidenote, there is no truth
to the rumor that Brown is changing his name to "Two Finger Brown" to honor
Sammy Sosa's homerun salute.
Winning pitcher: Joss
Losing pitcher: Brown
Doubles: Cuyler, Edd Roush, Babe Ruth
Stolen base: Eddie Collins
Powers lead series, 1-0
Upcoming game: Season 11 World Series, Game 2
Minneapolis Reps (11-8, Ed Walsh) at Karas Powers (13-6, Ed Reulbach)
Powers Thrash Reps
Win Regular Season; Set ERA Record
Mon, 10 May 1999
Powers 11, Reps 3:
The Karas Powers (12-6) won the regular season title for the
3rd time in four seasons with an 11-3 rout of the defending regular season
champion Minneapolis Reps (11-7). Carl Hubbell (2-2) went the distance for the
Powers, who handed former Power Mordecai Brown (4-1) his first loss of the
season. Joe Jackson went 5-6 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the
Powers' onslaught of 11 unanswered runs, after Eddie Collins' homer gave the
Reps an early 3-0 lead. Hubbell's performance was good enough to give the
Powers' the all-time team ERA record, but not enough to break the 2.00 barrier.
Entering the game with a team ERA of 1.98, the three earned runs allowed by
Hubbell pushed the team's ERA to just over 2.00, but still below the previous
record of 2.16. The teams will now rematch in the World Series, hosted by the
Powers, with Brown pitching Game 1 for the Reps and looking for revenge.
Winning pitcher: Hubbell
Losing pitcher: Brown
Homerun: Collins
Stolen base: Collins
Caught stealing: Honus Wagner
KARAS POWERS
HBWRL SEASON 11
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
*END REGULAR SEASON*
Upcoming game: World Series, Game 1:
Minneapolis Reps (11-7, Mordecai Brown) at Karas Powers (12-6, TBA)
Sat, 8 May 1999
Chips 4, Red Dawgs 0:
The Chips (8-10) and Dawgs (5-13) started their seasons
as they began them, with the Chips scoring the shutout on the road. There were
no Lefty O'Doul grand slams this time, only a great pitcher's duel between the
Chips' Stan Coveleski and the Dawgs' Lefty Grove. But then Jim Palmer relieved
Grove in the 7th, the Chips scored three critical insurance runs to match their
win total from last season. In a bizarre season for the Dawgs, they tied
records for fewest wins (5), fewest road wins (2), and most wins by shutout (4).
In fact, the Dawgs did not win a nine-inning game this season without shutting
out their opponent. Their only non-shoutout win was the season's longest game,
a 14-inning win over the Powers in which they trailed 4-1 after 8 innings. The
Dawgs also lost by shutout--twice to the Chips and once to the Powers--meaning
that seven of their 18 games invovled shutouts (also a record). Each of these
teams will attempt to regroup for an expanded Season 12, as all eyes turn to the
regular season championship game and Season 11 World Series.
Winning pitcher: Coveleski
Losing pitcher: Grove
Homerun: Travis Jackson
Doubles: Jackie Robinson, Nap Lajoie
Stolen base: Ty Cobb
Upcoming game (regular season championship):
Karas Powers (11-6, Carl Hubbell) at Minneapolis Reps (11-6, Moredecai Brown)
Powers Sweep Chips!
Fri, 7 May 1999
Powers 7, Chips 2:
Get out the brooms, because for only the 3rd time in HBWRL history, a team has
swept six regular season games from another. All three have involved the Chips
(7-10), and this time they came out on the short end, losing for the 6th
consecutive time against the Powers (11-6). The Powers overcame an early 1-0
deficit to set up a winner-take-all regular season championship game against the
Reps. The Chips will end their season with a meaningless game against the Red
Dawgs, although the Red Dawgs need a win to avoid tying for the worst regular
season record in HBWRL history.
The Season 9 Chips won six from the Reps, and the Season 3 Chips were swept by
the Broome Stickpins. For a good while, it appeared that the Chips might pull
off the remarkable feat of sweeping a team and being swept in the same season,
beating the Dawgs four times in a row as they did. But the Dawgs' 1-0 win over
the Chips in their last encounter (three of the Dawgs' five wins have come via
shutout) eliminated the chance of that.
Meanwhile, the Powers are poised to set the record for lowest team ERA in a
season, and could become the only team every to finish with an ERA under 2.00.
A combination of great pitching and a propensity to allow unearned runs has
given the Powers a 1.98 ERA through 17 of 18 games. Assuming that their final
game goes nine innings, the Powers must allow two earned runs or less to break
the 2.00 barrier, and five or less to break their own record of 2.16. They'll
have to do it against the league's most prolific offense--the Reps--and with
their highest-ERA pitcher, Carl Hubbell, on the mound. However, the good news
for the Powers is that Hubbell's ERA (2.43) is significantly lower than that of
any other team.
In a similar game last year, the Reps won, but the Powers rallied to win the
World Series on the road. Asked to comment, Powers C Yogi Berra made the
situation crystal clear: "We've got the pitching; they've got the hitting.
Good pitching always beats good hitting 90% of the time; the hitters usually win
the other half."
Yogi: Thank you for making quoting you necessary.
Winning pitcher: Ed Reulbach
Losing pitcher: Juan Marichal
Doubles: Jackie Robinson, Johnny Mize, Honus Wagner
Stolen bases: Ty Cobb, Kiki Cuyler
Caught stealing: Cobb, Cuyler
Upcoming games:
Silicon Valley Chips (7-10, Stan Coveleski) at Myers Red Dawgs (5-12, Lefty
Grove)
regular season championshp:
Karas Powers (11-6, Carl Hubbell [1-2, 2.43]) at Minneapolis Reps (11-6,
Mordecai Brown [4-0, 1.98])
Reps POUND Dawgs!
Tue, 4 May 1999
Reps 9, Red Dawgs 1:
The Minneapolis Reps (11-6) played longball on the the
Myers Red Dawgs (5-12), scoring eight of their nine runs via the homer, to take
a 9-1 decision. Edd Roush, not known for hitting homers, hit two of them for
the Reps. Arky Vaughan added a three run shot and Babe Ruth had a solo shot.
Walter Johnson went the distance for the Reps, who will likely play for the
regular season championship against the Powers in their next (and final) game.
The Red Dawgs need a win in their final game to avoid tying for the worst HBWRL
record ever. The Season 2 Maids and several other teams went 5-13, to share
that mark. The Dawgs, playing to avoid the record books with a 6th win, and the
Reps, playing for a regular season title, will each be at home to wind up the
season.
Upcoming game: Karas Powers (10-6, Ed Reulbach) at Silicon Valley Chips (7-9,
Juan Marichal)
Mize Caps Thriller for Chips
Mon, 3 May 1999
Chips 7, Reps 6:
In a game with more plot twists than last night's episode of the X-Files, the
Silicon Valley Chips (7-9) upset the Minneapolis Reps (10-6), thanks to Johnny
Mize's two run homerun in the bottom of the 9th. It was the 4th straight one
run game played by the Chips, and the 3rd straight game between these teams to
be decided on the last at-bat.
The Reps jumped on Chips starter Jack Chesbro early, as Ted Williams' double
capped a three run 1st inning. The Reps still led 3-0 in the 5th when starter
Christy Mathewson, who threw 100 pitches in just 5.2 innings, began to struggle.
Having escaped a bases loaded-none out jam in the 4th, Mathewson had no such
luck in the 5th. Mize's single, Bill Dickey's ground out, and Eddie Mathews'
sac fly keyed a five run 5th, making it 5-3 Chips through five innings.
It was still 5-3 Chips when Mike Schmidt led off the top of the 9th with a
single for the Reps. But any hopes of a Reps comeback seemed to be dashed when
the next batter, ex-Chip Roy Campanella hit into a 4-6-3 double play. That got
the Reps down to their final out, and Chesbro went for the complete game against
Arky Vaughan. And when Vaughan doubled into the right field corner, it only
made the Campanella double play look that much more important. Undaunted, the
Reps' Barry Bonds singled to right center, scoring Vaughan and making it 5-4
Chips.
That brought up leadoff hitter Eddie Collins, who Chesbro got ahead of 1-2,
taking the Reps down to their last strike. As Chesbro focused on Collins, Bonds
stole second, putting the tying run in scoring position. With the Reps still
down to their last strike, the Chips made a call to the bullpen, and got a
lefty-lefty matchup by pitting Steve Carlton against Collins. But after two
foul balls, Collins drove Carlton's pitch to right, scoring Bonds and tying the
game at 5-5. Hits by Edd Roush and Williams then scored Collins, giving the
Reps a 6-5 lead, before Carlton could record the third out.
Meanwhile, the Reps' Ed Walsh, in a rare relief appearance, had not allowed a
hit in 2.1 innings of work. But it is never good to walk the leadoff man, so
when Walsh walked Lefty O'Doul to start the bottom of the 9th, the Reps had
cause for concern. But, as in the top of the 9th, any concern appeared to be
washed away when Walsh retired the next two hitters--Stan Musial and Jimmie
Foxx--with relative ease. And when Johnny Mize got ahead in the count 2-1, it
meant the Reps were two strikes away from victory.
But Walsh picked an inopportune time to give up his only hit of the game, as
Mize drove his fastball into the rightfield upper deck, giving the Chips--losers
of three consecutive one run games--a dramatic win. This game, combined with
Friday's 14 inning thriller, marks perhaps the most exciting back-to-back games
in regular seaon history.
2 out when winning runs scored
Game Winning RBI: Mize
Upcoming games: Minneapolis Reps (10-6, Walter Johnson) at Myers Red Dawgs
(5-11, Cy Young)
Karas Powers (10-6, Ed Reulbach) at Silicon Valley Chips (7-9,
Juan Marichal)
Red Dawgs Shock Powers
Fri, 30 Apr 1999
Red Dawgs 5, Powers 4 (14 innings):
The Red Dawgs (5-11) got an improbable comeback win, thanks to several unlikely
heroes, to snap the Powers' (10-6) five game winning streak in dramatic fashion.
The win was the second Dawgs road win of the season, and gives them a split in
the season series with the three-time defending champions.
The Powers, leading 4-1 with one out in the top of the 9th, appeared to have the
game locked up. Mort Cooper made his HBWRL debut after Powers starter Addie
Joss pitched 8.1 masterful innings. Cooper was still not in bad shape when the
Dawgs had runners on the corners with two out in the 9th, still trailing 4-1.
Former Power Mickey Cochrane's routine single was booted by Chuck Klein,
allowing two runs to score, and putting Cochrane at second, and making it 4-3
Powers. The Dawgs were still down to their last out when Willie McCovey singled
to score Cochrane, tying the game at 4-4. When the Powers could not tie the
game in the bottom of the 9th, it went to extra innings, and became the longest
game played this season.
Gaylord Perry had long since replaced Red Dawgs starter Whitey Ford, and Grover
Cleveland "Pete" Alexander replaced Cooper for the Powers. They dueled for
inning after inning, until Alexander got into a bases loaded, none out jam in
the top of the 14th. McCovey's sacrafice fly drove in the game winning run as
the Red Dawgs won despite the number four and five hitters (Richie Allen and Joe
DiMaggio) going a combined 0-12. Perry, much maligned as a Power, pitched seven
innings of shutout ball to get the win, which is already being called the
greatest in the Red Dawgs' brief history. The Powers slip 1/2 game behind the
Reps in the pennant race.
Winning pitcher: Perry
Losing pitcher: Alexander
Doubles: Kiki Cuyler, Harmon Killebrew, Tris Speaker, Cochrane.
Caught stealing: Speaker
Error: Klein
Powers Clinch Playoff Berth
Fri, 16 Apr 1999
Powers 5, Red Dawgs 1:
Carl Hubbell and Chief Bender combined on a three-hitter as the Powers (10-5)
won their 5th in a row for the second time this season, with a 5-1 win over the
slumping Red Dawgs (4-11). The three-time defending champion Powers, who
started 0-2, won had won five in a row to run their record to 5-2. A three game
losing streak set them back to 5-5. Now another five game winning streak has
them at 10-5. The Powers need just one win in their last three games to improve
on last season's mark of 10-8. With wins in each of their last three, they can
tie the HBWRL record for consecutive regular season wins (eight). The win also
clinched a record fifth consecutive playoff berth for the Powers. Finally, the
win furthered the Powers' "dynasty" by ensuring that the team will have the most
wins of any team during any five year span (at least 55). Joe Jackson (two RBI)
and Harmon Killebrew (two runs scored) keyed the Powers' offensive attack.
The Dawgs, who lost for the 10th time in 12 games, managed just three singles,
with Luke Appling getting a pair of them. Carl Yastrzemski got the only other
Dawgs it. The Dawgs had no shortage of base runners, however, as they benefited
from six walks by Powers pitching. Indeed, it was a walk to Joe DiMaggio that
led to Yastrzemki's RBI single in the 2nd, which gave the Dawgs a 1-0 lead
through six innings. But the Powers scored four in the 7th, to chase Lefty
Grove, and added one in the 8th for the final score.
The Reps now need a win in their upcoming game to maintain 1st place. In that
case, the Reps would also clinch a playoff berth. A Chips win would put the
Powers in sole possession of 1st place and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Winning pitcher: Hubbell
Losing pitcher: Grove
Stolen base: Honus Wagner
Powers Win 4th Straight
Tue, 13 Apr 1999
Powers 4, Chips 3:
The Powers (9-5) won another close one, earning their 2nd four game winning
streak of the season and taking them to the brink of clinching a World Series
berth for a record 5th consecutive season. The league leading Reps hold the
tiebreaker over the Powers, but can still be caught by the Chips (6-8). A win
by the Reps over the Chips would eliminate the Chips and ensure another
Reps/Powers World Series.
While the Chips have lost five times to the Powers this season, they fought
hardest for this game. Trailing 3-2 with two out and a man at 2nd in the bottom
of the 8th, the Chips' Stan Musial single to tie the game at 3-3. But when
Chips starter Jack Chesbro walked a hitter to start the 9th, the Chips went to
Robin Roberts. Roberts issued a walk and two singles before settling down to
retire the side. The run he allowed to score was inherited, and thus charged to
Chesbro. It was also the decisive run.
With two out and nobody on in the top of the 9th, Chips rookie Travis Jackson
shocked the crowed with a long fly to deep left that appeared to tie the game.
But it hit the very top of the wall, and Jackson was held to a double. Ty Cobb
grounded out on the next pitch to end it. The Powers win also eliminates the
Red Dawgs from the playoffs.
