Mon, 2 Aug 1999
Red Dawgs 7, Titans 0: Whitey Ford pitched a near shutout and Albert (A) Belle
hit two doubles as the Myers Red Dawgs (4-6) created a log jam (five teams
separated by one game) by defeating the Tri-City Titans (4-6). Hank Greenberg
(3-5, run scored) and Ernie Banks (4-4, run, RBI, double) also led the Dawgs'
attack. The Dawgs broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the 7th, lighting up
Tom Seaver for five runs. George Sisler's error didn't help matters, but most
of Seaver's runs were earned and it really didn't affect the outcome. Things
are tight as ever for the 2nd and final playoff spot as we enter the all-star
break. By tiebreaker, the Dawgs move up to 4th place, while the Chips take 3rd.
The Titans (tied for 2nd with a win in this game) are in last place, but only a
game out of 2nd.
Winning pitcher: Ford
Losing pitcher: Seaver
Doubles: Belle 2, Banks, Roberto Clemente
Error: Sisler
Upcoming game: All-Star game (watch for stats and ballot): Stars from Powers,
Reps, and Chips (HBWRL) vs. Stars from Red Dawgs, Upper-Deckers, and Titans
(Expansion)
!
Fri, 30 Jul 1999
Chips 7, Upper-Deckers 6 (12): The Silicon Valley Chips (4-6) overcame a 4-0
deficit and back-to-back one run losses with a dramatic 7-6 win over the
Burke-Upper Deckers (4-6). Burke has lost five in a row; blowing leads of at
least four runs in its last two games. The game was marred by controversy.
With Burke leading 4-0 in the bottom of the 2nd, Ty Cobb walked with the bases
loaded and one out, forcing in Joe DiMaggio. But the run was not put on the
scoreboard. After much deliberation, the Commissioner corrected this
"oversight" in the fourth inning, making it 4-1. Burke threatened to file a
protest in the event that they should lose. Stan Musial's RBI single then made
it 4-2 Burke after four.
Johnny Bench's 5th inning RBI single made it 5-2, but the Chips answered with
two more in the bottom of the inning, and it was 5-4 after five. It was still
5-4 at the 7th inning stretch, and the Chips seemed destined for a 3rd straight
one run loss. But Musial's second RBI single of the game tied it at 5-5. It
was still 5-5 when the game went to extra innings.
The Chips loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th with one out, but Burke
reliever Luis Tiant got George Brett to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Then in the 11th, Mickey Mantle turned the momentum back to the Upper-Deckers,
with a two out single to score Paul Molitor. Burke led 6-5, and Tiant, who had
already blown a save, stood to win the game. But Chips C Gabby Hartnett (6-7,
2B, HR) drove Tiant's first pitch of the bottom of the 11th off the right field
foul pole for a game tying homerun. Tiant surived the balance of the inning,
and it was 6-6 after 11. Dennis Eckersley replaced Tiant in the bottom of the
12th and the Chips again loaded the bases. Cobb's single to center with one out
ended the game, and created a possibility of four teams being 4-6 at the
All-Star break.
Ken Griffey, Jr. hit a league leading third homerun for Burke. Six of the
league's last eight games have been decided by one run. Two in a row have been
decided on the last pitch.
1 out when winning run scored
Game Winning RBI: Cobb
Winning pitcher: Wilbur Cooper
Losing pitcher: Eckersley
Homeruns: Griffey, Hartnett, Jim Rice
Doubles: Hartnett, Travis Jackson
Stolen base: Molitor
Caught stealing: Molitor, Hartnett, Arky Vaughan, Frank Robinson
Errors: T. Jackson, Rod Carew
Upcoming game (2nd mini-season finale): Tri-City Titans (4-5, Tom Seaver) at
Myers Red Dawgs (3-6, Whitey Ford)
!
Thu, 29 Jul 1999
Powers 5, Reps 4: Despite allowing a season high four runs, the Karas Powers
(9-1) tied records by winning their 8th straight regular season game and their
4th straight by one run, rallying from 2-0 and 3-1 down to defeat the
Minneapolis Reps (5-5). The Reps had been riding a four game winning streak of
their own. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 8th, Kiki Cuyler's
bases loaded single scored Mike Schmidt to make it 4-3 Powers, their first lead
of the game. But the euphoria at Wrigley was short-lived, as the "light
hitting" Edd Roush hit a solo homer off of Powers reliever Harry Brecheen
(making his HBWRL debut) to lead off the 9th and make it 4-4. With two out in
the bottom of the 9th, it was still 4-4, but Reps reliever Robin Roberts walked
Mark McGwire, then Schmidt doubled. Roberts ran the count to 3-0 on Yogi Berra,
then "gave in" with Rogers Hornsby on deck. Berra's grounder was just out of
reach for the diving Eddie Collins, as McGwire scored and the Powers took a
dramatic 5-4 win.
Asked to comment, Berra said, "Well I knew Eddie would be leaning to his right,
and that's my left, which I'm right about the other half of the time!". The
Powers are the first team ever to start 9-1. The Season 6 Reps started 8-0, and
the Season 1 Chips started 10-2. Five of the league's last seven games have
been decided by one run.
Two out when winning run scored
Game winning RBI: Berra
Upcoming game: Burke Upper-Deckers (4-5, Jim Palmer) at Silicon Valley Chips
(3-6, Sandy Koufax)
Dawgs Outslug Deckers!
Wed, 28 Jul 1999
Red Dawgs 14, Upper-Deckers 10: Snapping a six game losing streak, the Myers
Red Dawgs (3-6) scored an HBWRL season high 14 runs, and needed nearly every one
of them, to outslug the slumping Burke Upper-Deckers (4-5), 14-10. Burke has
now lost four in a row. The Dawgs overcame an early 5-0 deficit with 10
unanswered runs, capped by Nap Lajoie (4-6, 3 RBI) and Wade Boggs (3-5, 4 RBI).
Boggs and Burke's Ken Griffey, Jr. each missed "hitting for the cycle" by a
triple. The Upper-Deckers rallied for two in the 6th and one in the 7th to cut
the margin to 10-8. But Mickey Mantle's error opened the door for four
additional unearned runs, and the Dawgs led 14-8 going to the bottom of the 9th.
Carl (BeanBall!) Mays, ineffective (along with every other pitcher) throughout
the game, allowed two runs but was creditied with the save as the Dawgs hung on
to win, 14-10.
The game ties several others as the highest scoring in HBWRL history (two teams
combined). Two teams have combined for 24 runs on at least three other
occasions; 25 runs have never been scored in a game. This concludes Week 9;
Week 10 features a battle between the league's top two teams, as the Powers try
to tie the Reps' record by winning eight consecutive regular season games,
against the defending champion Reps, who have themselves won four in a row.
Winning pitcher: Chief Bender
Losing pitcher: Nolan Ryan
Save: C. Mays
Homeruns: Boggs, Griffey
Doubles: Griffey 2, Frank Robinson 2, Boggs, Albert Belle, Willie McCovey
Errors: F. Robinson, Mickey Mantle
STANDINGS (W-L, PCT., GB): (1) Karas Powers (8-1, .889, --); (2) Minneapolis
Reps (5-4, .556, 3); (3) Tri-City Titans (4-5, .444, 4); (4) Burke Upper-Deckers
(4-5, .444, 4); (5) Silicon Valley Chips (3-6, .333, 5); (6) Myers Red Dawgs
(3-6, .333, 5).
WEEK 10 GAMES Minneapolis Reps (5-4, Ed Walsh) at Karas Powers (8-1, Stan Coveleski)
Burke Upper-Deckers (4-5, Jim Palmer) at Silicon Valley Chips (3-6, Sandy
Koufax)
Tri-City Titans (4-5, Tom Seaver) at Myers Red Dawgs (3-6, Whitey Ford)
!
Tue, 27 Jul 1999
Powers 1, Titans 0: The Karas Powers (8-1) won their 7th straight and clinched
their best start ever, with their 3rd straight one run victory. They beat the
Tri-City Titans (4-5), 1-0. The Powers have now allowed eight runs in nine
games, with "fifth" starter Urban Shocker allowing one run in 17.1 innings.
Shocker outdueled Lefty Gomez for the victory today. The Powers broke a
scoreless tie in the bottom of the 7th when Tris Speaker stole second base with
one out and Mike Schmidt facing a 2-1 count. The pitch was a ball, and Schmidt
drove in Speaker on the ensuing 3-1 pitch. The Titans threatened with one out
in the top of the 9th, when Harry Heilmann doubled, just over the head of
Speaker. Roberto Clemente's ground out moved Heilmann to third, then Bob Lemon
relieved Shocker. Lemon faced Al Simmons with the Titans down to their last out
and the tying run 90 feet away. After a long battle, Lemon struck out Simmons
to end the game. Four of the league's last five games have been decided by one
run.
Upcoming game: Myers Red Dawgs (2-6, Chief Bender) at Burke Upper-Deckers (4-5,
Nolan Ryan)
!
Mon, 26 Jul 1999
Reps 3, Chips 2: The Minneapolis Reps (5-4) won their 4th straight, and 2nd
straight by one run, as the Silicon Valley Chips (3-6) lost their 2nd straight
by one run, 3-2. Richie Allen's three run homer gave the Reps an early 3-0
lead, then Minneapolis had to hold off a Chips rally. The Chips, who threatned
in nearly every inning, outhit the Reps 16-7. But Reps starter Rube Waddell and
reliever Robin Roberts held them to just two runs, with Roberts getting George
Brett to fly out with the tying run at third base in the bottom of the 9th.
Meanwhile, Chips starter Jack Chesbro set a record for fewest hits allowed in a
complete game loss (7). Three of the league's last four games have now been
decided by one run.
Winning pitcher: Waddell
Losing pitcher: Chesbro
Save: Roberts
Homerun: Allen
Doubles: Lefty O'Doul, Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett
Upcoming game: Tri-City Titans (4-4, Lefty Gomez) at Karas Powers (7-1, Urban
Shocker)
!
Sun, 25 Jul 1999
Titans 9, Upper-Deckers 5: The Tri-City Titans (4-4) gave first time
HBWRL starter Ron Guidry a rude welcome, touching him up for seven first
inning runs, en route to a 9-5 win over the Burke Upper-Deckers (4-4).
It was the third straight loss for Burke. While Guidry "settled down"
to allow only two runs in the next six innings, the Titans offense was
simply too much. Each Titan had a hit, with Charlie Gehringer (3-5, 1
R, 2 RBI) leading the way. Burke got the only longball of the day, a
solo homer by Mickey Mantle. Responding to that, Titans pitcher Grover
Cleveland "Pete" Alexander said, "It's okay for one drunk to homer off
another." We'll drink to that.
Winning pitcher: Alexander
Losing pitcher: Guidry
Homerun: Mantle
Double: Griffey, Jr.
!
Sun, 25 Jul 1999
Powers 2, Chips 1: The Karas Powers (7-1) won their 6th straight by
scoring to early runs and then holding off the Silicon Valley Chips
(3-5), 2-1. The Powers have now allowed eight runs in eight games.
With the Powers leading 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th, Lefty O'Doul (3-4,
RBI) led off with a single. The slow running O'Doul then stole second,
putting him in scoring position for team RBI leader and MVP candidate
Stan Musial. Powers starter Carl Hubbell battled back from 2-0 down in
the count to strike out Musial. Then he got Jimmie Foxx to ground out,
as O'Doul moved to third. That put the tying run 90 feet away for Joe
DiMaggio. DiMaggio's line drive was snared by a leaping Rogers Hornsby
in the decisive play of the game. The game marks the Powers 2nd
straight one run win, with Hornsby playing a decisive role in both
games.
Winning pitcher: Hubbell
Losing pitcher: Juan Marichal
Save: Dazzy Vance
Stolen base: O'Doul
Error: Chuck Klein
WEEK 8 RECAP Reps 4, Red Dawgs 3
Titans 9, Upper-Deckers 5
Powers 2, Chips 1
STANDINGS (W-L, GB): (1) Karas Powers (7-1,.875,+15, --); (2)
Minneapolis Reps (4-4,.500,+8,3); (3) Tri-City Titans (4-4,.500,-8,3); (4) Burke
Upper-Deckers (4-4,
.500,-8,3); (5) Silicon Valley Chips (3-5,.375,+4,4); (6) Myers Red Dawgs
(2-6,.250,-11,5).
WEEK 9 GAMES Silicon Valley Chips (3-5, Jack Chesbro) at Minneapolis Reps (4-4, Rube
Waddell)
Tri-City Titans (4-4, Lefty Gomez) at Karas Powers (7-1, Urban Shocker)
Myers Red Dawgs (2-6, Chief Bender) at Burke Upper-Deckers (4-4, Nolan
Ryan)
!
Fri, 23 Jul 1999
Reps 4, Red Dawgs 3:
The Minneapolis Reps (4-4) held withstood a late rally by
the Myers Red Dawgs (2-6), watching a 4-0 lead evaporate and the tying run get
to 90 feet from home, but hung on to win, 4-3. It was the 3rd straight win for
the Reps and the 6th straight loss for the slumping Red Dawgs. It also creates
a possibility of four teams being 4-4 through eight weeks (what parity!) if the
Titans and Chips can win their upcoming games. The Reps led 4-0 with the bases
loaded and one out in the bottom of the 7th. Ernie Banks' (Mr. Chicago Cub!)
sac fly made it 4-1. Then Edd Roush dropped a fly ball, allowing two unearned
runs to score, and putting Nap Lajoie at third base, and it was 4-3! But I am
overdoing the exclamation points. Rube Marquard effectively stopped the rally
and the Reps hung on for the win.
Winning pitcher: Mordecai Brown
Losing pitcher: Eddie Cicotte
Save: Marquard
Error: Roush
Upcoming game: Burke Upper-Deckers (4-3, Ron Guidry) at Tri-City Titans (3-4,
Pete Alexander)
!
Tue, 20 Jul 1999
Chips 8, Titans 0:
The Silicon Valley Chips (3-4) avenged a 1st mini-season
loss with the biggest blowout in any game this season, an 8-0 thrashing of the
Tri-City Titans (3-4). The win vaults the Chips into 3rd place (by tiebreaker),
as three teams are 3-4. The Chips, who slugged a pathetic .278 in the first
mini-season, have outscored opponents 14-0 in their last two games. Meanwhile,
the Titans, who led the league in ERA through one mini-season, have been lit up
for 19 runs in their last two games. Christy Mathewson pitched seven shutout
innings to record the win, but the stars of the game were Jimmie Foxx and Stan
Musial. Foxx broke out of a slump with a grand slam, and Musial added a three
run homer (8 RBI in last two games for the two-time RBI champ) as the Chips
played longball on Titans starter Bob Gibson. Perhaps trying to salvage
something out of the result, Gibson yelled at Musial (as he circled the bases),
"yeah, but do you know the derivation of (1/(1-r))"?
This concludes a week in which three "incumbent" teams (Powers, Reps, Chips)
won, while the other three lost. It was also announced that this year's
all-star game will be split in the same way. It will be the incumbents against
expansion teams, with the former team comprising stars from the Powers, Reps,
and Chips; the latter representing the Red Dawgs, Upper-Deckers, and Titans.
WEEK 8 GAMES Minneapolis Reps (3-4, Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown) at Myers Red Dawgs (2-5,
Eddie Cicotte)
Burke Upper-Deckers (4-3, Ron Guidry) at Tri-City Titans (3-4, Grover Cleveland
"Pete" Alexander)
Karas Powers (6-1, Carl Hubbell) at Silicon Valley Chips (3-4, Juan Marichal)
!
Mon, 19 Jul 1999
Powers 1, Red Dawgs 0: The Karas Powers (6-1) avenged their only loss of the
season with a 1-0 win over the Myers Red Dawgs (2-5), who dropped their 5th
straight. Both games between these teams have been decided by one run, with the
Dawgs winning the first meeting, 3-2. Rogers Hornsby's bases loaded walk off
Hippo Vaughn provided the only run in this pitcher's duel. While the teams
combined for 27 hits (Powers 14, Red Dawgs 13), they were all singles. Hack
Wilson and Willie McCovey each had three hits for the Dawgs, while Chuck Klein
scored the game's only run.
Upcoming game: Tri-City Titans (3-3, Bob Gibson) at Silicon Valley Chips (2-4,
Christy Mathewson)
!
Fri, 16 Jul 1999
Reps 9, Upper-Deckers 2: The defending champion Minneapolis Reps (3-4)
continued to terrorize opposing pitchers, having now mounted 20 runs in their
last 18 innings, with a 9-2 rout of the Burke Upper-Deckers (4-3). The Reps
scored nine unanswered runs, after Burke had scored two off of Reps starter
Eddie Plank in the top of the 1st. The Reps also posted a season-high 23 hits.
Eddie Collins and Joe Sewell combined for eight hits; as many as the Burke team
had. Collins scored four runs and Babe Ruth drove in three, as Burke starter Cy
Young fell to 0-2 on the year. The result tightens the pennant race even
further, as there is now a possibility of four teams being 3-4 after seven
weeks. Our next game features the first place Powers against the only team that
has beaten them.
Winning pitcher: Plank
Losing pitcher: Young
Homerun: Johnny Mize
Double: Ruth
Upcoming game: Karas Powers (5-1, Addie Joss) at Myers Red Dawgs (2-4, Hippo
Vaughn)
!
Thu, 15 Jul 1999
Chips 6, Red Dawgs 0: Steve Carlton was masterful for 8.2 innings as the
Silicon Valley Chips (2-4) avenged an opening day defeat with a 6-0 win over the
Myers Red Dawgs (2-4). It was the Dawgs' fourth straight loss, and the third
straight win for road teams. Home teams won seven consecutive games during an
earlier stretch this season. Stan Musial's grand slam capped a five run 5th
inning to lead the Chips victory. Three teams are now tied at 2-4, but the
Chips' win valuted them into 4th place (by tiebreaker). The Red Dawgs, in four
"weeks," have fallen from first to last place.
Winning pitcher: Carlton
Losing pitcher: Joe McGinnity
Homerun: Musial
Double: Travis Jackson
Errors: Hack Wilson, Nap Lajoie
WEEK 7 GAMES
Burke Upper-Deckers (4-2, Cy Young) at Minneapolis Reps (2-4, Eddie Plank)
Karas Powers (5-1, Addie Joss) at Myers Red Dawgs (2-4, Hippo Vaughn)
Tri-City Titans (3-3, Bob Gibson) at Silicon Valley Chips (2-4, Christy
Mathewson)
Reulbach Dominant as Powers Win Again!
Thu, 15 Jul 1999
Powers 3, Upper-Deckers 1:
The league's all-time winningest pitcher notched
number 33 today, as the Karas Powers (5-1) took sole possession of 1st place
with a 3-1 win over the Burke Upper-Deckers (4-2). Reulbach, who had a 1-hitter
through three innings and 2-hitter through six, nearly had a shutout. But Tris
Speaker's three base error allowed Burke to score an unearned run, and make the
game closer than perhaps it should have been. For most of the game, the Powers
had more runs than Burke had hits. For Burke, starter Walter Johnson allowed
three runs in the first three innings--as the Powers loaded the bases each time,
but then he settled down. The Powers managed no runs on four hits in the final
six innings, and Johnson was effectively relieved by Roger Clemens. The Powers
effectively have almost a two game lead now; having won two games head-to-head
(with two remaining) against the league's second place team.
Winning pitcher: Reulbach
Losing pitcher: Johnson
Double: Ken Griffey, Jr.
Stolen base: Honus Wagner
Error: Speaker
Upcoming game: Silicon Valley Chips (1-4, Steve Carlton) at Myers Red Dawgs
(2-3, Joe McGinnity)
Reps Break Double-Digit Barrier!
Tue, 13 Jul 1999
Reps 11, Titans 6:
Greg Maddux was roughed up for five runs in five innings in his HBWRL debut, but
it was enough to get the win, as his Minneapolis Reps (2-4) became the first
team to score double digit runs in a game this season, outslugging the Tri-City
Titans (3-3), 11-6. The Reps victory avenged a 3-2 opening day defeat at the
hands of the Titans. Fans of the first mini-season's spectacular pitching would
not have enjoyed this game, in which every batter got a hit except the Titans'
Roberto Clemente (though he did score a run). In addition, Maddux and Titans
starter Warren Spahn each walked runs in with the bases loaded.
The Titans scored three in the 3rd to lead, 3-1, after Ted Williams' solo homer
had given the Reps the early edge. But the Reps, who had scored no more than
five runs in each of their first five games, came up with five in the 4th to
take a 6-3 lead. Charlie Gehringer's RBI double keyed a two run 5th for the
Titans, however, and it was 6-5 Reps through five. The tension mounted as it
was still 6-5 Reps through seven. But Early Wynn provided no relief for Spahn,
as the Reps touched him up for five more runs and an 11-5 lead through 8.5.
Harry Heilmann's sac fly in the bottom of the 9th provided the Titans' only run
off Reps reliever Rube Marquard, and set the final margin at 11-6.
The upcoming game is the most significant of the season thus far. The league's
top two teams go head to head, as the league's winningest starting pitcher (Ed
Reulbach) and the one with the most ERA titles (Walter Johnson) battle for sole
possession of 1st place.
