Wed, 6 Oct 1999
Game 4: Powers 2, Chips 1:
Former Chip Stan Coveleski pitched 7.2 solid innings and rookie Mark McGwire
provided a timely homer as the Karas Powers won their 3rd championship in four
years, with a 2-1 win over the Silicon Valley Chips. The Chips' season ended
with five straight losses, following eight straight wins. The Powers' season
ended with four straight wins, and started with wins in nine of 10 games. In
the other 10 games, they went 4-6. Clearly both of these teams are capable of
major hot and cold streaks, and this year, the timing was right for the Powers.
With the Powers already leading 1-0, (on a run set up by a double-steal by Honus
Wagner and Joe Jackson), Mark McGwire's solo homer appeared to "seal the deal,"
and it was 2-0 after seven innings. Stan Musial hit a solo homer to lead off
the 8th for the Chips, but Harry Brecheen replaced Coveleski and shut down the
Powers in the 9th.
Thanks for playing and following all the games this season. After a one week
hiatus (which Karas pronounces, Koronation (sic)), preparations for the Season
13 Draft will begin. If anyone has questions/comments/suggestions regarding
Season 13, now is the time to send them. Thanks again to everyone. See you
next "year."
Homeruns: McGwire, Musial
Double: George Brett
Stolen bases: Ty Cobb 3, Wagner 2, Jackson
Error: Wagner
SEASON 12 WORLD SERIES RECAP Powers win series, 4-0
Game 1: Powers 13, Chips 7
Game 2: Powers 2, Chips 1
Game 3: Powers 6, Chips 0
Game 4: Powers 2, Chips 1
*END SEASON 12*
KARAS POWERS
HBWRL SEASON 12
WORLD CHAMPIONS
World Series result
Tue, 5 Oct 1999
Game 3: Powers 6, Chips 0: Carl Hubbell pitched a six-hit shutout and Chuck
Klein drove in three runs in the game's first three innings as the Karas Powers
took the Silicon Valley Chips to the brink of elimination with a convincing 6-0
win. The Chips have now lost four in a row, after winning eight in a row.
Before that, the erratic team had lost seven of their last 11 games. Honus
Wagner tied a postseason record with three stolen bases, and twice scored on
hits by Klein. Chips starter Christy Mathewson was roughed up for six runs in
six innings before being replaced by Rich "Goose" Gossage. Mathewson and
Hubbell are longtime rivals from several Reps/Powers World Series. Only once in
11 seasons has a team come from 3-0 down to win the World Series, and it was the
Stickpins/Powers franchise that blew the 3-0 lead. But that team, the Season 2
Reps, won the regular season by three games. No team has ever come from 3-0
down to win the series while playing on the road. That is the task that faces
the Chips. Longtime Chip Stan Coveleski will try to eliminate them.
THE SERIES SO FAR Powers lead series, 3-0
Game 1: Powers 13, Chips 7
Game 2: Powers 2, Chips 1
Game 3: Powers 6, Chips 0
Upcoming game: Season 12 World Series, Game 4 (elimination game for Chips):
Silicon Valley Chips (12-11, Sandy Koufax [2-0, 2.70]) at Karas Powers (16-7,
Stan Coveleski [2-1, 1.67])
World Series result
Mon, 4 Oct 1999
Game 2: Powers 2, Chips 1: Ed Reulbach outdueled Steve Carlton and Hoyt
Wilhelm pitched a scoreless 9th inning as the Karas Powers took a commanding 2-0
lead in the best-of-seven series with the Silicon Valley Chips. The batters,
perhaps suffering fatigue, combined for only three runs in this playoff-style
game, a sharp contrast from the 20 run outburst in the Game 1 abberation.
Carlton pitched brilliantly for the Chips in that he allowed only four hits.
But two of them went for extra bases, and those were the two that scored. Kiki
Cuyler homered to break a scoreless tie in the 6th, and Tris Speaker's double
set up an RBI single by Mark McGwire to make it 2-0 in the 7th. Reulbach
escaped a bases loaded, none out jam in the 8th by allowing just one run--a
single to Lefty O'Doul. Wilhelm pitched the 9th and the Chips had two on and
nobody out. But Gabby Harnett hit a comebacker to the pitcher, then Travis
Jackson hit into a game ending double play.
Hits: Chips 10, Powers 4
Winning pitcher: Reulbach
Losing pitcher: Carlton
Save: Wilhelm
Homerun: Cuyler
Doubles: Speaker, Ty Cobb
Caught stealing: Cobb
Powers lead series, 2-0
Upcoming game: Season 12 World Series, Game 3:
Silicon Valley Chips (12-10, Christy Mathewson [2-1, 4.00]) at Karas Powers
(15-7, Carl Hubbell [3-1, 1.69])
World Series Result
Fri, 1 Oct 1999
Game 1: Powers 13, Chips 7:
Rogers Hornsby's grand slam keyed a six run first inning as the two best
pitching teams obliterated each other's pitching staffs, and the Powers coasted
to a 13-7 win. Ty Cobb went 5-5 with a run scored, and Lefty O'Doul went 3-5
with two doubles for the Chips, but it was not nearly enough offense. Six of
the Powers' nine batters had multiple hits, led by Hornsby and Mark McGwire, who
went 5-5, including a two run single. Trailing 11-3 in the 8th, the Chips
torched Powers reliever Bob Lemon for four runs, after starter Addie Joss had
done a decent job. That made it 11-7, the closest the game had been since the
first inning. But McGwire's two run single restored the Powers' six run lead,
and Lemon retired the Chips easily in the 9th. This was a breakthrough game for
the Powers' offense, which produced only 64 runs in 20 regular season games, but
both teams have to be concerned about the thing that got them this
far--pitching--as they head to Game 2.
Hits: Powers 20, Chips 19
Winning pitcher: Joss
Losing pitcher: Juan Marichal
Homeruns: Hornsby, Joe DiMaggio
Doubles: O'Doul 2, Jimmie Foxx, Yogi Berra
Stolen base: Cobb
Error: Travis Jackson
Powers lead series, 1-0
Upcoming game: Season 12 World Series, Game 2:
Silicon Valley Chips (12-9, Steve Carlton [3-0, 1.47]) at Karas Powers (14-7, Ed
Reulbach [2-1, 3.19])
Burke Decks Chips; Powers Win Regular Season Title
Sun, 26 Sep 1999
Upper-Deckers 4, Chips 3:
In an exciting game worthy of a regular season finale, the Burke Upper-Deckers
(11-9) became the first expansion team ever to earn a winning record, rallying
from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Silicon Valley Chips (12-8), 4-3. The win
snapped the Chips' eight game winning streak, which had tied a record. It also
cost the Chips the regular season title, as a Chips win would have tied them
with the Powers, with the Chips holding tiebreaker advantage. The Powers repeat
as regular season champions and will have home field advantage during the World
Series.
The Chips scored all three of their runs in the 3rd inning, while their starting
pitcher, Christy Mathewson, allowed just one run through six innings. But with
the Chips leading 3-1 in the top of the 7th, Mathewson left with the bases
loaded and none out. Reliever Wilbur Cooper allowed just an RBI sac fly, and it
was 3-2 Chips at the 7th inning stretch. Ken Griffey, Jr.'s RBI single, also
off of Cooper, made it 3-2 Chips; then Mickey Mantle's sac fly tied the game at
3-3. The Chips went to the bullpen again--to Wes Ferrell--in the 9th. Frank
Thomas' RBI single scored Arky Vaughan and completed a four run rally as Burke
took a 4-3 lead. Then despite a leadoff double by Ty Cobb, Roger Clemens shut
down the Chips in the bottom of the 9th, to end the game and the regular season.
The season ended as it started--with three consecutive games decided by one run
or in extra innings. The Chips also blew a 3-0 lead in their season opener, a
6-3 loss to the Red Dawgs in 13 innings. The season also ends with three
teams--the two that played this game and the defending champion Reps--separated
by one game for the final playoff spot, the closest finish (among three teams)
ever.
Also, Cobb's ninth inning double was not wasted. He entered the at-bat trailing
Burke's Jackie Robinson by one hit--and one at-bat--in the batting race. Cobb's
double created a the first tie ever for that distinction, as both Cobb and
Robinson went 41-92 (.446) for the season. Cobb was 3-5 on the day; Robinson
went 2-4. Other contenders for the batting title were Griffey (.407), the Reps'
Joe Sewell (.412), and the Powers' Mike Schmidt (.418). And more good news for
Burke--Griffey, who led the league in slugging (.605), doubles (7), and tied for
the lead in homeruns (3)--he was named MVP, the first rookie ever to win that
honor. Other contenders included the Powers' Rogers Hornsby and Urban Shocker,
also a rookie.
We hoped you have enjoyed "listening" to the games and much as we enjoyed
playing them. Thanks for a great regular season and good luck to the Powers and
Chips in the Season 12 World Series.
Winning pitcher: Clemens (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Ferrell (0-1)
Doubles: Gabby Hartnett, Paul Molitor, J. Robinson, Cobb
Stolen bases: Molitor, Cobb
Caught stealing: Molitor, Cobb, Jimmie Foxx
Fri, 24 Sep 1999
Red Dawgs 6, Titans 5:
In a game played heroically by both teams, the Myers Red Dawgs (9-11) finished
the season five games better than last year with a dramatic 6-5 win over the
Tri-City Titans (4-16). It was a record 12th straight loss for the Titans, but
it nearly wasn't so. The Dawgs led 5-3 after eight innings, and Carl
("Beanball!") Mays replaced starter Whitey Ford. Mays allowed the Titans to tie
the game before even recording an out. But with the bases loaded and none out
in the top of the 9th, Mays struck out Harry Heilmann and got Roberto Clemente
to hit into a double play, ending the inning.
The bottom of the 9th was just exciting. Facing reliever Jim Kaat with two on
and two out, Wade Boggs singled to set up a storybook scenario. Mickey Cochrane
batted for the Dawgs with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the 9th
in a tie game. His soft lob sailed gently over the glove of the leaping Joe
Cronin, ending the game and the season for both teams.
The Fenway faithful sang "Thanks for the Memories" until someone told them it
was just a saying, not a song.
The regular season championship will be decided in our next game. The Chips win
the title with a win; otherwise the Powers will repeat as regular season
champions. Because the home team has won both times these teams have met in
previous World Series, it is an important game. But aren't they all...
Two out when winning run scored
Game Winning RBI: Cochrane
Hits: Red Dawgs 18, Titans 13
Winning pitcher: C. Mays (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Kaat (0-3)
Homeruns: Hack Wilson, George Sisler
Double: Willie McCovey
Error: Clemente
Upcoming game (regular season finale):
Burke Upper-Deckers (10-9, Don Sutton) at Silicon Valley Chips (12-7, Christy
Mathewson)
Reps Edge Powers; Shocker Wins ERA Title
Thu, 23 Sep 1999 Reps 3, Powers 2:
In the regular season finale for both teams, the Karas Powers (13-7) missed a
chance to clinch the regular season title, and one to be the first team in HBWRL
history to win 14 games in a season, as the defending champion Minneapolis Reps
(11-9) got an early 3-0 lead and hung on to win, 3-2. Powers starter Urban
Shocker allowed two runs in seven innings. On the season, he allowed just four
runs in four starts. Despite being the losing pitcher today, he clinched the
ERA title, the first time since Season 1 that a rookie has won that honor.
Shocker finishes the season with an ERA of 1.13. The Chips' Steve Carlton is
2nd at 1.47. The result opens the door for the Chips, who trailed by five games
at the All-Star Break, to win the regular season title. That will happen if the
Chips beat the Upper-Deckers. The Powers win the regular season title with a
Chips loss.
The Powers nearly won the regular season title in this game. Trailing 3-0 with
one out in the bottom of the 8th, Yogi Berra's bases loaded single off of Robin
Roberts made it 3-1. That run was charged to Reps starter and former Power
Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown. Rogers Hornsby then hit a sac fly to make it
3-2. But Roberts retired Kiki Cuyler to end the inning. In the bottom of the
9th with Tris Speaker battting and representing the winning run, Roberts
initiated a 1-3 double play to end the game and record the save.
The Reps and Powers have jointly accounted for nine of the previous 11 HBWRL
championships. They both played like champions today, in a game with playoff
atmosphere. But with the Reps unable to defend their crown in the World Series
and the Powers going 4-6 after the All-Star Break, could this be the dawn of a
new era? That's why they play the games...
Hits: Reps 17, Powers 12
Winning pitcher: Brown (2-2)
Losing pitcher: Shocker (3-1)
Save: Roberts (2)
Stolen base: Speaker
Caught stealing: Eddie Collins