1934 Cardinals vs. 1948 Indians Game 3

Looking to get his team back on track, Lou Boudreau called on 20-game winner Bob Lemon to start Game 3. Frankie Frisch gave the ball to his effective southpaw Bill Walker (12-4, 3.12 ERA).

Cleveland jumped out to an early lead when Joe Gordon lined a double into the left-center field gap to drive in two in the bottom of the first. Two innings later, Ken Keltner belted a solo homer to increase the home team's lead to three. In the top of the fourth, back-to-back-to-back hits from Ripper Collins, Joe Medwick, and Bill DeLancey plated two runs for the Redbirds. Following a groundout and a dropped foul pop by Indians catcher Joe Tipton, Jack Rothrock sliced a double down the left field line to drive in the tying run.

The game remained knotted at three into the eighth inning. In the top of that frame, singles by Frisch and Medwick and a double from DeLancey gave St. Louis the lead. Satchel Paige came on to relieve Lemon, but Orsatti greeted him with a double that scored two more for the Cards. Cleveland narrowed the deficit in the bottom of the eighth when Eddie Robinson singled to drive in Keltner. But Medwick tagged Paige for a two-run homer to right in the top of the ninth to increase the Redbird lead to four. Jesse "Pop" Haines retired the Indians in order in the ninth to close out the victory.

The series returns to Municipal Stadium for Game 4 with the Cardinals up three games to none.

St. Louis 8, Cleveland 4

1934 Cardinals vs. 1948 Indians Game 2

The second game of the championship series featured a matchup of star rookie pitchers: Gene Bearden (20-7, 2.43 ERA) vs. Paul Dean (19-11, 3.43 ERA). Both young hurlers were up to the challenge.

In the top of the third, Cleveland catcher Jim Hegan led off with a double and advanced to third on Bearden's sacrifice bunt. But Dale Mitchell lined into a double play to end the threat. In the bottom of the fifth, St. Louis loaded the bases with two outs but could not score. An inning later, singles by Medwick and Rothrock put Cardinals at the corners with just one out. Cleveland pulled the infield in, a move that proved wise after Eddie Robinson fielded an Orsatti grounder and gunned down Medwick at the plate. Bearden looked like he would escape the frame unscathed, but Spud Davis followed with a two-out double to drive in two runs for the home team. That was all Dean needed as he allowed only two hits in a masterful complete-game shutout.

After the game, Dizzy Dean (who gave up only one run in winning Game 1) told his brother Paul, "If I'd have known you was gonna throw a shutout, I'd have thrown one too!" The series moves to Cleveland for Game 3 with the Cardinals up two games to none.

St. Louis 2, Cleveland 0

1934 Cardinals vs. 1948 Indians Game 1

As the higher seed, the 1934 Cardinals will host the first two games of the best-of-seven championship series at Sportsman's Park. The next three games (if Game 5 is necessary) will be played in Cleveland and the final two games, if needed, will be in St. Louis again. The opening game featured a matchup of Hall of Fame fireballers, Dizzy Dean vs. Bob Feller.

The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead when Ripper Collins doubled with two outs in the bottom of the first. Catcher Bill Delancey then launched a drive that just cleared the right field screen to put St. Louis up 2-0. Feller settled down after that and did not allow another run through his five innings. Cleveland reliever Bob Muncrief followed with three scoreless frames to keep the game close.

Dean continued his mound dominance, taking a no-hitter into the seventh when Lou Boudreau beat out an infield single. Ol' Diz did not allow a run through eight innings, marking 22 scoreless frames thus far in the tournament. In the top of the ninth, Wally Judnich (pinch hitting for Jim Hegan) led off with a double. Hank Edwards (pinch hitting for Muncrief) followed with a single to put men at the corners with nobody out. Dale Mitchell then hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Cleveland's first run. Larry Doby came to the plate representing the go-ahead run, but grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.

The Indians will look to even the series in Game 2.

St. Louis 2, Cleveland 1

Yankees vs. Indians Game 3

The Yankees-Indians semifinal matchup moved back to Yankee Stadium in 1927 for the deciding game of the best-of-three series. The visitors started Hall of Famer Bob Lemon (20-14, 2.82 ERA), while the home team countered with Urban Shocker (18-6, 2.84 ERA). 

Cleveland's MVP player-manager Lou Boudreau opened the scoring with a solo shot into the left field seats in the top of the first. An Earle Combs walk and Mark Koenig double gave New York men at second and third with nobody out in the bottom of the first. But Lemon struck out Babe Ruth and (after a walk to Gehrig) retired Meusel on a shallow fly and Lazzeri on a groundout to end the threat. In the top of the second, Cleveland scored three more when Gordon doubled, Robinson singled, Hegan reached on an error, and Lemon doubled.

Yankee fans grew restless as the visitors held their 4-0 advantage into the sixth. In the bottom of that frame, Ruth walked and Gehrig singled. Meusel then ripped a double into the gap in left-center to plate two runs for the Bombers. But in the top of the seventh, Ken Keltner doubled home Larry Doby to push the Cleveland lead back to three. Bob Lemon remained in command, but after he surrendered a double to Lazzeri to start the bottom of the ninth, Boudreau summoned Russ Christopher from the bullpen. After allowing a single to Dugan, Christopher retired the next two Yankee batters. Combs then singled to cut the deficit to two and put the tying run on base. But Christopher retired Koenig on a fly to center to end the game with Ruth in the on-deck circle.

Cleveland completes the surprising upset of Murderers' Row to advance to the tournament finals against the Gas House Gang.

1948 Indians 5, 1927 Yankees 3

Up next, Game 1 of the championship round!

Cardinals vs. Stars Game 2

Shibe Park in Philadelphia hosted Game 2 of the Cardinals-Stars semifinal matchup. After the marathon pitchers' duel in the series opener, batters were happy that Slim Jones and Dizzy Dean would not be playing in this game. But Philadelphia deployed another excellent southpaw hurler in Lefty Jones and St. Louis started another Dean on the mound: Dizzy's brother Paul.

Pepper Martin opened the game with a single and Frankie Frisch followed by drawing a walk. Ripper Collins then lifted a slicing fly ball to right that bounded off Jake Dunn's glove and rolled into the corner, allowing two runs to score. Following a sacrifice bunt, Jack Rothrock singled to give St. Louis an early 3-0 lead. In the second, Leo Durocher doubled, advanced to third on Dean's sac bunt, and scored on a Pepper Martin grounder to short.

Philadelphia got on the board in the third after Dick Seay walked and came around on a double by Holmes. Two batters later, Chaney White doubled to plate Holmes and cut the deficit to two. Paul Dean, however, was lights out the rest of the way. The young Cardinal hurler allowed only two singles after the third inning to pick up the complete-game victory.

The Gas House Gang sweeps the best two-of-three series and advances to the finals of the Tournament of Champions.

1934 Cardinals 4, 1934 Stars 2

Next up, the deciding Game 3 between the 1927 Yankees and 1948 Indians. 

Yankees vs. Indians Game 2

Municipal Stadium in Cleveland hosted Game 2 of this semifinal matchup between the 1927 Yankees and the 1948 Indians. Both teams started a Hall of Fame pitcher who won 19 games during the regular season: Herb Pennock vs. Bob Feller.

Earle Combs opened the game with a triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Mark Koenig. After Babe Ruth grounded out, Lou Gehrig blasted a deep drive over the right field wall to give the visitors an early 2-0 lead. Cleveland tied it in the second with a Joe Gordon home run, a pair of singles by Larry Doby and Eddie Robinson, and a squeeze bunt from Feller. In the top of the fourth, Ruth put the Yankees ahead again with a solo shot to center.

Cleveland claimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth with four hits (Mitchell double, Clark single, Boudreau double, Gordon single) that plated three runs. New York cut the lead to 5-4 in the sixth after Bob Meusel doubled home Ruth. In the bottom of that frame a walk to Robinson, a single by pinch hitter Joe Tipton, and a double by Allie Clark increased Cleveland's lead to three. Indians reliever Steve Gromek held the powerful Yankees lineup in check over the final three innings to even the series at one game apiece. Feller pitched five innings to pick up the win. The series moves back to the Bronx for the deciding third game.

Indians 7, Yankees 4

Next up, Game 2 of the Cardinals-Stars series.

Cardinals vs. Stars Game 1

The 1934 MLB champion St. Louis Cardinals hosted the 1934 NNL champion Philadelphia Stars at Sportsman's Park for Game 1 of their semifinal matchup. With the Stars dominant southpaw Slim Jones (20-4, 1.29 ERA) facing the Cards 30-game winner Dizzy Dean, a pitchers' duel seemed likely. But few could have predicted the extent of the mound excellence that was about to ensue.

Philadelphia put men at the corners with one out in the top of the fourth, but Dean escaped the jam with a strikeout and a ground out. Ernie Orsatti tripled with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but Jones extinguished the threat with a line out and a strikeout. Both aces were at the top of their game, handcuffing the batters in both lineups. With the game tied 0-0 after nine, the starters continued their duel into extras. Dean tossed 11 shutout frames before yielding the mound to Dazzy Vance. Jones did him one better, not allowing a run in 12 innings.

The scoreless tie continued into the 14th inning. St. Louis reliever Bill Walker sent the visitors down in order in the top of the frame. With one out in the home half of the inning, Frankie Frisch singled off fellow player-manager Webster McDonald. Frisch then called for a hit and run, which paid off when Ripper Collins singled to send him to third. McDonald intentionally walked Joe Medwick to set up a force at the plate. Batting with the bases loaded, Cardinals right fielder Jack Rothrock made solid contact, driving the ball to within a couple strides of the warning track in left. Deep enough for Frisch to sprint home with the winning run. And so ended this epic battle--the longest Diamond Legacies game I have ever played.

Cardinals 1, Stars 0 (14 innings)

Next up, Game 2 of the Yankees-Indians series.

Yankees vs. Indians Game 1

The 1948 Cleveland Indians battled the 1927 New York Yankees in Game 1 of the first semifinal matchup. Hoping to neutralize the powerful lefty bats in the home team's lineup, Lou Boudreau started southpaw Gene Bearden. Miller Huggins countered with Hall of Famer Waite Hoyt.

Babe Ruth gave the Yankees an early lead with a solo blast in the bottom of the first. Indians third baseman Ken Keltner evened things up when he went deep in the top of the second. Cleveland took the lead in the top of the fifth when Bearden singled to drive in Wally Judnich. An inning later, Joe Dugan delivered a two-out single to score Lou Gehrig, who slid home just ahead of Jim Hegan's tag at the plate.

The game remained tied heading into the bottom of the eighth. Ruth led off that frame by drawing a walk. Sam Zoldak, pitching in relief of Bearden, retired Gehrig and Bob Meusel without allowing the runner to advance. But Tony Lazzeri drilled a deep drive to the wall in center, allowing the Babe to come around to score the go-ahead run. Yankee reliever Wilcy Moore allowed a leadoff double to Keltner in the top of the ninth, before rebounding to retire the next three batters and preserve the narrow win for the Bombers. The teams will head to Cleveland for the second game in this series.

1927 Yankees 3, 1948 Indians 2

Next up will be Game 1 of the other semifinal: 1934 Cardinals vs. 1934 Stars.

Video Review of Book 4 and Semifinals Preview

Diamond Legacies 1948 was recently featured on Kurt Bergland's Baseball World. A big thank you to Kurt for discussing the latest volume of my game on his channel. Click the image below to watch the video.

Next item of business, the semifinals of my Tournament of Champions is set to begin. The 1927 New York Yankees will face the 1948 Cleveland Indians in one bracket. In the other bracket the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals will battle the 1934 Philadelphia Stars. This round will be best two-of three. As the higher seeded teams, the Yankees and Cardinals will host Game 1 and Game 3 if a third contest is necessary. The three-inning pitching restriction from Round 1 is no longer in effect, but the games are assumed to be played on consecutive days. So a starter who pitches deep into Game 1 could not appear again in the series without facing significant overuse modifiers.

Lastly, work has begun on Book 5 in the Diamond Legacies series. Your clue for the year featured in this volume is this: near the end of the book there will be a picture of a man who was the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces. That wasn't his job when the picture was taken, but it was a position he had held earlier. If you know who that man is, you can narrow down the range of years for Volume 5.

Cardinals vs. Red Sox

The 1975 AL champion Boston Red Sox travelled to Sportsman's Park to take on the 1934 MLB champion St. Louis Cardinals in the final first-round game of the Tournament of Champions. Combining for six innings, Luis Tiant and Rick Wise allowed only one hit and three walks while keeping the home team off the scoreboard. Redbird hurlers Dizzy Dean and his brother Paul similarly held Boston in check during their five frames. Jesse Haines followed by tossing three more scoreless innings for the Cards.

The game remained 0-0 into the eighth. In the bottom of that frame, with Jim Willoughby on the hill for Boston, Ripper Collins batted with two men on and one out. The Cardinal first baseman drilled a shot off the centerfield wall to plate two runs. Following a Medwick fly out, Jack Rothrock doubled home another run. Ernie Orsatti followed with a single to tally the fourth run of the inning for the Redbirds.

Veteran Dazzy Vance came on to close out the game, but ran into trouble. A Dwight Evans double and a Cecil Cooper single gave the Red Sox two baserunners with two outs. Fred Lynn and Denny Doyle followed with RBI-singles to bring Carl Yastrzemski to the plate representing the go-ahead run. Yaz lined a screamer back through the box that Vance somehow speared to end the game.

The Gas House Gang advances to the semifinals where they will face the Philadelphia Stars. Though he had only one hit in four at-bats, Ripper Collins is the player of the game for his two-run double that put St. Louis ahead in the eighth.

1934 Cardinals 4, 1975 Red Sox 2

Next up is the first game of the Semifinals: 1927 Yankees vs. 1948 Indians. 

Reds vs. Stars

The 1934 NNL champion Philadelphia Stars battled the 1975 MLB champion Cincinnati Reds in our next first round matchup. Though the Big Red Machine boasted a stronger offense, the Stars deployed an elite pitching staff led by their ace Slim Jones. The dominant southpaw displayed his excellence by striking out six straight Reds. But with one out in the bottom of the third, Cesar Geronimo broke that string of Ks with a solo homer to right.

Gary Nolan, Pedro Bourbon, and Clay Carroll kept the Philadelphia offense in check, preserving the 1-0 Cincinnati lead into the ninth. Though the Reds offense generated only two hits the entire game, that did not seem to be a problem as fireballing closer Rawley Eastwick came in to finish off the win for the Big Red Machine. But the Stars Hall-of-Fame catcher Biz Mackey singled to right with one out. After Jake Dunn grounded out, the light-hitting Pete Washington was due up next. Pitcher-manager Webster McDonald called on Phil Cockrell to pinch hit as his team's last hope. Though a pitcher, Cockrell was a good hitter who had batted over .300 on the year. Connecting on an Eastwick fastball over the outer edge of the plate, he drove the ball over the right field wall to give the Stars the lead. McDonald retired the Reds in order in the ninth to close out the stunning victory for the visitors. One out away from elimination, Philadelphia advances to the semifinals with a dramatic ninth-inning rally. Though his only appearance in this contest came in one pinch hit at-bat, the Player of the Game is Phil Cockrell.

Philadelphia Stars 2, Cincinnati Reds 1

Next up is the final first round game, the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals vs. the 1975 Boston Red Sox.

American Giants vs. Indians

Schorling Park in Chicago was the venue for the first-round game between the 1927 Chicago American Giants and the 1948 Cleveland Indians. The dominant southpaw Bill Foster took the hill for the home team, while the visitors opened with Bob Lemon on the mound.

In the bottom of the second, Chicago put men on second and third with nobody out. Sensing that runs would not be easy to come by against the elite American Giants staff, Lou Boudreau pulled his infield in. The move succeeded with third baseman Ken Keltner throwing out Steel Arm Davis at the plate. Cleveland threatened in the top of the third after Eddie Robinson doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Jim Hegan. One of the top hitting pitchers of his day, Bob Lemon then lined a single into left to give the Indians the lead.

In the fourth, Chicago catcher James Bray doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Cleveland pitcher Bob Feller then fired a heater past John Hines to record a key strikeout. Rapid Robert did not allow another hit during his three-inning stint. The game remained 1-0 into the bottom of the eighth when Jim Brown and Pythias Russ reached to put two men on with one out for the home team. But Steel Arm Davis lined into a double play to end the threat. Cleveland's rookie southpaw sensation Gene Bearden retired the side in order in the ninth to save the victory.

For pitching three scoreless innings and driving in the game's only run, Bob Lemon is the Player of the Game. Cleveland advances to the semifinals, where they will face the 1927 Yankees.

Cleveland Indians 1, Chicago American Giants 0

Next up is our third first-round matchup, the 1975 Cincinnati Reds vs. the 1934 Philadelphia Stars.

Yankees vs. Grays

Yankee Stadium hosted the first game of the 8-team Tournament of Champions. Waite Hoyt started for the 1927 MLB champion New York Yankees. Tom Parker took the hill for the 1948 Negro League champion Homestead Grays. According to tournament rules, all pitchers are limited to three innings in this round.

Grays centerfielder Luis Marquez led off the game with a single and then stole second. One batter later Luke Easter singled to put Homestead on the board. The game remained 1-0 heading into the fifth, causing many observers to speculate about a possible upset. In the bottom of the frame, New York put two men on with two outs. The Yankees eighth-place hitter, catcher Pat Collins, drilled a liner into the left-center field gap to give his team a 2-1 lead. The flustered Homestead pitcher Garnett Blair then walked Yankee hurler Herb Pennock. Earle Combs and Mark Koenig delivered singles to drive home two more runs. Babe Ruth then blasted a three-run shot into the left field seats. Lou Gehrig followed with a solo homer to tally eight runs in the inning for the Bombers.

Homestead plated a run in the seventh and again in the eighth off Dutch Ruether to chip away at the deficit, but it was too little, too late. The 1927 Yankees advance to the semifinals. The Player of the Game is Pat Collins. Though the least-heralded member of Murderers' Row, the catcher went 3 for 3 with two key RBIs and a run scored.

New York Yankees 8, Homestead Grays 3

Next up, the 1927 Chicago American Giants vs. the 1948 Cleveland Indians.

Tournament of Champions

For my next set of games, I will be playing a tournament featuring the top two teams from each of the four published Diamond Legacies volumes. The first round will be a single elimination game. The second round (semifinals) will be best two-of-three. And the finals will be a four-of-seven series. All pitchers will be limited to no more than three innings of work in the first-round game.

Tournament brackets are based on seedings with the following first-round matchups. Higher seeds are the home team.

(1) 1927 New York Yankees vs. (8) 1948 Homestead Grays

(4) 1927 Chicago American Giants vs. (5) 1948 Cleveland Indians

(3) 1975 Cincinnati Reds vs. (6) 1934 Philadelphia Stars

(2) 1934 St. Louis Cardinals vs. (7) 1975 Boston Red Sox

All players on the team rosters are assumed to be healthy, so players like Jim Rice who missed the 1975 World Series will be eligible to play in this tournament.

Up first, the Yankees vs. the Grays.

1948 World Series MVP

The MVP of my World Series replay is Marv Rickert, a player who wasn't even on the Boston roster until the last week of the 1948 regular season. After the Braves lost their regular left fielder Jeff Heath to an ankle injury in late September, Boston made an urgent call to Rickert to join the team. Though Marv played in only three games for the Braves, the team made a successful appeal to Commissioner Happy Chandler to make him eligible for the World Series (Boston had already lost another starting outfielder, Jim Russell, to bacterial endocarditis earlier in the season).

Rickert played well in the actual 1948 World Series and he was the Braves top offensive star in my series replay. He batted .500 with four extra base hits and five RBI. Despite sitting on the bench in Game 3, Rickert led all players with 5 runs scored in the series. Other key contributors to Boston's victory included Eddie Stanky (.421, 5 RBI), Alvin Dark (.333, 4 runs scored), and Bob Elliott (.316, 1 HR, 4 RBI). On the mound, Johnny Sain posted a 1.53 ERA in his two starts and Nels Potter picked up two wins while not allowing an earned run in his 9 2/3 innings. Warren Spahn tossed a shutout in his only appearance.

Lou Boudreau led the offensive attack for Cleveland, batting .529 with three walks. Though he was continually on base, his teammates failed to drive him in for even a single run scored in the series. Wally Judnich was the only other Indian to excel at the plate, batting .357 with a homer and three runs scored. Bob Feller pitched well in his two starts (3.27 ERA), but received little run support. Gene Bearden allowed only one earned run in eight innings while picking up Cleveland's only win.

1948 World Series Game 5

Hoping to stave off elimination, Cleveland turned to 19-game winner Bob Feller to start Game 5. Hoping to wrap up the series, Boston gave the ball to veteran right-hander Nels Potter, who compiled a 2.86 ERA while pitching for three teams in the regular season.

The Braves jumped out to an early lead when Tommy Holmes led off the game with a double and later scored on a Bob Elliott single. Two innings later, Elliott collected another RBI with a double that drove in Earl Torgeson. Though Boston put at least two men on base in each of the first five innings, Feller continually worked out of trouble. In the bottom of the fifth, Cleveland cut the deficit to 2-1 after Eddie Robinson singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and came home when Mike McCormick dropped Jim Hegan's fly ball. 

With Feller removed for a pinch hitter in the fifth, left-hander Sam Zoldak came on to pitch the sixth for Cleveland. Boston quickly loaded the bases for Torgeson who drove in two with a single. Marv Rickert later drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Catcher Bill Salkeld followed by blasting a two-run homer to tally five runs in the inning for the Braves. An inning later, Rickert singled home another run for Boston. On the mound, Nels Potter remained in command for the visitors. Cleveland put two men on in the bottom of the ninth, but Hegan lined into a double play to end the game and the series.

Reversing history, the Braves claimed the World Series four games to one.

Boston 8, Cleveland 1

1948 World Series Game 4

Looking to even the series, Cleveland skipper Lou Boudreau called on Steve Gromek (9-3, 2.84 ERA) to start Game 4. More often used in relief during the regular season, the right-hander (sorry the "R" is missing from his roster entry in the book) made 9 starts in 1948. Boston manager Billy Southworth returned to his top ace Johnny Sain to start this contest. Because he was working with only two days rest, I gave Sain a -3 modifier to his Effectiveness, Strikeout, and Control ratings for this game.

An error by Boudreau allowed Braves shortstop Alvin Dark to reach base in the top of the first. Earl Torgeson followed with a double to plate the first run of the game. Two batters later Marv Rickert tripled to extend Boston's lead. The game remained 2-0 until the top of the sixth when the Braves loaded the bases with one out against reliever Satchel Paige. Center fielder Mike McCormick then grounded to third but beat the throw to avoid a double play and drive in Boston's third run.

In the bottom of the sixth, Larry Doby singled and advanced to second on a ground out. Joe Gordon then singled to center to plate Cleveland's first run and cut the deficit to 3-1. In the top of the ninth, Rickert led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly to right by McCormick. Catcher Phil Masi then delivered a sac fly to center to increase the Braves lead back to three. Sain, showing no ill effects from pitching on short rest, retired the last seven batters in a row to finish off the complete game victory.

In a reversal of how the actual World Series progressed, the Braves now lead the series three games to one.

Boston 4, Cleveland 1 

1948 World Series Game 3

As the series moved to Cleveland, Lou Boudreau turned to his rookie southpaw sensation Gene Bearden (20-7, 2.43) to right the ship. Boston skipper Billy Southworth called on his own star rookie Vern Bickford (11-5, 3.27) to try to keep the Indians winless in this series.

Boston cleanup hitter Bob Elliott started the scoring in the top of the second when he blasted a Bearden knuckleball over the left field wall. The drive led many Braves fans listening to the radio broadcast to start thinking of a possible series sweep. But in the bottom of the frame Cleveland right fielder Wally Judnich doubled home Ken Keltner to tie the game 1-1. In the bottom of the fifth, Judnich and Bearden singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. Dale Mitchell then beat out a slow roller to allow the go-ahead run to score. After Larry Doby drew a walk to load the bases, Boudreau singled to drive home two more for the home team.

The score remained 4-1 into the eighth. In the bottom of that frame, Keltner belted a two-run homer to extend the lead to five. Bearden ran into trouble in the top of the ninth when a single by Tommy Holmes and a double from Alvin Dark gave the Braves runners at second and third with nobody out. Boudreau summoned Ed Klieman from the bullpen to relieve Bearden. The Indians right-hander retired the next three batters in order to close out the victory. 

Cleveland 6, Boston 1

1948 World Series Game 2

Looking to even the series, Cleveland started 20-game winner Bob Lemon in Game 2. The home team countered with Warren Spahn (15-12), one half of the Braves elite pitching duo: "Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain."

Dale Mitchell opened the game by reaching base on a throwing error by shortstop Alvin Dark. The runner advanced to second on a groundout and then moved to third on a sharp single by Lou Boudreau. Indians cleanup hitter Joe Gordon lifted a fly ball to center. Mitchell tried to tag up and score but was cut down at the plate by a strong throw from Mike McCormick.

Back-to-back doubles by Bob Elliott and Marv Rickert put the Braves on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Boston increased its lead to 2-0 in the seventh when Eddie Stanky doubled home Rickert. After Alvin Dark tripled with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Boudreau brought in Sam Zoldak to replace Lemon. That move did not work out so well for Cleveland. A walk, two singles, and an error pushed two runs across for the Braves and loaded the bases. Stanky then doubled to drive in three more and put the game out of reach. Though Boston fans enjoyed the offensive outburst, Spahn did not need it. The ace southpaw allowed just five hits in a shutout victory.

The series moves to Cleveland for Game 3.

Boston 7, Cleveland 0

1948 World Series Game 1

The 1948 World Series between Cleveland and Boston opened at Braves Field. Bob Feller (19-15, 3.56 ERA) started for the AL champions while Johnny Sain (24-15, 2.60 ERA) took the hill for the NL champs. My lineups will follow the historical precedent, so Boston cannot play its injured outfielders Jim Russell and Jeff Heath.

Cleveland right fielder Wally Judnich opened the scoring in the top of the second with a solo home run over the right field wall. Boston answered in the bottom of the fourth when Bob Elliott led off the frame by drawing a walk. Marv Rickert followed with a single and both runners later advanced on a groundout. Braves second baseman Eddie Stanky then singled to tie the game. Two innings later, Rickert doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bill Salkeld. Feller then threw a wild pitch to allow Rickert to score.

Boston held a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth. Judnich opened the frame for Cleveland with a single. After Eddie Robinson flew out, player-manager Lou Boudreau summoned Hal Peck to bat for catcher Jim Hegan. The move paid off when Peck delivered a hit to put runners on the corners with one out. Braves manager Billy Southworth called on reliever Nels Potter to take over for Sain. With the pitcher's spot due up, Boudreau sent Hank Edwards to the plate. The Cleveland pinch hitter laid down a beautiful squeeze bunt to tie the game at two apiece.

Satchel Paige came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth. After the veteran retired the first two batters it appeared the game was heading for extra innings. But then Braves pinch hitter Clint Conatser sliced a fly ball to right that Judnich dropped to put the winning run on base. Leadoff hitter Tommy Holmes followed by grounding to second. The normally surehanded Joe Gordon rushed his throw to first into the dirt. The ball caromed away from Robinson, allowing Conatser to come around and score the winning run. After playing error-free ball for 8 2/3 innings, back-to-back miscues give Cleveland a tough-luck loss.

Game 1: Boston 3, Cleveland 2

My Website

For my next set of baseball games, I'm planning to replay the 1948 World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Braves. But first, I wanted to post about a recent change.

My website kentkrause.com has been retired. This blog (where you are now) will be the primary location for news about Diamond Legacies volumes, game replays, and my other books.

I also have an online presence at:

Kent Krause Books on Facebook

Kent Krause Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

@Kent_Krause on Twitter. Yes, I still call it Twitter. No, I do not post much there anymore. The other options mentioned above are better for updates about my books.

Grays vs. Black Barons

For my next Diamond Legacies 1948 game, the Homestead Grays battled the Birmingham Black Barons at Rickwood Field. The Negro National League champion Grays started Tom Parker (2.78 ERA). The Negro American League champion Black Barons gave the ball to Bill Powell (2.79 ERA).

Both pitchers came out of the gate strong, allowing no runs through the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, Sam Bankhead doubled and Eudie Napier walked to put two men on for the Grays with nobody out. Charles Gary then hit a hard smash that Birmingham third baseman John Britton fielded on one hop. He then stepped on the bag and fired to second baseman Piper Davis, who threw to first to complete a triple play. That is the only time I've had that happen in one of my Diamond Legacies games. 

The contest remained scoreless into the top of the sixth when Buck Leonard singled and Luke Easter followed with a walk for Homestead. Following a Bankhead groundout, Napier launched a Bill Powell changeup over the centerfield wall to put the Grays up 3-0. Parker meanwhile continued to flummox the Black Barons hitters. Willie Mays, who walked and stole a base, was the only Birmingham batter to reach third base in the entire game. Parker retired the last ten hitters in a row to complete the shutout.

Homestead 3, Birmingham 0

Now Available: Diamond Legacies 1948

Volume 4 of the Diamond Legacies series is published! Rosters are provided for all of the major league teams in 1948.

Diamond Legacies 1948 is available as a paperback and as a Kindle e-book.

Indians vs. Yankees

On Friday, August 27, 1948, the Cleveland Indians arrived in New York to start a three-game series against the Yankees. With the season about to enter the home stretch, these two teams and the Boston Red Sox were all within one game of each other for the lead in the American League standings. For this replay, I used the lineup from the series opener with Bob Feller starting for the Indians and Vic Raschi starting for the Yankees.

Both pitchers were sharp out of the gate, each allowing only one hit and zero runs over the first three frames. Feller even struck out the side in the third. In the top of the fourth, Cleveland shortstop (and manager) Lou Boudreau connected for a solo homer into the left field seats. In the bottom of the frame, Yankee first baseman Tommy Henrich singled with one out. Joe DiMaggio followed with a double down the left field line to tie the game.

Tension mounted over the following innings as neither offense could break through with the go-ahead run. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Charlie Keller and Phil Rizzuto delivered back-to-back singles. Feller then walked catcher Gus Niarhos to load the bases. Yankee skipper Bucky Harris summoned Johnny Lindell to pinch hit for Raschi. With the game on the line, Lindell slapped a grounder to first. Eddie Robinson fielded it and threw home to force out the runner and keep the game tied. Feller then retired Snuffy Stirnweiss to end the threat.

The game remained tied heading into the ninth. With one out in the top of the frame, Cleveland centerfielder Larry Doby lifted a fly ball to right that would not have cleared the wall in most ballparks. But it found the front row of the short right field porch at Yankee Stadium to give the Indians the lead. With Feller starting to tire, Boudreau called on Satchel Paige for the bottom of the ninth. The move looked like it might backfire when Berra led off with a single, but Paige rebounded to strike out Keller and Rizzuto. Harris then brought in lefty-batting George McQuinn to pinch hit for Niarhos. The veteran Paige retired McQuinn on a grounder to first to save the Cleveland victory. Feller picked up the win with seven strikeouts and only six hits allowed in his eight innings.

Cleveland 2, New York 1

Historical Note: Cleveland won the real game that Feller and Raschi started 8-1. It was actually the first game of a doubleheader and the Yankees won the second game 7-2.

Dodgers vs. Yankees

The Dodgers and Yankees are the next two teams from 1948 to take the field. These clubs faced each other in the 1947 World Series and both placed third in their league a year later. Ralph Branca took the mound for the visitors from Brooklyn and Eddie Lopat got the nod for New York.

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Yankees opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. Snuffy Stirnweiss led off the frame with a double. After Lopat struck out trying to bunt, leadoff hitter Bobby Brown singled to drive in Stirnweiss. Tommy Henrich followed with a single and then Joe DiMaggio delivered the fourth hit of the inning to send Brown across the plate. Brooklyn got on the board in the top of the fifth when Roy Campanella doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Pinch hitter Bruce Edwards, batting for Branca, singled to drive in Campanella. 

Dodger reliever Paul Minner created trouble for himself by walking the first two batters in the bottom of the sixth. Yankee first baseman George McQuinn made him pay by drilling an opposite field homer that increased New York's lead to 5-1. Lopat allowed only one more hit the rest of the way and the Yankee fans went home happy.

New York 5, Brooklyn 1

Red Sox vs. Cardinals

For my next game with the 1948 teams the Red Sox took on the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park. These two teams met in the World Series two years earlier and finished second in their respective leagues in 1948. Boston actually finished in a tie for first in the American League but lost a pennant-deciding playoff game against Cleveland. St. Louis started its 20-game winner Harry "the Cat" Brecheen (2.24 ERA) and the Red Sox gave the ball to Mel Parnell (15-8, 3.14 ERA). 

Boston centerfielder Dom DiMaggio led off the game with a double. Two batters later, Ted Williams sent him home with a single. In the top of the third, the Splendid Splinter drove in his second run with a double that plated Billy Goodman. In the bottom of the frame, Red Schoendienst put St. Louis on the board with an RBI double of his own. He advanced to third on a ground out and then came home on Stan Musial's RBI grounder. 

The game remained tied 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth when a Schoendienst single and walks to Musial and Nippy Jones loaded the bases. Cardinal third baseman Don Lang then singled to drive in a pair. Stan the Man added to the St. Louis lead with a solo homer to lead off the seventh. Later in the inning, back-to-back doubles by Terry Moore and Marty Marion put the Cards up by four. Brecheen held the Red Sox in check the rest of the way to lock down the win for the home team.

St. Louis 6, Boston 2

Elite Giants vs. Monarchs

With the first proof copy for Diamond Legacies 1948 on its way, I'm starting to play games with the 1948 teams. For the first contest, I went with the Baltimore Elite Giants (NNL) vs. the Kansas City Monarchs (NAL) at Blues Stadium in KC. Each of these teams finished first in one of their half-seasons that year, before losing their respective league championship series.

Baltimore started its ace Bill Byrd, who led the Negro National League in wins and innings pitched in 1948, while posting a 1.75 ERA. Kansas City countered with Jim LaMarque, who similarly led the Negro American League in wins and innings pitched, though his 3.20 ERA was a bit less formidable.

The Monarchs jumped out to an early lead when Herb Souell doubled with one out in the first and Willard Brown followed with a triple. Hank Thompson then laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring home his team's second run. LaMarque held the Elite Giants scoreless for four innings, but Baltimore centerfielder Henry Kimbro led off the fifth with a solo home run. Two more hits followed in the inning, but LaMarque worked out of trouble to preserve his team's lead.

Monarchs first baseman Buck O'Neil beat out a slow roller to open the bottom of the sixth. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a single by LaMarque. Baltimore put two men on in the top of the seventh, but could not score. LaMarque retired nine batters in a row to close out a complete-game victory. The Monarchs southpaw struck out eight and walked just one.

Kansas City 3, Baltimore 1

Diamond Legacies Volume 4

We are rounding third and heading for home with Book 4. It should be available by the end of the month.

The year for Volume 4 is 1948! Things to note about this year:

• Cleveland won the World Series. Find out how that great Indians team stacks up against the Gas House Gang, Murderers' Row, and the Big Red Machine.
• Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial were in their primes, while Willie Mays debuted for the Birmingham Black Barons.
• The Homestead Grays won the last Negro League World Series.
• The battle for the American League pennant was a tight three-team race, ending with the first ever playoff game for the Junior Circuit.

Hope to see you on the field with Diamond Legacies 1948.

A's vs. Pirates Series MVP

There were two leading candidates for series MVP, resulting in a tie vote between Pirates outfielder Bill Robinson and pitcher Jerry Reuss. Despite starting only three of the six games, Robinson led all players with 10 hits and a .625 batting average. Originally slated as the Bucs top reserve, Robinson worked his way into the starting lineup, scoring five runs and driving in three. Reuss for his part did not allow an earned run in his 16 innings pitched, while striking out 11. After a hard-luck no-decision in Game 1, Reuss shut down the A's on three hits in a pivotal Game 5 shutout. Pirates hurler Jim Rooker finished 3rd in the MVP voting for his two wins and 1.10 ERA over 16 1/3 innings.

Other key contributors to the Pittsburgh triumph included Dave Parker who belted two home runs and drove in six and Manny Sanguillen who added a homer and three RBI. Leadoff hitter Rennie Stennett scored four runs and drove in three. 

Oakland's offense struggled throughout the series. Joe Rudi batted just .182 but contributed two home runs and three RBI. Gene Tenace added a homer and two RBI, while Bert Campaneris led his team with three runs scored. Though he batted just .143, leadoff hitter Bill North walked three times and stole six bases. Reggie Jackson was the straw that stirred no drink, striking out eight times during his abysmal 2 for 21 showing at the plate. Oakland's pitching staff, on the other hand, accounted well for itself. Vida Blue posted a 2.25 ERA over his two starts and Dick Bosman threw a shutout in his only outing.

A's vs. Pirates Game 6

Facing elimination, Oakland manager Alvin Dark turned to Ken Holtzman to try to extend the series. Pittsburgh started Jim Rooker, setting up another battle of the southpaws.

Rennie Stennett doubled to lead off the game. Bill Robinson followed with a single to put men at the corners. After Dave Parker struck out, Manny Sanguillen singled to put the Bucs ahead 1-0. In the bottom of the first, Bert Campaneris reached on an error and stole second. Joe Rudi advanced the runner to third with a sacrifice fly and Claudell Washington doubled to tie the game.

With both pitchers dealing, the game remained 1-1 through five innings. In the top of the sixth, Rooker reached on an error and scored on a double by Stennett. Robinson followed with a double of his own to drive in another run. After the Cobra grounded out, Sanguillen singled to bring home Pittsburgh's third run in the inning. Looking to answer, Bill North and Campaneris singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth. But Rudi grounded into a double play to squash the rally. The A's would manage only one more hit the rest of the way as Rooker went the distance, allowing just one unearned run.

The Pirates win the series four games to two.

Game 6: Pittsburgh 4, Oakland 1

A's vs. Pirates Game 5

With the series tied at two games apiece, the pitching matchup for Game 5 was a rematch of Game 1: Vida Blue vs. Jerry Reuss. Fans on both sides hoped their southpaw ace could put their team in the driver's seat.

Oakland centerfielder Bill North lead off the game with a single. He then stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Claudell Washington. But Reuss struck out Joe Rudi and retired Reggie Jackson on a ground out to end the scoring threat. Pirates catcher Manny Sanguillen doubled to open the bottom of the second. Two batters later, Richie Zisk laced a single to give Pittsburgh an early lead.

Sanguillen struck again in the fourth; this time he deposited a Vida Blue fastball over the left field wall to put his team up 2-0. Pittsburgh's hottest hitter, Bill Robinson, singled to open the bottom of the sixth. Dave Parker followed with a home run to double the Bucs lead. Reuss meanwhile took care of business from the mound. The Pittsburgh ace struck out six and allowed only three hits in a dominating shutout.

The series heads back to Oakland for Game 6 with the Pirates up three games to two.

Game 5: Pittsburgh 4, Oakland 0

A's vs. Pirates Game 4

Looking to even the series, Pittsburgh manager Danny Murtaugh gave the ball to his promising rookie southpaw John Candelaria (2.76 ERA). Oakland skipper Alvin Dark turned to veteran hurler Sonny Siebert (3.90 ERA) to start Game 4.

The A's struck early when Joe Rudi clubbed a solo homer in the top of the first. Pittsburgh answered in the bottom of the third after Rennie Stennett doubled and then scored when A's second baseman Phil Garner misplayed an Al Oliver grounder that rolled into the outfield. The game remained knotted 1-1 into the bottom of the seventh. Richie Hebner led off that frame with a double and, following a strikeout, advanced to third on a double by pinch hitter Bill Robinson. Stennett singled to drive in Hebner and Oliver sent Robinson home with a sacrifice fly. Reliever Kent Tekulve took over for the Candy Man in the top of the eighth and retired six straight batters to close out the Pirates victory.

The series will return to Three Rivers Stadium for Game 5.

Game 4: Pittsburgh 3, Oakland 1

A's vs. Pirates Game 3

The Pirates hosted the A's at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh for Game 3 of the series. Bruce Kison (12-11, 3.23) started for the home team, while 11-game winner Dick Bosman took the mound for the visitors.

Both pitchers were in top form, posting zeroes through the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, Oakland catcher Gene Tenace connected for a solo home run. Two innings later, Reggie Jackson (who was 0 for 10 thus far in the series) nearly followed suit, but his deep drive hit the wall for a double. The A's could not capitalize though and Reggie was stranded at second. That missed opportunity did not matter because Bosman dominated from the mound. The Oakland hurler retired the last 14 Pirate batters in a row to complete a two-hit shutout. 

Similar to Game 1, the A's prevailed 1-0 in a pitchers' duel. Despite being outscored 9-5 over the first three games, the boys in green and yellow hold a 2-1 advantage in the series.

Game 3: Oakland 1, Pittsburgh 0

A's vs. Pirates Game 2

After being contained in Game 1, both offenses broke out to combine for 22 hits in Game 2. One team made the most of its opportunities, while the other team left 10 men on base.

Oakland started 18-game winner Ken Holtzman and Pittsburgh gave the ball to Jim Rooker and his sub-3.00 ERA. The A's started the scoring in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer from Joe Rudi. The Pirates answered in the second with a solo shot from Willie Stargell. Richie Zisk delivered an RBI single in the fourth to tie the game at two apiece. A two-run single from Bill Robinson in the fifth gave the Pirates the lead. Dave Parker blasted a two-run shot in the seventh to extend the lead to 6-2. The Bucs added three more in the eighth, with two runs coming home on a triple from Parker. Gene Tenace drove in a run for Oakland in the eighth, but it was too little too late.

Rooker picked up the win while striking out 10 in his 7 1/3 innings. With the lefty Holtzman starting for the A's, Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh replaced his regular centerfielder Al Oliver with Bill Robinson for this game. The move worked out splendidly with Robinson collecting five hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. Now tied at one game apiece, the series moves to Pittsburgh for Game 3.

Game 2: Pittsburgh 9, Oakland 3 

A's vs Pirates Game 1

For my next Diamond Legacies series, I'm going with the "World Series that wasn't" in 1975: Pittsburgh vs. Oakland. Those two teams had combined to capture the four previous world championships (1971-1974) and in 1975 they both made the playoffs but were swept by the pennant-winning Reds and Red Sox respectively. Game 1 took place at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The home team started 22-game winner Vida Blue while the visitors countered with their ace, 18-game winner Jerry Reuss.

Both teams put at least one runner on base in each of the first three innings, but neither side could score. Then both pitchers really started dealing, not allowing a hit in innings four through seven. In the top of the eighth, Manny Sanguillen lead off with a walk. Richie Hebner then drew a free pass to give the Pirates two men on with nobody out. Blue, however, retired the next three Bucs to end the threat. 

The Oakland ace then helped his own cause by drawing a walk against reliever Kent Tekulve to start the home half of the eighth. After Bill North grounded into a force out, Bert Campaneris doubled to drive in the first run of the game. The Pirates put two men on with two outs in the ninth, but Sanguillen grounded out to end the game. Blue struck out eight in a masterful four-hit shutout.

Game 1: Oakland 1, Pittsburgh 0 

1934 All-Star Series MVP

It is not often that a player on a team that did not win a series is named series MVP. But it does happen sometimes, and this All-Star Series is one of those times. Mel Ott takes home the trophy after batting .385 with 2 home runs, 3 runs scored, and a remarkable 8 RBI in just three games. Batting cleanup, Ott carried the NL offense throughout the series with all five of his hits going for extra bases. Master Melvin's productive bat reminded Giants fans of his dominant performance a year earlier when he helped New York prevail in the 1933 World Series. Other leading NL contributors included Frankie Frisch, who batted .455 with 3 walks and 3 runs scored. Leadoff hitter Arky Vaughn batted .333 and scored twice. Carl Hubbell tossed a complete-game victory with just two earned runs in Game 2 to keep his team in contention.

There were several key contributors to the series victory by the American League All-Stars. Lou Gehrig batted .556 and scored a couple runs, but his only RBI came on a solo home run. Mickey Cochrane hit .462 and drove in a pair of runs. Earl Averill also batted over .400 and drove in all three runs for the AL in the championship game. Lefty Gomez surrendered only three runs in his complete-game victory in Game 3.

Cool Papa Bell led the Negro National League attack with four hits, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI, and a stolen base in his two games. Ray Dandridge and Oscar Charleston each tallied three hits and combined for three RBI. Satchel Paige gave up only one earned run in six innings to pick up the victory in Game 1.

NL All-Stars vs. AL All-Stars

The top players from the National League and the American League headed to Ebbets Field for a final game to determine the 1934 All-Star Series champion. The Junior Circuit, the home team in this contest (via coin flip), gave the ball to Cleveland ace Mel Harder. The NL sent Cubs hurler Lon Warneke to the mound.

Both pitchers kept the opposing bats in check over the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Red Sox third baseman Billy Werber led off with a single. Two batters later, Cleveland centerfielder Earl Averill belted a Warneke fastball over the right field wall. The AL maintained its 2-0 lead through the next three innings. In the top of the 8th, Frankie Frisch drew a one-out walk. Bill Terry followed with a single and Mel Ott tied the game with a two-run double into the right field corner.

Neither team scored in the ninth and the game headed to extra innings. Bobo Newsom, who replaced Harder after the eighth, surrendered a leadoff single to Arky Vaughn in the top of the tenth, but then retired the next three NL batters in order. Phillies ace Curt Davis came out of the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the 10th—this would be his first action of the series. Bill Dickey, pinch hitting in the pitcher's spot, drew a leadoff walk. Werber then hit a slow roller to short that Vaughn barehanded but then threw wildly to first. With AL runners at second and third with nobody out, Davis intentionally walked Charlie Gehringer to load the bases. Averill then singled through the drawn-in infield to drive in the winning run.

The American League claimed the championship in a competitive series that came down to the final at bat.

All-Star Series Game 4: AL 3, NL 2 (10 innings)

NNL All-Stars vs. AL All-Stars

The Negro National League All-Stars controlled their own fate heading into the third game of the series. With a win, the NNL would be crowned champions. But an AL victory would mean that all three teams finished at 1-1 and a tie-breaker (total run scored) would determine the two teams that would play for the title. The venue for this matchup was the Polo Grounds. The American League started Lefty Gomez; the NNL gave the ball to their elite southpaw, Slim Jones.

The NNL scored first when Cool Papa Bell tripled in the top of the third to drive in Chester Williams. The AL answered in the bottom of the frame after two errors and three singles plated three runs. An inning later Jones ran into more trouble after three singles loaded the bases. Bob Johnson of the Athletics then unloaded them with a three-run double. Joe Cronin later doubled home Johnson to put the AL ahead 7-1.

The NNL closed the gap in the top of the fifth after three doubles (Chester Williams, Cool Papa Bell, and Sam Bankhead) tallied a couple runs. An inning later the AL increased their lead to 9-3 after Lou Gehrig homered and Mickey Cochrane delivered an RBI single. Gomez cruised the rest of the way for a complete-game victory in which he surrendered only six hits.

Given that all three teams finished at 1-1, those last two runs by the AL proved far more important than just insurance. Total runs in the series after this game: NL (15), AL (11), NNL (9). The National League will play the American League in a final game to determine the All-Star Series champion.

All-Star Series Game 3: AL 9, NNL 3  

AL All-Stars vs NL All-Stars

The American League all-stars battled the National League all-stars at Ebbets Field in Game 2 of my 1934 series. Thwarted by defensive miscues in their first contest, the NL turned to Carl Hubbell to try to keep the powerful AL bats in check. The Junior Circuit gave the ball to Schoolboy Rowe.

The AL scored in the top of the first when Bob Johnson singled to drive in Billy Werber, who had led off the game with a double. Mel Ott put the NL on top in the bottom of the opening frame with a two-run homer that plated Arky Vaughn. Both Rowe and Hubbell then settled down to toss four straight scoreless innings. But in the sixth, Lou Gehrig tripled and came home on a Babe Ruth groundout.

With the AL leading 2-1, Wes Ferrell relieved Rowe for the seventh. The Boston hurler immediately ran into trouble. After Frankie Frisch singled, his Cardinal teammate Ripper Collins blasted a two-run shot to put the NL in front. Later in the inning, two singles, a walk, another single, and an RBI groundout added three more runs for the Senior Circuit. Lefty Stewart came on to pitch the eighth for the AL and fared no better. NL hitters put up five more runs on a three-run homer from Ott and a two-run blast from Gabby Hartnett. Hubbell went the distance for the National League, while his offense pounded out 20 hits.

The American League will try to shake off this drubbing and right the ship against the Negro National League in Game 3.

All-Star Series Game 2: NL 12, AL 2

NL All-Stars vs. NNL All-Stars

For my next set of Diamond Legacies games, I've created all-star teams from the three major leagues in 1934: American League, National League, and Negro National League. Each team will play the other teams one time. If one of the teams wins both of its games, that team is the champion. If all three teams go 1-1, then the two teams that have scored the most runs will face off in a final game for the championship.

The National League all-stars played the Negro National League all-stars in the first game. Yankee Stadium hosted the contest, and a coin flip determined the NNL was the home team. Dizzy Dean and Satchel Paige were the starting pitchers. The National League took a 1-0 lead in the second when a Gabby Hartnett groundout allowed Mel Ott to score. Arky Vaughn scored on an error in the top of the sixth to increase the NL lead to two.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Cool Papa Bell doubled. The next four NNL batters reached on two errors and two singles, scoring three runs. Bert Johnson drove in another run on a groundout and Sam Bankhead delivered an RBI-single to put the NNL ahead 5-2. Hits from Bell and Ray Dandridge in the seventh plated another run for the home team. Doubles by Bill Terry and Mel Ott in the eighth narrowed the gap to 6-3, but the National League would not score again. Paige pitched six innings to pick up the win, while Dean took the loss despite surrendering only one earned run in six innings.

All-Star Series Game 1: NNL 6, NL 3

Diamond Legacies Book 4

Time for an update about the next volume of Diamond Legacies. Work has begun! The featured year is between the first volume and the third volume in the series. The upcoming Book 4 will include the following new items:

• Hit and Run Rule: Get ready to put those runners in motion!
• Conversion Chart to translate player ratings into 1/2 and 1/3 values. Now you will instantly know what that Elite fielder needs to roll to make a diving stop of a would-be base hit.
• Modifiers List of all the modifiers used in the game. This will make it easier to remember that a batter trying to bunt gets to lower his Strikeout rating by 15.

Diamond Legacies Book 4 will be available later this spring.

1975 World Series MVP

Joe Morgan is the clear choice for my World Series MVP. The Reds second baseman batted .450 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI, and 4 stolen bases. He also drew 3 walks and one HBP, boosting his OBP to .542. The driving force in Cincinnati's offense, Morgan adds this award to the regular season MVP he won in 1975.

Other key contributors to the Reds series triumph include George Foster who hit .364 with 3 walks and a home run. Johnny Bench batted just .182, but still led his team with 5 RBI. Pete Rose also did not hit well (.185), but he did belt a home run and scored 4 runs to lead the Reds. On the mound, Cincinnati starter Fred Norman threw a dominating shutout in Game 4, his only appearance in the series. Don Gullett matched this brilliance in winning the all-important Game 7, but his struggles in his other two starts removed him from MVP consideration.

Carlton Fisk was the top performer in the Red Sox offense with a .435 average, 3 runs scored, and 3 RBI. He also drew 3 walks and led all players with 10 hits. Carl Yastrzemski batted .240, drew 3 walks and scored 3 runs. His 5 RBI paced Boston and his 2 home runs led all players in the series. Dwight Evans contributed .250, but Fred Lynn disappointed at the plate (.125). Luis Tiant pitched well in his three starts (2.11 ERA), while posting a 1-1 record. Rick Wise (1 ER in 10 innings) delivered stellar mound work for the Red Sox as did relievers Jim Willoughby, Jim Burton, and Dick Drago, who did not allow an earned run in their combined 13 1/3 innings.

It was a competitive series, with five of the seven games decided by 2 runs or less. 

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 7

The atmosphere was electric as the crowd filed into Fenway Park for Game 7. Boston fans hoped tonight would finally end the curse that had plagued their team since 1918. Cincinnati backers hoped their 108-win team could claim the crown and take their place as one of the all-time greats in baseball history. The starting pitchers were Bill Lee for Boston and Don Gullett for the Reds. What followed was one of the most unusual Diamond Legacies games I have ever played.

Leading off the game, Pete Rose reached second after Red Sox left fielder Bernie Carbo misplayed a slicing fly ball. Joe Morgan followed with a drive that looked like it would find the gap in right-center before Fred Lynn made a diving catch. Rose alertly advanced to third on the fly out. With Johnny Bench at the plate Lee threw a wild pitch that allowed Rose to score. Bench drew a walk and scored on Tony Perez's double to right. Cincinnati led 2-0, but that would be their only hit of the game.

The losing pitcher in his two previous starts in this series, Gullett brought his best stuff to Game 7. Boston's best chance to score came in the third when Dwight Evans lined a shot that hit high off the Green Monster, just missing a home run by a couple feet. With Dewey on second, Rick Burleson laid down a bunt to advance the runner to third with one out. Darrell Johnson sent Juan Beniquez to pinch hit for Lee, ending the Spaceman's night after just three innings. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Beniquez hit a one-hopper to Gullett that forced Evans to remain at third. Carbo then flied out to end the inning.

With one out in the sixth, Joe Morgan reached first after a third strike got past Carlton Fisk. Bench then followed with what looked like a double to right, before Evans made a diving catch to rob the hit. Cincinnati bats remained cold the rest of the game. It was even worse for Boston's offense. After the third inning, Gullett did not allow a single baserunner. The Reds ace allowed only two hits in a brilliant shutout performance.

Much like the real '75 Reds, the Big Red Machine was pushed to the brink before narrowly claiming the championship on the road in Game 7. It was a fun series to play with plenty of drama and tense at-bats over the seven games. Now it's time to review the stats and determine the MVP. 

Game 7: Reds 2, Red Sox 0

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 6

During the real 1975 World Series, heavy rains delayed Game 6 for three days. The time off allowed the Red Sox to give Luis Tiant his third start of the series. Cincinnati gave the ball to Gary Nolan. I will follow suit for my Game 6.

Tiant took the mound looking sharper than ever, retiring the first 14 batters he faced. Morgan drew a walk in the fourth and Foster singled in the fifth, but neither advanced past second. Cecil Cooper led off the third for Boston with a double. Following a sacrifice bunt from Doyle, Carl Yastrzemski singled to drive in the first run of the game. The Red Sox added two more in the sixth from a Petrocelli double that drove in Fisk and a Burleson single that drove in Petrocelli.

This game would not end with a 12th-inning home run off the foul pole, but it did have some late-inning drama. Trailing 3-0 in the eighth, Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson sent Terry Crowley to bat in the pitcher's spot. The pinch hitter lifted a drive to left field that just cleared the Green Monster for an opposite field solo shot. Darrell Johnson then replaced Tiant with southpaw Roger Moret. A walk to Rose and a Burleson error put Reds at first and second. With the tying run on and only one out, Moret retired Joe Morgan on a fly out. Johnson then brought in right-hander Dick Drago to face Johnny Bench. The Red Sox closer retired the slugging catcher on a grounder to short to end the threat. Drago then sent down the side in order in the ninth to close out the victory and even the series at three games apiece.

The two teams will take the field one more time in a deciding game for the 1975 World Series championship ...

Game 6: Red Sox 3, Reds 1

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 5

Having been held to just one run over the previous two games, the Red Sox faced elimination as they headed into Game 5 at Riverfront Stadium. To make matters worse for the visitors, Cincinnati would be starting the formidable Don Gullett (15-4, 2.42 ERA). Boston countered with 13-game winner Reggie Cleveland (4.43 ERA).

The Red Sox bats finally awakened in the second, when Carlton Fisk and Fred Lynn opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Rico Petrocelli followed with a single of his own to drive in the first run of the game. Dwight Evans continued the parade with an infield single, his team's fourth straight hit. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Rick Burleson drew a walk to force in another run. Cleveland then helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly to put Boston up 3-0.

Cincinnati got on the board in the third when Joe Morgan doubled home Cesar Geronimo, who had walked earlier in the inning. Gullett drew a walk to open the Reds fifth, prompting Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson to bring in Bill Lee to replace Cleveland. After retiring the next two batters, the Spaceman surrendered a single to Morgan and a double to Johnny Bench that tied the game at three apiece.

Boston reclaimed the lead in the sixth, when Fisk walked and Lynn and Evans each delivered RBI-doubles. The Red Sox bullpen held Cincinnati's offense in check to keep the score at 5-3 heading into the ninth. In the top of the frame, hits by Petrocelli, Cecil Cooper, and Juan Beniquez gave the visitors two more insurance runs. Dick Drago sent the Reds down in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the victory for Boston.

The Reds still hold a 3-2 lead in the series, but Boston's hopes have been revived as the teams head back to Fenway for Game 6.

Game 5: Red Sox 7, Reds 3 

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 4

Looking to get back on track after their narrow loss the night before, the Red Sox turned to Game 1 starter Luis Tiant. Cincinnati gave the ball to lefty Fred Norman, who posted a 12-4 record during the regular season. Boston needed a strong outing from their starter and Tiant delivered, twice working out of trouble to shut out the Reds over the first five innings. Rose, however, led off the sixth with a single. Following a Griffey fly out, Joe Morgan tripled to plate Cincinnati's first run. Tony Perez followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in Morgan. Though the Reds did not score again, their bats had done enough.

Norman turned in an October masterpiece, keeping the Red Sox hitters off-balance all night. Boston managed only three singles with no runner advancing past first base. Norman struck out 12 and walked just one in the shutout. The southpaw's dominant performance has moved his team to within one victory of their first World Series championship since 1940.

With his team facing elimination, skipper Darrell Johnson has to find some way to reignite the Red Sox offense in Game 5.

Game 4: Reds 2, Red Sox 0

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 3

For Game 3 at Riverfront Stadium the Red Sox sent 19-game winner Rick Wise to the mound, while the Reds countered with 15-game winner Gary Nolan. The visitors struck first in the opening frame when Denny Doyle singled and came home on a Carlton Fisk double into the left-center field gap. Nolan then settled down to retire 13 of the next 14 batters. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, Wise came out of the gate sharp, allowing only one hit over the first four frames. But the Boston starter ran into trouble in the fifth after two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs. Reds right fielder Ken Griffey then drew his team's third free pass of the inning to force home George Foster with the tying run.

Boston put two men on in the seventh, but could not break through against the Reds bullpen. The home team similarly could not generate much offense and the game headed into the ninth tied 1-1. Reds reliever Clay Carroll held the visitors scoreless in the top of the frame. Boston southpaw Roger Moret hoped to follow suit and send the game to extra innings.

Johnny Bench popped out to start the bottom of the ninth. Foster followed with a single and Dave Concepcion drew a walk. Red Sox skipper Darrell Johnson considered bringing in his closer Dick Drago but stuck with Moret against the lefty batting Cesar Geronimo. The Reds outfielder tapped a slow roller to Doyle, advancing the runners to second and third with two outs. With the pitcher's spot due next, Sparky Anderson called on Doug Flynn to pinch hit. Despite falling behind in the count, the rookie utilityman lined a fastball into right field to bring home the winning run.

Game 3: Reds 2, Red Sox 1

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 2

Following the historical 1975 series, the Game 2 starters were Jack Billingham for Cincinnati and Bill Lee for Boston. Also, because Jim Rice was injured and did not play in the '75 Series, I'm not using him in the Red Sox lineup. That means for some of the games Carl Yastrzemski will play left field (as he did in the real Series), where he has a Fielding Rating of 98.

Pete Rose led off the game with a double and came around to score on Tony Perez's double later in the inning. The Reds held a 1-0 lead through the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Rose lined a solo shot over the Green Monster. After retiring Morgan, Lee walked Bench and gave up a single to Perez. The Spaceman looked for a double play to get out of the jam, but instead George Foster blasted a three-run homer over the Monster to put the Reds up 5-0.

Doyle and Yastrzemski drew walks to start the Red Sox fifth. Both runners scored when Fisk followed with a double off the center field wall. Billingham retired the next three batters, but Sparky Anderson ended his night after that. With the lead down to three runs and his starter uncharacteristically wild (7 walks in 5 innings), the Reds manager brought in Will McEnaney for the sixth. The reliever posted zeroes in the next two innings, but gave up a single to Rico Petrocelli to start the eighth. Anderson then summoned rookie closer Rawly Eastwick to go for a six-out save. The Reds lead remained 5-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, when one-out hits by Cecil Cooper and Doyle brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Yastrzemski, who had tripled and drawn two walks thus far in this game. But the fireballing Eastwick squashed the threat by striking out Yaz and retiring Fisk on a line out.

Tied at one game apiece, the two teams head to Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati for Game 3. 

Game 2: Reds 5, Red Sox 2

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 1

The 1975 World Series is the next set of games I'll be playing with Book 3 of Diamond Legacies. Same as the historical series between Cincinnati and Boston that year, Game 1 took place at Fenway Park with Don Gullett pitching for the visitors and Luis Tiant taking the hill for the home team.

Carl Yastrzemski started the scoring early with a two-run blast into the right field bleachers in the first. Cincinnati got on the board in the third, when a Tiant error and two walks loaded the bases with one out. Johnny Bench hit a grounder to short and beat the throw to first to avoid a double play and allow Cesar Geronimo to score. Following a Joe Morgan single in the fifth, Bench doubled to drive in another run and tie the game. Morgan gave Cincinnati the lead in the seventh with an RBI single. 

With Gullett cruising, things were looking bleak for the fans at Fenway. In the bottom of the eighth, Yastrzemski batted with one out and Denny Doyle on first. With a dramatic swing, Yaz took Gullett deep again for another two-run homer into the right field seats. Tossing two scoreless innings in relief, Jim Burton was the winning pitcher for the Red Sox.

While Boston celebrates the late inning comeback, the Big Red Machine will be looking to even the series in Game 2 at Fenway.

Game 1: Red Sox 4, Reds 3

Yankees vs. Mets

The New York Mets squared off against the New York Yankees in a battle of third place teams. The pitching matchup featured NL Cy Young winner Tom Seaver against AL Cy Young runner up Catfish Hunter. The game took place at Shea Stadium, the home ballpark for both teams in 1975 while Yankee Stadium was being renovated.

Not surprisingly, this contest started out as a pitchers' duel. Rusty Staub homered in the fourth to put the Mets up 1-0. Elliott Maddox and Ed Herrmann led off the Yankee fifth with singles and Fred Stanley laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. With the Mets infield drawn in, Sandy Alomar grounded to third. Wayne Garrett fired to the plate, but Maddox slid under the tag with the tying run. The game remained deadlocked 1-1 until the bottom of the seventh. Maddox laced another single and advanced to third following a single by Alomar. With runners at the corners and two outs, Bobby Bonds connected for a deep fly that barely cleared the left field wall at Shea. 

Hunter cruised the rest of the way to close out the 4-1 win. Aside from the one mistake to Bonds, Seaver was terrific like usual--racking up 11 strikeouts and surrendering only 7 hits. Hunter was just a little better on this day, tossing a four-hit complete game with 8 strikeouts.

Yankees 4, Mets 1

Diamond Legacies Video

The public video on Diamond Legacies is now posted on Kurt Bergland's Baseball World. Thank you to Kurt for featuring my game on his channel!

Now Available: Diamond Legacies 1975

Volume 3 of the Diamond Legacies series is published! Rosters are provided for all of the major league teams in 1975.

Diamond Legacies 1975 is available as a paperback and as a Kindle e-book.

Diamond Legacies 1975: Second Game

For my next game with the 1975 teams, I went with Baltimore vs. California. The Orioles finished 2nd in the AL East that year and the Angels finished last in the AL West. The starting pitchers were Cy Young-winner Jim Palmer and fireballer Nolan Ryan. With these two Hall of Famers on the mound, a pitchers' duel seemed likely. And that's exactly what happened as both hurlers tossed complete games.

Palmer mowed down the Angels, racking up 13 Ks while surrendering only 7 hits. Unfortunately for Baltimore, Jerry Remy and Dave Chalk each belted unlikely solo home runs for the Halos. The Ryan Express, meanwhile, rolled through the Oriole lineup with 11 strikeouts. In typical Ryan fashion, he issued 4 walks but gave up only 4 hits in completing the shutout. Baltimore loaded the bases with two outs in the first, but that was the high point for their offense in this game.

California 2, Baltimore 0

Diamond Legacies 1975: First Game

Diamond Legacies 1975 is nearing the finish line. The second proof copy is ordered and should arrive by Thursday. Hopefully there won't be many changes to make and the finished volume will be published in about a week.

In the meantime, I've started playing games with the 1975 teams. For the first game, the Philadelphia Phillies played the Kansas City Royals. They were a couple of second-place clubs in '75 that would become fixtures in the postseason in the years that followed.

Both teams started their aces (Steve Carlton vs. Steve Busby), so it was no surprise that neither side could score through the first five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Kansas City finally broke through with a pair of runs on a George Brett RBI ground out and a John Mayberry triple. Big John drove in two more with a double in the eighth off Tug McGraw. Busby, meanwhile, was at the top of his game, tossing a 6-hit shutout. Philadelphia's best chance to score came in the ninth when they had men at the corners with just one out. But Mike Schmidt grounded into a double play to end the game. Mayberry with his 3 RBI was the hitting star for KC, while Greg Luzinski had three hits to lead the Phillies.

Kansas City 4, Philadelphia 0

Kurt Bergland's Baseball World

Diamond Legacies was recently featured on Kurt Bergland's Baseball World! If you're interested in baseball simulation games, this is the YouTube channel for you:

Kurt Bergland’s Baseball World - YouTube 

The video on my game that Kurt posted this week is available only to channel members. Info on how to join his channel is in the link above. He will be posting another video on Diamond Legacies for the public that will premiere on February 22. 

If you are here as a result of Kurt's video, welcome and thank you for your interest in my game! I'm happy to report that the third book in the series is going to be available a bit sooner than I originally predicted in an earlier post. Diamond Legacies 1975 should be available in the last week of February.

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Diamond Legacies Volume 3

February is here. That means Spring Training is right around the corner. Seems like a good time to reveal the year for the third volume of Diamond Legacies.

Start waving that fly ball fair, because the year is 1975. The new book will include rosters for all 24 major league teams that played in that historic season. As with the first two volumes, the possibilities are many. Replay either league championship series, the All-Star Game, or the epic World Series between Cincinnati and Boston. Or find out how the Big Red Machine stacks up against the Gas House Gang or Murderers' Row.

Diamond Legacies 1975 will be available before the current MLB teams finish playing their Grapefruit League and Cactus League games.

Video Review of Diamond Legacies 1927

The YouTube channel Hexed & Countered posted a video on Diamond Legacies 1927. Thank you to Joe for featuring the second volume of my game on his channel.

Diamond Legacies Kindle E-Books

Amazon has announced an upcoming change for its Kindle books that players of Diamond Legacies may find useful. Starting on January 20, verified purchasers can download their Kindle e-books as EPUB and PDF files if the titles are free of Digital Rights Management. All Kindle books in the Diamond Legacies series are DRM-free. Some players may find this PDF option helpful for printing the charts, rosters, and scorecards in the game book.

And now, another clue for the year of the upcoming third book: It is in the Divisional Era, when both the American League and National League had 12 teams.