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