Incredible series

[honestiago1]

Not 80s related, but had to pass this along. Just played a 7-game "World Series" against my dad using the 1950 Phillies versus his 1954 Indians. It was something else. Bearing in mind these are basic cards, here's what happened:

Game #1: PHI 7 CLE 1
The Indians commit 2 errors in the first three innings, leading to 3 unearned runs. PHI's Curt Simmons strikes out 9, going the distance for the victory. CLE's Mike Garcia gets pummeled for 9 hits in 4.2 inns., but WILL get his revenge (as you'll see). Ashburn, who will lead both teams in RBI for teh series, gets 2 of them on a bases loaded base knock in the second. For PHI, the last three batters in the order go a combined 6-12.

Game #2: CLE 1 PHI 0
An INCREDIBLE game. PHI's Robin Roberts pitches 1-hit ball for 7 inns., while his counterpart, Bob Lemon, holds the Phils to 3 hits. Two "fielding gems" swing the game in favor of the Indians. In the top of the 8th, Ashburn steals second against Hegan on a roll of 6 (we were playing with advanced option where catchers rated a '1' get a -4 to hold runners; Ashburn is a B stealer). Waitkus follows with a single. Ashburn, a 1-17 runner attempts to score. BANG! Doby chunks him out on a roll of 19 (we'll assume it's Doby, since there's no way of knowing with basic). Next inning, PHI threatens again, putting two men on with no outs. Unfortunately, CLE's Hegan fields a botched bunt attempt by Dick Sisler (roll of boxcars). DOUBLE PLAY! Lemon gets out of the inning, thanks to a SECOND great play by Hegan (we have to assume he applied the tag to Ashburn the previous inning). It's still 0-0 in the bottom of the 9th when Avila, a .349 hitter held to one hit in the series sends a pitch down the line (HR 1-2, DOUBLE 3-20). It's JUST FAIR! (roll of 2). CLE WINS THE GAME! Roberts ends up with a 3-hitter, and a loss.

Game #3: CLE 4 PHI 2
The series swings to PHI, where Avila follows up his game winning HR with 3 consecutive extra base hits -- a HR and a pair of doubles -- to spark CLE to 3 early runs. CLE's Philley (yes, that's his name), adds a HR in the 8th, while Bob Feller cruises to victory, allowing only four hits over the last 8 innings to get the win. PHI's Jim Konstanty makes his first appearance, holding the Indians to 1 run in 3 innnigs work.

Game #4: PHI 2 CLE 1
PHI knots the series, as spot start Ken Heintzelman throws 5.2 hitless innings to start the game. HR's by CLE's Westlake and PHI's Nicholson account for all the scoring, until the bottom of the 9th, when pinch runner Whitman is driven by Goliat, who smashes a single off CLE's Early Wynn. Wynn allows only 3 hits and 2 walks in the loss. PHI's Konstanty gets the 'w,' working 1.2 scoreless innings

Game #5: CLE 3 PHI 0
Mike Garcia's revenge. While Curt Simmons effectively labors (he will surrender 11 hits and 5 w's in 7.1 IP, but only 2 ER's), Garcia retires the first 17 men he faces. He goes on to NO HIT the Phillies, allowing only 2 walks, both to Granny Hamner. Despite missing out on multiple scoring opportunities (including scoring no runs in the 7th, when they had the bases loaed [two flyball C's to Ennis, so one assumes he threw darts to the plate to hold the runners]), Cle pulls ahead in the series 3 games to 2, with the last two games to be played at CLE. The downside? Avila is lost for the series with an injury.

Game #6: PHI 5 CLE 2
The whiz kids knot the series in another great matchup between Lemon and Roberts. Robin comes out on top this time, going the distance, surrendering 5 hits and 3 W's in the victory. After Rosen's 1st inning HR, Roberts mows down the Indians, allowing the Tribe 1 hit over the last six innings of the game. Bob Lemon is victimized by poor defense in the first. An error by Avila's replacement, Dente, leads to an unearned run, while a passed ball on Hegan leads to another. PHI explodes for 4 runs in the first two innings, then rides Roberts' arm to the win. The series is now tied.

Game #7: PHI 5 CLE 1 (10 inns.)
The improbable Whiz Kids win the series behind three scoreless innings from Jim Konstanty in relief of Bubba Church. Richie Ashburn's double drives in two runs in the 10th off DOn Mossi, who gives a courageous performance in relief, coming in for Bob Feller, who sustained an injury in the 3rd inning. Mossi sees runners in scoring position 5 times before finally allowing Hamner's SF and Ashburn's double ni the 10th. An error by Glynn allows the fourth and final Phillie run of the extra frame to cross the plate before Konstanty gets the Indians to go down meekly in the bottom of the inning (only Hegan's line drive has a chance at being a single).

CLE allows only 21 runs, 15 of them earned. But PHI is better -- allowing 13 runs TOTAL. Ashuburn is the MVP of a series that was more exciting than I can describe. It was simply GREAT. I've never played a group of Strat games in a row that were all so full of drama. Improbable results, unexpected performances by secondary players (Heintzelman, Church). It was something else. It should be noted here that CLE sustained THREE injuries in the series. Al Smith missed game #2, while Avila missed the last two games of the series. Bob Feller "pulled up lame" in the 3rd inning of game #7. SO injuries played a role, we well.

Anyway, a great evening of Strat was had by all. :D