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1980s RECAP
The 1980’s brought the beginning of the end of the Cold War, but the pennant races were anything but cold.
EASTERN DIVISION
Despite dominating the season series, the Boston Red Sox trailed the New York Mets by three games heading into Shea Stadium. Although they held the tie-breaker, only a sweep would give the Red Sox the Division Title. Bruce Hurst and Sid Fernandez each pitched well, but the contest wasn’t decided until the 8th inning, when Jim Rice crushed the Fernandez offering out of the park for his 50th home run of the season. The Mets lost Lenny Dykstra for the remainder of the season as well. In Game Two, the Red Sox backed Roger Clemens’ complete game by scoring eight runs, paced by home runs from Dwight Evans and Bill Buckner. Dwight Gooden took the loss for the Mets, and the Red Sox stood one game behind with one game to play. Tom Seaver took the mound against his former team in the final game, opposed by Bob Ojeda facing his former team. The Red Sox struck first, with Ellis Burks hitting a leadoff home run. The pitchers continued to dominate, until the 7th, when a two out Evans double knocked in Dave Henderson, making the score 2-0. Steve Crawford entered the game with two outs in the 8th to retire Kevin Mitchell. In the bottom of the 9th, Gregg Jefferies lined out for the first out, but Danny Heep and Wally Backman both singled off Crawford. Manager Davey Johnson then sent aging slugger George Foster to the plate as a pinch-hitter, and Foster came through, singling to center, scoring Heep. John McNamara then called on reliever Joe Sambito to turn switch-hitter Lee Mazzilli around, but the strategy backfired, as Mazzilli hit a long fly to center, scoring Backman with the tying run. Now, with Foster on second, Sambito intentionally walked Keith Hernandez to set up the force play, but then walked Darryl Strawberry as well, loading the bases. Facing lefty-killer Gary Carter with the division-winning run 90 feet away, Sambito stood strong, inducing a groundout to Wade Boggs at third base. In the 10th, after Don Baylor flew out to start the inning, Marty Barrett singled to left and then promptly stole second base. Rich Gedman then tried to bunt Barrett over to third, but Carter grabbed the ball and fired to third to attempt to throw out Barrett. However, Barrett slid to the outfield side of the bag, avoiding the tag by Ray Knight. Now, with light-hitting shortstop Spike Owen, singled to center, scoring Barrett with the go-ahead run. Johnson then called on Jesse Orosco, but Orosco walked Ellis Burks, loading the bases. Wade Boggs came to the plate, but, in a truly inexplicable play that neither Boggs nor McNamara would claim credit for after the game, Boggs attempted a suicide squeeze, with Gedman being forced at the plate. Orosco now faced Jim Rice, needing to retire the slugger so his Mets could try to tie the game. Rice singled to right, scoring both Spike Owen and Ellis Burks, while Orosco, instead of covering home, threw his glove high in the air in disgust. After the dust cleared, the clearly shaken Orosco, uncorked a wild pitch to batter Tony Armas, allowing Wade Boggs to score the 4th run of the inning for the Red Sox, making the score 6-2. In the bottom of the 10th, Mitchell grounded out, Jefferies lined out, and Ray Knight doubled. Before Sambito faced the Mets last hope in Wally Backman, the Shea Stadium scoreboard flashed, “Congratulations Boston Red Sox, Eastern Division Champions,”…….and nothing happened. Sambito struck out Backman, tossed his glove in the air, and the Red Sox enjoyed a long-overdue celebration on the infield grass of Shea Stadium.
The Division-winning Red Sox were led at the plate by Jim Rice (50 HR, 127 RBI), Dwight Evans (39 HR, 107 RBI), Wade Boggs (.313 AVG, 20 HR, 82 RBI), and Dave Henderson (35 HR, 100 RBI). Roger Clemens (18-12, League-leading 2.48 ERA, 320 K)), Bruce Hurst (18-12, 3.92 ERA), and Tom Seaver (19-18) led the starting staff for John McNamara.
The New York Mets battled until the last day of the season, paced by Gary Carter (31 HR, 114 RBI), Darryl Strawberry (31 HR, 106 RBI), and Keith Hernandez (.290 AVG, 104 Runs, 71 RBI) on offense, while Dwight Gooden (17-22, 3.13 ERA, 345 K), David Cone (24-11, 3.50 ERA), and Randy Myers (44 Saves) were the best on the mound.
The Toronto Blue Jays finished in third place, 6 games back of the Red Sox and Mets. Dave Stieb (14-17, 3.20 ERA) and Tom Henke (41 Saves) were the best pitchers for Jimy Williams, while George Bell (42 HR, 112 RBI) and Al Oliver (.311 AVG, 24 HR, 94 RBI) were the best offensive performers.
The New York Yankees fell to the cellar, though Ron Guidry (15-23, 3.45 ERA), Don Mattingly (.308 AVG, 32 HR, 112 RBI, Rickey Henderson (28 HR, 112 Runs) and Dave Winfield (37 HR, 113 RBI) performed admirably.
CENTRAL DIVISION
The Milwaukee Brewers took the Central Division crown in a rout. Harvey Kuenn got great pitching from Teddy Higuera (19-14, 2.97 ERA), Don Sutton (22-9, 3.52 ERA), Mike Caldwell (20-17, 3.87 RBI), and Rollie Fingers (34 Saves), but Harvey’s Wallbangers were the real strength of the Brew Crew: League MVP Robin Yount (.323 AVG, 35 HR, 118 RBI, 118 Runs, amazing 62 Doubles), Cecil Cooper (.305 AVG, 35 HR, 119 RBI), Gorman Thomas (52 HR, 130 RBI), Sixto Lezcano (37 HR, 91 RBI), Don Money (.307 AVG, 38 HR, 102 RBI), Ben Oglivie (29 HR), and Ted Simmons (19 HR, 80 RBI).
The Detroit Tigers managed a winning season, led for the most part by closer Willie Hernandez (43 Saves), shortstop Allen Trammell (.326 AVG, 37 HR, 97 RBI, 102 Runs, 21 Steals), left fielder Kirk Gibson (41 HR, 110 RBI, 28 Steals), catcher Lance Parrish(38 HR, 100 RBI), second baseman Lou Whitaker(92 Runs, 42 Doubles), and center fielder Chet Lemon (18 HR).
The third-place Philadelphia Phillies had good pitching in Steve Carlton (19-13, 2.68 ERA), Jim Lonborg (14-14, 3.97 ERA), Jim Kaat (15-11, 3.60 ERA), Tug McGraw (43 Saves), but did not get enough offense to add to an MVP-type season by Mike Schmidt (56 HR, 140 RBI, 123 Runs, leading the League in each category), and strong years by Pete Rose (.300 AVG, 109 Runs, 41 Doubles), Bake McBride (19 HR, 95 Runs, 50 Steals) and Greg Luzinski (43 HR, 114 RBI).
The Baltimore Orioles finished last, though the once-proud franchise had good years from Jim Palmer (16-18, 3.08 ERA), Eddie Murray (24 HR, 92 RBI), and Cal Ripken (27 HR, 87 RBI).
WESTERN DIVISION
The Chicago Cubs won the Western Division title, despite a string push from the San Diego Padres. The Cubs were led on offense by second baseman Ryne Sandberg (32 HR, 100 RBI, 23 Steals) and centerfielder Andre Dawson (33 HR, 111 RBI, 106 Runs, 18 Steals), while Greg Maddux (25-9, 2.52 ERA), Rick Sutcliffe (17-11, 3.60 ERA), and Lee Smith (38 Saves) helped pitch the Cubs to the crown.
The surprising San Diego Padres won the Wild Card for manager Dick Williams, and were led by Cy Young Award and Fireman of the Year Award winner Goose Gossage, who saved 45 games. Starter Randy Jones (20-16, 3.18) paced a very strong starting staff, while Tony Gwynn (League-leading .340 AVG, 96 Runs, League-leading 56 Steals), Steve Garvey (29 HR, 102 RBI), Kevin McReynolds (24 HR, 72 RBI), and Graig Nettles (24 HR) led the offense.
The Houston Astros produced a winning season, with Mike Scott (3.74 ERA, League-leading 354 K), Nolan Ryan (19-12, 3.24 ERA), Joe Niekro (19-15, 3.66 ERA), Dave Smith (12-4, 20 Saves), Glenn Davis (28 HR, 86 RBI), Dickie Thon (18 HR), and Kevin Bass (19 HR, 75 RBI) having good seasons.
The last place Atlanta Braves had trouble pitching-wise in the Launching Pad, though the park did contribute to big offensive seasons for Bob Horner (38 HR, 102 RBI), Dale Murphy (25 HR, 80 RBI), and Brett Butler (.298 AVG, 104 Runs, 44 Steals)
SEMI-FINALS
The San Diego Padres traveled to Milwaukee’s County Stadium for Game One of the Semi-Finals. Mike Caldwell and closer Rollie Fingers combined to hold the Padres to 4 hits en route to a shutout, while Sixto Lezcano bashed two home runs and drove in 6, as the Brewers beat the Padres 9-0.
Game Two was a much closer affair. The Padres took an early 2-0 lead off starter Eric Show on a home run by Johnny Briggs and an RBI double by Carmelo Martinez, but the Brewers scored once in the bottom of the 2nd when Cecil Cooper singled in Gorman Thomas. In the bottom of the 5th, Marshall Edwards, in the lineup because of an injury to Don Money, doubled to right-center, scoring Ted Simmons and tying the game at 2. Show, who had pitched well until the 7th, completely unraveled in that frame. Cooper led off with a single to right, and then a wild pitch and a balk later, Cooper was on third. Ted Simmons then lashed a single to right, and the Brewers had the lead. After giving Sutton the lead, manager Harvey Kuenn went to Fingers for a 6 out save, and the Brew Crew won 3-2.
Game Three began in Jack Murphy Stadium, with the Padres fans looking for some glimmer of hope. Teddy Higuera offered none. The talented southpaw shut the Padres out on only five hits, walking one and striking out 9. Gorman Thomas hit a two-run home run, while Paul Molitor and Robin Yount doubled in runs to lead the Brewers to a 4-0 victory.
Looking for the sweep, the Brewers began Game Four in dominant fashion, as Gorman Thomas stroked a grand slam off Padres starter Dave Dravecky, and the Brewers staked Pete Vuckovich to a quick 5-0 lead. Thomas would homer again in the 8th, while Vuckovich allowed one run and struck out 10, while walking none in the complete game win. Harvey’s Wallbangers left the Padres feeling punch-drunk in a quick 4-0 sweep of the series.
SEMI-FINALS
Two hard-luck franchises met in the other Semi-Final series, with the Chicago Cubs hosting the Boston red Sox in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. Game One would be a matchup of aces, as Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux took the mound. The Cubs struck early, as Ryne Sandberg launched a two-run home run into the centerfield bleachers. Jody Davis answered a Wade Boggs solo shot with one of his own in the 4th, and, in the bottom of the 7th, Leon Durham deposited a grand slam beyond the right field fence and onto Sheffield Avenue. The Cubs would go on to win Game One 9-2.
In Game Two, the two teams traded punches early, as Jim Rice doubled in a run off Rick Sutcliffe in the top of the 1st, while Durham drove in another run with a single off Tom Seaver. In the 3rd, Ellis Burks doubled into the right field corner, then stole third and scored on Jody Davis’ throwing error. In the top of the 5th, after loading the bases, Sutcliffe served up a pitch to Dwight Evans’ liking, and he crushed his own grand slam into center, giving Seaver and the Sox a 7-1 cushion. The Cubs would score on home runs by Ron Cey and Shawon Dunston, but the damage had already been done, as the Red Sox went on to an 8-4 win.
Game Three moved to Boston’s Fenway Park, where the Cubs Dennis Eckersley would face his old Red Sox squad. A Bob Dernier double and Gary Matthews single gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead on Boston lefty Bruce Hurst, followed by Jody Davis’ home run in the 2nd. The Sox answered in the bottom of the 2nd with a Jim Rice home run into the centerfield bleachers. The Red Sox then scored 3 runs in the 4th, with a Jim Rice triple, Dwight Evans single, and Marty Barrett single driving home the runs. The 4-2 lead was lost quickly, because in the top of the 5th, the Cubs exploded for 5 runs, as Gary Matthews and Ron Cey each homered. In the 8th, Jody Davis hit his second home run of the game, and the Cubs and Eckersley won the game 10-4.
Game Four saw the Fenway faithful quickly disappointed, as Ryne Sandberg 2-run home run was answered by a similar blast from teammate Mel Hall, resulting in an early 4-0 lead for the Cubs off the enigmatic Oil Can Boyd. Ron Cey homered later in the game, and Rick Reuschel gave the Cubs 6-plus innings before giving way to closer Lee Smith, and the Cubs took a 5-1 victory.
Game Five, with their backs against the wall, the Red Sox knew they would have to master Greg Maddux this time around for their season to continue. Both Maddux and Sox starter Roger Clemens had all their powers going early, as both high-powered offenses were shut down in the early part of the game. In the bottom of the 6th, Ellis Burks singled to center, then stole second and went to third on another throwing error by Jody Davis. Wade Boggs then did his job, popping a sacrifice fly to right. Dave Henderson then launched a solo bomb over the Green Monster, and the Red Sox had a 2-0 lead. In the top of the 7th, Sandberg turned his ankle, leaving his participation in the rest of the series in doubt. Leon Durham then reached base when his slow roller went right between first baseman Bill Buckner’s legs, and then Mel Hall homered to center, tying the game. In the bottom of the 8th, Maddux walked Wade Boggs, and then gave up a single to Jim Rice. With the go-ahead runs on base, Dwight Evans battled Maddux to a full count and then crushed Maddux’s final offering of the night into the centerfield bleachers. The Red Sox now led 5-2, and that lead would stand, cutting the Cubs series lead to 3-2.
With a return to Wrigley Field, the Cubs and Red Sox came together for Game Six. Tom Seaver and Rick Sutcliffe would take the mound for the respective teams. Both pitchers threw well, and not a run was scored until the bottom of the 4th, when crowd favorite Andre Dawson hit a long home run to center. Sutcliffe would continue his mastery of the Red Sox bats, allowing only 2 hits while striking out five before giving way to closer Lee Smith in the 7th. The Cubs would score another run on Spike Owen’s error in the 8th, and Smith continued to shut out the Sox, giving the Cubs a 2-0 win and a 4-2 Series victory.
WORLD SERIES
Game One, set for Milwaukee’s County Stadium, matched Greg Maddux and Mike Caldwell. Both pitchers were masterful early, and no one scored until Bob Dernier singled in the top of the 6th, and Sarge Matthews drove him home with a single. In the bottom of the 6th, Maddux loaded the bases with no out, and surrendered 2 runs when Cecil Cooper singled and Don Money hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Rollie Fingers entered the game in the 8th, but was rudely treated by the cornered Cubbies. Shawon Dunston singled, stole second, and took third on a passed ball by catcher Ted Simmons. Bob Dernier singled Dunston in, stole second, then took third when Paul Molitor muffed Matthews’ ground ball. One out later, Ron Cey drove home the Cubs’ third run of the game. Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Maddux began the 9th, getting one out before Sixto Lezcano singled. Instead of going to closer Lee Smith, Jim Frey called for lefty Mitch Williams to face Jim Gantner. However, Harvey Kuenn countered with Mark Brouhard, who also singled. Center fielder Andre Dawson tried to cut down Lezcano at third but failed, allowing Brouhard to move his game-winning run up to second base. Tom Hume entered the game for the Cubs, and Paul Molitor greeted him with a sacrifice fly to center, and once again Lezcano was safe ahead of Dawson’s throw, with Brouhard taking third. After Robin Yount was intentionally walked, Frey called on George Frazier, but he couldn’t stop the bleeding, as Ben Oglivie slapped a single to right, scoring Brouhard with the game-winning run, as the Brewers won Game One in thrilling fashion, 4-3. When asked about his decision to not use Lee Smith, Frey said, “I was trying to play the matchups. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. That’s just baseball.” Smith had no comment.
Game Two saw Brewers hurler Don Sutton greeted by a two-out solo shot by second baseman Ryne Sandberg in the top of the 1st, giving the Cubs an early lead. The one-two punch of Sandberg and Dawson struck again in the top of the 4th, when Dawson homered over the center field fence, and the Cubs led 2-0. IN the bottom of the 4th against Rick Sutcliffe, Yount singled to center, and, after a Ben Oglivie strikeout, Gorman Thomas doubled to center, with Yount taking third. With the infield in, Sutcliffe got exactly what he wanted, as Cecil Cooper hit a hard grounder to shortstop Shawon Dunston, but the ball went right through Dunston, allowing both runners to score. Later, in the bottom of the 5th, Ben Oglivie untied the game with a two run home run to right field, scoring Robin Yount. Fingers entered in the top of the 8th and recorded an easy 6 out save, and the Brewers won 5-2, taking the first two Series games.
The Series moved to Wrigley Field, but Game Three was over almost before it got started. Two Brewer icons, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount, led off the game with back-to-back home runs off Cubs starter Dennis Eckersley. Molitor wasn’t done because, in the top of the 2nd, he smashed his second home run of the game, a two run shot onto Waveland Avenue. Meanwhile, Brewer southpaw Teddy Higuera was mowing done one Cub after another. Higuera allowed only 5 hits in a complete game shutout of the Cubs, as Milwaukee won 4-0, taking a commanding 3-0 Series lead.
Game Four was a battle of #4 starters, as Pete Vuckovich and Rick Reuschel locked up. The Cubs scored first, as Mark Grace tripled in Jody Davis in the bottom of the 3rd. Ryne Sandberg then led off the bottom of the 4th with a single and promptly stole second. Leon Durham then deposited the Vuckovich offering into the center field bleachers, to the joy of the Wrigley faithful. Sandberg knocked in another run for the Cubbies in the 5th, as he singled in Henry Cotto. Durham then hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Cey. Rick Reuschel, relegated to 4th starter duties, did not let adversity affect him, going 7.2 shutout innings before giving way to closer Lee Smith with two outs in the 8th. Cubs fans gave sarcastic applause as Frey made the move, remembering Frey’s move in Game One, when he passed over Smith in a save situation. Things worked out this time, however, as Smith got the save in the Cubs 5-0 shutout win.
Game Five saw a repeat of Game One’s Maddux/Caldwell matchup. In the bottom of the 1st, Ron Cey, who Frey moved to second to allow the lefty-basher to face Caldwell as often as possible, slammed a solo home run into the houses beyond Waveland Avenue. Other than an ankle sprain to Brewer center field Gorman Thomas, the game was uneventful for the next few innings, as both Caldwell and Maddux pitched well. Maddux was especially strong, giving the Cubs 6 innings of two-hit, shutout baseball, with no walks and 7 strikeouts. Lee Smith entered for the Cubs in the 7th and retired the side, but, in the 8th, walked Don Money and allowed a single by Ted Simmons. Jim Gantner then lifted a one-out fly to right, allowing Money to score ahead of the throw, tying the game. With the game tied, Kuenn sent Caldwell back to the mound in the bottom of the 8th. Bob Dernier walked, but Caldwell then retired Cey on strikes. Andre Dawson sent a long fly to right, and, though Sixto Lezcano got under the ball, he didn’t secure it, and Dernier moved to third on the error, while Dawson made it to second base. Caldwell pitched carefully around Gary Woods, but it was all for naught when Ryne Sandberg singled to right, scoring Dernier and Dawson. Rollie Fingers then entered the game and struck out the remaining two Cubs batters, but the damage was done, and the Cubs led 3-1. Smith took the hill again in the top of the 9th, and retired Oglivie on a line drive to Sandberg at second. Marshall Edwards, replacing the injured Thomas in center, singled into the 5-6 hole, just beating a strong throw by Shawon Dunston. Smith’s wild pitch allowed Edwards to move to second. Smith then struck out Cecil Cooper, taking the Brewers hopes down to their final out. Larry Hisle, who had entered the game as a pinch-runner for Ted Simmons in the 8th, singled to left, scoring Edwards and making the score 3-2. Incredibly, on the next pitch, Hisle, who had stolen all of two bases in the regular season, broke for second. Catcher Jody Davis calmly threw to Dunston, who applied the tag for the final out, giving the Cubs a 3-2 win. After the game, Harvey Kuenn placed the blame on missed signs. “Ned Yost is supposed to be doin’ a hit and run right there, but he didn’t get the sign right. He didn’t do the HIT part of the hit and run, and it ain’t never gonna work that way.”
Game Six returned the Series to County Stadium, where baseball history would soon be made. Sutcliffe and Sutton met in a pitcher’s duel for the ages. Through six innings, Sutton had a 2-hit shutout. But the story was Rick Sutcliffe, who through six innings had a perfect game. Sutton retired the Cubs in the top of the 7th. Sutcliffe struck out Paul Molitor to begin the bottom of the second, but on the next pitch, Shawon Dunston bobbled Robin Yount’s grounder, ruining Sutcliffe’s perfect game. The next batter, Ben Oglivie, stung a line drive to the right side, but Ryne Sandberg made a beautiful diving catch and doubled Yount off at first, ending the inning, preserving Sutcliffe’s no-hitter and shutout. Sutton was twirling a shutout of his own heading into the top of the 8th, and he induced Gary Matthews to lineout to Yount before striking out Mark Grace. However, the man who saved the no-hitter for the Cubs a few moments before was at the plate, and Sandberg made sure that his pitcher would take a lead when he blasted a curve ball deep to left, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Sutcliffe began the bottom of the 8th with his no-hitter intact. Cooper grounded out, but Don Money walked. Larry Hisle pinch-ran and stole second, safely this time, and he tagged and moved to third on Ted Simmons’ deep fly to right defensive replacement Henry Cotto. Lezcano then walked, but Sutcliffe got a ground ball to short from Marshall Edwards, and the Brewers threat was over. The Cubs did not score in the top of the 9th, and the Brewers fans were somewhat conflicted. Did they want to see history made, or did they want their Brewers to end the suspense and take the World Series title in thrilling fashion? No matter the reason, 45,661 fans were on their feet screaming as pinch-hitter Ned Yost dug in to start the bottom of the 9th. Sutcliffe was economical, placing two fastballs on the outside corner at the knees, then getting a swinging strikeout on a sharp curve. Paul Molitor then grounded the first pitch of his at bat to Sandberg, who threw on to first. Two out. Sutcliffe’s outside knee-level strategy was not rewarded against Robin Yount, as both pitches were ruled just off the plate. Sutcliffe recovered, but his 3-2 pitch was just off the plate, and Yount walked. Now, one out from a no-hitter and a Cubs win, Ben Oglivie stepped to the plate. Oglivie had homered off Sutcliffe in Game Two and had also hit the smash in the 7th that Sandberg luckily gloved before it could fall for a hit. Oglivie worked a1-0 count. Sutcliffe then offered a fastball away, which the free-swinging Oglivie missed. Sutcliffe tried again, but Oglivie laid off. The count was 2-1. Sutcliffe’s next pitch was a beautiful 12-6 curve, which buckled Oglivie’s knees as he took the pitch, noticing the break much too late. Sutcliffe went away with a fastball again, and Oglivie, to his credit, did not offer. The count was full. Sutcliffe did not want to come in on Oglivie, giving him the opportunity to turn on a fastball and end the no-hitter and the game and the Series with one swing. But, he didn’t want to walk Oglivie and bring up feared slugger Gorman Thomas. Davis called for the curve, but Sutcliffe shook him off. Davis called for the fastball away. Sutcliffe nodded and moved into the stretch. After checking Yount at first, Sutcliffe threw to the plate. Oglivie recognized the outside fastball and gave a beautiful, vicious swing, staying inside the baseball as he had been taught on such a pitch. He laced a missile towards the 5-6 hole, but Shawon Dunston, who had fumbled away the perfect game in the 7th, atoned for his mistake, diving to his right and snaring the line drive. Three outs. The Cubs mobbed Sutcliffe on the mound, as Yount and Oglivie trudged off to the clubhouse. The Cubs had won 1-0, had staved off elimination, and had watched Rick Sutcliffe enter baseball immortality. Sutcliffe said, “Jody called a great game. My curve was really working, but I really was able to spot the fastball. That was the key, along with some simply great plays by our defense. Hopefully, this can spark us to come out ready to win this thing tomorrow.”
It did not. Game Seven began with Teddy Higuera on the mound, and retired the Cubs in the top of the 1st. In the bottom of the frame, Eckersley surrendered a two run home run to Robin Yount and a solo shot to Cecil Cooper, giving the Brew Crew a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd, Yount and Cooper continued their barrage against Eckersley. Yount blasted another two run home run, this time to center, Oglivie doubled and Cooper singled him in. Frey called on Tom Hume to try and stop the bleeding, but Hume wasn’t up to the task. He walked Don Money, then surrendered back-to-back run-scoring singles to Ted Simmons and Sixto Lezcano. After the carnage was complete, the Harvey’s Wallbangers led 8-0 after 2 innings. In the 4th, Andre Dawson hit a two run home run, but Simmons answered with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame. Jody Davis homered in the top of the 5th, but, by now, Higuera was just pitching to limit the damage. In the bottom of the 6th, Hume walked Yount. Oglivie’s double to left scored Yount, and Cooper singled Oglivie in. Rich Bordi made his first Series appearance for the Cubs, but it didn’t matter. Two More hits and a force out later, the Brewers led 12-3. In the bottom of the 7th, the Brew Crew smelled blood in the water. Molitor doubled to center and Robin Yount walked. Dunston then bobbled Oglivie’s grounder and the bases were loaded. Cecil Cooper then slapped a grounder to third that Cey knocked down, but he had no play, as Molitor scored and the bases remained loaded. County Stadium erupted next, when Don Money crushed Bordi’s offering to center for a grand slam. George Frazier entered the fray and retired the Brewers, but they now led 17-4. Higuera gave way to Bob McClure in the 8th and, though the Cubs scored another run and loaded the bases in the 9th, the Milwaukee lead was insurmountable. Cecil Cooper went 5-5 with a homer and 5 RBI, Robin Yount had 2 homers and 4 RBI, and Don Money hit a grand slam in the final contest of a great World Series. Harvey’s Wallbangers, indeed.
1982 MILWAUKEE BREWERS
WORLD CHAMPIONS
League Awards
MVP—Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers
CY YOUNG AWARD—Goose Gossage, San Diego Padres
FIREMAN OF THE YEAR— Goose Gossage, San Diego Padres
League Leaders
Batting Average-Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres .340 AVG
Home Runs-Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies 56 HR
RBI- Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies 140 RBI
Runs- Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies 123 Runs
Hits- Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers 224 Hits
Doubles- Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers 62 2B
Triples- Brett Butler, Atlanta Braves 17 3B
Stolen Bases-Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres 56 SB
Hit Streak-Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers 31 games
Pitching Leaders
Wins- Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs 25-9
Saves-Goose Gossage, San Diego Padres 45 Saves
Strikeouts-Mike Scott, Houston Astros 354 K
ERA-Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox 2.48 ERA
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