Tue, 15 Feb 2000
Chips 7, Titans 3:
Jimmie Foxx went 3-4 with two RBIs and Steve Carlton pitched
7.2 strong innings as the Silicon Valley Chips (7-13) ended their season as they
started it--with a win. Today, it was over the Tri-City Titans (8-12). The
Chips victimzed their ex-teammate Sandy Koufax, touching him up for five runs in
as many innings. However, three of them were unearned on an error by Joe
Cronin. The result's only real significance was on order of finish. The loss
puts the Titans in a tie with the defending champion Powers, who have tiebreaker
advantage. Thus the Powers regain 4th place. But the result also capped a
season of dramatic improvement for the Titans, in which they doubled their win
total from last year. And the Chips, while in last place, finish only one game
out of 4th place with the win.
Hits: Chips 17, Titans 14
Winning pitcher: Carlton
Losing pitcher: Koufax
Homeruns: Hank Aaron, Charlie Gehringer
Doubles: Stan Musial, Jimmie Foxx
Error: Cronin
Gehrig Homers Twice as Dawgs get Wrong Kind of Shuout
Tue, 8 Feb 2000
Reps 5, Red Dawgs 0:
Lou Gehrig had only the 4th multi-homer game in HBWRL history and Ed Walsh and
Red Faber combined on an eight hit shutout, as the Minneapolis Reps (12-8)
defeated the regular season champion Myers Red Dawgs (14-6). The game was a
World Series preview, as the Reps clinched a playoff berth with a win. The
Dawgs had needed a shutout to break the all-time ERA record of 2.04, and a win
to become the winningest team (in percentage terms) in HBWRL history. But it
was the Reps--perhaps remojoized by GM Kevin C.'s boxing lessons--perhaps
wanting to make a statement for the World Series--who got the shutout.
The Dawgs started the year an impressive 13-3, but dropped three of their last
four games to finish at 14-6. Still, they broke two records--most wins in a
season (14; old record was 13), and lowest H/IP by a team in a season (1.05; old
record was 1.21). They also finished with a league low ERA of 2.23. Thus the
World Series will once again feature the league's best offense against its best
pitching. In 12 prior games so-billed, the hitting and pitching leaders split,
6-6. Both GMs--Kevin C. from the boxing ring and Jak Myers from the Citgo in
Manassas--promise a competitive series.
Hits: Reps 11, Red Dawgs 8
Winning pitcher: Walsh
Losing pitcher: Eddie Plank
Homeruns: Gehrig 2
Stolen bases: Richie Allen, Barry Bonds, Tris Speaker, Nap Lajoie
Caught stealing: Bonds, Speaker
Streaks Continue as Burke Stays Alive--Mathematically
Thu, 3 Feb 2000
Upper-Deckers 1, Powers 0:
The Burke Upper-Deckers (11-9) finished their season with a six game winning
streak, beating the outgoing HBWRL champion Karas Powers (8-12), 1-0. It was
Burke's 3rd shutout in four games. However, barring a 17 run loss by the Reps
in their next game, Burke will not go to the playoffs. The results does put an
exclamation point on Burke's season, however. As an expansion franchise, the
team has put together back to back 11-9 seasons. If the Red Dawgs beat the Reps
(by less than 17 runs), then Burke will have tied the Reps at 11-9 (but lost by
tiebreaker) in both years. But this year's tie is more significant, as a
playoff berth is at stake.
The Commissioner is also pleased to note that, barring a Reps loss of at least
17 runs, ("that's a lot of runs to lose by!" said one Amazon.com advertiser)
each of the league's four non-expansion teams will have been represented in the
World Series during the last two seasons. In this game, Joe McGinnity pitched
the shutout, outdueling Carl Hubbell. Former Power Yogi Berra drove in the
game's only run; and dealt the Powers their third straight loss. The Powers
will finish in 4th or 5th place, depending on the Titans/Chips game.
Four things are on the line in the next game. As noted, the Dawgs must win by
17 runs for Burke to make the playoffs. The Dawgs must win by shutout (or more
precisely, allow no earned runs, assuming they pitch nine innings) to break the
ERA record. The Dawgs will break the H/IP record, barring a "hit parade" by the
Reps. And the Dawgs must win--outright--to become the winningest team (in
percentage) terms in HBWRL history.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 14, Powers 6
Winning pitcher: McGinnity
Losing pitcher: Hubell
Doubles: Joe Jackson, Jim Rice
Stolen base: Jackson
Error: Eddie Mathews
Greenberg's Blast Gives Dawgs a Record Season
Wed, 2 Feb 2000
Red Dawgs 5, Chips 3 (12 innnings):
In a memorable game with many subplots, the Myers Red Dawgs (14-5) became the
first HBWRL team ever to win 14 regular season games, beating the Silicon Valley
Chips (6-13), 5-3 in 12 innings. It was the Chips' 13th loss in their last 16
games. It was also the Chips' 2nd 12 inning loss in their last three games.
While the game was tightly contested throughout, the Dawgs had an excellent
chance to win in the 9th. George Sisler's RBI single broke a 2-2 tie, and gave
the Dawgs a 3-2 lead heading to the bottom of the 9th. In addition, the
Dawgs--having allowed two earned runs already--could not allow another earned
run, and keep their hopes of breaking the team ERA record alive. Dazzy Vance
came on to try to save the game for Dawgs starter Hippo Vaughn, who allowed just
four hits in eight strong innings. Vance retired two of the first three batters
he faced, leaving the Chips down to their last out, with Lefty O'Doul at first
base, and Jimmie Foxx representing the winning run at the plate.
Foxx's routine liner to short was dropped by Ray Chapman. Foxx reached as
O'Doul took second base on the error. The error proved costly, because the next
batter, Joe DiMaggio, doubled to rightcenter field, scoring O'Doul. While the
run was unearned, the game now hung in the balance. With the winning run and
third base and two out, Vance intentionally walked George Brett, who had already
homered, to load the bases for Johnny Bench. Bench batted in the situation we
all dream of--two out, bases loaded, bottom of the 9th, tie game. And it just
happens, you can shatter the other team's hopes for breaking records in the
process. Now it was the Chips who had an excellent chance to win in the 9th.
But Vance struck out Bench, sending the game to extra innings.
The extra innings were largely uneventful, as they were characterized by good
pitching from Vance and Chips reliever Freddie Fitzsimmons. But with one out in
the top of the 12th, Barry Bonds singled. On the next pitch, a "hit and run"
play, Greenberg took Fitzsimmons deep into "death valley," hitting a two run
homer into centerfield of his old stomping ground. In the bottom of the inning,
Vance retired two more batters, before Ron Guidry recorded the final out.
Ironically, Chapman's error, which nearly cost the Red Dawgs the game, also
nearly gave their pitching staff the help they need to break the ERA record.
Because the run was unearned, it didn't inflate the Dawgs' ERA. But because the
error prolonged the game for three innings, it helped the Dawgs' ERA. Had the
game gone nine innings, the Dawgs would have been required to pitch a shutout in
their final game to get the ERA record. They still must (assuming that they
pitch nine innings in that game), but barely. Allowing one earned run in that
game would give the Dawgs a final ERA of 2.0359. The Powers' record mark is
2.0357.
Up next, the defending HBWRL champion Powers try to end their season on a high
note, by eliminating one of the teams that they blame for their demise--the
Burke Upper-Deckers.
Homeruns: Brett, Greenberg
Doubles: Sisler, Chapman, DiMaggio
Error: Chapman
Intentional Base on Balls: By Vance (Brett)
Burke Wins Again to Stay Alive; But Devil May be in the
Details
Tue, 1 Feb 2000
Upper-Deckers 4, Reps 3:
The Burke Upper-Deckers (10-9) won their 5th straight game to keep their
dramatic playoff run alive, this time in a 4-3 nailbiter over the 2nd place
Minneapolis Reps (11-8). But a fact that would normally be a footnote to the
game--the margin of victory--may have done in Burke. Starters Chief Bender
(Upper-Deckers) and Mordecai Brown (Reps) dueled to a 2-2 draw, although Brown
went just 5.1 innings. But then Burke took control, thanks to the M&M's (not
Mantle). Paul Molitor and Mark McGwire combined to drive in all three of
Burke's earned runs, and scored two of them. Each of them had three hits. For
good measure, Molitor also doubled, walked, and stole two bases. Trailing 3-2
in the top of the 8th, Reps CF Edd Roush dropped a fly ball that allowed a 4th
run to score, and that proved important. In the bottom of the inning, Rickey
Henderson's RBI single made it 4-3 Burke. But Rollie Fingers came on and
successfully saved the game for Bender.
The Upper-Deckers now trail the Reps for the final playoff spot by one game,
with one remaining. HBWRL rules stipulate that if two teams are tied at the end
of the regular season, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head series. The teams
split four games. The second tiebreaker is runs scored minus runs against. And
therein lies the detail. As Burke won by just one run, they enter the final
"week" of play at -2. The Reps are at +16. Thus ironically, the Reps may have
locked up a playoff berth by losing. But that wasn't what either team wanted.
Burke wanted the big win; though they are happy to point out that they are now
an expansion team with never a losing season. The Reps also wanted a win, to
lock up a playoff berth. The result was a mixed blessing at best, for both
teams.
Next week, the Upper-Deckers close out the regular season against the Powers,
who would like nothing better than to eliminate them, given the Powers' views of
how expansion may have hurt their dynasty. Up next however, the Red Dawgs--who
today clinched first place outright--have a date with history. They must beat
the Chips, and allow no more than two earned runs in the process, to have a shot
at breaking several HBWRL records.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 16, Reps 11
Winning pitcher: Bender
Losing pitcher: Brown
Save: Fingers
Fri, 28 Jan 2000
Titans 6, Powers 2: The Tri-City Titans (8-11) completed a sweep of the
league's top two pitching teams with a 6-2 win over the Karas Powers (8-11),
sending Powers GM J.Karas to his first ever losing season. The Titans led 3-2
in the top of the 9th inning when Willie ("Haze") Mays sent a three run homer
over the rightfield wall against Jim "Catfish" Hunter. Asked to comment on the
game--specifcally, the homerun pitch--Hunter said, "MaysuK is beautiful, oops,
wrong pitch." We aren't sure what that means, but we are sure that the Titans
have doubled their win total from last year--a big feat considering that they
started 0-5. The Powers retain 4th place by tiebreaker. Up next, easily the
most signifcant game of the week, as the streaking Upper-Deckers face
elimination against the team they are chasing, the Reps.
Hits: Titans 13, Powers 13
Winning pitcher: Eddie Cicotte
Losing pitcher: Stan Coveleski
Homerun: Mays
Doubles: Gabby Hartnett 2, Honus Wagner, Johnny Mize, Charlie Gehringer
Error: Joe Jackson
Titans Bite Dawgs Again
Thu, 27 Jan 2000
Titans 5, Red Dawgs 4: Grover Cleveland "Pete" Alexander had a three-hit
shutout through seven innings for the Myers Red Dawgs (13-5) before, much like
another game this year, the Tri-City Titans (7-11) struck. Harry Heilmann
atoned for an earlier error with a two run single, tying the game at 2-2 in the
8th. On the next pitch, Hank Aaron's three run homer gave the Titans a 5-2
lead. In the 9th inning, Titans starter Lefty Gomez survived a two run double
by Hank Greenberg and the Titans hung on to win, 5-4. It was the second time
this year that the Titans rallied from 2-0 down in the late innings to defeat
the Red Dawgs, who are 11-3 against all other teams. The result put the Dawgs'
runs at two records in serious jeopardy. To have the best team ERA in history,
and the highest winning percentage, the Dawgs must now win each of their final
two games, while allowing no more than two earned runs (combined) to get both
records. The Dawgs could become the first team ever to win 14 games, however,
with a split in those games.
Hits: Red Dawgs 13, Titans 7
Winning pitcher: Gomez
Losing pitcher: Alexander
Homeruns: Aaron, Greenberg
Stolen base: Ray Chapman
Error: Heilmann
Mantle is Hero as Burke Stays Alive
Thu, 27 Jan 2000
Upper-Deckers 2, Chips 0: Right after being promised a 12-pack by GM Mark H.,
Mickey Mantle hit at two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th for the Burke
Upper-Deckers (9-9) to keep their playoff hopes alive, with a dramatic 2-0 win
over the Silicon Valley Chips (6-12). Jim Palmer pitched a shutout, giving
Burke its 4th straight win and bringing them back to the .500 mark for the first
time since Week 8. Mantle practically tackled Mark H. going to the beer as he
circled the bases to end Burke's second straight shutout win. The Chips are
3-12 since a 3-0 start. Palmer and Chips starter Christy Mathewson dueled for
eight scoreless innings, but Tom Seaver replaced Mathewson in the bottom of the
9th, with Mark McGwire at first base. He retired a batter, then served up the
homer. However, Mathewson was tagged with the loss because the decisive run was
his responsibility--a certain injustice (someone call J.Karas!) The
Upper-Deckers play the Reps next week in a critical game that could decide 2nd
place.
1 out when winning runs scored
Game Winning RBI: Mantle
Hits: Chips 10, Upper-Deckers 8
Winning pitcher: Palmer
Losing pitcher: Mathewson
Homerun: Mantle
Doubles: Robin Yount, Johnny Bench
Stolen base: Jackie Robinson
Caught stealing: Paul Molitor
Reps Eliminate Powers
Wed, 26 Jan 2000
Reps 6, Powers 1:
An era in HBWRL baseball came to an end today. The Minneapolis Reps (11-7)
routed the defending champion Karas Powers (8-10), 6-1, to eliminate the Powers
from the playoffs. That breaks a five year streak of World Series berths for
Powers GM J.Karas. The Powers had never missed the playoffs under Karas--the
last time they failed to make it was in Season 7, when they had a different GM
and a different name. The five year streak stands as the longest in HBWRL
history, and the Powers Dynasty of Seasons 8-12 would certainly be fit for
television in any ESPN Matchup of the Millenium.
But today did not belong to the Powers. The Reps lit up Powers starter Urban
Shocker for two runs in the 1st inning, then watched Rube Waddell pitch a
masterpiece. Waddell, who did not allow a hit until the 4th inning, still had a
2-0 lead in the 7th. But in the bottom of the inning, the Reps scored an
insurance run; then three more in the 8th. Robin Roberts, in relief of Waddell,
allowed an inherited runner to score in the 8th on an RBI single by Chuck Klein,
accounting for the Powers' sole run. For the Reps, Babe Ruth and Richie Allen
each went 4-5 to lead the attack. The two combined for as many hits (8) as the
Powers team.
The Reps and Burke Upper-Deckers--who just three weeks ago seemed out of
contention at 5-9--will now battle for the final playoff spot. The Reps are
11-5 since an 0-2 start; Burke has won three straight. Burke's upcoming game
with the Chips is now an elimination game; while the next HBWRL game has no real
significance other than the Red Dawgs' attempt(s) to secure a place in history.
Winning pitcher: Waddell
Losing pitcher: Shocker
Doubles: Ruth 2, Allen
Error: Ruth
Powers Stay Alive With 12th Inning Double
Fri, 21 Jan 2000
Powers 4, Chips 3 (12 innings):
In a game that lived up to all the hype, the Karas Powers (8-9) got a 12th
inning double from Rogers Hornsby to complete a four game sweep of the Silicon
Valley Chips (6-11) this season; as well as keep their playoff hopes alive. The
Powers, who also swept the Chips in last year's World Series, have beaten the
Chips in the teams' last eight meetings. But you would have never known that
today--or this season. Three of the teams' four games this season were decided
by one run.
This classic pitted the league's all-time winningest pitcher, Ed Reulbach of the
Powers, against the man who is #2 on that list, the Chips' Juan Marichal.
Perhaps fittingly, both pitched well; neither won the game. The Chips rallied
from 2-0 down and an 11-1 deficit in hits to tie the game at 2-2 in the 5th
inning. But it appeared to be over in the top of the 9th when Chuck Klein's RBI
single off of Marichal gave the Powers a 3-2 lead. However, Rod Carew doubled
in the bottom of the 9th, then moved to third base on a single by Lefty O'Doul.
At that point, Reulbach was pulled for Catfish Hunter. Hunter allowed an RBI
sacrafice fly to Stan Musial that tied the game at 3-3, but then retired the
Chips to send the game to extra innings.
The Chips had an excellent chance to win the game--and end the Powers'
season--in the 10th. Ty Cobb batted with the bases loaded and one out in the
bottom of the 10th, and the score tied at 3-3. When Hunter struck him out,
Carew came up. It was a chance for Carew to twice be a hero--having scored the
tying run in the 9th, and now with a chance to drive in the winning run in the
10th. But his routine grounder was handled by Hornsby, and the game continued.
Hornsby made his presence felt in a bigger way in the 12th. His RBI double off
of Chips reliever Phil Niekro put the Powers ahead for good. Hunter retired the
side in order in the bottom of the 12th, to keep the Powers' season--and
championship defense--alive. Up next, the Powers immediately play another
elimination game, against the Reps.
Maddux, Roush Sink Titans; Chips Eliminated as Well
Thu, 20 Jan 2000
Reps 1, Titans 0: Edd Roush's game winning single with two out and the bases
loaded in the bottom of the 9th lifted the Minneapolis Reps (10-7) to a 1-0 win
over the Tri-City Titans (6-11). The win eliminated the Titans, as well as the
Chips. It also means that the Powers' upcoming game against the Chips is an
elimination game for the Powers. Reps starter Greg Maddux allowed nine hits
(all singles) and struck out five, in pitching a shutout against a team that led
the league in batting average and slugging percentage, entering the week.
Maddux and Titans starter Warren Spahn dueled for six innings; Spahn was pulled
for Vida Blue in the 7th. But Blue was also effective in shutting down the
Reps' offense, until the 9th. After Blue retired Richie Allen, Roy Campanella
and Ernie Banks got back to back singles. The outfield came after Rickey
Henderson singled to load the bases, but Eddie Collins' ground ball led to a
force of Campanella at the plate. That set the stage for Roush, who lined
Blue's 0-1 pitch to centerfield, just beneath a diving Willie Mays. Banks
scored on a single that ended the season for the Titans and Chips.
2 out when winning run scored
Game Winning RBI: Roush
