Mon, 27 Dec 1999
Red Dawgs 6, Chips 0: The Myers Red Dawgs (9-3) matched last year's win total
with a 6-0 rout of the Silicon Valley Chips (4-8). The Chips, who started 3-0,
have lost eight of their last nine games and now find themselves in last place.
The game was much closer than the score would indicate. The Dawgs led 1-0
through seven innings before victimizing Chips reliever Freddie Fitzsimmons for
five runs in the 8th inning; capped by Barry Bonds' three run homer. Whitey
Ford pitched a seven hit shutout, to continue the Dawgs' string of excellent
starting pitching. Lefty O'Doul, who hit two grand slams off of Ford in his
HBWRL debut, went 0-3. The Dawgs have opened up a 2.5 game lead over the Reps
and Powers. The next game features a perrenial Cy Young award winner
against--Cy Young.
Hits: Red Dawgs 14, Chips 7
Winning pitcher: Ford
Losing pitcher: Christy Mathewson
Homerun: Bonds
Stolen bases: Frank Baker 2, Tris Speaker
Error: Nap Lajoie
Mon, 27 Dec 1999
Upper-Deckers 3, Powers 0: Walter Johnson pitched a six hit shutout as the
Burke Upper-Deckers (5-6) took a 2-1 lead in the season series over the
defending champion Karas Powers (6-5). Former Power Mark McGwire led the
offensive attack by going 3-5 with a two run homer. Perhaps more importantly,
the loss combined with the above result gives the Red Dawgs a two game lead over
the Powers and Reps. Burke trails by three; the Chips and Titans trail by four
each. It was the 4th straight win for road teams.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 16, Powers 6
Winning pitcher: Johnson
Losing pitcher: Addie Joss
Homerun: McGwire
Doubles: Jim Rice, Arky Vaughan
Error: Frank Robinson
Mon, 27 Dec 1999
Red Dawgs 5, Reps 1: The Myers Red Dawgs (8-3) delivered a devestating defeat
to the Minneapolis Reps (6-5), beating them for the 3rd time this season. By
clinching the tiebreaker over the Reps, the Dawgs now effectively have a three
game lead over them. They lead the 2nd place Powers by 2.5 games. Tris Speaker
led the offensive attack for the Dawgs, with two stolen bases, two runs scored,
and an RBI. But the real hero was Wilbur Cooper, who pitched his third
excellent game of the seasons. Cooper's complete game, five-hitter shut down
the Reps and solidified the Dawgs' hold on first place. Reps started Ed Walsh
took the earliest shower of his career--lasting only 4.1 innings. Robin
Roberts' 4.2 innings of shutout relief came too late for the Reps.
Hits: Red Dawgs 14, Reps 5
Winning pitcher: W. Cooper
Losing pitcher: Walsh
Stolen bases: Speaker 2
Titans 4, Chips 3: In a seesaw battle with a storybook ending, the Tri-City
Titans (4-7) avenged a pre all-star break loss with a 4-3 win over the Silicon
Valley Chips (4-7). The Chips have lost six of their last seven games. It was
also the first loss in three outings for all-star Chips pitcher Carl Mays. Bob
Gibson, in easily his strongest performance as a Titan, allowed just two runs in
eight innings to earn the win. The Titans led 4-1 through 7.5 innings, but
George Brett's RBI sac fly made it 4-2 through eight. Don Drysdale replaced
Gibson in the 9th, and served up another run, making it 4-3. Drysdale further
allowed the Chips to load the bases with two outs, which is where our storybook
scenario begins. Johnny Bench batted with two out in the bottom of the 9th and
the bases loaded, with his team down by a run. But his fly ball to right was
routine. Hank Aaron made the catch for the final out, and the Titans' 4th win
in six games, after an 0-5 start.
Hits: Titans 16, Chips 14
Winning pitcher: Gibson
Losing pitcher: C. Mays
Save: Drysdale
Doubles: Mike Schmidt, Bill Dickey, Jimmie Foxx
Stolen bases: Ty Cobb 2
All-Star Result
Expansion 2, Senior Circuit 1:
Cy Young outdueled Stan Coveleski, and Mickey Mantle's 5th inning solo homer
proved decisive, as Expansion won for the 3rd time in four meetings, 2-1 over
the HBWRL's Senior Circuit. Mantle broke a 1-1 tie by homering deep to center
off of Coveleski in the 5th. HBWRL homerun leader Rogers Hornsby had tied the
game at 1-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the 3rd. Expansion had the
game's first eight hits, and led 1-0, through 2.5 innings. Hank Aaron's RBI
single in the top of the 3rd had given them a 1-0 lead. Aaron also made a catch
at the wall to rob Roy Campanella in the bottom of the 9th, preserving the win.
Young tossed a complete game, and didn't allow an extra-base hit. Robin Roberts
pitched two innings of perfect relief for the Senior Circuit.
Week 11 starts with a rematch of Week 10's games--with the venues changed. The
main event: the Reps try to regain a share of 1st place in a rematch with the
league leading Red Dawgs. All-stars Carl Mays and Wilbur Cooper didn't get to
pitch in the all-star game. Both will start in Week 11.
Hits: Expansion 15, Senior Circuit 9
Winning pitcher: Young
Losing pitcher: Coveleski
*ALL-STAR BREAK*
Wed, 15 Dec 1999
Chips 8, Titans 2: The Silicon Valley Chips (4-6) snapped a six game losing
skid by scoring early and often against their alumnus, Sandy Koufax of the
Tri-City Titans (3-7). The Chips coasted to an 8-2 win. Joe DiMaggio led the
Chips' attack by going 3-4 with four RBIs. Making his HBWRL debut, Freddie
Fitzsimmons pitched an inning of perfect relief for the Chips, holding a lead
for starter Carl Mays. Gaylord Perry was touched up for four runs in four
innings in a relief appearance for the Titans. The game concludes the first
half of the season and brings us to the All-Star break.
Hits: Chips 18, Titans 13
Winning pitcher: C. Mays
Losing pitcher: Koufax
Doubles: DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty O'Doul, Charlie Gehringer, Harry Heilmann
Stolen base: Rod Carew
Tue, 14 Dec 1999
Red Dawgs 7, Reps 6 (11 innings): In the most important and exciting game this season, the Myers Red Dawgs (7-3)
claimed sole possession of 1st place at the All-Star Break, with a dramatic 7-6
win, in 11 innings, over the Minneapolis Reps (6-4). Two of the Dawgs' three
losses have come in extra innings--so they could easily be 9-1. This was their
first extra innings win of the season. Roy Campanella's two run homer gave the
Reps an early 2-0 lead, which the Dawgs quickly overcame. Albert Belle's sac
fly in the 4th made it 2-1, then a four run 6th inning made it 5-2 Red Dawgs. A
critical insurance run in the 7th made it 6-2, and the rout seemed to be on.
But then the Reps rallied for four runs in the 8th, chasing Dawgs starter Hippo
Vaughn from the game. Reliever Ron Guidry quelled the rally and it was 6-6
after eight.
The game went to extra innings. Ultimately, Nap Lajoie hit for the Dawgs with
one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th, against Reps reliever
Robin Roberts. After fouling off the first pitch, Roberts missed with three
straight, running the count to 3-1, meaning that the Dawgs would win the game on
a ball. The Reps outfield was in; and the infield was in, with the winning run
at third base and the knowledge that Lajoie is generally to fast to "double up."
Lajoie smacked the 3-1 pitch right at Reps 2B Eddie Collins. Collins, drawn in
and poised to make the catch, could have stepped on second base for an inning
ending double play. He dropped the ball. It rolled into lazily into center
field as Collins and centerfielder Edd Roush helplessly watched Tris Speaker
score the winning run.
Mon, 13 Dec 1999
Powers 8, Upper-Deckers 5: The defending champion Karas Powers (6-4) will enter the All-Star Break with
back-to-back wins, capped off by an 8-5 win over the Burke Upper-Deckers (4-6).
Burke will enter with the same record as last year. The Powers, who were 9-1 at
last year's break but slumped in the 2nd half to a 13-7 finish, struck early and
often against Burke starter Joe "Iron Man" McGinnity. The Powers scored three
in the 1st, two in the 2nd, and one in the 3rd, making it 6-0 after 2.5. Burke,
who had already rallied from a six run deficit to win once this year, would have
to do it again.
They nearly did. With the Powers leading 7-2 in the 6th inning, Rogers
Hornsby--who had homered earlier--made a costly error to keep the inning going
for Mickey Mantle. His two run double made it 7-4. Then former Power Yogi
Berra added a solo homer, making it 7-5 through eight innings. But Chuck Klein,
who nearly hit for the cycle (missing the triple) hit a critical RBI single in
the 9th off of Rich "Goose" Gossage, sealing the Powers win at 8-5.
The table is now set for perhaps the biggest game of the year. The upcoming
Reps/Red Dawgs game will decide sole possession of 1st place entering the
All-Star Break. It also features the league's top pitching staff (the Red
Dawgs, with a team ERA of 1.96) against the top offense (the Reps, who lead the
league in batting average, slugging percentage, and runs scored). In the words
of ESPN's "poker dogs," it should be a real brew-ha-ha. Finally, it features
former Rep Hippo Vaughn, starting for the Dawgs.
Winning pitcher: Stan Coveleski
Losing pitcher: McGinnity
Save: Tommy John
Sun, 12 Dec, 1999
Red Dawgs 8, Chips 3: Clearly seething from their 10 ininng loss to the Titans, the Myers Red Dawgs (6-3) torched Chips starter Jack Chesbro for six runs in the 1st inning, and went on to defeat the Chips (3-6), 8-3. A dozen Dawgs batted in the 1st, including George Sisler and Barr Bonds, each of whom had thee-hit days. Phil Niekro was solid in relief for the Chips, who lost their 6th striaght. Eppa Rixey mopped up for the Dawgs. The results set the staage for perhaps the biggest game of the year, as the Dawgs (who now hold 1st place by tiebeaker)take on the Reps to start Week 10, the final week before the All-Star break.
Hits; Red Dawgs 17, Chips 10
Winning pitcher: Pete Alexander
Losing pittcher: Chesbro
Double: Ray Champan
Error: Champan
Reps Take First
Sat, 11 Dec
Reps 10, Upper-Deckers 3: The Minneapolis Reps (6-3) followed a 10-3 loss with
10-3 win, over the Burke Upper-Deckers (4-5). It was the Reps' 6th win in seven
games after an 0-2 start. The Reps capitalized on seven unearned runs--six of
them coming in a seven run 5th inning. All of the unearned runs came, at least
indirectly, as a result of two errors by last year's MVP, Ken Griffey, Jr. That
said, several Reps had big days on offense. Richie Allen led the way with a
three run homer; Lou Gehrig was 4-5 and also drove in three runs. The Reps now
hold 1st place, with a 1/2 game lead over the Red Dawgs. The Dawgs' upcoming
game will decide 1st place through nine weeks, because the Dawgs hold the
tiebreaker over the Reps.
Hits: Reps 19, Upper-Deckers 10
Winning pitcher: Greg Maddux
Losing pitcher: Jim Palmer
Homerun: Allen
Errors: Griffey 2
Fri, 10 Dec
Upper-Deckers 6, Chips 0: Chief Bender and Rube Marquard combined on a shutout
as the Burke Upper-Deckers (4-4) handed the Silicon Valley Chips (3-5) their 5th
straight loss. The Chips were unable to capitalize on 13 hits (12 of them
singles) and two Burke errors, as Bender and Marquard got the outs when they
needed them. Mark McGwire and Mickey Mantle each homered for the Upper-Deckers,
who moved into 3rd place by tiebreaker as Week 8 concluded.
Hits: Upper-Deckers 15, Chips 13
Winning pitcher: Bender
Losing pitcher: Steve Carlton
Save: Marquard
Homeruns: Mantle, McGwire
Doubles: Mantle, Arky Vaughan, Yogi Berra, Ty Cobb
Caught stealing: Cobb, Johnny Bench
Errors: Vaughan, Ken Griffey, Jr.
Fri, 10 Dec
Powers 6, Titans 3: The defending champion Karas Powers (5-4) moved within 1/2
game of 1st place, snapping the three game winning streak of the Tri-City Titans
(3-6). Rogers Hornsby drove in the game's first three runs, roughing up last
year's All-star starter Lefty Gomez, and the Powers didn't look back. Honus
Wagner and Hornsby had three hits each to lead the Powers attack. Three teams
are now separated by 1/2 game at the top of the league, with five games
remaining until the All-star break.
Homeruns: Hornsby, Willie Mays
Doubles: Harry Heilmann, Joe Cronin
Stolen bases: Wagner 2
Caught stealing: Wagner 2
Thu, 9 Dec, 1999
Titans 3, Red Dawgs 2 (10 innings): In an improbable comeback with an equally
improbable result, the Tri-City Titans (3-5) won their 3rd straight, 3-2 in 10
innings over the Myers Red Dawgs (5-3). The Dawgs retain 1st place by
tiebreaker over the Reps. The Red Dawgs were in control through eight innings,
leading 2-0. Wilbur Cooper, who shut out the Reps 5-0 in his first outing, was
on the verge of back to back shuouts. "Brother" Mort Cooper was ready in the
bullpen. And the Titans had managed just seven hits--all singles--through eight
innings. But W. Cooper was unable to close out the 9th. M. Cooper entered with
two and two out. After Joe Cronin walked to load the bases, Willie Mays and
Charlie Gehringer each hit RBI singles to tie the game at 2-2. M. Cooper
retired Harry Heilmann to end the 9th and send the game to extra innings. After
former Red Dawg Eddie Cicotte retired the Dawgs in order in the 10th, the Titans
again got the leadoff man on in the bottom of the 10th. Things seemed headed
for the 11th after Johnny Mize hit into a double play. But Al Simmons, who was
robbed of a homer by Barry Bonds in the 9th, hit another one Bonds' way--but
much deeper. It landed in the upper deck and gave the Titans--who were once
down to their last strike when it was 2-0--a dramatic (some would say
heartbreaking) win. A critical game for two 3-4 teams concludes Week 8.
Two out when winning run scored
Game Winning RBI: Simmons
Hits: Titans 13, Red Dawgs 8
Winning pitcher: Cicotte (1st career win)
Losing pitcher: M. Cooper
Homerun: Simmons
Caught stealing: Bonds
Error: Mike Schmidt
Reps Take Second
Wed, 8 Dec 1999
Reps 4, Powers 1: Ed Walsh pitched a six hit complete game to defeat the
league's winningest pitcher of all-time, Ed Reulbach, as the Minneapolis Reps
(5-3) won for the 5th time in six games, beating the defending champion Karas
Powers (4-4), 4-1. The Reps were staked to an early 2-0 lead, before Frank
Thomas' solo homer cut it to 2-1. But Rickey Henderson hit the first homer of
his career--a two run shot--and actually danced to the amazon.com jingle as he
trotted the bases, to make it 4-1 and seal the victory. The homer also knocked
in Ernie Banks, who had doubled for the Reps on the previous pitch. The Reps
take sole possession of 2nd place with the win, 1/2 game behind the Red Dawgs.
They take on the league's top offense and their former teammate Eddie Cicotte,
next.
Hits: Reps 13, Powers 6
Winning pitcher: Walsh
Losing pitcher: Reulbach
Homeruns: Henderson, Thomas
Doubles: Banks, Eddie Mathews
Stolen base: Eddie Collins
Caught stealing: Mathews, Babe Ruth, Fred Clarke
Error: Edd Roush
Mon, 6 Dec 1999
Powers 5, Chips 0: The defending champion Karas Powers (4-3) pulled within a
game of 1st place with a 5-0 shutout of the Silicon Valley Chips (3-4). It was
the Chips' 4th straight loss, and their 6th straight loss to the Powers. The
Powers have recorded shutouts in two of their last three games. In each, the
pitching staff allowed just six hits, all singles. This time, Carl Hubbell
pitched a complete game, outdueling Chips ace Juan Marichal. Marichal didn't
pitch badly, either--he allowed just eight hits, and three of the Powers' five
runs were unearned. With the Powers already leading 3-0, former Chip Gabby
Hartnett iced the victory with a two run homer. The game concludes Week 7; with
three teams separated by one game. It also sets up a Reps/Powers showdown, the
winner of which will, at worst, have sole possession of 2nd place through eight
weeks.
Hits: Powers 8, Chips 6
Winning pitcher: Hubbell
Losing pitcher: Marichal
Homerun: Hartnett
Double: Rogers Hornsby
Error: Rod Carew
Titans Offensive Machine Keeps Churning
Fri, 3 Dec 1999
Titans 10, Reps 3: The erratic Tri-City Titans (2-5) won their 2nd straight
(that after they lost 17 straight) with a 10-3 rout of the Minneapolis Reps
(4-3). The Reps had won four in a row. The Titans have scored 28 runs in their
last 27 innings. Several HBWRL teams have not scored 27 runs all season. The
Titans broke a 3-3 tie in the 6th when Charlie Gehringer singled, starting a
seven run rally by the Titans. Gehringer led the Titans' attack, which
consisted of 23 hits (all singles), by going 5-6 with three runs scored. Former
Rep Johnny Mize also went 5-6. The result tightens the overall race, but widens
it at the top, as the Red Dawgs clinched sole possesion of 1st place through
seven "weeks."
Hits: Titans 23, Reps 17
Winning pitcher: Warren Spahn
Losing pitcher: Lefty Grove
Doubles: Babe Ruth, Ernie Banks
Stolen base: Eddie Collins
Thu, 2 Dec Red Dawgs 1, Upper-Deckers 0: The Myers Red Dawgs (5-2) won their 2nd straight
one run decision, shutting out the league's top offense, 1-0. The Burke
Upper-Deckers (3-4) had scored 19 runs in their previous 18 innings, but were
shut down by the combination of Dawgs starter Eddie Plank and reliever Dazzy
Vance. Burke managed a dozen hits, but they were all singles. The game's
decisive blow came in the bottom of the 7th, when Hank Greenberg broke a
scoreless tie with a solo homer off of Burke starter Cy Young, who allowed just
seven hits in an eight inning, complete game loss. The Dawgs now lead the Reps
by 1/2 game, and have clinched 1st place through seven of 20 "weeks."
Hits: Upper-Deckers 12, Red Dawgs 7
Winning pitcher: Plank
Losing pitcher: Young
Save: Vance
Homerun: Greenberg
Stolen base: Paul Molitor
Caught stealing, error: George Sisler
Reps Win 4th Straight
Tue, 30 Nov 1999
Reps 8, Chips 2: In a game that was much closer (and tenser!) than the score
would suggest, the Minneapolis Reps (4-2) won their 4th straight game, 8-2 over
the Silicon Valley Chips (3-3). It was the 3rd straight loss for the Chips, who
started the season 3-0. It also snapped a seven game game winning streak for
road teams. Ted Williams' homer gave the Reps a 1-0 lead in the 4th inning, and
it remained that way for most of the game, as starters Christy Mathewson (Chips)
and Mordecai Brown (Reps) dueled. In the top of the 8th, the Chips had their
best chance to win the game. George Brett batted against Robin Roberts, who
came on in relief of Brown, with the bases loaded and one out. Roberts got
Brett to ground a 2-2 pitch to Eddie Collins, leading to an inning ending 4-6-3
double play. The game was broken open in the bottom of the 8th, when the Reps
torched reliever Phil Niekro for seven runs. Despite being down to their last
strike on four different occasions, the Chips then managed to score two runs off
of Roberts in top of the 9th to avoid the shutout. Stan Musial's two run single
came after Rod Carew and Lefty O'Doul had each drawn walks on 3-2 pitches. The
two seemingly inconsequential runs move the Chips into 4th place--as opposed to
5th--ahead of Burke via the third tiebreaker. The result concludes Week 6, with
the Red Dawgs holding 1st place by tiebreaker.
Hits: Reps 18, Chips 14
Winning pitcher: Brown
Losing pitcher: Mathewson
Save: Roberts
Homerun: Williams
Stolen base: Rickey Henderson
Caught stealing: Brett
Dawgs Take First During Visit
Mon, 29 Nov 1999
Red Dawgs 4, Powers 3: The Myers Red Dawgs (4-2) took sole possession of 1st place with a nailbiter
victory over the defending champion Karas Powers (3-3), 4-3. It was the 7th
consecutive win for road teams, and third consecutive game decided by two runs
or less. The Dawgs led 4-0 in the bottom of the 8th, and seemed destined to
return the favor of the 4-0 shutout that the Powers handed them in the teams'
previous meeting. But Dawgs starter Whitey Ford fatigued, as the Powers broke
up the shutout. Eddie Mathews' RBI sac fly then made it 4-2. Gabby Hartnett's
RBI single made it 4-3, before Frank Baker robbed Rogers Hornsby of an extra
base hit down the third base line--which would have easily tied the game--and
kept it at 4-3 through eight innings. The combination of Ford and Mort Cooper
retired the Powers in order in the 9th. The Dawgs benefited from an error as
well. Leading 2-0 in the 7th, Fred Clarke misplayed a Nap Lajoie single,
allowing two unearned runs to score, and making it 4-0 Red Dawgs. While the
runs seemed to be "icing on the cake" at the time, they turned out to be the
decisive ones.
The Dawgs will be joined at the top by the Reps/Chips winner to conclude Week 6.
In that game, the Chips are on the road--and road teams have won seven in a row.
But the Reps have won three in a row. Something's gotta give! Three teams--the
loser of that game, the Upper-Deckers, and Powers, will be 3-3, continuing a
"log jam" at the top. Five teams will be separated by one game.
Hits: Red Dawgs 14, Powers 11
Winning pitcher: Ford
Losing pitcher: Addie Joss
Save: M. Cooper
Stolen base: Honus Wagner
Caught stealing: Barry Bonds, Joe Jackson
Error: Clarke
