Statistics

The Semi-Finals: Mimosa and Chesapeake faced off with identical 89 win seasons.

Game 1 - Dutch Leonard vs. Murray Dickson
Chesapeake scored first but then quieted down.  Mimosa was able to tie it up in the 7th. 

Bob Lemon came on to pitch the 8th.  He gave up a lead off single to Mueller and then another single to pinch hitting Hack.  Rizzuto bunted them over, so there were runners on 2nd and 3rd for Jackie Robinson, who singled in a run.  Two more singles, a walk, and a hit batter latter, Eddie Mayo steps up:

* E. MAYO facing B. LEMON, T 8th, 2 Outs, Bases Loaded, Ahead 5-2
The runners take their lead ... LEMON winds and fires ... hammered to right ... DIMAGGIO coming on
so's MOSES ... still coming ... oh!...they collide ... and it hits him right on top of the head
secondbaseman VERBAN's after it ... one run in ... two in
going first to third is Spider JORGENSEN ... MAYO's stretching it ... the play at second
Smith tags him out ... to retire the side ... score that a single and two RBI ... very generous
the umpire is calling time ... DIMAGGIO's down ... he's on his feet ... he's limping around
he got banged up a bit on that play ... it looks like he'll leave the game
The report from the clubhouse... ... the Mirthmakers center fielder DIMAGGIO
injured for 3 days

The inning was a killer for Mimosa.  Five runs in and DiMaggio injured. 

Another big inning followed for Chesapeake but the damage was already done.

CH 11 - 17 - 1
MI 2 - 6 - 0
WP - Leonard
LP - Lemon

Game 2 - Early Wynn vs Red Embree

Chesapeake again took an early lead.  They scored three times in the third inning, assisted by three Mirthmakers errors.

With two outs in the fourth, Jackie Robinson steps to the plate:

* J. ROBINSON facing R. EMBREE, T 4th, 2 Outs, Bases Empty, Ahead 3-0
Sorry, there's a delay ... EMBREE is walking off the mound ... here comes the trainer
they're talking it over ... EMBREE stretches his arm ... throws a pitch
EMBREE and are obviously concerned ... they both leave the field slowly
he's probably gone for the series ... The report from the clubhouse...
Mirthmakers pitcher Red EMBREE ... injured for 10 days

Mimosa could buy a break early in this series.

Chesapeake would go on to add two in the 5th and two in 7th.  Meanwhile, Wynn was mowing down Mimosa.  He finished with 4 hits and 2 BBs allowed, getting the shutout.  The Mirthmakers’ defensive woes lasted all game.

CH 7 - 13 - 0
MI 0 - 4 - 5
WP - Wynn
LP - Embree

Game 3 - Jim Hearn vs. Vic Lombardi

The series moves to Chesapeake for a wonderful pitching duel. 

The Regnads looked like they were getting things going in the 4th, when they had men on 1st and 3rd with no one down.  But then cleanup hitter Willard Marshall popped out and Spider Jorgensen grounded into a double play.

The 5th inning then saw Chesapeake get runners on 2nd and 3rd, but could bring anyone home.

Meanwhile, Lombardi was perfect through 5 and 2/3.  But an error on the catcher ended his chance for immortality. 

After Chesapeake strands another in scoring position, the Mirthmakers finally get their first hit in the 7th inning on an Emil Verban bloop.  Wertz moved him up and Seminick drove in the run.  With two outs and Seminick on 2nd, Vernon lines it to left and Seminick is throw out at home.  After Mimosa's bad luck, you had to think that one would come back to bite them.

But it doesn't.  Hearn gets the shutout and Mimosa pulls within a game of Chesapeake.

MI 1 - 4 - 1
CH 0 - 6 - 1
WP - Hearn
LP - Lombardi

Game 4 - Jesse Flores vs. Don Black

In the second inning, Chesapeake's Elmer Valo singled, moved to second, and then came home on Eddie Mayo's single.  But the Regnads could do any more. 

The 6th inning saw the fireworks.  Dick Wakefield led off with a single and Seminick clubbed a two run home run.  After scoring only 1 run in the 14 innings, the Chesapeake manager is starting to squirm.

With one down in the bottom of the inning, Marshall singled, Valo singled, and Jorgensen walked to load the bases.  Mayo then knocked in two, Mueller followed with another RBI and finally Moore, pinch hitting for Black, knocked in another.  5-2 in favor of the 'Nads.

In the 9th, Trinkle let two men on after he recorded the first out.  Lanfranconi came on and got the final two outs.  The Regnads take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead.

MI 2 - 5 - 0
CH 5 - 8 - 0
WP - Black
LP - Flores
Sv - Lanfranconi

Game 5 - Murray Dickson vs. Dutch Leonard

Needing only one game to win, the Regnads get a chance to do it on their home turf.  Mimosa needs to buckle down, but at least they get Joe DiMaggio back.

He certainly made his presence felt immediately with a triple in his first at bat. Unfortunately, Mimosa couldn't bring him home.  Would these be a sign of things to come?

In the second inning, Verban drew a two out walk.  Vernon then doubled him home and advanced to third on the throw.  However, Dickson, the pitcher, was next and promptly grounds out to short.

In the third inning, Mimosa adds two more, but again leaves two men on.  The Regnads haven't been able to get anything started, so it hasn't hurt the Mirthmakers yet.

The 5th inning was looking familier. Lead off single, fielders’ choice. single then another FC.  But with two down, the Mirthmakers finally deliver on all the men on base.  Verban singled in two and then Vernon walked. Dutch Leonard was then asked to just get the damn pitcher out to end the inning.  He couldn't - Murray Dickson doubled in two more runs.

Chesapeake tried to fight back, but were trailing 8-3 going into the top of the 9th.   The Mirthmakers then unloaded on the Chesapeake pen, adding 5 runs and putting the game out of reach.

MI 13 - 19 - 0
CH 3 - 5 -2
WP - Dickson
LP - Leonard

Game 6 - Early Wynn vs. Bob Lemon

The series moves back to Mimosa and Lemon is asked to redeem himself after his blowup in game 1.

The game started out just the way Chespeake wanted.  Robinson singled, stole second and is doubled in by Marshall. 

In the third, Robinson got on again, this time with a walk, and was doubled in by Jorgensen.

After posting 6 scoreless innings, Early Wynn was starting to think about getting his second shutout and bringing home a series MVP trophy.  But then Dick Wakefield doubled to lead off the 7th.  He moved to third on a fielders choice and DiMaggio came up.  Wynn reached back for a little extra and struck out the Clipper.  Early breathed a sigh of relief.  It was too soon though.

Rick Ferrell blooped a double down the right field line to score a run.  George Binks came in to pinch run (Binks made a number of appearances in the series.  Every single time I saw him I wanted his name to be Jar Jar Binks).  Bill Johnson then came through with a triple to tie the game. 

Lanfranconi came on in relief and immediately let the go ahead runner on in Mickey Vernon.  Bob Lemon advanced him to second and Wakefield drove him in for the Mimosa lead. 

Lemon stayed on to try to close out the game, but then walked the tying run to start the inning.  It's time for relief ace Johnny Murphy.  Marshall, at first, advanced on a fielder's choice and moved to third on a wild pitch.  Eddie Mayo sent a drive to deep center for a game tying sac fly.

Lanfranconi put the side down in order to send the game to extra innings.  As Larry said, just what these pitching staffs needed.

In the 12th, Chesapeake got two men.  On second, Skeeter Webb, a speedy back up middle infielder, came on to pinch run.  Unfortunately for the Regnads, there wasn't much on the bench to pinch hit for the pitcher.  (Hey, it was the twelfth freakin' inning). So out trotted Doc Lyon.  He struck out.

Fortunately for Chesapeake, they still had some decent pitchers to use in relief.  Ken Trinkle came on to pitch the 9th.  But the South Starrucca manager liked to say "I can beat a Trinkle." 

DiMaggio started things off with a single.  He moved to second on a passed ball.  Trinkle then walked Seminick.  Bill Johnson bunted the runners up.  Wally Moses then launch a deep fly ball to right.  It stayed in the park, but DiMaggio scored on the sac fly.

Mimosa wins and ties the series! 

CH  3 - 8 - 0
MI 4 - 14 - 0
WP - Overmire
LP - Trinkle

Game 7 - Vic Lombardi vs. Tommy Hughes

It all comes down to this.  Mimosa has won the last two games and get to play this one at home. 

Sam Mele, really itching to face his former Bradenton teammates in the World Series, tripled in the first inning and scored on a Marshall single.  Valo followed up with a single, but the Regnads couldn't get any more. 

The Mirthmakers wasted no time trying to get on the board.  Wakefield lead off the first with a double. Vern Stephens then walked to brink up Joe D. DiMaggio couldn't get the job done, settling for a fielder's choice with Wakefield moving to third. One out.  Seminick, who's had some big hits in the series came to bat.  This time he hits a fly ball to center and Wakefield heads home.  Only to be thrown out by Elmer Valo.

The third inning began with a Rizzuto bloop single.  Robinson went down on a fly out and Mele struck out.  Marshal Willard then walked and Elmer Valo stepped to the plate:

* E. VALO facing T. HUGHES, T 3rd, 2 Outs, 1st and 2nd, Ahead 1-0
This one has a chance ... high, deep and hard ... WERTZ is just a spectator this time ... see ya!
Regnads 4, Mirthmakers 0

Taking a 5-0 lead into the 6th, the 'Nads were feeling pretty comfortable.  Wouldn't Mimosa just go down quietly?  Vern Stephens said "I don't think so" as he lead off the inning with a home run.  DiMaggio then singled for his 8th hit of the series (despite missing 3+ games), followed by a single from Seminick.  Lombardi then walks Wertz to load the bases with just one out.  Verban then hit a ground ball to short, Rizzuta gets one at second, but Verban beats it out at first.  A run scored.  Unfortunately, Mimosa stopped there.  5-2 in favor of the Regnads. 

Marshall singled to lead off the 7th.  Valo followed with a walk.  Spider Jorgensen came up and tried to bunt it only to send two pitches out of bounds.  The bunt sign came off:

* S. JORGENSEN facing S. OVERMIRE, T 7th, No Outs, 1st and 2nd, Ahead 5-2
The runners take their lead ... the two-strike pitch ... hooked down the right field line
will it stay fair? ... yes! it's in play ... WERTZ's after it ... MARSHALL scores
VALO's rounding third
TRY TO SCORE? (1-yes, 2-no*)
they're waving VALO in ... STEPHENS will relay
THROW HOME? (1-yes, 2-no*)
here comes the throw home
TRY FOR THIRD ON THROW? (1-yes, 2-no*)
here's the play at the plate ... and he's ... out!...just missed getting in
and the aggressive baserunning does not pay off
that's one less the Mirthmakers will have to score ... and JORGENSEN holds with a double

Regnads 6, Mirthmakers 2

Chesapeake picked up one more before Overmire was able to get the third out.

In the 8th, a Robinson double followed by a double by Mele and a single by Valo adds two more.  Chesapeake, on edge for 3 games starts to relax.  The 9th inning sees them add another two runs.  Scoring two runs in each inning 7-9 gives the Regnads an 11-2 lead and regulars start coming out.

The Mirthmakers scored four runs in the 9th inning, but it wasn't enough to start to panic Chesapeake.

CH 11 - 16 - 0
MI 6 - 10 - 2
WP - Lombardi
LP - Hughes


Congratulations to Larry on Mimosa's season.  Stupidly, I was starting to thinking of a quick victory and resting up for the World Series after game 4.  Mimosa hit me in the head with that idea.  While the 'Nads got the victory, it certainly wasn't easy.  I have to think that had DiMaggio not gotten injured in the first game, this would have gone Mimosa's way.  He finished the series with a .500 average.

Series Co-MVPs are Elmer Valo (2 HR, .471 avg) and Eddie Mayo (11 hits, 7 RBIs)

Chesapeake now will face off against the Bradenton juggernaut for the championship.