YB12 1975

Mahley Division			W		L		GB		McCorkindale Division			W		L		GB
So. Starrucca	Ainspans	91		64		…		Bradenton		Buckeyes	89		65		…
Hyde Park	Vitamen	90		65		1.0		Mexicali		Mallards	85		69		4.0
Cleveland	Spiders	79		75		11.5		Cleveland		Naps	75		79		14.0
Long Island	Islanders	44		110		46.5		Bergen		Barflies	40		114		49.0

Kirwin Division			W		L		GB		Seitz Division			W		L		GB
Grand Rapids	Wolverines	91		63		…		Turin		Mountaineers	102		52		…
Pittsburgh	Rebels	89		65		2.0		Buffalo		Mules	91		63		11.0
Waukesha	Freemen	89		65		2.0		London		Tecumsehs	70		84		32.0
Mimosa	Mirthmakers	48		106		43.0		Hereford		Highlanders	6		94		42.0

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Comments - Al Keefer retired and was replaced by Dave Norlander near the end of the season.

Minnesota Gothic

Bob Braun – After South Starrucca lost to the Cleveland Spiders on the final day of the 1911 season, Hyde Park completed a sweep of the Long Islanders in the season’s final series to tie the Ainspans for the Mahley Division pennant. A one game tie-breaker was played to determine the division champion. The two teams would also play a tie-breaker in Gold 1925, a game won by the Vitamen.

Marty Fiehl - The contract with the Players Union has been settled, they have agreed to play an extra game, for which they were handsomely compensated. What they didn’t agree to was to make it exciting.

I can sum up this game with:

“Starrucca gets a walk from their pitcher, followed by a walk from their leadoff hitter, followed by a run scoring single from the 2nd place hitter.”

That’s it. That’s all she wrote.

Both starting pitchers, the Aces of their staff, were as good as they could have been. Only 1 run scored tonight, and I don’t recall much of any other rally that would give either of us ‘baseball fever’. This was more like a diabetic coma.

There was less action than on my honeymoon. (Well, that’s not completely true, the hotel tv DID carry Cinemax After Dark.)

Starrucca finishes the game with a 1-0 decision to break the Division tie and win the Mahley Division.

Congratulations to Hyde Park for mounting a consistent charge the last ¼ or so of the season, when they found themselves down by about 6 games and they started chewing away at the lead, a game at a time, series by series. Then beating Starrucca 3/2 in their final head-to-head series.

Coming into this Tie Breaker, they had beaten Starrucca 10 out of 18 games, with most of them being close. This one couldn’t have been any closer, but it was like a hockey game where the players can only wear one skate. Just very little action for a Championship game.

Around the 7th inning or so, one of the Zoom spectators had their video go black, and then next thing we saw was on their screen:

But, it’s also the situation where after 154 games, both teams deserved to win, but only one of them can. We got lucky, again, that the Hyde Park offense just took the nite off, cuz there ain’t too many other ways to win a game when you only score 1 run.

I believe Starrucca and Hyde Park will both be fighting for the Division again next season, they both look like they will have very equally matched teams. I wish the Vitamen the best, and let’s do it again next year!

Bob Wood - The top seeded Turin Mountaineers (102-52) won 7 of 8 games against McCorkindale Division champion Bradenton (89-65) this season.

The teams finished 1-2 in pitching (2.32 for Turin and 2.48 for Bradenton).

Bradenton ranked 2nd in hitting (.259, Turin was 7th at .248) while Turin ranked 2nd in scoring (4.7 RPG, Bradenton was 7th at 4.6). Both teams were ho-hum on defense - Bradenton ranked 5th at .966 while Turin was 8th at .964.

The Mountaineer outscored their opponents 728 to 488

Bradenton outscored their opponents 707 to 515.

One key to the series, however, would be that Cy Young (12-5, 2.01) would miss the entire series due to an injury sustained in London last week.

Sunday September 25

Both teams sent their best to open the series in Turin. Walter Johnson (33-6, 1.58) and Jack Coombs (29-11, 1.53) finished 1-2 in Wins, 4-3 in ERA and 1-4 in strikeouts while tying for 1st place with 8 shutouts apiece.

After a scoreless 1st inning, Turin struck first when Frank LaPorte doubled in the 2nd inning. Ham Hyatt doubled the lead with his 5th inning double, and a double steal in the 6th inning made it 3-0.

Bradenton did score in the 8th when Nap LaJoie bounced into a GDP.

BR 1-6-2 LP-Jack Coombs (0-1)

TU 3-8-0 WP-Walter Johnson (1-0)

Monday September 26

Orval Overall (15-5, 2.78) would try to even things for Bradenton while Eddie Plank (21-9, 2.39) would try to write another chapter in his personal playoff history against the Buckeyes (see 1902 World Series).

After a scoreless 1st inning, Bradenton exploded for 4 runs, aided by a dropped tag at the plate by catcher Larry McLean.

Red Murray's 4th inning single gave Turin their 1st run of the day, but a 5th inning E-6 gave it right back to the Buckeyes, 5-1.

Harry Lord tripled in the 7th, 5-2, but was left stranded. Deacon Phillippe closed it out to even the series.

BR 5-6-1 WP-Orval Overall (1-0) SV-Deacon Phillippe #1

TU 2-8-4 LP-Eddie Plank (0-1)

Tuesday September 27

The teams spent the day traveling to Shaffer Stadium where the series would resume before sell-out crowds in Bradenton.

Wednesday September 28

Johnson and Coombs were both happy to start on 2 days rest for their 2nd matchup of the series.

After a scoreless 1st inning, Gabby Street delivered a 2-out RBI single to RF to score Rebel Oakes, who had stolen 2nd base.

And that was that!

TU 0-5-0 LP-Walter Johnson (1-1)

BR 1-4-0 WP-Jack Coombs (1-1)

Thursday September 29

Eddie Plank returned on 2 days’ rest, hoping to improve on his 2nd game appearance. Bradenton turned to Deacon Phillippe (11-10, 3.03).

John Hummel gave Plank a run to work with when he singled in the top of the 1st inning. A 3rd inning wild pitch made it 2-zip. Larry McLean singled in the 5th, 3-0. Frank LaPorte circled the bases when his single was misplayed in center field in the 6th inning, 4-0.

Harry Davis singled in the Buckeye 6th to put the hosts in the scoring column, but Turin posted 3 more runs in the 8th inning. A 9th inning RBI single by Jimmy Archer didn't really help the Buckeye cause.

TU 7-14-3 WP-Eddie Plank (1-1)

BR 2- 7-3 LP-Deacon Phillippe (0-1)

Friday September 30

In place of the injured Cy Young, the Mountaineers would turn to lefthanded Ed Karger (11-6, 2.78) in the final game in Bradenton. Orval Overall returned to the mound for the Buckeyes.

Orval squeezed home a Buckeye in the 2nd inning.

Bradenton scored in the 5th inning on an infield single by Harry Davis, and a bases loaded walk to Cy Seymour, 3-0.

Jack Rowan relieved in the 6th inning for Turin. Nap LaJoie doubled - and Larry McLean dropped ANOTHER tag, giving the Buckeyes a 4-0 lead.

Harry Lord's ground out plated a Mountaineer in the 6th inning, but an E-6 gave the run back in the home half. Ray Fisher relieved, only to pour gasoline on the fire, as Bradenton scored 3 more runs.

TU 1- 4-4 LP-Ed Karger (0-1)

BR 8-10-0 WP-Orval Overall (2-0)

Saturday October 1

The teams spent the day traveling back to Turin, setting up a do-or-die situation for the Mountaineers.

Sunday October 2

For the third time it would be Walter Johnson against Jack Coombs.

After a scoreless 1st, Bradenton took the lead on a Bill Collins FC. Ham Hyatt tied the game with his 3rd inning triple but was stranded at the hot corner.

Johnson beaned Collins in the 5th inning, forcing him from the game (5 days).

Bradenton took the lead when Vin Campbell singled in the 6th inning.

In the 7th, Johnson threw away Kid Elberfeld's comebacker for a run producing E-1, 3-1. A ground out by Harry Davis made it 4-1.

In the bottom of the 8th, Turin was running out of time. Fred Luderus doubled home a run - the 5th extra base hit - and the 5th hit of the day - against Coombs.

John Hummel got the first single of the day for Turin, driving in 2 runs to tie the score. Red Murray then doubled to put Turin ahead! A routine fly ball to LF should have ended the inning, but Vin Campbell DROPPED it, 6-4.

Jack Rowan and Bill Burns shutout the Buckeyes in the final two innings to set up the rubber game!

BR 4-6-2 LP-Jack Coombs (1-2)

TU 6-7-1 WP-Walter Johnson (2-1) SV-Bill Burns #1

Monday October 3

Wild Bill Donovan (13-10, 2.08) would face Eddie Plank in the decisive 7th game.

Rebel Oakes opened the scoring with a 1st inning triple. Heinie Zimmerman added a 2-run double to give Bradenton a quick 3-0 lead.

Turin answered with a pair of runs in the home half when Red Murray doubled, 3-2,

Zimmerman struck again, singling in the 3rd, 4-2. Gaby Street then chased Plank with an RBI single, 5-2. Ray Fisher relieved to close out the inning.

Ed Karger took the mound in the 4th but struggled. Harry Davis got an RBI with a FC and Cy Williams singled home 2 Buckeyes, 8-2.

In the top of the 8th, Karger beaned Vin Campbell, ending his season (14 days). Harry Davis singled, 9-2.

Turin had rallied for 5 runs yesterday in the 8th inning but were scoreless today.

With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Turin was teased with an E-2 and then an E-3 before Donovan got the final out, ending a truly tremendous Mountaineer season prematurely.

Turin's 102 wins in the regular season were the most in Origins history since Long Island won 103 in 1906, five years ago. This was the 4th highest win total in Origins history (Bradenton won 114 in 1902 and Long Island won 108 in 1904). The absence of Cy Young really hamstrung the Mountaineers.

BR 9-17-3 WP-Wild Bill Donovan (1-0)

TU 2-5-0 LP-Eddie Plank (1-2)

Marty Fiehl - Congrats to the Buckeyes for making it past powerhouse Turin and earning their place at the Championship Table!

Both teams went at each other with constant action… even their 1-0 game was exciting! Big names on both squads, and field managers that squeeze everything out of their players.

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Marty Fiehl -

Thomas Wolfe made the phrase famous, but after Starrucca and the Wolverines hooked up in this playoff round, neither one of us WANTS to go Home again! :-0 It was simply not a good place to be if your team was trying to win a playoff game. During the regular Season, we both had positive W/L records at Home…..so we knew HOW to win at Home……but you sure couldn’t tell it from last night.

GAME 1….

“Half-Assed Backwards”…..might sum this one up.

Lots of hits by both squads, action almost every innings, players on base and decisions to make.

‘Backwards’ comes from Starrucca’s second half of the lineup producing an inordinate percentage of their total hits. 10 of 13 hits come from the 2nd half, and ALL of their runs. Maybe the Grand Rapid pitchers eased up, thinking these guys were schmoes…I don’t know, but they dinked and doinked and singled their way to putting 5 runs up on the board; and the Wolverines only got one tally. Doc Crandall goes the distance on a 5-1 Starr WIN!

GAME 2…..

“Is That All There Is?”

Peggy Lee made that song famous in 1969. Grand Rapids put it into practice last night in Game 2. And it was the exact question their fans were asking at the Post Game Presser. Wahoo Sam Crawford tried to lead this team to victory, but nobody would follow. 2 hits for Sam… 2 hits for the entire rest of the Rapids. They were anything but Grand tonight. The Mighty Jack Quinn tosses a complete game shutout for the Ainspans, as they win a low scoring, 2-0 affair.

The only good thing from the Rapids standpoint in this one is that they HIT and INJURED Starrucca outfielder Wolter for 6 days. They are now turning to a “war of attrition” as their strategy. The town of Grand Rapids sent a delegation of mute fans to the train station to usher them out of town on their way to a 3-Game Away series at Starrucca.

GAME 3

“You Say Cicada, and I say Cicotte”

Well, the Wolverines must like the restaurants, or the bars, in Starrucca, because they came out of the chute today with only one thing on their mind: pummeling the ball and kicking the crap out of the Ainspan pitching. A hugely lopsided 10-1 Rapid wins where they nailed 15 hits, three of them triples, and Ed Cicotte smothered the Span batters, tossing a Complete Game 3 hitter.

(The lone Span Highlight: Beaning Fred Snodgrass and injuring him for 5 more days. That one is going to be hard for the Wolverines to recover from. MLB season, the Grassman hit 321/440/432, and was their #3 hitter in the batting order. Starrucca may have lost the battle today, but in mowing down Snodgrass, they’ve improved their odds quite a bit in winning the war.)

GAME 4

“I’ve Got the Wedding Bell Blues” …Marilyn McCoo and the 5th Dimension

The Ainspans were humming that tune after the game today, but it was more like the “George Bell Blues”, as the Grand Rapids pitcher shut them down tighter than Schwarzeneggers grip on a pickle jar. Bell only gave up 3 hits and 1 walk to the Spans, in a complete game 4-0 Rapids victory!

Series is now evened up at 2 apiece. Both teams seem to have a ‘shy bladder’ when it comes to hitting in front of their home town fans.

Wolverines score a total of ONE run at home in 2 games so far. Ainspans score a total of ONE run at home in 2 games so far.

GAME 5

“Take the First Train to Clarksville”….the Monkees

Okay, the original title may have been ‘Last’ train… but the Spans didn’t want to wait around after this one. They had to get out of town fast, as the home own fans were gathering with pitchforks and fire torches and approaching the platform at a rather rapid pace.

The Wolverines came at us with a balanced attack:

Pitching-wise, Willie Mitchell muffled our batters, again, tossing 8 innings and giving up only 2 runs. (the most we’ve scored during this homestand)

Hitting-wise, they got a solid 10 hits and 5 runs. Not a massacre, but solid enough to win this game handily 5-2.

Grand Rapids pitchers figured out the best strategy to make up for Snodgrass’s injury… just don’t give up any, or many, runs, and it sure as heck worked for these three games at Starrucca. With this Pitching Clinic, the Wolverines have put themselves in a great position at 3 and 2. They are going back Home and only need to win 1 of 2 to advance to the World Series.

The pack is forming to move in for the kill.

GAME 6….

“Back and forth, in and out, back and forth, and finally on top!”

No, it’s not a song or book title reference, nor is it a play by play script of my honeymoon…….

Game 6 was definitely the BEST game of the series for all the reasons stated above.

This game had everything……lots of innings of hits, decisions, Rare Plays, scoring (but only using binary numbers) which kept things close the whole way. When one of us scored, it seemed the other team led off with a baserunner and a rally to get the run back.

An unsung hero in Otto Knabe of Grand Rapids. For the second time in the series, when I intentionally walked RBI Crown King, Sam Crawford with an open base…..Obi Wan Knabe came thru with a clutch run scoring single thru the infield.

Tense, tense action, with Starrucca knowing that if we lose today, we go home for the winter and come back in the spring. (Calendaricly speaking)

Eddie Cicotte takes a 5-4 lead into the top of the 8th needing just 6 more outs. He gets them… but not before giving up 2 runs, as the Spans re-take the lead 6-5 and the goal gets flipped.

Now it’s Doc White and Doc Crandall in the bottom of the 8th inning who need to get 6 outs for a Spanfly win. (The Wolverines called for a Second Opinion, so we sent in another doctor)

And they combine in the 8th inning, but they give up a key run as Grand Rapids ties it up, Crandall blows the Save, and we head into the 9th all tied up again.

Top 9….

Eddie Cicotte is running on fumes now for Grand Rapids….

A Span single, stolen base, sac bunt, and then Doc Crandall helps his own cause by blooping a single over the head of the height-challenged shortstop. Spans go UP 7-6!!!

Bottom 9….

Grand Rapids sends up three batters, and the Span pitchers sent 3 batters back to the Wolverine dugout hungry and victimless.

SERIES is TIED UP! 3 games apiece, both teams live to fight another day, but only one of them will advance to the Championship series.

An unforgettable game, for both of us! Well played on both sides!

GAME 7:

Ainspan Doc Crandall takes the mound for this one, in his most important start of the year!

George Bell for the Wolverines.

So far in the series, after 6 games, NEITHER team has won a Home game! Amazing, but true.

And Bell rings in with 5 admirable innings, giving up one 1 earned run. Nelson follows with 2 more innings, and the same 1 earned run.

And Beebe plays a copycat role here… 2 more innings 1 earned run. From the Wolverine pitching view; it was enough of an effort to win the game.

But they were going against a Specialist in his field today. Doc Crandall advanced inning after inning with surgical precision. The Wolves couldn’t find any prey to feast on, no meatball pitches, no weaklings at the back of the herd to pick on. Crandall picked a fine day to come up with a complete game, 4 hit shutout. He never gave Grand Rapids a toehold, and they went on a hunger strike today.

Starrucca, behind Doc Crandall, wins the deciding game, 5-0. And the series. And advance to meeting Bradenton in the Championship series.

Congratulations to Jeff and the Wolverine Team for a fine season!

They can take some time off and prep for next year.It was a fun evening, the baseball talk and chatter made it all the more fun! Thanks to those who ‘beamed down’ to watch it and participate.2+ hours with TCBA people…..doesn’t get any better than that!

Jeff Sajdak – Congratulations, Marty, on a great season and playoff series. It was a great series made even better by the fans in attendance. I completely agree that "2+ hours with Tcba people…..doesn’t get any better than that!"

Bob Wood - It was an unexpected rematch of the 1910 Origins World Series when South Starrucca (91-64) welcomed Bradenton (89-65) to open the 1911 World Series.

First, South Starrucca had to defeat Hyde Park in a 155th game to even qualify for the playoffs. The Ainspans and Buckeyes were then the #3 and #4 seeds and had to prevail over Grand Rapids (#2) and Turin (#1) in the playoffs. Both of those series lasted the full seven games before the underdogs prevailed.

Interestingly, the last nine games that South Starrucca has played have been won by the VISITING team, so Bradenton brought high hopes with them on the road trip.

The Buckeyes had their ace, Jack Coombs (29-11, 1.53) on the mound to face Jack the Mighty Quinn (12-9, 2.10).

Some technical difficulties reared their heads. Marty was unable to control the cursor so we switched from Microsoft Teams to Zoom. We fumbled around awhile and finally got the game going with Gerry Hobbs and the muted Larry Smith in attendance.

In the top of the first, Bradenton came out swinging, but scored only one run, on a Harry Davis SF.

In the bottom of the first, Coombs beaned leadoff hitter Steve Evans and then beaned #3 hitter Larry Doyle!

In the top of the 4th, Coombs helped himself with a 2-out RBI single, 2-0.

In the top of the 5th, Quinn beaned Kid Elberfeld and was ejected. Doc White (6-5, 2.67) took the mound and probably wasn't quite ready. Davis singled home another run before Cy Seymour lifted a SF to make it 4-0.

In the bottom of the 5th, White beat out a 1-out infield roller for the FIRST Ainspan hit.

In the bottom of the 6th, Beals Becker drew a 1-out walk. Home Run Baker couldn't leave the park, but did double into the gap to knock in the first Ainspan of the series. Red Dooin then beat out an infield bleeder, placing runners on the corners. Baker then scored on Mickey Doolan's SF, 4-2.

Tom Jones, who had such a wonderful series against Grand Rapids, then dropped a double down the LF line. Dooin raced for the plate as Jones attempted to draw the throw to 3rd, but Dooin was late to the plate and tagged out to end the inning, 4-2

Dixie Walker (4-6, 3.84) took the mound for South Starrucca and pitched a perfect inning.

In the bottom of the 8th, Larry Doyle led off with a single to RF. With Beals Becker at the plate, Doyle took off on a hit & run call. Becker lined one towards Right Field - and the ball kept going and going until it CLEARED THE FENCE, a 2-run game-tying home run for the league's #2 home run hitter (Beals had 8 in the regular season, trailing only slugger Roy Hobbs, who had hit 9 homers). It was the first home run allowed this season by Coombs, who pitched 340.1 innings in the regular season, 23 innings in the first round of the playoffs, and 7 innings today!

Now everyone thought they could hit the ball out of the park. Baker flew out to deep right. Dooin flew out to straightaway center and Doolan flew out to deep left to end the inning.

In the 9th, Walker threw another perfect inning for the Ainspans.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Spans were still trying to knock it out of the park. Tom Jones lined out to CF. Josh Devore fanned swinging from his heels. Steve Evans waited for his pitch though, drawing a base on balls. That brought up Jim Delahanty, pinch hitting for Walker.

Everyone knew that Coombs was tired, so Bradenton turned to Deacon Phillippe (11-10, 3.03) to relieve. Maybe the Deacon wasn't quite ready. Three times he fired to first base to keep Evans close. Finally, loosened up, he threw to the plate, inducing a 4-6 force out to end the inning.

Zoom ran out of time at this point (probably all those pickoff attempts by Phillippe). When trying to reset the meeting, Bradenton's computer refused to co-operate. Imagine a long rain delay. Finally, thanks to Alexander Graham Bell, Marty & Bob hooked up by telephone to continue, without a live audience.

In an odd move, Hooks Wiltse replaced Larry Doyle in the lineup, allowing Delahanty to remain in the game for defense at 2nd base, but forcing Wiltse to be the leadoff hitter for Starrucca in the bottom of the 10th. Hooks was ready to pitch, however, striking out Harry Davis (on two "dice" rolls). Rebel Oakes pulled a long foul ball before lining out. Cy Seymour singled and then stole 2nd base, but Woody Wood grounded out to SS-8 Doolan to end the inning.

Wiltse quickly bounced out. Becker, the home run hitter, lined out to CF before Baker fouled out. On to the 11th inning, and Wiltse retired the side, 1-2-3.

In the bottom of the 11th, Red Dooin led off with a single into right center. Doolan sacrificed him into scoring position, but Phillippe fanned Tom Jones. That left Josh Devore at the plate, thanks to an earlier double switch. Devore singled past LaJoie, into right field, and Dooin easily beat the throw to the plate for a 5-4, 11 inning 2-out walk off win for South Starrucca.

Marty Fiehl - Woody briefed you on Gm1 that was played last night…….we picked up the gauntlet again this morning after the teams had a night of rest after an extra inning nail biter on late Friday.

Here we go!

GAME 2:

“Its not how MANY hits you get, its how you Bunch them together”.

Both teams open up with a single run in the first as they were anxious to get on the board. Bradenton tacks on another in the second. Now 2-1 BR.

The rest of the game can be summed up in two hits:

-Larry Doyle nails a bases loaded, bases clearing double in the 5^th.

-Chief Wilson does the same thing in the 7^th.

Both tacking 3 runs apiece to the linescore.

Larry Drucke is in control on the mound for the rest of the game, and the Ainspans win this one 7-2 while getting only 5 hits, but also 5 walks.

Series now 2-0 Starrucca

GAME 3:

“Good things come in three’s; unless you’re talking about celebrity deaths”.

And this applies to last game, too!

Wild Bill Donovan starts on the mound for Bradenton and he is true to his name today. He issues 5 walks in 6 innings, along with giving up 4 runs. His defense did him no favors.

With a 4-0 lead into the 6^th inning, Starrucca looked like they were going to roll 7’s thru 9 innings.

But then the upper half of the Buckeye lineup woke up and started getting hits and xbhits like they were batting off of a tee.

3 runs, 1 run, 3 runs in the 6^th/7^th/8^th……with that last 3 spot pushing them into the lead, and they set down the Ainspans in the 9^th for a strong 7-5 win!

Series now 2-1 Starrucca

GAME 4:

“Jacks are Wild!”

Jack Coombs (Gr19) toes the rubber for Bradenton.

Jack Quinn (Gr11z) will toss for Starrucca.

It’s a rematch of Gm1 pitchers, and neither one of them pitched very well in that one. Both are better than they have showed, and this is a crucial game.

Thru 3 complete…..there are double no-hitters going on. They are waiting for the other one to blink.

Top 4…..its that crooked number 3 again, and Starrucca gets it. Big hit was a 2 run double by Tom Jones. Not the ‘whats new pussycat guy’, but the Starrucca firstbaseman, who during the regular season was a their fulltime #8 hitter.

After 465 plate apps in 142 games, he hit the putrifying total of 222/296/253. His total xbase hit line total was: 6-3-0. Even Don Knotts could ‘get to secondbase’ more than Jonesy.

This is Jones last season with the Spans, I think he’s been my firstbaseman for 4 or 5 seasons, so he knows the playoffs will be the last action he ever see’s.

I believe he must have been visited by one of Dickens Ghosts, or maybe it was a Fairy God Mother, but somebody must have altered his bat for the post season, cuz he turned his ‘bent carrot’ into ‘Wonderboy’!

In the semi’s vs Grand Rapids, he played fulltime and hit: 375/444/417 ! He was the only one to get a hit in every game.

He has picked up where he left off, and thru the first 4 games of THIS series, he has kept that pace and gotten at least one hit a game. That’s now 11 playoff games in a row!

Ok, back to the game!

The 3 runs we scored will be all we will need. Jack Quinn again bests Jack Coombs, and Starrucca bunches runners in front of two doubles, to win this one 4-2!

Starrucca goes up 3 games to 1 in the series.

GAME 5:

“Double your pleasure, double your fun!”

Drucke takes the mound for Starrucca, and Overall for the Buckeyes.

To Overall’s credit today, he STOPS Tom Jones’ hitting streak, stopping him at 11 playoff games in a row.

And to Bradenton’s consternation, Nap Lajoie went hitless for the 2^nd game in a row. I’m guessing that didn’t happen very many times, if at all, during the Regular season.

There wasn’t all that much action overall in the game, but there were them doubles, again.

Two were hit, both by Starrucca, and each of them had two runners on base that scored each time. That was the bulk of the scoring.

Drucke went complete for Starrucca and held the Buckeye Bats at Bay.

6-2 was the Final Score with the Ainspans avenging last seasons defeat by Bradenton in the Finals.

Not to bring up that number 3 again…….but hey, Bob, lets do this for the third time NEXT year, and we can break the tie!

Congrats go out to the Buckeyes who had a fine Regular season, battling right down to the wire in their Division, and beating the #1 Rated team in the league in Turin in the Semi’s. They came into the Finals a little stressed, pressed and tired. But they fought all the way and made the match another fun one!