CC-True Championship of 2011 Game 3

Nobuhiro Matsuda

2011 St. Louis Cardinals-4
2011 Fukuoka Softbank Hawks-5

It looked to be more of the same as the Cardinals came out with 2 runs in the 1st inning and shut the Hawks down to only 1 hit in the first five frames, but then came the Japanese divine wind of the 6th as Fukuoka scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. When St. Louis tied it up with a run in the top of the 7th, the Softbank Hawks came back with a triple from Hosokawa and a 2 run long ball from Uchikawa to go up 5-3. St. Louis went deep in the 9th thanks to David Freese, but Brian Falkenborg sealed it with back to back strikeouts to end the Card comeback. Nobuhiro Matsuda helped his team get there going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s, 2 steals, and a run scored in the 6th. The Cardinals get 4 on 7 hits with an error, and the Hawks get 5 on 9 hits without an error.

Notes: Played at Soothing Meadows on 15 Mar 19

CC: True Championship of 2011 Game 2

Jake Westbrook

2011 Fukuoka Softbank Hawks-1
2011 St. Louis Cardinals-3

In the second game at Busch Stadium for this Championship Challenge, the Cardinals once again over powered the Japanese team with pitching. Cardinals Pitcher Jake Westbrook tossed 8 innings of 1 run ball while only giving up 4 hits thanks in part to 7 strikeouts. The Hawks’ only run came in the 4th inning thanks to a Matsuda RBI single, while St. Louis grabbed a run in the 3rd from a Descalso single, one in the 4th from an Allen Craig solo homer, and another in the 6th from Berkman. The 2011 Fukuoka Softbank Hawks go down 2 games to none after 1 run on 6 hits. The Cardinals take the advantage with 3 runs on 7 hits. Both teams also tallied an error a piece. The series now moves onto Japan where the Hawks hope to gain some momentum from their enthusiastic crowd.

Notes: Played at Soothing Meadows on 15 Mar 19

CC: True Championship of 2011 Game 1

Chris Carpenter

2011 Fukuoka Softbank Hawks-2
2011 St. Louis Cardinals-4

Game 1 of the True Championship took place at Busch Stadium and the Cardinals overpowered the Hawks on the mound. Chris Carpenter, the games standout performer held Fukuoka to one hit through the first six innings on his way to a 5 hit, 5 strikeout day. St. Louis grabbed 2 runs in the 4th and 2 more in the 5th before Matt Holliday sucked the wind out of the Cardinals’ sails after being caught using an illegal bat and getting himself suspended for the next week. Those 4 runs held up though as the Softbank Hawks were only able to grab a single run in the 7th and another in the top of the 9th. The Hawks lose with 2 runs on 5 hits and 1 error while the Cardinals win with 4 runs on 9 hits and 2 errors.

Notes: Played at Soothing Meadows on 15 Mar 19

GTS-1976 Philadelphia Phillies at 1975 Oakland A’s

Mike Schmidt

1976 Philadelphia Phillies-6
1975 Oakland A’s-7

Both teams combined for 7 runs in the first inning as Philly took the lead early 4-3 thanks partially to a Mike Schmidt 3 run shot to start the game. Oakland followed their 3 run first with a 4 run second courtesy of a Sal Bando 2 run homer to left field and RBI singles by Rudi and Harper. Oakland was unable to score for the rest of the game as Jim Kaat came in relief for Philly to shut the A’s down, but despite single run innings in the 6 and 9 innings, Philadelphia could not manage to tie the game up. Mike Schmidt earns player of the game honors despite his team losing with 2 hits on 4 at bats thanks to his 3 RBI homer in the opening frame. Philadelphia scores 6 runs on 11 hits with 1 error. Oakland tallied 7 across the plate for the win on 12 hits and no errors, hopping just above the Phillies in the standings.

Notes: Played at Soothing Meadows on 12 Mar 2019

GTS-1969 Baltimore Orioles at 1961 New York Yankees

Bill Stafford

1969 Baltimore Orioles-1
1961 New York Yankees-3

In the battle of the big bats, it was anything but as both heavy hitting teams combined for only 4 runs and 11 hits. Both teams struggled throughout the first five frames until a Brooks Robinson double scored the Orioles only run of the game in the top of the sixth. In the bottom half of the inning Robinson accounted for an error that led to the Yanks scoring Kubek, Mantle, and Maris for 3 runs and eventually the game. Yankees pitcher Stafford had another solid start and is named player of the game giving up 1 run on 4 hits in a nearly complete game pitched. The Orioles also tallied 2 errors in the contest. New York plated 3 on 7 hits without an error and switch places in the standing with the Orioles as they capture the number two spot.

Notes: Played at Soothing Meadows on 7 Mar 2019

GTS-1946 Boston Red Sox at 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates

Jordy Mercer

1946 Boston Red Sox-4
2013 Pittsburgh Pirates-5

Both pitchers got off to a rough start with the Red Sox scoring three runs in the first two innings and the Pirates scoring three in the bottom of the 1st. From there on out both starters settled down, but Pittsburgh remained one step ahead throughout the game. A leadoff homer by Jordy Mercer in the 4th put the Buccos up by one until the top of the 6th when a Wagner single for the Red Sox tied up the game until the bottom of the inning when a Russell Martin hit gave Pittsburgh the lead 5-4. The final three frames saw goose eggs for both teams and the 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates took the final game of Interleague Play and the league competition 9 games to 7. The Pirates scored 5 runs on 9 hits with 1 error while the Sox came up short with 4 runs on 8 hits and zero errors. Jordy Mercer takes star distinction going 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a homer, and an RBI. Looking to bounce back from the defeat, Boston will take on the 1962 Dodgers in a game that sees both teams tied for 7 place at the moment.

Notes: Played at Soothing Meadows on 26 Feb 2019.

GTS-1992 Pittsburgh Pirates at 2001 Seattle Mariners

Brett Boone

1992 Pittsburgh Pirates-4
2001 Seattle Mariners-7

The Mariners, who have struggled thus far offensively this season, tallied 10 hits on their way to a 7-4 victory against the 1992 Pirates. Seattle struck first in the 1^st with a run and added single run innings in the 4^th and 5^th as well, but Pittsburgh fought back with a run in the 4^th, two in the 5^th, and another in the 6^th to lead the game 4-3 going into the bottom of the 7^th. A leadoff walk by Suzuki started a Mariners rally thanks to a base hit from McLemore and two errors on the Bucs that saw Pittsburgh give up three runs and the game in the inning. Seattle added another run in the following frame and shut down the Pirates with four strikeouts in the final two innings. Bret Boone is named the game’s star going 2 for 4 with two doubles, two runs, and an RBI in the 5^th. Seattle improves their record to 4-2 and sit in 5^th place with 7 runs on 10 hits and 2 errors. The Pirates came up short with 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 errors as well. In Round 6 the Mariner hope to keep their bats alive as they take on the 11^th place Indians.

Notes: Played at Soothing Meadows on 25 Jan 19.

GTS-1954 Cleveland Indians at 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates

Al Rosen

1954 Cleveland Indians-3
1991 Pittsburgh Pirates-6

In the classic matchup of Cleveland versus Pittsburgh, the 1991 Pirates accept the victory. Despite Al Rosen of the Indians taking home player of the game honors going 4 for 3 and only a triple short of the cycle, the rest of the Cleveland roster could only manage 2 hits among them. The Buccos only managed one extra base hit the entire game, but took advantage of a Strickland error in the 3^rd, strung together a walk and four singles for 3 runs in the 4^th, and added 2 runs in the 6^th from a Jay Bell triple. Twenty game winner John Smiley takes the win after the Pittsburgh offense gets 9 hits for 6 runs and an error. The Indians put 3 runs on the board, all from Rosen, 5 hits, and giving up the previously mentioned error from Strickland. The 1954 Cleveland Indians stand in 11^th place and take on the 2001 Seattle Mariners in round 6.

GTS-1990 Pittsburgh Pirates at 1942 St. Louis Cardinals

Andy Van Slyke

1990 Pittsburgh Pirates-5
1942 St. Louis Cardinals-4

The strength throughout the season for the Cardinals has always been their never say die attitude. You cannot keep them down for long as they have a unique ability to stay in every contest and oftentimes snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Sadly for them, despite a solid comeback, they could not get the W in this one. The 1990 Pirates got off to an early 1 run lead in the top of the 1^st before the Cards came back and tied it in the bottom of the 2^nd. The Bucs added 2 more runs in the 6^th and the 7^th before St. Louis battled back again with a 2 run pinch hit triple by Walker. In the top of the 8^th, following four singles, the Pirates added 2 more runs to go up 5 to 3. Some more pinch hit majesty came from Sanders in the bottom of the 9^th as he blasted one deep to bring St. Louis within a run of sending the game to extra innings, but Pirates closer Bill Landrum closed out the game with a whiff on the following batter. Pirates Centerfielder Andy Van Slyke takes home the player of game prize going 2 for 4 with an RBI triple and scoring a run himself. The Pirates eek out a win with 5 runs on 13 hits after committing 1 error. The Cardinals lose their second game of the season and drop into 6^th place with 4 runs on 5 hits and no errors. In the next round the 1942 St. Louis Cardinals stay at home to take on the 1984 Detroit Tigers.

GTS-1906 Chicago Cubs at 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates

Willie Stargell

1906 Chicago Cubs-4
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates-5

What was expected to be an easy win by the 1979 Pirates became interesting after some Bert Blyleven fastball chin music on Cubs first baseball Frank Chance caused a bench clearing brawl in the 3^rd. When all was said and done the Pirates saw their starting pitcher, Dave Parker, and Bill Robinson ejected. The Cubs lost their starting pitcher Pfeister, the aforementioned Chance, and Joe Tinker, all three sent to the locker room for the remainder of the game. When things calmed down and with a 1 to 0 score going into the 5^th the Cubs added 3 runs off of a Schulte home run that gave the underdog Cubs a 4 to nothing lead. The Pirates looked on the verge of defeat in the 9^th inning, down 4 to 1, when a timely error by Harry Steinfeldt saw the Pirates score the eventual tying run off of a Phil Garner triple to send the game into extra innings. Both teams put up goose eggs in the 10^th, but in the bottom of the 11^th, Pittsburgh captain Willie Stargell launched an opposite field solo home run to walk off the game in style. The Cubs suffer their 5^th, most heartbreaking loss yet, and currently hold onto a weak 15^th place in the standings after 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 disappointing errors. The “We are Family” Pirates of 1979 walk off with 5 runs on 9 hits without an error. Going 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a game winning HR, Willie Stargell gives himself a Stargell star as player of the game. In the next round the Cubs face off against the 1909 Pirates.

Game Notes

Date Played: 14 Dec 2018
Venue: Soothing Meadows
Game Duration: Unknown
2B: Ed Ott
3B: Phil Garner
HR: Frank Schulte, Willie Stargell
TB: Willie Stargell (5), Frank Schulte (4), Phil Garner (4), Jimmy Sheckard (3), Ed Ott (3), Tim Foli (2), Johnny Kling, Frank Chance, Orval Overall, Bill Madlock
SH: None
SF: None
IBB: None
HBP: None
With RISP: Chicago 2-10, Pittsburgh 3-6
GIDP: Doc Gessler
RBI: Frank Schulte (3), Phil Garner, Johnny Kling, Willie Stargell, Bill Madlock, Steve Nicosia
R: Willie Stargell (2), Jimmy Sheckard, Frank Schulte, Johnny Kling, Orval Overall, Bill Madlock, Phil Garner, Lee Lacy
Team LOB: Chicago-13, Pittsburgh-5
E: Harry Steinfeldt, Johnny Evers
DP: Romo-Foli-Stargell
Outfield Assists: None
PB: None
SB: None
CS: Harry Steinfeldt
Picked Off: None
Win: Grant Jackson
Loss: Orval Overall
Save: None
Balks: Enrique Romo
WP: None
HBP: None
IBB: None
Pickoffs: None
Additonal Notes: 3rd inning bench clearing brawl resulted in the following ejections: Bert Blyleven, Frank Chance, Bill Robinson, Joe Tinker, Dave Parker, and Jack Pfeister