RRIT Championship - Preview

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Things have taken a weird twist in the Ronald Reagan Invitational.  Reagan’s dislike for all things New York may have finally pushed the mild mannered Californian over the edge.

“This can not continue.  The Yankee reign of terror must come to an end.” said Reagan speaking at a press conference called by the tournament director today.  “I will enter an executive order that will see this atrocity of Yankee APBA wins does not continue.”

In 12 tournament games, New York is hitting .272/.337/.439.  The Yankees have shown a mix of power and speed with 16 home runs and 18 stolen bases.  They are averaging 5.0 runs per game.  Don Mattingly has had another great tournament, .386/.472/.705, while leading the team in runs (11) and RBI’s (13).

The pitching staff, as a whole, has been respectable with a 3.60 ERA.  Ron Guidry (4.76) has not performed well, with his 0-4 record.  Phil Niekro (3.60) has been good at times and Joe Cowley (2.37) has been outstanding in Game 3’s.  The strength has been in the pen.  Righetti (1.80) has been very good, but Fischer, Scurry and Shirley have been great, delivering 10 scoreless innings of relief. 

The Cardinals have a similar stat line as the Yankees, .289/.338/.422 over the 7 games they’ve played.  The Cardinals have flown under the radar in the tournament, quietly going about their business eliminating teams and advancing like a #1 Seed should.

The primary issue for St. Louis in the tournament is the only weakness they had in real life.  Jack Clark has 3 home runs, but no one else has any.  Tommy Herr .467/.500/.733 has been unreal, with 8 doubles, 8 runs and 7 RBI’s.  Speed never goes in a slump.  The Cards have played just over half as many games as the Yankees, but have 2 more stolen bases (20). 

The Cardinal pitching staff has been good, 3.38 ERA.  But if you factor out Danny Cox’s bad outing, that number drops to 2.87.  Ace John Tudor’s 1.40 ERA is fantastic.  The biggest disappointment has been closer Jeff Lahti’s 6.75 ERA in 5.1 innings.  Still, even with some bad appearances, Lahti has earned 3 saves.

“In order to defeat Yankee Boy and his band of thugs, the Cardinals need another power hitter in their lineup.  They also need more consistency in their starting rotation, beyond Tudor.” Reagan told the crowd.  “In order to accomplish these goals, I will hang up my suit and tie and suit up with the Cardinals for the Championship Series.”

Reagan’s announcement came as a shock to everyone in attendance.  Finally, one bewildered reporter asked, “Mr. President, what position will you play?” 

“Well, I’m glad you asked that.  I will pitch Game 2, and play in the outfield the rest of the time.” said Reagan.

BOB LEMON GIVING REAGAN LESSONS

A hushed silence fell over the crowd.  Finally, one brave reporter spoke up, “Mr. President, with your less than impressive tryout for the Pirates earlier in the tournament, do you think you are able to help the St. Louis rotation?”

“Well, I’m the tournament director and President of the United States.  As director, I’ve contacted Bob Lemon of the Cleveland Indians and been working with him to improve my pitching skills.  More importantly, as President, I’ve contacted Steve’s APBA card generator, and ordered a new card consistent with my athletic abilities.”  At this point, Reagan revealed his APBA card.

“My addition to the batting order and pitching rotation will insure victory over Yankee Boy and his minions!”, Reagan cried out.  “This can not continue!  Democracy must prevail! The Yankees and that Boy will go down!”

At this point, Reagan assumed a very un-Presidential pose and shouted, “NEENER, NEENER, NEENER, THE YANKEES ARE ALL WEENERS!” into the microphone.  The shocked and stunned press corps sat unsure what to make of the bizarre turn of events.  Reagan, highly excited and possibly a little light headed, left the podium and fell down the stairs as he exited.  Medical personnel were on the scene immediately and transported the injured President to George Washington University Hospital.

National League Championship

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bill Clinton stopped in to visit with the tournament director to discuss the possibility of extending the tournament’s scope to include teams from 1991 to 1995.  An additional era of this range would undoubtedly be named after Clinton.  During the visit, the 42^nd president helped himself to some of Reagan’s prized jelly beans.  With a look of shock and disgust, Reagan asked, “Did you wash your hands first?”

ST. LOUIS – The National League Championship came down to the top 2 seeded teams, as the top seed 1985 St. Louis Cardinals (.623) hosted the #2 Seed 1981 Cincinnati Reds (.611) in Game 1.  With Tom Seaver (A) for the Reds and John Tudor (A-YZ) going for the Cardinals, the APBA world expected a close low scoring affair.  

Dave Collins’ struggles in the tournament were well documented.  The switch hitter finished the tournament a woeful 1 for 29, .034/.176/034.  While the Red leadoff hitter couldn’t buy a hit in the tournament, he drew a walk to start Game 1.  John Tudor fanned Griffey and Concepcion, making the first three Reds batters come to the plate without hitting a ball into the field of play.  George Foster would make it 4 batters in a row, as his 11-5 home run left the yard and gave the Reds a 2-0 lead.

Johnny Bench led the Reds in practically every offensive category in the tournament, 11 for 30, .367/.424/.800, with 3 home runs, 9 RBI’s and 4 doubles.  By 1981, the hall of fame catcher did not log many innings behind the plate anymore, as wear, tear and age had taken a toll on his knees.  J.B. led off the 4^th inning for the Reds with a base hit to left field.  Ron Oester followed suit 2 batters later and Joe Nolan brought home Bench to put the Reds up 3-0.  

Tom Seaver faced only two batters over the minimum through the first 6 innings.  But in the 7^th, Tom Herr continued his hot hitting ways busting a double to lead off.  A Jack Clark pop out and an Andy Van Slyke fly out made it appear Tom might get out of the inning with the shutout preserved.  Terry Pendleton had other plans, as he drilled a double to get the Cards on the board.  Number 41 retired 7 of the next 8 batters he faced to log the complete game, going 9 innings and allowing only 1 run and 6 hits.  Oddly, did not have a strikeout in the entire game.

CINCINNATI - Richard Petty, took time off from his driving duties to throw out the first pitch before the Reds and Cardinals hooked up in Game 2.  The King delivered a hard straight pitch, which is different than the way he delivers the tournament director, according to Reagan.  When asked if the driving change had lessened the travel time between destinations, Reagan responded, “We go a lot faster, but his car only turns left.”

Mario Soto (B-XZ) took the mound for the Reds looking for the win that would send dad’s Reds into the championship to face Yankee Boy and his evil empire.  Things looked good in the first inning as Soto retired the Cards 1-2-3.  In the bottom of the inning, the Reds’ new juggled lineup paid dividends.  New leadoff man, Ken Griffey, singled and stole second base.  Ray Knight, bunted Griffey to 3^rd and Dave Concepcion drove a fly ball deep enough into left field to score the speedy Griffey, putting the Reds up first.

 

In the top of the 2^nd, Terry Pendleton doubled home Van Slyke and scored on a double from Ozzie Smith to give the Cards their first lead of the series, 2-1.  The Reds knotted things back up as Joe Nolan and Ron Oester went back to back doubles in the bottom of the inning.

Over the next two innings, the Cardinals plated 7 runs, highlighted by the continued hot hitting of Tommy Herr.  The Cardinal second baseman, doubled and scored in each inning while driving in 3 runs.  Terry Pendleton picked up a 2 RBI double of his own, while St. Louis knocked out Soto and kept on slugging against Paul Moskau.

Johnny Bench’s 2 run homer in the 6^th was about the only thing left in the game the fans at Riverfront could get excited about.  The Cards cruised to a 10-5 lead, evening the series and heading back home for Game 3.

Prior to the game, the Reds unveiled the banner declaring them as the team with the best record in baseball for 1981.  The banner didn’t change the fact they did not make a post season appearance that year, and neither did it help them in Game 2 against St. Louis.  However, with a few dozen kitchen chairs, it did make a nice fort for some of the players’ kids to play under after the game.

ST. LOUIS – Jack Clark crushed his 2^nd home run of the tournament in the bottom of the 1^st inning with Tommy Herr (of course) on base putting St. Louis up 2-0.  Herr singled for the 2^nd time in the 3^rd inning and moved to 3^rd on an Andy Van Slyke base hit.  Pendleton’s sac fly to left field scored Herr, and the Cardinals lead was 3-0.  Frank Pastore (D-YZ) tried to make adjustments to his delivery, but Reds fans’ hopes were getting thin.

Ray Knight got things started for the Reds in the 4^th with a ringing base hit.  Bench moved Knight to third with a hit of his own.  With runners on the corners, Danny Cox balked Knight home and Bench to 2^nd.  The balk call evidently rattled Cox as he hung the next pitch to George Foster who made him pay with a long blast into the St. Louis night.  The 3-3 score brought the Reds faithful back to their feet.

The Reds Paul Householder, pinch hitting for Pastore in the 5^th, doubled into the right centerfield gap.  Ken Griffey singled Householder home as the Reds retake the lead.  Knight doubled home Ken, Sr., and the Reds celebrated with a 2 run cushion.  George Foster made the next to the last out of the inning, and with the 2 run lead, dad made a double switch, leaving Householder in to play left, for better defense, and Joe Price in to pitch and bat in Foster’s spot.  It would be a bad move.

Herr singled for the 3^rd time in the game and Jack Clark 66-1 tied the game.  2 batters after the double switch, and the game was all knotted up with the Red’s cleanup hitter watching from the bench.  With two out in the bottom of the 6^th, Vince Coleman singled and stole second base.  Willie McGee singled home Coleman, then stole second himself.  Tommy Herr, who couldn’t possibly single again, picked up his 4^th hit of the night with a double scoring McGee.  A walk, base hit and sac fly scored another Cardinal run in the 7^th.

Trailing by 3, the Reds made a game out of it when Concepcion homered with Joe Nolan on first base to make score 8-7 in favor of the Cards.  In the 9^th, with their tournament lives on the line, the Reds tied the game when Ray Knight doubled home Ken Griffey.  But with Knight in scoring position and no outs, the Reds could not move him along.

Bruce Berenyi  (C-YW) was called upon for long relief, but it would be a short call.  Pendleton grounded out.  Mike Jorgenson pinch hit and dribbled a ground ball back to the mound.  Berenyi fielded the ball, but his wide throw drew Bench off the bag putting the winning run on base.  Ozzie Smith singled to right and Jorgensen moved to third.  Ozzie stole second base removing any chance of a double play.  With the winning run only 90 feet away, the Reds brought the infield in close.  Cesar Cedeno was called off the bench on to beat his former team.  Mike Shannon with KMOX-AM, St. Louis, has the call:

”Cedeno digs into the box.  Infield pulled in tight for the Reds.  They’re coming home with it.  Berenyi checks Jorgensen at third.  Ozzie takes his lead at 2^nd base.  Berenyi delivers from the stretch.  Here’s a sharp ground ball, it’s off Concepcion’s glove, Jorgensen scores and the Cardinals win!!”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Back at the White House, Reagan was visited by another former president lobbying for his own tournament.  Words became a little heated as Reagan tried to explain to Gerald Ford that naming the presidential invitationals were not within his power.  

Reagan said, “You’ll have to talk to the Pike guy about it.  It’s nothing to me.  I have absolutely no say in the matter.”

“Ron, you got the 1981 to 1985 tournament named after you.  Jimmy Carter will likely get the 1976 to 1980 tournament.  But I want the 1971 to 1975 tournament named after me.  The people who voted for me deserve the Ford Invitational!” protested Ford.  

“Gerald, I think Red Forman on That 70s Show said it best.  NO ONE voted for you.” replied Reagan, as he excused himself and left the room. 

In the hallway, another familiar face grabbed the tournament director by the arm and said, “Hey Ron.  Do you have a minute?  How well do you know this Pike guy?”

American League Championship

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Prior to leaving for the American League Championship, Ronald Reagan and his new driver, Richard Petty, pose for pictures with Petty’s wife Lynda.  Members of the press asked the tournament director his opinion on whether the ’83 White Sox could beat the ’85 Yankees.  The State of New York voted in favor of Reagan in the presidential elections of 1980 and 1984.  However, voters in New York City voted against the former California Governor both times.  Reagan took this as a personal snub and has showed open bias against both the Mets and Yankees throughout the tournament.  “There is no way a good old fashioned, conservative, mid-western team like the White Sox will lose to that bunch of liberals from New York City.  The 83 Chicago team even wears red, white and blue.  God bless America and God bless the Chicago White Sox!”

KEN "HAWK" HARRELSON (LEFT)

CHICAGO - In the White Sox broadcast booth, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, may be in danger of losing his job.  WFLD-32 has expressed the possibility of replacing Don Drysdale’s side kick with another experienced television personality, rumored to be associated with Jim Henson Productions, Inc.  According to an unnamed source, the possible replacement shares many physical attributes with Harrelson, and the two even have similar on-air personalities.  “The two candidates are so similar, I’m not sure fans would realize a change had been made”, the source added.

Game one opened at Comiskey with LaMarr Hoyt (A-YZ) pitching for Chicago and Ron Guidry (B-YZ) going for New York.  The Sox busted out early.  Rudy Law walked and stole second base.  After a Fisk fly out, Paciorek moved Law over to third on a ground ball to first base.  Greg Luzinski, who has been on an experimental conditioning program preparing for the Yankee series, blasted an opposite field double putting the White Sox up 1-0.  Harold Baines followed with a double of his own scoring the Bull from second base as he showed off his blazing new speed, crossed the plate then continued running out of the park to find some Chicago deep dish and promptly broke his diet.  Ron Kittle made it three straight doubles as he drove a Louisiana Lightening pitch into the gap as Baines crossed the plate putting the home team up 3-0.  Baines did not go for pizza.

The Yankees got on the board in the top of the 2nd inning.  Don Mattingly walked and Dan Pasqua followed with an infield base hit.  Butch Wynegar drove a Hoyt pitch into the left center field gap scoring Mattingly.  However, the slow footed Pasqua was gunned down at the plate attempting to go first to home as Kittle’s throw from left field was relayed by Scott Fletcher to Fisk who blocked the plate, applied the tag and held the New York damage to only one run.

COMISKEY SHOWER

LONG RELIEF / CUSTODIAN

The Sox bats were locked and loaded.  In the bottom of the 2^nd, Julio Cruz reached on a Meacham error, and with two outs, it looked as if the Yankees might escape any harm.  Fisk stepped in the box and blasted a home run off Guidry, ending the former Cy Young award winners night, as Yankee Boy went to his pen early for Joe Niekro.  The younger brother of New York’s Game 2 starter needed a mop and bucket more than a glove and a ball, because most of his night could only be described as mop up duty.  Niekro walked the first batter he faced, Tom Paciorek.  Luzinski, back from his pizza run,  crushed the first pitch he saw into the public shower in center field, creating even more of a mess for Niekro to mop up.

In the bottom of the 5^th, the White Sox put the game away and showed no mercy to the visiting Yankees.  Vance Law blasted a home run with Baines and Kittle on base, as The Hawk yelled, “You can put it on the board! Yes! Yes!”.  Julio Cruz singled and stole second.  Rudy Law smashed a triple scoring Cruz.  Law was brought home when Fisk singled, but Pudge was thrown out at second base by Ken Griffey trying to stretch out a double. 

Both teams continued to swing hot sticks, and at the end of the night, Chicago had only out hit New York 14-11.  However, in the column that counted, the Sox were up 13-3 and the crowd stormed the field to celebrate.  Ron Guidry suffered the loss, which is becoming the norm for him and the Yankees.  In four Game 1 starts in the tournament, Gator is 0-4 with a 4.76 ERA.  Joe Niekro (and his mop) suffered through 6.1 innings, giving up 8 runs, all earned.  His tournament ERA ballooned to 7.71.  LaMarr Hoyt got sweet revenge against the team who traded him away years earlier for Bucky Dent, picking up the win, by going 8 innings, giving up 3 runs, all earned.

NEW YORK – Phil Niekro (C-YW) took mound for New York against Rich Dotson (B-Y) and the White Sox.  The Sox blasted out early again as Rudy Law led off the game with a single and Carlton Fisk followed behind him with yet another home run.  Dave Winfield connected for the Yankees in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 2-1.

The White Sox kept their foot on the gas in the top of the 2^nd inning as Scott Fletcher doubled and scored on a Carlton Fisk base hit.  Pudge, having been thrown out running the bases in Game 1, found high gear and motored home on a double by Tom Paciorek, putting the Sox up 4-1.  The Yankees answered back.  With 2 out and bases empty, Bobby Meacham, Mike Pagliarulo and Willie Randolph all singled to load the bases.  Rickey Henderson made it 4 straight singles driving a ball to right field scoring Meacham and Pags, and cutting the lead to 4-3.

The Yankees took their first lead of the series in the bottom of the 4^th, when Don Mattingly blasted a 66-1 with Henderson and Meacham on base, putting New York ahead 6-4.  Fans in New York jumped to their feet and Yankee Boy had his first opportunity to celebrate in the series.

Things remained quiet until the bottom of the 8^th when, again with 2 out and bases empty, the Yankees put together a rally.  Meacham walked and moved to third on a Pagliarulo base hit.  Willie Randolph cleared the bases with a double, giving New York an 8-4 lead.  While that felt comfortable for the fans in the Bronx, when the next batter (Rickey Henderson) blasted a home run, the 10-4 score made them down right cozy.  

HOME RUN HITTER
JULIO CRUZ

Rich Bordi (B*-YZ) was called on to pitch the 9^th  with the luxury of a 6 run lead.  With one out, unlikely home run power came from Julio Cruz to make the score 10-5.  Rudy Law doubled and Fisk walked.  Tom Paciorek flew out to Rickey in center field deep enough to move the speedy Law to third. Yankee Boy was getting tense along with the Yankee Stadium crowd.  He could feel the big lead getting away with the explosive White Sox swinging the bats.  He called to the bull pen, again, for Bob Shirley (B*-Z) to get the final and elusive out.  No luck. Greg Luzinski singled over second scoring Law and moving Fisk to third as the New York crowd moaned.  Reagan stood and cheered from his private box.  Speedy Lorenzo Gray was called on to run for Luzinski whose stomach hurt from his recent gorging at Chicago pizzerias.

RIGHETTI DELIVERS THE FINAL
PITCH TO RON KITTLE

The Boy was squirming, sweating and breathing hard.  He didn’t feel he could wait any longer.  With a save situation now present, he called on his lefty closer, Dave Righetti (B*-X) to face White Sox left handed slugger, Harold Baines.  The Yankee crowd cheered on Righetti.  They needed only one good dice roll.  Rags sets and fires.  Still no luck.  Baines greeted Rags with a hard base hit scoring Fisk and bringing the tying run to the plate in Ron Kittle.  Kit Cat's card has a 66-1, 11-1, 33-4, and with runners at first and second base, any of those PRN's would tie the game.  3 chances out of 36.  1 out of 12.  The Yankee fans were on the edge of their seats, and the Boy rocked hard in his chair.  Now, with one bad roll of the dice, this game could be tied.  Kittle dug in at the plate, waving the bat in anticipation of an 11, 33 or 66.  The crowd screamed, Reagan cheered, dad held his breath.  Rags got the sign from Wynegar and came set.  The Boy rolled.  The wind, the pitch, and Kittle hit a smash to Meacham at short who threw on to Mattingly ending the threat and the game as the Bronx crowd went wild!   

CHICAGO - The teams returned to Comiskey Park for the decisive Game 3.  Joe Cowley (C-Y) for New York would face the home town, Floyd Bannister (B-XZ).  With a clear pitching edge, and an offense that showed no signs of letting up, the South side fans packed the park and believed their team could finish the Yankees and put an end to the Boy's reign of terror.

BUTCH WYNEGAR

In the top of the first, Don Mattingly walked and scored on a two out double by hot hitting Butch Wynegar.  Yankee Boy had moved Wynegar into the clean up spot for Game 2 based upon his clutch hitting in the tournament, and he remained there for Game 3.  Dan Pasqua connected on a deep home run that put the Yankees up 3-0 and silencing the White Sox crowd before the hometown team had batted.

The Sox fought back.  Fisk doubled and Tom Paciorek singled him home, cutting the lead to 3-1.  But the Yankees wouldn't let up.  Again, with two out and no one on base, Randolph singled over Scott Fletcher's head.  Rickey singled to right field, moving Randolph to third, and then stole second base, putting two runners in scoring position for Mattingly.  Donnie Baseball drove a ball off the center field fence scoring both Randolph and Henderson and pushing New York ahead, 5-1.

Ken Griffey knocked a solo homer in the top of the third.  Fisk doubled home Rudy Law in the bottom of the inning.  Dan Pasqua blasted his second home run of the night with a solo shot in the top of the 5th.  The teams swapped runs in the 6th.  Although the teams were trading shots like two heavy weight fighters, the Yankees' blows were landing harder and with more frequency.  Heading into the bottom of the 8th, the Yankee lead had grown to 8-3.

RON KITTLE SWINGS AND MISSES

Vance Law smashed his second home run of the series in the bottom of the 8th, as the Sox stared down an 8-4 deficit.  In typical Yankee fashion, New York answered with a matching run in the top of the 9th, going up 9-4.  Joe Cowley had gone over his batters faced limit, and suffered a grade reduction.  But with a 5 run lead, Yankee Boy wanted his #3 starter to finish and earn the complete game.  Chicago took advantage of the fatigued starter as Julio Cruz singled and stole second base.  Cruz scored on a single from Rudy Law.  Cowely hit Fisk with a pitch to the displeasure of the Comiskey crowd.  Yankee Boy had seen enough and called for his closer, Dave Righetti.  Paciorek grounded out to Pagliarulo, but both runners moved into scoring position.  Luzinski hit a ground ball to Randolph who refused the play on Rudy Law at the plate and took the sure out at first.  Harold Baines singled home Fisk, cutting the lead to 9-7.  With Ron Kittle back up at the plate, Yogi Berra recalled it, "feels like deja vu all over again."  For the second game in row, Ron Kittle could tie the game with one dice roll.  This time with a runner on first base, it would take an 11-1 or 66-1 to reach the seats.  2 out of 36, one out of 18.  The crowd cheered on Kittle, Reagan closed his eyes in anticipation, dad sat in quiet dread.  Righetti came set.  The wind and the pitch and Kittle's 24-13 strike out looking gave the Yankees and their young APBA manager, their second straight American League Championship.

National League Semi-Finals

CHICAGO - The 1985 St. Louis Cardinals remain undefeated, as they sweep the ’84 Cubs.  Prior to the Game at Wrigley Field, the tournament director stopped by the WGN-TV booth for an on-air chat with Cubs’ broadcaster, Harry Caray.   The two discussed many topics including the concerns of their critics that both may be past their prime and too old for their respective jobs.  Caray said, “I’ve only been doing this fifty-four years.  With a little experience, I might get better.”  Reagan agreed that age is more a state of mind than anything else, in politics as well as broadcasting, by saying, “Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘we should never judge a president by his age, only by his works’.  And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.”

 

Just before the first pitch, Carey declared, “It is a bee-yooo-tiful day for baseball”. The Cubs broke out under bright sunny skies.  But as the day progressed, the temperature dropped, and ominous clouds rolled in off Lake Michigan.  The sky and the mood at Wrigley darkened.  As temperatures cooled, the Cardinal bats got hot.  Cubs fans went from elated to deflated.  NBC Game of the Week announcer, Joe Garragiola, summed up the hard luck loss, “One thing you learned as a Cubs’ fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth.” 

Expectations were high in the windy city for the ‘84 team, who in real life disappointed by losing to the Padres in the NLCS.  While the on field results did not end as hoped by Chicago Cubs fans and their players, the tournament director’s visit seemed to brighten Caray’s day.  “You could tell he was an old radio guy.  He never once looked at the television monitor.”

*     *     *     *     *

NEW YORK - The '85 Mets faced off against the '81 Reds in a rematch of a Quarter Final series from the 1986-1990 George H.W. Bush tournament.  The '86 Mets had easily swept the '90 Reds in the prior meeting, and the '81 team hoped for better results.  The two teams have a volatile history, and prior fights had tournament officials on edge as they hoped the baseball games could play out without the need of involving Dan Velderrain and the APBA Pro Boxing Game.  Confusing things more was the fact that Ray Knight and George Foster were playing for both teams.  If a fight broke out, would they have to punch themselves?  

Doc Gooden dominated the Reds in Game 1, throwing a 5 hit shut out. Ron Darling held the Reds scoreless for 7 more innings in Game 2. But Concepcion's walk-off home run sent the series back to Queens for a decisive Game 3.  In the finale, Darryl Strawberry's two-run homer put the Mets up in the 1st inning.  In the top of the 2nd, Red Ray Knight cut the lead in half with a home run of his own.  In the 3rd, Dave Collins singled, stole second and scored on a Concepcion base hit to tie things up, 2-2.  The Mets pulled back ahead in the 4th, as a double by George Foster and singles from Rafael Santana, pitcher Ed Lynch and Wally Backman put New York up 4-2.  Ed Lynch finished out 6 strong innings, before handing the ball off to Jesse Orosco who shut down the Reds bats in the 7th and 8th innings.  

ROGER McDOWELL

The Mets closer, Roger McDowell, had suffered the Game 2 loss by giving up the Concepcion walk off, took the mound once again in the 9th looking for 3 outs.  Things started off easy, as Johnny Bench flied out to Darryl Strawberry in right field and Reds fans started making their way toward the exits to avoid watching the Mets celebrate two tournaments in a row at their expense.  Red Ray Knight smashed a double, and trailing by two runs, the decision was made to play it safe with the (S) running Knight.  Ron Oester delivered a PRN-9 that, without the decision to go base to base with Knight, would have resulted in an out at the plate.  Dan Driessen was called off the bench to pinch hit for reliever Joe Price and produced a 33-6 double that plated Knight and Oester and tied the game.  Mike O'Berry had entered in the 7th as part of a double switch and was due up next.  Paul Householder pinch hit for the light hitting O'Berry, and he delivered a 33-0, 54-6 double that scored Driessen and put the Reds up 5-4.  Ground balls to shortstop by Collins and Concepcion ended the rally and the Mets grabbed their bats.

TOM HUME

The Reds called on Tom Hume for the save opportunity.  Backman flied out to right field, and Mookie Wilson grounded out to Oester at second, giving the Reds two quick outs.  Keith Hernandez ripped his 4th hit of the series with a single over Concepcion's head.  Darryl Strawberry walked into the box.  With two out and Hernandez standing at first, a 22-6 double or a 33-4 triple would score Hernandez and tie the game.  Worse yet for the Reds, with a 11-1 or 66-1, he would send the ball into the seats and the Mets into the NL championship.  The Reds momentarily considered walking Strawberry, but Carter was on deck with tons of power himself.  Plus the walk would move Hernandez into scoring position and put the winning run on base.  No, Hume would have to face the Mets big right fielder.  Tension mounted, Hume breathed deep, adjusted his glasses and came set.  The dice rolled, 41-24 fielders choice Concepcion to Oester and it was over!  Marty Brennaman emphatically gave his signature call, "And this one belongs to the Reds!" over the 700 WLW airwaves.  

The team I grew up loving as a kid; the team who was cheated from a post season appearance because of the players strike; the team who I've played untold replays and tournaments with in the past with absolutely NO success had knocked off the powerful Mets and would face the '85 Cardinals in the NL Championship.  Red's legendary broadcasters Joe Nuxhall and Marty Brennaman head west on their way to St. Louis for Game 1.

RRIT American League Semi-Finals

DETROIT, MI - The APBA world was shocked with another upset by the Yankees.  This time the #5 seed Bombers knocked off the tournament’s number one seed, ’84 Detroit Tigers, in 3 games.  Detroit looked good in Game 1, as Jack Morris pitched another quality game for 8 innings and Willie Hernandez picked up the save.  On the Yankee side, Ron Guidry pitched well, but not well enough, suffering the 2-1 loss.  In hindsight, the writing was on the wall.  As a team, Detroit had 9 hits in Game 1 but did not draw a walk and struck out 8 times while scoring only twice.  It would be a preview of things to come.  In New York, the Tigers managed only 4 hits while striking out 7 more times, and this time, finished on the wrong side of a 2-1 score.  With the series moving back to Detroit for the decisive Game 3, Tiger fans were confident they would clinch on their home turf.  But the Tiger bats got even colder, getting only two base runners into scoring position all night, scratching out 6 singles and striking out 11 more times.  Tiger Mascot Paws (above), like Tiger fans everywhere, was frustrated and prepares to show some rather obnoxious Yankee fans his own special cheer just for them.  Many New York faithful made the trip to Motor City and were celebrating Detroit’s offensive drought a little too much for the beloved Tiger mascot’s taste.

Reagan studied the prototype large print APBA cards for the ’84 Detroit team, and commented, “How does this team manage only three runs in three games and strike out 27 times?”  Tiger fans everywhere shared Dutch’s pain.  With the Tigers splitting the first two games with identical 2-1 scores, the Detroit offensive problems weren’t noticed that much.  But the collapse in Game 3 highlighted the fact that their bats never showed up.  Lance Parrish’s solo homer in Game 2 was the only Bengal power displayed in the series.

NEW YORK - The printing presses were running full speed as major changes were made to the 1985 New York Yankee Official Yearbook.  Yankee Boy has become a favorite of fans in the Bronx as well as owner George Steinbrenner, after winning the 1986-1990 tournament and piloting the ’85 team into the 1981-1985 American League Championship.  Billy Martin, when asked for comment about Yankee Boy’s success, would only reply, “The kid doesn’t need to get too comfortable.  As a Yankee manager, when I meet people on the street these days, they don’t know whether to say Hello or say Good-bye.”  

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SOMERSET, KY - The world has tilted on its axis.  Yankee Boy took the ’86 Yankees (90-72) and swept his way through the “Best of 1986-1990” tournament, going a perfect 10-0 in 5 series against, the ’89 Royals, ’87 Tigers, ’87 Blue Jays and ’86 Indians before beating the cross town ’86 Mets in a subway series championship.  Although the ’85 Yankees (97-64) had a better record, and is primarily made up of the same players, I thought the pitching staff wasn’t as deep and his luck couldn’t possibly continue.  Dad was wrong on both accounts.  Just for clarification, I play most of the tournament games solitaire.  But he insists on managing the Bronx Bombers and I always (yes, ALWAYS) manage against him with the opposing team.  I also play to win.  There are no participation medals or awards in our house.  If you win at something, it’s because you earned it.  “I don’t care if you’re only (INSERT AGE OF TODDLER), You lose!!  I win!!  I win!!” was chanted in our home on many occasions.  Enter APBA baseball.  The Boy is now 13 and a Yankee fan.  I wonder where I failed as a parent, prior taunting not withstanding.

I'm not really an American League fan.  I don't like the DH rule and I didn't follow many of those teams growing up.  But I really do like the ’84 Tigers.  I appreciate the quality of the players on that team.  1984 was also my very first APBA baseball season, and I played it to death.  The cards used for this tournament are from that original set.  There’s history and familiarity with me.  My son and I use a dice app for our games that I find faster than actual dice.  There are no miss-rolls off the table and no way to stack the dice in an attempt to roll 66.  I also find more random results.  It is dad vs. son, head to head.  He’s rolled 19 games in the two tournaments and he’s 16-3.  I would normally appreciate his success, except the inverse means I’m 3-16 AGAINST HIM!  He’s outscored my teams 19-1 in Game 3’s.  There must be something wrong.  I think, “The dice are loaded, or he’s somehow cheating.”  Then I remember it’s an app, you can’t stack the dice, and I’m sitting right there with him.  And he beats me … over … and over … and over ... and now has eliminated the ’84 Tigers.  I’m awaken at night from deep sleep with taunts in my head of “I don’t care if you’re only 46!  You lose!!  I win!!  I win!!” Only Casey Stengel, with a crystal baseball, could have seen this day coming.  Yes, it’s scary.

Some Yankee players from different eras were told about our little APBA tournament world, where 1971 to 1990 is divided into four, five-year periods with the best team from each franchise participating.  They were asked how many tournaments they thought Yankee Boy would win.  Opinions varied.

The Captain believes the Boy and the Yankees can
sweep all four tourmanents

The only dissenting opinion from a Yankee
came from Black Jack McDowell, who raised
one finger, indicating his belief that the
1986-1990 tournament would be the only
Yankee Championship

  

A young Mick agrees with Jeter that the
Boy can win all four tournys

A Tex message indicates confidence in a
full run by the Boy as well


Updated American League Bracket