Curses and grudges

In the world of APBA baseball, sometimes it recreates more than just stats similar to real life.  Sometimes, it creates the same drama, tension and rivalries as real life - even curses.  Maybe.

In the American League Semi-Finals of the Richard Nixon Invitational (best team from each franchise between 1971-1975), the 1974 New York Yankees faced the 1975 Boston Red Sox.  This is the fourth such tournament played by my son and me.  He insists on managing only the New York Yankees in order to keep all of his good APBA fortune and luck saved up for the boys in pin stripes.

He has one championship to his credit, as he led the 1986 Yankees to a perfect 10-0 record in the first tournament.  He got close with the 1985 team, winning the American League Pennant but falling to the '85 St. Louis Cardinals in the Championship.  His best team by regular season record, so far, was the 1980 Yankees, but they failed to make it out of the Semi-finals.  With that, and knowing the Yankees of the late 60s and early 70s were not extremely successful, I took comfort knowing I was likely safe from another Yankee title at the hands of the Boy, at least until the 1961 M&M boys take the field.

His '74 team beat Frank Robinson and the 1975 Cleveland Indians in the first round, which was not really surprising.  His next match up was the #2 seed, 1971 Oakland A's and their 101 wins.  Yankee Boy and this light hitting bunch of Bronx Bombers (more accurately Bronx Bloopers) rolled over Charlie O's group, sweeping Oakland in 2 games.  Next up was the #3 seed, 1975 Boston Red Sox.  This would be the first Yankee - Red Sox series of any tournament so far.  With the '75 Reds working their way through the National League bracket, I just knew a rematch of the 1975 World Series would be waiting on me at the end of the tournament road.

The Red Sox were excited to have home field advantage and looked forward to making quick work of the Yankees.  But in Game 1, New York ace Pat Dobson continued to be masterful, pitching his second complete game in 3 starts.  The Snake gave up only 2 earned runs over 9 innings and saw his ERA climb all the way to 1.01 for the tournament, as he stayed undefeated at 3-0.  The Yanks never trailed in the game, getting out to a 6-0 lead in the 5th inning, and winning easily 8-2.

The Yankees got out early again in Game 2 leading 3-0 after 5 innings.  But The Sox pulled even in the 6th, as Dwight Evans singled, Cooper Tripled, Doyle singled and Lynn doubled, back to back to back to back.  Bill Lee and Doc Medich hurled scoreless 7th innings as the teams remained deadlocked.  Carl Yastrzemski (who did not have a particularly good card in 1975) slammed a solo home run in the 8th to put the Sox up 4-3.  Reggie Cleveland and Dick Drago gave Lee the relief he needed in the 8th and 9th innings, and Boston pulled even, setting up a Game 3 finale.

Boston fans outside Fenway

Boston fans lined up outside the stadium waiting on tickets to Game 3 and a chance to witness first hand the elimination of their rival Yankees.  Those fans greatly anticipated their pitching advantage, as the Sox 3rd pitcher was Rick Wise (B-YZ) against the Yanks Dick Tidrow (D-Z).  

Tournament rules dictate that the pitching rotation for all teams consist of the 3 pitchers with the most inning pitched in the regular season.  A starting pitcher must pitch 3 innings or allow 5 runs before he can be removed.  The Red Sox could feast on Tidrow's D grade for at least 9 outs, and, they took full advantage.

Jim Rice and Carlton Fisk started the 2nd inning off with back to back singles.  Yaz popped out to Jim Mason at short, but Sandy Alomar boooted a Rico Petrocelli ground ball, loading the bases.  Rick Burlson's fly ball to right field would have ended the inning if Alomar had successfully played the grounder, but with 1 out instead of 2, Rice was able to tag and trot home with the games first run.

Tidrow entered his last frame of work by striking out Cecil Cooper and getting Denny Doyle to ground out to Jim Mason.  With 2 out and no one on base, the Boy and Yankee fans everywhere breathed a collective sigh of relief - but too fast.  Lynn walked and Jim Rice's 66-1 over the Green Monster in left field gave the Sox a 3-0 lead.

With Tidrow's mandatory sentence served, the Boy went to the pen for lefty Larry Gura (C-Z).  The future Royal was not much better than Tidrow, but any improvement gave New York fans a little confidence.  The 4th inning was a simple 1-2-3 event with only routine plays.  Dwight Evans singled to lead off the 5th and Cecil Cooper was hit by a pitch to get the first two Red Sox on base.  Lynn followed one batter later with an infield hit to load the bases and bring the Fenway fans to their feet, as Jim Rice strolled to the box.  Sweat formed on the boy's upper lip.  The dice rolled and Rice's 44-7 scored 2 more and gave Boston their biggest lead of the series at 5-0.

My APBA buddy, Doug Schuyler, was getting text updates throughout the game.  In his 1983 Tournament, my terrible '83 Reds are playing well beyond their abilities and advancing through the competition.  With that kind of APBA luck rolling my way across hundreds of miles, I had this game and series in the bag.  But in the 6th, Thurman Munson doubled home Blomberg and scored on a Bobby Murcer base hit as New York entered the scoring column for the first time of the night.  Doug's advice to the Yankee Boy: "Think like a winner Matthew!" The Red Sox Nation and I would like to thank Doug for those encouraging words to the dice rolling, leader of the Evil Empire.

In the top of the 8th inning, Rick Wise remained in the game but was tiring.  In house rules require a 1 grade drop to any pitcher after his 32nd batter faced.  It's not an official APBA rule, but one I've observed for 30 years of play and one I find generates a little more realism into games with teams from the modern era.  Nettles (batter 31) grounded out to third base for the first out.  Munson's 55-8 turned into a fly out to center field against Wise's B-Grade.  But now with 32 batters faced Wise dropped to a C.  The Sox were 4 outs away from advancing.  

Roger Moret laughs at my goof of
burning the only graded long reliever
in the Red Sox bull pen.

The biggest weakness I see with the '75 Red Sox is their bull pen.  It's thin.  Drago is a B*-Y closer, but beyond that, there isn't much quality there.  Another in house rule is a 1 grade bump for a reliever against either of the first two batters they face where the pitcher maintains a platoon advantage, in the inning where they make their appearance.  With lefties Murcer and Chambliss up, I called on lefty Roger Moret (C-Y) to get the grade bump and get me out of the inning so I could hand the ball to my closer, Drago.  Moret walked Murcer.  No problem.  Chambliss is also a lefty and Moret maintains the grade bump against him in this inning.  Chambliss' 35-37 got Murcer thrown out at 2nd base and ended the inning.  The Red Sox fans erupted with joy.  

Boston failed to add to their lead in the 8th, but they needed only 3 Yankee outs.  Moret stayed in to face Chambliss, although the grade bump was gone since he was now working in his 2nd inning.  A walk to the New York first baseman resulted in a call to the pen for closer Dick Drago.  Sandy Alomar hustled out an infield hit to bring the tying run to the plate. After counting 1's on cards, Yankee Boy called upon Bill Sudakis to pinch hit for Jim Mason.  But a pop out to Fisk put Boston to within 2 outs of their goal.  Elliott Maddox flew out to Jim Rice in left field for the second out and Fenway Park swayed under the excitement of its fan base.

Lou ponders Yankee Boy's moves

Yankee Boy called Piniella back from the on deck circle - WAIT - WHAT???  Sweet Lou leads New York in hits in the tournament with 15 and RBIs with 11.  Why would the Boy want to pull him??  Apparently, there are old grudges existing between the two.  Piniella failed to produce in prior BBW projects for the Boy dating back 6-7 years ago.  Now that's a grudge.  But upon looking down the inept hitters populating the New York bench, Yankee Boy sent Piniella back out of the dug out to the batters box.  This form of open and public humiliation made the volatile and explosive Piniella go off.  Anger showed openly in his face as Drago delivered the pitch.  Piniella only has 2 first column "zeros" on his card, and 66 is one of them.  Many thoughts went through my head.  I'm up 3 with 2 on.  Lou has only 9 second column "ones".  I have a 3 in 4 chance of it being something other than a home run and can still hang on to win this.  55 is one of the ones.  Tie game.

In the 10th, the Boy and his band of pinstriped minions continued their attack on the good and decent Boston team.  Sandy Alomar's triple scored Murcer and Chambliss and Fenway Park fell silent.  Closer Dick Drago had given up 4 runs all earned in 2 innings of work.  

But the Bosox were not done.  With lefty Rudy May on the mound for New York, Juan Beniquez pinch hit for Denny Doyle and drew a walk.  Fred Lynn did the same, and the tying run was now on base.  Rice lumbered to the box.  A 66 would win it!!  But a strike out swinging produced only the first out instead.  But now Fisk was up.  Again, a 66 would win it!!  Carlton produced a ground out to third base that moved the runners into scoring position.  Yaz came through with a base hit that plated both and tied the game at 7-7!

Late inning replacement and
bearer of the Curse - Gene Michael

We move into the 11th and Drago, having pitched 2 innings in relief, was done.  The only remaining options for Boston had grades of D.  Reggie Cleveland (D-Z) was called upon to work and try to maintain the tie.  A 1-2-3 frame had the crowd back on its feet cheering again!  Suddenly, no one remembered the long wait for tickets earlier that day.  All the Sox needed was a run.  Burleson walked and the tension mounted.  But suddenly, as if the curse itself were present in the dice and cards, Evans grounded to Gene Michael, who started a 6-4-3 double play erasing the runner.  Cecil Cooper's 11-4 would have been a game ending triple with Burleson on first; but as it turned out, it was a double.  Beniquez (who stayed in for Doyle) lined out to Gene Michael (curse bearer) at short to end the threat.

With 1 away in the 12th, Munson and Mercer combined for back to back singles.  A Chambliss fly out put hope into the Boston faithful that they could dodge the bullet and take another shot at the win.  Alomar beat out his 2nd infield single of the night to load the bases for - you guessed it - curse bearer, Gene Michael.  The good news is, Michael is a very light hitting player.  No power.  A .260 hitter in real life.  But his 42-36 did produce a wild pitch that allowed Munson to cross the plate and moved the other runners into scoring position.  (Curse??  Nah)  Michael's 44-8 singled home Murcer and Alomar and New York led 10-7.  Back to back singles by Maddox and Yankee Boy's new favorite player, Lou Piniella, scored Michael and set the score at 11-7.

Lynn walked to lead off the 12th for Boston, but Rice and Fisk struck out and Yaz grounded out to 3rd to bring an end to this version of the Boston Massacre.  Was it the curse?  I'm not sure.  Does Yankee Boy hold an old grudge against Piniella and did that affect the outcome of the game?  I don't know.  Was it a fantastic way to spend an hour with my son playing a game and reliving great old baseball rivalries?  Absolutely!

World Series

Mike Schmidt went on a run in the 3rd round of the Home Run Derby that was legendary.  The Phillie slugger smashed 14 long balls in the third round with 19 overall.  As a result, he won home field advantage for his National League brothers, the Cincinnati Reds.  Big George Foster had struggled in the tournament in the first three rounds.  It was hoped his appearance in the Derby with his "1977 - 52 Home Run" card would get him back on track.  He finished dead last with only 3 home runs, only half as many as the next lowest competitor.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Leonid Brezhnev came to Washington to thank the President for Mr. Quackers and his recently acquired Russian translated APBA boards (the only ones known in existence).  However, his method of saying "thank-you" left Jimmy more uncomfortable than a man with a raging case of hemorrhoids and no inflatable duck or G-cup falsies to sit upon.  Our last tournament director could not help but take a stab at Jimmy, while reminding us that Carter's reign as tournament director was soon ending.

 CINCINNATI, OH - With home field advantage going to the Reds, Kansas City would be without a Designated Hitter.  Hal McRae was batting only .207 coming into the series as the normal KC DH, but center fielder Amos Otis was hitting a dismal .037 (1 for 27).  The decision was made to insert McRae in left field and move Joe Zdeb to center.  Losing the high rated Otis would hurt the Royals defense, but they could not afford to sacrifice one ounce of run scoring potential against the Reds.

Kansas City struck early.  The aforementioned McRae clubbed a double between Foster and Geronimo.  With 2 outs, Al Cowens launced a Gary Nolan fastball over the Riverfront Stadium left field wall for a 2-0 Royal lead. Kansas City tacked on another in the 2nd for an early 3-0 advantage.

Foster enjoyed the view after
finally hitting a ball hard

George Foster's struggles have been well documented.  The Red's cleanup hitter was hittless in his first 19 at bats.  While he had gotten back on track a little with 3 hits in the Philadelphia series, his average was still .107.  He singled in the 2nd inning, then stole second base.  The Reds could not get him home and George was left stranded at third.  In the 4th, he found a sure way to prevent being left on base when he connected on a bases empty 66-1 to put the Reds on the board.  The Royals answered when a George Brett double scored McRae in the top of the 5th.  Back to back doubles by Geronimo and Concepcion brought the score to 4-2 at the end of 5.

Dennis Leonard threw 6 innings,
allowing only 2 runs,
but gets a no decision.

Dennis Leonard blanked the Reds in his 6th and final inning of work before being lifted for a pinch hitter.  Mark Littell and Steve Mingori shut out Cincinnati in the 7th and 8th before the ball was handed over to closer, Larry Gura.

Foster stayed hot adding his 3rd hit of the night, a double to left center field.  Johnny Bench drew a walk to put the tying run on base with no outs.  Doggie K'd, but Geronimo blasted his 2nd double of the night scoring Foster and Bench to tie the game at 4.  A fly out and fielders choice ended the Reds threat and sent the game into extra innings.

#13 delivers the lucky hit

In the bottom of the 11th, Tony Perez led off with a base hit.  Driessen had already been used as a pinch hitter in the game, and the slow footed Perez would have to carry the Reds hopes.  Geronimo blooped his 3rd hit of the evening to move Doggie into scoring position.  Dave Concepcion's 51-8 single against the C graded Marty Pattin was enough to send Perez flying around third base.  Amos Otis, and his big arm, had entered the game in the 7th inning as part of a double switch and was now stationed in center field.  Otis fielded Concepcion's ball cleanly and rifled the throw home.  The ball was just wide, and Tony slid home with the run as the Reds take Game 1.

Perez slides safely home as Otis' throw sails wide

Perez is mobbed by his teammates
after scoring the winning run

After the game, Concepcion was asked if he thought wearing #13 was unlucky.  Below, Davey shows off some of his good luck charms.  As a side note, his lucky black cat would be eaten by Marge Schott's St. Bernard, Schottzy, sometime in the late 80s.

Plains, GA - Jimmy had received a call from brother Billy about a new agricultural proposition.  With the new laws in Colorado and Washington, Billy's latest get rich quick scheme involved brother Jimmy changing the laws similarly in Georgia.  "We'll call it Billy Buds", said the younger Carter brother.  "We'll make a fortune!"

The original doobie brothers discuss "Billy Buds"

KANSAS CITY , MO - The series moved 600 miles west where the Royals faced elimination.  They handed the ball to one of the most consistent pitchers in the tournament, Jim Colburn.  For the 2nd game in a row, Al Cowens blasted a 2 run home run in the 1st inning and the Royals added another in the 2nd for an early 3-0 lead.  But this time, Cincinnati did not answer back.  Inning after inning, Colburn worked and kept the big Red hitters off balance.

The Royals exploded at the expense of Pat Zachry in the 6th scoring 4 more runs and putting the game out of reach.  Colburn went the distance throwing a 6 hit shutout.  Colburn improved his tournament record to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.27.

PLAINS, GA - Meanwhile, Jimmy realized Billy's intent with his new potential cash crop and cancelled the project.  "We'll stick with what we know", said Jimmy.  "We're not dopes, we're nuts."  

Not to be outdone, the younger and inventive brother contacted the Chicagoland APBA tournament director about a piece of hardware that had recently come into his possession.  He reasoned that as well traveled as it has been, it must be worth some serious money on the secondary market.

"Hey Schuyler.  What's this here trophy worth to ya boy?"

CINCINNATI, OH - One more game.  24 teams had been eliminated, one at a time.  And it all came down to 27 outs.  

Freddie Patek tripled to lead off the game and scored on a McRae sac fly.  Brett doubled and for the third straight game, Al Cowans strolled to the box with a runner on base in the first inning.  In the prior two games, Cowans had blasted 2 run homers in the first inning.  It couldn't possibly happen 3 games in a row.  It didn't.  Cowans lined a ball to Concepcion who snagged it in the air and doubled Brett off second base to end the inning.

Foster puts the Reds ahead

In the Reds half, Ken Griffey walked and was followed by a Joe Morgan single, who stole second base.  George Foster dug in a clobbered an 11-4 home run to put the Reds up.  Later with Bench at third base, Geronimo's fly ball to left field scored the catcher and put the Reds on top, 4-1.  Morgan singled home Rose in the 2nd inning, and the Reds had an early 5-1 lead.

Rose and the Reds welcome Perez
into the dugout after another
trip around the bases

KC added another in the 5th, but in the bottom of the 6th, the Reds went to work. Dave Concepcion and pinch hitter Ed Armbrister, scored on a Ken Griffey double to make it 7-2.  Steve Mingori entered in the 7th and Cincinnati continued to chew up Royal relievers.  Bench and Perez doubled, followed by Cesar Geronimo's RBI single to add two more.  With 2 out, Rose's double scored Chief and the Reds were cruising 10-2.

Heading into the 8th inning, Rawly Eastwick was called into the game to put things on ice.  The Champagne was already that way in the locker room.

Darrell Porter smashed a 66-1 with Cowens and Zdeb on base to make the game 10-5.  The 3 run blast also reduced Eastwick.  Frank White grounded out and Pete LaCock whiffed to end the inning.

In the 9th, Patek flied to Geronimo for out #1.  McRae drew a walk off Eastwick but was forced out at second base on a George Brett ground ball.  Brett was able to beat the throw to first to extend the inning.  Al Cowans strolled into the box.  As the 10th batter faced by the * reliever Eastwick, his grade dropped for the second time, now to a C.  Cowens drove his third home run in as many games over the outfield fence to cut the lead to 10-7.

Sparky had seen enough.  Will McEnaney was called in to face the lefty batting John Mayberry.  Big John whiffed ending the game and giving the Reds the Championship!

Arachnophobe Will McEnaney
climbs for higher ground

Above, Will McEnaney jumps into the arms of catcher Johnny Bench after the Mayberry strikeout.  When asked about the celebratory leap, the lefty reliever said, "I wasn't celebrating.  There was a dang spider out there on the mound."  

Reds celebrate the championship

Sparky and Johnny

McEnaney carried to the showers.
Another spider was spotted.

Spraying the Rose

Johnny tells how many dollars this bottle cost

WASHINGTON, D.C. - To commemorate the Reds Tournament Championship, Carter invited Pete Rose and me to the White House to witness the signing of a truly ground breaking piece of legislation.  Jimmy issued a complete Presidential pardon to Pete absolving him from all wrong doing in baseball, and clearing him for induction into the Hall of Fame.  "The way I see it", said Carter, "If Ford can pardon Nixon, why shouldn't I pardon Pete?"

Pete told Jimmy about his favorite APBA game, Saddle Racing.  When Jimmy asked if Pete would teach him the game, he said, "You can bet on it!"

After signing the pardon, Carter presented Pete with a brand new AMC Pacer-X for his accomplishments.  Forget that other athletes routinely get Corvettes.  This was the late 70s and conservation was important to everyone.  When asked for his thoughts on the tournament, Pete said, "It's great.  I got a pennant, a pardon and a Pacer.  What else could a man want?"

Pete, to answer your question, more APBA.  Roll on my friends.

World Series - Preview

There's something satisfying about the end of a project, even if it's just one segment of a larger venture.  You planned, prepared and enjoyed the fun as games were played and teams advanced.  I've reconnected with many of my childhood heroes during this run.  Making things even better, my favorite team has rolled strong, with the exception of one horrible night against Pittsburgh.

My son and I started this project because it represented the seasons we owned (1971-1990) at the time.  The library has grown some since then.  Cards for new projects are stored and ready for "someday".  He is a Yankee fan, while I love the Reds.  When they play, the stakes get a little higher.  But I honestly enjoy replaying any of the teams in these tournaments.

Each of these time frames are important to me.  I fell in love with my wife, in the late 80s.  I fell in love with APBA in the early 80s.  I fell in love with baseball in the late 70s.  All of those loves still remain today.  And that is where my son and I find ourselves, on the third leg of our journey, enveloped in the wonderful world of APBA baseball with the best team of each franchise between 1976-1980.

In the first tournament (1986-1990), my Boy drove his '86 Yankees all the way to an undefeated championship crown.  In the second tournament (1981-1985), he made a return trip to the championship game with the '85 Yanks, but old dad finally got the better of him with the '85 Cardinals.

This time, his '80 Yankees fell to the '77 Royals, but my '76 Reds have made it instead.  I wonder if somehow, between the two of us, we can get one of our teams into the championship of each tournament.  With the '75 Reds ready to go in the last one, I wouldn't bet against it.

The Reds are known for hitting.  Even spotting the Pirates 10-0 in Game 1 of their series, they are still outscoring their opponents 31-24.  Take out that one bad Pittsburgh game, and it's been domination.  Let's look at how they've done so far.

Ken Griffey

Among his Hall of Fame (and Hall of Fame worthy) teammates, Griffey is often overlooked.  Rose has slumped so far (.214 avg / .233 obp), and without Ken on base, the meat of the lineup couldn't have produced.  Junior's daddy is leading the Reds in batting at .462 for the tournament, with 12 hits and scoring 9 runs in the 7 games.  The Royals need to find a way to keep Griffey, and his .533 OBP, off the bases.

Johnny Bench

Bench did not have a particularly good season in real life in 1976.  Injuries plagued him all year.  But in the post season, he carried the team to an undefeated run through the NLCS and World Series.  That does not translate well into an APBA card.  There is no PRN for heart.  But somehow, with a less than "Bench-like" card, he's produced good numbers, including 2 home runs, in critical spots, 4 RBIs and hitting at a .280 pace.

Dave Concepcion

The Red's Shortstop has been good - very good.  Davey is not only the second highest in batting average (.292), his 4 RBIs have come at key moments.  Sometimes the numbers don't tell the entire story.

Tony Perez

The Reds would be sunk in this tournament without Doggie's production.  Tony leads the club in home runs (3) and is second only to Joe Morgan in RBIs (6).  With Foster slumping (.107), Tony has been one of the Reds to help take up the slack.

Joe Morgan

Little Joe has been big.  With a team leading 7 RBIs, the two time MVP is making sure Griffey gets the grand tour most of the time he's on base.  Joe also leads the team in stolen bases (3), and has 2 home runs.

The Red's pitching has been solid for the most part, with a 3.43 team ERA.  The 10 runs allowed to Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the Semi-Finals has skewed the over all numbers.  But if you take that game out, the Reds staff has a team ERA of 2.33.  If the 75 or 76 Reds can get an ERA of less than 2.5, they are going to beat just about any team you want to put them up against.

Pedro Borbon

The Royals had some very good teams in the late 70s.  But the Yankees always had different plans for the October classic between 1976 and 1978.  The Reds had memorable matchups with the Orioles, A's, Red Sox and Yankees during the decade, but this matchup between Kansas City and Cincinnati, never happened.  Now, thanks to APBA, it can and will.

Kansas City has been in some nail biters so far.  They've only outscored their opponents 27-22 in 7 games.  KC is batting only .237 with a .287 obp as a team, and if they hope to have success against the Reds, those numbers need to increase.

George Brett

You can rarely talk about the Royal's offense in the 70s, 80s or 90s, without addressing the man himself first.  Brett, as normal, is producing Hall of Fame worthy numbers (.357 / .367 / 536) with a homer and 6 RBIs.  He knows that he can not let up now and must continue to stay hot in order for his team to win.

Darrell Porter

With Bench, Munson, Fisk and Carter as his contemporaries, Porter is often overlooked as a top backstop in the late 70s.  Whether that spurred him to show his abilities on this big stage, is not known.  Maybe he just got the correct prescription glasses.  Regardless, Darrell leads the Royals in batting (.375), OBP (.385), slugging pct (.625), RBI's (10) and home runs (2).  Sparky is sure to have some tough decisions to make if Porter steps into the box with runners in scoring position.

Hal McRae

 Hal has picked up some key hits so far, but is one of the Royals who needs to step it up.  McRae hit .298 and enjoyed the second highest season totals of his career in home runs (21) and RBIs (92).  But in KC's 7 games, he's had only 6 singles and has a very ugly slash line (.207 / .258 / .207).  But I do like the picture.

 

Joe Zdeb

Zdeb has been a clutch, if not one of the lesser known, Royals so far.  Joe's batting .280 and getting on base at a .357 clip.

Al Cowens

Cowens has 8 hits in the 7 games, which isn't bad.  But 5 of those 8 are of the extra base variety.  That translates to a .267 / .267 / .533 slash line.  In 7 games, 0 walks.  His 3 RBIs ranks 3rd on the team.

The Royals pitching has been strong.  Ace Dennis Leonard has had a couple of rough outings, but looks to bounce back in the Championship.  The bright spot has been Larry Gura, who has allowed only 1 run in 10 innings of work in relief.  Gura's 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the 13 inning finale against Oakland proved to be the difference in Kansas City preparing to face the Reds in the championship or just watching it on TV at home.

Larry Gura

And now, we're set.  The brackets are complete.  The teams and cards are ready.  It's time to roll!