National League - Quarter Finals

To commemorate the country's Bi-Centennial Celebration in 1976, the Tournament Director, Jimmy Carter, had one of the country's most recognizable landmarks transformed to also celebrate APBA's 25 Year Anniversary (1951-1976).  

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to roll dice."

CINCINNATI, OH - The Mets rolled into the Queen City riding high off their impressive tournament victory over the 1979 Cardinals.  Met Ace, Tom Seaver (A-XZ) took the ball against his future team and would face the Reds top gun, Gary Nolan (B-Z). 

Pete Rose discusses poor sportsmanship
with Bud Harrelson between innings

In the top of the 3rd, things got heated.  Bud Harrelson led off the inning with a routine ground ball to Rose at third, who booted the ball for an error.  Harrelson reveled in Rose's misfortune, as he pointed and laughed at Pete from across the diamond.  Seaver bunted Harrelson to 2nd, where the Met Shortstop could now heckle Rose down the baseline.  A whiff of Boisclair and a fly out by Milner ended the Met inning, but not the excitement.  After the third out, Rose charged up the baseline, found Harrelson and expressed his disappointment of Bud's poor sportsmanship.  Both teams were issued a stern warning, that the next player to throw a punch would be immediately removed from the game.

Dave Concepcion doubled to lead off the Reds half of the 3rd.  Gary Nolan moved the shortstop to within 90 feet of the first run with a perfectly executed bunt.  Rose stepped in the box, and Harrelson stayed very quiet.  Pete smashed a Seaver offering deep enough to left field to plate Davey, and the Reds took a 1-0 lead.  With two outs, Ken Griffey kept the party going with a double down the right field line.  2 time MVP Joe Morgan knocked a single to center field scoring Griffey and putting the Reds up, 2-0.

Kingman and Kranepool combined for back to back doubles in the 4th cutting the lead in half.  The Mets struck again in the 5th when Boisclair drew his 2nd walk of the game and Millan and Millner followed with base hits to knot the game, 2-2.

Cesar Geronimo - ready to rumble

The Reds fans were aching for some offensive production.  The crowd cheered, the dice rolled, and Perez led off the 7th with a strikeout looking.  Geronimo followed with a base hit.  Concepcion's 61-23 got the center fielder thrown out trying to steal second base.  After the tag, Harrelson stood on top of 2nd base, and mimicking a paratrooper, jumped off yelling "Geronimooooooo!".  After watching a couple of attempts at the world's shortest sky dive, Cesar connected a left hook to Harrelson's chin which earned him the rest of the day off, as the ump promptly ejected Chief ("Runner out stealing and EJECTED).  Concepcion's next roll, 24-13, did nothing to re-energize Red's fans.

Don Gullet (C) was picked for relief to hopefully cool off the hot hitting lefty, Ed Kranepool, due up 2nd in the inning.  Kingman flew out, but Gullet walked the man he was chosen to enter the game to face.  Jerry Grote also received a free pass and the Mets had a threat in progress.  Roy Staiger popped out to Concepcion on an infield fly, but Gullet walked Bud Harrelson filling the bases. 

Mike Phillips

The pitcher's spot was due up next.  Sparky Anderson came to the top step of the dugout and waited for the Mets to move.  Lefty Mike Phillips was picked to pinch hit for Seaver.  This did a couple of things for the Reds.  1) they would want another lefty if Gullet was to be removed and 2) if they could dodge this bullet, Seaver was now out of the game.  Fearing Gullet's loss of control, and the fact he had already faced 5 batters (6 requires 1 game rest), Sparky chose Will McEnaney to face the lefty.  Sure enough, Phillips rolled a 45-14, but with McEnaney's "Z", it was 2 balls rather than a walk.  Deep breath, re-roll, and Phillips laced a 33-7 over second scoring Kranepool and Grote and moving Harrelson to third.  Riverfront fell in stunned silence as Reds fans glared at the 4-2 deficit on the scoreboard.

Bob Apodaca (B*-Z) entered in the bottom of the 8th to set up the save for Mets closer Skip Lockwood (B*-XYZ).  Rose led off the inning with a 44-7 single.  Griffey followed with a 66-0, 54-6 double that scored Rose from first base and put the tying run in scoring position.  Apodaca cleaned his cleats, grabbed the rosin, and paced around the mound.  Joe Morgan entered the box, and flapped his back arm.  The scoreboard trumpeted the familiar bugle, and the crowd yelled, "CHARGE!!"  Sweat formed over Apodaca's top lip.  The dice rolled and stopped on a 33-5!  Two run blast over the wall in left center field!!!

Eastwick (A*-YZ) held the line in the 9th with two routine fly outs to right field to get things started.  Kong drew a walk, but was stranded when Mets slugger Ed Kranepool's 23-26 ended the game.

   

Tony Perez with his 2nd of
two home runs on the day

NEW YORK -  Game 2 was not as dramatic.  Joe Morgan doubled home Ken Griffey in the top of the 1st and Tony Perez hit a solo bomb in the 2nd to put the Reds up early.  Solo shots by Morgan and Perez again in the 6th gave Pat Zachry (B-Y) some breathing room.  Apparently, he was taking things a little to easy in the 6th.  Ed Kranepool singled with two outs, and Jerry Grote rolled back to back 64-36 wild pitches to move Kranepool around to third base.  Grote walked, but Zachry did not allow his wildness to result in any damage by the Mets by striking out Roy Staiger.  In the bottom of the 7th, Zachry set a tournament record with Boisclair on 2nd and a Felix Millan 64-36 resulted in his 3rd wild pitch of the night.  Zachry picked up the win going 8 scoreless innings, but did set some dubious individual pitching records.

The Tournament Director also spent some additional time this week recruiting new APBA players.  The Superfriends have a love of the game and often play when the Trouble Alert at the Hall of Justice remains quiet.  Carter contacted Super Man and asked him to try the game out.  Unfortunately, every time the opposing player rolled doubles, Super Man would get mad and burn their cards with his heat vision.  With his super strength, it made it impossible for him to roll the dice and keep them in the same room, much less on the board.  It was suggested that he use a dice tower to prevent this from happening, but after having to inspect Dolly Parton's large shakers, Doug Schuyler refused to inspect The Man of Steel's equipment.  Super Man said he enjoyed the game very much, but with his playing restrictions, he would retire to his Fortress of Solitude and play solitaire.

PITTSBURGH / CHICAGO - There wasn't much to say positive about the Cubs in the series.  They led for 1/2 of an inning in the two games.  Willie Hernandez gave up 3 runs, all earned, in 3.33 innings.  Sutter pitched 1 inning and Pops took him for a ride.  Pittsburgh and Sister Sledge, on the other hand, were rocking.  

GAME 1 - Ed Ott and Bill Madlock delivered 3 for 4 nights and combined to score 4 of the 5 Pirate runs as Pittsburgh takes the opener.  Bert Blyleven gives up only 1 run through 7 before turning it over to the Pirate pen.  Tekulve loads the bases in the 9th and Larry Biittner clears them off with a double to bring Chicago to within a run.  But, Bobby Murcer flies out to end the game and the threat, as the Cubs could not get the final big hit they needed.  

GAME 2 - Blow out.  The Bucks blasted Ray Burris and 4 other Cubs pitchers, scoring at least 1 run in every inning but the 6th.  Pops led the way going 4 for 6 with 2 home runs and a double.  John Candelaria held the Cubbies scoreless through 8 1/3, but Bill Buckner connected on a pitch in the 9th for the only Chicago highlight.

The red hot Pirates move into the Semi-Finals to face the 1976 Cincinnati Reds.  It is a matchup between the only World Champions in the tournament.  It is also a rematch between two teams who faced each 4 times in the NLCS in the 1970s.

PHILADELPHIA / SAN DIEGO - Mike Schmidt led the Phillies in their Game 1 win over the Padres.  Steve Carlton gave up only 1 hit and 1 walk as he dominated San Diego over the first 6 innings.  But in the 7th, Lefty showed that even he is human as the Padres scored 4 times (3 on a Tenace home run) and made the game interesting at 7-4.  That didn't last long as the Phils turned on the offense and pulled away.

After the game, Schmidt released a photo of his family to the press. Mike and wife, Donna, show off their new daughter, Jessica Rae.  I'm going to walk right past that, like I didn't even see it. Schmidt's perm, 'stache and vest are reminders to me that everything in life and baseball was NOT better in the 70s.

San Diego put up a fight at home in Game 2.  An Ozzie Smith double and Gene Tenace sac fly put the Padres up by 2 runs early, and Randy Jones held the Phils scoreless through 4 innings.  The teams swapped runs in the 5th.  But in the 6th, Bob Boone singled home Dick Allen, and the momentum started to turn.  Gary Maddox doubled home Dave Cash in the 7th to tie the game 3-3.  In the 8th, Jay Johnstone doubled home Allen and scored on another Boone base hit and Philadelphia extended a lead 5-3 by scoring in 4 straight innings. Meanwhile, the Phillie bull pen allowed only 2 hits and no runs over the last 4 innings to secure the sweep for the Phils.

With San Diego being swept from the tournament by the Phillies, owner Ray Kroc decided he would shake things up for team with a new look.  "Luck is a dividend of sweat.  The more you sweat, the more luck you have" said Kroc.  He has decided to make his Padres sweat a little more with new uniforms.  "They're not that much different than what we are wearing now" said Dave Winfield.  The big right fielder then headed into the locker room, but could be heard singing as he walked off, "You deserve a break today...We do it all for you...Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun......"

LOS ANGELES / HOUSTON - This is one of those matchups that you love from the late 70s and early 80s.  Houston was best known during the period for two things: Pitching and speed.  Their pitching staffs were always among the best in baseball, and they used speed on the bases and in the cavernous Astrodome outfield to their advantage.  They were not known for big displays of offense.  The Dodgers were best known for four things: Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey.  They were an infield that was a staple in baseball almost as long as Astroturf itself.

Game 1 saw Joe Niekro (B-Z) take the mound against Dodger ace, Don Sutton (B-YZ).  The Astro batters did what they were not known for.  Hitting.  They scored 3 times in the first two innings, and before the Dodger faithful could grab a Dodger Dog and get in their seats, L.A. trailed 3-0.  Niekro dominated the Dodgers.  He pitched a complete game, 4 hit shutout, while his counterpart, Sutton, allowed 4 runs over 7 innings to suffer the loss.

The series moved to the Lone Star State and inside the Dome for Game 2.  Nolan 'Noley' Ryan (did anyone actually call him "Noley"??) faced off against Burt 'Happy' Hooton. A Bill Russell error and a Steve Yeager passed ball in the 2nd inning, opened the flood gates to 4 unearned Astro runs.  But the story of the night was the Astro bats.  Cabell, Morgan and Cedeno all went yard.  I don't remember an Astro team ever hitting 3 home runs in one game for me before.  Ron Cey blasted a Grand Slam as part of a 5 run 8th inning for the Dodgers, but Houston held on with the arm of Joe Sambito for a very non-Houston like 10-7 win.  The Astros advance into the Semi-Finals against the 1976 Phillies.  Coming on the heals of a BBW World Championship by the 1979 Astros last week, Houston fans are having a lot to celebrate lately.

American League - Round 1

MEMPHIS, TN – Dolly caused quite a commotion at the Chicagoland World Series, but our Tournament Director would not be discouraged.  "The music industry, as a whole, gives us so much.  We need to shay-uh APBA with they-um.  Country music may not be the correct fit, but I won't give up." said Jimmy Carter.  Armed with new resolve, he drove across the Volunteer state and met with the King of Rock-n-roll, Elvis Presley.  The King was a little reserved about learning the game at first, but Carter suggested Elvis travel across the river and into Arkansas to meet with long time APBA enthusiast Kenneth Heard.

Heard and the King have many things in common, but it was quickly learned that their favorite loves were rock-n-roll, dancing, baseball and APBA.  Heard was able to teach the King several things about all of them.  Pictures of the actual dance lessons are not available as of the time of this writing, but the end results were impressive.  Heard taught the King the hip swivel that would propel Presley to the top of the rock charts and make him a formidable APBA dice rolling opponent as well.

Presley was so moved and shook up by all of the tips provided by Kenneth, that he re-wrote a chart topper to showcase his love of the APBA baseball game.

WOODSTOCK, IL - The King's appearance at the Chicagoland World Series provided some moments of concern.  Unfortunately, the security personnel normally employed for most APBA events are not the best.  Budget concerns do not allow for much formal training, but do provide for some cool hats.  The security staff indicated they did not notice anything unusual about Presley as he exited.  Later, it was announced to those in attendance, that "ELVIS AND THE TROPHY HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING."

ANAHEIM, CA - Vida Blue led the 1976 Oakland A's into battle against Rod Carew and the 1979 California Angels.  The 76 A's team was the last remnant of the dynasty that Oakland enjoyed in the early part of the decade before Charlie O' could dismantle it.  With Reggie already departed (and participating in this tourney with the 80 Yankees), the A's still exhibit a formidable lineup.  However, with this matchup, Bert Campaneris, Joe Rudi, and Don Baylor play for both teams.  It made for some interesting challenges in keeping the teams straight.

Game 1 saw the Halos get out front early, aided by a 2 run blast off the bat of Willie Mayes Aikens in the 4th.  Campaneris and Baylor drove in runs in the 5th and 7th for the A's as they tied the game, then took the lead in the 8th when Claudell Washington singled home Sal Bando.  They picked up an insurance run in the 9th with back-to-back-to-back singles from North, Campaneris and Baylor.

In the bottom of the 9th, with Rollie Fingers on the mound, Rick Miller blasted a solo shot to start the inning.  Carew later doubled and would score on a triple by Disco Dan Ford.  Miller would deliver the winning shot in the bottom of the 10th with a double scoring Brian Downing and giving California the Game 1 win.

OAKLAND, CA - The series moved up the coast where Nolan Ryan looked to eliminate the A's and Mike Torrez.  But the bear hurled a 2 hit shutout against the Angels.  Ryan struck out 9 batters over 7 innings, but took the loss giving up 4 runs, 3 earned.

ANAHEIM, CA - Game 3 turned out to be a cake walk for Oakland.  Trailing 1-0 in the 5th, Rudi and Bando singled and Gene Tenance flied out deep enough to Dan Ford in right to score Rudi and tie the game.  Claudell Washington's 2 run homer put the A's ahead  and Lindblad and Fingers combined for 2 innings of relief each to move Oakland into the Quarter finals to face the #1 Seed, the 1979 Baltimore Orioles.

MILWAUKEE / CLEVELAND - Molitor's doubles home Sal Bando in the 7th and 9th innings and beats the Indians in Game 1.  Every Brewer who could grab a bat hit Dennis Eckersley hard in Game 2 as the Milwaukee advances with a sweep, winning 10-0.  Bando is head over heals celebrating the wins with the '76 A's and '79 Brewers.

PLAINS, GA - Running the country and a 26 team APBA tournament, with locations spread out all over the United States, can take a toll on any man.  Our tournament director took some much needed time off and attempted to spend a restful afternoon fishing.  The event was not restful for anyone involved. 

While fishing alone, on Coast Guard One, Carter was attacked by an unidentified wild animal.  Carter was able to hold off the ravenous beast until nearby secret service agents could render assistance.  The official White House account is as follows:

"Upon closer inspection, the animal turned out to be a rabbit.  Not one of your cutesy, Easter Bunny type rabbits, but one of those big splay-footed things that we called swamp rabbits when I was growing up.  The animal was clearly in distress, or perhaps berserk.  The President confessed to having had limited experience with enraged rabbits.  He was unable to reach a definite conclusion about its state of mind.  What was obvious, however, was that this large, wet animal, making strange hissing noises and gnashing its teeth, was intent upon climbing into the Presidential boat." - Presidential Press Secretary Jody Powell.

Swamp rabbit???  With staffers like that, it makes you realize just how much public sentiment had turned against Gerald Ford in order for Carter to win the election in 1976.

"I haven't had much experience with deranged or berserk wild life, but I have been Billy's brother all his life.  I know crazy when I see it." added the tournament director.  After the harrowing event, the President could not wait to get back to the APBA tournament.  "Things rarely hiss or gnash their teeth at you in APBA", said Carter.  Obviously, the director has not been around all of the members in our Facebook group.

CHICAGO - Home runs would be the leading story in the 77 Hitmen v. the 78 Tigers series.  Although, it would not be as anyone would have predicted.  Known for stealing bases and blistering speed, Ron LeFlore's 3 run homer in the top of the 2nd, came as a surprise, and put Detroit ahead in Game 1.  But the Chisox fought back with 2 runs in their part of the inning on an RBI double from Chet Lemon and single from Alan Bannister.  The Chicago fans cheered as Bannister brought home Solderholm in the 4th on a fielders choice to tied the game 3-3.  But in the top of the 8th, another Tiger surprise 3 run homer came off the bat of Lou Whitaker to give Detroit the 6-3 win.

DETROIT - The Hitmen came to life in Game 2.  Slugging 22 hits and scoring 16 runs, Chicago clobbered the Tigers 16-4 in the largest run producing effort by any team in any of the tournaments so far.  Oscar Gamble set an individual tournament record with 3 home runs.  Milt Wilcox had as tough of a start as anyone can. In 3 2/3 innings of work, facing 25 batters, the Sox collected 12 hits, with 1 walk while scoring 10 runs, 9 earned. 

CHICAGO - The series moved back to Comiskey where things started for Game 3. Jason Thompson's 2 run homer in inning 1 helped the Tigers get out to an early lead.  Both teams traded runs in the 4th and 6th innings, and Detroit took a 5-3 lead into the 7th.  Both bull pens worked well.  Jim Essian knocked a solo shot in the 8th to bring the score tight at 5-4.  Essian's homer would be the only one enjoyed by Chicago outside of Gambles 3 blasts in game 2.  John Hiller set the Pale Hose down 1-2-3 in the 9th, as Zisk, Gamble and Johnson are unable to get the ball out of the infield.  Detroit advances into the Quarter Final round to face the #2 Seed, 1980 Yankees.

TEXAS / TORONTO - Gaylord Perry dominated in Game 1 with 8 2/3 scoreless innings. Bert Campaneris' (another former A moving on to much greener pastures and paydays) 2 RBI double in the 4th helped seal the win for the Rangers.  Jim Sundberg used the bat and Doyle Alexander and the Texas bull pen held off a late run by the Jays to sweep the series and move on for a 1977 matchup with division rival Kansas City Royals in the Quarter Finals.

National League - Round 1

WOODSTOCK, IL – With limited success in creating new APBA fans in his own family, Carter decided to reach out to those in the music industry and share his love of the baseball game.  Seen here, Carter met with Country Music superstar, Dolly Parton, and discussed the fine qualities of the game.  Parton said she often suffers from back and shoulder pain while performing.  Carter assured her that rolling a few games was just the thing to help relieve the strain of the heavy load she was carrying on tour.

Dolly was invited to the Chicagoland World Series in beautiful downtown Woodstock, Illinois to get her feet wet.  This was appealing to the country music legend who had not seen her feet in many years.  Prior to the event, Dolly contacted event coordinator and our APBA friend, Doug Schuyler, to go over the tournament rules and ask for an equipment waiver.  Parton had commissioned two extra large dice shakers just for the event and asked if they were legal for tournament play.  With a well documented dislike of dice towers and other dice paraphernalia, Schuyler informed Parton that he would have to personally inspect her shakers before they could be used in the tournament.

Being the perfectionist that he is, Doug painstakingly inspected Parton’s shakers before finally giving his two thumbs up approval.  “It was a big job, but I stayed with it until it was complete”, said Schuyler.  “I’ve honestly never had my hands on shakers that size before, but aside from obstructing the view of the boards some, I do not believe they offer any unfair advantage in game play.”  This ruling was exciting news throughout the APBA community. 

Schuyler was given some tips and exercises he could do by the tournament director to prepare for inspection of shakers this large.  “I used the techniques Carter suggested, and they helped.  It’s just hard to get your hands wrapped around things that big”, said Schuyler.  With the equipment inspection over, Dolly chose to play with the 1932 Philadelphia Athletics.  Parton made this choice, as many APBA players do, because it reminded her of her childhood.  “32 A’s remind me of a simpler time, when I was just a little girl, a very long, long time ago”, said Parton.

Things started out well for the East Tennessee native, but quickly came to an abrupt end.  Every time Parton would shake her big shakers, play at all of other tables would stop as the other participants watched.  Parton was finally asked to leave because of the constant interruptions to the tournament.  “All I said was her shakers didn’t provide any unfair advantage in game play.  I never said they wouldn’t be a distraction”, added Schuyler regarding the commotion.

“Adjusting to the passage of time, I think, is a key to success and to life: just being able to roll with the punches.” – Dolly Parton.  We agree.  Roll on Dolly, roll on!

NEW YORK -  In Game 1 the 1976 Mets put Tom Terriffic (A-XZ) on the mound against the 1979 Cardinals and Pete Vuckovich (B-YZ).  St. Louis scored 1 in the 2^nd inning, but from that point on, Seaver would allow only one Cardinal hit for the remainder of the game.  Vuckovich dominated the Mets hitters.  After a Bruce Boisclair double to start the game, the Cardinal ace retired 18 of the next 19 Mets.  In the bottom of the 7^th, trailing 1-0, Dave Kingman put the Mets ahead with a 2 run homer.  Seaver and company cheered from the dugout believing two runs would be enough.  But Ed Kranepool followed Kong with a 66-0, 44-1 homer of his own to give Seaver some breathing room.  #41 dominated, and New York won, 3-1.

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis tried to even the series with Bob Forsch (C-Z) against the Mets and Jon Matlack (B-YZ).  New York got on top in the first with 3 runs, highlighted by Ed Kranepool’s second home run in as many games.  The Cardinals answered with two of their own, but the Mets pulled away slowly, scratching out runs in the 3^rd and 4^th, before Dave Kingman matched Kranepool with his 2^nd home run (11-1) in as many games in the 5^th, giving New York a 6-2 lead.  Ted Simmons reached the seats with a 2 run blast in the 8^th, but Bob Apodaca and Skip Lockwood finished off St. Louis and New York advanced into the Quarter Finals to face the 1976 Cincinnati Reds with a 7-5 final score.

The clash between the Mets and Reds will set up a battle between Seaver and his future teammates.  It also will be a rematch of the 1973 NLCS and the Reds will be looking for some retribution.

MONTREAL – The Expos came into the tourney with high expectations.  While everyone was looking at the ’76 Reds and ’79 Pirates as favorites on this side of the bracket, the dark horse was the ’79 Expos.  Good starting pitching, a deep bull pen and explosive offense made this a team that no one wanted to face.  

The Cubs punched the higher seed in the mouth right out of the gate scoring 4 runs in the top of the 1^st and never looked back.  Larry Parrish cut the lead in half with a 2 run homer in the 2^nd inning, but Montreal could not pose a threat against Rick Reuschel.  Sutter locked things down in the 9^th and the Cubs take Game 1, 5-2.

CHICAGO – Outside of Dave Cash (4 for 8: 2 doubles and a triple), the Expos bats never showed up.  Cromartie, Dawson and Carter were a combined 1 for 23 (.043) in the 2 games.  The Cubs starters go 8 innings each and hand the ball off to Bruce Sutter who picks up 2 easy saves.  The Cubs advance to play the ’79 Pirates.  Mr. Cub was jumping for joy.

 

MICHIGAN / OHIO – Between January 25^th and 27^th, 1978, the Cleveland Superbomb (also known as the Great Blizzard of 1978) pummeled the mid-west.  The Michigan State Police pronounced Traverse City, Michigan, unofficially closed and told everyone to stay home.  The Traverse City Panthers continued league play.  The Major General of the Ohio National Guard described the devastation to Ohio’s transportation system as being comparable to a nuclear attack.  It was not immediately clear just how many nuclear attacks the Ohio National Guard had participated in, but it was confirmed that the Major General had been to Cleveland before.  About 100,000 cars were abandoned on Michigan’s highways.  Most of them were abandoned in the southeast part of the state.  Most were Fords, and most were left because of the catastrophic snow fall.  However, many were just abandoned because they were Fords and that’s where they quit.  The subsequent snow fall was coincidental.

But in sunny California it was 1978.  There was no snow, and a First Round matchup saw the 1978 Giants take on the 1978 Padres.  This ’78 Padres club was the first team I ever saw play in a live game.  Riverfront Stadium, August 5, 1978.  A little known switch-hitting rookie named Ozzie Smith played shortstop.  A guy behind us spilled beer down the back of my shirt, the smell of the freshly cut Astroturf, the animation of the monochrome scoreboard.  Pete Rose was thrown out twice on the bases, and the Reds won!  I was hooked!

SAN FRANCISCO – Youngster Bob Knepper (A-YZ) took the hill for the Giants against former Giant and former youngster, Gaylord Perry (B-YZ) for the Padres.  Both pitchers held the other side hitless through three innings, but McCovey doubled home Darrell Evans in the 4^th, the Giants picked up another in the 5^th, and Evans smashed a solo shot in the 6^th, as San Francisco eased away from the Friars.  Knepper tried to record the complete game, but needed a little help from Gary LaVelle to get the final out. The Padres threaten, but the Giants hang on for the 3-2 win.

Winfield only had one hit,
but made it count

SAN DIEGO – Two great lefties Randy Jones and Vida Blue squared off in Game 2.  In APBA, as in real life, good defense is important.  The 1978 Padres do not have it.  With only a 34 team defense number, Jack Clark’s 36-12, in the first inning, resulted in a 4-6 fielders choice rather than an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.  Darrell Evans took advantage of the opportunity with a 66-1 to put the Giants up 2-0.  Clark would get his own 2 run homer in the 3^rd, but those two Giant hits were about all they generate.  In the last 6 innings, San Francisco managed only 2 singles.  The Padres doubled the Giants hit production and win Game 2, 5-4.

SAN FRANCISCO – The series moved back to the bay where the Giants jumped out early, but could not hold off the Friars.  With the score tied in the 7^th, Dave Winfield picked up his only hit of the series with a 66-1 to break the tie.  The Giants tied it back up in the bottom of the inning, but in the 8^th, Darrel Thomas doubled and scored on an Ozzie Smith single.  With Game 3 having no rest restrictions, Rollie Fingers went for the 2 inning save, picking up 3 strike outs and allowing no hits.  The 10 seed Padres move on to face #2 seed ’76 Phillies in the Quarter Finals.

HOUSTON – The tournament moves from 1978 to 1980 as the division winning ’80 Astros face the tournament directors favorite, ’80 Braves.  Game 1 saw the Niekro brothers face off against each other.  Older brother Phil goes 6 innings allowing only 1 run to get the win, while younger brother Joe lasts 8, but gives up 5 runs and is saddled with the loss.  After the game, to add insult to injury, the older brother held down the little brother and gave him a noogie for old time sake.

ATLANTA – The tournament director told everyone he had never thrown out a first pitch at a game before.  Afterwards, no one doubted him.  The tournament directors have had no luck in cheering for their teams in the tournaments.  George H.W. Bush’s 1986 Texas Rangers and 1986 Houston Astros both lost in their first series.  Likewise, Ronald Reagan’s 1985 Los Angeles Dodgers lost their opening series to the 1982 Pirates.  Jimmy Carter is a Braves fan, and his intelligence team had assured him the 1980 team would break the cycle.  Of course this was the same intelligence team responsible for Operation Eagle Claw.  The Astros’ bullpen was too strong for the Braves to manage any late inning offense.  J.R. Richard, Dave Smith and Joe Sambito gave Atlanta no chance in the late innings and Carter’s hope of a Braves sweep was lost.

HOUSTON – Back in Houston, the Astros pitching was as strong as it had been in Atlanta.  Forsch and Richard combined for 4 innings each, while Sambito closed out the 9^th.  Jose Cruz and Cesar Cedeno capitalized on RBI opportunities in the 5^th and 6^th innings and the Astros advanced.  In the Quarterfinals, the Astros will face the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers in a rematch of the 1980 tie breaker game.  "I just couldn't win anything in 1980", said Carter.