Game 2 - "Urban Legend"

GAME 2

Shocker vs C.Bryant

Yankees 6, Cubs 4

A 3 run shot, by the Sultan of Swat, and a solo shot by “Poos h ‘em up” Tony Lazzeri lead put the Bombers up 4-0.  Chicago played small ball and after 6 inning of play cut NY’s lead to 4-3.  Then in the 7^th the Bambino ripped a two run single, which would turn out to plate the eventual winning run.  Urban Shocker went 7 and gained the win.  Bryant who gave up all 6 runs took it on the chin  New York, who has won 10 straight playoff games looks unbeatable as the series heads back to the Bronx.

Yankees lead series 2-0

KOD22 World Series Game 1 - "Bomber draw first Blood"

GAME 1 – Wrigley Field

Pennock vs B.Lee

Yankees 5, Cubs 4

Cub starter Bill Lee (no that guy) was cruising for 6 innings of shutout ball until the Bronx Bombers exploded for 5 runs in the top of the 7^th.  RBI singles by PH Ben Paschal and SS Mark Koenig got the party started.  A bases clearing double by the Bambino was the final stake in the heart of Cub fans.

Yankees lead series 1-0

26 Bombers sweep 39 Tribe to head to World Series.

The ALCS between the 1926 Yankees and the 1939 Indians opened with high expectations. The Indians were the top seed and had just disposed of another Yankees team (the 1924 squad) with many of the same players.  The Yankees had also just beaten the 1940s Indians squad and had not lost a game in the postseason.

Game 1 at Cleveland: Pennock vs Harder

The Yankees got off to a solid start with a solo shot by Bob Muesel in the top of the second, but the Tribe stormed back in their half of the fourth with two runs on four singles by Campbell, Solters, Hale and Bouderau. The wheels came off for Mel Harder in the top of the sixth: consecutive RBI singles by Pat Collins and Joe Dugan led Yankee manager Michael Hopcroft to replace starter Herb Pennock with pinch hitter Ben Paschal, who grounded into an error at shortstop to load the bases.  This was immediately followed by a two-run single from Earle Combs to give the Yankees a 5-2 lead. Cleveland got one back on a Helmsley RBI single, but three Yankee relievers held serve the rest of the way. An insurance run in the ninth off a Tony Lazzeri RBI double sealed the win as the Yankees took Game 1 6-3. Pennock took the win, Harder got the lost, Braxton got the save.

Game 2 at Cleveland: Shocker vs Allen

Game 2 gave every indication from the very start that it would not be a pitching duel. It became clear in the top of the first, when Babe Ruth hit his first homerun of the postseason and Lou Gehrig followed up with his second, staking the Yankees to a three-run lead. But the Indians got all of it back when Heath hit a three-run shot off of Urban Shocker. Hal Trosky would drive in a run in the second and it was clear Herb Pennock would not last long. Tony Lazzeri hit a two-run shot in the top of the third to give the Yankees the lead back and Pennock held the Tribe off the board for two more innings. Then in the fifth the Yankees tacked on three more on three hits, a walk, and an error. With Pennock having been lifted for a pinch-hitter, Hopcroft handed the ball to Bob Shawkey, who allowed one run and one hit the rest of the way to claim the win and give New York am 8-5 win and a 2-0 series lead headed to Yankee Stadium.

Game 3 at New York: Feller vs Hoyt

The most effective pitchers on each side took the mound as the series traveled to Yankee Stadium, with Tribe ace Bob Feller squaring off against the Yankees’ Waite Hoyt. For five and a half innings the bats were quiet, until Feller got hammered in the sizth with Babe Ruth’s second postseason homerun and Bob Meusel’s second. Although Heath led off the seventh inning with a solo shot, Feller would give up two more runs in the bottom of the inning and matter had been settled. The Yankees took the win 7-2, with Hoyt taking the win on eight innings of two-run ball. Feller took the loss.

Game 4 at New York: Milnar vs Pennock

Looking to close out at home, the Yankees sent out Herb Pennock on three days rest. In the bottom of the fourth inning; the Yankees were able to load the bases, send nine men to the plate, and score three runs on two hits, three walks and an error. That was all Pennock would need. He pitched the entire game scorelessly, giving up four hits and no walks. The Yankees secured the pennant with a 5-0 win and send manager Hopcroft to his second World Series in three seasons against the 1938 Cubs, winners of the National League pennant.

Congratulations to Dovid Zaner on a great season!

--submitted by Michael Hopcroft--

1938 Cubs win NL Pennant in 7 game series vs 1941 Reds

GAME 1 - Wrigley Field
Riddle vs Dean
Cubs 6, Reds 4

'Ole Diz wasn't at his best, so after 4 he was lifted for a pinch hitter (Tony Lazzeri).  That move seemed to work wonders for the Northsider's confidence as the bats came alive to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 6-3 lead.  All Star backstop Gabby Hartnett was 4 for 5, but didn't score a run or knock in a run.  Augie Galan (3-4) knocked in 2 and scored 2.  Sometimes thing work that way.  J.Russell pitched 3 scoreless innings for the win and Epperly gave up just 1 run in 2 innings to get something called a save, which no one really seams to understand back in the pre-war days.  After the game the press started to speculate that Dean might be done for the series and washed up for good with his toe and foot ailing.  If so, this would not be the way he wanted to go out on the grand stage.
Cubs lead series 1-0

GAME 2

Derringer vs Bryant
Reds 5, Cubs 3

Down 3-0 after 6 both the sunlight and the Reds chances seemed to be darkening.  An RBI single by Werber in the 7th made it 3-1.  Then in the 8th Harry Craft slammed a 363 foot shot just beyond the ivy to plate 4 runs and give the Redlegs a 5-3 lead.  Paul Derringer who threw 141 pitches in anger was tuckered out, so Beggs came in to set the Cubbies down to secure the win and get himself one of those save things.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Crosley Field
Lee vs Vander Meer
Cubs 3, Reds 2

Bill Lee got the best of Johnny "Double No-Hit" Vander Meer in a well pitched and well played (no errors) game.  For a while it looked like Vandy was going to be the top dog, but he threw an awful lot of pitches (163) and his arm went to mush in the top of the 9th where Babe Herman singled home two runs to put the Cubbies on top.  Cincy had their chance in the home half of the 9th, but Lee set the side down in order for the win.
Cubs lead series 2-1

GAME 4

French vs Walters
Reds 5, Cubs 2

A 2-2 tie was broken in the bottom of the 7th when the Reds got hit happy with 2 outs.  Ernie Koy led off the inning with a triple, but after Joost and Werber got out it looked like Koy was going to be stranded 90 feet from home.  In a curious move manager Clouser let his starting hurler Bucky Walters bat for himself.  Having his manager's confidence gave Bucky the moxie he needed, which resulted in an RBI double to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.  For good measure both Mike McCormick and Lonny Frey singled home runs to push the lead to 3.  Walters shut the door on the Cubbies in the 8th and 9th for the complete game win.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5
Bryant vs Derringer
Cubs 6, Reds 1

In the pivotal game 5 Clay Bryant was magical for 8 innings.  The Reds got their knocks (8), but the runs came as frequently as Jack Benny picked up a dinner tab.  On the other side of the coin the Cubbies had no trouble scoring, which hastened Derringer's departure.  Cincy's starter was gone after giving up 5 runs in 4 innings.  J.Russell came on in the 9th to finish it out for Bryant.  Frank Demaree (3-4) had 2 runs scored and 1 knocked in to pace a balanced Cub attack.
Cubs lead series 3-2

GAME 6 - Wrigley Field

Vander Meer vs French
Reds 4, Cubs 2

The boys hopped a train at Union Station in the Queen City and headed to Chi-town via Indy.  The pressure was square on the back of the man known for throwing back to back no hitters.  That man, Johnny Vander Meer, wasn't near perfect today, but he was as good as he needed to be.  Cincy bats jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Larry French, by doing damage in the top of the 2nd.  Back to back to back singles by Craft, Koy and Werber accounted for the first run.  Lonny Frey's 2 out 2 run single made it 3-0 and Mike McCormick's line shot double gave the Reds all the runs they would need for the day.  Chicago clawed their way back with solo runs in the 2nd and 6th, but that would not be enough to gain victory of Vandy and his 9th inning replacement Ray Starr.
Series tied 3-3

GAME 7
Riddle vs Dean
Cubs 2, Reds 0

Tension filled the air in the friendly confines.  Everyone was nervous, except 'Ole Dizzy Dean, who had been grabbing pine since game 1.  Dean never gets nervous.  In fact the bigger the moment the calmer "The Great Man" from Lucas, Arkansas got.  Dean walked to the mound with the swagger of a man who had been there and done that many times before.  For 4 1/2 innings both Dean and his opposing number, Elmer Riddle, were throwing up goose eggs.  In the bottom of the 4th the Cubs began to threaten.  Reynolds led off the frame with a clean single.  Galan followed it up with a shot to the track that would have gone out if the wind was howling.  Hartnett singled to put runners on first and second, but Ripper Collins popped to first for the second out.  Al Demaree followed with a seeing eyed single that found it's way just past McCormick (1B) and Frey (2B).  Babe Herman flew out weakly to right to end the inning, but Dean now had himself a 1-0 lead.  After three and a half innings of zero the score remained 1-0 until Galan singled home Stan Hack with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th to provide Diz with some breathing room.  The top of the 9th saw Frank McCormick lead off with a clean single.  Patrons in the grandstand were on the edge of their seat knowing that with one swing of the bat this game could be tied.  Once again "The Great Man" was more than up for the task.  First things first he got "The Schnozz" to pop up to Collins at first.  Then he got Craft to hit a slow roller to Herman at second.  To end it off he got Goodman to do what Craft did.  As soon as Collins closed his mitt on Herman's throw the crowd rushed the field as the Cubbies celebrated another NL Pennant.  You see these Cubbies go to the World Series every 3 years (1929, 1932, 1935, 1938), so North Side fans are used to success.  Dean, who threw himself a 5 hit shutout, was carried off the field as the conquering hero.  Manager Andy Weinrib heads to his second KOD World Series in 3 seasons.
Cubs win series in 7

ALDS - '26 Murders Row sweeps '39 Tribe

Well, it was a great regular season for the Indians, who had KOD's best record. But with all their energies devoted to the season, the Indians didn't have much left in the tank to face the Yankee's Murderers' Row lineup.

Game One was close but the next two saw the Yankees' turn up the jets offensively and easily perform a tomahawk chop to the solar plexis of the Tribe team. The Yankees win the series, 3-0.

Game One: Bob Feller and Waite Hoyt hold a pitching clinic, with Feller striking out 10. But with a 2-0 lead for the Indians, the Yankees dented his armor slightly, tying the score late on a Lou Gehrig homer and a Tony Lazzeri run-scoring triple.

Tied at two apiece in the top of the 12th, Joe Dugan doubled to lead off the inning. ManagerYankees 3, Indians 2 (12)
Game Two: The only good news for the Indians is that they had 12 hits off Yankees' starter Herb Pennock. But the bad news is that they only scored four runs, while their pitching was a sieve. Starter Al Milnar ended up allowing eight runs in 6.2 innings, as the Yankees exploded for a seven run seventh to break it open.  The long inning included four doubles and three singles, including a three run double from Mark Koenig that opened the door for the rout. Yankees 10, Indians 4.

Game Three: There was some hope for the Indians in this one. The Yankees went up 5-2 early with a three run fifth off Indians starter Al Smith, including back-to-back-to-back singles in the inning. But in the top of sixth, Jeff Heath belted a three run home to tie the game at five.

However, the Yankees weren't done scoring, coming back for three in the bottom of the sixth that included a bases clearing double from Tony Lazzeri to make it 9-5. Unfortunately for Cleveland fans, the Indians were cooked after that and couldn't muster much of a rally. Yankees 9, Indians 6. The AL championship will be a great matchup between 39 Cleveland and 26 New York. I expect a lot of offense in this one.

An exciting season of KOD 22 is over for me. I enjoyed the games and company. See you all in KOD 23.


Regards,

Pryweller brought in Joe Dobson and then Johnny Allen to attempt to put out the fire. But they just ignited the flames, as Allen walked in the winning run with two outs.

Joe Pryweller

Darth Vander Meer slays Bucs

In a rare display of ball-bashing by the ’41 Reds they were able to best the Bucs 9 – 4.  The Reds took a two run lead in the third on a single by the pitcher, Johnny Vander Meer, a double by Frey and a two run knock by Mike McCormick.  The Bucs scored in the top of the fourth, but the Reds retaliated in the bottom of the inning and put the game away with a four run 5th.  Again Vander Meer, who picked up the win led off the inning with a single, Frey then singled and after a sac Frank McCormick knocked in both runners. Harry  Craft and Goodman followed with doubles to extend the lead to 7 – 2.  Wilber Cooper took the loss for Pittsburgh, but Babe Adams who relieved in the fourth was the real victim of the Reds onslaught, surrendering 7 hits and four runs in just two and a third innings.  Ray Starr picked up a save as he pitched two innings of shutout ball, giving up only one hit to finish out the game.

Jim Clouser

24-Bombers sneak by 24-Nats

October 1 @ Yankee Stadium in New York

1924 Washington Senators (20-18)

Starting Pitcher : George Mogridge

Real Life : 16-11, 213 IP, 3.76 ERA

KOD22: 2-3, 61.2 IP, 3.94 ERA

vs

1926 New York Yankees (22-16)

Starting Pitcher : Urban Shocker

Real Life : 19-11, 258.1 IP, 3.38 ERA

KOD22: 4-1, 68.1 IP, 3.42 ERA

NEW YORK wins 4-3

WP: Walter Beall
LP: Firpo Marberry
SV; Bob Shawkey
HR: none
MVP: Urban Shocker (7 IP, 12 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 K)


In an incredibly tight play in game, the '26 Yankees were able to pull out a tight 4-3 win to advance in the KOD 22 playoffs.  The game saw numerous opportunities on each side to put together big innings and put the game away but neither team could come up with a key hit at the right time. 

The Sens jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with 2 sibled paired together with 2 Yankee errors but really it could have been a lot worse for the Yanks early as Washington had runners thrown out at home in each of the first 2 innings.  Earle Combs and Babe Ruth were the 2 NY outfielders to save runs by nailing Senators base runners at the plate. 

New York came back in the 5th to tie the game behind 4 singles, including an Urban Shocker single to drive in the tying run.  The game would stay tied until the 7th despite a threat by the Yankees in the 6th.  With the bases loaded and 1 out, Mark Koenig popped out to shallow RF ansd it took a perfect throw from Sam Rice to nail Babe Ruth tagging from 3rd in order to keep the game tied at 2.  In the 7th, Goose Goslin broke the tie by driving in Ealr McNelly with the go aahead run.  But despite having 2 on and only 1 out, the Sens were unable to get to Shocker for more and put some breathing room between them and the pesky Yanks. 

After pulling Mogridge (7 IP, 9H, 2R, 1 K) for a pinch hitter, the Sens turned to closer Firpo Marberry to preserve the win and end the Yankees season.  Unfortunately, Marberry was unable to stay out of trouble.  Tony Lazzeri walked to lead off the 8th, Joe Dugan followed with a double which forced Marberry to walk Bob Meusel to load the bases with nobody out.  With the infield in, Marberry got Koenig to ground to SS Roger Peckinpaugh who forced Lazzeri at home for out #1.  Then with the middle infield playing for the inning ending double play, Hank Severeid grounded to 2B Bucky Harris who decided to throw home and cur down the run instead of ending the inning with what looked like a routine double play.  Washington Manager Pete Daly had visited the mound a laid out his expectations for his infielders, but apparently Harris had his own ideas.  Harris was able to catch Dugan at the plate but the inning continued and Pat Collins came to the plate with the bases still loaded and 2 outs.  Collins was up to the task and hit a slow roller between 1st and 2nd that scored Meusel and Koenig and put the Yankees ahead 4-3.

Bob Shawkey replaced Shocker on the hill for NY and needed to face the middle of the Senators lineup in the 9th.  Doc Prothro, pinch hitting for Harris, reached to lead off the inning on an eroor by Lou Gehrig at first.  Sam Rice followed with an infield single and the Sens looked to be in business.  A ground out by Goslin with the runners moving put the tying run at 3rd and the go ahead run at 2nd with 1 out.  Joe Judge was then walked to load the bases and create a force at any base.  Muddy Ruel cmae to the plate and fouled off his attempt at a game tying suicide squeeze.  With 2 strikes, Ruel then drove a hard liner back up the middle that ws picked out the air by Shawkey for the 2nd out.  Had Shawkey been a split secong slowere reacting to the liner, it likely was headed to CF and would have scored 2 big runs.  With 2 outs and the bases still loaded it was now up to pinch hitter Nemo Leibold to tyr and extend the game and the season for the Sens.  Leibold got a hold of a Shawkey fastball but unfortunately the ball landed with a thud in first baseman Lou Gehrig's glove.  

As the Senators sat in the dugout watching the Yankees celebrate on the field, manager Pete Daly was seen still kneeling on the front step of the dugout wondering how the game had gotten away from him.  Daly was trying to defend his unlikely KOD 21 Championship that he had won with the 2006 Minnesota Twins.  Apparently a repeat was not in the cards, as Michael Hopcroft was the better man and his Yankees the better team on this day.  Good luck to all teams the rest of the way.