Once again, the San Francisco Giants’ offense came through. Staking an early lead, the Giants held off a late rally by the Pittsburgh Pirates to win 7-5 and advance in the Winner’s Bracket of the Tournament. Tom Haller beat out a double-play ball to put San Francisco on top 1-0 in the 2nd. After Dick Stuart tied it with a solo home run off Billy Pierce in the bottom of the inning, the Giants’ offense let loose. Harvey Kuenn hit a solo homer to lead off the 3rd to put the Giants back on top, and Jim Davenport capped the 4-run inning with a 2-run double. Another RBI double by Davenport in the 5th extended the lead to 6-1. But Bob Skinner drove in a run with a double in the bottom of the 5th, and one of two Chuck Hiller errors led to two unearned runs on a Dick Groat single in the 6th. Kuenn added an RBI double in the 8th off Clem Labine to give San Francisco a little breathing room. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Bill Virdon drew a walk off Bobby Bolin, and Groat drove in a run and put runners on the corners with a single. Bolin got Skinner to ground out to end the threat. Stu Miller pitched a scoreless 9th to get the save. With the loss, the Pirates fall to the Elimination Bracket. Kuenn finished the game 4 for 5, and Davenport was 3 for 3, driving in 5 runs between the two.

’62 Giants @ ’60 Pirates – 9/19/25

Whitey Ford continued to struggle in the Tournament, while Jim Palmer continued to shine, as the 1969 Baltimore Orioles downed the 1961 New York Yankees 7-3 to even the series and force a Game 5 in the American League Winner’s Bracket. Ford had allowed 5 runs in each of his 1st two starts entering this game, and still couldn’t find his rhythm on the mound. Boog Powell drove in the 1st run with a double in the 1st inning, and Frank Robinson added an RBI single in the 3rd. Palmer allowed just one hit through 5 innings. In the 6th, the Yankees finally mounted an offense, but baserunning blunders limited their effect. Tony Kubek walked to lead off the inning, and then Roger Maris drilled a base hit to leftfield. Kubek tested Merv Rettenmund’s arm and got thrown out at 3rd. The Orioles then caught Maris trying to advance on the throw to 2nd. Palmer surrendered 4 more straight base hits, as the Yankees still managed to tie the game. Brooks Robinson doubled in Powell in the bottom of the inning to put the O’s back on top. Davey Johnson drove one to the wall in center. Mickey Mantle nearly made a dramatic catch, but collided with the wall. When the inning was over, Baltimore had scored 4 runs, and Mantle hobbled off the field and was expected to miss the rest of the series. Palmer finished the game, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits while striking out 10. Ford allowed 7 runs on 15 hits in the loss, leaving Yankees fans to wonder when or if he’ll turn things around. The series heads back to New York for the deciding game.

’61 Yankees @ ’69 Orioles – 9/19/25

Willie Mays did it again. Mays went 3 for 4 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI to lead the 1962 San Francisco Giants over the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1. It started in the 1st inning when Mays took Harvey Haddix deep with 2 outs and nobody on. A couple of singles in the bottom of the 2nd against Billy O’Dell tied things back up for the Pirates. It looked like it would be a tight game after that, until the 6th when Mays hit another solo shot to give the Giants the lead again. José Pagán and Harvey Kuenn had back-to-back singles in the 8th, but Chuck Hiller flew out for the 2nd out. That brought up Mays, who drilled one into the gap for a 2-run double. He’d score on a base hit by Willie McCovey. Felipe Alou added another solo home run for San Francisco in the 9th off Jim Umbricht, as the Giants won it 6-1. O’Dell allowed just 5 hits to improve to 2-1 in the Tournament. The Giants are just one win away from advancing in the Winner’s Bracket.

’62 Giants @ ’60 Pirates – 9/18/25

Bill Stafford continued his Tournament success, allowing 7 hits and shutting out the 1969 Baltimore Orioles. Stafford allowed just 1 run in 8 innings in his 1st start. Bob Cerv hit a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning to give the 1961 New York Yankees a 2-0 lead against Mike Cuellar. Elston Howard added a solo homer in the 4th. Mickey Mantle capped the scoring with a solo shot of his own in the 9th. The three homers accounted for half of the Yankees’ hits. Howard finished 3 for 4 to lead the Yankee offense. The Yankees now hold a 2-1 series lead. Baltimore hopes to even the series in front of the home crowd.

’61 Yankees @ ’69 Orioles – 9/18/25

For 10 innings, Steve Carlton and Don Drysdale battled to a stalemate, as the 1968 St. Louis Cardinals and the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers found themselves scoreless and struggling. Drysdale allowed 7 hits in those 10 innings, but the Cardinals only got into scoring position twice. The Dodgers never did against Carlton, who held LA to just 3 hits. In the 11th, Lou Brock led off with a single against Dick Calmus and stole 2nd. When Johnny Roseboro’s throw sailed into center field, the speedy Brock moved to 3rd with no outs. Roger Maris singled him home, giving St. Louis a 1-0 lead. Joe Hoerner came in to close the game, despite Carlton pleading to keep the ball. The gamble failed right away. After Ken McMullen grounded out, Moose Skowron singled. Lou Walls pinch hit for Roseboro and blooped another single past the infield. Willie Davis was 0 for 3 and hitting below .100 in the Tournament, but he drilled one into the corner. Maris’ throw in was too late, as Walls beat the throw to the plate to win it on the walk-off triple. The Dodgers take a 2-1 series lead into Game 4.

’68 Cardinals @ ’63 Dodgers – 9/18/25

The 1964 Chicago White Sox scored just 6 runs on 16 hits over the three games against the 1968 Detroit Tigers. It was still enough for a sweep, as the Tiger offense never showed up. Detroit had a little hope when Norm Cash hit a solo home run off Juan Pizarro. Mickey Lolich was pitching an amazing game, allowing just one hit heading into the 5th. That’s when Don Wert’s throwing error and two walks loaded the bases with 2 outs. Lolich struck out Jim Landis to end the threat. But, in the 6th, Moose Skowron took Lolich deep for a 2-run homer. Pizarro retired 17 straight hitters after the Cash home run, walking Cash in the 8th. Holding on to a 2-1 lead, Pizarro struck out pinch-hitter Eddie Mathews to lead off the 9th. Dick McAuliffe singled for just the 2nd Tiger hit, but Mickey Stanley grounded into a double-play to end the game, and with it, the Tigers’ Tournament. The Tigers scored just 2 runs on 9 hits over the 3 games.

’68 Tigers @ ’64 White Sox – 9/18/25

The 1962 San Francisco Giants offense was finally held in check, as the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates got their revenge, winning 11-2 to even the series 1-1. Vern Law held the Giants to 2 runs on 6 hits, striking out 5 in a complete game victory. Meanwhile, the Pirates unloaded on every pitcher they faced. Rocky Nelson got things started with a solo home run in the 2nd inning. After a sacrifice fly in the 3rd, Pittsburgh scored 3 more runs in the 4th thanks to a pair of walks and 3 base hits. Bill Mazeroski led off the 6th with a solo homer, and Bill Virdon followed with a single, ending Juan Marichal’s night. A few batters later, Dick Stuart took Bobby Bolin deep for a 3-run homer. A pair of RBI singles off Gaylord Perry in the 8th and 9th finished the Giants off. Marichal allowed 7 runs on 10 hits in just 5 innings. Mazeroski finished 5 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. As the series heads to Pittsburgh, the Pirates have some hope against a San Francisco offense that has been relentless in the Tournament.

’60 Pirates @ ’62 Giants – 9/16/25

The 1961 New York Yankees took a 3-2 lead into the 9th, before nearly blowing it. It would take until the 14th inning for them to get it back, topping the 1969 Baltimore Orioles 5-3 to even the series between the teams. Starter Ralph Terry allowed a 2-run home run to Paul Blair, but the Yankees scraped together a run in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings to get on top. In the 6th, they had the bases loaded and no outs, but Dave McNally forced two groundouts and struck out another to limit them to one run. Terry allowed just 4 hits heading into the 9th. Davey Johnson singled. Then, with two outs, Dave May hit a double in the gap. Johnson beat the throw from Roger Maris in a close play at the plate to tie the game. Each team was forced to use multiple relievers in extra innings. In the bottom of the 14th, Johnson bobbled a sharp grounder from Maris. Jim Hardin struck out Mickey Mantle and got Elston Howard to fly out. That’s when Moose Skowron took one over the left field wall for a 2-run walk-off homer. It was Skowron’s 3rd homer of the Tournament. He leads the Yankees with a .348 average. The series heads to Baltimore, tied 1-1.

’69 Orioles @ ’61 Yankees – 9/16/25

Sandy Koufax took the ball and gave one of the best pitching performances of the Tournament. The Los Angeles Dodgers ace held the St. Louis Cardinals to 4 hits, striking out 7 in his 1st shutout. Koufax allowed 3 hits in the 1st two innings before retiring 21 straight batters. Lou Brock broke the streak with a leadoff double in the 9th. He then retired the final three hitters of the game. Only 4 of the 27 outs even left the infield. Nelson Briles scattered 5 hits, holding the Dodgers scoreless in the 1st five innings. Dal Maxvill bobbled a grounder to lead off the 6th, and LA followed with back-to-back singles for their 1st run. A pair of singles in the 7th scored when Maury Wills tripled. Jim Gilliam followed with an RBI single to put the Dodgers up 4-0. With the victory, the Dodgers even the series as it heads back to Los Angeles.

’63 Dodgers @ ’68 Cardinals – 9/16/25

The 1968 Detroit Tigers offense has not shown up for the 1st two games against the 1964 Chicago White Sox. A day after getting shut out, they managed just one run on 4 hits in a 3-1 loss. Jim Northrup hit a solo home run in the 1st inning off Gary Peters, but that was it. Denny McLain picked up his 1st loss of the Tournament, allowing 3 runs on 9 hits. Tommy McCraw tripled to lead off the 3rd. A sacrifice fly and an RBI double by Moose Skowron gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead. Skowron added another RBI double in the 8th. As the series heads to Chicago, the Tigers must win the next 3 games to avoid becoming the 3rd team to be eliminated.

’64 White Sox @ ’68 Tigers – 9/16/25