KOD 12 – Rolaids Relief Award

KOD 12 – AL Cy Young and MVP Winners

KOD 12 – NL Cy Young & MVP Winners

   

KOD12 World Series: Reds take crown in 6 over Twins

GAME 1 -  Metropolitan Stadium
Jim Maloney (10-2) vs Dave Boswell (6-4)
Reds 6, Twins 1
Cincinnati scores 4 runs in the first as Minnesota's Boswell walks 3 of the first 4 batters.  Cincy pulls away behind great pitching from Jim Maloney as he pitches the Reds to a complete game 6-1 win.  Frank Robby provides enough offense for the Reds by going 2-4 with a HR and 2 RBIs.   Mickey Vernon and Harmon Killebrew had the only 2 hits that the Twins would post on the day.  Killebrew walked and was also hit by a Maloney fastball.

GAME 2 -  Metropolitan Stadium
Tom Seaver (8-3) vs Camilo Pascual (4-5)
Reds 6, Twins 4
Tom Seaver guts out a tough performance and outlasts the Twins' Pascual enroute to a 6-4 Red victory.  Cincy’s bullpen trifecta of Norm Charlton, John Franco and Rob Dibble protected the lead after Seaver left with 2 outs in the 8th.  Everyone in the Red lineup with the exception of catcher Ed Bailey, who walked twice, had a hit.  Minnesota made a run at it in the 9th, but came up short thanks to the bullpen work done by the Reds.

GAME 3 -  Crosley Field
Jim Kaat (6-2) vs Jose Rijo (7-3)
Twins 9, Reds 3
The Twins enjoy the road trip to Cincinnati as Jim Kaat pitches well and beats Jose Rijo.  The Twins 4 and 5 hitters Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva go for a combined 6-9 with 3 HRs and 7 RBIs.   Minnesota had a 4-2 lead heading into the 5th when they scored 4 to blow it open thanks to Oliva’s grand slam.  Killebrew had 2 homers and a double.

 

GAME 4 -  Crosley Field
Jack Kralick (4-1) vs Gary Nolan (6-2)
Reds 9, Twins 7
The Twins come in looking to even the series and dominate the game until the 9th.  Minnesota takes a 7-3 lead into the 9th and puts their fate in the hand of reliever Rick Aguilera.  Aguilera walks the first 3 batters and after a Pinson double, the game is tied.  Two batters later, Johnny Bench blasts a shot to seal the game and incredible comeback for the Reds.   Those 6 runs scored in the bottom of the 9th are a KOD World Series record for comebacks.  Up until this game “Aggie” had been a virtual lock in relief.  He picked the worst time ever to record his second blown save of the season.

GAME 5 -  Crosley Field
Dave Boswell (7-4) vs Jim Maloney (10-3)
Twins 4, Reds 2
Minnesota needing a win to stay alive puts Dave Boswell on the mound against Cy Young candidate Jim Maloney.  This time, the Twins get to Maloney and Boswell holds on for a 4-2 Twin win.   Maloney, who was lights out during the regular season, has had some spotty outings here in the post season.  After yesterday’s fiasco the Twins went to Al Worthington to close the game out instead of “Aggie”.  1965 AL MVP Zoillo Versalles  went 3 for 4.  Kirby Puckett is the only Twin regular not to post a hit.  Frank Robby knocked in both of Cincy’s runs in a losing cause.

GAME 6 -  Metropolitan Stadium
Tom Seaver (9-3) vs Camilo Pascual (4-6)
Reds 2, Twins 0

Not much offense in this game and the Reds go with “Tom Terrific” Seaver and he pitches a gem as the Reds clinch with a 2-0 victory.  Seaver scatters 5 hits without yielding a run, before exiting with 1 out in the 9th.  Even the partisan Twin crowd gave “The Franchise” a “standing O” for his performance.  Rob Dibble recorded the final 2 outs to notch the save and clinch the series.  Cincy scored a solo run in the 2nd on a Tony Perez sac fly and another solo run in the 5th thanks to a wild pitch by Pascual.

MVP:  Tom Seaver (2 wins and gives up only 3 earned runs in 16 IP)
--submitted by Steve Tate KOD12 Champ--

NLCS: Reds outlast Cubbies in classic 7 game set

GAME 1 - Crosley Field
Cubs 8, Reds 0
Ferguson Jenkins vs Jim Maloney
Cy Young hopeful Jim Maloney picked the worst time of the season to have a bad outing.  The Cubbies touched the hard throwing righty for 8 runs in 8 innings, while their ace right hander, Ferguson Jenkins, was spot on sharp.  The tall Canadian went the distance and recorded a 5 hit shutout vs one of the toughest lineups in the NL.  Chicago struck first with a 3 run outburst in the top of the 3rd, then finished off the day with 4 more in the 8th.  Backstop Jody Davis had a career day going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored, 6 RBI's and a 3 run homer in the 2nd.  Davis' bases loaded clearing double was the final coffin nail for Maloney's day.
Cubs lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Crosley Field
Reds 5, Cubs 1
Bill Hands vs Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver was more than just terrific striking out 10 Cubs and going the distance allowing just 1 run, a Ron Santo solo shot.  Cincy's offense struck back with a vengeance.  Joe Morgan went 3 for 4 with and RBI and 2 runs scored.  Frank Robinson's 3 run blast in the bottom of the third broke a scoreless tie.  Morgan's solo shot in the 7th capped off the scoring.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Wrigley Field
Cubs 5, Reds 3
Jose Rijo vs Greg Maddux
With the score tied 2-2 after 6 1/2 innings of play the Cubbies unloaded on Jose Rijo to the tune of 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th.  Andre "the Hawk" Dawson led off the inning and broke the 2-2 tie with a fly ball that just cleared the ivy.  Rick Monday doubled and scored on a Ron Santo single two batters later, then scored when pinch hitter Jose Cardenal singled down the right field line.  Cincy scored an unearned solo run in the 9th thanks to an error by Banks at short, but Bruce Sutter was able to strike out Tony Perez with a nasty splitter to end the game.  Ryne Sandberg went 2 for 4 and hit to solo shots.
Cubs lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Wrigley Field
Reds 5, Cubs 2
Gary Nolan vs Rick Reuschel
Ted Kluszewski's 3 run blast in the top of the first rattled "Big Daddy" Reuschel, but did not knock him out of the box.  Ryne Sanberg scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning to make it a 3-1 game.  Hank Sauer's solo shot in the 6th made it a tense 1 run game until Big Klu hit his second homer of the game (a 2 run shot) to put it away.  Norm Charlton would pitch a scoreless 9th to notch the save.  Lee Smith gave up Klu's blast in the 8th and failed to keep his team close.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - Wrigley Field
Reds 4, Cubs 1
Jim Maloney vs Ferguson Jenkins
In a rematch of game 1 starters the tables were completely turned.  This time Maloney was back in stride giving up just 1 run in 6 1/3 innings of work.  The Reds bullpen was phenomenal getting the final 8 outs without yielding a single run.  Mario Soto, John Franco and Rob Dibble were the modern day "Nasty Boys".  Frank Robinson knocked in 3 of the 4 Red runs via a double and a homer.  Tablesetters Rose and Griffey were both 2 for 5.
Reds lead series 3-2

GAME 6 - Crosley Field
Cubs 8, Reds 2
Bill Hands vs Tom Seaver
The Reds headed home hoping to close out the Cubs in 6 with Tom  Seaver on the mound.  Seaver didn't have it today and was gone after giving up 5 runs in 5 innings.  Bill Hands rebounded from his previous poor performance by giving up just 1 run in almost 6 innings of work, before Scott Sanderson and Lee Smith closed out the game.  "Mr. Cub", Ernie Banks, making the most of his first ever post season appearance went 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI's thanks to 2 solo blasts.  Jody Davis had another monster day with 3 RBI's and another homer.  Leading 5-2 the Cubbies tacked on 3 more runs in the top of the 9th to win this one going away and thus forcing a deciding game 7.
Series tied 3-3

GAME 7 - Crosley Field
Reds 7, Cubs 1
Greg Maddus vs Jose Rijo
By the third inning all of the drama surrounding this game 7 was gone.  Barry Larkin doubled home Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson to make it 2-0 Reds after 2.  Banks' solo blast with 1 out in the top of the 3rd made it a 2-1 game, but the hopes of every Cub fan faded like it was August all over again when the Reds scored 5 big runs in the bottom of the inning.  Back to back 2 run doubles by Johnny Bench and Vada Pinson was followed by an RBI single by Larkin.  No further scoring was needed and no further scoring occurred.  Greg Maddux basically got lit up like a Christmas tree, while Jose Rijo cruised to victory.  Rijo fanned 7 Cubs and gave up ust 2 hits and 1 run in 7 1/3 innings of work.  Don Gullett and Rob Dibble were called on to finish the game out without any fanfare.  A great series ended in a very anti-climatic fashion.  Cincy will now head to the Twin-Cities to face the Twinkies for the KOD12 World Championship.
Reds win series 4-3

4th time a charm, 4 KOD playoff appearances, 4 ALCS appearances, 1st WS

Game 1 – Yankee Stadium

Ralph Terry vs Dave Boswell

Minnesota jumped out to an early 2-0 behind a solo HR by Mickey Vernon in the 1^st and a Bobby Allison triple in the 4^th driving in Tony Olivia. Dave Boswell would pitch 7 scoreless innings before giving way to Al Worthington.  Worthington proved ineffective yielding 3 runs in 0.2 innings. Ralph Terry would leave the game after 8 with the Yankees up 3-2 looking to take 1-0 lead in the series. Goose Gossage would come in to try and close out the game. The first batter, Harmon Killebrew would fly out. Tony Olivia would then double and pinch hitter Kirby Puckett would single and bring home Olivia to tie the game. In the 10^th, Sparkly Lyle would give up a walk to Carew and a single to Vernon. MVP Candidate Harmon Killebrew would get a 3 run HR off Lyle to put Minnesota up 6-3. Rick Aguilera who came into the game in the 9^th, would give up a single to Roger Maris and then get the next three batters to put Minnesota up 1-0. Minnesota 6, New York 3 (10 innings).

Game 2 – Yankee Stadium

Vic Raschi vs. Jim Perry

The Yankees would strike 1^st on a single by Thurman Munson who  would then steal 2^nd. Rickey Henderson would hit a single to bring him. The Twins would tie the game in the 6^th. The Yankees would add 2 runs in the 7^th only to see the Twins tie it in the top of the 8^th. Dave Righetti would come into the game for the final two outs in the 8^th.Perry would yield 3 runs in the bottom of the 8^th including a 2 run blast by “Mr. October”, Reggie Jackson to put the Yankees back on top 6-3. Goose Gossage shut down the Twins in the 9^th for the save. Righetti would get the win to even the series 1-1. New York 6, Minnesota 3.

Game 3 – Met Stadium

Camilo Pascual vs. Ron Guidry

New York would get a run in each of the 1^st three innings including solo shots by Graig Nettles and Mickey Mantle. Minnesota would add one each in the 5^th and 6^th to close the score to 3-2.Don Mattingly would add a solo shot in the 8^th to give the Yanks a 4-2 lead.  With 2 outs in the bottom of the 9^th, Righetti would walk PH Tom Brunansky. Cesar Tovar would come in to run for Brunansky. Kirby Puckett would get a 2 out HR to tie the game and send it to extra innings. NY would take the lead in the top of the 10^th but Minnesota would again tie the game in the bottom of the inning. In the 11^th, Kirby Puckett would hit a walk off HR to put Minnesota up 2-1 in the series. Minnesota 6, New York 5 (11 innings).

Game 4 – Met Stadium

Jim Kaat vs. Allie Reynolds

Minnesota would get to Allie Reynolds early and often 8 runs in the 1^st four innings and knocking Reynolds out of the game. Reliever Fritz Peterson did not fare much better yielding 4 runs in 3 innings. Jim Kaat would pitch 8.2 innings and giving up 3 runs before giving way to Frank Viola who would yield an additional run before the final out. Minnesota would get 16 hits while the Yankees committed 3 errors in a game that would see 7 HR’s including shots Bill Skowron, Mickey Mantle & Yogi Berra for the Yanks and Kirby Puckett, Tony Olivia, Harmon Killebrew & Gary Gaetti for Minnesota.

Minnesota 12, New York 4.

Game 5- Met Stadium

Dave Boswell vs. Mel Stottlemyre

Minnesota, not wanting to go back to NY put game 1 winner Dave Boswell on the mound. Rod Carew would single in the 1^st and a HR by Harmon Killebrew  would put Minnesota up 2-0 after 1. The Yankees would come right back with Joe DiMaggio leading off with a double and moving to 3^rd on a single by Nettles and a sac. Hit by Thurman Munson to pull NY within 1. Minnesota would load the bases in the 4^th. A sac. Hit and a sac. Fly would put the Twins up 4-1. New York would come right back with two outs on a 3 run HR by DiMaggio to tie the game. Minnesota would add a solo HR by Kirby Puckett in the bottom of the inning and a 2 run HR by Tony Olivia in the bottom of the 7^th. DiMaggio would add a solo shot in the 8^th but Al Worthington would come in to get 5 of the 6 batters he faced for the save. Minnesota 7, New York 5.

Congratulations to Michael Hopcroft and the New York Yankees on an excellent season.

--submitted by Marvin Sik--

KOD 12 – LCS Preview

For the first time in the history of the King of Diamonds league all 4 division winners have punched their ticket to the League Championship Series.

Joe D. and his all around play vs	“the Killer” and the long ball

Michael Hopcroft’s Bronx Bombers will face off against Marvin Sik’s Minnesota Twins.  Minnesota had the largest margin for victory for a divisional champion (5 games), while the Bronx Bombers overcame injury to post the best record in baseball.

1950’s/60’s NL stars Robinson	& Banks will do battle

Over in the NL Steve Tate’s Big Red Machine is set to do battle with Jim Walden’s surprising Cubbies.  The Reds pretty much outhit their competition and got solid pitching all year, especially from Cy Young Candidate Jim Maloney.  The Cubs had one of their typical late season swoons and backed into the playoffs.  Chicago swept the powerful Dodgers in 3 straight to regain their momentum.

Both series should be entertaining best of 7 sets.  I’m going to hold off on making any predictions, but I’d love to hear everyone else’s prediction.  Please reply back on the blog.