1965 All Ohio World Series: CLE Indians vs CIN Reds

The 1965 Cincinnati Reds defeated the Indians 4 games to 2 to win the 1965 World Series. Cleveland took the first 2 games of the series and headed home for what long suffering Tribe fans were hoping would be their first World Series win since 1948. But alas those hopes were dashed as the Reds pitching staff righted themselves and led them to four straight wins and the championship. Let’s take a look at each of these memorable games from the 1965 classic.

Game 1

Cleveland 4 - Cincinnati 0

Sam McDowell vs. Jim Maloney

The aces of both staffs met up in game 1. Cleveland’s Sam McDowell bested Jim Maloney as he went 8.1 innings with 11 strike outs and only 3 walks. The Sudden one was just wild enough to keep the Reds hitters of balance all evening. Gary Bell came in to close it out as Sam had thrown 140 pitches. Cleveland scored 2 runs in the 3rd on a walk, a couple of singles, and an error. That was all Sam would need as he earned MVP honors and gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead. 

Game 2

Cleveland 5 - Cincinnati 1

Sonny Siebert vs. Sammy Ellis

Another strong pitching effort by Sonny Siebert gave the Tribe a 2-0 lead. Siebert went the distance allowing 1 run on 3 hits. The only run came on a Johnny Edwards homer in the 5th. Leon “Daddy Wags” Wagner provide all the offense support that Siebert would need as he went 3-4 with 4 RBIs including a 2-run homerun in the 1st. Siebert earns MVP honors.

Manager Burnette was so upset with the Reds effort in the first two games that he made them take a Greyhound bus up to Cleveland. Would it wake up the struggling offense? Only time will tell.

Game 3

Cincinnati 7 – Cleveland 3

Luis Tiant vs. Joe Nuxhall

That bumpy bus ride was just what the doctor ordered.  The Reds offense struck quickly scoring 3 runs in the 2nd to take the early lead and knock starter Tiant out of the box. Cleveland then went through a myriad of pitchers of the next couple of innings but to no avail. Cincy added 2 runs in the 6th and 7th innings to pull out a comfortable lead. Deron Johnson, Vada Pinson and game MVP Leo Cardenas each had 2 hits while Nuxhall went 7 innings for the win. Cleveland leads 2-1.

Game 4

Cincinnati 7 – Cleveland 3

Ralph Terry vs. Joey Jay

Cleveland struck first on a Leon Wagner 2 run homer in the 1st giving the Tribe faithful a glimmer of hope that they could still win the series at home. But the Reds brought their big bats to the game. Home runs by Cardenas, Johnson, Gordy Coleman and Pete Rose, easily offset the early blast by Wagner to lead the Reds to victory. Jay wasn’t great but he was good enough to last 8 innings giving up 3 runs. Rose earned MVP honors. Series is now tied at 2 apiece.

Game 5

Cincinnati 1 – Cleveland 0

Sam McDowell vs. Jim Maloney

Every great series has that game or moment that everyone can recall years after. Willie Mays making the catch and throw off the blast by Vic Wertz in 1954. Bill Mazeroski’s game winning homerun in the 1960 series. Bobby Richardson somehow catching that line drive off the bat of Willie McCovey to give the Yankees the World Series in 1962.

This was that game for the 1965 series. Two great pitchers performing at the top of their game. McDowell went 8 innings giving up only 1 run while striking out 10 Reds batters. His only mistake was a hanging curve to Vada Pinson in the second that Vada deposited in the right field bleachers. 

Jim Maloney, game and series MVP, was at his best. He went the distance allowing no runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. He was so dominant that Cleveland could only move one runner to second and that was way back in the second inning. Maloney went 5-1 for the playoff series with an ERA of 1.86. McDowell, who deserved a better fate in this game, was 3-1 with 1.67 ERA. For those of you who like pitcher’s duels you could not have asked for more than you saw in this game.

Game 6

Cleveland 0 - Cincinnati 3

Sonny Siebert vs. Sammy Ellis

Game 6 saw another pitching gem, this time by the Reds’ Sammy Ellis. Ellis, game MVP,  went 8 innings giving up only 2 hits before tiring in the 9th and turning it over to Billy McCool for the save.  Up until the 9th inning Cleveland again could only get one runner to second as Ellis was in top form. A Pete Rose solo home run in the first gave the Reds the only run they would need. They tacked on 2 more in the 4th on RBIs by Frank Robinson and Deron Johnson. Cincinnati wins the series 4-2

--submitted by Ron Burnette--

1965 ALCS: Tribe outlasts Pale Hose in 7 games

GAME 1 - Comiskey

Luis Tiant vs Joe Horlen

Indians 4, White Sox 3

Fireballing Cuban Luis Tiant went the distance allowing 3 runs off of 6 hits.  Horlen exited in the middle of the 4th due to blisters.  The Tribe scored a solo run in 4 consecutive innings (2-5).  Max Alvis' double in the 5th off of Bob Locker scored Leon Wagner and held up to be the game winner as nobody scored over the final 4 frames.

Indians lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Comiskey

Sonny Siebert vs John Buzhardt

Indians 10, White Sox 5

The upstart Tribe outslugged the Pale Hose en route to a 2-0 series lead.  Leadoff hitter Vic Davalillo went 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored and one RBI.  Rocky Colavito had a 3 for 4 day as the Tribe blistered Buzhardt and company with 10 runs on 13 hits.

Indians lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Municipal

Tommy John vs Ralph Terry

White Sox 5, Indians 2

The number #2 seeded Pale Hose found themselves in desperation mode.  Down 2-0 in the series and heading to the road is not the ideal way to win a pennant.  With young Tommy John and veteran Ralph Terry dueling to a 2-2 tie after 7 innings of play the Chisox cashed in off of reliever Don McMahon thanks to consecutive throwing errors by Tribe catcher Joe Azcue.  Mighty Mite Al Weis singled home Don Buford and with 2 outs Ron Hansen delivered the knockout punch with a 2 run double to make it 5-2 visitors.  Hoyt Wilhelm came on board as John tired and got the final 5 outs to get the Chisox back into the series.

Indians lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Municipal

Gary Peters vs Sam McDowell

White Sox 10, Indians 2

Max Alvis' single in the bottom of the first gave the Tribe a quick 1-0 lead that had no chance of making it to the finish line once the Chisox exploded offensively in the 4th and 5th.  Six huge runs broke the game wide open in the 4th as Sudden Sam became Sullen Sam.  Johnny Romano's grand salami signaled the end for McDowell.  Three more runs in the 5th salted away the victory as the Pale Hose evened up the series.  To this point the home team had not gained a victory.  Hail to the Road Warriors.

Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - Municipal

Joe Horlen vs Luis Tiant

Indians 4, White Sox 2

A virtual replay of the series opener.  An RBI single by Moose Skowron and a bases loaded walk to Johnny Romano gave Joe Horlen a 2-0 lead even before he threw his first pitch.  Horlen would throw just 12 pitches on the day and not record a single out as the Tribe battered him to the tune of 4 runs on 3 hits.  Leon Wagner's grand slam off reliever Horlen gave the Tribe a 4-2 lead and marked the end of Horlen's abbreviated stint.  After combining to score 6 runs in the first inning the Tribe and the Pale Hose settled into a scoreless tie the rest of the way.  Tiant would toss 5 of those scoreless innings before yielding to veteran reliever Don McMahon, who pitched 3 scoreless innings in relief for the save.  Chicago trotted out 4 relievers to hold the Tribe in check and give the offense a chance to mount a comeback that never came.  Finally a home team won a game in this series !

Indians lead series 3-2

GAME 6 - Comiskey

Sonny Siebert vs John Buzhardt

White Sox 3, Indians 1

After having his first bad stint in the tournament in game 2, John Buzhardt (4-0, 1.54) rebounded with 7 innings of shutout ball before handing the ball over to Bob Locker.  Chicago scored right out of the starting block when Buford and Floyd Robinson led off the bottom of the 1st with singles and Al Weis bunted home Buford to make it 1-0.  Moose Skowron, who is hitting .362 in the tournament once again turned back the clock to his Yankee glory years with a solo blast to lead off the 4th to make it 2-0.  Floyd Robinson's RBI single in the 5th gave Buzhardt a solid 3-0 lead.  Cleveland put together a two out rally in the 9th off of Locker to score Alvis on Azcue's single.  After weak hitting shortstop Larry Brown worked out a walk to load the bases tension began to mount.  Locker needed 1 more out to force a decisive game 7.  After working the count to 2-2 Davalillo hit an elevator in a silo that dropped neatly into Romano's glove in front of the plate to end the game.

Series tied 3-3

GAME 7 - Comiskey

Ralph Terry vs Tommy John

Indians 3, White Sox 2

Game 7's come with a built in tension all to themselves.  Throw in 4 scoreless innings of baseball to start the game and you have yourself a big time pressure cooker.  Chicago's youthful southpaw, Tommy John was going pitch for pitch with the wiley veteran Ralph Terry, who is no stranger to game 7 pressure.  For those of you not up on your history, Terry had the misfortune of standing on the hill back in 1960 when Bill Mazeroski hit a series clinching homer to lead off the bottom of the 9th.  In 1962 he was on the mound when Willie McCovey hit a missile to Bobby Richardson to end that series, this time with better results.  Terry, who is now an old 29, is trying to turn back the clock and recreate the magic of his pinstripe years.  Who would crack first ?  They young lefty for Chicago or Cleveland's crusty veteran ?  The answer would be that they would both crack.  John cracked first in the 5th when he issued a leadoff walk to Brown who scored on a Pedro Gonzalez double to make it 1-0.  Terry figured into the offense by squeezing home Gonzalez to make it 2-0.  

As the day began to grow shorter and shorter the Chisox needed to get something going and solve Terry soon.  After Moose Skowron singled off of his former teammate to lead off the bottom of the 7th Johnny Romano followed suit and Danny Cater worked out a walk to load the bases with nobody out.  Tommy McCraw dropped down a perfect squeeze bunt to make it a 2-1 game and Ron Hansen grounded weakly to second to score Ken Berry, who pinch ran for Romano, to tie it up at 2-2.  Did Chicago sell themselves short by playing small ball in the 7th ?  Should they have gone for the gusto and played for the big inning ?  The answer came just a half inning later when Rocky Colavito lined a 2 out double off of Hoyt Wilhelm.  With first base open and Max Alvis on deck the Chisox elected to pitch to Leon Wagner, who promptly lined a single to right to score Rocky and give the Tribe a 3-2 lead.  By this point Terry was sitting squarely on the bench a spectator to the festivities.  Gary "Ding Dong" Bell was not on board for his second inning of relief.  After Don Buford reached first on a Gonzalez error Al Weiss hit a bullet to right that Colavito caught off his shoetops.  Since Buford was moving on the hit and run Rocky, who has the best arm in the business, rifled a throw back to first to easily double up Buford.  Floyd Robinson worked out a 2 out walk, but was stranded on base when Moose Skowron's blast succumbed to the depth of the big ballpark on 35th street.  Skrowron got all of it, but between the wind and Comiskey's size the ball landed safely in Colavito's glove one stride from the base of the wall.  Bell would have an easier time in the bottom of the 9th when Ken Berry was thrown out stealing and McCraw grounded back to the box.  Ron Hansen attempted an ill advised bunt for a hit that Alvis barehanded and nipped Hansen by a stride to end the game and the series.  Bell would be awarded the win for his 3 scoreless innings of work and the Tribe would make an improbable march to an all Ohio World Series vs the Reds.

Indians win series 4-3

NLCS - 1965 Tournament - "The Bucs stopped here"

Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Reds defeat the Pirates 4 games to 1. This series was much closer than the final game count indicates as each Reds win was by 1 run. In fact, the Reds were outscored by the irates but came up with the clutch hit or pitch to prevail.

Game 1

Pittsburgh 2 - Cincinnati 3 – 11 Innings

Vern Law vs. Jim Maloney

Just like in game one of their series against the Astros, the Reds had to go extra innings to win the first game of the series in Pittsburgh. What looked like a high scoring affair, each team had scored 2 runs by the end of the 3rd, turned into a fantastic pitcher’s duel. Vern Law went 10 innings giving up only 2 runs. Jim Maloney went 9 and kept the Bucs off the scoreboard after they scored 2 in the 1st. The Reds scored the go-ahead run in the 11th after a lead-off double by Pete Rose and single by Frank Robinson moved him to 3rd with no on out. A young Willie Stargell dropped a fly ball in his haste to throw out a hustling (sorry about that) Pete Rose, who scored the winning run. Billy McCool, the Reds closer made it interesting in the bottom of the 11th allowing the 1st two men of the inning reach base. But Stargell, still smarting from the dropped fly ball grounded into the 463 double play giving the Reds the win. Maloney was MVP.

Game 2

Pittsburgh 6 - Cincinnati 7

Bob Friend vs. Sammy Ellis

This game looked to be a blowout as the Reds scored 4 runs in the 1st and led 7-2 heading into the bottom of the 8th. Leo Cardenas and Johnny Edwards came up with key hits in the 1st and Frank Robinson, game MVP, added a 3 run shot in the 8th to give the Reds a seemingly insurmountable lead.  But these Pirates never give up. Ellis who was cruising up to this point suddenly lost it. He allowed 4 hits including a couple of triples and all of sudden it was 7-6 heading to the 9th. Wilbur Wood pitched a 1-2-3 9th for Pittsburgh. Ted Davidson pitched the 9th for the Reds and really made things interesting.  After retiring the 1st two batters, Bill Mazeroski singled and pinch hitter Bob Bailey coaxed a walk. That brought Donn Clendenon to the plate. Donn was batting .367 up to this point and already had a couple of hits and an RBI. After working the count, Donn meekly grounded out to Davidson giving the Reds the 1st two games of the series heading home to Crosley Field.

Game 3

Cincinnati 1 – Pittsburgh 7

Bob Veale vs. Joe Nuxhall

The Pirates took out their frustrations in game 3 as they pounded the Reds for 7 runs and 16 hits. Bob Veale was fantastic as he held the Reds to 1 run on 5 hits while going the distance. And what a distance it was. Bob threw 152 pitches for the complete game. Take that you pitch count counters of the 21st century! Andre Rodgers and Bill Mazeroski led the Bucs attack with 2 RBIs each and 4 Pittsburgh starters had 3 hits apiece. Bob Veale was game 3 MVP and the Pirates sense some cracks in the soon to become big Red machine.

Game 4

Cincinnati 3 – Pittsburgh 2

Don Cardwell vs. Joey Jay

Game 4 was just a hard fought close game all the way. With both teams fielding bottom of the rotation starters, one would have expected a high scoring game. Au contraire. Both Cardwell and Jay were dominant. The key inning was the 6th when the Reds pushed across two runs to take a 3-2 lead. They held on with great relief work from Dom Zanni and Ted Davidson, game MVP. The Pirates had their chances. A 2 out error but weak fielding 3rd sacker Deron Johnson allowed pinch hitter Bob Bailey to reach second in the top of the 9th. Donn Clendenon, who was 3-4 with 2 RBIs up to this point, again had a chance to tie or give the  Pirates the lead. But Davidson struck him to preserve the win and give the Reds a commanding 3-1 lead.

Game 5

Cincinnati 4 – Pittsburgh 3

Vern Law vs. Jim Maloney

The Reds played long ball in a rematch of game 1 starters. Solo shots by Cardenas in the 1st, Gordy Coleman in the 2nd and Vada Pinson in the 3rd staked the Reds to 3-0 lead. But as they showed time and time again in this series, the Bucs were not going to give up. They scored 2 runs in the 4th on a 2 run shot by Willie Stargell. Stargell ended the series with a .414 batting average, second only to Roberto Clemente. Another solo shot by the Reds’ Johnny Edwards in the 6th gave the Reds a 4-2 lead. That was the score going to the 9th. Billy McCool relieved Jim Maloney, who was the MVP for the game and series in my estimation. But the Pirates did not go quietly. As they did in each of their loses they battled back and almost pulled this one out. McCool quickly got the first two men he faced out. Then consecutive singles by Mazeroski, Bailey and Clendenon plated 1 run and had the tying run at 3rd and the go-ahead run at 1st with Roberto Clemente coming to the plate. The fans were at the edge of their seats. They wanted to see the home boys win the series and avoid the train ride back to Pittsburgh. Clemente grounded out sharply to Rose who threw to Cardenas for the force and the series clinching win.

A well-played series by both teams and one that could have easily gone the either way.
--submitted by Ron Burnette--

1965 Round 1 – Complete – Brackets Updated

1965 Round 1: O’s dominate aged Bombers in 4

GAME 1 - Memorial Stadium
Mel Stottlemyre vs Steve Barber
Yankees 7, Orioles 4
Young Mel Stottlemyre was the beneficiary of an offensive revival from the ancient Yankee offense.  Clete Boyer (2-4, 3 RBI) and Mickey Mantle (1-4, 2 RBI) both took Oriole starter Steve Barber deep.  Baltimore actually out hit the Bombers (12-9), but they were not able to push across enough runs to come out on top.
Yankees lead series 1-0

 

 

GAME 2 - Memorial Stadium
White Ford vs Milt Pappas
Orioles 5, Yankees 1
Whitey Ford scratched and clawed his way through 6 innings notching what latter day pundits would call a "quality start" (6 IP / 3 ER).  The "Chairman of the Board" fanned 5, but was never able to recover from a 3 run onslaught by the O's in the bottom of the 1st.  Young John Wesley "Boog" Powell was impressive going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's + a homer and a triple off of a lefty (Ford).  Milt Pappas went the distance on the bump, fanning 9 and allowing just 1 run.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Yankee Stadium
Dave McNally vs Al Downing
Orioles 5, Yankees 2
Both young hurlers ran out of gas after 6 innings of work.  McNally left on top 3-2.  It stayed that way until Pete Mikkelsen gave up 2 in the 9th, which provided O's reliever Stu Miller a 3 run margin to easily protect.  Curt Blefary had a 3 for 5 day with 2 RBI's for the O's.  Brooks Robinson did more than flash his leather going 2 for 5 with an RBI.  Hector Lopez was 2 for 3 with an RBI in a losing effort for the Bombers.
Orioles lead series 2-1

 

GAME 4 - Yankee Stadium
Wally Bunker vs Jim Bouton
Orioles 6, Yankees 0
The luster officially came off on the star that used to be Jim Bouton.  New York's young fireballer, who loses his cap on almost every release has been suffering from a severe sore arm, that has robbed him of his velocity.  Oriole hitter teed off on the "Bulldog", who hit the showers after giving up 6 runs in 3 1/3 innings of work.  Baltimore would not score again, nor would they need to since Wally Bunker was posting goose eggs on the scoreboard for 7+ innings.  Rookie fireballer Jim Palmer was called on to get the final 4 outs, which was not a problem for him at all.  Boog Powell was the only Oriole starter without a hit.  Baltimore had 8 hits, which were recorded by 8 different players.  New York looked like a tired and old team during the series.  Tommy Tresh and Tony Kubek got New York's only 2 hits.
Orioles win series 3-1

1965 Round 1: Bucs hold off Phightin’s in 5

GAME 1 - Forbes Field
Jim Bunning vs Bob Veale
Pirates 6, Phillies 1
A 12 hit, 6 run attack chased Jim Bunning from the hill by the end of the 5th inning.  Bob Veale was strong in striking out 10 in 7 1/3 innings of work.  Al McBean finished off the final 5 outs with a perfect line.  The great Roberto Clemente was the story of the day going 2 for 4 with 4 RBI and a run scored.  Clemente had a double and a homer to pace he Buc offense.
Pirates lead series 1-0

 

GAME 2 - Forbes Field
Ray Culp vs Vern Law
Philles 7, Pirates 5
Ray Culp had the Pirates offense firmly under control until they solved his mystery in the 8th with 3 runs.  The Bucs would add 2 more runs in the 9th, but come up short thanks to the Phightin's 7 run output vs an ineffective Law (6 IP / 6 ER).  Clemente again paced the Bucs with a 5 for 5 day, but even his greatness could not dig the Bucs out of the hole Law burried them in.  Every Philly starter except catcher Clay Dalrymple had a hit.  Centerfielder Tony Gonzalez homered and Tony Taylor had a double and a triple + 3 RBI's from the lead off spot.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Shibe Park
Don Cardwell vs Chris Short
Phillies 4, Pirates 1
Lefty Chris Short was masterful scattering 7 hits and allowing just 1 unearned run in a rock solid complete game effort.  Short fanned 13 Pirate batters, which included everyone in the lineup except veteran shortstop Andre Rodgers.  The Phightin's jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st and never looked back.  Tony Taylor led off the game with a homer and Wes Covington and Tony Gonzalez added RBI single.  Bobby Wine's squeeze bunt in the 8th scored Gonzalez for the 4th run.
Phillies lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Shibe Park
Bob Veale vs Jim Bunning
Pirates 9, Phillies 2 

In a rematch of Game 1 starters fans were treated to almost the same exact result.  Bob Veale again pitched well (CG / 3H /2R / 7k) and Jim Bunning once again did not (5 runs in 6 innings).  The Bucs attacked Bunning with 3 big runs in the top of the first.  Catcher Jim Pagliaroni singled home Donn Clendenon with 1 out and Bob Bailey singled home Clemente and Pags with 2 out to post the 3-spot.  Philly scratched out 2 runs in the bottom of the third to make it a 1 run game, but the Bucs got 2 in the 5th, 1 in the 7th and 3 in the 9th to blow the game wide open.  Donn Clendenon, batting leadoff and playing 1st, had a 3 for 4 day and scored 2 runs.  Young Willie Stargell went 3 for 5 with 3 RBI's and his first homer of the tourny.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - Forbes Field
Ray Culp vs Vern Law
Pirates 7, Phillies 6
The hometown fans were not disappointed by the results of this decisive game 5.  Sure they were scared out of their wits as the Bucs were forced to hang on for dear life after all but blowing a 7-2 lead by allowing 4 unearned runs in the 7th.  Thankfully the Bucs had relief specialist Roy Face in their pen.  Arguably the best reliever of his era, “The Barron”  came out of the pen and shut the door on the Phils comeback.  Face tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed just 1 baserunner over that span.  Gene Alley and Willie Stargell both had 3 hit days, with Stargell hitting his second home in as many days.  Tony Gonzalez had 2 roundtrippers for the Phils, who rallied to fight their way back from certain defeat only to come up a tad short.
Pirates win series 3-2

1965 Round 1: Chisox outlast Halos in 5 – Buzhardt notches game 2 No Hitter

GAME 1 - Comiskey Park
Marcelino Lopez vs Joe Horlen
White Sox 4, Angels 3
Not a shock that two low scoring teams would be deadlocked after regulation.  Ed Kirkpatrick's pinch hit homer for the Halo's in the 8th off of Jack Fisher got us to this point.  Extra innings turned into a Western Front stalemante until the bottom of the 13th, when Moose Skowron doubled home Don Bufford on a hanging slider offered up by Ed Sukla with nobody out.
White Sox lead series 1-0

 

GAME 2 - Comiskey Park
Fred Newman vs John Buzhardt
White Sox 1, Angels 0
Today's offense can be summed up in 1 sentence:  Moose Skowron hit a solo shot off of Fred Newman in the bottom of the 4th.  That was the offense, but the real story was the incredible no hitter thrown by John Buzhardt, who walked just two, fanned 5 and did not allow an Angel batter to reach first on a hit.  The fact that the Chisox scored just 1 run made Buzhardt's performance a necessity, not a luxury.  Newman winds up being the poster child for the "hard luck loser" foundation.  99 out of 100 starts his 1 run over 7 innings performance would result in a win.  Buzhardt lost his perfect game in the 5th when Bobby Knoop worked out a walk.
White Sox lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Dodger Stadium
Tommy John vs George Brunet
Angels 2, White Sox 1
If you like pitcher's duels, you are following the right series.  After Buzhardt's virtuoso performance in game 2 the Angels now had their backs up against the wall to stave off elimination.  George Brunet stepped up to the plate and went the distance allowing just 4 hits and 1 unearned run that tied the game up in the top of the 9th.  The home team felt the pressure and paid Brunet back in the bottom of the inning with a pinch hit RBI single by Albie Pearson, which turned out to be the only earned run scored on the day by both teams.
White Sox lead series 2-1

 

GAME 4 - Dodgers Stadium
Joe Horlen vs Dean Chance
Angels 5, White Sox 1
1964 Cy Young award winner Dean Chance, reverted to last year's form in this must win game.  Chance, who won the 1964 tournament MVP award struck out 5 and allowed just 1 run while going the distance.  When hearing these stats the average Angel fan might reply, "Did he win ?"  The answer to that question would be an emphatic "YES" thanks to a 5 run outburst by the Halo lineup.  Carrying a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 5th the Halo's got a huge break when Chisox catcher Johnny Romano botched Jose Cardenal's bunt for a hit attempt.  Ed Kirpatrick followed that with an RBI double to make it 2-0.  Albie Pearson's 2 out double knocked in 2 more runs and the Halo's behind Chance's right arm were off to the races.
Series tied at 2-2

GAME 5 - Comiskey Park
Marcelino Lopez vs John Buzhardt
White Sox 4, Angels 1
Working on short rest, no hit expert John Buzhardt was once again lights out.  "Buzz" went 6 1/3 innings and allowed just 1 earned run, which came in the top of the first on a Willie Smith RBI single.  The Chisox answered right back with a Danny Cater RBI single to make it 1-1.  Floyd Robinson's two out triple in the bottom of the 4th put the Chisox up 2-1.  A bases loaded walk to Floyd Robinson in the bottom of the 6th made it 3-1.  Ken Berry's single scored Moose Skowron to make it 4-1, which is how it stayed thanks to 2 2/3 of spotless relief work by Eddie Fisher.
White Sox win series 3-2

Interview quote with Angels manager Douglas Zaner:  "White Sox win a close series.  Home team wins each game.  Moose Skowron goes 7 for 19 with OPS of 1.210.  John Buzhardt throws a no-no in Game 2.  Mercifcully, the Angels can go home."

1965 Round 1: Jints outlast Redbirds in 5

Game 1 - St. Louis 6 @ San Francisco 4 (Simmons vs. Marichal)
The Cardinals scored 2 runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Ken Boyer and a sac fly by Bill White.  San Francisco tied the game on an RBI double by Hal Lanier in the 2nd and a double by Willie Mays in the 3rd, however left fielder Lou Brock threw out 2 runners at the plate in the third as a sign of how things would go in the series.  St.Louis broke the game open with 4 runs in the 6th on 6 straight base hits.

Game 2 - St. Louis 5 @ San Francisco 1 (Gibson vs. Shaw)
Bob Gibson was the star of this game as he staked the Cards to a 2-0 lead in the series.  Gibson allowed just 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking none.  Bill White and Tim McCarver provided the batting punch, knocking in 2 runs each.  On defense, Curt Flood nailed Willie McCovey at the plate for the Cards 3 outfield assist and McCarver threw out his 2nd runner attempting to steal a base.

Game 3 - San Francisco 5 @ St. Louis 1 (Bolin vs. Stallard)
The Cardinals were looking to wrap the series up, but the Giants stunned them with 3 runs in the top of the 1st.  The big blow was a 3 run shot by Willie McCovey.  Tracy Stallard only allowed 4 hits in 7 innings of work, but the Cards committed 3 errors behind him.  Bobby Bolin was the MVP of the game, holding St.Louis to just 1 run on 3 hits in 7 innings before giving way to Frank Linzy who closed out the game.

Game 4 - San Francisco 5 @ St. Louis 3 (Herbel vs. Sadecki)
After 5 innings, this pivotal game was tied at 3-3 and the tension was starting to build.  In the top of the 6th, unlikely hitting star Hal Lanier singled home his 2nd run of the game to give the Giants a 4-3 lead.  In the 9th, it was Lanier again lighting a spark with a leadoff single which eventually led to an RBI grounder by Mays.  San Francisco's shaky pitching got a big boost from Sanford, Murakami, and Linzy who combined for 4-2/3 scoreless innings to close out the game.

Game 5 - St. Louis 5 @ San Francisco 7 (Washburn vs. Marichal)
The visiting team had won every game so far and things looked good for St.Louis when Lou Brock led off the game with a homerun to right.  Jim Ray Hart matched that with a leadoff homerun in the 2nd to tie the game at 1-1.  The Giants scored 1 in the 5th and another in the 6th to take a 3-1 lead into the 8th inning.  Marichal had only surrendered 2 hits since the 1st inning so it was looking good for the home team, but then things went haywire.  The Cards touched up the Giant's ace for 4 runs on 5 hits in the 8th to take a 5-3 lead, but SF came right back and scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th off of the Cards normally reliable bullpen to take the series.  Matty Alou (3 for 4, 2RBI's) and Hal Lanier (3 for 4, 1 run) were the surprise hitting stars of game 5.

--submitted by Brandon Hayes--

1965 Round 1: Reds outlast Braves in 5 game series

In a thrilling series the Reds edged the Braves 3-2. Jim Maloney, ace pitcher from Cincinnati, proved to be the difference in beating the Braves and Tony Cloninger twice. Let’s take a look and some of the key plays from this exciting playoff series.

Game 1 -CIN 4, MIL 0 - Jim Maloney vs. Tony Cloninger

In a matchup of aces, Jim Maloney was magnificent. He retired the first 22 batters in a row. Joe Torre ruined the perfect game and no hit attempt with a solid single to right with one out in the 8th inning.  That was only hit allowed by Maloney. Deron Johnson’s two run homer in the 3rd provided Maloney with all the run support he would need. Cincy leads the series 1-0.

 

 

Game 2 - CIN 2, MIL 3 - Sammy Ellis vs. Wade Blasingame

In another hard fought closely contested game the Braves edged the Reds with single runs in the 7th and 8th inning. Both starting pitchers dominated the early part of the game with the Reds taking a 2-1 lead on Leo Cardenas’ home run in the 6th. After the Braves tied it in the 7th, manager Burnette decided to let Ellis face Eddie Mathews and finish the 8th inning. A BIG mistake. Mathews took a 2-1 fastball and deposited it in the right field seats for the game decider. Clay Carroll and Billy O’Dell completed the great work started by Blasingame and the series is tied headed to Milwaukee.

Game 3 - MIL 3, CIN 5 – 12 Innings - Ken Johnson vs. Joe Nuxhall

Another great pitcher’s duel. The game was scoreless until the Reds struck for 3 runs in the top of the 6th. A couple of errors by the Braves, which would be their ultimate downfall in the series, did not help Mr. Johnson. But before the Reds could enjoy their lead, the Braves struck for 3 of their own in the bottom half of the inning aided by a 2 run homer by Hank Aaron. The score would stay that way until the 12th. After a single and a couple of walks, Pete Rose lined a single to center plating 2 runs and giving Cincinnati the edge in the series 2-1. Billy McCool pitched a 1-2-3 9th for the save.

 

Game 4 -Milwaukee 3, Cincinnati 2 - Denver Lemaster vs. Joey Jay

A great come from behind win by the Braves evened the series at 2. It seems rather redundant but both starting pitchers dominated. Lemaster went 7 innings giving up 1 earned run on 3 hits. Jay matched him with 6 1/3 innings of one run six hit baseball. The Reds took the lead in the top of the 8th scoring a single run against future HOF’er Phil Niekro. But with their backs against the wall, the Braves pushed two across the plate against Ted Davidson to force a game 5. A double by Mack Jones scored Aaron from
1st. A single by Joe Torre moved Jones to 3rd. Jones then scored on Eddie Mathews sac fly. That gave an aging Mathews 2 game winning Rbi’s. Niekro takes the win and series heads south for the deciding
game.

Game 5 - CIN 7, MIL 4 - Jim Maloney vs. Tony Cloninger

Jim Maloney, while not as magnificent as he was in game 1, still had enough to hold off the Braves and give the Reds the series. Maloney lasted 8 innings giving up 3 runs on 7 hits. But this time he was backed up by some timely hitting by the Reds offense. Tommy Harper, game MVP, was 4-4, 3 runs scored and 3 stolen bases. It was still a close game until the Reds scored 3 runs in the 7th to push their lead to 7-1. The Braves made it interesting scoring 2 in the 8th, while leaving the bases loaded, and 1 in the 9th.

It was a great series. Either team was deserving of winning and moving on to the next round.  --submitted by Ron Burnette--

Side Note: It has been officially announced that this was the last series played in Milwaukee by the Braves franchise, which will officially transfer operations to Atlanta in 1966.  The Braves spent 13 seasons in Milwaukee and never finished below .500.  During this successful run they won 1 World Championship, 2 pennants and appeared in 3 post seasons.  Sadly over the past 5-6 years gate receipts have dropped steadily.  After announcing in 1964 that they would be moving to Atlanta a court injunction kept them here in Milwaukee for one more (lame duck) season.  Fans avoided County Stadium as either a sign of apathy or protest.  The Braves will sorely be missed in the Midwest.

1965 Round 1: #9 seed Astros, shock #1 seed Dodgers in 3 game sweep.

Two soft-hitting teams went head-to-head in a best of 5 series.  Everyone knows about the Dodgers great pitching staff, but could the Astros arms match them pitch for pitch?

Game 1 - Dodger Stadium - Astros 1, Dodgers 0

Robin Roberts went the distance scattering 4 singles and not allowing a walk.  Sandy Koufax dominated the Astros, as expected, except for a minor blip in the 5th.  Rusty Staub led off with a walk, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on a single by Joe Gaines - the only hit Koufax would allow in 8 innings.  Ron Fairly led off the 9th with a single for the Dodgers, but Roberts retired the next three batters in order to complete the shutout.

Game MVP: Robin Roberts (9IP, 4H, 0R, 0W, 4K)

 

Game 2 - Dodger Stadium - Astros 6, Dodgers 4

The Astros struck first with a solo home run by Rusty Staub off Don Drysdale.  The Dodgers took the lead in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded single by Ron Fairley.   The Astros scored 3 in the 5th and 2 in the 6th off Drysdale, with the big hit being a 2 run bomb by backup catcher John Bateman. In the 8th, Tommy Davis singled in 2 runs to get the Dodgers closer, but Mike Cuellar pitched around a Fairly double to get the save.

Game MVP: John Bateman (2-5, HR, 2 RBI)

Game 3 – Astrodome Astros 3, Dodgers 2 (13 inn)

The Dodgers put up single runs in the first two innings off Turk Farrell.  The first run scored on a double by Willie Davis after a controversial catcher's interference call against Ron Brand on a ground out that would have ended the inning.   The second run scored on a squeeze bunt by pitcher Claude Osteen.  Fortunately, the Astros didn't give up.  In the 5th, Joe Gaines hurt the Dodgers again with an RBI single, but Bob Aspromonte grounded into a double play with the bases loaded.  The game stayed 2-1 until the 9th when closer Ron Perranoski retired the first 2 batters, but allowed singles to Jim Beauchamp, Jim Gentile and John Bateman to tie the game at 2.  Each bullpen put up zeros until the 13th when Rusty Staub doubled with 2 outs and Ron Brand (atoning for his interference call) singled him in with the walkoff series win.

Game MVP: Turk Farrell (7IP, 6H, 2R, 1ER, 3W, 3K)

The Astros complete the upset with a series sweep.  They will try to continue their improbable run against the winner of the Braves/Reds series.

--submitted by John Clingan--

1965 Round 1: Tribe takes 3 of 4 from Motown

GAME 1 - Tiger Stadium
Sam McDowell vs Denny McLain
Indians 3, Tigers 2
"Sudden Sam" McDowell fanned 9 and had a shutout heading into the 8th when the 135 pitches that he threw finally caught up to him in the form of 2 Tiger runs.  Luckily for McDowell his offense supplied him with a 3-0 lead.  Fred Whitfield solo shot in the 4th made it 1-0 Tribe.  Vic Davalillo's sac fly in the 5th made it 2-0, but the most important run came in the top of the 8th as Pedro Gonzalez singled home Whitfield.  That insurance run would be the margin for victory.  Gary "Ding Dong" Bell closed the door on Detroit in relief of McDowell.  Denny McLain went 8 and spent the whole day dancing in and out of trouble.  McLain gave up 3 runs on 10 hits, but did fan 6.
Indians lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Tiger Stadium
Luis Tiant vs Mickey Lolich
Indians 9, Tigers 6 In a battle of clutch post season hurlers, neither guy impressed very much.  Tiant gave up 6 in 5 1/3, while Lolich gave up 8 (6 earned) in 7 1/3.  Heading into the 7th the Tigers actually had a 6-5 lead, but the Tribe battled back for more runs vs Lolich and his replacement Terry Fox.  Vic Davalillo's two out homer in the 7th tied the game at 6-6.  Fred Whitfield's 2 run shot in the 8th gave the Tribe a 2 run lead and Leon Wagner's sac fly in the 9th bumped that lead up to 3.  Lee Strange did a fantastic job in relief of the ineffective Tiant.  Strange went 3 2/3 scoreless innings, where he gave up just one hit (a solo single to Dick McAuliffe in the 9th).  Strange deservedly earned the win.
Indians lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Municipal Stadium
Hank Aguirre vs Sonny Siebert
Tigers 3, Indians 0 Al Kaline's two run shot in the top of the first was all the support that Hank Aguirre would need or require.  Detroit's veteran hurler went the distance with an impressive 2 hit shutout.  Aguirre fanned 9 Tribesmen, which included Pedro Gonzalez 3 times.  Aguirre struck out the side in the 5th and was a lock for the win once Don Wert added the 3rd run in the 7th on a squeeze play.
Indians lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Municipal Stadium
Denny McLain vs Ralph Terry
Indians 3, Tigers 1 Working on short rest, Denny McLain was tasked with staving off elimination for the Tigers.  Al Kaline's solo blast in the first was the only run scored by both teams until McLain ran out of gas in the bottom of the 8th.  After giving up a single to Joe Azcue, McLain's day was done.  Terry Fox came in and got Max Alvis to pop out to left.  Things began to go south real fast after that.  Dick Howser worked out a walk and so did pinch hitter Chuck Hinton.  With the bases loaded Vic Davalillo lifted a sac fly to deep right to tie the game at 1-1.  Veteran Leon Wagner would then deliver the knock out blow with a 2 run single to score Howser and Hinton.  Ralph Terry, who left for a pinch hitter (Hinton), was replaced by Gary Bell.  After Jake Wood walked in the top of the 9th Al Kaline lined a bullet to right, but was robbed of a hit by prodigal son Rocky Colavito.  Norm Cash and Bill Freehan would also line out to Rocky, who is as sure handed as they come.  Bell would get his second save of this series and Terry, who gave up just 1 run in 8 innings of work, got the win.
Indians win series 3-1

Side note:  Tribe manager Bill Keller said after the series’ completion:  “This quite possibly might be my best Tribe team for the decade”