1968 World Series–Game 1: “Ryan’s Express”

Game 1 – Memorial Stadium

The kid was nervous as were the Orioles. After striking out Cleon Jones, Dave McNally gave up a single to Ed Charles,  left Jerry Grote swinging at air, but an error by Mark Belanger and a hit batsman Greg Goossen left the bases loaded. Dave McNally regained composure and got his 3rd K of the inning fanning Tommie Agee. Nolan Ryan on the other hand was 3 up and 3 down. In the 2nd it was Nolan Ryan’s turn to load the bases with Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson singles, Davey Johnson whiffed, and Andy Etchebarren walked loading the bases., Mark Belanger popped up to Greg Goossen and Dave McNally struck-out. In the 3rd Ed Charles lead off with a 323 blast over the left field wall. The pitchers took control over through 8 innings neither pitcher faced more than 4 batters and no base runner advanced past 2nd base. We had a pitching deul going on. In the top of the ninth with Moe Drabowsky pitching Ron Swoboda doubled off the wall to lead off the inning, Greg Goossen sacrifice bunted him to third. Tommy Agee flew out to left and Ron Swoboda made a dash for home, Don Buford threw with all his might when the dust settled Andy Etchebarren held up the ball and the ump yelled 'You're out'. Bottom of the ninth Boog Powell leads off with a walk. Nolan Ryan strikes out Brooks Robinson but Manager Chisholm went to the mound and called on Ron Taylor. It worked. Davey Johnson popped to short and Andy Etchebarren lined to third. The Amazings win 1-0. Winning pitcher and Game MVP Nolan Ryan went 8 1/3 innings allowing 3 hits, 4 walks with 7 Ks. Ron Taylor was credited with the save. Dave McNally went 8 innings allowing 4 hits 0 walks and 9 Ks but got the loss. Mets lead the series 1-0.

--submitted by Robert Chisholm--

1968 Tournament World Series: Mets(9) vs O’s(2)

The two managers strolled out and met with the umpires at home plate. This meeting was a year early as the Mets and Orioles are not supposed to meet until 1969. They shook hands, handed the umpires the starting lineups and wished each other good luck". Thus begins the 1968 World Series. The Orioles Manager Nixon with four days rest between series opted to go with their ace Dave McNally, but who would the Mets start with only one day rest start? Mets Manager Chisholm walked up to the young kid once again. The kid looked up "Me again". Yes Nolan. Nolan had only one other start in this tourney against none other than Bob Gibson. Jerry Grote came over put his arm around the kid and said "You gotta’ believe in yourself, Coach Chisholm does".

--submitted by Robert Chisholm--

Rd3-Game 5: “O’s Take Series, Setting Up A Prequel with the Mets”

Game 5

Fenway Park, Boston

38 degrees, wind at 5mph in from left-center field.

Baltimore: Dave McNally

Cleveland: Ray Culp

 

In a rematch of the team’s aces, Baltimore jumped out to a 10-0 lead by the top of the 5^th inning and never looked back.  Frank Robinson opened the scoring with a two-run shot over the Monster at Fenway in the top of the first.  Baltimore added 1 in the third on a bases load hit batter.  In the 4 and 5^th innings Baltimore added another 7 runs against Culp on a combined 4 singles, 5 walks and second hit batter by Culp who struggled with his control before yielding to Jerry Stephenson and Lee Stange. Boston avoided the shutout when Carl Yastrzemski lead off the 9^th against a tiring McNally with a mammoth shot to deep centerfield (425 feet), but it was too little, too late as McNally went the distance lowering his tournament ERA to 1.04.

Orioles Win Series 4-1

 

Well played series, a lot of fun to play, no lead appeared to be safe.  Well played by Andy

--submitted by Mark Nixon--

Rd3-Game 4: “Baltimore Again Gets Off To A Fast Start”

Game 4

Fenway Park, Boston  68 degrees

Baltimore: Tom Phoebus

Cleveland: Juan Pizarro

 

Baltimore touched Boston starter Juan bizarre for 4 runs in the top of the third led by a two run home run by Don Buford, and RBI double by Brooks Robinson and an RBI single by Davey Johnson.  In the 5^th Baltimore added another run on a bases loaded walk to Andy Etchebarren.  Boston opened it’s coring with 1 run in the bottom half of the 5^th as Juan Pizarro opened the inning with a single, moved to second a another Mark Belanger error on a Mike Andrews ground ball and scored on a Carl Yastrzemski single before Ken Harrelson grounded out to end the inning.  Boston added another run in the 7^th as did Baltimore in the top of the 8^th.  In the ninth the teams traded 3 run innings against the tiring relief corps before the game came to an end with Baltimore on the winning side 9-5.

Orioles lead series 3-1

--submitted by Mark Nixon--

Rd3-Game 3: “Off to Baahstaan !”

Game 3
Fenway Park, Boston  61 degrees and 5 mph wind out to RF
Baltimore: Wally Bunker
Cleveland:  Gary Bell

The series headed to Bean Town and another 11 inning duel.  Baltimore did all of their scoring in the top of the 4th against Boston starter Bell, scoring 7 times on 3 singles, a double, 3 walks and a hit batter.  Unfortunately, Baltimore pitching was not up to the task on this day and the lead was squandered away over the next three innings as Boston fought back and forced this game into extra innings on nine singles against Bunker and John Morris.  Baltimore shortstop committed an uncharacteristic 2 errors in this one, giving him 3 for the series to date.  Big blows for Boston came from Carl Yastrzemski and Rico Petrocelli during the rally.  With both starters long gone the game was turned over to the bullpens.  On  this day, Boston’s pen outdueled the Boys of Baltimore.  In the bottom of the 11th, Reggie Smith lead off with a single to centerfield off of Pete Richert, and moved to second on a sac bunt by Mike Andrews.  Richert enticed Yaz to fly out to shallow center before issuing an intentional walk Ken Harrelson to get to light hitting Jerry Adair.  Adair promptly lined a single to left and Smith scored the game winner for Boston.  Baltimore leads series 2-1
--submitted by Mark Nixon--

Rd 3-Game 2: “Baltimore Comes Back to Win a Tight One”

Game 2
Memorial Stadium, Baltimore
65 degrees, wind at 15mph out to left field
Boston:  Dick Ellsworth
Baltimore: Jim Hardin

Boston hitters wasted no time in game two, jumping on Baltimore starter Jim Hardin for 4 runs in the top of the 2nd.  Boston pushed all of their runs across the plate on 5 singles, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly by Reggie Smith before Hardin was able to close out the inning by enticing Carl Yastrzemski to pop to short stop and Ken Harrelson to fly out to deep left field.    Boston extended the lead with another run off Hardin in the 3rd on 3 more singles and a walk, the run scoring on a single to center by George Scott and an error by the Baltimore centerfielder Merv Rettenmund.  Starting the 4th inning, Baltimore replaced starter Jim Hardin with long relief man Roger Nelson who would pitch5 innings of scoreless ball to allow Baltimore to climb back into this one.  Baltimore broke through for 2 in the bottom of the 4th as Mark Belanger lined a bases loaded single up the middle scoring Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell before Reggie Smith threw out Davey Johnson trying to go from first base to third.  The Orioles added two more in the top of the 8th on a Boog Powell two run homer to left center, his second in two games.  Heading into the 9th Boston held a 1 run lead with Sparky Lyle on the mound.  Larry Haney, pinch hitting for Mark Belanger, started the inning with a single through the infield.  Boston then brought in relief man Lee Stange to face Paul Blair.  Blair sacrifice bunted pinch runner Dave May to second before Don Buford lined a triple down the right field line to tie the game at 5 before Strange pitched his way out of the inning.  In extra innings, Don Buford again came through for Baltimore with a two run, walk off home run to left center against Boston hurler John Landis.  Buford’s hit gave him 3 on the day, lacking only a double to have hit for the cycle.
Baltimore leads series 2-0
--submitted by Mark Nixon--

Round 3–Game 1: “Two Aces Go Toe to Toe”

Game 1 
Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 69 degrees, light rain
Boston: Ray Culp
Baltimore:  Dave McNally

The series opened on a cool day with rain in Baltimore.  The O’s got off to a quck start against Boston starter Ray Culp as Boog Powell knocked in Merv Rettenmund with a two run homer to right center in the bottom of the 1st.   The game then settled into a pitcher’s duel until the bottom of the 5th when Baltimore struck for 3 more runs against Culp on 4 singles, a walk and a fielder’s choice.  The scoring was over in this one until Boston broke through against McNally for 1 in the top of the 8th on doubles by Reggie Smith and “Hawk” Harrelson before Gene Brabender came on in relief of a tiring McNally.
Baltimore leads series 1-0

--submitted by Mark Nixon—