1979 ALCS Game One - 10/3/79 - Memorial Stadium - Baltimore, Maryland

California Angels

For the first time in their 19 year history, the California Angels (88 - 74) are in the playoffs! The trade for former MVP and seven time batting champ Rod Carew has paid off immediately. The Angels have the league's top offense, lead by an MVP performance by Don Baylor (.296/.371/.530 36 HR 139 RBI 145 OPS+) and bolstered by bounce back All-Star seasons from 2B Bobby Grich (.294/.365/.537 30 HR 101 RBI 145 OPS+) and C Brian Downing (.326/.418/.482 12 HR 75 RBI 142 OPS+). Nolan Ryan, Dave Frost, and Frank Tanana hold down the rotation, and rookie righty Mark Clear is the lone star out of the pen. Former All Star shortstop Jim Fregosi (who was famously traded for his star righty Ryan earlier this decade) is at the helm for California, in just his first full season as a manager. This feel-good team, these "Yes We Can" Angels have a tall task ahead of them in their first ever postseason series.

Baltimore Orioles

Pitching, defense, and three-run homers. That's how Earl Weaver's Orioles (102 - 57) get it done. This season marks the sixth American League East crown since '69 for Baltimore, and while the lineups and rotations have changed, their style of play has not. Sure, Jim Palmer, Mark Belanger, and Al Bumbry are still there, but gone are the Robinsons (Brooks and Frank), Boog Powell, Davey Johnson, Dave McNally, and Mike Cuellar, just to name a few. The rotation is strong once again, led by Cy Young winner Mike Flanagan, as well as Scott McGregor and Dennis Martinez. The bullpen is reliable, with Don Stanhouse and Tippy Martinez always on call. And the lineup is dangerous, with stars Eddie Murray (.295/.369/.475 25 HR 99 RBI 130 OPS+) and Ken Singleton (.295/.405/.533 35 HR 111 RBI 155 OPS+) packing plenty of punch in the heart of the order. The role players always shine under Weaver, with Gary Roenicke, Pat Kelly, and utility-man John Lowenstein providing timely hits time and again.

Game one of this series is a matchup of legends: Jim Palmer (10 - 6 3.30 ERA 155 IP) vs. Nolan Ryan (16 - 14 3.60 ERA 222 IP). Both have struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout the year; however, they will bring their best in the playoffs and keep their teams in it. Neither will factor in the decision, as this tight ballgame will go into extra innings. From there, an unexpected hero will shine. Tune in for a thrilling start to the 1979 postseason!

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Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

The two best words in baseball: Game Seven. The A's avoided elimination behind outstanding performances of stars Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter, besting fellow future Hall-of-Famer Tom Seaver in game six. For the third time in this series, we will see the matchup between lefties Ken Holtzman (21 - 13 2.97 297 IP) and Jon Matlack (14 - 16 3.20 242 IP). Matlack has been brilliant in the postseason so far, allowing zero earned runs in 23 innings pitched across three starts. Can he keep up his dominance, or will the A's bats have an answer for the budding star? Holtzman has been a workhorse all season for Oakland, but he didn't even make it out of the first inning in game four. For the A's to become back-to-back champs, they will need him to make a major adjustment in this winner-take-all game. There have been plenty of distractions in this series, partly due to meddlesome owners (Charlie O. Finley), controversial plays, porous defense (Felix Milland and Mike Andrews), abrupt retirement announcements (Willie Mays), and speculation about managers' next jobs (Dick Williams). But all of that goes to the wayside with a game seven. For all the marbles, for history, for legacy.

Audio Clips from Phenia Films Youtube - NBC Broadcasters - Monte Moore, Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

The series returns to the Oakland Coliseum with the Mets just one win away from their second World Series in franchise history. With their backs against the wall, the A's turn to Jim 'Catfish' Hunter (21 - 4, 3.34 ERA, 256 IP) to stave off elimination. The Mets will look to the Franchise, Tom Seaver (19 - 10, 2.08 ERA, 290 IP), to cap off another terrific season. Unanimous 1973 MVP Reggie Jackson has struggled mightily in the playoffs so far (8 for 42, 2 RBI, 12 Ks in 10 games), and if Oakland wants a chance at a game seven, he will need to turn his series around. The middle of the Mets order - Staub, Jones, and Milner - have provided plenty of thump so far, so it will be key for the Catfish to keep them at bay. Will the Mets be able to seal the deal, or will the A's fight to keep the season alive? Tune in for an exciting game six.

Audio Clips from Sports Revisited Youtube.

NBC Broadcast - Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, Monte Moore NYM Radio Broadcast - Ralph Kiner, Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

The Mets and A's are all tied up at two games apiece, with one final game at Shea Stadium before the series heads back to Oakland. New York sends veteran lefty Jerry Koosman (14 - 15, 2.84 ERA 263 IP) to the mound, having yet to lose a postseason game in his career (5 GS, 3 - 0, 4.09 ERA 32.2 IP). Oakland manager Dick Williams counters with former Cy Young and MVP Vida Blue (20 - 9, 3.28 263 IP), who has yet to win a playoff game in his career (12 G, 5 GS, 0 - 3 5.73 33 IP). Neither manager had to turn to their respective relief aces, Tug McGraw and Rollie Fingers, in the Mets blowout win in game four, so expect both to be called upon in high leverage situations. The Mets look to continue their excellent run of pitching, the staff sporting a combine 1.67 ERA coming into this game. Both teams are looking to clean up the defense, as costly errors have played a major role so far in this series. Who will gain control and place themselves just one win away from a World Series Championship? Tune in to this excellent game 5 five.

Audio Clips from Sports Revisited Youtube - NBC Broadcasters Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson, Tony Kubek. Oakland Radio - Jim Simpson, Monte Moore

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

****RIP Jesus Alou****

With Oakland leading New York in this series two games to one, both teams turn to their game one starters. Rising star Jon Matlack (14 - 16 3.20 242 IP) takes the hill for the Mets, having allowed just one earned run in his last four starts, though only sporting a 2-2 record across those games. For the A's it will be veteran workhorse Ken Holtzman (21 - 13 2.97 297 IP), who won game one of the series but has had an extraordinary workload placed upon him this season. If the series is not resolved by then, expect both of these pitchers to be available for game seven. Rusty Staub (3 HR this postseason) is playing with an injured right shoulder, and he is just beginning to look like himself at the plate again. Look for 'Le Grand Orange' to provide some thump in Queens. Shea Stadium is rocked and ready for an exciting game 4 matchup. 

Audio clips from Phenia Films Youtube.

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

The series moves to Shea Stadium for a marquee matchup between two future Hall-of-Famers. Tom 'Terrific' Seaver (19 - 10 2.08 290 IP) gets the ball for the Mets, looking to continue his excellent career to this point. Opposing him will be Jim 'Catfish' Hunter (21 - 5 3.34 256 IP), the country boy turned perennial 20 game winner, who is coming off of a series clinching shutout against Baltimore. Bert Campaneris and Joe Rudi, the top of Oakland's order, will attempt to spark the A's offense against a tough righty, while Wayne Garrett and Rusty Staub aim to provide some thump for New York. This series has been competitive and tight thus far, and this pitchers' duel will be no different. 

Audio Clips from Phenia Films the MLB Archives Original Broadcast Youtube

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

The Oakland A's were able to hold on in game one, thanks in large part to a tremendous relief performance from Rollie Fingers. Offense was held to a minimum in that game, but that won't be the case here in game two, despite the matchup between two great lefties. 1971 Cy Young and MVP Vida Blue (20 - 9 3.28 263 IP) gets the ball for the A's. For the Mets it will be reliable lefty Jerry Koosman (14 - 15 2.84 263 IP), who has been excellent thus far in his postseason career. Although he is not in the starting lineup, Willie Mays will play a significant role late in this game, capping off one of the best careers we will ever see. Stay tuned for a back and forth battle. Neither of these teams will go down without a fight.

Audio clips from Youtube.

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for boxscores, statistics, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

After two exciting, 5-game championship series, we are on to the 1973 World Series between the A's and the Mets. These teams took much different paths to get here, but both are on fire heading into the Fall Classic. The Mets won 20 of their final 28 games to end the season, and they upset the highly favored Big Red Machine in the NLCS. The A's cruised to the AL West title, but they had a tough matchup against the Baltimore Orioles, requiring a shutout from Catfish Hunter in the final game to advance. These playoffs have been a thrill so far, and they're only going to get more exciting in this series.

In game one, we have a duel between lefties, both coming off of outstanding performances. Oakland's Ken Holtzman (21 - 13 2.97 297 IP) went all 11 innings in his victory over the O's in Game 3 of the ALCS, and New York's young star Jon Matlack (14 - 16 3.20 242 IP) threw a two-hit shutout against the Reds in a brilliant Game 2 of the NLCS. Both are looking to continue their excellence to start this World Series. If needed, both teams can turn to standout relievers if the starters can't get it done. Future Hall-of-Famer Rollie Fingers is the go to for A's manager Dick Williams (another Future Hall-of-Famer). 1972 Hall of Fame inductee Yogi Berra of the Mets won't hesitate to bring in Tug McGraw for the Mets, though every outing of his has potential to produce anxiety for a manager. These teams have championship experience, and they will need to utilize it to take advantage in this series.

Audio Clips from Phenia Films the MLB Archives Original Broadcast Youtube.

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

After splitting the first two games of the series, the A's and O's fly west to Oakland to determine who will represent the American League in the 1973 World Series. In game three, workhorse lefties Mike Cuellar (18 - 13 3.27 267 IP) and Ken Holtzman (21 - 13 2.97 297 IP) face off in an epic pitchers' duel that goes into extra innings. In game four, Jim Palmer (22 - 9 2.40 296 IP) and Vida Blue (20 - 9 3.28 263 IP) have a rematch, but neither will factor in the decision. A tremendous late-inning comeback staves off elimination in this tightly contested ballgame. With the season on the line in a decisive game five, Orioles manager Earl Weaver turns to the young righty Doyle Alexander (12 - 8 3.86 174 IP) to go up against future Hall-of-Famer Catfish Hunter (21 - 5 3.34 256 IP). Both of these teams were looking to establish a hold over American League supremacy in the early 70's. Tune in to find out who comes out on top this time around.

Audio clips from Classic Baseball on the Radio Youtube.

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box-scores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

We are on to the American League Championship Series between the defending champion Oakland A's (94 - 68) versus Earl Weaver's O's (97 - 65). These teams have been the juggernauts of their respective divisions, each boasting outstanding pitching staffs and strong offenses. Reggie Jackson of Oakland is playing at an MVP level, and he is supported by stars Sal Bando, Joe Rudi, and Bert Campaneris (don't sleep on Gene Tenace either.) Baltimore looks a bit different than their World Series teams, with Frank Robinson and Davey Johnson out the door in trades. Youngsters Bobby Grich and Al Bumbry have stepped up in their place, and Earl Williams and Tommy Davis have fit in after trades. This series will be a dogfight.

Game One is a matchup between Cy Young winners Jim Palmer (22 - 9 2.40 296 IP) and Vida Blue (20 - 9 3.28 263 IP)

Game Two is a battle between workhorse lefty Dave McNally (17 - 17 3.21 266 IP) and legend Catfish Hunter (21 - 5 3.34 256 IP)

After two at Memorial, we will move on to the Oakland Coliseum for the final three games. Who will have the advantage at that point. Tune in to these great games.

Audio Clips from Classic Baseball on the Radio Youtube.

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.