Behind the Backstop

Dalrymple Hits For The Cycle

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:07:31 +0000

1970 Baltimore Orioles Season Replay
Sunday, May 10, 1970
Memorial Stadium
Baltimore, Maryland

In the Second Game of the Doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles catcher Clay Dalrymple hit for the Cycle. In four times to the plate, Dalrymple hit for a single, double, triple and homerun in the same game. Usually playing in a reserve role, he knocked in three runs with his perfect batting day.

The White Sox scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to make the game close, but came up three runs short, losing 9-6. The Orioles are 22-7, one game ahead of their actual record for the season in 1970. On Tuesday, May 12, the Orioles travel to Minnesota to play a two-game series against the Twins.

If you are familar with this blog, you are aware that I have played season replays with the 1959 Dodgers, 1961 Angels, 1962 Mets and 1965 Dodgers. This is the first time in season replay that a batter has hit for the cycle.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Ballpark…

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:32:18 +0000

In November of last year, I wrote a MLBlog on the month of April. All of a sudden, the computer crashed and all was lost; all of the data on the 1970 Baltimore Orioles Replay had gone to cyber heaven. I have replaced the computer with the latest bells and whistles and started the 1970 season all over again. This time, I am playing the new Baseball Classics Vortex Edition. If you would like to know more about this game system, please contact my friends at www.playbaseballclassics.com.

Anyway, I have finished the month of April with the Orioles replay running even with the actual season, 13 wins and 6 losses. The team is struggling at the plate with a weak .240 batting average. The Robinson boys have not gotten their bats hot as yet, but the pitching earned run average is an incredible 1.42. Dave McNally is 5-0 for the month. The staff has thrown eleven complete games in the nineteen games of April.

The Orioles are opening a three-game homesteand against the Twins to start off the month of May. Its time to get some pine tar and swing some bats.

Don’t just read about the game, play it! Pick your favorite team or season from 1901-present and join the 1000′s of Baseball Classics fans – www.playbaseballclassics.com

1970 Baltimore Orioles Season Replay – April

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:29:45 +0000

It is time for another season replay. This time I will be playing the 1970 Baltimore Orioles season. This team had three twenty game winning pitchers,including winning the American League Championship and the World Series. The game system I use to play my season replays is Baseball Classics. The company has introduced a new edition, Vortex. Using three dice rolls to obtain the game results, this edition provides statistical accuracy that is truly astounding.

The Orioles finished the month of April with a 15-4 record, which was actually two games better than their actual record. This would put Baltimore in first place, 3.5 games ahead of the second place Detroit Tigers. The team batting average has been steadily improving with the implementation of Vortex (especially Frank Robinson who was only hitting .150 prior to the change). The pitching is downright frightening. The team ERA is 1.06 with 5 shutouts. The Minnesota Twins are coming to town to open the month of May.

Date Team Result Record H/A

1 4/7/70 Indians Loss 0-3 1 0 – 1 Away League

2 4/8/70 Indians Win 5-2 1 – 1 Away League

3 4/9/70 Indians Win 3-0 1 2 – 1 Away League

4 4/10/70 Tigers Win 2-1 3 – 1 Home League

5 4/11/70 Tigers Win 1-0 4 – 1 Home League

6 4/12/70 Tigers Win 4-3 5 – 1 5 – 1 Home League

7 4/16/70 Senators Loss 1-2 2 5 – 2 Home League

8 4/17/70 Yankees Loss 1-2 5 – 3 Home League

9 4/18/70 Yankees Win 3-2 6 – 3 Home League

10 4/19/70 Yankees Win 13-3 7 – 3 Home League

11 4/19/70 Yankees Win 6-2 8 – 3 Home League

12 4/20/70 Red Sox Win 3-0 9 – 3 Away League

13 4/22/70 Red Sox Win 6-0 10 – 3 Away League

14 4/24/70 Royals Win 9-0 11 – 3 Away League

15 4/25/70 Royals Win 5-4 12 – 3 Away League

16 4/26/70 Royals Loss 2-3 12 – 4 Away League

17 4/28/70 White Sox Win 2-1 13 – 4 Away League

18 4/29/70 White Sox Win 10-2 14 – 4 Away League

19 4/30/70 White Sox Win 7-2 15 – 4 Away League

Once There Was A Ballpark

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:27:53 +0000

Have you ever taken the time to look at photographs of Major League Ballparks being demolished?

Recently, I was researching some of the old ballparks for the season replays I recreate on a tabletop baseball game, Baseball Classics. While reading about some of the great baseball shrines of the past, I came across the photographic records of the ballparks becoming rubble and faded history. Soon, the “House That Ruth Built” will be one of these as well. The following is a reflection on those great cathedrals from baseball’s past.

Once There Was A Ballpark

by Ned Whitman

Once there was a ballpark.

The fans used to go there and watch their hmetown heroes.

There was the smell of old cigars, beer, popcorn, peanuts and hotdogs in the air.

The distant scorebord gave the latest information on the game.

The crowd cheered, jeered and booed with each play.

Once there was a ballpark.

On opening day, their team was in first place.

The paint was fresh, the grass mowed in a unnique pattern.

The foul lines had clean crisp chalk from homeplate to the foul poles.

The clean white bases stood out against the dirt infield.

Once there was a ballpark.

The home team uniforms were white and almost reflected off the sunlight.

The visiting team wore those dingy greys.

The only way to tell a player was with a scorecard.

The favorite players were easy to recognize. The rookies weren’t.

Once there was a ballpark.

It had a name, Ebbets Field, Shibe Park, the Polo Grounds and Crosley Field.

Forbes Field, County Stadium, Sportman’s Park, Griffith Stadium.

Seals Stadium, Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, Tiger Stadium, old Comiskey Park.

Memorial Stadium, Municipal Stadium and Metropolitian Stadium.

Once there was a ballpark.

The ball park is gone now.

It became an apartment building, a shopping centers, rretirement center.

An hospital, a parking lot.

It became the victim of progress.

Once tthere was a ballpark.

Once there was a ballpark.

The ghosts of the Georgia Peach, the Rajah and Shoeless Joe still play there.

The stale cigar smoke still lingers in the air

A plaque might let someone know that it was there.

An oldtimer still tells the stories on the bench outside the barber shop.

Once there was a ballpark.

1965 Los Angeles Dodgers Replay: Dodgers Rally Brings World Championship To Los Angeles, 7-6!

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:25:20 +0000

Jim Gilliam’s bases loaded clearing double off Minnesota’s Al Worthington provided the winning run as the Dodgers defeated the Twins 7-6. The victory gave Los Angeles the World Championship over Minnesota, four games to two.

Jimmie Hall’s pinch-hit single in the bottom of the fourth inning put the Twins ahead 4-3. Minnesota added two more runs in the seventh on Tony Oliva’s triple that scored Joe Nossek, and came home on Harmon Killebrew’s single.

In the top of the eighth with the Dodgers trailing the Twins 6-3, Lou Johnson led off with a solo home run. A single by Wes Parker and an one out double by Dick Tracewski put runners on second and third. Maury Wills walked to load the bases. Jim Gilliam then hit a double that allowed all the runners to score and give the Dodgers a 7-6 lead.

Ron Perranoski game up a walk to Versalles in the top of the ninth, but escaped with a double play on Nossek’s ground ball. The Twins followed with singles by Oliva and Killebrew. Earl Battey grounded out to give Perranoski the save and the secure the World Championship.

The Most Valuable Player Award went to Jim Gilliam. He batted .304 and led the Dodgers with seven RBIs.

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Any team, any season 1900-present

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1965 LA Dodgers Replay: Twins Win Two Games, Trail Dodgers By One Game

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:08:44 +0000

In the fourth game of the World Series, the Twins beat the Dodgers on two home runs by Don Mincher. Jim Grant beat Don Drysdale and prevented a four-game sweep by Los Angeles.

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A two-run home run by Bob Allison and a grandslam homer by Harmon Killebrew provided the firepower for the Twins to win their second game of the World Series. Jim Kaat made up for his loss in the first game by pitching into the ninth inning. A bottom of the ninth rally by the Dodgers left Los Angeles two runs short.

Sandy Koufax, winner of the second game, gave up ten hits and all six of the Minnesota runs on the homer runs by Allison and Killebrew.

The World Series returns to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the sixth and seventh game (if necessary). Claude Osteen will start for the Dodgers and Jim ‘Mudcat’ Grant will take the mound for the Twins in game six.

The Dodgers continue to struggle with their hitting, as their team batting average in the series is only .241. The Twins have hit seven home runs in the five games, Allison 2, Mincher 2, Killebrew 2 and Quilici. The Dodger pitching staff has a respectable 2.81 ERA for the five games.

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Baseball Classics – any season, any team

www.playbaseballclassics.com

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1965 Los Angeles Dodgers Replay: Twins Loss 3-2, Trail Dodgers 3-0 in World Series

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:39:24 +0000

The Minnesota Twins received an unkindly welcome when they arrived in Los Angeles for the third game of the World Series. With the scored tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jim Gilliam tripled and scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Willie Davis.

The Twins scattered ten hits, but were able to tally two runs in the sixth inning on a two-run home run by Bob Allison. Both starting pitchers, Camilo Pascual for Minnesota and Claude Osteen for Los Angeles did not get a decision. Johnny Klippsten suffered the loss, and Bob Miller earned the win.

The Twins are trailing 3-0 with Jim “Mudcat” Grant facing Don Drysdale for the second time in the fourth game of the series.
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Any Season, Any Team – www.playbaseballclassics.com
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1965 Los Angeles Dodgers Replay: Dodgers, Koufax Shutout Twins 6-0 in 2nd Game of World Series

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:27:07 +0000

In the second game of the World Series between the 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers and the Minnesota Twins in the 1965 LA Dodgers Replay, Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers shut out the Twins, 6-0. Although Koufax gave up nine hits, the Twins stranded five runners in scoring position. Striking out six and only giving up one run, Koufax pitched a complete game for the victory.

Minnesota pitchers, Jim Kaat, Dick Boswell and Dick Stigman, combined to give up seven walks and nine hits. With the help of two walks in the eighth inning, the Dodgers hit two doubles that scored three runs and put the game out of reach.

Unlike the actual 1965 World Series where the Twins took a 2-0 lead, the Dodgers have turned the tables around and head home to Los Angeles with the 2-0 lead.

1965 LA Dodgers Replay – 1965 World Series Game #1

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:02:02 +0000

The 1965 World Series opened in Minneapolis on Wednesday, October 6th. The powerful bats of the Twins could not conquer the National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The final score was 4-2 and the result might have been different if not for a groundball error in the top of the 5th inning.

Wes Parker was safe on the error to lead off the inning. Johnny Roseboro singled him to second. After Don Drysdale flied out for the first out, leadoff hitter Maury Wills walked to load the bases. Jim Gilliam sacrificed to advance the runners and score Parker. Willie Davis followed with a single that scored Roseboro and the fleet-footed Wills from second. Ron Fairly grounded out to end the inning. Despite superb pitching by Jim Grant, three unearned runs scored which gave Los Angeles the lead.

Frank Quilici led off the bottom of the 5th inning with a solo home run, closing the gap to 4-2. In the bottom of the 8th inning, Tony Oliva doubled and was out attempting to score from second on Harmon Killebrew’s single. With eleven hits in the game, the only Twins run came on solo home runs by Quilici and Harmon Killebrew. Ron Fairly banged a solo home run for the Dodgers.

Jim Grant gave up only four hits, but took the loss due to the big error in the 5th inning. Don Drysdale pitched eight innings to get the win and Jim Brewer closed out the 9th inning to get the save.

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’65 LA Dodgers Replay WS Game #1.pdf

1965 LA Dodgers Replay – It’s October Classic Time

mlblogsplayinginthpast — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:26:09 +0000

The 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers Season Replay has reached the end on Baseball Classics. The Dodgers finished 98-64, one game ahead of their actual season performance. Two primary factors were displayed throughout the 162 game season from opening day to the last out: (1) the pitching was outstanding (2.78 team e.r.a.) and (2) terrible hitting (.248 overall season batting average).

Here is a brief list of the team leaders:

Pitching

Wins:                              25   Sandy Koufax
Earned Run Average:   1.85   Bob Miller
Strikeouts:                      303   Sandy Koufax
Games:                          62   Bob Miller
Saves:                            28   Ron Perranoski

Batting:

Batting Average:       .303   Willie Davis
At Bats:                       665   Maury Wills
Hits:                  171    Maury Wills
Home Runs:              16   Jim Lefebvre
Runs Batted In:         75   Jim Lefebvre
Walks:                         61   Ron Fairly
Strikeouts:           112   Wes Parker
Stolen Bases:          103   Maury Wills

Claude Osteen finished 21-11, 2.96 era and Don Drysdale’s record was 19-15, 2.58 era with 212 strikeouts.

The Giants (95-67) finished in second place, three games behind the Dodgers. It’s on to Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the opening game of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. Will Dodger pitching dominate the powerful bats of the Twins? Find out in my next blog.
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Any team, any season from 1901 – Present
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