[uruguru]

The 3-team World Series begins. It is basically a series of 2-games series where each team hosts 1 game with the other 2 teams. These series continue until one team loses 4 games. The remaining two teams then finish the playoffs until one wins a best-of-7 between them. There are a maximum of 11 games possible, and 8 games minimum. Top seed is the NL team since Pittsburgh won the World Series in 1960, so the Braves host the first two-game series. Bottom seed is the CL team; they host the third two-game series.

Oct 4, 1961 - Buffalo (Dave Giusti 17-10, 2.53) at Milwaukee (Bob Hendley 16-5, 3.08)

Braves win, 4-0. The Braves scored in the 1st and the game remained close at 1-0 until 1B Joe Adcock hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 8th against RP Chester Vincent. Hendley allowed 1 hit over 5 shutout innings to earn the win, and CL Cecil Butler struck out 4 in 4 scoreless innings to earn the save. The Bisons did not get a hit until the 5th inning and only once had a runner on 3B.

Oct 5, 1961 - New York Yankees (Bill Stafford 15-10, 2.42) at Milwaukee (Joey Jay 13-5, 3.50)

Yankees win, 7-3. New York punished Jay and RP Lew Burdette for 14 hits, capped by a 3-run homer in the 7th by Yogi Berra that broke a 3-3 logjam and ultimately gave the Yankees the victory. RF Hank Aaron and SS Ernie Banks both hit solo homers in a losing cause. Banks had been acquired in a blockbuster 3-for-1 trade at the deadline that sent SP Denny Lemaster, SP Tommy John and 2B Ron Hunt to the Cubs.

Oct 7, 1961 - Buffalo (Frank Baumann 9-2, 3.13) at New York (Early Wynn 18-3, 2.37)

Yankees win, 4-3. A game between cross-state rivals that started as a big mismatch on the mound ended up too close for comfort for Yankee fans. Wynn, the AL leader in wins and ERA, took the mound against Baumann, a journeyman who was picked up by Buffalo via the Rule V draft on 8/1 after being left unprotected by the White Sox. He pitched reasonably well, allowing 4 runs over 5 innings before leaving with his team down, 4-1. However, the Bisons knocked out Wynn in the 6th with 2 runs before both offenses were shut down by the bullpens. The Bisons represented themselves well in defeat, outhitting the Yankees 8 to 7.

Oct 8, 1961 - Milwaukee (George Brunet 11-12, 4.05) at New York (Ralph Terry 13-8, 3.78)

Yankees win, 7-2. The Bronx Bombers pounced on the Milwaukee bullpen, blasting 3 home runs en route to a 7-2 win. Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra all homered in their 12-hit attack. The Braves also collected 12 hits but left 12 runners stranded. Both starters were yanked after a 64-minute rain delay in the bottom of the 4th with the scored knotted at 1.

Oct 10, 1961 - New York (Bill Stafford 15-10, 2.42) at Buffalo (Dave Giusti 17-10, 2.53)

Yankees win, 4-1. Bill Stafford spread out 6 hits over 9 innings as the Yankees coasted to a 4-1 win over the Bisons. Three double plays by New York helped keep the Buffalo offense in check. Yogi Berra picked up 3 hits and is now batting .500 (8-for-16) in the Series with 2 home runs. With three losses, Buffalo is now facing elimination from the Series.

Oct 11, 1961 - Milwaukee (Bob Hendley 16-5, 3.08) at Buffalo (Rupe Toppin 6-2, 3.00)

Braves win, 10-6. Facing elimination, Buffalo turned to their 12th-round draft pick, Rube Toppin, for salvation. However, he was not up to the task and allowed 8 runs in 3+ innings. Even though Bob Hendley allowed 6 runs in 7+ innings, he picked up the win thanks to an offense that saw both Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks each hit their second home run of the series.

With the loss, Buffalo (0-4) is now eliminated from the series. The remaining games will be scheduled as a best-of-7 between the Yankees and Milwaukee, with New York already up 2-0.

Oct 13, 1961 - New York (Ralph Terry 13-8, 3.78) at Milwaukee (George Brunet 11-12, 4.05)

Braves win, 8-6. Down 2-0 in the best-of-7, the Braves delivered comeback magic by scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Yankees, 8-6. Eddie Mathews was the hero, delivering a game-winning two-run homer that drove the 45,000 hometown fans into delirium. It was his second home run of the game, stealing the spotlight from Yankee Roger Maris, who hit two home runs of his own. Maris now has 3 home runs in the Series.

Oct 14, 1961 - New York (Early Wynn 18-3, 2.37) at Milwaukee (Joey Jay 13-5, 3.50)

Braves win, 3-2. Calling upon comeback magic for the second night in a row, the Braves evened the series at 2 games apiece. With both Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron each hitting their third home run of the series, the Yankees took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th. With one out, Denis Menke homered against RP Marshall Bridges to send the game into extra innings. But the game did not last long afterwards as Del Crandall singled to lead off the 10th and was doubled home by pinch-hitter Floyd Robinson to screaming cheers of 45,000 Milwaukee fans.

Oct 16, 1961 - Milwaukee (Bob Hendley 16-5, 3.08) at New York (Bill Stafford 15-10, 2.42)

Braves win, 4-1. Bob Hendley tossed 8 dominant innings and SS Ernie Banks hit his third home run of the Series to silence a crowd of 55,000 at Yankee Stadium. New York batters tallied 10 hits but could push only one runner across the plate as they stranded 9. Hendley has won all 3 of his post-season starts. Now up 3 games to 2, Milwaukee is just one victory away from the championship.

Oct 17, 1961 - Milwaukee (Hank Fischer 8-8, 4.53) at New York (Bob Grim 3-3, 5.73)

Yankees win, 11-3. In a battle of spot starters, the Yankees left no doubt there would be a Game 7, throttling the Braves in an 11-3 rout. Roger Maris hit a two-run shot off of Fischer in the 1st, and Mickey Mantle launched a grand slam in the 4th. Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks both hit homers for the Braves, but both were solo shots.

Oct 19, 1961 - New York (Ralph Terry 13-8, 3.78) at Milwaukee (George Brunet 11-12, 4.05)

Yankees win, 13-1. In a rematch of mound opponents, the Yankees left no doubt that they were the best team in baseball, thrashing the Braves with a 16-hit assault in a devastating 13-1 beatdown. Bill Skowron's three-run homer in the 5th and Roger Maris's grand slam in the 6th contributed to New York's 12-0 lead in the 7th, leaving no room for late-inning magic by Milwaukee. Terry allowed just 4 hits in 8 innings to get the win.

Roger Maris batted .400 with 5 homers and 12 RBI over the 11 postseason games to earn World Series MVP honors.

The Off-Season now begins. A free agent draft will be scheduled for first-year players and I need to replace Hitting and Pitching coaches for each of my 4 minor-league teams. In addition, my owner wants me to find a manager with a better reputation, so someone is probably getting the axe and it won't be me.