American League
Detroit Tigers (104-58) v Kansas City Royals (88-74)
The Tigers were clearly the beast side this season and have a beast of a squad but the injuries to Whitaker, Rick Sutcliffe and Roger weaver undoubtedly mean this should be a tighter tussle than might otherwise have been the case. As we saw a couple seasons back with an ever more dominant Dodgers squad, nothing can be taken for granted at this point in the season and the Royals have plenty of quality at their disposal as well, even without injured outfielder Jim Eisenreich. Don’t be surprised if this series goes longer than you expect.
KC pushes the Tigers in the opening game but the Tigers dig deep and grind out a 7-3 win with Bruce Bochte and Lonnie Smith leading the way, and a blowout 8-2 victory to the visitors squares things up.
Detroit returns the favour in Game 3, belting the hosts 13-4 as Art Howe drives in 5 runs and then finish it off in style with another comfortable 10-3 win.
Chet Lemon is named MVP.
National League
Los Angeles Dodgers (94-68) v Pittsburgh Pirates (92-70)
Happy to admit I am as surprised as anyone that we are where we are and, as I have previously stated in this type of situation that affords us a certain freedom in how we play this thing out. Obviously we want to win and will be doing everything we can to do so. While the loss of Lance Parrish is a big one, Don Slaught showed he can handle this level. No other changes to the squad.
The Dodgers are at full strength and a quality squad in both hitting and pitching against whom we’ll need to be at our absolute best to be competitive.
A late rally capped by a 2-run Dave Henderson homer in the top 9th gives us a comeback 4-3 win in the opener as Al Oliver goes 4-for-5 and Don Slaught also drives in a pair. We look headed for another win in Game 2 at 5-2 thru the middle 6th before Jerry Reuss tires and they get at our bullpen to eventually overrun us 8-6. Al Oliver has another 4-hit game and Sluggo another 2 RBI.
A Guidry-Sutton matchup back in Pittsburgh turns out to be an unexpected run-fest that we win 9-5 as Wally Backman has 3 hits and 3 ribbies and Dave Kingman belts a 2-run jack and this surprise season continues into an unlikely World Series appearance as we clinch at home with one of our best performances of the year in a 10-0 whitewash with Larry McWilliams superb and the bats staying hot in a 13-hit onslaught led by Don Slaught (nice!) who makes it 7 RBI for the series with 3 more here.
It is, however, Al Oliver – who goes 11-for-20 - who takes home the MVP award.
