[Lord Byron]

American League Championship Series: Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox

Results

Game 1, October 4th, 1971, Tiger Stadium
League Championship Series Game 1 Goes to Detroit Thanks to Anderson
The Detroit Tigers started the League Championship Series in style, downing the visiting Chicago White Sox at Tiger Stadium by a score of 5-4 to grab an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. Tigers third baseman Mike Anderson went 2-3 with a home run and a walk. He drove in 4 runs and scored once.
Anderson had a consequential at-bat in the bottom of the third for the Tigers. Coming up with runners on 1st and 2nd and Detroit trailing 3-2, he hit a 3-run home run.
White Sox manager Fred Koster did not take questions after the game, telling assembled reporters that he would hold a press conference "if and when we win the World Series."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
Tigers lead series 1-0

Game 2, October 5th, 1971, Tiger Stadium
White Sox Clip Tigers, 3-2, in CS Contest
The Chicago White Sox went the distance and then some at Tiger Stadium to drag themselves back into a tie with the Detroit Tigers.
It took 13 innings to settle Game 2 of the League Championship Series, but Chicago eventually took the 3-2 win behind the efforts of pitcher Rick Reuschel. Reuschel threw 6.0 innings of 4-hit ball to aid the Chicago cause. The clubs are now tied 1-1 in their best-of-5 series.
Carlton Fisk made it 3-2 in favor of Chicago when he delivered a run-scoring single. It came with one out in the top of the 13th. The White Sox went on to win.
"By the skin of our teeth, man," Reuschel told the Chicago Citizen. "But hey, it still counts. A few more by the skin of our teeth is fine with me."
The next game is set to be played on October 7th, 1971 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.
Series tied 1-1

Game 3, October 7th, 1971, Comiskey Park
White Sox Hammered by Clemente, Drop Game 3 to Tigers
The Detroit Tigers moved to within one game of the World Series, downing the Chicago White Sox on the road at Comiskey Park by a score of 4-1. Tigers right fielder Roberto Clemente belted 2 home runs, while adding 3 RBIs and scoring twice. The win gives the Tigers a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 League Championship Series.
Carolina, Puerto Rico native Roberto Clemente had a clutch at-bat in the top of the sixth for the Tigers. With Detroit trailing 1-0, he hit a 2-run home run.
"We don't have much margin for error now," White Sox manager Fred Koster said. "We need to figure out the problem and fix it, immediately."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Comiskey Park in Chicago.
Tigers lead series 2-1

Game 4, October 8th, 1971, Comiskey Park
Tigers Win League Championship Series
The Detroit Tigers said they felt the League Championship Series with the Chicago White Sox would go the distance.
But it didn't end up being that difficult, as Detroit advanced to the World Series with a 5-1 score, to clinch the series 3-1 at Comiskey Park.
"Whether it goes to the final game or not, we faced a good team and got the job done. It's a big momentum boost for us," said Roberto Clemente, who was named series MVP. "We're all feeling good about our chances to win the World Series."
For the series, Clemente hit .389 with a .450 on-base percentage. He had 2 home runs, drove in 4 RBIs, and scored 3 runs.
The Detroit Tigers don't know who they will face in the World Series. They will play the winner of the Houston Astros-Philadelphia Phillies series. That series is tied at 2 games apiece. The World Series schedule will be announced after the League Championship Series finishes.
Tigers win series 3-1 and win AL pennant

ALCS MVP: RF Roberto Clemente (Detroit Tigers)

National League Championship Series: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Houston Astros

Results

Game 1, October 3rd, 1971, Veterans Stadium
Carbo, Astros Wallop Phillies in Game 1 of CS
The Houston Astros started the League Championship Series in style, winning on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium by a score of 7-2 to take an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. Astros left fielder Bernie Carbo excelled. He was 3-4 with a home run, a triple, and a walk, while scoring 3 runs and driving in 2.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Johnny Bench had a chance to do some damage. Philadelphia was trailing 6-0, but had the bases loaded. Bench came to the plate against Bert Blyleven, and hit a sacrifice fly. But it was not enough to complete a Philadelphia comeback.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
Astros lead series 1-0

Game 2, October 4th, 1971, Veterans Stadium
Raucous Veterans Stadium Crowd Propels Phillies to 5-0 Victory; Series Tied at 1
Trailing by a game in the League Championship Series, Mike Cuellar was ready for his start.
The left-hander turned in a performance for the ages at Veterans Stadium, pitching a 9-inning, complete-game shutout to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to victory in Game 2 of the League Championship Series. Cuellar held the Houston Astros to 3 hits and 6 walks, while striking out 4. The win brought Philadelphia into a 1-1 tie in the best-of-5 series.
Cuellar was superb for Philadelphia, as he muffled the Houston offense. The left-hander went the distance, shutting out the Astros on 3 hits.
"It's true for every sport, I think, but the playoffs are so short that you've just got to get in and get hot," Philadelphia manager Dutch Fehring told BNN after the win. "We took care of the first part and now we're just working on the second."
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday at the Astrodome in Houston.
Series tied 1-1

Game 3, October 6th, 1971, the Astrodome
Road Win Lifts Philadelphia to 2-1 Lead in CS
The Philadelphia Phillies moved to within one game of the World Series, downing the Houston Astros on the road at Astrodome by a score of 9-2. Phillies left-hander Sandy Koufax had a strong outing. He threw 9.0 innings of 6-hit ball. The win gives the Phillies a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 League Championship Series.
Philadelphia used a clutch at-bat from Boog Powell to capture the win. The first baseman hammered a 3-run home run in the top of the first inning to put the Phillies ahead, 3-0. It was his lone hit in 5 at-bats, but it was a humdinger.
"We're happy," Powell told reporters after the win. "When you're in the playoffs, you've got to treat every game like it could be your last."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at the Astrodome in Houston.
Phillies lead series 2-1

Game 4, October 7th, 1971, the Astrodome
Astros Even With Phillies After Home Win
The Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies will take the League Championship Series to a decisive 5th game. Facing a must-win situation, the Astros shut out the Phillies, 2-0, at Astrodome to force the series into what will essentially be a one-game playoff. Houston left-hander Woodie Fryman did his part. He threw 6.0 innings of shutout ball.
Tied up with the Phillies in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Astros got a boost from third baseman Don Money. With a runner on 1st, Money saw a 2-2 slider from Steve Arlin and hit a 2-run home run to break the stalemate and put Houston on top, 2-0.
"We lost," Philadelphia manager Dutch Fehring said later. "We'll deal with it. The series isn't over."
The next game is set to be played on October 9th, 1971 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
Series tied 2-2

Game 5, October 9th, 1971, Veterans Stadium
Phillies Prevail, as League Championship Series Goes to the Wire
With a 0.00 ERA over 9 innings, Mike Cuellar was a natural choice for MVP of the League Championship Series.
The Philadelphia Phillies pitcher was instrumental in helping his team to defeat and eliminate the Houston Astros and advance to the World Series.
"I'm happy to be honored and we're only going to get stronger as we go from here," he said, offering up a bold prediction for his team's future. "I truly believe in my heart that we're going to win the World Series."
Philadelphia won the final game by a 4-3 count and the series 3-2.
For the series, Cuellar had a 0.00 ERA over 9 innings pitched, with a 1-0 record.
The Philadelphia Phillies will play against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Detroit won their series against the Chicago White Sox 3 games to 1. The World Series schedule will be announced after the League Championship Series finishes.
Phillies win series 3-2 and win the NL pennant

NLCS MVP: P Mike Cuellar (Philadelphia Phillies)