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Major Leagues
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 448
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MSB 1972 Western League Championship Sim
In Game 1 of the Western League Championship Sim on October 11, 1972, the Seattle Cascades made their intentions unmistakably clear as they hosted the Houston Oilers. From the very first pitch, it was evident that the Cascades were here to dominate their home turf.
The game opened in the top of the first with Houston’s bats falling silent against Seattle’s RHP Bob Moose. Lou Brock, stepping in from the left side, ended his at-bat with a ground out. Graig Nettles, still searching for his rhythm, ultimately struck out swinging after a foul ball, and Johnny Bench followed suit—his called-strike sequence culminating in a ground out. With no hits or runs, the Oilers trailed as the teams headed into the bottom of the first.
And then, Seattle exploded into action. The inning ignited under the steady hand of LHP Don Gullett, whose clean pitch sequence set the stage, even as SHB Wes Parker registered a flyout. But the momentum truly surged when RHB Glenn Beckert stepped to the plate and delivered a double on a sharp line drive. The sparks kept flying as LHB Al Bumbry and RHB Frank Robinson approached. In a moment that would be etched in the minds of fans, Robinson ignited the inning with a two-run home run that sent the ball soaring 379 feet into the air. Not to be outdone, RHB Joe Torre answered with a two-run blast of his own, this one measured at an impressive 392 feet. Adding further insult to injury for the Oilers, RHB Dave Duncan contributed a single, and LHB Sonny Jackson added a groundball single. By the close of the first, the Cascades had piled up five hits, four runs, and left one runner on base, establishing an early lead of 4–0.
Houston attempted to regroup in the top of the second. RHB Dave Kingman faced the Cascades’ pitching, battling through a couple of fouls before eventually striking out. Then, LHB Jim Northrup delivered a single that briefly sparked hope in the Oilers’ camp, only for that rally to sputter as RHB Freddie Patek’s appearance ended with a groundout that turned into a double play. With no further production in that half-inning, the score remained unchanged.
Seattle, however, was far from finished. In the bottom of the second, the offensive machine continued to build. In a rare turn at bat, RHB Bob Moose laid down a masterful performance by working the count and then lining a double down the left-field line. SHB Wes Parker then worked a well-timed sequence of balls, and a subsequent fly out by Parker was misplayed—a critical error that allowed Moose to advance to third. Glenn Beckert stepped up again and, amid a mix of fouls and balls, reached base on a fielder’s choice that brought the runner home. The Cascades added another run. Although Al Bumbry’s subsequent ground out kept him off the scoreboard, Frank Robinson’s earlier homers were still echoing, draws a walk. RHB Dave Duncan flies out to end the second inning, with the Cascades leading 5–0.
The third inning saw Houston make a brief bid to ignite their offense. RHB Tim Foli recorded a ground out, and RHB Tommie Agee managed to single, briefly stirring hope among the Oilers’ faithful. Yet the momentum was swiftly halted when RHB Don Gullett’s subsequent appearance resulted in a double play, extinguishing the rally. Meanwhile, in the bottom of the third, Seattle’s offense showed no signs of relenting. After RHB Joe Torre’s fly out and LHB Sonny Jackson’s ground out, RHB Mike Anderson stepped up and belted a solo home run, pushing the Cascades’ total to 6–0.
The fourth inning unfolded as a pitcher's duel. In the top half, Houston’s LHB Lou Brock drew a walk, only to see his lead-off efforts quickly neutralized when RHB Johnny Bench grounded into a double play. Seattle’s pitching, however, remained resolute. In the bottom of the fourth, with RHP Bruce Dal Canton taking over—Seattle’s batters continued to register routine outs, and the inning concluded without additional runs, keeping the score at 6–0.
Houston finally managed to chip away at Seattle’s lead in the top of the sixth. RHB Tommie Agee reached base on an error, and a pinch-hit appearance by RHB Jeff Burroughs yielded a double, followed by LHB Lou Brock's ground out that drove Agee in, cutting the deficit to 6–1. Yet that solitary run was a mere drop in the bucket compared to Seattle’s explosive start.
As the game progressed into the later innings—the seventh, eighth, and into the ninth—Seattle’s pitching staff and timely defense ensured that Houston’s comeback bid would falter. Relievers including RHPs Rich Gossage and Bill Gogolewski held the Oilers to minimal contact. In the top of the ninth, despite efforts by Houston’s Johnny Bench and Dave Kingman, the offense remained stifled, and the inning closed with the Oilers still clinging to a one-run total.
When the final out was recorded in the top of the ninth, the scoreboard read 6–1 in favor of the Seattle Cascades. Their explosive first two innings set the tone for a resounding victory in Game 1 of the Western League Championship Sim.
With that emphatic win, the Cascades not only took Game 1 but also sent a clear message to the Houston Oilers: Seattle is a force to be reckoned with. Holding an early series lead in this thrilling seven-game championship battle, the Cascades now look poised to capture the Western League crown—and perhaps even secure a coveted berth in the World Sim, where they will eventually face the Eastern League champion for the ultimate Major Sim Baseball Championship.
And so, as we look back on this remarkable contest, one thing is abundantly clear: in the game of baseball, as in life, momentum matters, and tonight, the Cascades had it in abundance.
⚾Play the NimBLe way!
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