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Nick Soulis · 07-31-2025, 08:24 AM

Season 8
Pennant Chase

Excellence Project – Season 8: NL East Drama Reaches Boiling Point
Final Week Showdown: Cardinals vs. Pirates in a Winner-Takes-All Clash

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Name: 8 - pennant chase.png
Views: 192
Size: 86.7 KB

As the curtain falls on the eighth season of the Excellence Project, all eyes turn to the National League East, where the season’s most riveting storyline will unfold on the banks of the Allegheny River. The 1926 St. Louis Cardinals, sitting atop the division with a 90–65 record, are clinging to a three-game lead over the hard-charging 1913 Pittsburgh Pirates. And fate, as it often does in this tournament of legends, has scripted the final act with poetic precision: a three-game showdown between the two rivals at Forbes Field, where only one will emerge with a ticket to Round 2.

This is not just a battle of records, but of identities. The Cardinals, known for their timely hitting and resilience under manager Rogers Hornsby, have been one of the most consistent teams in the league. The Pirates, led by Fred Clarke, boast a deep rotation and a scrappy lineup that refuses to go away.

Game 1 Preview:
Forbes Field, Pittsburgh
Tuesday, September 23
Flint Rhem (STL) vs. Babe Adams (PIT)

It all begins with a pitching duel worthy of the occasion. Flint Rhem (19–10, 3.21 ERA), the workhorse for the Cardinals, will take the ball in Game 1 against Pittsburgh ace Babe Adams (21–9, 2.87 ERA), who has been lights-out at home.

“This is what you play for,” said Cardinals player-manager Rogers Hornsby before boarding the train to Pittsburgh. “We’ve earned the right to control our own destiny. Flint’s been our guy all season. He’ll have the ball, and we’ll be ready to finish this.”

But don’t count out the Pirates. Winners of six straight, they enter the series with momentum and a sense of purpose.

“We’ve clawed back into this race,” said Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke. “And now we get ‘em here, in our ballpark, with our best on the mound. This team believes. And when a team believes, anything can happen.”

The Stakes:
If St. Louis wins one game in the series, they clinch the NL East and eliminate Pittsburgh.

If Pittsburgh sweeps the series, the teams will finish tied at 90–68, forcing a one-game playoff to determine who moves on.

This final-week collision is the kind of scenario the Excellence Project was built for — two titans from the early 20th century, battling with everything on the line, history hanging in the balance.

Strap in for three days of legacy-defining baseball. The path to glory runs through Pittsburgh.

07-31-2025, 08:24 AM	#104
Nick Soulis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 4,253	Season 8 Pennant Chase Excellence Project – Season 8: NL East Drama Reaches Boiling Point Final Week Showdown: Cardinals vs. Pirates in a Winner-Takes-All Clash As the curtain falls on the eighth season of the Excellence Project, all eyes turn to the National League East, where the season’s most riveting storyline will unfold on the banks of the Allegheny River. The 1926 St. Louis Cardinals, sitting atop the division with a 90–65 record, are clinging to a three-game lead over the hard-charging 1913 Pittsburgh Pirates. And fate, as it often does in this tournament of legends, has scripted the final act with poetic precision: a three-game showdown between the two rivals at Forbes Field, where only one will emerge with a ticket to Round 2. This is not just a battle of records, but of identities. The Cardinals, known for their timely hitting and resilience under manager Rogers Hornsby, have been one of the most consistent teams in the league. The Pirates, led by Fred Clarke, boast a deep rotation and a scrappy lineup that refuses to go away. Game 1 Preview: Forbes Field, Pittsburgh Tuesday, September 23 Flint Rhem (STL) vs. Babe Adams (PIT) It all begins with a pitching duel worthy of the occasion. Flint Rhem (19–10, 3.21 ERA), the workhorse for the Cardinals, will take the ball in Game 1 against Pittsburgh ace Babe Adams (21–9, 2.87 ERA), who has been lights-out at home. “This is what you play for,” said Cardinals player-manager Rogers Hornsby before boarding the train to Pittsburgh. “We’ve earned the right to control our own destiny. Flint’s been our guy all season. He’ll have the ball, and we’ll be ready to finish this.” But don’t count out the Pirates. Winners of six straight, they enter the series with momentum and a sense of purpose. “We’ve clawed back into this race,” said Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke. “And now we get ‘em here, in our ballpark, with our best on the mound. This team believes. And when a team believes, anything can happen.” The Stakes: If St. Louis wins one game in the series, they clinch the NL East and eliminate Pittsburgh. If Pittsburgh sweeps the series, the teams will finish tied at 90–68, forcing a one-game playoff to determine who moves on. This final-week collision is the kind of scenario the Excellence Project was built for — two titans from the early 20th century, battling with everything on the line, history hanging in the balance. Strap in for three days of legacy-defining baseball. The path to glory runs through Pittsburgh. Last edited by Nick Soulis; 07-31-2025 at 08:27 AM.