GTOAT - Greatest Team of All Time Tournament

[luckymann]

Boooooo!!! Rematch!!!!

[tavo2311]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Boooooo!!! Rematch!!!!

Oh don't worry, they'll likely get their chance once a full league materializes after this one-off tourney.

[tavo2311]

RESULTS: ROUND 4 - REGION 3:

1) 1927 New York Yankees vs. 10) 1933 Washington Senators

Road here:

The third Final Four participant will be decided between two teams close to each other in history. The 1927 Yankees and the same Senators franchise that interrupted the Yankees’ dominance in the mid 20’s, though this team is from a few years later.

The Senators were the surprise of the tournament through the first two rounds. Not just that a 10 seed hit the Sweet 16, but the fact that they didn’t lose a game in doing so. In round 1 they swept the 2011 Phillies and their star studded rotation. That Phillies team was a dark horse pick of many coming in. In the second round they had the benefit of the 15 seed 1972 A’s, who had pulled the big upset in round 1. Still, another sweep was an impressive showing. Last round they again were the higher seed, benefitting from some bracket madness, but faced the daunting duo of Schilling and Johnson in the 2011 D’Backs. They finally dropped a couple games but prevailed in six games.

The ’27 Yanks predictably steamrolled the 2012 Tampa Bay Rays in a first round sweep. They were then barely bothered in round 2 by the 1917 White (soon to be black) Sox, winning in five. They finally faced a real challenge in the Sweet 16 with a six game series vs. the 1979 Pirates. All in all, the tournament has gone pretty much as planned for this team as they seem to just be getting warmed up.

One of these teams will be truly tested for the first time in this one. The series begins with 24-game winner General Crowder vs. 22-game winner Waite Hoyt. The game was back and forth, with Washington building a 4-0 lead with one in the 4th and Luke Sewell driving in three in the 6th. Then the Yankees woke up, with two in the bottom 6th and Bob Meusal finally chasing Crowder with a two-run homer in the 8th. The game went to the 11th, where Waite Hoyt was still in there throwing his 145th pitch, which turned into a triple that drove in two. The Senators would add one more off the bullpen and hold on for a surprising 7-4 win.

The second 20-game winner Washington sent to the mound, Earl Whitehill, didn’t fare nearly as well. Murderers Row truly emerged in a 9-run 2nd inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Tony Lazzeri. Washington didn’t let this one turn into a laugher though, chipping away with runs in each of the 3rd through 7th innings, pulling to within 9-7. But the Bambino sent a 2-run shot to the short porch in the 8th to extend the lead again, in an eventual 12-7 final score to even the series.

The off day to travel to the nation’s capital did little to cool off the bats in this series. When the Babe hit another dinger in the 3rd to make it 4-2 they were still just getting warmed up. Three more in the 5th led by Meusal again threatened to break the game open. But Dave Harris, pinch hitting for the pitcher, would knock a three run homer out of the park in a four-run 6th, and the Senators were within one at 7-6. But in the 8th, Lou Gehrig would get in on the party and the Yankees would bat around for six runs. The final would get to 14-6 and the Yankees are up 2-1 in the series.

In game 4 the Yankees kept right on rolling with a four-run 1st inning. Once again as they had all series, Washington fought back, immediately plating two in their half of the 1st on a Joe Cronin double. But Babe Ruth would homer for the 3rd straight game in the 2nd inning and the lead was 6-2. It would get to 8-2 before a few nervy moments in the 9th inning made it 8-5. The final would be 9-7 behind 15 hits and 6 walks from the Bronx Bombers.

Game 5 begins with the Yankees on the brink of the final four. The Senators must be shell shocked, losing more times in the last three games, than they had in the first three rounds. They will have their ace back on the mound to try and start the comeback. In the rematch from game 1, where Hoyt pitched into the 11th, both pitchers were up to the task. This time Hoyt would throw into the 12th! Crowder would go ten innings himself. The Senators built a quick 3-0 lead then Hoyt settled down. By the time Bob Meusal again found the big hit in the 7th, the game was tied at 3-3. It stayed that way until the 12th when Meusal (again!) drove in two on a double vs. the Washington pen. Hoyt would record two outs in the 12th before finally being removed with runners on. Wilcy Moore got the one out save for a 5-3 win and a five game series victory.

This team in the final four just feels right. Even if they are not the best ever, they are one of the most legendary teams and if any 1-seed was going to fail to reach the Final Four I was hoping it was not these guys. Bob Meusal and his 11 RBIs may feel snubbed, but Babe Ruth is the series MVP. He hit .409, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, and was on base over half the time. In a series dominated by offense there were a couple pitchers to call out. Waite Hoyt did lose a game, but it came by pitching in the 11th inning, and then he won a game where he went 11 2/3. Giving up 22 baserunners in 21 2/3 innings, with a 2.91 ERA is a great performance. On the losing side, General Crowder was 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA, throwing 20 innings in his two starts. Joe Cronin the hall of fame shortstop hit .400 and first baseman Joe Kuhel drove in eight.

[tavo2311]

RESULTS: ROUND 4 - REGION 2:

1) 1975 Cincinnati Reds vs. 11) 2011 Texas Rangers

Road Here:

The Reds didn’t have such an easy time in the first round, needing seven games to beat the 2019 Washington Nationals. Round two was a much easier road as the Big Red Machine cut right through the 1969 Mets in five. The Reds kept right on rolling in the Sweet 16, needing only five again, this time a bit surprising though as it was against a tougher opponent the ’95 Indians.

The Ranges pulled an upset in a highly anticipated first round series against the 2016 Cubs that was very entertaining. Round two was another fun one, as the 14th seed 1925 Senators were a game opponent but fell in seven. The Rangers had maybe their easiest series in the third round, beating the ’53 Dodgers in six.

CJ Wilson and Don Gullet are the game one pitchers when the offense came out of the gates quickly. The home team Reds took a 4-0 lead in the 1st, but the Rangers responded with five in the 2nd, with Nelson Cruz’s grand slam taking the lead. The Rangers would go on to build a 12-4 lead with another five run inning in the 5th led by Adrian Beltre’s three-run shot. The eventual final was 12-6 for the underdogs.

Red’s pitcher Gary Nolan got beat up in game 2 as the Rangers’ offense did not slow down. A run in the 1st, followed by three run innings in the 3rd and 4th, built Texas a 7-1 lead that would be 9-1 by the 8th. The Ranger’s pen would try their best to blow it. Joe Morgan would homer in both the 8th and the 9th innings, where the Reds put up 6 runs. But it was not enough as Neftali Feliz was summoned in a sudden save situation and closed things down for a 9-7 final. The underdogs have really surprised here, leading 2-0 going home.

The Rangers again built an early lead in game three, 3-0 into the 5th. But the Reds responded in a big way, bludgeoning the Ranger’s staff for five in the 5th, and eight(!) in the 6th. The game would be 14-3 in the 9th when Texas made it somewhat interesting, throwing up a five-spot, but it did nothing other than give a slightly more respectable final of 14-8. The offensive stars of the game were spread out nicely as five Reds had 2+ RBIs.

Game 4 brought us the first well-pitched game of the series. Derek Holland and Fred Norman dueled into the 7th at 2-2. In the bottom of the 7th Nelson Cruz cleared the bases with a double and the Rangers built a 7-2 lead that ended 7-3. Cruz has 14 RBIs in the four games! The Rangers are unexpectedly up 3-1 on the highest seed left in the tourney.

Game 5 wasn’t looking good when ace Don Gullet gave up a run in the 1st. But that was all Texas would get off of him as he responded in a big way to the task at hand. With an 8 inning outing, 5 hits, no walks, 1 run, 9 Ks, Gullet sent the series back to Cincy. George Foster’s single in the 6th broke a 1-1 tie, and with three more in the 7th the game would end 5-1.

For the 3rd straight game the Reds’ staff has held these Texas bats quiet. Gary Nolan went 7 innings, 7 hits and no walks, 1 run, 7 Ks. He had early run support too, with George Foster and Pete Rose driving in three in the first couple innings. The game would end 3-1 and the Big Red Machine has forced a decided game 7!

Youngster Alexei Ogando gets the nod in the pressure situation on the road, vs. 15-game winner Jack Billingham. Ogando was hit up pretty badly in game 3, so the Reds have the momentum and the odds. But the Rangers have the big bats ready to break out again. When Beltre hit a 3-run shot in the 1st, the youngster had a nice cushion to work with. Billinghame didn’t even see the 3rd inning as the Rangers built a 7-1 lead after four. The Reds put up four runs in the bottom of the 6th to chase Ogando and pull to within 7-5. In the 9th, with Neftali Feliz on to close it out, the Reds would get a Pete Rose double and George Foster walk, to set up George Foster and Johnny Bench. But Feliz would strike them both out and win the series!!

What an upset this was! The Rangers have ruined the dream matchup of the Big Red Machine and Murderer’s Row, but they don’t care. They are clearly capable of more than spoiler in this tourney. The MVP was easy to guess, with Cruz hitting .444, 4 homers, and 15 RBIs. Ian Kinsler also homered three times, and Matt Harrison had two good starts, going 1-1 with a 3.00 era. On the losing side Joe Morgan did his best, at .429/.529/.714 with a couple dingers and five doubles.

[iverbure]

How have you found each team’s individual strategies? I set up a couple of tournaments involving the best teams from the 80s and found teams like the 80s cardinals didn’t play at all like the cardinals

[tavo2311]

Originally Posted by iverbure

How have you found each team’s individual strategies? I set up a couple of tournaments involving the best teams from the 80s and found teams like the 80s cardinals didn’t play at all like the cardinals

Most of the playing style has been dictated by the settings for the era being used. Example is Walter Johnson maybe being pulled after 6 innings and 85 pitches because we are in modern day settings. I think most of the differences are chalked up to that.

[tavo2311]

Sorry for the delay all. I have been shorter on time than needed to play out and record the results. So we are going to have a somewhat anti-climatic end to the tourney as I speed sim through the last three series.

The Final Four is made up of two favorites, a darkhorse, and a complete surprise.

Series 1:
2nd Seed from Region 1: 1970 Baltimore Orioles
7th Seed from Region 4: 1967 St. Louis Cardinals

Series 2:
11th Seed from Region 2: 2011 Texas Rangers
1st Seed from Region 3: 1927 New York Yankees

[tavo2311]

Results Round 5:

2nd Seed from Region 1: 1970 Baltimore Orioles
vs.
7th Seed from Region 4: 1967 St. Louis Cardinals


Bob Gibson takes the win as the visiting Cardinals win game 1, 7-4. Two RBIs each for Curt Flood and Tim McCarver.

Game 2 evens things up as the hosts beat up Steve Carlton and chase him in the 4th. Boog Powell with a HR and 4 RBIs.

Game 3 goes to the visiting favorites by a score of 6-0. Brooks Robinson has a homer in this one, and Mike Cuellar was masterful, throwing a complete game, 2-hit shutout.

In a great 4th game the Cardinals came back twice, from 2-0 down in the 6th, and again 3-2 down in the 10th. With a bottom of the 10th rally they even the series in a 4-3 walk-off.

Game 5 in a tied series very often predicts the winner, so the Orioles cannot be feeling good after this one. Another great game ended 5-4 in favor of St. Louis. It was never over until Brooks Robinson hit into a game-ending double play in the 9th. We go to Baltimore with the favorites’ backs against the wall.

Steve Carlton opposed Dave McNally in game 6. Both went the complete game, with McNally getting the W and forcing a Game 7. Boog Powell’s 2nd homerun of the series, off Carlton in the 5th, was the deciding play.

Game 7 was another classic in what was a pretty good series. The Orioles built a 5-1 lead into the 8th, when Orland Cepeda hit a grand slam to tie it up with just 4 outs remaining to elimination!! But in the end the Orioles prevailed, when pinch hitter Terry Crawley hit a walk-off single vs. Jack Lamabe in the bottom of the 10th.

The 1970 Orioles are the first, and very worthy, finalist. Will they be rooting for the all-time greats 1927 Yankees so they can “beat the best” or will they want the presumed easier road of the cindarella Rangers?
Boog Powell was the MVP, hitting .407 with 2 HRs and 9 RBIs.

[tavo2311]

Results Round 5:

11th Seed from Region 2: 2011 Texas Rangers
vs.
1st Seed from Region 3: 1927 New York Yankees

In Game 1 Texas starter Matt Harrison did the unthinkable, held the ’27 Yankees scoreless through seven innings. He would finish the complete game scattering 9 hits and a walk, with five runs (three unearned) for a 135-pitch 10-5 victory. The hitting stars for the underdogs were Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton with a homer and 3 RBIs each.

The Yankees got a great performance from Urban Shocker in game 2, who didn’t give up any of his three runs until the 8th inning. Babe Ruth homered in a too close for comfort 4-3 win to even the series.

Game 3 in Texas was a back and forth high scoring game featuring five lead changes. The visiting Bombers eventually pulled it out 11-10. Surprisingly, Ruth wasn’t a part of any of it, with a 1-5 day and 4 Ks. But four Yankees had at least two RBIs, catcher Pat Collins homering twice.

Texas evened the series in game 4 with 17-5 win! Napoli and Hamilton were again the main starts, with 5 and 4 RBIs respectively. Nelson Cruz and Elvis Andrus both drove in three and scored three. Amazingly, the 17 run outburst featured one homerun (Hamilton’s 3rd of the series).

With the series tied 2-2 just like our first final four matchup, the underdogs went up 3-2 again. The Yankees blew three different leads and eventually lost 8-7. Adrian Beltre drove in three this time with Ian Kinsler adding two RBIs and three runs. This lineup is really showing their dangerous depth, especially with the benefit of the DH in Texas.

Back in New York for game 6 the Yankees again came out hitting but again blew leads, twice. However this time, Babe Ruth’s bottom of the 6th homer retook the lead, at 9-8, for the final lead change and another too close for comfort win. This incredibly entertaining series is also going to game 7!

Game 7 started uncharacteristically low scoring. The game was 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th when Babe Ruth smashed a 2-run go ahead bomb to right. The Rangers would immediately respond with a tying run in the 7th though. A sac fly in the 8th gave New York the lead again, and starter Herb Pennock tried to complete the game in the 9th but wasn’t able to. A David Murphy single drove in Ian Kinsler and the game was tied yet again. He got out of the 9th with a double play ball, stranding the go-ahead runner on third. With two in the 10th the Rangers put the heavily favored Yankees just a few outs away from elimination again. But this is why they call it Murderer’s Row. Combs drew a leadoff walk, Gehrig doubled him in, Ruth singled and Paschal (in for the slumping Meusal) tied it with a single. All with no one retired. Two batters later with the bases loaded Pat Collins would draw a bases loaded walk for a most improbable three-run rally with no outs in the 10th. What an absolute classic game 7 to end a great series.

The Yankees were on the brink a couple times in the series, but able to pull it out and set up a dream final series. Lou Gehrig was given the MVP going .379/.448/.862 with 3 HRs and 7 RBIs.

[tavo2311]

Results: Round 6

1970 Baltimore Orioles
vs.
1927 New York Yankees

Two very deserving teams in the final championship series.

The series starts with Game 1 in New York, with Baltimore’s Mike Cuellar vs. the Yankees’ Waite Hoyt. A big 3rd inning for the visitors gave them a 4-1 lead. And it was just the beginning, as they would go on to crush New York 14-2. Boog Powell and Mark Belanger had 3 RBIs each in the drubbing.

Urban Shocker would give the home team a much better pitching performance in Game 2, but blew his 2-0 lead in the 9th inning when Frank Robinson took him yard. In the bottom of the 13th Tony Lazzeri drove in a run for the walk-off win and a tied series.

It was Herb Pennock vs. Dave McNally in Game 3 and we had another close one. Babe Ruth homered in the 4th and Herb Pennock gave up only one run in a 4-1 Yankees victory.

The fireworks started early in Game 4 with Babe Ruth’s two run homerun highlighting a four run Yankee inning. Baltimore would fight back chipping away until it was 4-3 in the 7th. The score was still that way in the 9th when Joe Dugan’s homer added a couple of insurance runs and the Yankees took it by a final of 6-4. They are now on the precipice of the championship. Baltimore has been here before, can they rebound again?

Game 5 saw the Orioles come out firing on all cylinders. Lou Gehrig gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but it was all Baltimore after that. Two in the 1st, five in the 2nd, and two in the 3rd led to a 12-3 final score. Every Oriole, including starter Mike Cuellar, had at least one RBI and one Run. The Orioles have now won their two games in the series by a combined score of 26-5, both in games started by New York starter Waite Hoyt, who’s ERA now sits at 19.89. Baltimore will still need to find two more wins, both in New York, and neither against Hoyt.

Game 6 was a great one. The Yankees again were up 2-0 before the first inning was out, but the Orioles bounced back for a 4-2 lead. The Yankees evened it in the bottom of the 9th with two outs on a two run home run by Joe Dugan off starter Jim Palmer. The Orioles avoided heartbreak though, scoring two in the 11th and holding on for a 6-4 win. Boog Powell had the game winning homerun, off starter Urban Shocker on his 159th pitch of the evening! Hindsight is 20/20 but maybe he should’ve been relieved? Jim Palmer completed his 11-inning, 143 pitch effort, for a classic outing.

The final championship series is very fittingly going to a 7th game. It will be Dave McNally and Herb Pennock again as it was in the closely contested game 3 in Baltimore. The Orioles got on the board first, and after Merv Rettenmund doubled in a run in the 6th they were up 2-0. New York would nab a run, but were still down 3-1 heading to the bottom of the 9th. That was when catcher Pat Collins pulled some magic from the old Yankee Stadium and smacked a two-run, game tying home run, to make it 3-3, off of McNally who was trying to go the distance. To extra innings we go for the 3rd time in the series. With New York starter Herb Pennock still in there, left fielder Don Buford hit a solo shot to give Baltimore the lead again. Things got nervy in the bottom of the 10th as the Yankees drew a leadoff walk. But lefty Pete Richert relieved starter McNally, and eventually would strike out Babe Ruth on three pitches to end the series!!! What a dramatic ending to the series.

First baseman Boog Powell won the series MVP, hitting .548 with 3 HRs, and 10 RBIs. The Orioles came back from a 3-1 series deficit to get it done. Waite Hoyt will forever be the goat in Yankee land with his era approaching 20. And Babe Ruth, who had 4 HRs in an otherwise fantastic series, will have the image of his meek strike three swing etched into this tournament’s lasting memories.

[luckymann]

Wow - a classic end to a fantastic exercise. How do you feel now it's over? What's next in store?

[tavo2311]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Wow - a classic end to a fantastic exercise. How do you feel now it's over? What's next in store?

Honestly it was a bit more to take on than I thought. I either simmed the games way too quickly and sped through writing, so there was a lot missing. Or I took my time as intended, really enjoying the games, but then it took forever. And the more detail I gave the more of a "chore" it was, versus the fun of just playing. The less detail I gave the more less enjoyable this would be for others.

Not sure what is next. I originally didn't have anything planned. But I started to feel cheated when the big guys likes the 1906 Cubs were immediately knocked out. So I had an idea of a league with these teams set up like below:

Teams that made the Sweet 16 in the top tier. Teams that made the 2nd round in Tier 2. The first round losers randomly split into Tiers 3 and 4.

Each Tier is 2 leagues, 2 divisions of four teams each. Two rounds of playoffs. Promotion / Relegation each year (win your division go up, last place in division go down).

The fun thing would be that because there are so many good teams that missed out we could start to introduce some of them as new teams into Tier 4 in place of those relegated teams.

I love the idea, and will likely do it, just not starting it up yet. And if/when I do, I think the updates will be much more spread out. Maybe each month in-game? Really not sure yet. But thanks for following!

[luckymann]

Yeah getting that mix of reporting facts and colour is what I find the biggest challenge with the Footnote League, and with you only having a maximum 7 games to get the story down before it moves on, and with so many teams involved - that's a tough ask indeed. But you did a great job.

And the idea you've spelled out sounds awesome - count me in already!!

[Bengal57]

Hello I also had the thought of taking the best teams in history and having a tournament and play one of the teams, and it has turned into a once a year thing, the first time and every time I have played it out I go by decades, from the first year like 1901 to 1909 then 1921 - 29 and so on, that years world series winners would square off in a double loss elimination tourney, then after I accumulated a winner for every decade played them off in a double loss elim, these were the decade winners https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIl..._as=subscriber

1900's 1907 Chi Cubs
1910's - 1913 A's
1920's - 25 Pirates, I was shocked too,
1930's - 30 Pha A's
1940's - 48 Indians then 42 Cards
1950's - 56 Yankees
1960's - 68 Tigers my team
1970's - 71 Pirates upset the Orioles who upset the Reds
1980's 89 A's then 84 Tigers My team too!.
1990's 98 Yankees of course
2000's 06 Cards,
2010's - 16 Cubs I played it down and posted the games on YouTube but the best thing about it was my team the 1968 Detroit Tigers beat the 1989 A's in the finals, I just got lucky because in the 2 that have followed I went out in 2 so you never know, but it is a lot of fun for stat heads like myself. I guess I had to share that info with somebody, or what's the point, right? thanks I WOULD SAY THAT AT THAT LEVEL ANY GIVEN TEAM CAN BEAT ANY TEAM ON ANY GIVEN DAY, it matters most who are the hottest at that particular time.