Season 5 Championship, Game 4

Holding a 2-1 lead in this best-of-five series, the Haymakers were looking to wrap up their third Creighton Cup. Standing in their way was battle-tested veteran Old Hoss Radbourn, pitching in front of a raucous home crowd. A fired-up Radbourn struck out the first two batters he faced.

The scoring opened in the bottom of the second. With star catcher Roger Bresnahan injured, the Haymakers handed off the tools of ignorance to Deacon White, whose arm would be tested all night. When King Kelly singled, it was a foregone conclusion that he was going to run; White, however, gunned him down at second. It turned out to be a crucial play because the very next batter, Sam Crawford, blasted Welch's offering out of the park to give the Legs a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Bid McPhee led off with a single and scored when Joe Kelley doubled him home. The tally remained tied at 1 for several innings as Radbourn and Welch traded zeroes. The only moment of drama came in the top of the seventh; the Haymakers loaded the bases against Radbourn with only one out, but McPhee bounced into a double play to end the inning. 

The game's final run came in the top of the ninth. Sam Thompson, leading off for the visitors, greeted Radbourn with a double. He later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Ned Hanlon, making it 2-1 in favor of the Haymakers. A sac fly is perhaps the least-exciting way for a team to score a championship-winning run, but that's how it played out tonight.

The Blue Legs came to bat in the bottom of the ninth, but the outcome now seemed inevitable. Happy Jack Chesbro relieved Mickey Welch and worked a perfect ninth to record his first playoff save. The final play of Season 5 came from the bat of Hughie Jennings, who hit a screamer to short. Bobby Wallace fielded it cleanly and fired the ball to Cap Anson to clinch the Haymakers' third title in five seasons. 

Congratulations to the Haymakers! They are truly the first dynasty of my Hall of Fame league. Tomorrow I'll record all the final stats and then determine this year's trophy winners. At that point, Season 5 will be in the books and I'll be switching back to hockey!

Season 5 Championship, Game 3

This series has not disappointed! I really hope it goes the full five games! 

In Game 3, the Blue Legs took the field in front of their hometown fans, sending Pud Galvin to the mound in a rematch against Game 1 winner Cy Young. Galvin had trouble finding the strike zone and walked Joe Kelley, the game's first batter. Kelley later scored on a wild pitch from Galvin. The Haymakers' lead was short-lived, however, as Billy Hamilton smoked a leadoff double and scored when Dan Brouthers recorded a double of his own.

Galvin settled in after his first-inning jitters and even helped his own cause with his bat. He led off the bottom of the third with a single and, after the Legs loaded the bases, Brouthers brought him home with an RBI groundout to make it 2-1 in favor of the hosts. 

The Haymakers could muster little offense against Galvin until the top of the fifth, when light-hitting second baseman Bid McPhee led off the inning with a home run to tie the game at 2. The baseball gods give, but they also take away. In the sixth, the Haymakers lost starting catcher Roger Bresnahan to injury. We won't see him again this postseason unless the series extends to a fifth and final game. 

The score remained deadlocked at 2. With Deacon White filling in behind the dish, the fleet-footed Blue Legs were bound to run wild on the bases if they managed to get on board. Young, to his credit, turned up the heat and notched strikeout after strikeout. The ninth inning ended with no further scoring.

Now, for the first time in league history, a playoff game had gone to extra innings. Leading off in the top of the tenth, Kelley ripped a triple into the left-field gap in a devastating blow to the Legs. Jesse Burkett grounded out to bring him home and give the Haymakers a 3-2 lead. The next batter was Cap Anson, who promptly blasted a home run to increase the margin to 4-2.

Flamethrowing closer Amos Rusie came out in the bottom of the tenth to shut the door. He racked up two quick outs before Billy Hamilton -- a strong Playoff MVP candidate if the Legs win the series -- worked a walk and stole second. Rusie induced a weak grounder from Willie Keeler to get the final out, and the Haymakers now lead the series two games to one. If they win Game 4, they'll hoist the Creighton Cup!

Season 5 Championship, Game 2

The Blue Legs came out swinging early and often against Mickey Welch in Game 2. In the top of the first, speedy leadoff man Billy Hamilton singled, stole second, and later scored on a base knock by Big Dan Brouthers. Welch prevented any further damage, but it was clear from the get-go that the Legs were ready to pounce. They nearly scored again in the second when Ned Hanlon -- filling in for the injured Bobby Wallace -- muffed a scorcher from Hughie Jennings. Welch bailed him out, but the episode underscored the vital importance of the Haymakers' shortstop. The Legs did, however, strike again in the fifth when Jimmy Collins doubled to start the inning and scored on Hamilton's single to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.

It was all Blue Legs at this point, because Old Hoss Radbourn was absolutely carving up the Haymakers' batsmen. Although regular season and playoff innings don't mix when it comes to setting records, Radbourn had soon surpassed two dozen frames since the last time he had allowed a run. His defining moment came in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and slugging outfielder Jesse Burkett at the dish. Radbourn induced a weak grounder that killed the Haymakers' rally and gave the Legs confidence that they would return home with the series tied at one game apiece.

That confidence was, perhaps, premature. The next inning, with two on and one out, Deacon White singled home Cap Anson to cut the Legs' lead in half. Radbourn had thrown 25 consecutive scoreless innings between the regular season and playoffs -- technically not a record, but a monumental achievement nonetheless. In an interesting twist of fate, it was none other than Deacon White who had snapped John Clarkson's 21-inning regular-season scoreless streak earlier in the year. The next batter, Hanlon, hit a long drive over Sam Crawford's head in center to plate Roger Bresnahan. The score was now tied at 2, but not for long. Bid McPhee singled to bring home White, and in a matter of moments Radbourn had gone from a shutout to a one-run deficit.

In the top of the seventh, Radbourn was lifted for a pinch hitter when the Blue Legs had a runner on third and only one out, but they failed to score. Al Spalding came in to retire the Haymakers in order in the bottom of the frame, and then the Legs got to Welch in the eighth. King Kelly singled to score Nap Lajoie and tie the game at 3. Later in the inning, Collins doubled home two more runs to make it 5-3.

The Haymakers could muster nothing against Spalding, who tossed three scoreless innings to pick up the win. Welch pitched all nine in the loss. Now the scene shifts to the Blue Legs' home turf for Game 3, and this series all tied up!

Season 5 Championship, Game 1

It's Blue Legs against Haymakers with the Creighton Cup on the line! The best-of-five championship series kicked off tonight with the Haymakers hosting. Cy Young toed the rubber for the home team, and Pud Galvin started for the visitors.

Young survived a man-on-third-with-one-out scare in the top of the first, and then turned things over to his offense. Joe Kelley doubled to lead off the bottom of the first and later scored on a Cap Anson two-bagger to give the Haymakers an early 1-0 lead. Then, in the bottom of the second, Deacon White scored on a  groundout by Bobby Wallace. 

The tally remained 2-0 in the fourth when an injury threatened to change the complexion of the entire series. Wallace, the Haymakers' shortstop, was removed from the game and will miss Game 2, as well. Wallace is no Honus Wagner with the bat, but he's been the best defensive shortstop in the league over the past five seasons. Losing him deals a grievous blow to the Haymakers' defense, especially because the only other man on the roster who's rated for shortstop play is reserve outfielder (yes, outfielder) Ned Hanlon. 

With a gaping hole at the most critical infield position, the Haymakers went back to work. Star catcher Roger Bresnahan extended their lead with a solo homer in the sixth, but Young gave that run right back in the top of the seventh when Sam Crawford tripled before scoring on a groundout by Hughie Jennings. Young, however, buckled down and stymied the Blue Legs for the rest of the game. 

After a 3-1 victory in Game 1, the Haymakers will turn to co-ace Mickey Welch in Game 2. He'll be opposed by the Legs' Old Hoss Radbourn and his twenty consecutive scoreless innings. 

Season 5 Creighton Cup Preview

For the fifth consecutive season -- and therefore every season to date -- the Haymakers will play for the Creighton Cup. Named for baseball's first true superstar, this (imaginary) trophy is awarded to the champions of my Hall of Fame Strat-O-Matic league. The lordly Haymakers are vying for their third title, but in order to cement their standing as the league's preeminent franchise, they'll have to defeat a spunky Blue Legs team that has rebounded from their historically terrible performance back in Season 4. 

Starting this year, I've expanded the championship to a best-of-five series. Let's compare the teams in three key areas before I make a final prediction!

Offense

• Blue Legs: Team captain and second baseman Nap Lajoie was a solid MVP candidate, clubbing three homers (tied with Sam Crawford for the team lead) and generating great production from the three-hole on a team that finished second in the league with 3.67 runs per game. The Legs' lineup is full of high-OBP hitters -- Billy Hamilton, Wee Willie Keeler, and Dan Brouthers, to name a few -- who wear pitchers down by working deep counts.
• Haymakers: At 4.29 runs per game, the Haymakers sported the league's most potent attack; it was a down year for offense, however, and in no other season would 4.29 runs per game have led the league (or even come close). Still, the Haymakers managed to hit 12 home runs, tied for the most by a team in a regular season. Cap Anson hit five of those dingers, which tied the single-season record set last year by George Davis. Anson had a monster campaign and is sure to run away with the Position Player MVP this year. Jesse Burkett hit three bombs of his own, and along with Joe Kelley and Sam Thompson, the Haymakers boast some phenomenal hitters in the top four spots, but it gets thin after that.
• Advantage: Haymakers

Defense

• Blue Legs: The Legs were so-so in the field, and like the Haymakers they were far inferior to the Canaries but well ahead of the iron-gloved Resolutes. Third baseman Jimmy Collins had yet another fine season and did not commit a single error, nor did catcher King Kelly, who is known more for his bat than for his glove. 
• Haymakers: Anson played error-free ball at first base, and backstop Roger Bresnahan was also perfect in the field. There isn't much else to say about the Haymakers' defense; if they win, it's going to be because of their offense or their pitching.
• Advantage: Tie

Pitching

• Blue Legs: Prior to the season, the Legs flipped stud infielder George Wright to the Canaries for starter Pud Galvin, the reigning Playoff MVP. With Keefe and Nichols as their big arms, the defending champs didn't see the need to hang on to Galvin. Big mistake! The portly hurler turned in a brilliant season, finishing 5-3 in 11 starts. His 3.34 ERA was fifth in the league and better than both Keefe and Nichols. Galvin anchored the Legs' pitching staff while erstwhile ace Old Hoss Radbourn sorted things out. Radbourn ended up finishing 5-5, winning his last four decisions in a season that culminated in an astounding 18-inning complete-game shutout. Behind their two starters, the Legs have the reliable Al Spalding for long relief and tightrope-walking Vic Willis as their closer. 
• Haymakers: When the Haymakers finished the season allowing just 3.04 runs per game -- the best rate in league history by more than half a run -- it certainly wasn't because of their fielding. All the credit goes to the team's pair of aces, Cy Young (7-2, 2.12 ERA) and Mickey Welch (6-3, 2.41 ERA), who finished second and third, respectively, among the league's ERA leaders. Amos Rusie once again handled the closer duties, posting a 1-1 record with five saves in six chances; if not for that one blown save, Rusie would have turned in the finest season by a reliever that we've yet seen. The only weak link here is Jack Chesbro, who failed to capitalize on last season's breakthrough performance.  
• Advantage: Haymakers

Prediction

The Haymakers went 15-9 and the Blue Legs went 13-11, so only two games separated them in the standings. Looking the expected win percentages, however, the teams are nowhere near as close. With their measly +1 run differential, the Legs had an expected win percentage of .506 (vs. actual .542). Meanwhile, the Haymakers set a single-season record with a +30 differential that gave them an expected win percentage of .666 (vs. actual .625). Anything can happen in a five-game series, but the Haymakers have been the better team all year. I'm going with Haymakers in four.

Snyder Cut

THE SNYDER CUT DROPS AT MIDNIGHT!!!

Streakin'!

Although it counts for only one shutout in the books, Radbourn just pitched the equivalent of two consecutive complete-game shutouts. You might recall that John Clarkson of the Resolutes performed that feat during his first two starts of the season en route to a record 21-inning scoreless streak. Don't look now, John, but Old Hoss is right behind you! After throwing two scoreless innings in relief of Al Spalding over the weekend, Radbourn's 18-inning gem tonight puts him at 20 scoreless innings in a row. He won't get another regular-season start until next season, but he just needs one blank frame to match Clarkson's feat. I'm astonished that such a lofty record is in jeopardy so soon!

Let's Play Two!

One of the most iconic phrases in baseball history comes from the late, great Ernie Banks, who often said, "Let's play two!" Well, the Blue Legs and Canaries played two tonight, although it counts as only one game in the standings. One game, but eighteen innings. Yep, that's a league record for my nineteenth-century Hall of Famers! 

I'd venture to say that there isn't anything typical about an 18-inning game, but this one was bizarre all around. For one thing, the final score was just 1-0, which ties the mark for the lowest-scoring game in league history, despite being twice the length of a standard game. Holy cow (said the Scooter), it took 18 innings to score the game's first and only run! Even more astounding is that the fact that the two guys who started the game in the first inning -- Old Hoss Radbourn of the Blue Legs and Kid Nichols of the Canaries -- were still taking the mound in the 18th. 

Realistic? Obviously not today. In the nineteenth century, however, guys threw a lot of pitches, and they tended to finish what they started. When the ninth inning came and went with both men still working on shutouts, I didn't feel the need to remove them. There were a few opportune moments to lift them for pinch hitters, but both are reasonably proficient with the bat and Radbourn himself managed to pick up three hits in the game, which is more than most of the position players can say.

And I haven't even mentioned who won! In the end, the Legs edged the Birds by that single run when Jimmy Collins led off the 18th with a double and scored on pinch hitter Frank Chance's walkoff single. The Blue Legs' narrow victory also clinches them a spot in the Creighton Cup championship series against the first-place Haymakers. There are a still a few more regular-season games to wrap up before the championship, but I don't think anything will match the drama of what we saw tonight!

Oops...He Did It Again!

Tonight's game was a dustup between the Canaries and the Resolutes, with Kid Nichols and John Clarkson on the mound for their respective teams. Clarkson, of course, made history during his last start when he took the Haymakers' Mickey Welch deep to become the first pitcher in league history to hit a home run. Well, he just did it again! With one out and nobody on in the bottom of the seventh, Clarkson came to bat against Nichols and blasted another one out of the park. That blow increased the Resolutes' lead to 4-2, giving Clarkson a bit of insurance as he cruised toward his fourth victory of the season.

This win evens Clarkson's line at 4-4 in 10 starts. That record doesn't seem very impressive until you consider that Clarkson sports a 1.91 ERA, sandwiching him between the Haymakers' dynamic duo, Mickey Welch (1.83) and Cy Young (2.47), in the race for the league's ERA title. Welch (5-2) and Young (7-1) have the gaudy win-loss records, too, but Clarkson has pitched just as well as either of them. 

My favorite stat for Clarkson, however, is the sheer number of innings he's logged. With 10 starts, and assuming no extra-innings games, he would have a theoretical maximum of 90 innings pitched. His actual total? 85! That's a staggering body of work, even in a league where pitchers tend to finish their starts far more often than today. As of this writing, he's pitched a dozen more innings than the next-highest hurlers (Cy Young and Pud Galvin at 73 apiece). Clarkson is out there throwing quality innings game after game, giving the Resolutes an excellent chance to win every time he takes the mound. There's still a lot of baseball yet to be played, but I think we're looking at this year's Pitcher MVP -- even without those two home runs!

JOHN F****** CLARKSON!!!

Well, the matchup between Welch and Clarkson turned out to be the game of the year, but not for the reason I suspected. A highly touted pitchers' duel evaporated after just three batters, when Cap Anson homered off of Clarkson to give the Haymakers a 2-0 lead. Another run in the second made it 3-0, and Clarkson was looking shaky. 

Welch, meanwhile, was dealing. Through three innings he had allowed only one baserunner, and that man was quickly erased on a double play. It was shaping up to be another superlative performance for a pitcher who was looking more and more likely to win his second straight Pitcher MVP trophy. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Welch was hoping for another one-two-three inning, especially considering that fellow hurler Clarkson was up. What did Welch throw to Clarkson? Strat-O-Matic accurately simulates strikeouts, walks, and other outcomes, but it doesn't specify particular types of pitch. I imagine it was a curveball that didn't have quite enough bite, or a changeup that came in slow and fat over the plate. In any case, Clarkson whipped his bat around and connected.

Gone.

For the first time in over four-and-a-half seasons of play -- a total of 158 games, including regular season and playoffs -- a pitcher had hit a home run. Clarkson rounded the bases to the jubilant ovation of Resolutes fans who haven't had a lot to cheer about in their inaugural season. Even Welch must've tipped his cap. 

Clarkson didn't allow another run, but Welch didn't either. Amos Rusie, the Haymakers' hard-throwing closer, came on to pitch a scoreless ninth and secured the 3-1 victory. For the Haymakers, it was just another win that continued to increase their enormous lead in the standings. For the Resolutes, it was another chapter in the growing legend of John Clarkson, the heart and soul of this young team.

Marquee Matchup

Can't wait to roll some dice in tonight's Strat-O-Matic extravaganza! The Haymakers are visiting the Resolutes, and it's possibly the best pitching matchup of the season. For the home team, John Clarkson will toe the rubber, looking to improve upon his league-leading 1.75 ERA. His opponent is Mickey Welch, the defending Pitcher MVP, who sports a sterling 1.93 ERA of his own. It seems almost inevitable that one of these men will claim his second Pitcher MVP trophy at the end of the season, and both are within striking distance of the league-record single-season ERA of 1.61, set last year by Welch.