The All-Time Yankees Tournament, Round 1, part 1

 Ah, nothing like the first round of March Madness ... baseball style.

Here's the results from the first-round series on the left side of the bracket (Bomber and Clipper regions). A sweep, a couple nail-biters, and one marathon game. 

1953 Yankees beat 2000 Yankees, 4 games to 3

1978 Yankees beat 1941 Yankees, 4 games to 0

1932 Yankees beat 1952 Yankees, 4 games to 3

1938 Yankees beat 1999 Yankees, 4 games to 1

2009 Yankees beat 1956 Yankees, 4 games to 2

To see more details about each series, click below (didn't want to take up too much space on the main blog page)

1953 Yankees beat 2000 Yankees, 4 games to 3

Game 1: 2000 7, 1953 6

Game 2: 1953 7, 2000 3

Game 3: 1953 7, 2000 3 (not a misprint; back-to-back 7-3 games)

Game 4: 2000 6, 1953 3

Game 5: 1953 4, 2000 1

Game 6: 2000 8, 1953 7, 11 innings

Game 7: 1953 1, 2000 0

Possibly the best series of the tournament is the first one. The computer gave Yogi Berra the MVP (.393, 4 HRs, 7 RBIs, 7 runs), but you could make an argument for Whitey Ford (2 wins, including a complete-game, 5-hit shutout in Game 7). In Game 6, the 2000 Yanks were down 5-0 in the second inning, but rallied to take a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Mickey Mantle's 2-out, 2-run single tied the game at 7, though, and forced extra innings. In the top of the 11th, Glenallen Hill hit a pinch-hit, solo HR that proved to be the game-winner to force a Game 7. In that Game 7, though, Billy Martin doubled in Joe Collins in the second inning and Whitey made it hold up with his complete game win.

1978 Yankees beat 1941 Yankees, 4 games to 0

Game 1: 1978 3, 1941 2, 12 innings

Game 2: 1978 8, 1941 5

Game 3: 1978 10, 1941 5

Game 4: 1978 2, 1941 1

A sweep for the Bronx Zoo. In a curious decision, the computer manager has Gary Thomasson as the regular DH and Lou Piniella in a pinch-hitting role. Whatever, it worked, as Thomasson was the series MVP, hitting .412 with a home run and 5 RBIs. Reggie Jackson had just 4 hits, but 3 were home runs and he drive in 5 runs. In Game 2, the '78 team scored 7 runs in the bottom of the ninth, highlighted by a walk-off 3-run HR by Jackson. Ed Figueroa won the clincher with a complete game, allowing 1 run on 8 hits. 

1932 Yankees beat 1952 Yankees, 4 games to 3

Game 1: 1952 5, 1932 1

Game 2: 1952 6, 1932 4

Game 3: 1932 3, 1952 1

Game 4: 1932 10, 1952 9

Game 5: 1932 9, 1952 5

Game 6: 1952 8, 1932 4

Game 7: 1932 8, 1952 2

Lots of offense. Bill Dickey has 4 HRs and 11 RBIs to win the MVP award, while Lou Gehrig hit .381 and drive in 7 runs. and Samuel Byrd had 4 HRs for the 1932 Yankees, which helped pick up the slack from some guy named Babe Ruth, who went just 4-for-26 with 1 RBI. Lefty Gomez won 2 games, including the clincher. Mickey Mantle hit .320 with a home run and 9 RBIs and Yogi had 2 HRs and 5 RBIs for 1952, but it wasn't enough.

1938 Yankees beat 1999 Yankees, 4 games to 1

Game 1: 1938 5, 1999 1

Game 2: 1999 4, 1938 3

Game 3: 1938 5, 1999 1

Game 4: 1938 5, 1999 1

Game 5: 1938 4, 1999 3, 18 innings

The 1999 offense could not get untracked. Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius and Jorge Posada all hit under .200. Jeter hit .353, but didn't drive in a run. Ricky Ledee was an ugly 1-for-24 (don't ask me why he played all 5 games). Joe DiMaggio was the series MVP, going 12-for-24 with a home run and 7 RBIs. The final game was a marathon, and ended when Bill Dickey singled in Red Rolfe, who led off the bottom of the 18th with a triple. 

2009 Yankees beat 1956 Yankees, 4 games to 2

Game 1: 2009 9, 1956 0

Game 2: 1956 7, 2009 2

Game 3: 2009 6, 1956 2

Game 4: 2009 15, 1956 6

Game 5: 1956 3, 2009 2

Game 6: 2009 6, 1956 5

Another walkoff series winner, with Derek Jeter hitting a 2-run single in the bottom of the 9th in Game 6, scoring Nick Swisher and Johnny Damon (who crossed the plate ahead of the throw by Mickey Mantle). Mark Teixeira was the series MVP, hitting .519 (14-for-27) with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs. Jeter hit .333 with 5 RBIs and Eric Hinske (who, in another head-scratching decision by the computer, started ahead of Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui), had 2 HRs and 6 RBIs. Pettitte struggled (0-1, 7.04 ERA in 2 starts) but Sabathia (1-1, 1.59 ERA) and Burnett (complete game win in Game 3)  picked him up. Bill Skowron hit .400 and Billy Martin .350. Whitey Ford got roughed up in Game 1 but came back to win Game 5.

Next: First-round games in the other two brackets.