Tuesday, March 23, 2021

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. 




9 comments:

JM said...

This is excellent. The only series I quibble with is the last, because I just have never seen the 2009 team as being THAT good.

But, whatever. Fantastic work, man!

el duque said...

I love this.

Watch out for 1978 Yankees. They beat a tough team - Mantle's triple crown Yankees - but the computer manager needs to be fired.

Anonymous said...

Well I'm out! Not sure what I was thinking with my 1999 Yankees pick for best team.

Fortunately I've got a hundo on the Washington Generals beating the Globetrotters tonight. So there's that.

Doug K.

Anonymous said...

One more thing...

Fuck Ricky Ledee.

Doug K.

DickAllen said...



The suspense is killing me.

But...

Eric Hinske? Seriously?

DickAllen said...


And, while perusing all this delicious information, I started thinking of a song:

Dear Mister Fantasy, play us a tune
Something to make us all happy
Do anything, take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy

Keep the jukebox spinning Senor El Maestro!

BernBabyBern said...

Yeah, the computer using Hinske and Thomasson in the lineups kind of threw me. ... If I'd stuck with 5-man rotations, Mariano Rivera would have started Game 5 for the 96 Yankees (that's because I'm using the World Series rosters, and they're not built for 5-man rotations).

HoraceClarke66 said...

I don't really get the whole thing with using the subs in every series (Sammy Byrd was basically Ruth's legs). How does this tell us anything about which team is better?

But hey, I suspect this is the most entertainment we will have all summer.

Isiyku Abdulahi said...


I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
God bless you
I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.