Hall Day

Before the next batch of exhibition results comes out of the oven, I want to congratulate Andre Dawson on being elected to the Hall of Fame. (And also Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar, who just missed this year, on their eventual elections.)

Dawson may not have had a great on-base percentage, but he did just about everything else really well. He played in Florida’s first game, which is featured near the bottom of this as I am going in order of the games as they were played, and which featured a surprise hitting hero. Read on.

South Carolina 6, Maine 0: LaMarr Hoyt pitched six shutout innings and Aaron Robinson hit his second homer in two games, a three-run shot, for the Sandlappers. Robinson drove in four runs in the game and also blocked the plate to save a run as Larry Doby threw out George Gore at the plate. Bobby Bolin and Billy O’Dell completed the six-hit shutout.

Twin States 5, Delaware 1: The Twins scored all five runs in the second inning to win for the second time in a row. Fred Mann singled with the bases loaded, and Rube Vinson’s error allowed a third run to score on the play. Mann then scored on Red Rolfe’s single, which chased Quicksteps starter Ian Snell. Lefty Ray Collins stopped Delaware on six hits through six innings, and three relievers each pitched a scoreless inning for the Twins.

Rhode Island 2, North Carolina 1: Hugh Duffy homered and Max Surkont gave up just one hit over six innings as the supposedly undermanned Reds won again. Jimmy Cooney’s double off Hoyt Wilhelm in the eighth broke the tie and gave the Ocean State a close victory, not the kind their fans were probably expecting. Dan Wheeler got the win in relief and Clem Labine picked up the save.

Connecticut 3, West Virginia 2: In a Big East matchup, Ned Hanlon went 3 for 3 and doubled in the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth for the Yankees (not Huskies). The hit made a winner of reliever Fred Goldsmith, with Ricky Bottalico posting the save. Jock Menefee pitched five innings for the Mountaineers, allowing one run and also driving one in. Reliever Chuck Stobbs took the loss.

Ohio 3, Pennsylvania 1: Dean Chance took a no-hitter into the sixth and Mike Schmidt homered for the Ohioans. Thurman Munson had three hits and an RBI and Rollie Fingers pitched two hitless innings for the save. Pennsylvania lost for the second time, managing just four hits. Hack Wilson drove in the only run for the Keystones and starter Jamie Moyer took the loss.

Michigan 4, New Jersey 3: Frank Tanana pitched five strong innings and contributed a two-run single to give Michigan its second win. Hardy Richardson was again the offensive star for New Jersey with a two-run single in the eighth, but Steve Howe came on and got the last four outs for the save. Losing pitcher Johnny Vander Meer gave up three runs in four innings.

(Now on to the Central, Midwest and South section teams.)

Minnesota 8, Kansas 4: The Gophers pounded Elden Auker for four runs in the first and added two more in each of the next two innings. Jerry Koosman went five innings for the win, and for good measure tripled in a run. He gave up a homer to Bob Horner, and two other Jayhawks homered in the game, Ray Mueller and Don Lock. Joe Mauer, Dave Winfield and Johnny Blanchard all doubled in the four-run first.

Missouri 13, Georgia 10: A football game? No, but Mizzou put up a touchdown (and extra point) in the seventh to win a wild one at Sportsman’s Park. Josh Gibson drove in four runs with a double and three-run homer, and pinch hitter Brian McCann’s grand slam gave the Peaches a 10-6 lead in the fifth. But the Tigers started the comeback in the seventh on Glenn Wright’s three-run homer, and Darrell Porter’s two-run pinch single later in the inning put them ahead to stay. Leroy Matlock got the win with two strong relief innings and Joe Wood pitched the ninth for the save. Todd Jones took the loss.

Tennessee 8, Iowa 6: Ed Bailey drove in four runs as the Volunteers beat Hall of Famer Red Faber at Dyersville Field. Turkey Stearnes drove in a pair and light-hitting Tom Fisher homered for the winners. Pinch hitter Bing Miller’s two-run single started Iowa’s comeback from an 8-2 deficit but it was too late. Red Lucas went five innings for the win, and also went 2 for 2 with an RBI for Tennessee.

Mississippi 3, Dakota 2: Sam Leslie’s sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth for the Mudcats. Dave Parker knocked in the other two runs for Mississippi, and Del Paddock’s pinch single tied it for the Roughriders in the seventh. In the eighth against Kerry Ligtenberg, Chet Lemon walked and moved up to third on a Bill Hall single followed by a Tim Olson error. Leslie’s RBI fly ball made a winner of Boo Ferriss, with Marshall Bridges getting the save.

Nebraska 5, Wisconsin 3: Russ Snyder and Pug Bennett produced RBI singles in the ninth for the Cornhuskers. Wisconsin raced to a 3-0 lead in the second with Damian Miller’s triple the key blow against Nebraska starter Sheldon Jones, but the Huskers tied it up in their third on Richie Ashburn’s two-run single and Wade Boggs’ sacrifice fly. Player-manager Billy Southworth started the ninth inning rally with a pinch single against Badgers losing pitcher Bob Wickman. Joba Chamberlain was the winner for Nebraska and Sloppy Thurston got the save.

Illinois 4, Alabama 1: Al Spalding almost made some more incredible history. Against a lineup featuring six Hall of Famers, Spalding retired the first 18 Alabama batters. Illinois manager Whitey Herzog left him in and Joe Sewell finally got a single leading off the seventh. When Billy Williams homered with two out in the eighth, Herzog removed Spalding to a warm ovation at Rickwood Field. Robin Yount homered off Yellowhammers starter Double Duty Radcliffe and Ted Kluszewski had two hits and an RBI for the Railsplitters.

Kentucky 3, Minnesota 2: John Beckwith’s two-run homer in the eighth off Steve Foucault was the difference for the Colonels. Bill Gullickson pitched brilliantly for Minnesota, giving up just one hit in five innings. Jim Eisenreich homered for the Gophers. Paul Derringer pitched seven strong innings for Kentucky, Howie Camnitz got the win with a scoreless eighth and Jon Rauch pitched the ninth for the save.

Indiana 6, Missouri 2: Oscar Charleston was as good as advertised, homering, stealing a base and driving in three runs for the Hoosiers. His two-run double in the first off Clark Griffith keyed a four-run Indiana inning. Babe Adams took it from there, hurling six shutout innings for the hosts at Victory Field. Scott Rolen also homered for the Hoosiers.

Canada 8, Iowa 7: In the first exhibition game involving an international team, the Canadians won it on a two-run homer in the eighth off the usually light bat of Larry McLean. Iowa had taken the lead in the top of the eighth at Jarry Park on Jerry Hairston Jr.’s two-run single off eventual winner Claude Raymond, but the Maple Leafs came back against Jake Weimer when Tip O’Neill singled and McLean went deep. In 13 seasons, the New Brunswick native hit just six homers. John Hiller saved it and Jeff Heath, Pete Ward and Justin Morneau also homered for Canada. Fred Clarke had a three-run homer for the Hawkeyes.

Mississippi 5, Arkansas 4: Luke Easter’s RBI single in the eighth broke a tie and gave the Mudcats another win. Mississippi scored four in the first against a very wild Gene Bearden, with Jake Gibbs knocking in two with a base hit. But the Travelers came back to tie it with the help of a Floyd Robinson homer and Lou Brock’s two-run single in the sixth. In the eighth, Dmitri Young singled off Johnny Sain and moved to second when Brock misplayed the ball. An infield out advanced Young and Easter drove him in. Atley Donald was the winner and submariner Chad Bradford finished for the save.

Florida 2, Wisconsin 1 (14 innings): In a marathon that saw 52 of 56 possible players get into the box score, the last one, pinch hitter Steve Carlton, drove in the winner for Florida. Lefty, held out of mound action for the regular season opener, got the call to hit for Tim Wakefield from Tony La Russa with the bases loaded and no out in the Suns 14th. It was a gamble with only Carlton and Doc Gooden left to pitch, but Carlton pushed one through the drawn-in Badger infield to win it. Fred McGriff homered for the first Florida run, but Ginger Beaumont’s single off Bobby Thigpen tied it in the ninth. Bob Wickman lost for the second time, though Carlton’s single came off Ryne Duren, the 25th Badger to see action. Newly minted Hall of Famer Andre Dawson played all the way in center field for Florida, going 1 for 5 and throwing out a runner at the plate.

Alabama 10, Oklahoma 4: Double Duty Radcliffe, who pitched Alabama’s other game, caught this time and went 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBI for the Yellowhammers. Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Billy Williams also homered to back Jimmy Key, who retired the first 13 Oklahoma batters before Johnny Bench singled. Oilers starter Ralph Terry was hammered for five runs and took the loss. New $119 million man Matt Holliday hit a pinch homer and hopefully bought dinner for his Oklahoma teammates after the game.

In a couple days, some more exhibition games, and then we’ll wrap up a few odds and ends and at long last get on to the real thing.

Southern accent

Somehow, I skipped right over the Midwest group. I meant to do these alphabetically. Well, I promised the South next so we’ll do that now, then go back.

Along with the Central, the South figures to be the most competitive of our groups. Good rivalries too with the SEC states well represented.

Size really doesn’t matter down here. Florida or Georgia might be the biggest but I think there is less difference top to bottom here than anywhere else. A pretty good team is going to stay home, and it might be tough to get a wild-card spot as well because there isn’t a weak team to beat up on.

1. Alabama. It’s a great time to be a Crimson Tide fan again, and the Yellowhammers should keep the good feeling going down there. I just can’t bet against Mays, Aaron and Paige.

2. Georgia. Extremely dangerous offense, with Cobb, Robinson, Gibson and whomever plays first. But I don’t know, even with Dick Redding, if the pitching is enough.

3. Florida. Really good outfield with Raines-Dawson-Sheffield, and Pop Lloyd is as good as it gets at shortstop. Pitching might be shaky behind Carlton.

4. Kentucky. Tough call between the neighbors but I think the Commonwealth is a little better at key spots (especially shortstop). On the bubble for the tournament.

5. Tennessee. I could see the Vols moving higher if the pitching holds up, because they will score some runs with Helton, Stearnes and Co.

6. Mississippi. Cool Papa Bell sets the table for Dave Parker, George Scott and others, but Roy Oswalt is about the only reliable arm around, unless Brett Favre retires again and joins this team.

Next: We’re down to the Midwest and the Southwest groups, plus we’ll look at our first exhibition results.

So here we are

It seems appropriate, though I guess it really isn’t, to visit how our teams will be grouped on the day of the World Cup draw. It just happened to come out that way. (And I wish I could see Charlize Theron better in this photo, but hey.)

We have 54 teams, so either we go with six groups of nine, or nine groups of six. I opted to go with more groups and fewer teams. As for the schedules, more about that later, but I think each team will play 30 games, and then be flung into the knockout stages (more World Cup talk). I’m leaning toward keeping 32 of the 54 teams for the tournament.

I wanted to keep the teams in groups that made as much sense as possible geographically. I didn’t want any far-flung NFL-style divisions if I could help it. But we have 10 international teams, and only six of them can be in the international division. So it wasn’t going to work completely.

I also wanted to keep as much competitive balance as possible. New York and Pennsylvania, for instance, are neighbors, but it makes no sense for them to be in the same group because they’re two of the best teams overall. Splitting them up made things complicated because we have so many eastern states. So some groups, I’m afraid, are stronger than others; that’s why I’m leaning toward keeping more teams in the bracket.

So we did the best we could. Here are the groups:

PACIFIC: Alaska/Hawaii, California, Japan, Oregon, Washington, Yellowstone
SOUTHWEST: Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Mexico, Mountain West, Texas
GREAT LAKES: Canada, Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin
CAPITOL: D.C., Europe, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia
SOUTH: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee
ATLANTIC: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina
NORTHEAST: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Twin States
CENTRAL: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma
INTERNATIONAL: Cuba, Dominican Republic, NJAA, Panama Plus, Puerto Rico, Venezuela

Well, I can hear everyone (if anyone is actually reading this) saying, “There isn’t a Great Lake near the Dakotas, is there?” or “Those teams in the Capitol Division make no sense” or asking other questions I can’t even think of here. I plead guilty and I can’t really think of a better name than Great Lakes.

I wanted to work it out to put Dakota in the division with the Plains teams, because that looks like it doesn’t have any bad teams in it. But it might be more fun to follow as a result.

And, like with the World Cup draw, some groups are going to be tougher than others. The “Group of Death” here might be the Atlantic, although Delaware and South Carolina probably aren’t going to scare too many people.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at each group, starting with that Atlantic bunch.

Dakota territory

North and South Dakota entered the union on the same day 120 years ago this month. They’ll be together again in this project, because on their own they wouldn’t have enough players.

I mentioned in the Alabama post that my dad watched Satchel Paige pitch in Bismarck. Both of my parents were born in North Dakota and many relatives remain there. My grandfather, my dad’s dad, was born in South Dakota and was on the front lines in World War I when the shooting stopped. My parents both served in WWII and this seems like a good week to honor the service of Americans past and present.

Not surprisingly, there aren’t a lot of players from the Dakotas. Just barely over the 50 mark. And unfortunately, Roger Maris isn’t one of them.

Maris is big in North Dakota. There’s a Roger Maris Museum in Fargo, which I have visited. He went to high school in Fargo and he’s buried there. But he was born in Hibbing, Minn. So that makes him a member of the Minnesota Muskies for our purposes. Sorry.

The top players will be DH Travis Hafner – who will be forced to wear a glove in this DH-less project – and outfielder-first baseman-punter Darin Erstad. Author/catcher Chris Coste will play a lot as will Carroll Hardy, an NFL player for a while and the only man to pinch hit for Ted Williams. And Ken Hunt, who had a big year in 1961 with the expansion Angels and who was also the stepfather of Butch Patrick, a/k/a Eddie Munster.

The pitching will keep things respectable. The bullpen of Keith Foulke, Terry Forster and Kerry Ligtenberg should hold leads if they get them. The rotation is headed by Floyd Bannister, Jim “Death Valley Days” Scott and Rick Helling.

Two managers, both born in South Dakota, are the candidates. They’ve combined for five World Series wins. For now, Sparky Anderson has a 3-2 edge on Terry Francona. “Tito” still has time though, but he’ll be needed as a player for this team as an outfielder-first baseman. So Sparky will get the call. This won’t be anything like his days with the Reds or the Tigers, of course, but the pitching will keep them from being at the bottom.

DAKOTA ROUGHRIDERS

RH Raleigh Aitchison
LH Floyd Bannister
LH Brandon Claussen
OF Dave Collins
CA Chris Coste
RH Justin Duchscherer
2B Mark Ellis
OF Darin Erstad
LH Terry Forster
RH Keith Foulke
UT Terry Francona
1B Travis Hafner
CA Truck Hannah
OF Carroll Hardy
RH Tom Hausman
RH Rick Helling
OF Ken Hunt
UT Tim Johnson
OF Jason Kubel
RH Kerry Ligtenberg
RH Lynn Nelson
2B Marv Olson
UT Tim Olson
3B Del Paddock
CA Len Rice
RH Jim Scott
RH John Strohmayer
3B Kermit Wahl

Next: The other three-headed monster.