COVID World Series Part VIII - World Series Game 5

Mike Norris didn't pitch too poorly, and but my offense couldn't get much going against Pedro Martinez. Garry Maddox crashed into the wall chasing a Barry Bonds hit turning it into an inside-the-park home run (Z-cards, am I right?)

Garry Templeton was definitely the MVP for my squad hitting .542 and scoring 5 runs, but Leo's power and superior starting pitching made the difference. Ken Griffey Jr. was finally held without a homer, but his 2 run double started the scoring and sealed the Series MVP for him.

COVID World Series Part VII - World Series Game 4

I reached out to my one player I could find on twitter. Manny Sanguillen, prior to Game 4 and he liked my tweet - so there was that going for me

My squad of 1970s favorites is down 3 games to 0 to @dabearsfan40. We need a big game from @TheRealSangy35 and teammates https://t.co/9jvYuuTAXR

— Mike Altese (@mpharmd98) May 16, 2020

That was enough apparently. Vida Blue pitched well enough on 3 days rest and a 3-run homer from Henry Aaron completed a 5 run 3rd inning. 4 insurance runs in the 8th offset Ken Griffey Jr. homer streak continuing in the 9th.
Moving on to game 5!

COVID-19 World Series Part VI - World Series Game 3

For the earlier parts of this series
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV 

I sent Mickey Lolich out to try to get my team a victory. He pitched pretty well, but gave up 3 home runs. First a two-run shot to Ken Griffey Jr. - his 4th consecutive game with a homer and 2 solo homers to Barry Bonds. The offense scraped together 2 runs, but wasted opportunities and lost game 3 by a score of 6-2.

 

COVID-19 World Series Part V - World Series Game 2

For the earlier parts of this series
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

Game 2 Mark Fidrych faced Orel Hershiser. Fidrych got spotted 3 runs in the first, but gave them back in the bottom half of the inning. Ken Griffey Jr. powered Leo to a 6-4 victory.

COVID-19 World Series Part IV - World Series Game 1

For the earlier parts of this series
Part I
Part II
Part III

Game 1 was Vida Blue facing Pedro Martinez. Blue got rocked early falling behind 9-2, a 6th inning comeback tightened the game to 9-8, but that was as close as my team would get.

COVID-19 World Series Part III - the NLCS

For Part I - the explanation
For Part II - the ALCS

The NLCS went 6 games before Leo's team finished off Madds.

Game 1 - George Brett homered in extra innings to win the game for Leo

Game 2 - Orel Hershiser pitched a gem and knocked in all the runs he needed to take a two games to zero lead

In game 3 Madds team got on the board with on offensive onslaught over Justin Verlander.

Game 4 went back to Leo as Jack Morris struck out 10 batters

Game 5 - Bob Gibson sent the first 26 batters down in order before Rajai Davis had a controversial bunt to break up the perfect game - Gibson held on for the win.

Leo's team ended the series in the 6th game with timely homers and Bruce Sutter closed out the game in a loooong win. And was the series MVP.

COVID-19 World Series Part II - The ALCS

For Part I
The first baseball cards I ever purchased were the Topps 1975 cards, from Pat & Jim's on Delta Avenue in Gladstone. It's still my favorite card style - I'm not alone in that opinion.

That set, like many in the 1970's had summary cards of playoff and World Series games. So I started making those too.

Game 1 was a late victory for me with Dave Bergman hitting a pinch hit home run.

Game 2 A Joe Morgan homer was the difference.

Game 3 was another close battle, but my squad took a 3 games to 0 lead and Rollie Fingers picked up his 3rd save.

With their backs to the wall Fergie Jenkins went on 3 days rest and kept Paul's team alive.

Vida Blue pitched a gem in game 5 to close out the series.

Rollie Fingers and his 3 saves made him the MVP of the ALCS, other options were Dave Bergman and his 2 pinch hit homers, Manny Sanguillen or Hank Aaron pacing the offense. But in 5 close games, the bullpen made the real difference.