Editor’s note: The 100-Loss Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available.
Felix Mantilla‘s two-run homer in the top of the ninth proved to be the difference as the 1962 New York Mets will have an opportunity to play for the championship of the 100-Loss Tournament thanks to a 7-6 semifinal victory over the 1981 San Diego Padres.
The Mets will entertain the 1948 Chicago White Sox for the title. Roger Craig (1-0) will start on the mound for the Mets, while Randy Gumpert (1-0) gets the call for the White Sox.
With San Diego leading by a run, Danny Boone was called from the bullpen to slam the door on the Mets. It didn’t happen.
Elio Chacon singled to begin the inning before Boone fanned Choo-Choo Coleman and Richie Ashburn.
As the Padres prepared to celebrate, Mantilla made Boone pay for a mistake pitch that turned into a game-winning homer.
In the ninth, Mets manager Casey Stengel sent Bob Miller to the mound and he got the job done to send the Mets to the title game.
Mets Lead Early
New York appeared to be on the way to a win as the Mets scored four times in the second inning against Padres starter Chris Welsh. Chacon had a sacrifce fly before Coleman’s RBI double made it 2-0. Mantilla drove in the other two runs with a single.
The Padres started the road back with runs in the third and fourth. Juan Bonilla homered in the third and then Luis Salazar added a run-scoring double and it was 4-2.
Both teams picked up runs in the sixth. Marv Throneberry had a solo blast for the Mets, while Terry Kennedy‘s RBI single closed the Padres deficit to 5-3.
The bottom of the eighth was difficult for the Mets with starter Jay Hook, Bob Moorhead and Craig Anderson on the mound as San Diego grabbed a 6-5 lead.
After a run scored on an error, Gene Richards tied the game with a RBI single and Hook was finished. Moorhead walked the only two batters he faced with the last one to Randy Evans giving the Padres the lead. Anderson got Kennedy to pop out to end the rally to set the stage for Mantilla.
Anderson picked up the win with Miller getting a save. Boone was tagged with the loss.
100-Loss Tournament
Championship
1948 White Sox at 1962 Mets
Semifinals
1948 White Sox 2, 1955 Senators 0
1962 Mets 7, 1981 Padres 6
Second Round Results
1948 White Sox 7, 2006 Devil Rays 3
1955 Senators 7, 1977 Blue Jays 4
1962 Mets 6, 2012 Astros 2
1981 Padres 9, 1969 Expos 8
First Round Results
1948 White Sox 5, 1988 Orioles 2
2006 Devil Rays 4, 1975 Tigers 2 (10)
1955 Senators 4, 1988 Braves 3
1977 Blue Jays 5, 2012 Cubs 4
1962 Mets 5 at 2002 Brewers 3
2012 Astros 2, 1980 Mariners 1
1969 Expos 4, 2006 Royals 2
1981 Padres 6, 2022 Reds 5 (14)