Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Three-man pitching rotations will be used for starting pitchers. Injuries are in-game only during this single elimination event.
Luke Easter silenced everyone at Ebbets Field except for his teammates.
With one swing, Easter would set off a celebration in the visiting dugout as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-2 in the championship game of the 1951 Tournament.
The game was tied 2-2 heading into the ninth inning as Jim Hegan led off with a single against Brooklyn starter Don Newcombe.
Cleveland starting pitcher Bob Feller attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Hegan was thrown out as he raced to second.
That mistake was quickly forgotten by the Indians as Dale Mitchell doubled to put runners and second and third.
Newcombe retired Bobby Avila on a line drive to first, but he was trying to be careful to Larry Doby, who his a pair of homers in the Cleveland victory in the semifinal.
Doby ended up with a walk that loaded the bases for Easter, who would soon be the hero. Clem Labine retired Al Rosen as he was called from the bullpen to replace the dejected Newcombe (1-1), who gave up 10 hits with five walks and six strikeouts.
Feller (2-0) closed out his complete game effort with a perfect ninth to officially begin the party for Cleveland. Feller allowed five hits and fanned five to get the win.
Mitchell led off the contest in the first inning with a single and then moved to third on a single by Avila. Doby hit into a double play as Mitchell gave the Indians a 1-0 advantage.
Brooklyn scored twice in the second frame as Roy Campanella and Andy Pafko hit solo shots off Feller.
Rosen tied the game with a homer in the sixth inning as the two teams were locked in a tense battle for the tourney title.
1951 Tournament
Championship Game
(2) Cleveland Indians 6, (2) Brooklyn Dodgers 2
Semifinals
(2) Brooklyn Dodgers 5, (4) Boston Braves 0
(2) Cleveland Indians 4, (5) Philadelphia Phillies 3
Second Round Results
(4) Boston Braves 5, (8) Chicago Cubs 3
(2) Brooklyn Dodgers 4, (6) Cincinnati Reds 1
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 5, (8) St. Louis Browns 3
(2) Cleveland Indians 5, (3) St. Louis Cardinals 2
First Round Results
(8) Chicago Cubs 2 at (1) New York Yankees 1
(4) Boston Braves 5, (5) Detroit Tigers 2
(6) Cincinnati Reds 4, (3) Boston Red Sox 2
(2) Brooklyn Dodgers 4, (7) Washington Senators 2
(8) St. Louis Browns 6, (1) New York Giants 1
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 10, (4) Chicago White Sox 3
(3) St. Louis Cardinals 2, (6) Philadelphia Athletics 0
(2) Cleveland Indians 5, (7) Pittsburgh Pirates 3