Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice.
There wasn’t much doubt that the Philadelphia Phillies would be in the championship game of the 1955 Tournament.
The Phillies started scoring early on their way to an 11-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the semifinal round at Comiskey Park.
Back-to-back RBI singles by Willie Jones and Andy Seminick gave the Phillies a 2-0 advantage in the first inning.
In the third, the Phillies ended the day for Chicago starter Dick Donovan with one out.
Seminick walked with the bases loaded and Jim Greengrass followed with a sacrifice fly and it was 4-0.
Philadelphia added three more runs in the fourth to make it 7-0.
Stan Lopata had a run-scoring triple and Del Ennis banged a two-run homer.
The White Sox scored both of their runs in the fifth off Philadelphia starter Saul Rogovin.
Chico Carrasquel knocked in a the first score with a fielder’s choice, while Nellie Fox had a RBI single.
Philadelphia added four runs in the ninth to cap the win.
Earl Torgeson and Lopata both walked with the bases loaded before Seminick and Greengrass finished with RBI doubles.
The Phillies travel to the Polo Grounds for the championship tilt against the New York Giants.
1955 IN REAL LIFE: Seminick was picked up early in the 1955 season by the Phillies in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. He had 11 homers and 34 RBI for the Phillies.
After stints in the minors with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers, Seminick reached the big leagues with Philadelphia in 1943.
By 1949, Seminick was an all-star for the only time in his 15-year career. He finished with 24 homers and 68 RBI.
The following season he had indentical marks in homers and RBI, while helping the Phillies to the 1950 World Series. Unfortunately for the Whiz Kids, they would be swept by the New York Yankees.
Prior to the 1952 season, Seminick was sent to the Reds in a seven=player swap that also involved Smoky Burgess. It was a six-player deal with the Reds that brought Seminick back to the Phillies in 1955. One of the players sent to the Reds was Burgess.
Seminick ended his career with the Phillies in 1957.
Championship Game
(4) Philadelphia Phillies at (3) New York Giants
Semifinal Results
(3) New York Giants 5, (1) Brooklyn Dodgers 2
(4) Philadelphia Phillies 11, (3) Chicago White Sox 2
Second Round Results
Upper Bracket
(1) Brooklyn Dodgers 6, (5) Cincinnati Reds 4
(3) New York Giants 5, (7) St. Louis Cardinals 0
Lower Bracket
(3) Chicago White Sox 5, (7) Baltimore Orioles 3
(4) Philadelphia Phillies 7, (8) Pittsburgh Pirates 1
First Round Results
Upper Bracket
(1) Brooklyn Dodgers 4, (8) Washington Senators 0
(5) Cincinnati Reds 7, (4) Boston Red Sox 3
(3) New York Giants 2, (6) Kansas City Athletics 1
(7) St. Louis Cardinals 6, (2) Cleveland Indians 1
Lower Bracket
(7) Baltimore Orioles 6, (2) Milwaukee Braves 1
(3) Chicago White Sox 8, (6) Chicago Cubs 4
(4) Philadelphia Phillies 3, (5) Detroit Tigers 1
(8) Pittsburgh Pirates 3, (1) New York Yankees 2