Jim Gilliam provided the big hit as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Baltimore 3-2 to claim the championship of the Strat-O-Matic 1959 Tournament presented by Press Room Pass.
With Los Angeles down 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Gilliam smacked a two-run homer off Hoyt Wilhelm to give the Dodgers their first lead of the finale.
Los Angeles starter Don Drysdale worked a perfect ninth to seal the victory for the Dodgers. He surrendered five hits and fanned 10.
Wilhelm gave up seven hits and had nine strikeouts.
The Orioles got on the scoreboard in the third inning. Brooks Robinson led off with a triple and came home on a single by Al Pilarcik.
A sacrifice fly in the fourth by Gil Hodges tied it at 1-1.
Baltimore took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth as Robinson knocked in a run as he beat out a double play attempt by the Dodgers.
Along with Gilliam’s homer, Maury Wills, Duke Snider, Don Demeter and Johnny Roseboro each had hits for the Dodgers.
Pilarcik and Willie Tasby led the Orioles with two hits apiece, while Walt Dropo and Billy Gardner both had hits for the Orioles.
1959 TOURNAMENT RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Championship Game
(N1) Los Angeles Dodgers 3, (A6) Baltimore Orioles 2
(Top Bracket Opening Round)
(A1) Chicago White Sox 7, (N8) Philadelphia Phillies 1
(N5) Cincinnati Reds 5, (A4) Detroit Tigers 3
(A6) Baltimore Orioles 2, (N3) San Francisco Giants 1
(N2) Milwaukee Braves 4, (A7) Kansas City A’s 1
(Top Bracket Second Round)
(A1) Chicago White Sox 10, (N5) Cincinnati Reds 4
(A6) Baltimore Orioles 3, (N2) Milwaukee Braves 0
(Top Bracket Final)
(A6) Baltimore Orioles 4, (A1) Chicago White Sox 2
(Bottom Bracket Opening Round)
(N1) Los Angeles Dodgers 4, (A8) Washington Senators 3
(A5) Boston Red Sox 16, (N4) Pittsburgh Pirates 3
(N6) Chicago Cubs 4, (A3) New York Yankees 0
(A2) Cleveland Indians 3, (N7) St. Louis Cardinals 0
(Bottom Bracket Second Round)
(N1) Los Angeles Dodgers 11, (A5) Boston Red Sox 3
(N6) Chicago Cubs 9, (A2) Cleveland Indians 2
(Bottom Bracket Final)
(N1) Los Angeles Dodgers 4, (N6) Chicago Cubs 2 (10 innings)
IN REAL LIFE:
Jim Gilliam played his entire 14-year career with the Dodgers. He started in Brooklyn in 1953 and finished in Los Angeles after 1966.
Gilliam was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1953 as he led the majors with 17 triples.
After making the all-star team in 1956, he made the squad for a second time in 1959. He batted .282 that season and led the NL in walks with 96.
A member of world championship teams in 1955, 1959, 1963 and 1965, Gilliam was a very versatile performer for the Dodgers. He played 1,042 games at second and 765 at third, but also had 224 in all three outfield positions. He even had two contests at first base in 1966.
Gilliam served as a coach for the Dodgers in 1964 and remained in that position until 1978 when he died in September. His No. 19 was retired just days after he passed away.