Editor’s note: The 1960 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.
A pair of unearned runs proved to be the difference as the 1967 St. Louis Cardinals got by the 1961 Detroit Tigers 2-1 in the first round of the 1960s Diamond Gems Tournament.
In the bottom of the second inning, Cardinals third baseman reached on an error by Detroit first basemen Norm Cash. Detroit starter Frank Lary then allowed back-to-back singles by Julian Javier and Dal Maxvill as the Shannon scored to make it 1-0.
One frame later, it was a miscue by Lary that put Lou Brock on first base. After Brock swiped second, Curt Flood‘s single made it 2-0.
The score remained the same until the eighth when the Tigers picked up their run off St. Louis starter Bob Gibson. Jake Wood tripled leading off the inning and he later scored on a groundout by Bill Bruton that Orlando Cepeda fielded, but because Gibson had to cover the bag Wood was able to race to home plate.
From that point, Gibson didn’t allow a base runner as the Cardinals held on for the win.
Gibson (1-0) gave up six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in his complete game effort. Lary (0-1) also went the distance surrendering nine hits with seven strikeouts and a walk over his eight innings.
Second Round Schedule
1960 Pittsburgh Pirates at 1961 New York Yankees
1968 St. Louis Cardinals at 1969 New York Mets
1967 Boston Red Sox at 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers
First Round Results and Schedule
1961 New York Yankees 12, 1962 New York Mets 2
1960 Pittsburgh Pirates 3, 1969 Baltimore Orioles 0
1969 New York Mets 3, 1961 Cincinnati Reds 0
1968 St. Louis Cardinals 3, 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers 2
1967 Boston Red Sox 2, 1968 Detroit Tigers 1
1965 Los Angeles Dodgers 6, 1962 San Francisco Giants 0
1967 St. Louis Cardinals 2, 1961 Detroit Tigers 1
1965 Minnesota Twins at 1966 Baltimore Orioles