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.
Al Oliver blasted a key hit, while Bob Moose tossed a five-hitter to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to the championship game of the 1969 Strat-o-Matic Tournament.
The Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 in Candlestick Park to earn their place in the finale.
Pittsburgh will face the winner of the other semifinal affair between the Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles.
With the score tied at 1-1, Richie Hebner walked and Willie Stargell singled with one out to begin the rally against Giants starter Mike McCormick.
After Roberto Clemente grounded out to advance the runners a base, Oliver drilled a triple that gave the Pirates a 3-1 advantage.
Moose (1-0) shutdown the Giants the rest of the way to post a complete game victory. Moose walked five, but fanned 10 to stay out of trouble on the mound.
McCormick (0-1) also went the distance as he allowed six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
Both teams got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning.
Stargell hammered a solo homer, before the Giants picked up an unearned tally.
Ron Hunt reached on a two-base error by Pittsburgh shortstop Freddie Patek to begin the bottom of the frame.
Moose walked Willie Mays before giving up a RBI single to Willie McCovey that tied the contest.
1969 Tournament Schedule
Semifinals
(3) Pittsburgh Pirates 3, (2) San Francisco Giants 1
(4) Kansas City Royals at (1) Baltimore Orioles
Bracket Finals
NL East Bracket
(3) Pittsburgh Pirates 3, (1) New York Mets 1
NL West Bracket
(2) San Francisco Giants 2, (4) Los Angeles Dodgers 1
AL East Bracket
(1) Baltimore Orioles 2, (2) Detroit Tigers 1
AL West Bracket
(4) Kansas City Royals 6, (2) Oakland A’s 2
Second Round Results
NL East Bracket
(1) New York Mets 1, (5) Philadelphia Phillies 0
(3) Pittsburgh Pirates 3, (2) Chicago Cubs 2
NL West Bracket
(4) Los Angeles Dodgers 6, (1) Atlanta Braves 2
(2) San Francisco Giants 7, (3) Cincinnati Reds 2
AL East Bracket
(1) Baltimore Orioles 4, (4) Washington Senators 1
(2) Detroit Tigers 8, (6) Cleveland Indians 3
AL West Bracket
(4) Kansas City Royals 5, (1) Minnesota Twins 3
(2) Oakland A’s 3, (3) California Angels 2
First Round Results
NL East Bracket
(1) New York Mets, bye
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 4, (4) St. Louis Cardinals 2
(3) Pittsburgh Pirates 10, (6) Montreal Expos 0
(2) Chicago Cubs, bye
NL West Bracket
(1) Atlanta Braves, bye
(4) Los Angeles Dodgers 8, (5) Houston Astros 5
(3) Cincinnati Reds 5, (6) San Diego Padres 3
(2) San Francisco Giants, bye
AL East Bracket
(1) Baltimore Orioles, bye
(4) Washington Senators 7, (5) New York Yankees 1
(6) Cleveland Indians 6, (3) Boston Red Sox 4
(2) Detroit Tigers, bye
AL West Bracket
(1) Minnesota Twins, bye
(4) Kansas City Royals 3, (5) Chicago White Sox 2
(3) California Angels 4, (6) Seattle Pilots 3 (12 innings)
(2) Oakland A’s, bye