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.
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed took the title in the National League East Bracket of the 1969 Strat-o-Matic Tournament with a 3-1 win over the New York Mets.
With the victory, the Pirates will face the winner of the NL West Bracket affair between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.
Steve Blass (1-0) went the distance on the mound for the Pirates allowing 10 hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.
Pittsburgh grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the top of the third against Mets starter Jerry Koosman.
Blass and Matty Alou each singled to begin the frame before Richie Hebner smacked a double that scored both runners.
A solo homer by Roberto Clemente in the fifth inning gave the Pirates their final tally of the contest.
New York struggled to get a clutch hit through the first seven innings as the Mets stranded six runners and hit into a pair of double plays.
The Mets were finally able to get on the scoreboard in the eighth against Blass.
Bud Harrelson tripled with one out before scoring on a two-out single by Donn Clendenon before Blass was able close out the contest.
Koosman (0-1) was tagged with the loss as he surrendered all three runs on eight hits in seven innings with three walks and eight strikeouts. Nolan Ryan finished up for the Mets with two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and a hit batter.
1969 Tournament Schedule
Bracket Finals
NL East Bracket
(3) Pittsburgh Pirates 3, (1) New York Mets 1
NL West Bracket
(4) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) San Francisco Giants
AL East Bracket
(2) Detroit Tigers at (1) Baltimore Orioles
AL West Bracket
(4) Kansas City Royals at (2) Oakland A’s
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