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 Baltimore Orioles needed a walk-off hit to earn their ticket to the semifinals.
Baltimore got past the Detroit Tigers 2-1 to win the American League East Bracket of the 1969 Strat-o-Matic Tournament
With the victory, the Orioles will entertain the winner of the Kansas City Royals at Oakland A’s contest in the AL West Bracket title affair.
Detroit had just tied the game on a RBI double by Willie Horton in the top of the ninth, when the Orioles went to work in the bottom of the frame against Tigers reliever Don McMahon.
Pinch-hitter Merv Rettenmund led off with a walk and Don Buford singled.
There wasn’t a lot of time for the suspense to build as Paul Blair ended the game with a single to set off a celebration.
After giving up Horton’s hit, Eddie Watt (1-0) picked up the win as he retired the next three batters in the top of the ninth to tame the Tigers.
Dave McNally started for the Orioles and left after allowing back-to-back singles in the ninth to Al Kaline and Norm Cash. Overall, mcNally surrendered five hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
Mickey Lolich went seven innings for the Tigers before leaving for a pinch-hitter. The Orioles managed five hits off the lefty, who fanned eight and walked two.
After tossing a scoreless eighth, McMahon (0-1) gave up four hits with a walk and a strikeout.
1969 Tournament Schedule
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 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