Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Each of the Cy Young winners will start every game with a maximum of 10 innings. The designated hitter is being used. Injuries are in-game only during this single elimination event.
The 1971 Chicago Cubs scored early on the way to a 4-2 win over the 1971 Oakland A’s in the opening round of the 1970s Cy Young Tournament.
Chicago advances to the second round with the Cubs hosting the winner of the 1978 New York Yankees at 1978 San Diego Padres.
It didn’t take long for the Cubs to excite the Wrigley Field faithful against Oakland starter Vida Blue as they scored twice in the bottom of the first.
Blue walked Glenn Beckert and then allowed a single by Don Kessinger. Joe Pepitone smacked a RBI single and the Cubs took the lead. One batter later the Cubs added another run on a single by Ron Santo.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, the Cubs rallied for another run as Beckert doubled and scored on another single by Pepitone.
Cubs starter Fergie Jenkins held the A’s scoreless until the top of the fifth. Jenkins had retired the first two batters before Bert Campaneris singled and swiped second.
Jenkins made a mistake and Rick Monday made him pay with a two-run homer that cut Oakland’s deficit to 3-2.
The score remained the same until Chicago picked up an insurance run in the eighth.
Jim Hickman doubled and then came home on a single by Brock Davis.
Jenkins (1-0) went the distance for the Cubs allowing nine hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. Blue (0-1) was tagged with the loss as he also gave up nine hits, while walking three and fanning five.
1970s Cy Young Tournament
Second Round Schedule
1979 Baltimore Orioles (Flanagan) at 1970 Minnesota Twins (J. Perry)
First Round Results and Schedule
1970 Minnesota Twins 6, 1970 St. Louis Cardinals 1
1979 Baltimore Orioles 5, 1979 Chicago Cubs 3 (13 innings)
1971 Chicago Cubs 4, 1971 Oakland A’s 2
1978 New York Yankees (Guidry) at 1978 San Diego Padres (G. Perry)
1972 Cleveland Indians (G. Perry) at 1972 Philadelphia Phillies (Carlton)
1976 San Diego Padres (Jones) at 1977 New York Yankees (Lyle)
1973 Baltimore Orioles (Palmer) at 1973 New York Mets (Seaver)
1974 Oakland A’s (Hunter) at 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers (Marshall)