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.
Tom Seaver just needed the two runs his teammates produced in the first inning as the 1973 New York Mets defeated the 1973 Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in the opening round of the 1970s Cy Young Tournament.
Seaver (1-0) went the distance allowing six hits with a pair of walks and six strikeout as the Mets reached the second round to face the winner of the 1974 Oakland A’s at 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers.
Al Bumbry drilled a solo shot in the top of the fourth off Seaver, who retired the first nine batters through three frames.
Baltimore continued its scoring threat as Paul Blair walked and Tommy Davis singled before Seaver responded by striking out Earl Williams and Don Baylor.
Davis and Williams both singled in the sixth, but Seaver was up to that task as he shut down the Orioles.
Orioles starter Jim Palmer had control issues in the first inning as the Mets scored their runs without a hit.
After Palmer retired Wayne Garrett, he issued free passes to Felix Millan, Rusty Staub and John Milner.
Cleon Jones knocked in the first tally with a fielder’s choice before Willie Mays added a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Don Hahn singled after Mays for the first hit of the contest for the Mets.
Palmer (0-1) gave up four hits, but walked six and fanned one as he was tagged with the loss.
Grant Jackson struck out Mays and Hahn to end the bottom of the eighth after Milner singled and Jones doubled to end the day for Palmer.
1970s Cy Young Tournament
Second Round Schedule
1979 Baltimore Orioles (Flanagan) at 1970 Minnesota Twins (J. Perry)
1978 New York Yankees (Guidry) at 1971 Chicago Cubs (Jenkins)
1972 Cleveland Indians (G. Perry) at 1976 San Diego Padres (Jones)
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 2, 1978 San Diego Padres 0
1972 Cleveland Indians 1, 1972 Philadelphia Phillies 0
1976 San Diego Padres 1, 1977 New York Yankees 0
1973 New York Mets 2, 1973 Baltimore Orioles 1
1974 Oakland A’s (Hunter) at 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers (Marshall)