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.
Glenn Beckert made sure the 1971 Chicago Cubs had a chance for the 1970s Cy Young Tournament title.
Beckert’s two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth beat the 1979 Baltimore Orioles, while exciting the Wrigley Field faithful and in the process sent the Cubs to the championship game.
The Cubs will visit the winner of the 1976 San Diego Padres at the 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers affair.
Orioles starter Mike Flanagan began the ninth by hitting Cleo James before he retired Chris Cannizzaro on a pop out.
Beckert lofted a fly ball that bounced on Waveland Avenue as the Cubs celebrated the victory.
Fergie Jenkins (3-0) went the distance for the Cubs giving up seven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts, while Falnagan (1-1) was tagged with the loss as he surrendered a dozen hits and fanned six.
Baltimore grabbed a 3-0 advantage in the third as Jenkins walked Ken Singleton with the bases loaded to begin the scoring.
While Eddie Murray hit into a double play, Al Bumbry raced home with the second run. John Lowenstein produced the final tally with a double.
Cannizzaro hit a solo homer in the third to cut Chicago’s deficit to 3-1.
In the fourth, a sacrifice fly by Johnny Callison closed the gap for the Cubs to 3-2.
Singleton’s sacrifice fly in the fifth put the Orioles in front 4-2.
Back-to-back solo homers by Jim Hickman and Callison in the sixth tied the contest at 4-4 to set the stage for Beckert.
1970s Cy Young Tournament
Semifinals
1971 Chicago Cubs 6, 1979 Baltimore Orioles 4
1976 San Diego Padres (Jones) at 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers (Marshall)
Second Round Results
1979 Baltimore Orioles 3, 1970 Minnesota Twins 2
1971 Chicago Cubs 4, 1978 New York Yankees 2
1976 San Diego Padres 1, 1972 Cleveland Indians 0
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers 1, 1973 New York Mets 0
First Round Results
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 Los Angeles Dodgers 8, 1974 Oakland A’s 3