The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t leave much doubt which team would win the National League West bracket of the 1975 Strat-O-Matic Tournament presented by Press Room Pass.
The Dodgers scored eight times by the fourth inning on their way to a 10-2 victory over San Diego.
After Dodgers starter Don Sutton gave up a homer to Tito Fuentes in the top of the first, the Dodgers went to work on offense.
Bill Buckner put the Dodgers on top with a two-run single in the second, while Davey Lopes knocked in the other run in the frame with a single.
Ron Cey‘s homer in the third was followed by Steve Yeager‘s RBI single as the Dodgers led 5-1.
Cey was at it again in the fourth with a two-run shot that ousted Padres starter Joe McIntosh.
The Dodgers had a pair of homers late in the game as Sutton blasted a solo shot in the seventh and Jim Wynn knocked in two with a bomb in the eighth.
Dave Roberts drove in San Diego’s other run in the eighth.
National League West Division Championship
(2) Dodgers 10, (4) Padres 2
(6) Expos at (2) Dodgers or
(2) Dodgers at (1) Pirates, NL championship
IN REAL LIFE:
Ron Cey was a mainstay at third base for the Dodgers for a decade and in 1975 he was a starter in the all-star game for the National League. He had 25 homers and 101 RBI with a .283 batting average.
A six-time all-star and three-time starter, Cey played for Los Angeles in 1971 and 1972 before taking over third base for the Dodgers in 1973. He would hold that position until 1982 as he would help the Dodgers to four NL pennants and the World Series title in 1981.
Affectionately known as The Penguin because of his running style, Cey’s best season was in 1977 as he posted career-high numbers of 30 homers and 110 RBI.
Prior to the 1983 season, Cey was traded to Chicago and he was part of the Cubs team that reached the World Series in 1984. He played with the Cubs until 1986 and he finished his career the following year with the Oakland A’s. He ended with 316 homers and 1,139 RBI.