Editor’s note: The 1980 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any games involving American League teams. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available.
Jim Palmer tossed a four-hitter as he led the Baltimore Orioles to the title of the 1980 American League Tournament.
With a 6-0 victory over the New York Yankees, the Orioles punched their ticket to the best of seven championship series against the winner of the Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia Phillies contest.
Palmer (1-0) kept the Yankees off balance as he didn’t give up a hit until Reggie Jackson‘s single with one out in the fourth. With just four strikeouts, Palmer also surrendered hits to Rick Cerone (double in seventh), Bobby Brown (single in eighth) and Graig Nettles (single in ninth).
Offensively, the Orioles got started early with a pair of runs off Tommy John in the second inning.
Rich Dauer hit a sacrifice fly and then a RBI single by Al Bumbry gave the Orioles a 2-0 advantage.
Eddie Murray drilled a solo homer in the third, while Ken Singleton added a run-scoring double in the fourth.
In the fifth, Baltimore ousted John (0-1) with the last two runs of in the affair.
With the bases loaded, Ron Davis went the mound for the Yankees and got the second out of the frame as Bumbry hit a grounder to Nettles at third and he cut down Dauer at the plate.
Unfortunately for Davis, John Lowenstein smacked a two-run single that produced a six-run lead for the Orioles.
New York had two base runners to begin the ninth inning, which prompted Baltimore manager Earl Weaver to visit Palmer.
After much discussion, Weaver elected to let Palmer try for the complete game. The right hander retired the next three hitters to end the contest.
1980 AL Tournament
Finals
(2) Baltimore Orioles 6, (1) New York Yankees 0
Semifinal Results
(1) New York Yankees 3, (13) California Angels 2
(2) Baltimore Orioles 3, (11) Chicago White Sox 1
Second Round Results
(1) New York Yankees 6, (8) Oakland Athletics 5
(13) California Angels 8, (5) Boston Red Sox 4
(2) Baltimore Orioles 4, (7) Cleveland Indians 3
(11) Chicago White Sox 7, (14) Seattle Mariners 6
First Round Results
(1) New York Yankees (103-59), bye
(8) Oakland Athletics 8, (9) Minnesota Twins 2
(13) California Angels 11, (4) Milwaukee Brewers 4
(5) Boston Red Sox 9, (12) Toronto Blue Jays 3
(2) Baltimore Orioles (100-62), bye
(7) Cleveland Indians 10, (10) Texas Rangers 8
(14) Seattle Mariners 6, (3) Kansas City Royals 1
(11) Chicago White Sox 5, (6) Detroit Tigers 1
1980 NL Tournament
Finals
(5) Cincinnati Reds at (3) Philadelphia Phillies
Semifinal Results
(5) Cincinnati Reds 4, (9) St. Louis Cardinals 2
(3) Philadelphia Phillies 7, (2) Los Angeles Dodgers 4
Second Round Results
(9) St. Louis Cardinals 8, (1) Houston Astros 5
(5) Cincinnati Reds 4, (4) Montreal Expos 2
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers 5, (7) Atlanta Braves 1
(3) Philadelphia Phillies 4, (6) Pittsburgh Pirates 3
First Round Results
(1) Houston Astros (93-70), bye
(9) St. Louis Cardinals 9, (8) San Francisco Giants 1
(4) Montreal Expos (90-72), bye
(5) Cincinnati Reds 3, (12) Chicago Cubs 1
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71), bye
(7) Atlanta Braves 5, (10) San Diego Padres 4
(3) Philadelphia Phillies (91-71), bye
(6) Pittsburgh Pirates 3, (11) New York Mets 1