Editor’s note: The 27 * 61 Yankees Replay games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will not be used for any games. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur.
It was a tough decision, but 1972 Oakland A’s manager Dick Williams manager made the right choice.
With six games over four days against the 1927 New York Yankees, Williams was forced to pick a starter from his bullpen options.
Rollie Fingers was the selection and he went five innings to earn the victory as the A’s defeated New York 8-3 in Yankee Stadium.
Williams might have been concerned when Fingers allowed a solo homer to Babe Ruth in the first inning, but the guy now sporting a handlebar moustache was stingy after that giving up a pair of hits and fanning six.
The blast was Ruth’s team-high 25th long ball of the season.
The A’s came to life offensively in the top of the fifth against New York starter Dutch Ruether (3-6), who would be ousted in the sixth without retiring a batter.
Oakland loaded the bases in the fifth on singles by Gene Tenace, Angel Mangual and Fingers.
Ruether walked Bert Campaneris to tie the contest before Joe Rudi singled to give the A’s a 2-1 advantage. Reggie Jackson added to the lead with a two-run single.
In the sixth, Oakland scored four more runs with three being charged to Ruether as the A’s took an 8-1 lead. Oakland loaded the bases on a single by Mike Epstein, a walk to Tenace and an infield single by Mangual.
Urban Shocker replaced Ruether on the mound and he got Tim Cullen on a line drive for the first out. This time around, Don Mincher pinch-hit for Fingers and delivered a RBI single.
With Campaneris at the plate, New York catcher Pat Collins allowed a pitch from Shocker to get by him and Tenace scored on the passed ball.
The final two runs came home for the A’s on a double by Rudi.
Bob Locker took over for Fingers as he would earn a save with four innings of work. He would tire in the ninth as he allowed the Yankees to score twice on a double by Joe Dugan.
Next up in the extended series, the Yankees will have Myles Thomas (5-4) taking a turn as a starter, while the A’s will give the ball to Vida Blue.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (39-23)
1961 New York Yankees (35-26)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (10-14)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (5-9)
1972 Oakland A’s (8-17)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 26
Babe Ruth 25
Roger Maris 23
Lou Gehrig 20