Editor’s note: The 1980s Diamond Gems 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.
There will be quite a battle for supremacy as 16 teams fight for the championship of the 1980s Diamond Gems Tournament.
The tournament seeds were determined by winning percentage with the teams that won the World Series selected first followed by the squads that reached the Fall Classic and those that qualified for the post-season.
Eight teams are World Series winners and so they are the top eight seeds in the single elimination event.
The 1986 New York Mets are in the top spot and will face the 1986 Houston Astros in the opening contest of the first round. The two teams met in one the best National League Championship Series in the 1980s, so it should be an exciting beginning.
First Round Schedule
(16) 1986 Houston Astros at (1) 1986 New York Mets
(9) 1985 St. Louis Cardinals at (8) 1987 Minnesota Twins
(13) 1985 Toronto Blue Jays at (4) 1983 Baltimore Orioles
(12) 1981 New York Yankees at (5) 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers
(15) 1984 Chicago Cubs at (2) 1984 Detroit Tigers
(10) 1986 Boston Red Sox at (7) 1985 Kansas City Royals
(14) 1983 Chicago White Sox at (3) 1989 Oakland A’s
(11) 1982 Milwaukee Brewers at (6) 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers