Editor’s note: The Reds Decade Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation that starts over with each best-of-three game series. If a real life starter is not in the rotation, he can be used in relief. Cincinnati squads that did not made the post-season are featured in this event as one team from each decade from the 1910s to the 1980s were selected.
A solo homer by Rube Bressler in the 11th inning capped a wild title affair in the Reds Decade Tournament.
With a 10-9 victory, the 1924 Cincinnati Reds claimed the crown over the 1977 Cincinnati Reds to take the best of three championship series two games to one.
After 1977 reliever Dale Murray retired Curt Walker on a grounder to begin the 11th, Bressler smacked his long ball to give the 1924 team the lead on what was his fifth hit of the contest.
Pedro Dibut (2-0) picked up the win for 1924 as he tossed a perfect bottom of the 11th to start the celebration. Murray (0-1) suffered the loss despite retiring six of the seven batters.
There were plenty of base runners as the two teams combined for 41 hits with 1924 banging out 21 and 1977 having 18.
The action began early has Edd Roush gave 1924 the lead in the top of the first on a RBI single of 1977 starter Jack Billingham.
In the bottom of the first, Ken Griffey and Dan Driessen had run-scoring singles off 1924 starter Dolf Luque and it was 2-1. Joe Morgan added to the 1977 lead with a RBI single in the second.
Walker’s two-run single in the third tied it at 3-3.
A single by Dave Concepcion in the bottom of the third drove in a run at put 1977 on top 4-3.
RBI doubles in the top of the fifth by Walker and Babe Pinelli gave the 1924 squad a 5-4 lead that didn’t last very long. A RBI double by Cesar Geronimo in the bottom of the inning tied it at 5-5.
Pete Rose led off the bottom of the sixth with a triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Griffey to put 1977 up 7-5.
Billingham was ousted in the top of the eighth after Bressler singled and Pinelli doubled to begin a rally that would tie the game again at 7-7.
Manny Sarmiento was called in from the 1977 bullpen and he eventually gave up RBI singles to Bubbles Hargrave and Hughie Critz, who had four hits on the day.
Rube Benton tossed a scoreless eighth for 1924 before his teammates grabbed the lead in the top of the ninth against 1977 reliever Pedro Borbon.
Bressler knocked in a run with a single and then scored on a triple by Hargrave as the 1924 squad led 9-7.
The 1977 team answered the challenge in the bottom of the ninth against Benton as Concepcion had a RBI single before pinch-hitter Bob Bailey tied it with a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the 10th, the 1977 team loaded the bases against Dibut with no outs, but the pitcher was able get three straight outs to send the game to the 11th.
Luque worked seven innings allowing seven on 14 hits with a walk and seven strikeouts, while Billingham also went seven giving up seven runs on 15 hits with three strikeouts.
Championship Series
(Best two out of three)
1924 Reds vs. 1977 Reds (1-3, 6-3, 10-9 (11), 1924 Wins Series 2-1)
Second Round Results
(Best two out of three)
1911 Reds vs. 1977 Reds (2-6, 2-1, 0-6, 1977 Wins Series 2-1)
1924 Reds vs. 1948 Reds (4-5, 6-5 (11), 4-0, 1924 Wins Series 2-1)
First Round Results
(Best two out of three)
1911 Reds vs. 1955 Reds (5-4, 6-4, 1911 Wins 2-0)
1934 Reds vs. 1977 Reds (3-7, 6-5, 1977 Wins 2-0)
1948 Reds vs. 1986 Reds (5-1, 8-3, 1948 Wins 2-0)
1924 Reds vs. 1964 Reds (3-2 (10), 3-0, 1924 Wins 2-0)