Editor’s note: Second Chance Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games. The first and second rounds will be decided with a best of three series, while the championship series will be a best of five format.
The 1954 Cleveland Indians are the top seed in the Second Chance Tournament with 111 regular season victories.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, they would not win another game as the New York Giants swept the Indians in the World Series.
This team featured five players who would be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Larry Doby, Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, Bob Feller, Hal Newhouser and manager Al Lopez are all enshrined in Cooperstown.
Additionally, 1953 American League Most Valuable Player Al Rosen and 1954 batting champ Bobby Avila would start in the all-star game.
Doby finished second in the MVP balloting as he topped the AL in homers and RBI, while Avila was third in the voting for the league’s top player.
The Batting Order
Al Smith LF (11 HR, 50 RBI)
Bobby Avila 2B (15 HR, 67 RBI, .341)
Larry Doby CF (32 HR, 126 RBI)
Al Rosen 3B (24 HR, 102 RBI, .300)
Vic Wertz 1B (14 HR, 48 RBI)
Wally Westlake DH (11 HR, 42 RBI)
Dave Philley RF (12 HR, 60 RBI)
George Strickland SS 6 HR, 37 RBI)
Jim Hegan C (11 HR, 40 RBI)
Starting Pitchers
Bob Lemon (23-7, 2.72 ERA)
Early Wynn (23-11, 2.73 ERA)
Mike Garcia (19-8, 2.64 ERA)
Second Chance Tournament First Round Schedule
1935 Chicago Cubs at 1954 Cleveland Indians
1954 Cleveland Indians at 1935 Chicago Cubs
1935 Chicago Cubs at 1954 Cleveland Indians, if necessary