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.
Cleveland’s Early Wynn tossed a one-hitter as the 1954 Indians swept their opening series of the Second Chance Tournament two games to none.
With the 3-0 win over the 1935 Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, the Indians advance to the semifinals to face the winner of the 1946 Boston Red Sox-1962 San Francisco Giants series.
Wynn had walked just two batters when he allowed a two-out single to Chuck Klein in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Cubs starter Lon Warneke was nearly as Wynn, but he made a mistake in the sixth inning that gave the Indians a 2-0 advantage.
After walking Bobby Avila with two outs, Warneke grooved one to Larry Doby who drilled a two-run blast on Sheffield Avenue.
The Indians added their final run in the ninth.
George Strickland tripled to lead off against Cubs reliever Hugh Casey.
Casey retired Jim Hegan and Al Smith on ground outs to Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges with the infield playing in.
Unfortunately for Casey, Avila was able to knock home Avila for the game’s final margin.
Warneke gave up five hits in seven innings for the Cubs with Doby collecting two of them.
Second Chance Tournament Results and Schedule
First Round
1954 Cleveland Indians 5, 1935 Chicago Cubs 2
1954 Cleveland Indians 3, 1935 Chicago Cubs 0
Indians win series 2-0
1946 Boston Red Sox 9, 1962 San Francisco Giants 8 (10 innings)
1946 Boston Red Sox at 1962 San Francisco Giants
1962 San Francisco Giants at 1946 Boston Red Sox, if necessary
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 8, 1970 Cincinnati Reds 5
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers at 1970 Cincinnati Reds
1970 Cincinnati Reds at 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, if necessary
1965 Minnesota Twins 2, 1969 Baltimore Orioles 1
1969 Baltimore Orioles at 1965 Minnesota Twins
1965 Minnesota Twins at 1969 Baltimore Orioles, if necessary