End of Series 1

The standings

                          W      L    Pct.     GB
Flashes               3       0    1.000    --
Black Caps         2       0    1.000    .5
Rams                  3       1      .750    .5
Orioles               1       3      .250   2.5
Quakers              0       2      .000   2.5
Orators               0       3      .000   3


Series Two
Quakers at Flashes (3)
Orators at Orioles (3)
Rams at Black Caps (3)

Series 1: Flashes sweep Orators

Game One: Flashes 18, Orators 3
WP: Grimes (1-0)
LP: Sutton (0-1)
HR: Brouthers (1)

Game Two: Flashes 5, Orators 3
WP: Haines (1-0)
LP: Jenkins (0-1)
Save: Bentley (1)

Game Three: Flashes 11, Orators 2
WP: Barnes (1-0)
LP: Wingard (0-1)
HR; Snyder (1)

Big innings came easily to the hometeam Flashes in this series.

Fordham batted around three times in the opening game, putting up seven runs in the fourth inning, four in the fifth and four more in the seventh. The Flashes racked up 19 hits, including four doubles and two triples. Fred Lindstrom scored four runs, while Ross Youngs, Joe Medwick and Dave Bancroft had three apiece. Medwick drove in six runs. Burleigh Grimes went the distance, allowing 11 hits.

The Orators held a 3-1 lead into the seventh of the second game, with Ferguson Jenkins looking strong. But the Flashes rose up for four runs in the seventh: George Kelly led off with a single, Hank Gowdy walked and Bancroft drove in Kelly with a base hit. After pinch-hitter Billy Southworth flew out, Youngs walked to load the bases and Lindstrom doubled all three men home.

The Flashes put the series finale away early, with a five-run outburst in the third inning. Medwick drove in two runs with a double, and Kelly tripled home two more. Frank Snyder hit the only homer the Flashes got in the series in the sixth inning. Medwick and Kelly each had three RBIs, while Youngs, Medwick, Jim Bottomley and Chick Hafey each scored twice.

Medwick was 7-for-15 in the three games with nine RBIs and five runs. Lindstrom was 8-for-13 with six runs scored and five RBIs. Bth hit four doubles. Bottomley totaled seven RBIs.

Pitcher availability: For the Orators, Kolp (4.6 innings in Game Three) needs a couple games off. For the Flashes, Bentley (2 innings) should sit one game for each inning he pitches in the first game of Series 2

Rotations: Flashes: Neft-Grimes-Haines-McQuillan-Barnes.

Orators: Shocker-Sutton-Jenkins- ??? (Davis, Danforth, Kolp)

Series 1: Rams take 3 of 4 from Orioles

Game 1: Rams 9, Orioles 1
WP: Perry (1-0)
LP: Cuellar (0-1)
HR: F Robinson (1), Wilson (1)

Game 2: Orioles 6, Rams 5
WP: Hall (1-0)
LP: Ruffing (0-1)
Save: Watt (1)
HR: Hendricks (1), F Robinson (2)

Game 3: Rams 7, Orioles 0
WP: Whitehill (1-0)
LP: Palmer (0-1)

Game 4: Rams 2, Orioles 1
WP: Collins (1-0)
LP: Phoebus (0-1)
Save: Dauss (1)
HR: Wilson (2), Flick (1), Salmon (1)

The visiting Rams took control of the opener in the second inning, when they scored six runs off Baltimore ace Mike Cuellar. Two of the runs were unearned, but Raymond had four singles and a double in the uprising. Hack Wilson hit a two-run homer in the eight off Dave Leonhard, while all the Birds could muster against Gaylord Perry was a solo shot in the fourth by Frank Robinson.

Game Two looked like more of the same. The Rams peppered Dave McNally for 10 hits and four runs in seven innings, with Ray Schalk bopping a pair of run-scoring doubles, while Red Ruffing allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings. But in the bottom of the sixth, down 4-0, Don Buford doubled, Davey Johnson singled and Robinson homered to cut the deficit to 4-3. In the eighth, Paul Blair singled, Brooks Robinson tripled to tie the score and Elrod Hendricks homered for a two-run lead. Hack Wilson singled in Earle Combs in the ninth to halve the margin, but that was all the Rams got.

Earl Whitehill spun a seven-hit shutout in Game Three, although he had to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to secure it. The Rams got all they needed off Jim Palmer in the first inning. Joe Sewell walked, Wilson doubled, Frank Chance tripled for two runs and Elmer Flick singled for a third. But the Rams salted this one away with four more off Palmer in the fifth, with Chance doubling home two more runs in the process.

Rip Collins outdueled Tom Phoebus in the fourth and final game. Collins allowed three singles and a solo homer to Chico Salmon, filling in at second for the injured Johnson. The Rams got solo homers from Wilson in the first inning and Flick in the seventh. Phoebus allowed only three other hits in his eight innings. Hooks Dauss worked a perfect ninth for the save.

Pitcher availability: For the Rams, Perry and Ruffing start the next two games. A fifth starter, either Ken Holloway or Lil Stoner, should be used after that. The Orioles will start Jim Hardin next, then Cuellar and McNally. Dauss and Dick Hall pitched one inning apiece in the finale, and all other relievers are rested and ready.

Rotations: For the Rams, Perry-Ruffing-xxxx-Whitehill-Perry-Ruffing-Collins-xxxx.

For the Orioles, Hardin-Cuellar-McNally-Palmer-Phoebus-Hardin

Series 1: Black Caps sweep Quakers

Game One: Black Caps 4, Quakers 2
WP: Holland (1-0)
LP: Lyons (0-1)
Save: McDonald (1)

Game Two: Black Caps 4, Quakers 3
WP: Streeter (1-0)
LP: Faber (0-1)
Save: Currie (1)
HR: Doby (1)

Lincoln Park opened the season with two well-pitched games and a knack for two-out runs.

The Black Caps scored a run in the first inning of the opener on doubles by Vic Harris and Buck O'Neil. The visiting Quakers responded with two runs in the top of the second, but the rally cost them shortstop Rabbit Maranville, who left the game after being hit by a Bill Holland pitch. Joe Tinker doubled to start the rally, and starter Ted Lyons fed it with a bunt single. The Black Caps promptly tied it on Bonnie Serrell's sac fly. The score remained tied at 2 into the fifth, when Sparky Adams, playing short in Maranville's absence, booted Serrell's leadoff grounder. Harris walked, and both runners advanced on a grounder. O'Neil's groundout plated Serrell with the lead run, and Jerry Benjamin singled home Harris. And that was the scoring; Holland left after six innings, and Webster McDonald threw three scoreless frames for the save.

The Quakers scored first in the second and final game of the series. Joe Tinker reached in the third on an error and scored on Hank Greenberg's double. Tony Perez singled home Greenberg for a 2-0 lead. The Black Caps got one back in the bottom of the inning, tied it in the fifth, took the lead in the sixth and expanded the lead to 4-2 in the seventh. Larry Doby homered off Hilton Smith in the eighth to make it 4-3, and Rube Currie pitched the ninth for the save. Sam Streeter went six innings and allowed no earned runs on three hits.

Pitcher status: For the Quakers, Ted Lyons needs two days of rest and Red Faber three. George Milstead pitched two innings in the finale and will need a game off for each inning he pitches in the next game.

For the Black Caps, Holland needs at least two days of rest and Streeter three. McDonald should sit the next game as well. Phil Cockrell, Smith and Currie each pitched one inning and are available to relieve the next game but not start. Projected starters: Bill Drake followed by one of Currie, Cockrell, Tom Williams or Verdell Mathis. If the bullpen is heavily used, Holland can follow.

Projected rotations: For the Quakers, Vic Aldridge-Tony Kaufmann-Lyons-Faber-xxx.

For the Black Caps, preferably Drake-xxx-xxx-Holland.

Series 1: Kennedys take two of three from Ikes

Kennedys 2-1, Ikes 1-2

Pitcher status: Lemon, Spahn and Seaver one game, Wynn and Carlton two games, Gibson and Roberts three games. Niekro and Newhouser each pitched one inning in finale.

Game 1: Ikes 11, Kennedys 4, 11 innings

WP: Bunning (1-0)

LP: Koufax (0-1)

HR: Snider (1), Mathews (1), Bench (1)

Game 2: Kennedys 7, Ikes 6

WP: Drysdale (1-0)

LP: Lemon (0-1)

Save: Fingers (1)

HR: Mays (1), Musial (1), Snider (2), Yastrzemski (1)

Game 3: Kennedys 11, Ikes 6

WP: Gibson (1-0)

LP: Roberts (0-1)

HR: Banks 2 (2), McCovey (1), Yount (1)

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It was a series marked by big innings.

• The Ikes had a seven-run explosion in the 11th inning of Game 1 against Sandy Koufax and Phil Niekro.
• The Kennedys, trailing 5-3 in the eighth inning of the second game, got a grand slam from Carl Yastrzemski to victimize Bob Lemon.
• The Kennedys followed up by blowing open a 4-3 third game with four runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh.

Starting pitchers struggled. Warren Spahn and Tom Seaver each allowed four runs in the first five innings of the opener. Steve Carlton gave up five runs in less than eight innings. Bob Gibson also allowed five runs in eight innings — and he got the win, because Robin Roberts gave up eight runs in seven innings, and Hal Newhouser allowed another three.

Ernie Banks, after opening 0-for-nine, went four-for-five with two homers in the finale. Ted Williams was 5-for-13 for the series and Willie Mays scored five runs for the Ikes. Duke Snider had four RBIs, including a pinch-hit homer.

The Kennedys offense was led by George Brett, 8 for 15 with three doubles but with just two runs and one RBI. Johnny Bench was 4 for 10 with three runs, and Joe Morgan scored four runs. Yastrzemski had six RBIs.

Series 1: Teddys win two, Franklins one

Teddys 2-1, Franklins 1-2

Pitcher status: Alexander, Rixey and Pennock need one game, Hubbell and Matthewson two, Feller and Waddell three. Dean should not pitch more than an inning in the Franklins next game.

Game 1: Teddys 12, Franklins 3

WP: Alexander (1-0)

LP: Grove (0-1)

HR: None

Game 2: Franklins 4, Teddys 2

WP: Hubbell (1-0)

LP: Mathewson (0-1)

Save: Dean (1)

HR: None

Game 3: Teddys 8, Franklins 7

WP: McGinnity (1-0)

LP: Pennock (0-1)

Save: Rixey (1)

HR: Hartnett (1), Cronin (1)

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The bullpens got a workout in this series.

Franklins starters Lefty Grove and Bob Feller combined for 4 1/3 innings. Grove was chased in the first inning of the opener, and Feller was removed with injury after batting in the fourth inning of the finale.

The Teddys jumped on Grove for six hits, three walks and seven runs before Waite Hoyt got the last out. That was plenty for Pete Alexander, who cruised to the complete game 12-3 win.

Ty Cobb had four RBIs; Honus Wagner scored two, drove in two and had a triple and a double; and everybody in the Teddy lineup, including Alexander, had at least a run scored or an RBI.

The second game started as if it would be a slugfest. The Teddys opened with two runs off Carl Hubbell. and the Franklins responded with four off Christy Matthewson. But the two Giants legend settled in after that. The Franklins never again got so much as a man to second against Matty or reliever Eppa Rixey, but the Teddys couldn't dent Hubbell either.

The Teddys did get the first two on in the eighth, but Hubbell induced Tris Speaker to bounce into a double play. And when the Teddys loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, Dizzy Dean came in to get a double play from Cobb to end it.

The finale was a hard-hitting affair. Gabby Hartnett and Joe Cronin hit consecutive homers off Teddys starter Rube Waddell in the second to give the Franklins a 3-0 lead. The Franklins lead 6-3 after the sixth, but the Teddys pounded reliever Herb Pennock for five runs in the seventh.

Joe McGinnity staggered through two-plus innings of relief for the win, with Rixey retiring the last five Franklins for the save.

Teddys catcher Roger Bresnahan was 6 for 12 in the series with four RBIs and a pair of doubles. Wager was 6 for 11 with four runs, four RBIs, a steal, a triple, a double and two walks.

Babe Ruth was held to one single, but he did walk five times.

Series 1: Homestead sweeps Hilldale

Homestead 3-0; Hilldale 0-3

Pitchers status: Paige and Redding need one game, Williams and D. Brown two games, R. Brown and Winters three games.

Game 1: Homestead 7, Hilldale 6

WP: Matlock (1-0)

LP: Powell (0-1)

HR: Stearnes (1), Gibson 2 (2)

Game 2: Homestead 4, Hilldale 3

WP: D. Brown (1-0)

LP: S.J. Williams (0-1)

Save: Bell (1)

HR: None

Game 3: Homestead 16, Hilldale 8

WP: R. Brown (1-0)

LP: Winters (0-1)

HR: Wells (1), Smith (1), Gibson (3), Wilson (1), W. Brown (1) OH Johnson (1)

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The potent Homestead offense served notice on the league: It's going to be tough to outslug them.

Hilldale couldn't.

Homestead pounded Hilldale pitching for seven home runs, nine doubles, 16 singles and 15 walks in the opening series, winning all three games. The scores were 7-6, 4-3 and 16-8.

Homestead catcher Josh Gibson had three homers, including a walk-off shot off Hillsdale reliever Piggie Powell in the opener. That was Gibson's second home of the game; he also had a three-run homer off Cannonball Redding in his previous at-bat.

That seventh-inning dinger gave Homestead a 6-2 lead, seemingly plenty with Satchel Paige on the hill. But Hilldale struck back with four runs in the eighth, opening with a Turkey Stearnes homer and concluding with a two-run single by Willie Wells. Paige finshed the eighth but gave way to Leroy Matlock for the ninth.

In the second game, Homestead jumped on Smokey Joe Williams for four runs in the first inning. Jud Wilson had a two-run double and T.J. Young had a two-run single.

Williams and reliever Dizzy Dizmukes held Homestead to just three singles fomt he second inning on, but the damage had already been done. Homestead starter Dave Brown went eight innings, allowing three runs on five hits; William Bell had a perfect ninth for the save.

The finale was pure slugfest. Homestead starter Ray Brown staggered the distance, giving up 14 hits and six earned runs. He walked five, hit two, stuck out one and was a picture of dominance compared to Hilldale starter Nip Winters, who walked seven en route to allowing seven runs, all earned, in four innings. He was followed by Powell (five runs in two innings) and Eggie Hensley (four runs in two innings).

Heavy Johnson iced the third game with a grand slam off Hensley in the seventh after Hilldale scored four in the top of the frame. Brown shut the door on Hilldale the rest of the way.

Gibson had three doubles and a homer in Game 3; for the series, he was 7 for 12 with three walks, three homers, three doubles, seven runs and six RBIs.

Other homers in the series came from Tubby Scales, Chino Smith, Wilson and Willard Brown of Homestead and Wells of Hilldale.

Series 1: Garfields sweep X-Giants

Garfields 3-0, X-Giants 0-3

Pitcher status: Dihigo needs four games off, Galvin 3, Welch, Donaldson 2, R. Foster 2, Young 1. Dihigo should sit a game as position player.

Game 1: Garfield 8, X-Giants 3

WP: Young (1-0)

LP: R. Foster (0-1)

HR: J. Collins (1), Dihigo (1)

Game 2: Garfields 8, X-Giants 1

WP: Welch (1-0)

LP: Donaldson (0-1)

Game 3: Garfields 4, X-Giants 0

WP: Galvin (1-0)

LP: Dihigo (0-1)

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Those old guys can sure pitch.

Cy Young, Mickey Welch and Pud Galvin threw consecutive complete games for the Garfields as the 19th Century squad dominated the X-Giants at Rickwood Field. The scores were 8-3, 8-1 and 4-0.

The X-Giants never held a lead. Only once, and for just one batter, did the Garfields begin to warm up a reliever. That game with two out in the ninth of the first game, when Young allowed three singles.

Young gave up 10 hits and one walk. Welch threw a seven-hitter, and Galvin outdid them all by allowing just two baserunners, one of whom was immediately erased by a double-play.

The Garfields hit too. Ed Delahanty went 9-for-12 with a walk in the three games; he drove in three runs and scored twice. Sam Thompson had five RBIs. Monte Ward was 5 for 10 with two runs and three RBIs. Hugh Duffy sat the first game but went 5 for 9 the other two, scoring four times.

For their part, the X-Giants did little well. Rube Foster was shelled in the opener, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in five innings. John Donaldson allowed just two earned runs in six innings in the second game, but was victimized by a Pop Lloyd error that allowed three unearned runs in the third inning. And Martin Dihigo couldn't work out of the only jams he had in the finale.

Series 1: Big Train no-hits Crawfords; series split

Obamas 1-1, Crawfords 1-1

Pitchers rest: B. Foster, Mathis and Davis need one game, W. Johnson needs two games, Ryan and Day three games.

Game 1: Obamas 12, Crawfords 0

WP: W. Johnson (1-0)

LP: B. Foster (0-1)

HR: Lombardi (1)

Game 2: Crawfords 6 Obamas 3

WP: Day (1-0)

LP: Ryan (0-1)

HR: Beckwith (1), F. Robinson (1), Schmidt (1)

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In a midnight season-opening tilt at Greenlee Stadium, Walter Johnson fired a no-hitter at the Crawfords in a 12-0 Obamas victory.

The Crawfords, behind a complete game by Leon Day and three RBIs from John Beckwith, won the second game 5-3.

In the opener, Frank Robinson drove in five runs, Charlie Gehringer went four for five while scoring twice, and Ernie Lombardi homered. The visitors chased Big Bill Foster after the third inning, plating six runs off the star lefty. But the star for the Obamas was Johnson, who fanned five and walked three.

The Crawfords came close to hits twice in the five inning, first on a difficult catch in center by Mickey Mantle off the bat of Louis Santop, then by left fielder Sliding Billy Hamilton, who lived up to his nickname as he robbed Ray Dandridge of a double.

As good as the Obamas defense was in the opener, it hurt in the second game. Lou Bordreau's error on leadoff hitter Alejandro Oms opened the door to a three-run inning off Nolan Ryan in which the Express also wild-pitched a run home.

The Obamas got solo shots from Robinson and Mike Schmidt, but Beckwith widened the Crawfords lead to 5-3 with a two-run bomb off Ed Walsh in the seventh, and Dandridge started a nifty double play in the ninth to end it.

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My wife, who is far more patient with me and this nonsense than I deserve, found the charts and pitchers cards within minutes this evening. So I could, and did, get started.