End of Series 14

The standings

                                                W      L    Pct.     GB
Guilford Quakers                   25     16     .609    ---
Fordham Flashes                  23     19     .548      2.5
Raymond Rams                    21     21     .500      4.5
Ortonville Orators                 20      21     .488      5
Lincoln Park Black Caps       18     22     .450      5.5
Baltimore Orioles                  17      25     .405     8.5

Series 15
Rams at Quakers (3)
Flashes at Orioles (3)
Orators at Black Caps (3)

Series 14: Orioles take two of three from Black Caps

Black Caps 18-22, Orioles 17-25

Game One: Orioles 6, Black Caps 3
WP: Cuellar (3-4)
LP: Holland (4-3)
Save: Watt (2)
HR: F. Robinson (14), Hendricks (4), Palm (5)

Game Two: Black Caps 6, Orioles 1
WP: Streeter (4-1)
LP: McNally (2-5)
HR: Radcliff (3)

Game Three: Orioles 2, Black Caps 1
WP: Hardin (1-3)
LP: Cockrell (1-6)
Save: Richert (4)
HR: Palm (6)

Baltimore broke open the series opener with three runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth. Elrod Hendricks hit a two run homer in the fifth and scored a fourth-inning run after drawing a walk. Mike Cuellar allowed just five hits in eight innings.

Dave McNally took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the second game but didn't get an out in that frame. Lincoln Park got doubles from Dick Seay, Frog Redus and Roy Parnell and a homer from Alec Radcliff in the six-run outburst. Sam Streeter was in and out of trouble for 6.1 innings but allowed just one run.

Jim Hardin and Tom Williams dueled in the finale. Hardin allowed one run, on Spoony Palm's second homer of the series, in eight innings; he allowed six hits and three walks. Williams went six innings, allowing one run on five hits. Phil Cockrell and Verdell Mathis combined to allow a run in the eighth on one hit, two walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter. Pete Richert allowed a single and double to pinch-hitters with two outs in the ninth before retiring a third pinch-hitter to end the game.

Pitcher availability: For the Black Caps, Holland (four innings in the opener) is immediately eligible to start. Streeter should sit two to relieve and three to start  and Williams should sit three to relieve and four to start. Cockrell pitched in each of the last two games and should sit the next game, while Mathis faced three hitters in the finale. For the Orioles, Richert pitched one inning in the finale. The rest of the Oriole bullpen is fully rested.

Projected starters: Orioles -- Palmer-Cuellar-McNally-Phoebus-Hardin-Cuellar. Black Caps -- Holland-Currie-Drake? (Mathis, Cockrell).

Series 14: Rams take two of three from Flashes

Flashes 23-19, Rams 21-21

Game One: Flashes 15, Rams 7
WP: Nehf (3-1)
LP: Collins (2-4)
Save: Watson (1)
HR: Lindstrom (4), Wilson 2 (13), Combs (2)

Game Two: Rams 4, Flashes 1
WP: Perry (7-4)
LP: Grimes (4-6)
HR: Bancroft (2)

Game Three: Rams 3, Flashes 2 (12 innings)
WP: Dauss (2-2)
LP: Bentley (2-1)
HR: Wilson 2 (15)

Fordham scored in six consecutive innings in the opener and got triples in four straight innings (art Nehf, Ross Youngs, Chick Hafey and Youngs again). Hack Wilson homered twice off Nehf for the host Rams. Mule Watson worked three scoreless innings to earn the save in the one-sided game.

Gaylord Perry outdueled Burleigh Grimes in the second game. Perry went the distance, allowing a homer to Dave Bancroft among seven hits. Frank Chance drove in Joe Sewell twice.

Wilson homered two more times in the finale, the second a walk-off shot off Jack Bentley. His first homer, off Jesse Haines in the third inning, gave the Rams a 2-0 lead they held until Andy High pinch-hit a two-run triple in the seventh. Red Ruffing went 11 innings for the Rams, allowing six hits.

Pitcher availability: Rosy Ryan went three innings in the finale for the Flashes, Bentley 2.1. They should each sit out the next two games. Watson is available. Dauss went one inning for the Rams; all other relievers are fully available.

Projected starters: Flashes -- McQuillan-Barnes-Grimes-Haines-Nehf-McQuillan. Rams: Holloway-Whitehill-Perry-Ruffing-Collins-Holloway.

Series 14: Quakers, Orators split a pair

Quakers 25-16. Orators 20-21

Game One: Orators 11, Quakers 6
WP: Shocker (4-3)
LP: Kaufmann (3-1)
HR: Cuyler (5), Manush (2), Evers (1)

Game Two: Quakers 5, Orators 2
WP: Lyons (7-3)
LP: Sutton (5-4)
Save: Keen (7)
HR: Doby (6)

The visiting Orators got grand slams in consecutive innings from Kiki Cuyler and Heinie Manush to overpower Guilford in the series opener. Johnny Evers' two run homer in the third gave the Quakers an early 4-1 lead, but the Orators scored five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, with Cuyler hitting his homer in the fifth and Manush in the sixth. Urban Shocker retired 12 hitters in a row at one point for the Orators.

The Quakers salvaged the split behind Ted Lyons' eight innings of two-run, nine-hit ball. Rabbit Maranville went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a double for the Quakers. Larry Doby put Guilford ahead to stay with a sixth-inning homer; Doby also scored an insurance run in the ninth after drawing a leadoff walk.

Pitcher availability: Elam Vangilder worked two innings for the Orators in the finale; Vic Keen pitched one inning for the Quakers. All other relievers are fully available for the next game.

Projected starters: Quakers -- Faber-Aldridge-Jacobs-Lyons-Faber-Kaufmann. Orators: Jenkins-Davis-Wingard-Sutton-Jenkins-Shocker.

End of Series 14

The standings:

Division A

Franklins  21  13  .618   ---
Teddys  21  13  .618  ---
Obamas  19  14  .576  1.5
Kennedys   16  17  .485  4.5
Ikes   10  24  .294   11

Division B

Crawfords   21  12  .636   --
Homestead  19  14  .576   2
X-Giants  16  18  .471   5.5
Garfields  14  20  .412   7.5
Hilldale  11  23  .324  10.5

Player of Series 14: George Brett (Kennedys)
Pitcher of Series 14: Dazzy Vance (Franklins)

Series 15:

Garfields at Kennedys (2)

X-Giants at Obamas (2)

Hilldale at Teddys (2)

Homestead at Franklins (2)

Crawfords at Ikes (2)

Series 14: Teddys take two of three from Franklins

Franklins 21-13; Teddys 21-13

Pitcher use: Hubbell and Mathewson need three games, Grove and Alexander need two, Vance and Brown one.  Bender and Rixey each pitched less than one inning in finale, one inning in previous game.

Game One: Franklins 7, Teddys 1
WP: Vance (3-3)
LP: Brown (5-2)
HR: Hornsby (6)

Game Two: Teddys 8, Franklins 7
WP: Rixey (3-0)
LP: Pennock (0-3)
Save: Bender (6)
HR: Ruth (17)

Game Three: Teddys 7, Franklins 5
WP: Mathewson (4-3)
LP: Hubbell (7-1)
Save: Bender (7)

---

The Teddys' relentless base-hit attack woke up late in the second game, and their ability to string base-hits together resulted in a dead heat atop Division A.

The first game was dominated by the Franklins. Dazzy Vance threw a three-hitter at the Teddys, and the Franklins chipped away at Three-Finger Brown for four runs in seven innings, then salted the game away against Addie Joss.

The Franklins were just as dominant in the second game -- until the eighth inning. Lefty Grove carried a 7-1 lead into that frame, scattering eight hits in seven innings. Meanwhile, the Franklins racked Pete Alexander for five runs in the first three innings and greeted Iron Man McGinnity with two more tallies in the sixth. Babe Ruth homered and scored three runs; Lou Gehrig had three RBIs.

But everything changed in the bottom of the eighth. The first five men to face Grove singled. With six left-handed hitters due up, the Franklins bypassed closer Dizzy Dean for lefty Herb Pennock, and the curveball specialist continued to flounder. He faced six men, three of whom reached and two of whom scored.

The seven-run outburst gave the Teddys the lead, and Chief Bender made it stand up. The Teddys bullpen (McGinnity, Eppa Rixey and Bender) retired the last 10 Franklins to bat.

George Sisler had two doubles and two runs scored in as many at-bats. No Teddy had more than one RBI.

The third game pitted legendary Giants screwballers Carl Hubbell and Christy Mathewson. The Teddys put up three runs in the first and held a 4-0 lead into the fourth, when the Franklins scored five runs. The inning was highlighted by Gabby Hartnett's two-run double and Pie Traynor's two-run triple.

But Matty gave up just one hit in the next four innings, and the Teddys chipped away at Hubbell for single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings.

The Teddys turned to Rixey in the ninth, but after he retired Gehrig to start the inning, Arky Vaughn and Hartnett singled. Bender relieved and got a double play out of Traynor to end it.

Series 14: Crawfords sweep Obamas

Crawfords 21-12, Obamas 19-14

Pitcher use: Johnson and Foster need three games, Plank and Brewer need two. Willis pitched two innings in finale, Gomez one

Game One: Crawford 4, Obamas 3
WP: Brewer (2-4)
LP: Plank (4-3)
Save: Davis (2)
HR: Beckwith (6), Gehringer (2), F. Robinson (10)

Game Two: Crawfords 6, Obamas 2
WP:  B. Foster (6-2)
LP: W. Johnson (4-3)
HR: F. Robinson (11), Hughes (2)

---
The Crawfords opened a two-game lead in Division B by sweeping the Obamas, who slipped a bit further behind in the tight Division A race.

Chet Brewer, who had struggled all season (6.30 ERA entering the opener), shut out the long-ball lineup of the Obamas for seven innings in the opener. His mates touched up Eddie Plank for three runs in the second inning and added a solo homer by John Beckwith in the top of the eighth.

But Brewer weakened in the eighth, yielding a two-run homer to Charlie Gehringer and leaving with just one out and the tying run up. Roosevelt Davis induced a double-play grounder from Mickey Mantle to choke off the threat, only to allow a leadoff homer by Frank Robinson in the ninth. Davis steadied to retire the next three men.

The finale saw the Crawfords get revenge on Walter Johnson, who opened the Presidential League season with a no-hitter in the Crawfords home park. It took just two batters for the no-hitter and shutout to end in this one, as Sammy T. Hughes took the Big Train deep.

The Crawfords ripped off four runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth, banging out four doubles in the two innings. Meanwhile, Big Bill Foster -- the losing pitcher in that opening-day no-hitter -- shut out the Obamas for six innings and went the distance, allowing eight hits while striking out eight.

Series 14: Garfields take two of three from X-Giants

Garfields 14-20, X-Giants 16-18

Pitcher use: Jones needs four games, Welch and Dihigo need three games, Young and Donaldson need two games, Keefe and H. Smith need one. Clarkson pitched one inning in finale.

Game One: Garfields 4, X-Giants 3 (10 innings)
WP: Spalding (1-2)
LP: Mendez (3-1)

Game Two: Garfields 10, X-Giants 9 (11 innings)
WP: Rusie (1-0)
LP: H. Smith (0-2)
HR: Dixon, J. Collins (2)

Game Three: X-Giants 5, Garfields 2
WP: Jones (5-1)
LP: Welch (3-4)
HR: Anson (2)

---

The X-Giants scored the most runs in the series, but the Garfields won the most games.

John Donaldson took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth in the opener, but George Davis singled home the tying run with two outs. Jose Mendez, making a surprise relief appearance in the 10th, surrendered a single to King Kelly, stole second and advanced on a pair of fly balls.

Pivotal to the outcome was a two-base error by Rap Dixon in the second inning, the two-out muff was followed by a two-run single by Hugh Duffy.

Donaldson allowed just five hits in the no-decision.

The high-scoring second game turned on a two-out rally in the ninth against Hilton Smith. The X-Giants closer retired the first two batters, but then came single, single, double and single to knot the score at 9. The winning run in the 11th scored on another error by Dixon.

Dixon did help the cause with a 5-for-6 performance at the plate, including a double and a home run.

He swung the big bat for the X-Giants in the finale. His three-run double in the sixth off Mickey Welch gave Slim Jones the runs he needed. Jones, like Donaldson, went nine innings and allowed just five hits.

Series 14: Hilldale takes two of three from Homestead

Homestead 19-14, Hilldale 11-23

Pitcher use: Paige and SJ Williams need three games, Redding and Manning need two games, Byrd and R. Brown need one game. Powell pitched 1.6 innings in finale, Dismukes 0.3.

Game One: Hilldale 3, Homestead 2
WP: Byrd (3-5)
LP: R. Brown (3-5)

Game Two: Hilldale 9, Homestead 4
WP: Redding (3-4)
LP: Manning (2-3)
HR: Suttles (8), Wells (7)

Game Three: Homestead 12, Hilldale 4
WP: Paige (5-2)
LP: SJ Wiliams (2-7)
HR: Trouppe (1), Suttles (9), Leonard (6), OH Johnson (4)

---

Lowly Hilldale dealt Homestead a potentially crippling blow in the tight Division B race.

The first game of the series was an unlikely pitchers duel. Bill Byrd entered the game with an ERA of 6.18; Ray Brown's was 11.15. Yet the two right-handers each went the distance. Byrd was helped by two baserunner kills at home by centerfielder Turkey Stearnes; Willard Brown also threw out a runner at the plate to help Ray Brown.

Hilldale plated the winning run on three straight hits to open the ninth off Ray Brown.

Homestead's often shaky defense and shallow bullpen handed the second game to Hilldale. Hilldale plated three unearned runs off losing pitcher Max Manning, and reliever William Bell surrendered another three in the final two frames.

Homestead's vaunted lineup rose up late in the finale to turn a fairly close game into a rout late. Homestead scored four runs off Smokey Joe Williams in the first two innings, but Williams held them to one run in the next five frames. Meanwhile, Buck Leonard's homer in the fifth narrowed the margin.

But Homestead pummeled Piggy Powell for seven runs in the top of the ninth, highlighted by Mule Suttles's grand slam. It was icing on the cake; Satchel Paige got 13 outs from 13 batters immediately after Leonard's homer before allowing a meaningless solo shot to Quincy Trouppe with two outs in the ninth.

Series 14: Kennedys sweep Ikes

Kennedys 16-17, Ikes 10-24

Pitcher use: Seaver and Wynn need three games; Spahn, Lemon and Marichal need two, Ford and Gibson need one. Niekro pitched 1.6 innings in finale, Newhouser one.

Game One: Kennedys 8, Ikes 7
WP: Drysdale (2-1)
LP: Ford (4-4)
Save: Fingers (6)
HR: Brett 2 (8), Snider (7), Banks (12)

Game Two: Kennedys 11, Ikes 6
WP: Marichal (3-4)
LP: Spahn (2-5)
HR: Mays (6), Musial (7), Morgan (4), Rose (1), Fisk (2)

Game Three: Kennedys 11, Ikes 8
WP: Niekro (1-0)
LP: Newhouser (0-2)
HR: Bench (8), Musial (8), Mathews (8), Berra (3), Seaver (1)

---

Lots of runs for both teams, but more of them for the Kennedys.

The Ikes pummeled Bob Gibson for five runs (including a grand slam by Ernie Banks) in the very first inning of the series, but that was about as good as it got for the home team. George Brett's three-run homer in the sixth inning pulled the Kennedys to within 7-5.

In the eighth Ikes starter Whitey Ford loaded the bases with none out. Jim Bunning relieved and stuck out both Johnny Bench and Reggie Jackson. But pinch-hitter Carl Yastrzemski drew a walk to make it 7-6, and pinch-hitter Willie McCovey doubled for two more runs.

Sandy Koufax fanned five men in the eight and ninth innings for the Kennedys, but after Willie Mays beat out an infield single and Roy Campanella pinch hit for Yogi Berra, the Kennedys turned to Rollie Fingers to get the final out.

Such drama was lacking in the second game. The Kennedys racked Warren Spahn for five runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth to chase him. Carlton Fisk drove in four runs for the winners with a pair of doubles and a homer. Juan Marichal went the distance for the Kennedys, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks.

The third game was a pitchers duel (Tom Seaver vs. Early Wynn) for six innings. The Kennedys trailed 2-0 after four but scored single runs in the fifth and sixth, with Seaver's homer starting things. Hank Aaron tripled home two runs in the seventh, and the Kennedys scored four home in the eighth, highlighted by Brett's bases-loaded triple.

But the Ikes struck back in their half of the eighth. Seaver walked four for the first five men he faced in the inning, then gave up a grand slam to Eddie Mathews. He left for Phil Niekro, who promptly allowed a solo shot to Berra, tying the score at eight.

But Hal Newhouser promptly gave up a three-run homer to Johnny Bench, and Niekro made the three-run lead stand up in the ninth.

Brett was 6-for-10 in the series with eight RBIs and three walks