End of Series 18

The standings

                                                W      L    Pct.     GB
Guilford Quakers                  33     20     .622     ---
Fordham Flashes                  29     25     .537     4.5
Raymond Rams                    28     27     .509     6 
Lincoln Park Black Caps       26     26     .500     6.5
Ortonville Orators                 23     30     .434   10
Baltimore Orioles                  22     33     .400   12


Series 19
Black Caps at Orators (4)
Quakers at Rams (3)
Flashes at Orioles (3)

Series 18: Quakers take two of three from Black Caps

Quakers 33-20; Black Caps 26-26

Game One: Black Caps 8, Quakers 5
WP: H Smith (2-2)
LP: Jacobs (2-1)
HR: Doby (9), Radcliff (4)

Game Two: Quakers 10, Black Caps 8
WP: Kaufmann (5-1)
LP: Drake (5-2)
Save: Wheeler (2)
HR: Benjamin 2 (3), Radcliff (5)

Game Three: Quakers 5, Black Caps 3
WP: Lyons (9-5)
LP: Streeter (5-2)
HR: Carey (4)

The Quakers emerge from Series 18 with a four game lead, while the Black Caps slipped from second to fourth.

Guilford held a 4-0 lead behind Elmer Jacobs after five innings of the opener. Larry Doby hit a two-run homer off Tom Williams in the fifth. But the Black Caps turned three singles, a walk, a Joe Tinker throwing error and a sac fly into three runs in the sixth, and erupted for five runs in the eighth off Jacobs and Sheriff Blake. Hilton Smith threw three innings of one-hit relief for the win; he allowed an unearned run.

The Quakers bounced back to outscore Lincoln Park in the second game. Jerry Benjamin hit two homers for the Black Caps, and Alec Radcliff hit a homer, two doubles and a single. The Quakers didn't get a fourbagger, but they had extra bases aplenty themselves, with three triples and four doubles. Every starter for Guilford, including pitcher Tony Kaufmann, had at least one hit and either a run scored or an RBI. Max Carey was 3-for-5 with two runs and a pair of doubles.

Ted Lyons threw a complete-game seven hitter in the finale, allowing two earned runs. He twice got double plays with the bases loaded to escape jams. Doby was 2-for-3 with two runs and a double, and Carey was 3-for-4 with a homer.

Pitcher availability: The Quakers bullpen is fully rested. For the Black Caps: Streeter sits four games to start, three to relieve; Drake sits three games for either purpose; Williams sits two to start, one to relieve. Cockrell is eligible to relieve in their next game, and Holland is eligible to relieve but should not pitch more than one inning.

Projected starters: Quakers -- Faber-Aldridge-Jacobs-Lyons-Faber-Kaufmann. Black Caps -- Mathis-Holland(?)-Currie/Cockrell.

Series 18: Flashes sweep three from Orators

Flashes 29-25, Orators 23-30

Game One: Flashes 5, Orators 2
WP: Nehf (4-2)
LP: Bayne (0-2)
HR: Cuyler (7), Gowdy (4), Hafey (12)

Game Two: Flashes 9, Orators 2
WP: Grimes (5-8)
LP: Shocker (5-4)
HR: Youngs (5)

Game Three: Flashes 7, Orators 4
WP: Haines (6-4)
LP: Sutton (5-6)
Save: Ryan (5)
HR: Bottomley (11)

The three-game sweep eliminated Ortonville from pennant contention.

Art Nehf threw a complete game seven-hitter in the opener, and Chick Hafey hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to put Fordham over the top. Hank Gowdy was 4-for-4 with a solo homer for the Flashes.

Burleigh Grimes matched Nehf's seven-hitter in the second game, and got considerably more run support. Ross Youngs was 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs; he hit a solo homer in the sixth. Fred Lindstrom also was 4-for-5. He scored twice and drove in two and had a triple.

Jim Bottomley had a big game in the finale: 4-for-five with a homer, triple and two doubles. He scored twice and drove in two. Jesse Haines allowed four runs in eight innings for the win, and Rosy Ryan worked the ninth for his fifth save. Jim O'Rourke and Heine Manush each went 3-for-4 for the Orators.

Pitcher availability: For the Flashes, Mule Watson sits one more game. Ryan worked one inning in the finale. All other bullpenners are fully rested. The Orators bullpen is fully rested; Sutton threw a complete game in the finale.

Projected starters: Flashes -- McQuillan-Barnes-Grimes-Haines-Nehf. Orators -- Jenkins-Davis-Wingard-Sutton-Jenkins.

Pitcher availability:

Series 18: Rams sweep four from Orioles

Rams 28-27, Orioles 22-33.

Game One: Rams 3, Orioles 2
WP: Collins (3-5)
LP: Cuellar (4-6)
Save: Dauss (8)
HR: Flick (5)

Game Two: Rams 8, Orioles 5
WP: Perry (8-5)
LP: McNally (4-6)
Save: S Johnson (1)

Game Three: Rams 6, Orioles 5
WP: Ruffing (4-6)
LP: Lopez (0-3)
Save: Dauss (9)
HR: Belanger (1)

Game Four: Rams 8, Orioles 7
WP: Stoner (2-2)
LP: Leonhard (1-4)
HR: Powell 2 (10), Wilson (19), Rizzuto (4)

The games were close but the series one-sided, and the last place Orioles have been mathematically eliminated from the pennant.

The opener featured the series one pitching duel. Rip Collins allowed two runs in seven innings, both unearned. Mike Cuellar went six innings and was burned by a two-out rally in the fourth that culminated in a three-run homer by Elmer Flick. Collins loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, but Hooks Dauss popped up Brooks Robinson and got a double-play grounder from Davy Johnson to escape that jam.

The Rams pummeled Dave McNally for six runs in three innings in the second game, then tacked on two more in the fourth. Phil Rizzuto drove in five runs with a double and triple, and Joe Sewell, Frank Chance and Flick scored twice each.

Mark Belanger's sixth-inning grand slam gave the Orioles a 5-2 lead in the third game, but the Rams rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth off Marcelino Lopez and Pete Richert. Flick had a one-out triple, and Rizzuto walked. Nellie Fox singled home Flick, and Lopez walked Johnny Bassler (in for the injured Ray Schalk) to load the bases. Rickert entered, and pinch-hitter Fats Fothergill singled in two runs, and Earle Combs followed with another RBI single before Sewell grounded into a double play.

The Rams got another pinch-hit RBI single, this one by Al Wingo, to win the finale. Boog Powell hit a pair of homers for the Orioles, one a three-run shot, and scored three times. Hack Wilson clubbed his league-leading 19th homer, and Rizzuto had a solo shot. Lil Stoner went four innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits, to get the win. The final run came in the bottom of the ninth when Rizzuto walked to lead off, took second on a Dave Leonhard wild pitch, advanced to third on Fox's bunt and scored on Wingo's single.

Pitcher availability: For the Rams, Stoner should sit at least two games. All other relievers are fully available. For the Orioles, Leonhard should sit a pair of games and Lopez one.

Projected rotations: Rams -- Whitehill-Perry-Ruffing-Collins-Holloway. Orioles -- Cuellar-McNally-Hardin (or Phoebus)-Phoebus (or Leonhard/Hardin/Lopez)-Cuellar.

End of Series 18

Division A

Teddys   28   16   .636   ---
Franklins   28   16   .636   ---
Obamas   25   19   .568   3
Kennedys   22   22   .500   6
Ikes   15   29   .341   13

Division B

Crawfords   25   19   .568   ---
Homestead   23   21   .523   2
X-Giants   19   25   .432   6
Garfields   18   26   .409   7
Hilldale   17   27   .386   8

Player of the series: Willie Mays, Ikes
Pitcher of the series: John Donaldson, X-Giants

One-game playoff: Franklins at Teddys. Teddys took the season series four games to two, winning two of three in Series 1 and two of three in Series 2. Lefty Grove will pitch for the Franklins, Pete Alexander for the Teddys. Iron Man McGinnity's availability is limited.

Winner of that game will be at home to open a seven-game Championship Series with Crawfords.

Series 18: Franklins take two of three from Kennedys

Franklins 28-16, Kennedys 22-22

Pitcher use: Kennedys season over; Franklins bullpen fully rested for playoff game with Teddys.

Game One: Franklins 8, Teddys 5
WP: Hubbell (8-1)
LP: Carlton (4-5)
Save: Dean (7)
HR: Ruth (20), Gehrig (10), Hartnett (3)

Game Two: Franklins 4, Kennedys 2
WP: Feller (4-2)
LP: Gibson (6-4)
Save: Hoyt (2)
HR: Ruth (21), Aaron (11), Gehrig (11)

Game Three: Kennedys 4, Franklins 3 (10 innings)
WP: Koufax (2-1)
LP: Vance (5-4)
Save: Fingers (10)
HR: Ruth (22), R. Jackson (5), Gehrig (12)

---

Forty-four games were not enough to settle Division A. The Franklins and Teddys each finished with 28 wins and will have a one-game playoff at the Teddys home park.

The Franklins came oh-so-close to the sweep of the Kennedys they needed to secure the division title.

The Franklins controlled Game One almost from the get-go. They roughed up Steve Carlton for five runs in the second inning -- Lou Gerhig started the inning with a homer -- and led 7-1 after three innings. Some shaky defense helped the Kennedys pull within three but no closer.

Bob Gibson dominated the Franklins for six innings in the second game, but his 2-0 lead evaporated in the seventh when Carl Yastzremski muffed a Rogers Hornsby fly ball and Gehrig followed with a homer -- only the second hit of the game for the Franklins. In the next inning, Babe Ruth homered with a man on for the 4-2 final score.

Gibson was good; Bob Feller was at least as effective. Rapid Robert went eight innings of six-hit ball, striking out eight.

One win away from wrapping up the division title, the Franklins got a two-run homer in the first inning from Ruth. Reggie Jackson tied it in the fourth with a two-run shot of his own. Gehrig homered in the sixth -- the third and final hit for the Franklins against Juan Marichal -- for a 3-2 lead.

But in the eighth, Joe Morgan doubled with one out, and George Brett followed with a fly ball that Mel Ott muffed for a two-base error. Morgan scored to tie the game, and the Franklins could not score against relievers Sandy Koufax and Rollie Fingers.

The Kennedys scored in the 10th on a double by Robin Yount and a single by Hank Aaron. Dazzy Vance lost despite allowing just five hits in 10 innings; he walked three and struck out eight.

Both Ruth and Gehrig homered in each game of the series.

Series 18: Ikes take two of three from Obamas

Obamas 25-19, Ikes 15-29

Pitcher use: Season over for both teams

Game One: Ikes 9, Obamas 5
WP: Wynn (3-7)
LP: Ryan (4-3)
HR: Mays 3 (9), Musial (9), Foxx (11), F. Robinson (13)

Game Two: Obamas 10, Ikes 9 (11 innings)
WP: Willis (1-1)
LP: Wilhelm (0-1)
HR: Doerr (1), Berra (4), Mathews (13), Snider (8), Mantle 2 (15), Foxx (12), Hamilton (3), Musial (10), Mays (10)

Game Three: Ikes 5, Obamas 2
WP: Ford (6-5)
LP: Plank (4-5)
Save: Wilhelm (7)
HR: Mays (11), Williams (9), Mantle 2 (17), Musial (11), Campanella (3)

---

The two teams combined for 22 home runs -- slightly more than seven per game -- in the season-ending series. Willie Mays hit five, three of them in the first game; Mickey Mantle went deep four times, twice in each of the last two games; Stan Musial homered in each game.

Amid all the long balls, Series 18 brought the demise of the Obamas' slim playoff ambitions.

The lowly Ikes put four runs on the board before Nolan Ryan could get an out in the opener; the outburst featured Mays' three-run homer. The Obamas made it 4-2 after six, but Mays hit another three-run shot, this off Jack Chesbro, in the seventh, and in the ninth Musial and Mays hit solo shots off Lefty Gomez. Mays had seven RBIs.

Early Wynn went the distance, giving up five runs on seven hits.

Neither starter in the second game was effective. Kid Nichols allowed five runs in the top of the first for the Obamas -- Musial and Duke Snider hit back-to-back shots to open the game -- but the Obamas tied it at five in the second.

Nichols departed after four innings down 7-6. Chesbro went four innings of one-run ball (a homer by Eddie Mathews), which gave his mates a chance to tie it against Ikes starter Robin Roberts. Mays homered off Vick Willis in the ninth to put the Ikes but 9-8, but Hal Newhouser gave up a walk, a double and a sac fly, and in the bottom of the 11th, Jimmie Foxx hit a walk-off bomb off Hoyt Wilhelm.

Obama starter Eddie Plank kept the streak of early crooked numbers going in the finale; Ted Williams and Mays hit back-to-back homers in the first. Whitey Ford was sharp for the Ikes, allowing just seven hits and two runs in 8.6 innings, striking out nine. Wilhelm entered with two out and the bases loaded in the ninth to get Jackie Robinson on a grounder  to end the game and the teams' seasons.

Series 18: Teddys sweep Garfields

Teddys 28-16, Garfields 18-26

Pitcher use: Garfields season over; McGinnity ought not pitch any potential playoff game.

Game One: Teddys 8, Garfields 2
WP: Waddell (4-4)
LP: Galvin (2-6)

Game Two: Teddys 16, Garfields 7
WP: TF Brown (8-2)
LP: Keefe (4-5)
Save: McGinnity (1)
HR: Thompson (5), Bresnahan (3)

---

The Teddys left no doubt: They want that Division A title.

They ripped both Garfields starters, Pud Galvin and Tim Keefe, early and put up 24 runs and 33 hits in the two-game sweep.

The Obamas have been eliminated, and the Franklins can win the division with a sweep of its series or force a one-game playoff by taking two of three. Anything less for the Franklins, and the Teddys win the divisional crown.

Rube Waddell continued his stellar mound work of late for the Teddys in the opener. He was scintillating for six innings (three hits and four baserunners) and pitched around trouble in the seventh and eighth. He yielded two runs in the ninth, but by then his mates had racked up eight runs against Galvin, whose defense betrayed him (four unearned runs).

Nap Lajoie and Home Run Baker each had three RBIs in the contest.  Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker and Lajoie each scored twice.

Three-Finger Brown needed a lot of help to get his eighth win in the second game, and he got plenty. The Teddys turned five singles and two walks into five first-inning runs, and when Lajoie bopped a two-run double in the second for a 7-0 lead, the game appeared decided.

But the Garfields fought back, with Sam Thompson driving in five runs, to narrow the margin to 8-6 after the top of the sixth inning.

But then the Teddys strung together six singles and a walk against John Clarkson in another five-run inning, and in the seventh Roger Bresnahan's three-run homer gave the Teddys a double-digit lead.

Iron Man McGinnity pitched the final three innings, allowing just an unearned run, for the save.

Thompson was five-for-five in the nightcap, and Jesse Burkett was four-for-five with three runs. Bresnahan drove in five runs and Lajoie three; for the series, Lajoie was six-for-nine with six RBIs and five runs.

Series 18: Hilldale takes two of three from Crawfords

Crawfords 25-19, Hilldale 17-27

Pitcher use: End of season for Hilldale. All pitchers will be available for Crawfords in the Series.

Game One: Hilldale 4, Crawfords 3 (11 innings)
WP: Dismukes (2-3)
LP: Davis (2-1)
HR: Charleston (12), Torriente (2), Stearnes (5)

Game Two: Crawfords 7, Hilldale 6 (11 innings)
WP: Streeter (2-0)
LP: Dismukes (2-4)
HR: Santop 2, Beckwith (9), Charleston (13), Oms (6)

Game Three: Hilldale 7, Crawfords 2
WP: Byrd (5-6)
LP: Brewer (3-6)
HR: Charleston (14)

---

It didn't come easy, but the Crawfords wrapped up the Division B title despite dropping their final regular season series.

The first two games at cellar-dwelling Hilldale each went 11 innings. Turkey Stearnes was crucial for Hilldale; his seventh-inning triple was pivotal in a two-run inning, and he hit the walkoff homer in the 11th off Roosevelt Davis. The Crawfords got two runs and two RBIs from Oscar Charleston.

Charleston was big in the second game as well; he had the game-winning homer in the 11th and added a pair of doubles. Louis Santop homered twice. Sam Streeter blew the save for Bullet Joe Rogan in the 10th but wound up with the vultured victory.

Bill Byrd went the distance in the finale for Hilldale, holding the Crawfords to six hits, none of them in the final four innings. Hilldale broke open a close game with three runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Charleston was eight-for-13 with three homers, three doubles, two walks, five runs and five RBIs. Stearnes was 6-for-13 with five runs and four RBIs and 13 total bases.

Series 18: X-Giants take two of three from Homestead

Homestead 23-20, X-Giants 19-25

Pitcher use: End of season

Game One: X-Giants 8, Homestead 0
WP: Donaldson (4-3)
LP: D. Brown (4-2)

Game Two: Homestead 5, X-Giants 4 (10 innings)
WP: R. Brown (4-4)
LP: Dihigo (2-7)
Save: Matlock (3)
HR: C. Smith (11), Gibson (17), Suttles (10)

Game Three: X-Giants 8, Homestead 5
WP: Mendez (4-3)
LP: Salmon (1-2)
Save: H. Smith (8)
HR: CP Bell (3), Gibson (18)

---
Homestead was eliminated from the Division B race, clinching the crown for the Crawfords.

John Donaldson frustrated Homestead's potent lineup in the opener. He allowed six hit and six walks, but Homestead banged into a pair of double plays and never came up with a big hit.

Not that one more hit would have sufficed. The X-Giants tormented Dave Brown with three successful squeeze bunts(by Pop Lloyd, Pete Hill and Donaldson) in the first two innings and turned a Dobie Moore error in the sixth inning into three unearned runs.

On the verge of elimination, Homestead fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the second game to win 5-4 in 10 innings. Solo homers by Mule Suttles and Josh Gibson off Martin Dihigo helped knot the score, and Chino Smith's solo shot in the 10th won it. Leroy Matlock entered with the tying run in scoring position to get three straight outs for the save.

Homestead jumped on Slim Jones for four runs in the first inning of the finale, highlighted by a three-run Gibson homer. Cool Papa Bell got an inside-the-parker in the third, but Homestead made it 5-2 with a Smith triple and Gibson sac fly in the fifth.

But Max Manning tired in the eighth, and Henry Salmon couldn't stop the X-Giants merry-go-round. The big hits came from notably weak bats: Bruce Petway doubled home the go-ahead run, and Bingo DeMoss followed with a two-run single to give Hilton Smith plenty of margin.

Bill Monroe was six-for-13 in the series with four runs and four RBIs for the X-Giants.