1993 WORLD SERIES

Most Mid-West Winter League owners were surprised when the #2 Wild Card team the Fort Worth Panthers knocked off the 121 game winning #1 seed the California Quakes.   This lead to the Panthers taking on the Chihuahuas of Mexico City who had the second best record in the league with 114 wins. But the #2 Wild Card winner couldn’t get the little ankle biting dogs off their legs & the Mexico City Chihuahuas moved on to represent the American League in the 1993 Mid-West Winter League World Series.

Germantown was the favorite to move forward in the National League, but after eliminating the Barney Drive Bandits, the Grays lost out to eventual National League Champion Missouri Black Bears.  Missouri walked by the Sugar Land Skeeters in the Division Series 3 games to 0, beat the Grays 4 games to 2 in the League Championship & now represent the National League League in the 1993 Mid-West Winter League World Series.

Game #1 –  Bill Swift 17-10 2.66 vs. Jack McDowell 18-5 3.26

Mexico City & Bill Swift was cruising along in this one clinging to a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th when the Black Bears offense decided to show up.  A 4 Spot put a quick end to the Chihuahuas hope of stealing Game #1 on the road.   Dante Bichette 2 Run Double was the key blow, but Mexico City Manager Brian Mazurek was quoted as saying “Going through Missouri’s line up was like rolling dice and passing Boardwalk and Park Place every time”.   

Final Score: Missouri 4 – Mexico City 3
Win: Bill Krueger 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Mark Dewey 0-1 (27.00)
Save: Steve Foster #1

Game #2 –  Sid Fernandez 15-3 2.69 vs. Mark Portugal 16-7 3.15

Mexico City’s top of the lineup did the damage in this one as Gregg Jefferies had an Double, RBI, Run Scored – Steve Buechele was 1 for 3 with a Double & 2 RBI’s.  Sid Fernandez was masterful through 6 Innings off work allowing only 5 hits & 1 walk.   The Chihuahuas bullpen picked up where Fernandez left off allowing only 3 Hits the rest of the way.  The Black Bears did score an Un-Earned Run in the bottom of the 9th, but Mexico did what they came to Missouri to do by taking one of the two home games from the Black Bears. 

Final Score: Mexico City 3 – Missouri 1
Win: Sid Fernandez 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Mark Portugal 0-1 (4.50)
Save: Mark Dewey #1

Game #3–  Frank Viola 11-11 3.86 vs. Danny Darwin 19-5 2.57

This one was all Mexico City as they scored 2 in the 3rd, 3 in the 4th, 2 more in the 5th & 1 in the 6th & 8th Innings.   Kevin Mitchell & Ozzie Smith collected 3 hits each.   Mitchel was 3 for 5 with a Double.   Smith was 3 for 3 with a Walk, RBI & 4 Run Scored.  Gregg Jefferies ad 2 hits in 5 trips with 3 RBI’s.   Danny Darwin went 7 scoreless.    Missouri managed a run in the 9th of Jeff Russell on a Vince Coleman Single.  Mexico City now held a 2 Games to 1 lead over Missouri. 

Final Score: Mexico City 9 – Missouri 1
Win: Danny Darwin 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Frank Viola 0-1 (12.27)

Game #4–  John Burkett 17-5 3.05 vs. Chris Bosio 16-5 3.66

Mexico City’s Chris Bosio was solid going the distance in a Complete Game 3 Hit, no Walk, 5 Strikeout game for the Chihuahuas.   RBI’s from Gregg Jefferies, Kevin Mitchell & Kevin Bass was all the scoring the Chihuahuas needed.   

Final Score: Mexico City 3 – Missouri 0
Win: Chris Bosio 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: John Burkett 0-1 (5.40)

Game #5 –  Kenny Rogers 15-6 3.63 vs. Bill Swift 17-10 2.66

Mexico City was now in the drivers seat & needed 1 more win to close out the 1993 World Series.  They had 1 more Home Game.  They had their ace on the mound.  Could the magic be in the air for the Chihuahuas or would they stink the place up, have to go on the road to try & win it.   They came out like rabid dogs, small dogs none the less as that is the Chihuahuas style.   A single run in the 3rd & 3 more in the 4th was all they needed.   Kevin Mitchell was 2 for 4 with a solo Home Run, Tony Gwenn was 3 for 3 with a Double & RBI.  Bill Swift was his dominant self going 8 Innings allowing only 5 Hits, 3 Walks, while Striking Out 7.   Mexico City Wins the 1993 Mid-West Winter League World Series 4 Games to 1.

Final Score: Mexico City 4 – Missouri 0
Win: Bill Swift 1-0 (1.26)
Loss: Kenny Rogers 0-1 (4.50)
Save: Mark Dewey #2

World Series MVP – Mexico Citys- Tony Gwynn
8 for 18 with 5 Doubles, 3 RBI’s, 5 Runs Scored & 18 Total Bases.