1979 WORLD SERIES
From the MLB Radio Fans.com Field of Dreams in Union City, CA.
The Detroit Stars & Gold River Miners locked up in the 1979 Mid-West Winter League World Series. Both teams fought hard to get here, and in the end, one team was the 197 Mid-West Winter League World Champions.
Detroit @ Gold River
Detroit was rocking for the 1979 MWWL World Series pitting the Stars against the Gold River Miners.
Game 1:
R H E
Gold River 2 5 0
Detroit 1 5 1
Win – May 1-0
Loss- Guidry 0-1
Game 1: May (GRM) vs. Guidry (DET). With two down in the top of the first, Garvey singles. Jackson does likewise, but Bench forces Jackson to end the threat. In the bottom half, after Whitaker struck out, Horner singles. Parker flies to center and Rice K’s to end the inning. After the Miners go 1-2-3 in the second, Baylor starts the home half with a free pass. Wynegar’s grounder advances Baylor. Bochte pops to short and Reitz lines to left to leave him. With one gone in the third, Leonard walks. Royster’s grounder advances him, and Garvey homers to make it 2-0 in favor of the NL champs. Jackson almost does likewise, but his caroms back into play off the top of the fence for a double. Bench’s single puts runners at the corners, but Ford misses strike 3 to leave 2. Whitaker walks with one gone in the home half, but is caught stealing. Horner flies out to end the third. After Maddox strikes out to start the fourth, Foli walks. Sizemore hits into the 6-4-3 to end the frame, though. Parker opens the bottom half with a booming double. Rice strikes out and Baylor pops out. Wynegar grounds back to the box to leave Parker halfway home. The Miners go 1-2-3 in the fifth, including 2 strikeouts to give Guidry 6. The Stars also go 1-2-3 in the middle frame. With 2 gone in the top of the sixth, Ford reaches on Campaneris’ error. He is caught stealing to end it, though. Horner singles with one gone in the bottom half. Parker reaches on an infield single. Rice earns the silver sombrero with his third K of the contest and Baylor forces Parker at second to strand 2. Swan takes over for Guidry, who walked 2 and gave up 5 hits, including the Garvey homer for 2 earned in 6. The Miners go 1-2-3 in the seventh. With one gone in the bottom half, Mota hits for Bochte and pops out to catcher. Reitz flies out to end the seventh. Baylor goes to first and Miller comes into left defensively. Sutter pitches the eighth and gets the Miners 1-2-3. With one gone in the home half, Miller hits for Whitaker and flies out. Horner hits one deep to right, but Ford reaches over the wall and brings it back to end the inning (he showed his nickname “Disco Dan” by dancing back to the dugout). Remy plays second and Dave Ford pitches. Jackson opens the ninth with a walk. Kern takes over for Ford and strikes out Bench. Ford flies out to center. Maddox forces Jackson to end the top half. Parker opens the home ninth with a blast to right that Ford had no chance of bringing back. The Miners replace May, who gave up 5 hits and walked 2 while striking out 4, with Lockwood. Rice strikes out for the fourth time in the game, but Baylor walks. Wynegar grounds to short, with Baylor moving up. Miller watches strike three to end the game. May gets the win, with Guidry getting the hard-luck loss. Lockwood goes an inning for the save..
Game 2:
R H E
Gold River 2 7 2
Detroit 0 4 1
Win – Flanagan 1-0
Loss- Caldwell 0-1
Game 2: Flanagan (GRM) vs. Caldwell (DET). Leonard walks on a full count to open the game. Ford swings through the hit-and-run and Leonard is caught stealing. After Ford flies out, Jackson homers. Garvey singles. A wild pitch moves him to third, but Bench misses strike three to leave him short. With two gone in the home half, Rice gets a free pass. Baylor lines one to the gap in left, but Maddox catches up to it to end the inning. With 2 gone in the top of the second, Foli singles. Sizemore grounds to short to finish the frame. Bochte walks to open the bottom half. Wynegar singles him to second. On a 1-0 pitch, Horner fouls out. Reitz misses strike three and Dent grounds back to Flanagan to leave 2. Jackson walks with 2 gone in the top of the third, but Garvey leaves him with a fly to center. The Stars go 1-2-3 in their half. In the fourth, the Miners do likewise. Baylor watches ball four to start the bottom of the fourth. Bochte reaches when Foli’s throw pulls Garvey off the bag. Wynegar pops to short. Horner lines to left and Reitz pops to third to again leave 2. Foli reaches to open the fifth when Remy’s throw pulls Bochte off of first. Sizemore sacrifices. Leonard strikes out and Ford grounds back to the box to end the top half. Mota hits for Dent to start the home fifth. He singles and Campaneris runs for him. Remy pops up the bunt attempt. Parker lines to left. Rice throws his bat at the pitch to protect Campaneris and grounds to first to end the inning. Campy stays in to play short. Bench singles with 2 down in the sixth. Maddox singles him to second. Royster grounds to Caldwell to leave 2. Wynegar singles to right with two gone in the home half, but Horner forces him to end the inning. The Miners go 1-2-3 in the seventh. Campaneris singles with one gone in the bottom half. He swipes second. Remy grounds to short and Parker flies to right to leave Campy halfway home. Sutter pitches the eighth. Caldwell struck out 2 and gave up 5 hits, including Jackson’s solo shot, and 2 walks. After getting the first 2 Miners, Sutter surrenders a single to Garvey. Bench strikes out. With 2 gone in the home half Eddie Miller hits for Bochte. He hits one over Maddox’ head in center, but Maddox’ glove snares it to end the inning. Baylor takes over at first and Miller stays in to play left. Kern pitches the ninth. With one gone, Royster gets a free pass. Foli takes one for the team and Sizemore’s single loads the bases. Leonard watches ball four for the easy RBI. Ford strikes out and Jackson lines out to leave them loaded. In the bottom of the ninth, Wynegar leads off with a fly ball to center. Horner is fooled by a nice curve for strike three. Dempsey hits for Reitz and reaches when Garvey takes his foot off the bag on the throw from Foli. Campaneris hits one to Foli, who throws him out to end the game. Flanagan goes the distance with a 4-hit shutout. He walked 4 and struck out 3. Caldwell gets no run support and gets the loss.
Gold River @ Detroit
The scene shifts to Union City, CA and the MLB Radio Fans.com Field of Dreams….
Game 3:
R H E
Detroit 3 6 0
Gold River 0 3 1
Win – Palmer 1-0
Loss- Eckersley 0-1
Game 3: Palmer (DET) vs. Eckersley (GRM). Eck gets the Stars 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Jackson singles with 2 gone in the home half. Bench grounds to short to leave the runner. With 2 down in the second, Dempsey gives the Stars their first lead of the series with a solo blast to left. Garvey doubles to begin the bottom half. Maddox pops to second and Sizemore lines to first. Royster flies to center to let Palmer off the hook. Both teams go 1-2-3 in the third. Baylor reaches with 2 gone in the fourth on an error by Foli. Bochte pops to catcher to leave him. Bench walks with one gone in the home half, but Garvey grounds into an around-the-horn two-fer to end the inning. With two gone in the fifth, Campaneris singles to right. Palmer gives Eckersley’s first offering a ride to left, but Moreno brings it down. Royster gets a walk with two gone in the bottom half, but Eck pops to third to end it. Parker doubles with one gone in the sixth. Rice’s fly ball to right is just deep enough to advance the Cobra to third. Baylor’s single doubles the Stars’ lead to 2-0. Bochte grounds to Eck to end it. Foli singles with one gone in the bottom half. Jackson grounds into the 4-6-3 to erase him and end the inning. Eck gets the Stars 1-2-3 in the seventh. Garvey walks with one gone in the bottom half. Maddox forces Garvey. Braun hits for Sizemore and flies to right to end the inning. Braun stays in at third, with Royster moving to second. Palmer leads off the eighth by striking out. Whitaker lines to left. Parker singles, but Rice’s excuse-me swing is strike three. After Royster grounds out to start the bottom half, McCovey hits for Eck, who went eight, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs. He struck out 5 and gave no free passes. McCovey grounds to short. Moreno flies to right to end the inning. Fryman pitches the top of the ninth. Baylor walks and Bochte executes a hit-and-run to perfection to put runners at the corners. Bair replaces Fryman on the hill. Dempsey’s fly ball is deep enough to make it 3-0. Reitz strikes out and Campaneris grounds to short to leave 1. Kern pitches the bottom of the ninth. Palmer gave up 3 hits and 3 walks, with 1 K in eight strong. Kern gets Foli, Jackson, and Bench to end the game. Palmer gets the win and Kern the save for the Stars, who are now down 2 games to 1. Eck is the tough-luck loser.
Game 4:
R H E
Detroit 4 8 0
Gold River 5 10 0
Win – Mclaughin 1-0
Loss- Sutter 0-1
Game 4: Martinez (DET) vs. Comer (GRM). In the top of the first, Rice doubles with two gone. Remarkably, that is his first hit of the series. Baylor flies to left to leave him at second. Moreno singles to open the home half. Ford goes for the hit-and-run and doubles into the corner to make it 1-0 Miners. Jackson strikes out. Bench grounds to second, allowing Ford to move up. Garvey grounds to second to leave Ford just shy. Dempsey singles with one gone in the second. Reitz sacrifices. Dent flies to right for out number 3. The Miners go 1-2-3. Martinez opens the third with a do-it-yourself single. Remy’s grounder advances the pitcher. Parker pops to catcher, but Rice gets hit number 2, which is a 2-run blast to left. Baylor grounds to short to end the inning with the Stars up 2-1. After Comer grounds out, Moreno walks. Moreno is caught stealing, though. Ford grounds to second for out number three. Comer gets the Stars 1-2-3 in the fourth. Bench singles with one gone in the bottom half, but Garvey hits into the 6-4-3 to end the inning. Dent’s single starts the fifth. Martinez misses two bunt tries and then misses strike three. Remy loops one to short and Foli picks off Dent after catching it. Royster starts the bottom half with a bloop single. Foli gets a hit-and-run single. Trevino’s fly ball ties it. Comer bunts foul for strike three. Moreno also misses strike three for out number three. Rice walks with one gone in the sixth. Baylor makes it 4-2 Stars with a line drive just inside the pole in left. Bochte belts one to center and tries for the triple, but is out on the throw by Moreno. Dempsey grounds to third to retire the side. Ford gets one of the runs back by opening the bottom half with a long homer to left. After Jackson and Bench are retired, Garvey singles. Royster grounds to second to end it. With 2 down in the seventh, Kennedy hits for Martinez, who gave up 3 runs, 7 hits and one walk, while striking out 5, in 6 innings. Schultz is asked to get the out instead of Comer, who gave up 7 hits, 1 walk and 4 runs, while striking out 2, in six and 2/3rds. In the switch, Sizemore takes over at second and Trevino moves to third. Kennedy strikes out. Sutter pitches the bottom half and gets the Miners 1-2-3. Parker singles with one down in the eighth. McLaughlin takes over for Schultz. Rice forces Parker and Baylor flies to center to leave a runner. Moreno greets Sutter with a single in the bottom half. Ford again gets a hit-and-run double. This one ties the game. Jackson singles to put runners at the corners. Kern replaces Sutter on the bump. Bench flies to left-center and Ford beats Rice’s throw home to give the Miners the lead. Garvey flies out for out number 2. McCovey hits for McLaughlin and grounds to short. Fryman pitches the ninth. Bochte flies to center. Wynegar hits for Dempsey and strikes out. Horner hits for Reitz and grounds to second to end the game. McLaughlin gets the win in relief, with Fryman getting the save. Sutter takes the loss for the Stars.
Game 5:
R H E
Detroit 3 8 1
Gold River 5 9 0
Win – May 1-0
Loss- Guidry 0-1
Game 5: Guidry (DET) vs. May (GRM). May retires the first three Stars hitters and Guidry gets the Miners similarly. Horner cuts the tension with one gone in the second by homering to left. After Wynegar lines out, Bochte singles. Campaneris gets a free pass, but Guidry flies to center to leave 2. Maddox doubles with one gone in the bottom half. Royster walks on a full count pitch. Foli’s triple makes it 2-1 Miners. Sizemore squeezes to make it 3-1. May fouls out to end the inning. Rice gets a two-out walk in the third, but Baylor grounds back to the pitcher for the third out. Leonard singles to start the bottom half. Ford flies to left. Garvey grounds into the 6-4-3. Wynegar singles with one gone in the fourth. Bochte lines to third on the hit-and-run and leaves Wynegar to be a spectator while Royster doubles him off of first. Bench doubles to start the home half. Maddox flies to left. Royster pops to short. Foli pops to left to leave Bench where he started. Mota hits for Guidry with one down in the fifth. Guidry gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in 4 innings. After Mota watches strike 3, Remy singles. Parker forces him to strand one. Swan pitches the bottom half and Sizemore greets him with a single. May sacrifices. Leonard singles, but Rice’s throw towards home is off line and Sizemore trots home on the error, with Leonard taking second. Ford’s single puts runners at the corners. Garvey flies out. Bench grounds to second to leave 2. Baylor singles with one gone in the sixth. Horner hooks one foul and then swings for the fences again, but misses for strike three. Wynegar grounds to second to leave Baylor. Swan gets the Miners 1-2-3 in the bottom half. Bochte opens the seventh with a walk. Campaneris grounds to short, advancing Bochte. Eddie Miller hits for Swan, who gave up a run on 3 hits in two innings. Miller fouls out to second. Remy singles to cut the score to 4-2. Parker singles to put runners at the corners. Rice singles just over Foli’s head to make it 4-3. Lockwood is asked to take over. May goes 6.2, fanning 2, walking 3, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs. Griffin plays short in the double-switch. Baylor grounds back to Lockwood to leave 2. Dave Ford pitches the bottom half. Sizemore singles to greet him. Griffin sacrifices. Sutter takes over for Ford. Leonard singles to greet Sutter. Ford grounds to short. Campaneris bobbles it and can only get the force. So, Sizemore scores an insurance run. Garvey looks at strike three for out three. Lockwood gets the Stars 1-2-3 in the eighth. Sutter does likewise to the Miners. Lockwood remains in to pitch the ninth. Campaneris lines to left for out number 1. Kennedy hits for Sutter. Although Fryman is warming in the ‘pen, Lockwood stays on and gets Kennedy to ground to short. Again, Lockwood is left in to face a left-handed hitter, but Remy grounds to second for the 27th out of the game and a MWWL World Championship for the Gold River Miners. May gets the victory and is named the MVP, while Lockwood goes long for his second save. Guidry takes his second loss of the series.
Congratulations to the Gold River Miners on the 1979 World Series championship!
MVP: Rudy May (2-0 14.2 IP,2.45 ERA)