1984 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Fort Worth vs. Chicago –

On the AL leader boards for the end of the regular season the Panthers were 3rd in batting average at .276, number two in home runs with 158, 3rd in runs scored, 4th in slugging, number 2 in stolen bases with 120, 4th in on base percentage, and tied for 2nd in ERA at 3.49. Chicago finished the regular season 5th in batting at 2.67, 3rd in stolen bases with 104, first in on base percentage, and leading in ERA at 3.48

Game 1
Alexander (FWP) 1984 MWWL Stats 13-10 2.71 222.1 (AL – 5-0 1.65 54.2)
Hershiser (CHI ) 1984 MWWL Stats 13-11-1 4.61 181.2

In the top of 1st Perry tripled with two outs for the Demolition but was stranded when Hrbek struck out. Chicago had runners in scoring position in each of the first 3 innings, but was unable to score. Meanwhile the Panthers could only manage 2 walks the first 3 innings against Hershiser. In fact Ft. Worth did not get a hit until there was 1 out in the 4th when Durham singled. Hrbek got the scoring started when he lead of the 4th with a solo home run. In the 5th Chicago got another run on a fielder’s choice thanks to a hit and run single earlier in the inning by Boggs. That was more than enough for Orel “Bulldog” Hershiser as he allows only 3 hits. Chicago leads the ALCS 1 game to none. FINAL SCORE: DEMOLITION 2, PANTHERS 0

Game 2
Soto (FWP) 1984 MWWL Stats 22-9 3.01 248.0
Viola (CHI ) 1984 MWWL Stats 19-7 2.30 227.1

Great pitching duel between Chicago’s Viola and Ft. Worth’s Soto. The first run of the game did not occur until one out in the bottom of the 7th when Washington lead off with a walk then stole 2nd base. He scored when Rose singled through a drawn in infield. Soto ran into trouble in the 8th after Heath threw out Lemon trying to steal for the 2nd out. Hayes followed with a whistling single to right then Kemp walked for the Demolition. Perry pinch hitting for Fletcher delivered a single to tie the game at 1. With runners on the corners Soto walked Boggs and then struck out Doran keeping the game tied.
The two bullpens kept things in check until the top of the 13th when Boggs led off with a single for Chicago. He advanced a base on a wild pitch then scored the go ahead run when Doran doubled him home. Fingers comes on to close the door striking out two of the 3 hitters he faced as the Demolition go up 2 games to none in the ALCS. FINAL SCORE: DEMOLITION 2, PANTHERS 1

Game 3
Seaver (CHI) 1984 MWWL Stats 11-11 2.79 213 (AL – 5-5 2.69 90.1)
Camp (FWP) 1984 MWWL Stats 11-10 3.76 150.2

Phelps strikes out to end the home half of the first inning and is thrown out of the game when he argues the third strike call. His replacement, Perry later would get Chicago’s first hit of the game in the bottom of the 4th. In the top of the 5th the Panthers get the scoring started when Parrish leads off with a double and then two outs later scored ahead of a Smalley blast down the left field line as Ft. Worth goes up 2 to 0. Camp walks the first two Chicago batters in the bottom of the 5th, but the Panther defense came up with a big play, “HAYES lashes one to right … base hit … LEMON’s rounding third
they’re holding him up … but he’s going anyway … he ran right through the red light coming down the line … here comes VUKOVICH’s throw … on the bounce … OUT!…great throw the throw to second … and they get HAYES … double play! … score that 9-2-6 SCIOSCIA’s over at third … and the PANTHERS have cooled a great comeback chance for the DEMOLITION” Camp gets out of the inning by getting Kemp to ground out to first. The Panthers get a run in the 6th although they could have had more as they had the bases loaded with one out. In the bottom of the 7th after Hrbek leads off with a walk Lemon drives him home with a double, but gets thrown out going to third on the throw home. A two out error in the 8th by Rose and a two out double by Lemon in the 9th go for naught as the Panthers take game 3. Chicago leads the ALCS 2 games to one. FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 3, DEMOLITION 1

Game 4
Hershiser (CHI) Game 1 ALCS CG, 3 hits, and 7 SO
LaPoint (FWP ) 1984 MWWL Stats 13-13 5.27 188.0

This time the fans didn’t have to wait long for the scoring to begin as the Demolition’s catcher, Virgil stepped up with two runners on in the bottom of the 2nd, “The runners take their lead … he cranks and fires … VIRGIL touches this one off high and far to left center … MCGEE and RIVERS both give chase … wave bye-bye LAPOINT hung that one. Demolition 3, Panthers 0” Ft. Worth quickly retaliates scoring twice in the third when Hernandez doubles home Vukovich and then scoring on a Durham single. Chicago gets a run in the third on a throwing error by Smalley. LaPoint escapes any more damage when Hrbek ends the inning by grounding into a double play. The Panther’s get a run closer in the 5th when Rivers hits a solo home run and then tie the game in the 6th when Smalley doubles home McGee who had stolen 2nd base with two outs. Neither team poses much of a threat through 9 frames and the two teams head to extra innings for the 2nd time in 4 games. It looked like the Panthers had a chance in the 10th when Howell throws the ball past Hrbek, but Parrish is thrown out trying to go to 2nd on the play and then Lansford flies out to left. Things weren’t much better for Chicago in the bottom of the 10th with runners on first and second as Boggs gets picked off 2nd base by Parrish and then Perry pops out to Lansford to end the inning. In the bottom of the 11th Virgil hits a single that gets past Rivers, but Mick the quick throws out Lemon trying to score the winning run. Hayes then strikes out with Virgil on 2nd to end the inning. The Panthers take the lead in the top of the 13th on a two out solo home run by Lansford and Scurry comes on to get the last two outs. Series tied. FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 5, DEMOLITION 4

Game 5
Viola (CHI ) Game 2 ALCS 6.2 IP and 1 ER
Alexander (FWP) Game 1 ALCS 7.2 IP and 2 ER

In top of the first Parrish doubles home Jones who had walked with two outs giving Ft. Worth a 1 to nothing lead. The Panthers try to add to their lead in the 3rd when Rose tries to score from third on a fly to left, “VIOLA cranks it up JONES sends this ball air mail to left … not deep … HAYES lopes for it
into foul territory … and he makes the catch … ROSE’s tagging … they’re waving him home … here comes the throw … and he’s … out by inches! … double play! oh, those, DEMOLITION … they nip him trying to score … and ROSE’s not happy … he’s arguing with the ump but the manager cools him down … side retired” Ft. Worth adds a run in the 4th on a home run by Hernandez. With one out in the 5th the Panthers get back to back singles from Hendrick and Rose. Hendrick would score one out later on a single by Jones as the Panthers go up by 3. Chicago scores a run with two outs in the 8th when Phelps singles home Phillips, who had led off the inning with a single. Ft. Worth adds 2 insurance runs in the 9th on single by Mata and a double by Jones. Foster gets an infield hit to put runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, but Lemon grounds out to Easterly to end the game. Ft. Worth goes up 3 games to 2 in the ALCS. FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 5, DEMOLITION 1

Game 6
Soto (FWP ) Game 2 ALCS 8.0 IP and 1ER
Seaver (CHI) Game 3 ALCS 5.1 IP and 3ER

Both offenses were clicking early as neither starting pitcher made it past the third inning. In the top of the first Hrbek doubles home Perry giving Chicago a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd Hernandez doubles home two, but gets thrown out trying to score on a single by Parrish. Lansford follows with a triple to give the Panthers a 3 to 1 lead. With two outs in the 2nd after Soto had drilled Fletcher in the neck just below the helmet Boggs stepped up for the Demolition, “The runners take their lead … here’s a pitch … line drive toward short … it’s by him into left base hit … SCIOSCIA’s around third … chugging and puffing … he’ll score … two outs FLETCHER puts on the brakes … no, wait … FLETCHER’s going for third … digging here’s THOMPSON’s throw … safe under the sweeping tag … and BOGGS has to settle for one” That was all Chicago got in the 2nd as they now trailed 3 to 2.
Smalley chases Seaver in bottom of the 2nd with his second home run of the series giving the Panthers a 4 to 2 lead. However Soto looks nothing like an ace in the top of the third as he walks the bases loaded with one out. Hayes clears them with a double. Luckily for Ft. Worth Scioscia ends the inning by lining into a 4-5 double play. Chicago retakes the lead at 5 to 4. The Panthers loaded the bases with two outs in the 4th, but Durham grounds out to 2nd. The Demolition get a leadoff double by Phelps in the top of the 5th, but leave him stranded. Chicago gets an insurance run in the 6th when Boggs doubles home Fletcher. The Panthers get a run in the 7th on an error by the Demolition and then make things interesting in the 9th. With two outs and two slow runners on base Lansford stepped in against Fingers, “The runners take their lead … FINGERS rocks and fires … lined hard over second … base hit
MORENO is after it … he cuts it off … HERNANDEZ is well around third PARRISH is around second the throw comes in to HRBEK … and they’re holding HERNANDEZ at third LANSFORD loads them up with a single … so fasten your seat belts once again that puts the tying run at third” However, Fingers gets McGee to ground out back to the mound to end the game. Series tied and so far every road team has won. FINAL SCORE: DEMOLITION 6, PANTHERS 5

Game 7
Camp (FWP) Game 3 ALCS 6.1 IP and 0ER
Howell (CHI) 1984 MWWL Stats 8-5-4 2.85 110.1

What a finale! This game had just about everything in it. In the bottom of the 2nd after Parrish reaches on an error Lansford hits his 2nd home run of the series to deep left center. Ft. Worth leads 2-0. The Panthers extend their lead by one in the 4th when McGee doubles home Lansford with two outs. In the 5th Perconte doubles home Rivers and Ft. Worth was up 4 to 0. Meanwhile Panther starter, Camp was throwing a no-hitter through 5 innings helped by two double plays. Much to the dismay of Panther fans both the no-hitter and the lead get vaporized in the top of the 6th. Hayes leads off the inning with a double to break up the no-hitter. The next hitter Kemp walks and then Hayes scores when the 3rd hitter in the inning, Fletcher singles. After Boggs pops out Doran gets a base hit to right field, but Vukovich gets the ball back in before anyone can score. Camp then leaves the game for Ft. Worth after he walks in a run making it a 4-2 game. Easterly comes on for the Panthers and strikes out Hrbek for the second out. Then Lemon stepped up to face the Southpaw, “The runners take their lead … EASTERLY with the pitch … there’s a fly ball to left MCGEE drifts back … still backpeddling … hey, this ball may carry … at the fence MCGEE jumps for it … does he have it? … no! … a grand slam for LEMON! LEMON will circle the bases … and he’s sure taking his time … EASTERLY grabs the rosin bag and flings it to the ground in disgust … and EASTERLY is just hanging his head DEMOLITION 6, PANTHERS 4” The two-time MWWL Champions came back in the bottom of the 7th. With one out Vukovich doubles scoring on a single by Rivers. Then the third batter of the inning, Perconte stepped up, “He comes home … and a long drive to right … he buried it! … he buried it! home run for PERCONTE … and two runs score” Chicago manager was heard to say Jack bleeping Perconte!! Ft. Worth retakes the lead at 7 to 6. The fat lady was slow making it out and Chicago tied the game in the 9th off Scurry. Hayes led off with a double and then Panther closer, Scurry gets two quick outs, but Boggs singles home Hayes to tie the game at 7. Scurry strikes out the next batter, but the ball gets away from Parrish and Doran makes it to first base. Next Scurry walks Phelps to load the bases. The next hitter, Hrbek takes a big swing and misses to end the threat with a strike out. In the bottom of the 9th Vukovich leads off with a single and then is sacrificed to 2nd by Rivers. Pinch runner, Washington comes on to run for him. After what Perconte did in the 7th Chicago walks him to face Hernandez, who lifts a fly ball to centerfielder, Lemon, “a towering fly ball to center LEMON runs in on it … he’s under it … and it pops out of his glove WASHINGTON rounds third … he’s headed for home … here’s LEMON’s throw he slides in headfirst … and he gets him! … go to town, DEMOLITION! they cut off the winning run! … and the aggressive baserunning does not pay off” After an intentional walk to Durham loads the bases Fingers gets Parrish to pop out to Doran as Chicago survives a serious threat. For the third time in the series the two teams go to extra innings. Chicago gets a runner to 2nd base with two outs in the top of the 10th, but leaves him stranded. Lansford leads off the bottom of the 10th with a double. After McGee strikes out Smalley delivers the game winning and series winning hit, “FINGERS comes to him … base hit right field … it drops in front of FOSTER he has to play the long bounce … LANSFORD rounds third they’re waving LANSFORD in here comes the throw home here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … safe…ahead of the throw” Ft. Worth wins the ALCS. FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 8, DEMOLITION 7

For the series Chicago hit .223 and Ft. Worth hit .214. The Panthers had a team ERA of 2.63 while the Demolition had a team ERA of 3.28. Both teams’ pens were spectacular as Chicago’s ERA was 2.10 while Ft. Worth’s was 1.35.

Lemon was the best player for Chicago hitting .357/.438/.643 with 5 doubles and 1 home run. The MVP of the series goes to Ft. Worth’s Smalley who hit .304/.333/.696 with 3 doubles and 2 home runs.

Western Mass vs. Clem –

GAME #3 After gaining the split in Western Mass the Killer Zees return home to host three. The game 3 pitchers were John Denny for WM and Milt Wilcox for CKZ. Clem would score 1st in this one, in fact they would be the only team to score. Oester with 1 out in the second hits one between the legs of Kingman to reach,he would steal second and score on a 2 out double by Concepcion. the Zees add single runs in the 6th and 7th ,but this one was all Wilcox . Milt pitches all 9 innings giving up 3 hits striking out 7 and walking 1. The Killer Zees take a 2-1 series lead.

GAME #4 of the series was the Candyman (Candelaria) against Joe Cowley for the Zees. Mass would score one in the second on a bases loaded SF from Willie Lozado. Moving on to the 5th Western Mass would add 3 on the long ball off the bat of Tim Teufel. In the sixth Western decided to go long again this one a 3 run shot by Parrish for the 7-0. Clem wouldn”t go away easy though scoring the next 5 (3in the 7th and 2 in the 8th) to give themselves a chance to tie in the ninth after a lead off single from Little. That was all they could muster and Mass ties the series at 2.

GAME #5 The final game in the Clem pitted Phil Niekro for WM against The Clems MVP Doc Gooden. This game was another outstanding pitching performance by Doc,going 9 with 4 hits against and striking out 9 while facing only 30 batters. The Zees would push across single runs in the second,fourth and fifth for the 3-0 victory. Heading back to Western Mass with one game to win for a chance to play for the World Series the Zees could only hope that the pitching can keep up the great work! ON to Game 6!