Around the Union League
by "Word" Smith
All Time League correspondent to the Keokuk Gate City Daily
League Overview Through April 12
The rich got richer, the poor got poorer, and Willie Mays got Willie Maysier these last few days in the Union League.
To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Newark Eagles took three of
their last four to run their record to 7-1, perching them alone in
their aerie well above the rest of the Atlantic Division. Newark's
Willie Mays now leads the league in nearly every offensive category,
having hit five home runs and scored 15 runs while driving in 13;
remember, folks, this is in eight (8) games.
That's a great month where I come from.
To put Mays' hitting in perspective, I asked my stat guru, Oliver
Wendell Jones, to run his "runs created per 27 outs." As I
understand it, this means how many runs a team of nine Willies would
score in an average game. Ollie puts this number at 38.8. That
means that a theoretical team of all Say Hey Kids would be favored to
beat those other Eagles by a touchdown and a field goal in today's NFC
championships.
The Eagles' only loss came at the hands of the other powerhouse of the
Union, that being the Pacific's San Francisco Seals, who have now run
their unbeaten streak to seven. Not offense, but defense, has carried
the Seals to their perfect record, as they have posted a staff ERA of
2.39, second only to the A's. Led by Kevin Brown, who has given
up but a single run in his 17 innings so far, the San Fran staff is
making the league sit up and take notice.
Game Of The Week
Which of course means our Game Of The Week
was the April 9 matchup between San Fran and Newark. On a brisk,
breezy day by the Bay, Christy Mathewson took the mound for the locals
to face Terris McDuffie, each man making his first start of the young
season.
The Eagles drew first blood in the top of the third. McDuffie led
off with a grounder that George Davis couldn't pick in time, the home
town scorer marking it as a hit. Davis promptly redeemed himself by
starting a double play, with Jeff Bagwell's pivot toss just nipping the
swift Pete Hill at first. Chester Williams picked them up with a single
to right, and Willie Mays followed - boy, did he. That ball was last
seen flying over the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Eagles soared ahead. A
double and a walk later, Chipper Jones strode to the plate. Had
Mathewson's fadeaway faded completely away? How long would the Seals
stay with the quiet, classy superstar?
Jones flared a single between first and second. Buck Leonard
tried to score from second, and the throw from Jelly Gardner had his
old Negro League compadre nailed. Dead to rights. Deader than Marley's
ghost. Deader than Dan Rather's career. And Ernie Lombardi got knocked
on his schnozz and dropped the ball. Shades of his so-called "snooze"
in the 1939 Series. Nobody hurt, though, and Matty shut the door
by striking out Darren Daulton. But had the equine already escaped the
outbuilding?
Matty settled down after that, but McDuffie continued to cruise. But in
the bottom of the fifth, Davis doubled and Lombardi singled him in. A
couple of outs and a walk later found Lombardi on third and Robbie
Alomar on first. Roberto toyed with McDuffie: would he go, with
two out, two on, and Eddie Mathews up? Surely the Seals wouldn't risk
such an opportunity?
They did.
Alomar took off for second on the first pitch. Surely, with a two-run
lead, Daulton would hold the ball, and with the sluggish Lombardi ahead
of him, Alomar would go no further. The Eagles wouldn't throw to second.
They did.
Actually, they didn't; they threw to center field. With the ball some
300 feet away, even Lombardi could score from third. 3-2, the Eagles
just holding on.
In the sixth, the Seals began barking again. Joe DiMaggio: solo homer.
Reggie Smith: single. Took second on a wild pitch by the now-rattled
McDuffie. Bags: single, Smith to third. Would they do it again? Yes! Bagwell stole second, and he and Smith each scored on infield outs by the ubiquitous Davis and Lombardi. 5-3 Seals.
Top of the seventh. Joe Cronin up. Can of corn to DiMag. Joltin' Joe
must not like corn; he drops it, and Cronin stands laughing at second.
One groundout later, he scores on a Hill sacrifice fly, and we've got a
one run ballgame.
No threats in the bottom of the seventh or top of the eighth. The Seals
had a chance for some insurance in the bottom half, opening up with a
Smith double, but Bags lined out. When John Candelaria (McDuffie having
been lifted for a pinch hitter) walked Davis, the Eagles went to Bill
Holland to face Lombardi. Lombardi worked the count to 3-1, then tapped
one back to the pitcher, and with Ernie up, you know it's a double
play. No damage.
Top of the ninth. The Seals think Matty's had enough, and go to Armando
Benitez. Benitez strikes out Daulton, and gets pinch-hitter Roy White
to fly out. Fans love the move by the Seals. Hurly McNair hits for
Holland, and smacks one over DiMaggio's head for a double. Fans hate
the move by the Seals, start chanting Matty's name.Hill walks on four
pitches. Fans start suggesting anatomically impossible acts to Seals
management.
[Chester] Williams up.
Called strike. Cheers. Steely gaze from Williams to the ump.
Called ball. Boos. Steely gaze from Benitez to the ump.
Swing and a miss. Loud cheers. Steely gaze from Williams to his bat.
Called strike three. Hats in the air. I think Williams is still there, arguing the call.
And some people are watching football today.
