REGIONAL #3:  This group started off once again with two of the Old Timer teams facing off.   One of them was the 1906 Cubs, the famous Tinker to Evers to Chance group that according to the ELO rankings was the second best team of all time.  Because those rankings listed the 1939 Yankees as the top team, and because that Yankee team is not printed by Strat-o-matic, that means that the Cubs should be considered the ELO favorite for the entire tournament!  However, apparently nobody told their opponent, the 1940 Reds (ranked as the 115th best team of all time), about the Cubs’ greatness as Johnny Vander Meer blanks the Cubs, scattering 8 hits, Ernie Lombardi contributes a homer, and the Reds send the Cubs packing in cruising to a 6-0 win.   In other first round action, Jim Perry shuts down the 1974 Astros with a 4-hitter to lead the 1974 Indians to a 5-0 victory; the 1981 Pirates blow up the 1980 Tigers and Dan Petry with a 6-run 6th inning to win 8-2, Johnny Ray driving in four; and the 1977 Twins down the 1972 White Sox 4-2, despite getting only four hits off Wilbur Wood.

The first semifinal game saw the great 1940 Reds crash to earth, with Dave Goltz holding them to 4 hits and the 1977 Twins crush Bucky Walters as the Twins win easily, 7-0, with Rod Carew contributing a homer and 3 RBI.  The other semifinal found the 1974 Indians hoping to duplicate the success of the ‘75 team in Regional #1, and the 1981 Pirates hoping to avenge the defeat of the ‘80 team in Regional #2.  The Indians jump out to a 3-0 lead early, but Luis Tiant settles down, Jason Thompson ties the game with a 2-run homer, and Dave Parker delivers a go-ahead RBI single and the Pirates head to the finals with a 4-3 win.  

Twins: We are Adams family

The finals turn out to be a bit of a rout as the 1977 Twins jump out to a 5-0 lead against Jim Bibby, and Tekulve isn’t much more effective for the 1981 Pirates as the Twins take home the regional crown with an 8-4 win.  The Twins award the regional MVP to DH Glenn Adams, who contributed a homer and 6 RBI, including at least one RBI in each game.