REGIONAL #35:  Nary a pennant winner in this batch, but there was a high density of what appeared to be good teams, with the ELO ranks suggesting no bad teams and five of the eight in the top 1000 of all time.   The rankings pegged the 1964 White Sox as regional favorites, and there was another good Sox team from the early 60s available as backup.  The 1970 Twins were the #2 seed, and there were two 1981 AL teams who also appeared to be contenders.

The regional favorite 1964 White Sox competed for the AL title with pitching and defense, with Juan Pizarro tapped as their first round starter against the 1969 Red Sox, who had famously won the AL pennant two years previously.   Unfortunately for the Chisox, Pizarro lasted exactly one inning, allowing five runs–including a 3-run homer by Yazstrzemski–and the strong Chicago bullpen of Wilhelm and Fisher doesn’t do much better as Boston cruises to a 10-3 win.  However, the bullpen works better for the 1961 White Sox as they best the 1983 Indians 4-2, with Turk Lown and Don Larsen coming out of the pen in support of Sox starter Russ Kemmerer and a 2-run homer by Sherm Lollar making the difference.  The 1970 Twins and Jim Perry defeat the 1971 Braves, with a 3-run blast by Killebrew being all Perry needs; both Atlanta runs come on Hank Aaron solo shots.  Finally, the 1981 Tigers beat their season-mates 1981 Orioles 6-2, with Jack Morris tossing a 5-hitter and Steve Kemp providing a 3-run blast in the 5th to put the game out of reach.

In the semifinals, the 1969 Red Sox had already blown out one White Sox team in the first inning, and they continue that trend with three runs against Early Wynn and the 1961 White Sox in the top of the 1st.  However, Roy Sievers responds with a 3-run longball in the bottom of the inning and notice is served that this Chisox team isn’t folding.  A two-run Tony Conigliaro single puts the Red Sox up 5-3 in the 3rd, but timely hits by Jim Landis and Sherm Lollar chase Boston starter Lee Stange in the 6th and give Chicago a 6-5 lead.  The Pale Hose put up another two in the 8th and they head to the finals with an 8-5 comeback win.  In the other semi, the 1970 Twins ride a Brant Alyea homer and a 6-hitter from Bert Blyleven to down the 1981 Tigers and set up a date with the White Sox in the final.

In the finals, the 1961 White Sox give Juan Pizarro an opportunity for redemption, given that a different version of him was blown out in the first round.  He would face Tom Hall and the 1970 Twins, who had only allowed three runs to their opponents in the first two rounds.  The game quickly settled in to a pitchers duel, as through five innings there were no runs and only four hits for the two teams combined.  Finally, in the 6th, Sox favorite Minnie Minoso puts one into the stands for a solo shot, and that single run is all Pizarro needs to complete the 5-hit shutout.  Hall only allows three hits, but Minoso’s was the difference and the Sox are regional champs with the 1-0 win.