REGIONAL #40:  The highlights of this group included a Red Sox team ranked among the top 100 teams but didn’t win a pennant, a Royals squad that did win the AL, and a Reds team that won 98 games but didn’t make the postseason, although their next two seasons involved some of the greatest pennant winners of all time.  The remaining five teams were pretty much also-rans, with only the 1930 Tigers making the top 1500 in the ELO ranks.

In round one, Vic Sorrell tossed a six-hitter for the 1930 Tigers against the pennant-winning 1980 Royals, but unfortunately for him one of those hits was a 3-run homer, and that was all Larry Gura needed to give KC the 3-2 victory.   For the 1980 Cubs, Rick Reuschel didn’t make it two innings as the Cubs quickly fell behind 8-0 to the 1950 Red Sox, with Al Zarilla, Walt Dropo, and Vern Stephens all contributing multiple RBI in the 8-2 win.   The 1930 Browns also made a quick start against the 1985 Braves, leading 6-1 after three innings and chasing Zane Smith, but the Browns have to hold on for dear life as they escape with a 7-6 after a 9th inning comeback by Atlanta falls short.  Finally, the wheels come off the Big Red Machine as the 1970 Senators ride homers from Frank Howard and Rich Reichardt, and Darold Knowles staves off a rally by the 1974 Reds to preserve a 5-4 upset win.  

In the semifinals, 1930 Browns starter and ace Lefty Stewart gets injured in the first AB of the 2nd inning, but their bullpen manages to hold on to a lead provided by an Earl McNeely homer and they defeat the 1970 Senators, 6-3.   Meanwhile, the higher profile clash between the #1 seed 1950 Red Sox and the #3 seed 1980 Royals is all Boston, as they never relinquish a lead acquired in the 2nd from RBI singles from Ted Williams and Walt Dropo, cruising to a 5-1 win behind starter Joe Dobson.   That sets up a lop-sided appearing final between the regional favorites 1950 Red Sox and the 64-90 1930 Browns.  The Red Sox flex their muscle in the top of the first, putting up 7 runs against George Blaeholder, but Goose Goslin rallies the Browns who put up three in their half of the inning and it looks like it’s going to be a high-scoring affair.  And it is, but most of the scoring is done by Boston, as they wrap up the regional with a 18-6 win, with Dropo adding five RBI to his previous totals, earning him regional MVP honors, and Johnny Pesky adding a homer and 4 runs driven in.   The Red Sox demonstrate that they deserve their lofty ELO ranking with a record-setting scoring spree in the final game, and they should be a formidable opponent for someone at the super-regional level.