REGIONAL #5:  This group included a deadball-era Old Timer team, a second pennant winner ifrom the Dodgers, and strong representatives from the Twins, Reds, and Expos.  In the first round, the 1909 Tigers had some trouble with Phil Niekro’s knuckleball and the 1979 Braves, but a Bob Horner injury and 3 RBI from Sam Crawford pushed Detroit to the semis with a 5-3 win.  The 1969 Twins got four runs in the 1st inning, three on a Killebrew homer, and Jim Kaat tosses a 4-hitter to give them a 4-1 win over the 1972 Expos.  The NL pennant winning 1956 Dodgers pushed to a big early lead against Mario Soto and the 1981 Reds, but Don Drysdale has to hold on for dear life as the Reds score four in the last three innings, although they fall short and Brooklyn survives with a 7-5 win.  Finally, the 1978 Astros prevail against the 1979 Expos when Montreal closer Elias Sosa surrenders a solo HR to Bob Watson in the 9th that breaks the tie and gives Houston a 3-2 win.

In the semifinals, the 1909 Tigers squeak out a 2-1 win over the 1969 Twins in a pitchers’ duel between Jim Perry and Ed Willett.  The two teams only total 9 hits combined for the game, but the difference is two key errors by the Twins that lead to both Detroit runs, with the second one setting up a Sam Crawford RBI single that proves to be the game-winner.  The second semi is also a tightly pitched battle, with the 1956 Dodgers getting a 3-hitter from Sal Maglie to defeat the 1978 Astros, 3-1.  The game was deadlocked until Carl Furillo nailed a 2-run double in the 8th to send Vern Ruhle packing.  

Wahoo, Tigers win

That set up the first regional final between two pennant winners–the 1909 Tigers and the 1956 Dodgers, and the game proved worthy of the billing.  The Tigers struck for two runs in the top of the 1st against Don Newcombe, but a Duke Snider homer ties it up in the 3rd.  Crawford drives one in to make it 3-2 in the 4th, and then in the 7th the Tigers drive Newcombe out of the game, scoring four to make it 7-2.  However, the Dodgers aren’t done, and they roar back in the 8th with four of their own against Tiger starter George Mullin.  With no bullpen to speak of, it’s up to Mullin to hang on in the 9th, and he manages to strand the tying run in scoring position to clinch the 7-6 win and the regional title for the Tigers–the first Old Timer team to survive a regional.  The Tigers MVP is Wahoo Sam Crawford, who stepped up with clutch hits in all three games while his teammate Ty Cobb did little.