World Series 73: 1961 Reds vs. 1950 Phillies

SERIES 73

(161) 1961 REDS VS. (176) 1950 PHILLIES

Hall of Fame great Frank Robinson won his first MVP when he hit .323/.404/.611, 1.015 OPS and led the league in SLG, OPS and 23 IBB. Vada Pinson led the NL with 208 hits while hitting .343/.379/.504, .883 OPS, 16 HR, 87 RBI, 101 runs. Gordy Coleman (.504 SLG) and Gene Freese (.466) both hit 26 HR and Wally Post hit .294/.346/.585, .932 OPS, 20 HR, 57 RBI in 99 games. Joey Jay (21-10, 3.53), Jim O’Toole (19-9, 3.10) and Bob Purkey (16-12, 3.73) led the rotation. The Reds lost to the Yankees in 5 games in the World Series.

Hall of Famer Robin Roberts led the rotation (20-11, 3.02) and combined with Curt Simmons (17-8, 3.40) for a good duo. Reliever Jim Konstanty was the NL MVP (22 saves, 16-7, 2.66). Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn led the NL with 14 triples while hitting .303 AVG, 774 OPS, 84 runs. Del Ennis led the NL with 126 RBI while hitting 31 HR and .311/.372/.551, .923 OPS. Willie “Puddin’ Head” Jones hit 25 HR, 793 OPS and Andy Seminick hit ,288/.400/.524, .925 OPS, 24 HR in 393 AB. The Phillies were swept by the Yankees in 4 games in the World Series.

The ace starter in Game 7 rule has been invoked. An additional day off has been scheduled to allow Robin Roberts to come back and make a third start in Game 7.

Game 1: Joey Jay vs. Robin Roberts, in Cincinnati. Granny Hamner hit a 2 run home run in the 2^nd and also also added a 2 RBI double in the 3^rd for the Phillies. In between that, Gene Post hit a solo homer for the Reds in the bottom of the 2^nd. After Richie Ashburn’s RBI single in the top of the 4^th, Gordy Coleman countered with a 2 run homer in the bottom of the inning. Willie Jones delivered an RBI single in the 6^th as the Phillies took the first game, 6-3. Roberts earned the win (3 R in 9 IP, 6 H, 4 K, 2 BB). Jay took the loss (5 R in 5 IP, 7 H, 5 K, 1 BB). Hamner had 3 hits (1 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBI) and Dick Sisler had 2 hits (1 runs) for the Phillies. Vada Pinson had 2 hits for the Reds.