Days 141-150: A new challenger rises in the National League! Only 18 days remain in the season!

The American League race was once incredibly close, but Vermont and Backwoods continue to outpace the others in their league.  Vermont is now eight games ahead over Backwoods, and the Bastards are seven games over third place Aliquippa.  Mar-a-Lago and Pottersville are a few games even further away than the Beavers.

The National League has taken a turn for the dramatic, as the Pohdunkville Pounders made an 8-2 record this week to rise to third in the standings.  Yukon still leads, by one game over arch-rival Bad Axe, but the Pounders have forced themselves into the conversation this week and are four games behind the Lumberjacks. 


In the individual races, Mar-a-Lago CF Ty Cobb has lifted his batting average to  .379, far above Verona Ridge's Tris Speaker.  Cobb is also leading in stolen bases, with 57, ahead of teammate Eddie Collins and his 47 swiped bags.  Vermont's Sultan of Swat continues to lead teammate Eddie Mathews in home runs (52-45) and RBIs (136-116).  Smokey Joe Williams of Bad Axe continues to lead in wins (21) and ERA (3.16).  Goose Gossage of Verona Ridge has almost mathematically clinched the Rolaids Relief Award already, racking up 30 saves to rank far above Pottersville's Bob Feller (who has 14). 



The powerful swing of Mickey Mantle

This set featured tremendous performances from previous Players of the Block Josh Gibson (.395, 6 HRs, 15 RBIs), Oscar Charleston (.480, 12 hits, 3 HRs), and Smokey Joe Williams (2 wins, 18 IP, 15 K's, 4 earned runs), but I try to award it to someone new when I can and so we hereby declare Windy City's Mickey Mantle the Player of this block!  The Mick was 9 for 24 (.375) with 4 HRs and 13 RBIs. 




The Mick's and his number Seven still
have cachet up the ying-yang!



















Rube Marquard of Mar-a-Lago was pitching at an All Star level most of the season, but stumbled here with two wretched outings (12 IP, 22 hits, 16 earned runs allowed).  Dave Winfield of Verona Ridge was 2 for 28 (.071) with 0 HRs or RBIs.  Backwoods SS Travis Jackson only hit .074. 



The Rube trying to figure out how
it went so terribly wrong

 
 

Steinbrenner is pissed as "Whiny" Winfield looks
at another strike three!

Day 141:  Smokey Joe Williams is the first to reach 20 wins this season, shutting out Verona Ridge in a 2-0 game.  More great pitching as Don Drysdale of Pohdunkville throws a two-hit shutout in Pottersville.  Ty Cobb and Roy Campanella both go yard in Mar-a-Lago's 4-3 win over Backwoods.  Babe Ruth hits his 50th homer to help push Vermont over Windy City 7-4.  Aliquippa outlasts Yukon 3-2, winning on a walk-off Hughie Jennings single in the 10th.   Eee-yah, Hughie!!!  

Day 142:   Pud Galvin had a no-hitter going through five innings, but settles for the shutout as Vermont beats Windy City 5-0.  Aliquippa puts up 5 in the bottom of the 8th to top Yukon 10-5.  Mar-a-Lago and Backwoods each put up 15 base hits, but the Misogynists outscored the Bastards 10-7.  Another big game from Ken Griffey Jr., who singled, doubled, and homered.  Bad Axe goes over Verona Ridge 5-2, Mickey Cochrane gets three hits and three runs scored.  Dave Bancroft added two hits, prodding an ounce of respect from Jimmie Foxx.  Josh Gibson of Pohdunkville cranks 3 HRs to join a very small and select group of Hall of Famers this year to get three in a game.  Pounders all over the Misers 14-5. 

Day 143:   Mar-a-Lago's Ivanka Trump seems to be pushing the right buttons as the Misogynists win their fourth in a row, 12-8 over Backwoods.  Roy Campanella hit two homers and drove in 4 runs.  Windy City catcher Carlton Fisk hits 2 homer  of his own in a 9-3 Doobies romp over the Socialists.  Bad Axe tops Verona Ridge 4-3, rallying for two runs in the top of the 9th behind hits from the suddenly hot Dave Bancroft, Lou Gehrig, and Chick Hafey.  Grover Cleveland Alexander and his Beavers gets a narrow 3-2 win over Yukon.  The Pounders got a two run homer from Reggie Jackson to overtake Pottersville 5-4. 

Day 144:  Greg Maddux continues his outstanding season for Aliquippa, tossing a 5-hit shutout of Pottersville and moving to 16-7 for the season.  Pohdunkville ripped Vermont 9-1, getting two hits a piece from Nap Lajoie, Josh Gibson, Rod Carew, and Jimmy Collins.  Windy City's Hank Greenberg gets 4 hits in 4 at bats, including his 34th home run, in a 7-3 win over Verona Ridge. 

Day 145:  "Sunday Teddy" himself, Ted Lyons of Windy City, blanks Verona Ridge and Al Kaline hits his 20th homer, 2-0 Doobies is your final.  Satchel Paige limited the mighty Vermont offense to just a couple runs and Pohdunville wins 7-2.    Pottersville rallies in the bottom of the 9th to beat Aliquippa 10-9.  The Misers pieced together hits by Mel Ott, Rogers Hornsby, and Kiki Cuyler to win this one. 

Day 146:  Vermont's Pud Galvin outduels Don Drysdale of Pohdunkville in a 2-1 nailbiter.  Aliquippa rides a 9th inning Duke Snider two-run homer to a 6-4 win over Pottersville.   Ralph Kiner drives home all three Roadrunner runs in a 3-2 victory over Windy City. 

Day 147:  Mar-a-Lago comes back from two restful days off to edge Pottersville 9-6.  Ken Griffey Jr. continued his red-hot second half of the year by clouting homers #33 and #34.  Windy City slugger Mickey Mantle goes deep twice to give Big Ed Walsh all he needed in a 12-0 whitewashing of Yukon.  Pohdunkville continues to climb, topping Aliquippa 7-3 at the Pohdunkville Slophouse, Nap Lajoie had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.  Verona Ridge explodes for 8 in the top of the 7th to roll over Bad Axe 9-6.  Wonder Twins Babe Ruth and Eddie Mathews each homered for Vermont as they eke past Backwoods 8-7. 

Day 148:  Pottersville gets three in the top of the 9th to break Mar-a-Lago's winning streak 10-9.  Windy City gets past Yukon 6-4, with John Smoltz topping Carl Hubbell.  Josh Gibson goes deep two more times and Harmon Killewbrew hits his 40th as Pohndunkville beats Aliquippa 10-7.  Vermont edges Backwoods 3-2, Socialist starter Tim Keefe moves to 14-8 for the year.  Billy Williams contributes two triples and a homer to help push Verona Ridge by Bad Axe 6-5. 

Day 149:  Windy City gets a walk-off hit from Al Kaline to send Yukon down to their sixth straight loss, 4-3.  Misers over Misogynists 12-4, Luis Aparacio collects 4 hits.  Pohdunkville creams Aliquippa 14-5, putting up 11 runs in the crucial 7th innings.  Backwoods Bastards get 2 HRs and 6 RBIs from Henry Aaron to outpower Vermont 12-2.   Bad Axe beats Verona Ridge 7-4, Smokey Joe Williams gets his 21st win and George Kell (3 hits, 3 RBIs) provides the offense. 

Day 150:  Bad Axe gets a shutout from Tom Seaver as they beat Pohdunkville 4-0.  Bastards 2B Craig Biggio hits two doubles to support Randy Johnson in a 6-1 victory over Verona Ridge.  Al Spalding of Mar-a-Lago holds Vermont to just 1 run and 5 hits to earn his second win of the year, 4-1 Misogynists.  Aliuippa goes by Pottersville 5-3, Pee Wee Reese has 3 hits and Eddie Murray and Frank Robinson homer for the Beavers.  Yukon gets back in the win column, dominating Windy City 15-5.  Cristobal Torriente goes deep twice, gets 4 hits and drives in 5 runs.  Turkey Stearnes also got 4 hits for Yukon.