Every fan in this series wore Dodger Blue, as the 1981 LA Dodgers faced the 1962 LA Dodgers. There was even some confusion who the “Home” team actually was.
Game 1 – this was going to be a pitching duel as Don Drysdale and Jerry Reuss were on the mound. 1981 LA struck first in the 2nd inning with a walk, an error, and a single – which led to an unearned run for Drysdale. Drysdale in all held the 1981 team to just 3 hits, while going the distance. In the bottom 3rd, 1962 LA got 3 straight hits from Drysdale, Wills, and Gilliam to produce 3 runs of their own. 1962 LA led 3-1 after 3. Reuss settled down after that inning – and held them scoreless the rest of the way. But, 1962 LA did manage 11 hits off Reuss for the game. 1981 LA managed another run in the 6, when Dusty Baker hit a HR off Drysdale – but that is all they could muster. 1962 LA won this game 3-2 – and they out hit 1981 LA 11-3.
Game 2 – this appeared to be another pitching duel as Burt Hooten faced Joe Moeller. 1981 LA struck
right away with a leadoff Double by Steve Sax in the top 1st, who would eventually score. 1962 LA countered with 2 runs of their own off a Double by Tommy Davis and a HR by Frank Howard. In the 2nd, 1962 LA scored 2 more runs off 3 straight hits again from Jim Gilliam, Ron Fairly, and Larry Burright – and 1962 LA led 4-1 after 2. An error in the 3rd allowed 1981 LA to score another run – but they were held to 4 hits for the game and ran out of gas. 1962 LA managed 2 more runs in the game off a Triple by Larry Burright in the 5th and a Double by Willie Davis in the 8th. 1962 LA won 6-2 – and out hit 1981 LA 9-4.
Game 3 – The 1981 LA team were now heading Home and looking for some answers. They put Bob Welch on the mound to face Johnny Podres. 1981 LA felt confident facing Podres and felt they could get some hits and score some runs off him. How wrong they were. The 1981 LA team did manage 7 hits off Podres, who went the distance – but were held to just 1 run in the 3rd. Welch did his part and contained the 1962 LA squad to 2 runs, which came off some timely hits in the 2nd and 7th. This was a pitching duel, as 1962 LA won this game 2-1 – and once again out hit 1981 LA 10-7.
Game 4 - This was another pitching duel – and 1981 LA put
Rick Sutcliffe, a 5th starter, on the mound to face Pete Richert. 1981 LA was looking to salvage some dignity – being the division leader heading into this series…..not to be. 1981 LA did strike first with a run in the 6th off a couple of hits – and still led 1-0 going into the 8th. Sutcliffe did a good job holding 1962 LA scoreless thru 7 and allowing only 3 hits. In the 8th, 1962 LA managed a run off a couple of timely singles – to tie the game at 1-1. Ron Perranoski came in for 1962 LA and shut the door in the 8th and Larry Sherry came in to hold the 9th – so we are heading into Xtra innings. In the 10th, 1962 managed a run off Dave Stewart with a couple of hits – and 1981 LA could not counter. 1962 LA won the game 2-1.
This was an unexpected 4-game sweep by 1962 LA – who now forced a tie with their 1981 LA counterpart. Both teams are now 10-10 – and only the 1986 NY Mets are better at 11-9. So, it looks to be a tight race in this division with only 16 games left to play.
Game 1 – this was going to be a pitching duel as Don Drysdale and Jerry Reuss were on the mound. 1981 LA struck first in the 2nd inning with a walk, an error, and a single – which led to an unearned run for Drysdale. Drysdale in all held the 1981 team to just 3 hits, while going the distance. In the bottom 3rd, 1962 LA got 3 straight hits from Drysdale, Wills, and Gilliam to produce 3 runs of their own. 1962 LA led 3-1 after 3. Reuss settled down after that inning – and held them scoreless the rest of the way. But, 1962 LA did manage 11 hits off Reuss for the game. 1981 LA managed another run in the 6, when Dusty Baker hit a HR off Drysdale – but that is all they could muster. 1962 LA won this game 3-2 – and they out hit 1981 LA 11-3.Game 2 – this appeared to be another pitching duel as Burt Hooten faced Joe Moeller. 1981 LA struck
right away with a leadoff Double by Steve Sax in the top 1st, who would eventually score. 1962 LA countered with 2 runs of their own off a Double by Tommy Davis and a HR by Frank Howard. In the 2nd, 1962 LA scored 2 more runs off 3 straight hits again from Jim Gilliam, Ron Fairly, and Larry Burright – and 1962 LA led 4-1 after 2. An error in the 3rd allowed 1981 LA to score another run – but they were held to 4 hits for the game and ran out of gas. 1962 LA managed 2 more runs in the game off a Triple by Larry Burright in the 5th and a Double by Willie Davis in the 8th. 1962 LA won 6-2 – and out hit 1981 LA 9-4.
Game 3 – The 1981 LA team were now heading Home and looking for some answers. They put Bob Welch on the mound to face Johnny Podres. 1981 LA felt confident facing Podres and felt they could get some hits and score some runs off him. How wrong they were. The 1981 LA team did manage 7 hits off Podres, who went the distance – but were held to just 1 run in the 3rd. Welch did his part and contained the 1962 LA squad to 2 runs, which came off some timely hits in the 2nd and 7th. This was a pitching duel, as 1962 LA won this game 2-1 – and once again out hit 1981 LA 10-7.Game 4 - This was another pitching duel – and 1981 LA put
Rick Sutcliffe, a 5th starter, on the mound to face Pete Richert. 1981 LA was looking to salvage some dignity – being the division leader heading into this series…..not to be. 1981 LA did strike first with a run in the 6th off a couple of hits – and still led 1-0 going into the 8th. Sutcliffe did a good job holding 1962 LA scoreless thru 7 and allowing only 3 hits. In the 8th, 1962 LA managed a run off a couple of timely singles – to tie the game at 1-1. Ron Perranoski came in for 1962 LA and shut the door in the 8th and Larry Sherry came in to hold the 9th – so we are heading into Xtra innings. In the 10th, 1962 managed a run off Dave Stewart with a couple of hits – and 1981 LA could not counter. 1962 LA won the game 2-1.This was an unexpected 4-game sweep by 1962 LA – who now forced a tie with their 1981 LA counterpart. Both teams are now 10-10 – and only the 1986 NY Mets are better at 11-9. So, it looks to be a tight race in this division with only 16 games left to play.
-contributed by George Bseraini-
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