1968 World Series Replay – Game 1

I know what you’re wondering? Did Bob Gibson strikeout 17 Tigers? No, he only struck out six, and he didn’t pitch very well, surrendering five earned runs in a 5-1 Tigers victory. As was the case with my 1968 Detroit Tigers single-team replay, this World Series is played with cards and dice with basic boards.

Game one wasn’t dominated by the NL Cy Young Award winner, but instead the AL Cy Young Award winner and 31-game winner, Denny McLain. McLain pitched a complete game and only gave up one meaningless run in the bottom of the ninth while striking out seven St. Louis Cardinals. He also managed to go two for four against Gibson with a single and a double, while scoring the winning run.

The biggest hit in the game came in the third inning when Mickey Stanley cleared the bases with a two-run double. Those runs would prove to be the winning runs and the only scoring until the eighth inning. In the eight, Willie Horton gave McLain three security runs with a three-run smash off Gibson. The scoring would conclude in the bottom of the ninth when Tim McCarver drove in Curt Flood with a sacrifice fly.

Game two matches Nelson Briles of the Cardinals against Mickey Lolich of the visiting Detroit Tigers. Look for a future post and game report.

Until then, here is the boxscore for game one. Please excuse my error in putting Ray Oyler in the incorrect spot as a defensive replacement. As he did in the actual World Series, he replaced Willie Horton and played shortstop, while Mickey Stanley moved to centerfield.