After a dismal start the Braves are now back at .500 (10-10) after the series with the first place Giants

April 27, 1971
Atlanta -- Atlanta takes game 1 of the series 5-3 behind Hank Aaron's 3 for 4 day and Cepeda's 6 homer of the year. 


April 28, 1971
Atlanta -- Atlanta takes game 2 of the series by pounding the first place Giants 10-3. Ralph Garr goes 3/5, McCovey for the Giants blasts homer #7 in the loss. 


April 29, 1971
Atlanta -- Giants come back to take game 3 of the series 6-3. McCovey again the star going 2 for 4 and blasting homer #8 on the season.

Cards Arch Two Wins around Two Mets Wins

April 26, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Bob Gibson (3-2) did battle with Tom Seaver (2-2) today in the Gateway City. Neither were at their best with Gibson yielding 11 hits over 9 IP and Seaver giving up 9 in 7 IP. The difference was the clutch-hitting by the home club. The Mets left 13 men on base. The Redbirds just 6 as St. Louis took a 7-5 win. Gibson helped himself with 2 RBI and 2 hits.

April 27, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Bud Harrelson drove in 3 with a pair of hits to help Jerry Koosman (2-1) defeat Steve Carlton (2-2), 5-4, in another marquee pitching match-up. Cleon Jones also contributed to the NY offense, going 3 for 3 with 2 walks.

April 28, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- The New York Jets, I mean Mets, defeated the St. Louis Cardinals (this was 1971) by a touchdown, 14-7. This was as ugly as a bad football game. Tim Foli led the Mets with 5 RBI on two hits. Jones knocked in 4 with 3 hits. Jerry Grote had a 4-3-3-3 line. Gary Gentry (3-1) started and got the win. Mike Torrez (0-3) and George Brunet sucked for the Redbirds.

April 29, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Jerry Reuss (2-3) gave St. Louis what it desperately needed, a start that lasted into the late innings. Reuss hurled 8 IP, scattering 7 hits for just 1 run in a 4-1 Cardinals victory to split the series. Chuck Taylor (3) finished up in the 9th. Joe Torre (4) blasted a 2-run HR off Nolan Ryan (0-1) to lead the offense.

Redbirds Perch on Bats for 3 games; Bats are in the Belfry in Game 2

April 22, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Steve Carlton (2-1) surrendered a 3-run home run to Deron Johnson (1) in the 3rd inning, but was extremely efficient otherwise, The Cardinals took the contest 8-3. Ted Sizemore and Joe Torre had 3 knocks apiece for the Redbirds.

April 23, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Title this one, "Nightmare Under the Arch." It;s one Cardinals SP Mike Torrez (0-2) will be re-living in his sleep for years to come. Before he hit the showers (cue Psycho music) in the 1st inning after just 2 were out, he had been slashed for 8 earned runs on 4 hits with 6 walks. All told, 12 Phils came to bat before George Brunet was summed to fan Willie Montanez and end it. That was just end the 1st. Philadelphia evened the series with a 13-1 final pounding. So desperate were the Cardinals to find someone who could record outs, they had Matty Alou and Bob Burda volunteer to take the mound in the final 2 innings. Surprisingly, the pair surrendered just 1 run on 3 hits with 1 BB. Barry Lersch (1-2) was the beneficiary, going the full route for the visitors. Bobby Pfeil provided the biggest bat, going 4 for 6.

April 24, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- A pair of 5-run explosions in the 5th and 8th innings, propelled Redbirds to a 12-5 victory. Jose Cardenal had 2-run doubles in both the 5th and 8th as highlights. Sizemore also finished with 3 hits and 3 RBI. Jerry Reuss (1-3) earned his first W.

April 25, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Jim Beauchamp doubled and tripled and drove in 3 runs as the Cardinals take the series with a tight 6-5 win. Reggie Cleveland (2-2) tossed 7 for the win with Frank Linzy (1) notching the save. Chris Short (2-2) came up on the losing side inthe record book. Tim McCarver (1) had 3 hits, including a long bomb against his old mates.

White Shoes Split with White Sox

April 16, 1971
CHICAGO -- Wilbur Wood (2-0) walked 4 and surrendered 7 hits, but still kept the Athletics off-balance enough to ring up a 4-0 shut out. Mike Andrews (1) helped the offensive cause with a 2-run long shot.

April 17, 1971
CHICAGO -- Reggie Jackson's (1) 3-run bomb in the 1st off Tom Bradley (0-1) was the difference maker in a 4-2 Oakland win. Rollie Fingers (2-0) started and pitched 7 2/3 for the win.

April 18, 1971 (Game #1)
CHICAGO -- The white shoes played the pants off the White Sox (Oh wait, that disaster comes 5 years later) in a 15-5 yawner. Vida Blue (2-0) went the distance, yielding 4 runs in the 9th when he was tiring. Joe Rudi missed a cycle by a 2B, but did post a 7-4-4-3 line. Bert Campaneris score 3 times with 3 base knocks.

April 18, 1971 (Game #2)
CHICAGO -- Sox win! Sox win! 5-4 on a two-out Carlos May 2-run single in the B9. But the Sox bullpen actually blew a great story line and nearly the game. Sox starting pitcher Terry Forster (aka, "Big Tub of Goo") left after 6 inning with a 3-0 lead. Despite not getting the W, I will still include the link to his famous David Letterman performance. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL20VgJ7JM8

Dodgers take 2 of 3 from the ‘Stros

GAME 1 – Astros 10, Dodgers 0

Houston batted around for a 9 run inning in the top of the 6th to break a scoreless tie.  Pitchers Don Wilson and Sandy Vance locked up in a neat duel, until the latter lost it in the 6th.  Catcher Jack Hiatt (3-5) had 4 RBI and a homer.

GAME 2 – Dodgers 2, Astros 0

Bill Singer twirled a complete game 6 hit shutout.  LA scored solo runs in the 1st and the 6th off two Dick Allen RBI singles.  Singer fanned 6 and walked just 1.

GAME 3 – Dodgers 36, Astros 0

With one out in the 6th Wes Parker doubled off of Astros starter Jack Billingham.  Dick Allen lined a single to break up the scoreless tie.  Houston answered right back with a run of their own in the top of the 7th.  Allen’s one out two run shot in the 8th put LA up for good.  Claude Osteen went the distance allowing just 1 run off of 4 hits.  He ups his record to 3-1 (2.73) on the season.

Baltimore Drops First, Wins Two

4-16-71  New York 5 Baltimore 4 10 innings
WP  Aker (3-0, 0.00 ERA)
LP Watt (0-1, BS 1, 1.93 ERA)

Orioles pitcher Pat Dobson clung to  a 4-3 lead going into the 9th inning, before handing the reigns to
lock down pitcher Eddie Watt, to try and keep the Orioles unbeaten on the season.  But a wild pitch from Watt, with bases loaded, ignited the Yankee machine on a mission to be the first team to take down the O's this season.  New York would push the game to extra frames and then add on one more earned run to Watt's stats before games end.  The loss saw the Bronx Bombers tag Oriole pitching for 12 hits (by far the worst of the season for Baltimore) which included 9 hits out the Yanks top 3 guys in the order (Horace Clarke, Jake Gibbs and Felipe Alou).  The loss was the first of the season for Baltimore (7-1) and brought New York to just 1/2 game behind the Orioles in the AL East (7-2).

4-17-71  Baltimore 5 New York 2
WP Jackson (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
LP Keckich (0-1, 5 Ks, 2.77 ERA)

The Yankees carried the momentum from the game 1 victory right into game 2, jumping on the Orioles 2-0, going into the bottom of the 7th inning.  But that is when the Baltimore bats would awaken.  A two run bottom of the 7th and a 3 run bottom of the eighth barrage would send the Yanks whimpering home with thoughts of the previous day fading like the sun over Memorial Stdm.  The 3 run barrage was highlighted by a 3 run homer by star Brooks Robinson (2).  Starting pitcher Dave Mcnally pitched a nice game before giving way to Grant Jackson who would eventually get the win.

4-18-71  Baltimore 13  New York 0
WP Cuellar (3-0, 6 Ks, 2.52 ERA)
LP Bahnsen (1-2, 3.32 ERA)

A 4-run first, lead to a Baltimore beat down of the Yankees, as the Orioles would send the visiting AL East bullies home with their tails between their legs with a 13-0 loss.  Baltimore would amass 16 total hits on the game including homers by Elrod Hendricks (2) and Don Buford (2) as the Orioles flexed their AL East muscle in the victory.  Mike Cuellar was on point for the 3rd straight time, in as many outings, pitching a complete game shutout and allowing only 3 Yankee hits.  Cueller improves his record to 3-0 on the season and boasts a stellar 2.52 ERA.

The win keeps the Orioles on top of the AL East with a 9-1 record.  The Yankees fall to 7-4.

The Sauerkraut Tasted Better in Chitown After this Border Battle

April 14, 1971
CHICAGO -- Carlos May went 4-4 after scored the game-winning run after doubling in the B8 and trotted home on Ed Herrmann's (1) long blast. Sox won 4-2.

April 15, 1971
CHICAGO -- Ed Herrmann's (2,3) second HR of the game was a 3-run, walk-off bomb in the B9 sending the ChiSox fans home happy on a dreary, rainy, tax-day. Sox win 6-5.

Pale Hose and Halos Split on South Side

April 12, 1971
CHICAGO -- Wilbur Wood (1-0) was the story in this one as a 27-mph wind in his face caused his knuckler to be nearly un-hittable. The Angels managed just 5 safeties in a 6-1 loss.

April 13, 1971
CHICAGO -- California pushed across the game-winner in the T9 when Lou Johnson doubled and Jim Spencer singled him home. Haloss split series with 3-2 winner.

Atlanta Braves off to a dismal start at 0-5

Game 2: Braves finally get in the win column as Niekro shuts out Cincinnati 6-0

April 12, 1971

Atlanta -- McGlothlin a CG 2 hitter, has 2 hits also, the Reds easily take game 1 of the series 8-0, 19 hits, 3 players with 3 hits also.

 April 13, 1971

Atlanta -- Gullett a CG as Cincinnati tops Atlanta 7-3, Helms 3 hits

April 14, 1971
Atlanta -- Niekro a CG shutout as the Braves finally get in the win column with a 6-0 vctory

Redbirds-Stros Split at Busch

April 12, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Wade Blasingame (1-1) single-handedly defeated the Cardinals with a 4-hit shutout and a 3rd-inning solo HR. The Redbirds nearly tied it in the 9th when Lou Brock singled and stole second. Joe Torre singled, but the "Toy Cannon" in RF gunned down the Birds' speedster at the plate.

April 13, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Matty Alou singled home Julian Javier in the bottom of the 13th giving the Cardinals a 4-3 win in a bullpen busting contest. Houston's Cesar Cedeno ("this kid looks like he could be the next Willie Mays") led all hitters with 4 hits, including 2 doubles.

ChiSox Double Up Twins

April 9, 1971
CHICAGO -- Terry Forster (1-0) and Don Eddy (1) backed up starter Tom Bradley (6 IP) in a 4-2 White Sox in the series opener. Bee Bee Richard, Walt Williams and Rick Reichardt banged out 2 hits each.

April 10, 1971
CHICAGO -- "No-Neck" Williams tripled in the 5th and scored on a 2-out bunt single by Richard. Those were the only two ChiSox hits, but it was all Tommy John (1-1), Jim Magnuson, and Vicente Romo (1) would need in a 1-0 blanking of the Twins. Jim Perry (0-2) was the hard-luck loser for Minnesota.

April 11, 1971
CHICAGO -- Harmon Killebrew (1) homered and walked twice, scoring 3 runs and driving in 3 more as the Twins capture the finale, 10-4. Steve Braun (1) blasted a 2-run, PH tater, and Jim Holt collected 3 safeties. Jim Kaat (1-0) earned the W on the hill.

Giants Sweep Cards under the Carpet

April 10, 1971
ST. LOUIS -- Dick Dietz (1), Willie Mays (1) and Willie McCovey (4) all homered in the first 3 innings as the Jints ran out to a 6-0 lead on their way to a 10-3 victory. Frank Reberger (1-0) tossed 7 strong IP for the win.

April 11, 1971 (Game #1)
ST. LOUIS -- Rich Robertson (1-0) out-dueled Bob Gibson (1-1) for a 2-1 win in the opener of a Sunday double-header. Robertson hurled 7 shutout innings. Jerry Johnson (1) surrendered a run, but hung on for the save. Jim Gallagher (1) blasted a solo HR in the 5th. Mays tripled in Ken Henderson in the 6th.

April 11, 1971 (Game #2)
ST. LOUIS -- The Jints wasted 13 runs in the nightcap. Juan Marichal (2-0) tossed a CG, 7-hit shutout as San Francisco completed the DH and series sweep with a 14-0 whitewashing. Henderson went wild with a 6-3-5-2 line to lead the offense.

Orioles Keep Record Unblemished - Sweep Tigers

Game 1 - Baltimore 9  Detroit 5
WP - Mike Cuellar (1-0, 5.14 ERA 5ks)
LP - Joe Niekro (0-1, 17.18 ERA)

This one was all Baltimore from start to finish.  The Orioles rolled out 16 hits including 4 home runs
and a total of 7 extra base hits.  Boog Powell went 3 for 5, 3 RBI and 2 homers.  Davey Johnson chipped in 3 hits with 2 RBI's as well.

Game 2 - Baltimore 5  Detroit 2
WP - Jim Palmer (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
LP - Mickey Lolich (1-1, 4.20 ERA 7 K's)
SV - Pete Reichart (1)

Baltimore scored 4 runs in the first 3 innings and then hung on to grab their 3rd victory of the season.  Both teams hit well as Orioles fans saw 21 hits amass (Baltimore 11, Detroit 10) between the two squads.  Jim Palmer pitched well in his first outing going 8 innings and allowing only 2 runs.  Pete Reichart came in to close the deal earning his first save.

Game 3 - Baltimore 3  Detroit 2
WP - Pat Dobson (1-0, 2.25 ERA, 6 K's)
LP - Tom Timmerman (0-1, 10.80 ERA)
SV - Eddie Watt (1)

An Al Kaline (2) 6th inning homer gave Detroit a 1 run lead, but it was short lived as the Orioles retaliated with a 3 run bottom of the inning run spree.  Led by a couple Tom Timmerman walks, followed by Baltimore precise batting, the Orioles would take a lead they would not relinquish going into the 7th.  The Tigers made a valiant effort to try and tie the game in the top half of the 9th by putting up a solo run, but Eddie Watt would thwart Detroit's chance at a win by earning his first save of the season.

Game 4 - Baltimore 4  Detroit 1
WP - Dave McNally (2-0, 1.00 ERA, CG)
LP - Kilkenny (0-1, 6.90 ERA)

The story of this one was another complete game victory by Baltimore's Dave McNally.  His second complete game of the season (in as many attempts) helped the Orioles cruse to a sweep of the visiting Tigers.  McNally's performance included only one blemish when Willie Horton doubled off the wall, with two outs, followed by a Jim Northrup single for Detroit's only run. Baltimore's Davey Johnson hit his first homer of the season which helped garner the Orioles a 4 run 3rd inning. This would be all the runs the O's would need to capture the win and a 4 game sweep of the Tigers.

Orioles win their 5th straight game of the young season and travel to Cleveland next week for their first road trip.   Detroit drops to 1-4 and will play the Yankees at Yankee Stadium next.

Orioles Open 1971 with Victory over Senators

Game 1: Baltimore: 7  Washington 1
W McNally (1-0, 1.00 ERA)
L Cox (0-1, 8.53 ERA)

After dropping back to back World Series attempts (1969, 1970), to capture a title in the American League, the Baltimore Orioles set there sites high for the 1971 season.  Opening day came to Memorial Stadium as the nations capital team, the Washington Senators, invaded Baltimore.  Washington was riding an opening day high of their own slipping past Oakland 4-3 just 2 days previous.  But today was a new day as Earl Weaver's Orioles came to play.  Dave McNally was stellar in his complete game, 4 hit, 1 run opening day performance.  His lone blemish was a grooved pitch, down the center of the plate, teeing up Frank Howard for a 406 ft solo shot bomb in the 1st inning.  But McNally cruised the rest of the way to earn his first victory of the season.  McNally, Frank Robinson and Elrod Hendricks contributed 6 of the Orioles 9 hits; including a two run home run by Hendricks (his 1st) in the 6th inning.

The Orioles (1-0) will host Detroit in a 4 game series coming up later this week.  Washington (1-1) will host the Yankees.

Opening Day in our Nation's Capital

Rumors have been swirling around our Nation's Capital that this will be the final home opener for the Senators here in DC.  Negotiations to move the team after 70 years of baseball here in the District seem to be serious.  Owner Bob Short tells us that's just hogwash, but he did say the team needs to pick up its attendance, so he doesn't lose money again.  Manager Ted Williams says, "Players need to play and not worry about the off field chatter".  The Nats listened to their manager and jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st via a Frank Howard longball.  There was no doubt about that shot, which the "Capital Punisher" crushed off of youngster Vida Blue.  Oakland chipped away at the Nats 3-0 lead and by the end of 4 innings the game was tied up 3-3.  The A's looked to go up in the 6th when Dick Green doubled and Sal Bando tried to score all the way from first.  Bando is a good solid young player, but he's not to be confused with Lou Brock on the basepaths.  A perfectly executed relay throw from Howard to Harrah to Casanova erased Bando at the plate to end the inning.  Oakland again threatened in the 7th by loading the bases, only to see Rick Monday line out to right.  Neither team scored the rest of the way, so opening day became extra inning day.  The A's had runners on 1st and 2nd in the 10th, but couldn't score off reliever Joe Grzenda.  A's reliever Jim Roland recorded two easy outs in the bottom of the frame, then walked Mike Epstein and Joe Foy to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  Klimkowski was brought on to face Elliott Maddox who shot a 2-2 pitch through the 3-4 hole to plate Epstein and award the Senators faithful with an opening day win.

George Glavas, Owner of the Atlanta Braves for the 1971 season and my FIRST playing Action PC so lots to learn. We don't expect big things out of the team, up and coming rookie Earl Williams will provide some punch and I look forward to seeing Hank his some bombs this year, that could be our only enjoyment this year. Will trot Phil Niekro out there for as many starts as possible, who knows what this team will do but should be a great year.

Have a great year,

George Glavas