“Open the Flood-gates”– ‘63 Cards drop ‘20 Chisox 3-1

Sep 8 at old Comiskey, game 1

Eddie Ciccote started for Chicago and Ernie Broglio for St Louis.  In the first inning Curt Flood led off with a single followed by a single by Dick Groat off Chicago Ciccote.  Ciccote was chased from the game in the 3rd when Flood singled, Groat doubled, 3B Buck Weaver committed a run scoring error and Bill White reached base, and Ken Boyer singled home the second Cardinal run of the inning.  That was more than enough for Cardinal SP Ernie Broglio who pitched a complete game, 3 hit, shutout of the Sox.  The Black Sox (1 year removed but before the suspensions) lose the series opener,  StL 6 Chi 0.

Sep 9 at old Comiskey, game 2

A pitching duel between the Cardinals Bob Gibson and White Sox Red Faber.  The Cardinals scored first in the 4th inning when Ken Boyer singled and was singled home from second base by Tim McCarver.  The Cardinals scored their second run in the 5th inning when Curt Flood doubled and scored on a single by Dick Groat.  The White Sox scored their only run in the bottom of the 5th when SP Faber walked, Collins singled, Weaver sacrificed both runners in to scoring position, and Faber scored on Joe Jackson's infield ground ball.  Faber went 9 innings for Chicago giving up 2 runs on 9 hits.  Gibson went 8 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits for the Cardinals.  Ron Taylor pitched a perfect 9th inning for the Save.   StL 2 Chi 1

Sep 11 at Sportsman’s Park III.

Curt Simmons started for St Louis and Lefty Williams started for Chicago.  Chicago took the early lead in the top of the 2nd with a 3 run Homer by SS Swede Risberg.  St Louis responded in the bottom of the 2nd when Charlie James scored on a 1 out ground ball by Julian Javier.  That was all the Cardinals could muster in the game.  The White Sox added 2 more runs in the 6th when Happy Felsch doubled home Shano Collins and Joe Jackson.  Simmons went 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and RP Lew Burdette went 2 giving up the final 2 White Sox runs.  Williams went 7 2/3 innings giving up the lone Cardinal run on 8 hits.  Roy Wilkerson got the Save with 1 1/3 innings of work.  Chi 6 StL 1

Sep 12 at Sportsmans Park III

Rematch of Eddie Ciccote and Ernie Broglio.  Chicago got on the scoreboard in the 1st inning with a walk by Eddie Collins, a sacrifice bunt by Buck Weaver, Joe Jackson reached base on a groundball when the Cardinals trapped Collins between 2nd and 3rd, followed by a walk by Happy Felsch, and back to back run scoring singles by Shano Collins and Ray Schalk.  Chicago 2 with St Louis coming to bat.  St Louis responded with 1 run when Curt Flood led off with a Triple and was singled home by Ken Boyer.  Chicago 2 St Louis 1 and it remained that way until the bottom of the 5th when Curt Flood tied the game with a lead off solo shot.  It remained tied at 2 until the bottom of the 7th when PH Charlie James led off with a single, was doubled to 3rd by Curt Flood, and scored on Dick Groat's sac fly.  Chicago 2 St Louis 3, but the lead was short lived as Joe Jackson singled off RP Ray Washburn, Happy Felsch doubled, and Ray Schalk drove them both in with a double.  Bobby Shantz relieved Washburn to shut down the rally.  Chicago 4 St Louis 3.  The bottom of the 9th and the Cardinals looked to rally.  Flood led off with his 4th hit a Single, Groat singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs.  Bill White then ended the series with a walk off Home Run off LHP Dickie Kerr.   Curt Flood had a great game hitting for THE CYCLE.  Chicago 3  St Louis 6

It was a fun series with Bruce.  The connection to Poland was almost flawless with only one freeze. 

63 St Louis advances to Round 3.

Jim Williams