| The St. Louis Perfecto's grab an early 6 - 0 lead pounding away at League ERA Champ Jim Merritt. Phil Niekro was cruising into the fifth when the River Bats finally broke though. The River Bats explode for 6 runs tying the game at 6 each on 6 singles, 2 walks, and an error. The key hit was delivered by Ty Cobb, a clutch 2 out single driving in the 3rd and fourth runs. |
| The Perfectos promptly regain the lead in the top of the sixth as River Bat Reliever Pete Cimino had his first pitch deposited into the right field stands by Jesse Burkett. Nap Lajoie later scored increasing the Perfecto's lead to 8 - 6. |
| The Perfectos blew a chance to blow the game open by stranding three runners in their half of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh a single and four walks knotted the game back up at 8. |
| Tony Pierce was brought in to preserve the tie and set down the perfectos in order in the 8th. |
| In the bottom of the eighth, Ty Cobb led off with a triple and Sam Thompson was intentionally walked to get to Pete Hill. The move pays off in a huge way as Hill lined into an inning ending triple play! |
| Once again in the ninth the Perfectos are set down in order and once again the River Bats lead off their half of the inning with a triple, this time by Joe Kelley. Judy Johnson then delivered a game winning single to give game 1 to Missouri. |
| Game two featured Steve Carlton vs Dick Hughes in a game that was pretty much a pitchers dual until the bottom of the seventh. Again the River Bats put up another crooked number on the scoreboard, scoring five times on five hits, an error and a wild pitch. The Missouri pitching staff was dominate as the River Bats win 7 - 1. Steve Carlton was impressive going 7 inningsand allowing just one earned run, while Tony Pierce and Orlando Pena combined for two shutout innings in relief. The St. Louis bullpen on the other hand, turned a 2-1 deficit into a 7-1 nightmare, as Bill Stoneman and Tommy John were battered in the 7th for 5 runs on 5 hits. Honus Wagner delivered a 2-run triple, while Sam Thompson sacrifice fly opened the flood gates as Harry Heilman dropped it for an error. With Joe Kelley at the plate, John uncorked a wild pitch for the innings third run and Kelley then capped the big inning with a 2-run single. |
| The Perfectos back at home wasted no time grabbing the early lead slamming two HR's in the first inning to lead 3 - 0. St. Louis adds another in the 3rd going up 4 - 0. The River Bats begin to claw their way back scoring two in the fourth with the help of another Ty Cobb triple. The Perfectos keep on hammering and score one run in each of the next two innings to go up 6 - 2. Going into the top of the 8th St. Louis is within grasp of their first win leading 6 - 3. But the River Bats score 1 in the 8th and two more in the ninth pushing the game into extra innings. |
| With two outs in the top of the 10th Pete Hill doubles, Dan Brouthers gets a free pass and Biz Mackey singles loading the bases and setting up Bill Mazeroski against Al Downing. Downing wins and the tie is preserved going into the bottom of the 10th. Johnny Roseboro slammed a pinch-hit triple with two outs bringing up the always red hot Tris Speaker. The River Bats took a chance by intentionally walking Speaker and Harry Heilmann to face Mickey Cochrane. The move paid off as Cochrane popped out to send the game into the 11th. |
| The River Bats score 2 runs on four singles and a force out in the top of the 12th. The Perfectos again are back in danger of being down 3 - 0 unless they can rally in their half of the inning. Ernie Banks was hit by a pitch, Doug Rader singled, as did Harry Hooper and PH Ron Swoboda leaving the bases loaded with one out for Tris Speaker. With the infield in, once again Missouri dodged a bullet by getting Speaker to hit into a 4-2-3 inning ending double play. Missouri's bullpen is depleted and is now using John Clarkson in relief. The River Bats go down 1, 2, 3 in the 13th, but Tris Speaker redeemed himself with a clutch 2 out game winning hit, to the delight of the home town faithful.. |
| River Bat ace Jim Merritt returns to the pitching form that saw him lead the Legends of Cooperstown League in ERA, as he tossed a complete game, allowing just one run in a 6 - 1 Missouri victory. Perfecto starting pitcher Phil Niekro was hit around yet again and saw his record in the 2001-02 playoffs and World Series fall to 1-4 with an 8.22 ERA. Jackie Robinson and Biz Mackey drove in 2 runs each for Missouri, with Mackey's 2-run triple breaking open the game in the 4th inning. In the ninth maybe another Strato first (at least to Sean and John). On a Hit and Run attempt, Honus Wagner missed the pitch leaving Sam Crawford scrambling back towards first. Micky Cochrane threw behind the runner to first base to nail Crawford diving back to the bag. |
| The Perfecto's jumped on Steve Carlton early, and he is yanked in the 2nd inning after the Perfectos have amassed a 6 - 0 lead. As we have learned in this series it is never over. In the 3rd thru 6th innings the River Bats bullpen shuts the door, allowing the chance for a come back, which the hitters delivered. The River Bats score 9 unanswered runs in those four innings and take a 9 - 6 lead into the top of the ninth. St.Louis scores two on Jesse Burkett's HR cutting the lead to 1. With 1 out, Nap Lajoie singles and then Tris Speaker flys to Ty Cobb in CF, who commits the River Bats only error of the Series giving the Perfectos life. Harry Heilmann is given an intentional pass to load the bases. Johnny Mize flies out for out number 2, bringing up River Bat Killer Ernie Banks. Mr. Perfecto launched a Grand Slam to cap off a 6 run rally in the 9th. Missouri comes up empty in their half of the inning and after coming within 1 out of taking a 4 - 1 series lead , they now lead only 3 games to 2. |
| With the momentum full swing in their direction, the Perfecto's pound away for four runs in the first off Mike McCormick, 3 on another Ernie Banks HR. The River Bats make the game close, scoring 3 runs in the second on a McCormick home run (yes, a rare and dreaded 1 N hitting pitcher slugged one out in another demonstration of the uniqueness of this series), but the Perfectos remain determined and win this game going away 9 - 4. St. Louis put the game away late with a 5 run 8th inning, highlighted by a Mickey Cochrane 3-run blast. Catfish Hunter went the distance for the win and improved to 3 wins and just 1 loss in the post-season. By winning games 5 and 6 on the road, the Perfectos head home for 2 games with the series knotted at 3 wins apiece. |
| The series shifted back to St.Louis for game 7, where early November weather had temperatures in the 30's at game time, with scattered snow showers making for treacherous playing conditions. The final score and the weather were both more like a Cardinals/Chiefs Super Bowl than a World Series game, as Missouri blasts St. Louis 14 - 7. The River Bats lost both games 5 and 6 at home and limped back into St. Louis with the hopes that staff ace Jim Merritt can turn things around. His opponent Phil Niekro did not record an out before being yanked after surrending five runs in the first. Missouri piled on the St. Louis bullpen scoring 11 runs in the first three innings. Jim Merritt pitched 7 innings allowing 5 runs picking up the victory. St. Louis makes the game respectable scoring late but not enough. |
| The only real pitchers dual of the series pitted Steve Carlton against Dick Hughes. Carlton rebounded well after the beating the Perfecto's put on him in game 5 allowing no runs in 7 1/3 innings to pick up his second win of the series. Down 3 - 0 the Perfecto's mounted a final comeback try in the 8th. Carlton gets PH Ron Swoboda to ground out but Nap Lajoie and Jesse Burkett each singled. Lefty then walks Tris Speaker to load the bases bringing up Harry Heilmann. The River Bats brought in Orlando Pena and got Heilmann and Johnny Mize on strikeouts to end the threat. Pena stays in for the ninth and retires Banks, Cochrane and Doug Rader in order to give the River Bats the World Series win. Ty Cobb capped an incredible post-season with an RBI in the game, ending the playoffs and World Series with a .429 batting average. His efforts earned him World Series Most Valuable Player honors. |
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| Legends of Cooperstown News 2001 World Series Issue |
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| Missouri River Bats claim first ever WLOC championship |
| The Missouri River Bats, John Wolfmeyer's American League franchise, defeated Sean MacLeod and the St. Louis Perfectos in eight games, to win the inaugural Winter Legends of Cooperstown World Series. The old style best of 9 game championship series played via net play, was a true classic and was befitting of the great season that the WLOC enjoyed in it's first year. Congratulations to all of the members of the league on a job well done! Many thanks to John for his excellent written recaps of each game. |
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| Game 1-River Bats 9 Perfectos 8 |
| William Wrigley was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of game 1. |
| Game 2-River Bats 7 Perfectos 1 |
| Jackie Robinson ponders the future in the Missouri clubhouse prior to game two |
| Game 3-Perfectos 10 River Bats 9 13 innings |
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| Tris Speaker and Ty Cobb take in batting practice prior to Game 3 of the Series |
| Game 4-River Bats 6 Perfectos 1 |
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| Action during Game 4 of the WLOC World Series |
| Game 5-Perfectos 12 River Bats 10 |
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| River Bat management could only look on and think of what might have been, after Cobb's error opened the door to a Perfecto 6 run 9th inning rally |
| Game 6-Perfectos 9 River Bats 4 |
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| Catfish Hunter shut the door on Missouri over 9 innings to even the series at 3 games each |
| Game 7-River Bats 14 Perfectos 7 |
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| Ty Cobb squints through the flakes and awaits the first pitch of game 7 |
| Game 7-River Bats 3 Perfectos 0 |
| The home town faithful were out in force early in St. Louis, lining up at the box office for tickets to game 8, hours before game time |
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| Congratulations on a great season! |
| Congratulations go out again to John Wolfmeyer and his Missouri River Bats for winning the 2001-02 Winter Legends of Cooperstown championship. I'll be posting a picture of John's Championship Trophy on Missouri's team page shortly. Many congratulations as well to all of the members of the WLOC on a terrific season. 1954 will be the next past season to be used, so make sure you get your season disk and start studying up on the players that will be in our league next year. Next up will be some league votes on season Awards as well as discussions on issues such as expansion to 18 or 20 teams, the possible inclusion of the created Latino All-Time Greats, the 2nd Negro League All-Time Greats team, and the Greats of the Japanese League. Also, I'll be putting together a Hall of Fame ballot for players that may be voted into the Hall of Fame set permanently. Any other issues or ideas, please let me know. Best of Luck to everyone in their other leagues and I'm looking forward to next year already! |
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| The unfurling of the Winter Legends of Cooperstown World Series Championship flag in Missouri |
| Back to My Sandlot |
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