1968 World Series Replay Cont. (3rd Inning)

I am replaying the 1968 World Series using the 1968 Topps Game Baseball Cards to produce the results of the game.  In my first post, I played the first two innings in which the Cardinals jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a leadoff homer by Lou Brock.  Bob Gibson has been dealing so far and the Tigers have only managed to produce one hit.  So far the game has surprisingly been close to the real game as Gibson won that game and struck out 17 batters.  So we pick the game up in the top of the 3rd inning with the Tigers up to bat.

1968 World Series Game 1

October 2, 1968

Detroit Tigers at St. Louis Cardinals

Pitching Matchup

1969 Topps #150

1969 Topps #200

Top of the 3rd Inning
Tigers 0
Cardinals 1

Batting 8th

Playing 3rd Base

1969 Topps #443

1968 Topps Game #4

SINGLE!

WERT ON FIRST

0 OUTS

Batting 9th

Playing Pitcher

1969 Topps #150

1968 Topps Game #8

HOME RUN!

2 RUNS SCORE

0 OUTS

Batting 1st

Playing 2nd Base

1969 Topps #305

1968 Topps Game #20

1 OUT

Batting 2nd

Playing Shortstop

1969 Topps #13

1968 Topps Game #22

2 OUTS

Batting 3rd

Playing Right Field

1969 Topps #410

1968 Topps Game #21

3 OUTS

The Tigers put up two runs in the 3rd with a single and a homer.  In the real game, Don Wert also had a single off of Bob Gibson in the 3rd inning but wasn't able to get in scoring position when Denny McLain struck out on a foul bunt trying to move him over.  Maybe they should have let McLain swing away.  McLain only had one homer in his career so the outcome here is pretty unrealistic but it's just for fun.  McLain did have his best batting year in '68 so I guess anything is possible.

Bottom of the 3rd Inning
Tigers 2
Cardinals 1

Batting 8th

Playing Shortstop

1969 Topps #320

1968 Topps Game #33

1 OUT

Batting 9th

Playing Pitcher

1969 Topps #200

1968 Topps Game #29

2 OUTS

Batting 1st

Playing Center Field

1969 Topps #85

1968 Topps Game #19

3 OUTS

Pretty easy inning for McLain and the Tigers as the Cardinals go down 1, 2, 3 in the bottom of the 3rd.  McLain was also able to slow the Cards in the real game although he had to overcome a walk, stolen Base and an error in the inning.  Time to reshuffle the cards.

Top of the 4th Inning

Tigers 2

Cardinals 1

Batting 4th

Playing 1st Base

1969 Topps #80

1968 Topps Game #19

1 OUT

Batting 5th

Playing Left Field

1969 Topps #180

1968 Topps Game #3

SINGLE!

HORTON ON 1ST

1 OUT

Batting 6th

Playing Center Field

1969 Topps #580

1968 Topps Game #13

STOLEN BASE!

HORTON ON 2ND

2 OUTS

Batting 7th

Playing Catcher

1969 Topps #390

1968 Topps Game #27

3 OUTS

Bob Gibson gets out of a little jam in the top of the 4th inning.  Willie Horton gets a single and stolen base but can't score as Bill Freehan fly's out.  On that day in 1968, Horton, Northrup and Freehan were pretty terrible going 0-9 with 6 strikeouts.  Horton was not much of a runner but he would surprise you from time to time so the steal is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Bottom of the 4th Inning

Tigers 2

Cardinals 1

Batting 2nd

Playing Center Field

1969 Topps #540

1968 Topps Game #30

1 OUT

Batting 3rd

Playing Right Field

1968 Topps #330

1968 Topps Game #26

2 OUTS

Batting 4th
Playing 1st Base

1968 Topps #200

1968 Topps Game #7

TRIPLE!

CEPEDA ON 3RD

2 OUTS

Batting 5th
Playing Catcher

1969 Topps #475

1968 Topps Game #24

3 OUTS

So McLain also pitches out of trouble in the 4th after giving up a triple to Orlando Cepeda.  In the real game, it was Tim McCarver with the triple but he also couldn't score as McLain struck out Mike Shannon and Julian Javier.  Close game after 4 innings.  The real game had the Cardinals up 3-0 after 4 innings and Bob Gibson was really dealing.  We will pick it up in the 5th in a few days.  Hope you are enjoying.