October 2, 1968 World Series Game 1 at Busch Stadium Play by Play and Box Score

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1968 World Series Game 1

Game 1
STL  4
DET  0
Game 2
DET  8
@STL  1
Game 3
STL  7
@DET  3
Game 4
STL 10
@DET  1
Game 5
DET  5
STL  3
Game 6
DET 13
@STL  1
Game 7
DET  4
@STL  1

Busch Stadium, Attendance: 54,692

Wednesday, October 2, 1968
Time of Game: 2:29

Tigers

Mayo Smith

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Tigers          0  0  0   0  0  0   0  0  0    0  5  3
Cardinals       0  0  0   3  0  0   1  0  X    4  6  0

W: B Gibson (1-0), L: D McLain (0-1)

Cardinals

Red Schoendienst

BATTING

Detroit Tigers               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D McAuliffe 2B                4   0   1   0    0   1  .250  .500    0    4   0   
M Stanley SS                  4   0   2   0    0   1  .500 1.000    0    3   2   CS
A Kaline RF                   4   0   1   0    0   3  .250  .750    0    2   0   2B
N Cash 1B                     4   0   0   0    0   3  .000  .000    0    6   1   
W Horton LF                   4   0   0   0    0   2  .000  .000    0    2   0   
J Northrup CF                 3   0   0   0    0   2  .000  .000    0    2   0   
B Freehan C                   2   0   0   0    1   2  .000  .333    0    4   1   
D Wert 3B                     2   0   1   0    0   1  .500 1.000    0    0   1   
  E Mathews PH                1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  D Tracewski 3B              0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
D McLain P                    1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    0   2   
  T Matchick PH               1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  P Dobson P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  G Brown PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  D McMahon P                 0   0   0   0    0   0                     1   0   
Totals                       31   0   5   0    1  17                    24   7

BATTING

2B: A Kaline (1, off B Gibson).

TB: A Kaline 2; M Stanley 2; D McAuliffe; D Wert.

Team LOB: 5.

With RISP: 0 for 1.

FIELDING

E: B Freehan (1); J Northrup (1); N Cash (1).

BASERUNNING

CS: M Stanley (1, 2nd base by B Gibson/T McCarver).

St. Louis Cardinals          AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
L Brock LF                    4   1   1   1    0   0  .250 1.250    0    2   0   HR,SB
C Flood CF                    4   0   1   0    0   0  .250  .500    0    1   0   SB
R Maris RF                    3   1   0   0    1   0  .000  .250    0    1   0   
O Cepeda 1B                   4   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    1   1   
T McCarver C                  3   1   1   0    1   0  .333 1.500    0   17   1   3B
M Shannon 3B                  4   1   2   1    0   1  .500 1.000    0    0   0   
J Javier 2B                   3   0   1   2    1   1  .333  .833    0    2   0   SB,CS
D Maxvill SS                  2   0   0   0    1   0  .000  .333    0    2   0   
B Gibson P                    2   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    1   0   SH
Totals                       29   4   6   4    4   3                    27   2

BATTING

3B: T McCarver (1, off D McLain).

HR: L Brock (1, off P Dobson; 7th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to Deep CF-RF).

SH: B Gibson (1, off D McLain).

TB: L Brock 4; T McCarver 3; M Shannon 2; C Flood; J Javier.

RBI: J Javier 2 (2); M Shannon (1); L Brock (1).

2-out RBI: L Brock.

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 2 for 9.

BASERUNNING

SB: C Flood (1, 2nd base off P Dobson/B Freehan); L Brock (1, 2nd base off D McLain/B Freehan); J Javier (1, 2nd base off D McLain/B Freehan).

CS: J Javier (1, 2nd base by P Dobson/B Freehan).

PITCHING

Detroit Tigers                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
D McLain, L (0-1)              5     3   3   2    3   3   0   3.60   22     -       ·  ·      5· 7· 1· 3     51    -     0.97  -0.18
P Dobson                       2     2   1   1    1   0   1   4.50    8     -       ·  ·      1· 4· 0· 2          0-0    0.21  -0.01
D McMahon                      1     1   0   0    0   0   0   0.00    4     -       ·  ·      1· 2· 0· 1          0-0    0.05   0.00
Totals                         8     6   4   3    4   3   1          34     -       ·  ·      7·13· 1· 6           -

St. Louis Cardinals           IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
B Gibson, W (1-0)              9     5   0   0    1  17   0   0.00   32     -       ·  ·      3· 5· 3· 3     93    -     0.75   0.32
Totals                         9     5   0   0    1  17   0          32     -       ·  ·      3· 5· 3· 3           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Gorman, 1B - Honochick, 2B - Landes, 3B - Kinnamon.

Time of Game: 2:29.

Attendance: 54,692.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   Detroit Tigers                St. Louis Cardinals                  
1. D McAuliffe          2B    1. L Brock              LF 
2. M Stanley            SS    2. C Flood              CF 
3. A Kaline             RF    3. R Maris              RF 
4. N Cash               1B    4. O Cepeda             1B 
5. W Horton             LF    5. T McCarver           C  
6. J Northrup           CF    6. M Shannon            3B 
7. B Freehan            C     7. J Javier             2B 
8. D Wert               3B    8. D Maxvill            SS 
9. D McLain             P     9. B Gibson             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 4   1  0-0  12-      19%  79% M Shannon       D McLain        Single to LF; Maris Scores; McCarver to 3B/Adv on E8; Shannon to 2B
   b 4   1  0-1  -23      10%  89% J Javier        D McLain        Single to RF; McCarver Scores; Shannon Scores/unER
   b 2   1  0-0  ---       9%  61% T McCarver      D McLain        Triple (CF-RF)
   b 2   1  0-0  --3      -7%  54% M Shannon       D McLain        Strikeout
   t 6   2  3-0  -23       5%  94% N Cash          B Gibson        Strikeout

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Tigers Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Gibson facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  D McAuliffe     Strikeout
          ---      50%  M Stanley       Single to LF
   O      1--      53%  A Kaline        Stanley Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
   O      ---      54%  " "             Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Cardinals Batting, Tied 0-0, Denny McLain facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      52%  L Brock         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      51%  C Flood         Flyball: RF
   O      ---      50%  R Maris         Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 0.

Top of the 2nd, Tigers Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Gibson facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      52%  N Cash          Strikeout
   O      ---      54%  W Horton        Strikeout Looking
   O      ---      55%  J Northrup      Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Cardinals Batting, Tied 0-0, Denny McLain facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      52%  O Cepeda        Flyball: CF
          ---      61%  T McCarver      Triple (CF-RF)
   O      --3      54%  M Shannon       Strikeout
   O      --3      50%  J Javier        Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 0.

Top of the 3rd, Tigers Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Gibson facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      52%  B Freehan       Strikeout Looking
          ---      49%  D Wert          Single to CF
   O      1--      53%  D McLain        Strikeout (foul bunt)
   O      1--      55%  D McAuliffe     Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Cardinals Batting, Tied 0-0, Denny McLain facing 8-9-1
          ---      59%  D Maxvill       Walk
   O      1--      58%  B Gibson        Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Maxvill to 2B
   O      -2-      52%  L Brock         Fielder's Choice P; Maxvill out at 3B/P-SS; Brock to 1B
          1--      54%  C Flood         Brock Steals 2B; Brock to 3B/Adv on E2 (throw to 2B)
   O      --3      50%  " "             Popfly: SS
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 0.

Top of the 4th, Tigers Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Gibson facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      52%  M Stanley       Flyball: RF
   O      ---      54%  A Kaline        Strikeout Looking
   O      ---      55%  N Cash          Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Cardinals Batting, Tied 0-0, Denny McLain facing 3-4-5
          ---      60%  R Maris         Walk
   O      1--      56%  O Cepeda        Foul Flyball: 1B
          1--      60%  T McCarver      Walk; Maris to 2B
   R      12-      79%  M Shannon       Single to LF; Maris Scores; McCarver to 3B/Adv on E8; Shannon to 2B
   RR     -23      89%  J Javier        Single to RF; McCarver Scores; Shannon Scores/unER
          1--      90%  D Maxvill       Javier Steals 2B
   O      -2-      89%  " "             Flyball: LF (Short LF-CF)
   O      -2-      88%  B Gibson        Strikeout
                  3 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 3.

Top of the 5th, Tigers Batting, Behind 0-3, Bob Gibson facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      90%  W Horton        Popfly: 2B
   O      ---      91%  J Northrup      Lineout: SS
          ---      90%  B Freehan       Walk
   O      1--      91%  D Wert          Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 3.

Bottom of the 5th, Cardinals Batting, Ahead 3-0, Denny McLain facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      91%  L Brock         Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      90%  C Flood         Popfly: 2B
          ---      91%  R Maris         Reached on E3 (Ground Ball); Maris to 1B
   O      1--      90%  O Cepeda        Lineout: LF (Deep LF-CF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 3.

Top of the 6th, Tigers Batting, Behind 0-3, Bob Gibson facing 9-1-2
                  Tom Matchick pinch hits for Denny McLain batting 9th
   O      ---      92%  T Matchick      Groundout: 1B-P
          ---      90%  D McAuliffe     Single to RF
   O      1--      92%  M Stanley       Strikeout
          1--      88%  A Kaline        Double to LF (Deep LF Line); McAuliffe to 3B
   O      -23      94%  N Cash          Strikeout
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 3.

Bottom of the 6th, Cardinals Batting, Ahead 3-0, Pat Dobson facing 5-6-7
                  Pat Dobson replaces Tom Matchick pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      93%  T McCarver      Popfly: 2B
   O      ---      93%  M Shannon       Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      93%  J Javier        Walk
   O      1--      93%  D Maxvill       Javier Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 3.

Top of the 7th, Tigers Batting, Behind 0-3, Bob Gibson facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      94%  W Horton        Lineout: SS
   O      ---      95%  J Northrup      Strikeout
   O      ---      96%  B Freehan       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 3.

Bottom of the 7th, Cardinals Batting, Ahead 3-0, Pat Dobson facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      96%  D Maxvill       Foul Flyball: 1B
   O      ---      95%  B Gibson        Popfly: 1B
   R      ---      98%  L Brock         Home Run (Deep CF-RF)
          ---      98%  C Flood         Single to CF
          1--      98%  R Maris         Flood Steals 2B
   O      -2-      98%  " "             Popfly: 2B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 4.

Top of the 8th, Tigers Batting, Behind 0-4, Bob Gibson facing 8-9-1
                  Eddie Mathews pinch hits for Don Wert batting 8th
   O      ---      99%  E Mathews       Strikeout
                  Gates Brown pinch hits for Pat Dobson batting 9th
   O      ---      99%  G Brown         Flyball: LF
   O      ---      99%  D McAuliffe     Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 4.

Bottom of the 8th, Cardinals Batting, Ahead 4-0, Don McMahon facing 4-5-6
                  Don McMahon replaces Gates Brown pitching and batting 9th; Dick Tracewski replaces Eddie Mathews playing 3B batting 8th
   O      ---      99%  O Cepeda        Foul Flyball: C
   O      ---      99%  T McCarver      Groundout: 1B-P
          ---      99%  M Shannon       Single to CF
   O      1--      99%  J Javier        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 4.

Top of the 9th, Tigers Batting, Behind 0-4, Bob Gibson facing 2-3-4
          ---      98%  M Stanley       Single to CF (Line Drive)
   O      1--      99%  A Kaline        Strikeout
   O      1--     100%  N Cash          Strikeout
   O      1--     100%  W Horton        Strikeout Looking
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 0, Cardinals 4.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:SLN196810020

Play-by-Play Explanation

Scr/Out- This has a "O" for every out on the play and an "R" for every run that scored on the play. Some plays will have both in no particular order.
RoB- This gives the baserunner (Runners on Base) configuration at the start of the play. "1-3" would mean runners on first and third. Clicking on this will show the defensive players and baserunners on the field for this play. This is a subscriber feature, so non-subscribers are limited as to the number of times they can use this feature in a day.
Pt- When available, the number of pitches in this plate appearance. Clicking on this number will show the sequence of pitches thrown including, when available, things like runner going, ball blocked, attempted pickoffs and the like. We believe this data to be as accurate as humanly possible, but there are going to be some errors in the data, so please take it with a grain of salt. Clicking on this will show the defensive players and baserunners on the field for this play. This is a subscriber feature, so non-subscribers are limited as to the number of times they can use this feature in a day.
Batter- The batter at the plate when this play occurred. If the play is a baserunning event, then the batter's name will be repeated as indicated by quotes.
Play Detail- This is an explanation of the play that occurred. In some cases, batted ball location and type will be indicated within parentheses. Again, these are best efforts to the record the game as it happened. Also, plays made on the baserunners (including the batter as a baserunner) will be indicated in parentheses after the baserunner's name. Advancement of baserunners is given in cases where the advancement is not easily deduced or obvious from the play. For example, advancement for a walk will not be given, but for a single or double it will be given.

Please report any issues or strangeness you see with the description of plays given above. We have tested several hundred different types of plays, but, in all likelihood, there are still some errors or misinterpretations of the play-by-play data.

In some cases, the results from play-by-play data will contradict results in the official record. The official record has many, many errors, but we have not undertaken to reconcile those errors. Pitch-by-pitch data should not be taken as completely accurate, though we believe it to be as accurate as is currently possible.


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BATTING

PITCHING

OTHER

LINEUPS

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Play-by-Play Explanation