Editor’s note: The 1950 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available.
The 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers had the hometown fans inside Ebbets Field in a frenzy with three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
It proved to be all of the offense that Brooklyn starter Clem Labine would need as the Dodgers hung on for a 3-2 win over the 1954 Cleveland Indians in the semifinals of the 1950s Diamond Gems Tournament.
The Dodgers are set to meet the winner of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies at 1956 New York Yankees in the championship game. Preacher Roe is scheduled to start for Brooklyn.
With one out in the first, Pee Wee Reese doubled off Cleveland starter Early Wynn to begin the rally. Wynn fanned Duke Snider before Jackie Robinson singled to score Reese making it 1-0.
Roy Campanella followed with a two-run blast that proved to be the difference in the contest.
Labine allowed four hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts as the Phillies scored twice in the third inning on a RBI single by Bobby Avila and a sacrifice fly from Larry Doby.
Wynn also went the distance for the Indians surrendering seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
1950s Diamond Gems Tournament
Semifinals
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 3, 1954 Cleveland Indians 2
1950 Philadelphia Phillies at 1956 New York Yankees
First Round Results
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 8, 1950 New York Yankees 2
1954 Cleveland Indians 3, 1957 Milwaukee Braves 2
1956 New York Yankees 8, 1959 Chicago White Sox 3
1950 Philadelphia Phillies 2, 1954 New York Giants 1