2003 WORLD SERIES
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| PREVIEW – FLORA-BAMA – The stage is set for an epic conclusion to the 2003 Mid-West Winter League (MWWL) season. In a classic best-of-seven World Series matchup, the National League champion Flora-Bama Mullets (110-52) will host the resilient American League champion Chicago Demolition (103-59). It is a heavyweight battle pitting the league’s most explosive offense against its strongest pitching staff.
The Matchup: Unstoppable Force vs. Immovable Object The defending champion Mullets return to the Fall Classic riding the league’s deepest lineup. Flora-Bama paced the MWWL by mashing 261 home runs and scoring 823 runs. Led by NL MVP Javy Lopez, who hit a home run every 8.7 plate appearances, the Mullets’ lineup features staggering depth. Mid-season trade acquisitions Jeff Kent and Rafael Palmeiro have added an elite veteran punch to a roster that already boasts stars like Aubrey Huff, Lance Berkman, Juan Gonzalez, and Brad Fullmer. To repeat as champions, however, Flora-Bama must crack a historic Chicago pitching staff. The Demolition led the league with a microscopic 2.94 team ERA, surrendering a mere 557 runs all year. Chicago’s short-series rotation is an absolute nightmare for opposing hitters. Built around the surgical Pedro Martinez and a brilliant Jason Schmidt, the Demolition can also call upon “The Rocket” Roger Clemens and a lockdown Kevin Millwood. When Chicago hands a lead to the bullpen, games are effectively over. Setup man Brendan Donnelly and closer Billy Wagner provide a devastating bridge that limits late-inning drama. Still, Flora-Bama counters with a premium rotation of their own, featuring Jamie Moyer, Curt Schilling, and Josh Beckett with all-star closer Jose Acevedo in the wings. Offensively, the Demolition will rely heavily on Carlos Delgado. The first baseman enjoyed a monstrous 2003 campaign, clubbing 43 home runs while driving in 115 runs. Combined with rookie sensation Hideki Matsui and the steady bat of Edgar Renteria, Chicago has more than enough firepower to punish mistakes. The Outlook: Flora-Bama holds the home-field advantage in the 2-3-2 format, but Chicago wielded the league’s best road record during the regular season. Expect a tactical, razor-thin series where a single pitch could decide the crown. |
| GAME #1 – Pedro Martinez 22-7 (1.34) vs. Josh Beckett Starter 19-2 (2.54)
World Series Classic – Mullets Outlast Demolition in 18-Inning Marathon
Flora-Bama answered immediately. Lance Berkman launched a solo shot off Martinez in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 2-1. In the fifth, after Berkman drew a walk, Aubrey Huff clobbered a two-run blast to right field, vaulting the Mullets into a 3-2 lead. Rafael Palmeiro added to the cushion in the sixth with a solo home run, chasing Martinez and making it 4-2. Late-Inning Drama and Extras In the bottom of the ninth, the Mullets loaded the bases with nobody out, prompting the ejection of Chicago pitcher Doug Waechter. Left-hander Billy Wagner escaped the jam with a brilliant defensive play when Shannon Stewart caught a fly ball and fired home to cut off Tom Goodwin trying to score the winning run.
The Walk-Off Finish Final Score: Flora-Bama 7 – Chicago 6 (18 Innings) Win: Horacio Ramirez 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #2 – Jason Schmidt 16-8 (2.72) vs.Curt Schilling 14-6 (3.37)
Pitching Masterclass – Demolition Blank Mullets 1-0 After Costly Base-Running Blunder The Dynamic Duels The Decisive Sequence and Turn of Events While Chicago secured the lead, they suffered a massive blow an inning prior. In the top of the fifth, Bobby Higginson was struck by a Schilling fastball. He immediately left the game, and clubhouse reports later confirmed an 11-day injury layoff—a loss that severely compromises Chicago’s outfield depth for the remainder of the series. The Blunder in the Ninth With Brad Fullmer at the plate, Rolls fell victim to a brilliant execution of the wheel play. Donnelly spun and faked a pickoff, drawing Rolls a little off the bag, but he was safe. After the next pitch, catcher Charles Johnson fired a strike to Roberto Alomar to pick Rolls off second. Deflated by the second out, Fullmer flew out routinely to right field to end the game. Final Score: Chicago 1 – Flora-Bama 0 Win: Jason Schmidt 1-0 (0.00) |
 GAME #3 – Jamie Moyer 22-7 (2.88) vs. Roger Clemens 14-6 (3.48)
The Demolition struck first in the bottom of the first inning. After Edgar Renteria reached first on a fielding error by Rafael Palmeiro, Shannon Stewart executed a perfect hit-and-run, placing a single through the right side to move Renteria to third. Carlos Delgado then drove a sharp grounder to second base; though the Mullets managed a force out at second, Delgado beat the relay to first, allowing Renteria to score and give the Demolition an early 1-0 advantage. The game turned in the top of the fourth inning when Roger Clemens, who had limited the Mullets early on, ran into home run trouble after getting two quick outs. Brad Fullmer tied the game 1-1 with a solo home run over the centerfield fence. Juan Gonzalez then kept the two-out rally alive with a single to right, setting the stage for Palmeiro to crush a two-run home run over the left-field wall for a 3-1 lead. The Mullets added a crucial insurance run in the top of the eighth against Demolition reliever Doug Waechter. Angel Berroa, who had entered the game earlier as a pinch-hitter, led off the inning with a solo home run to make it 4-1. Moyer remained firmly in control for most of the night, dealing 8.2 stellar innings while surrendering only one unearned run on five hits. Moyer recorded the first two outs in the bottom of the 9th, but then issued a walk to Tim Salmon. Knowing they’d need Moyer back for Game Six, the Mullets turned to the bullpen. Singles by Phil Nevin and pinch hitter Tony Clark off Spooneybarger made it 4-2 and put the tying runners on. Pinch-hitter Willie Bloomquist came up with a chance to win it for Chicago, but Spooneybarger got him to fly to deep right field. Final Score: Flora-Bama 4 – Chicago 2 Win: Jamie Moyer 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #4 – Josh Beckett 19-2 (2.54) vs. Pedro Martinez 22-7 (1.34)
The game began as a classic pitchers’ duel between Flora-Bama’s Josh Beckett and Chicago’s Pedro Martinez, both of whom kept the opposing lineups quiet through the early frames.
Chicago responded in the bottom of the sixth. Edgar Renteria led off with a double. Steward popped up, and Beckett decided to intentionally walk Delgado to set up the double. A wild pitch to Matsui allowed the runners to move to 3rd and 2nd. Matsui was then intentionally walked to load the bases, and Jose Acevedo was called on to face Batista. Tony Batista was only able to get a deep sac fly (1–1), and Salmon grounded out as the Mullets avoided a big inning. Flora-Bama struck right back in the top of the seventh. Defensive replacement Torii Hunter crushed a solo home run off a tiring Martinez deep over the head of Shannon Stewart to put the Mullets back on top 2-1. The Demolition decided to leave in Martinez, and he recovered, getting the next three hitters to finish the seventh. Chicago turned to the pen in the 8th, and Gregg pitched a quiet frame. The definitive turning point of the game occurred in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Chicago’s Hideki Matsui hit a high pop fly to the infield. In a critical defensive meltdown by a defensive replacement, Mullet’s third baseman Damian Rolls camped under the ball but dropped it, allowing the tying run to reach base on an error. The next batter, Batista, hit his second deep fly off Acevedo, and this time it had the distance to clear the fence. 3-2 Chicago! Billy Wagner entered in the top of the ninth and easily shut the door to even the series 2-2. Final Score: Chicago 3 – Flora-Bama 2 Win: Kevin Gregg 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #5 – Curt Schilling 14-6 (3.37) vs. Kevin Millwood 12-9 (3.69)
Hideki Matsui followed up with a double of his own to keep the pressure on, though Schilling managed to escape further damage. From that point on, Chicago’s number four starter Kevin Millwood locked into a spectacular pitchers’ duel with Schilling. Millwood completely stymied the Mullets’ bats, surrendering a lone single to Jeff Kent in the third and efficiently picking Javy Lopez off first base to end a second-inning walk threat. Both pitchers traded quiet frames through the middle portion of the ballgame, completely shutting down any potential rallies.
Drama peaked in the top of the ninth inning when Millwood finally showed signs of fatigue. After walking Lance Berkman and allowing a single to Larry Bigbie, Millwood was pulled in favor of closer Billy Wagner. Wagner struck out pinch-hitter David Ross, who was hitting in the injured Huff’s spot, for the second out. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Lopez then delivered a clutch, two-out, two-run long single off the left field wall, cutting the deficit to 2–3 and bringing the Mullets within striking distance. However, Wagner recovered and induced a game-ending groundout from Brad Fullmer to preserve another 3-2 victory. Final Score: Chicago 3 – Flora-Bama 2 Win: Kevin Millwood 1-0 (2.38) |
| GAME #6 – Jason Schmidt 16-8 (2.72) vs. Jamie Moyer 22-7 (2.88)
The contest began as a pristine pitchers’ duel between Chicago’s Jason Schmidt and Flora-Bama’s Jamie Moyer, with both starters stringing together five consecutive scoreless frames. The shutout was finally ended at the top of the sixth inning when Chicago’s Shannon Stewart launched a solo home run to deep right field, breaking the deadlock, giving the Demolition a 1–0 advantage, and putting them only 12 outs away from a Championship.
Chicago bounced right back in the top of the 7th, Moyer got Salmon to ground out to start the inning, but then allowed Batista to squirt a grounder past third. With Moyer out of gas, Spooneybarger was called to get the right-handed hitting Nevin. He got Nevin to ground out, but Batista was able to move him to 2nd. With two outs, Roberto Alomar came through with a clutch, game-tying RBI double into deep left-center field, scoring Batista and knotting the score at 2–2. With the season on the line, Flora-Bama yanked Spooneybarger and brought in their all-star closer Jose Acevedo. Acevedo popped up Johnson to keep the game tied 2-2. The Demolition left in Schmidt, and he responded with a quick 1,2,3 in the 7th inning. Acevedo allowed a two-out walk to Delgado at the top of the 8th, but got Matsui to pop up for the final out. The Mullets threatened in the bottom of the 8th, when Hunter walked with one out and then beat the throw to second for a stolen base on a missed hit and run. Goodwin then singled to left field, and the third base coach sent Hunter home with Chicago’s DH manning left field. Salmon got to the ball quickly and came up firing. Johnson blocked the plate and applied the tag to get Hunter at home! Goodwin took second on the throw home, but the game remained tied 2-2. Schmidt then got Game 1 hero David Ross to fly out.
The move to bunt Acevedo failed, but it more importantly allowed him to stay in the game and record three quick outs for a scoreless 10th. At the bottom of the 10th, Schmidt pleaded to go back out, but Chicago decided it was time to turn to a well-rested bullpen. Gregg got two quick outs in relief before giving up a walk to Hunter. He then quickly recovered to get Goodwin to ground out and send the game to the 11th. Flora-Bama also had a rested bullpen, but no one was going to take the ball from Acevedo. He was back for his 5th inning of work. He gave up a two-out single to Matsui, but got Salmon to ground out for the third out. In the bottom of the 11th, Gregg induced a groundout from David Ross to start the inning. Berroa then worked another single to center to put the winning run on 1st again. Acevedo came to the plate for the second time, and this time he executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Berroa to second base. With two outs, Chicago elected to walk Palmeiro with a base open and bring in Brendan Donnelly to get the platoon advantage against Jeff Kent, who was only hitting .136 in the series. The professional hitter walked it off with a liner into the gap that allowed Berroa to jog home with the winning run. Jose Acevedo picked up the win, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings and facing a whopping 15 batters. He won’t be available for game seven, but he ensured there was a game seven. Final Score: Flora-Bama 3 – Chicago 2 (11 Innings) Win: Juan Acevedo 1-1 (2.53) |
| GAME #7 –Pedro Martinez 22-7 (1.34) vs. Josh Beckett 19-2 (2.54)
Redemption or Who’s Your Daddy? Just like in 2001, the series between these two franchises would go seven games. Flora-Bama called on a rested Josh Beckett to make his third start of Chicago briefly threatened in the top of the first when Edgar Renteria singled and stole second, eventually moving to third, but Josh Beckett escaped the jam by walking the dangerous Delgado and then inducing Matsui into an inning-ending double play. In the bottom of the inning, Martinez’s normal pinpoint control seemed to be lacking. After yielding consecutive one-out singles to Larry Bigbie and Javy Lopez, he walked Aubrey Huff to load the bases. Martinez then faced Brad Fullmer. The Mullets DH only had one hit in the first six games (HR), but he made up for it by crushing a spectacular grand slam deep to straightaway center field. It instantly gave the Mullets a huge 4–0 lead and set off a loud chant of “Who’s Your Daddy, Who’s Your Daddy” throughout the Pensacola stadium. In the bottom of the second. Martinez allowed a single to Kennedy, who’d been given the start over Kent. Vizquel, also starting in favor of defense, laid down a bunt and then beat out the throw at 1st. Lance Berkman then hammered a two-run triple down the line to extend the lead to 6–0. The chants of “WHO’S YOUR DADDY” were absolutely deafening as the Demolition manager came to pull Martinez. Roger Clemens entered in relief. Goodwin, who’d replaced Bigbie, flew out to left field, and Salmon threw out his second runner at home by gunning Berkman to limit any further damage.
From there, Beckett was absolutely masterful. He cruised through the middle and late innings. In the top of the 9th, a tiring Beckett struck out Batista, but then issued a four-pitch walk to Nevin. The Mullet manager decided he’d given them all he could, and he also wanted to give the fans an opportunity to recognize the heroic youngster. Beckett left the game to chants of MVP, MVP, MVP! Plesac came on and threw one pitch, getting Alomar to ground into a series-ending double play. Final Score: Flora-Bama 8 – Chicago 1 Win: Josh Beckett 1-0 (1.96) |
| SUMMARY – In a series that nearly mirrored the exceptional 2001 series between these two franchises, the defending champion Flora-Bama Mullets captured the 2003 Mid-West Winter League World Series title over the Chicago Demolition in seven unforgettable games. Billed as a battle between Flora-Bama’s offensive power and Chicago’s historic pitching, the series fully delivered on its promise. Two extra-inning marathons and six razor-thin games produced an overload of drama. The tone was set immediately in Game 1, a historic 18-inning marathon that saw six lead changes with the Mullets’ backup catcher, David Ross, extending it in the 13th with two outs on a solo home run and then winning it in the 18th with an RBI sac fly. The Mullets were even forced to use their last pitcher (#4 starter Horacio Ramirez) for the final six innings. The series would then see-saw back and forth, with one-run wins and no team able to take more than a one-game series lead.
Chicago was highlighted by three perfectly managed one-run wins. Jason Schmidt pitched two masterful games with a 0.52 ERA in 17.1 innings. Closer Billy Wagner was perfect over six innings in relief. 2001 WS MVP Phil Nevin led the offense with six hits and a .353 average. However, a very short bench was ultimately tested as the series went on, especially after the loss of outfielder Bobby Higginson, which forced Salmon to play in the field. As good as Pedro Martinez was during the season, he was just as bad in this series. He exited all three games losing, and he finished with an ugly 7.90 ERA in 13.2 IP. He was responsible for half the home runs (5 of 10) and nearly half the runs (12 of 26) scored by the Mullets. Flora-Bama was pushed to the brink, but their extremely deep bench of 18 hitters allowed them far greater flexibility and ultimately helped them win both extra-inning games. Like Chicago, the Mullets’ best player also struggled during the series. Javy Lopez averaged a historic rate of a home run every 8.7 PA during the season, but Chicago kept the NL MVP in the park all seven games. Fortunately, their late-season acquisitions proved critical as Rafael Palmeiro led the offense with three home runs and nearly a .600 slugging percentage. Jeff Kent, the other key pickup, struggled early in the series, but ultimately produced when it counted with a walk-off RBI liner in the bottom of the 11th inning of game 6. While the Mullets only hit .203 during the series, they still managed to launch 10 home runs and ultimately score 40% more runs than the Demolition.
MVP: Josh Beckett really shined in the spotlight. He started games 1, 4, and 7 against Pedro Martinez and left each with his team in the lead. He ultimately finished 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA in 18.1 IP. His nearly perfect 8.1 innings in Game Seven ultimately earned him the 2003 World Series MVP. |
