1984 WORLD SERIES
Ft. Worth wins a 3rd straight title by sweeping Clem. Congratulations on a great season and impressive playoff run, Clem. The AL East will be tougher next year with Clem in it.
Game 1 –
The Killer Z’s wasted a chance to score in the top of the first twice when they had runners on the corners. First Wilson was thrown out trying to steal and then Balboni grounded into a double-play. In the bottom of the first Gooden gave up a hit to Hernandez, but mowed down the other Panther hitters striking out the side. In fact the first four outs recorded by Gooden were strikeouts. Alexander worked out of another jam in the third. With runners on second and third he struck out Wilson and then got Strawberry to hit a one-hopper back to him. It was a good pitching duel until the 6th when Strawberry scored on a Balboni double after he had walked and stole 2nd base. Balboni would later score on an error by Smalley. In the home half of the 6th the Panthers got a couple hits, but Gooden got 3 more K’s and 2/3 through game 1 Clem was leading 2 to 0. Gooden was still throwing smoke in the 8th, but Ft. Worth inched closer with a run when Smalley led off with a double and pinch runner Washington scored on a single by Vukovich. The bottom of the 9th began when Gooden got his 13th strikeout of the game and then Parrish grounded out to short. Down to their last out Lansford reached on an E6. He would tie the game on a double by McGee. Next Washington came to the plate, “GOODEN working on MCGEE to hold him close … GOODEN with the offering stroked solidly to left field … it drops in front of WYNNE … MCGEE’s around third … they’re waving MCGEE in here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … safe easily” The Panthers get a walk off win to take game 1. Final Score: Panthers 3, Killer Z’s 2
Game 2 –
The tough game 1 loss didn’t seem to affect Clem as Bergman hit a three run blast in the first to give the Killer Z’s an early 3 – 0 lead. The Killer Z’s extended their lead against Panther starter, Soto by getting a sac fly in the 2nd inning and then things fell apart for Soto in the 4th inning. With one out Soto couldn’t get a handle on a bouncer to the mound by Pryor and threw the ball away. The next hitter, Little reached on an infield hit and then Oester stepped up, “Lofted to left center … RIVERS on the run … he may run out of room open the window, Aunt Minnie … here she comes … it’s gone!” Oester, who only 3 regular season home runs, gave Clem a big lead, 7-0. As Ft. Worth began contemplating getting players in for garbage time they began pecking away at the large lead. In the bottom of the 5th the Panthers scored one run on an error by Pryor and then Rivers jacked a two run homer just inside the left field foul pole. Old man Rivers kept the game 7 to 3 in the 7th when he threw out Balboni trying to score on a single by Kittle. In the bottom of the 8th Rose led off with a pinch hit double and scored on a triple by Perconte. The next hitter, Hernandez then brings Perconte home on a sac fly. Through 8 frames it was Clem 7 and Ft. Worth 5. In the bottom of the 9th with two outs and Lansford on 2nd pinch hitter Jones drove him home with a double. After Rose walks the Panthers tie the game on a throwing error by Concepcion. The incredible come back is complete when Hernandez singles home Rose for Ft. Worth’s second walk off win in as many games. Final Score: Panthers 8, Killer Z’s 7
Game 3 –
Ft. Worth scores first when Smalley hits a solo home run in the 2nd inning and then gets another run on a Parrish single in the third. Concepcion singles home a run for Clem in the 5th. The Killer Z’s had runners on the corners, but the rally was snuffed out when Parrish threw out Concepcion tried to steal and then Strawberry fouled out to Vukovich. In the top of the 7th after the Panthers loaded the bases on two walks and a single Parrish doubled home two runs. Two outs later Smalley singled to drive home 2 more and Ft. Worth had suddenly blown the game wide open at 6 to 1. In the 8th Panther pinch hitter Durham led off with a triple, but he was quickly doubled off to squelch that opportunity. Strawberry hits a solo home run in the bottom of the 8th, but Clem couldn’t get any closer. Final Score: Panthers 6, Killer Z’s 2
Game 4 –
The Panthers started the game with their first two hitters reaching, but Clem starter, Cowley stiffened and didn’t allow a first inning run. A double play helps Cowley escape another jam in the 2nd. Strawberry hits a home run just over the wall and beyond Panther right fielder Thompson’s glove to give the Killer Z’s a 1-0 lead after 2 innings. Clem got another run in the third when Balboni delivered a two-out double to score Wilson, who had walked and stolen 2nd base. Back to back hit and run plays yielded the Panthers one run in the 4th and then they tied the game with a sac fly from Thompson. However; Clem gets out of the jam when LaPoint bunts into a double play and then the same thing happens in the bottom of the 4th when Cowley bunts into an inning ending double play. With two outs in the 5th Kittle singles home Balboni, who had doubled to give Clem a 3-2 lead. After the first two Panther hitters reached in the 6th pinch hitter Mata doubled home Lansford, but McGee was thrown out at the plate. In the top of the 7th with two outs Lansford doubled to put runners on 2nd and third. McGee then drives home both runners to give Ft. Worth the lead at 5 to 3. The Panther’s pen was able to make the lead stand and Ft. Worth sweeps Clem for their 3rd consecutive title. Final Score: Panthers 5, Killer Z’s 3
For the Series Clem’s starting pitching was dominant with a 2.13 ERA compared to 4.24 ERA for Ft. Worth. The difference in the Series was the defense and bullpens. The Killer Z’s committed 9 errors while the Panthers had 3 and the battle of the relief core wasn’t close as Ft. Worth went 3-0-1 with a 0.71 ERA while Clem was a disappointing 0-2-0 with an ERA of 8.10.
Gooden, Witt, and Wilcox all had ERA’s under 2 for Clem and their best hitter was Engle who hit .364. Strawberry hit two home runs, but those were the only hits he got as he only hit .154 for the Series. For the Panthers both Alexander and Camp were outstanding in their starts combining to allow only 2 earned runs through 15 innings. Ft. Worth had 3 hitters hit over .400 in the Series in Smalley, Hernandez, and McGee.
MVP: Roy Smalley – Panther shortstop Smalley is the MVP as he led the team in hitting and slugging. He finished the Series at .455/.455/.818.