No World Series Played in 1970, The USSSA reorganized the World Series into a new format where the 1970 East and West World Champions meet in the 1971 World Series best of 7 format.
In 1968 and 1969, the USSSA held World Championships, then in 1970 they changed the format to have a separate Eastern and Western World Championship, with the two winners to meet the following year in the USSSA World Series. From 1971 through 1973, the Eastern Champ would meet the Western Champ in a best of seven to determine the USSSA World Series Champion.
The Separate World Championships were held in September of the previous year and the World Series was played in June of the year listed. In 1974, 8 teams, which included not just the winners of the Eastern and Western World Series, but the runner-ups as well. Also included were teams from the new Central World Series.
In 1975, the first USSSA World Series all-world team was named. Previously, the all-world teams were made up of from the separate divisional world series.
1970 East held at Rochester, New York
Champion – Accurate Welding, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Runner Up – Tirabassi Excavating, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Tirabassi defeated WAWA Radio of West Allis, WI in the semi-final 13-4 and then took on undefeated Accurate Welding in the Finals. Accurate Welding won 6-3 and claimed the Eastern Worlds over a tough Tirabassi squad. The Welders won behind the big bat of Carl Bruce, who had 3 hits and 3 RBIs. Gene Cuppertino and Jim Mortl also chipped in with 3 hits apiece. Accurate now plays the Western World Champ in May of 1971 for the USSSA World Series Championship. Tirabassi won their first 5 games before losing to Accurate 12-10. They came back to defeat Accurate 6-5 to force the final championship game. The Welders held Tirabassi scoreless until the seventh inning. Jim’s eliminated Hicksville Astros 15-14, before being eliminated by Tirabassi 9-8.
- East MVP – Mario Bonofiglio, Tirabassi Excavating (6-2 pitching, including a walk off home run earlier in the tournament)
- East HR Leader – Mike Foley, Hicksville Astros
- East Batting Leader – Tony Guiliano, Iron Dukes (11-12) – .913
USSSA EAST ALL WORLD TEAM
Pitcher – Mario Bonofiglio, Tirabassi Excavating
Catcher – D. Denson, WAWA Radio
First Base – Jim Warras, Accurate Welding
Second Base – Jim Mortl, Accurate Welding
Third Base – Mike Foley, Hicksville Astros
Shortstop – Nick Perrine, Tirabassi Excavating
Outfield – S. Jones, Robert’s Lounge
Outfield – Rich Baumgarten, Tirabassi Excavating
Outfield – Oscar Steadman, Hicksville Astros
Outfield – Dick Polgar, Accurate Welding
*very little stats available for this tournament
NOTE: John Sepich, Brookline BYM (4 HR, 10-11) – .909
FINAL RESULTS (top 8 listed, final standings and records incomplete – 32 teams total)
1. Accurate Welding, Milwaukee, WI
2. Tirabassi Excavating, Kenosha, WI (6-2)
3. WAWA Radio, West Allis, WI
4. Jim’s Sport Shop, Pittsburgh, PA
5t. Hicksville Motor Inn Astros, Hicksville, NY
5t. Robert’s Lounge, Milwaukee, WI
7t. Floyd Warren’s, Irwin, PA
7t. Houcks, Rochester, NY
1970 West held at Azusa, California.
Champion – Goettl’s Metals, Mesa, AZ (54-9)
Runner Up – Big Apple, Phoenix, AZ (92-18)
Goettl’s came on strong in the championship game to defeat Big Apple 9-0 behind the pitching of MVP Larry Harrell. Harrell was 5-0 on the during the tournament to lead Goettl’s to a berth in the USSSA World Series. Harrell had previously shutout Kelly’s Sporting Goods in the winners bracket semi-finals before beat Big Apple 7-5 in the winner’s bracket final as Denny Bush and Jack Beavers both went 3-4. Big Apple finished the season with a 92-18 record, while Goettl’s was 54-9. M&M defeated Kelly’s in the loser’s bracket 3-2, before being eliminated by Big Apple 12-10.
- West MVP – Larry Harrell, Goettl’s Metals
- West HR Leader – Elby Bushong, M&M
- West Batting Leader – no info available
USSSA WEST ALL WORLD TEAM
Pitcher – Larry Harrell, Goettl’s
Pitcher – Virgil Watkins, M&M
Catcher – Elby Bushong, M&M
First Base – Bill Brotherton, Kelly’s
Second Base – Jack Beavers, Goettl’s
Third Base – Sal Martinez, Big Apple
Shortstop – Richard Lopez, Big Apple
Outfield – Amata Sotelo, Bemco
Outfield – Randy Gill, Goettl’s
Outfield – Phil Brown, M&M
Outfield – Ernie Valenzuela, Big Apple
FINAL STANDINGS (top 8 listed, final standings and records incomplete, 12 teams total)
1. Goettl’s Metals, Mesa, AZ (5-0)
2. Big Apple Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ
3. M&M, Scottsdale, AZ
4. Kelly’s Sporting Goods, Anaheim, CA
5t. Bit of Italy, Huntington Park, CA
5t. Shakey’s, El Monte, CA
7t. Bemco, Industry, CA
7t. Carpetbaggers, Las Vegas, NV
