1973 held at Southgate, Michigan.
CHAMPION – Bay Area Merchants, Richmond, California
RUNNER UP – Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, Michigan
1972 East World Champ played the 1972 West World Champ in the 1973 World Series best of 7 series Bay Area Merchants (BAM) of Richmond, CA defeated Dino’s Pizza of Detroit, MI (4 games to 2).
Bay Area Merchants or BAM as they preferred to be called made history becoming the first Western team to win the USSSA World Series. BAM had to overcome the powerful hitting of Dino’s Pizza. And they did that by matching them blow for blow. Dino’s ended up with 12 Home Runs and BAM had 11. BAM outscored their rivals 58-41 in the 6 game series. Electrifying Charlie Pierce was amazing as he led BAM to the title with his 13-22 hitting performance. He also covered half the outfield himself with his roadrunner type speed. Big Ed Green supplied the power for BAM with 3 titanic blasts. Dino’s Cal Carman and Jerry Johnston both had terrific series for Dino’s. Carman was 9-14 and also walked 9 times as well. Hed led the series in homers with 5. Johnston’s .684 batting average was also tops. Pierce hit when it counted most in the last two games he was 6-8 to lead the team.
- MVP – Charles Pierce, BAM (13-22, .592, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 Runs)
- Home Run Leader – Cal Carmen, Dino’s (9-14, .643, 8 RBI, 9 Runs) – 5
- Batting Leader – Jerry Johnson, Dino’s – (13-19, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 Runs) – .684
ALL WORLD TEAM
No All-World Team was selected – just a best of 7 series between 2 teams. The East and West selected All World Teams in their respective Tournaments.
SCORES
- Game 1 – Bay Area Merchants 15 vs. Dino’s Pizza 11 – Charlie Pierce was 3-3 with 2 HR for BAM; Cal Carmen of Dino’s was 4-4 with 3 HR.
- Game 2 – Dino’s Pizza 5 vs. Bay Area Merchants 2 – Cal Carmen was 2-2 with 2 HR and 3 RBI for Dino’s; Marv VanCurran was 3-3 for BAM.
- Game 3 – Bay Area Merchants 17 vs. Dino’s Pizza 5 – Al Green and Jim Heflin combined for 5 hits and 7 RBI for BAM; Joe Patti was 3-4 to lead Dino’s.
- Game 4 – Dino’s Pizza 15 vs. Bay Area Merchants 14 – Joe Theisen was 4-4 with 2 HR for Dino’s; Mike Matthews was 3-4 with 4 RBI for BAM.
- Game 5 – Bay Area Merchants 6 vs. Dino’s Pizza 2 – Charlie Pierce was 4-4 with a HR for BAM; Joe Patti and Dan Murphy had an RBI each for Dino’s.
- Game 6 – Bay Area Merchants 4 vs. Dino’s Pizza 3 – Charlie Pierce was 2-4 to lead BAM; Jerry Johnston was 3-3 to lead Dino’s.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Bay Area Merchants, Richmond, CA (4-2)
2. Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, MI (2-4)
OTHERS (at least 10 AB)
Jerry Johnson, Dino’s 13-19, .684, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 Runs)
Cal Carmen, Dino’s (9-14, .643, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 9 Runs)
Charlie Pierce, BAM (13-22, .591, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 Runs)
Dan Murphy, Dino’s (7-12, .583, 1 RBI, 2 Runs)
Al Smith, BAM (8-16, .500, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 Runs)
Jim Heflin, BAM (10-21, .476, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 Runs)
Steve Anderson, BAM (7-15, .467, 1 RBI, 3 Runs)
Joe Patti, Dino’s (9-20, 0 HRs, 4 RBI, 6 Runs) – Also 1-3 Pitching
Marv VanCurran, BAM (9-20, .450, 3 RBI, 3 Runs)
Ed Green, BAM (9-21, .429, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 8 Runs)
Larry Shephard, BAM (9-21, .429, 5 RBI, 7 Runs)
Unknown Klinger, Dino’s (8-19, .421, 2 Runs)
Jerry Gilbreath, BAM (5-12, .417, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 Runs)
Chuck Carcium, Dino’s (5-13, .365, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 7 Runs) – Also 1-1 Pitching
Frank Coppa, BAM (7-19, .368, 4 RBI, 4 Runs)
Mike Matthews, BAM (7-21, .333, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 Runs) – Also 4-2 Pitching
Joe Theisen, Dino’s (6-19, .316, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 Runs)
Jim Halsip, Dino’s (3-13, .231, 2 RBI, 2 Runs)
George White, Dino’s (3-13, .231, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 Runs)
John Morris, BAM (2-13, .154, 1 RBI, 3 Runs)
Mario Borrocci, Dino’s (1-10, .100, 1 RBI)
By winning the 1973 World Series, BAM (QUALIFIED for 1974 WORLD SERIES)
1973 East Worlds – Southgate, Michigan.
Champion – Croten Dukes, New Castle, Pennsylvania
Runner Up – Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, Michigan
East MVP – Carl Pia, Croten Dukes (15-20, .750, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6-0 Pitching)
East HR Leader – Dave Thayer, Snyder’s (22-33, .667, 22 RBI) – 10
East Batting Leader– Carl Pia, Croten Dukes – .750
USSSA EAST ALL WORLD TEAM
P – Carl Pia, Croten Dukes (15-20, .750, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6-0 Pitching)
P – Cal Carmen, Dino’s Pizza (12-25, .480, 5 HR, 12 RBI)
C – Frank Taccone, Pace Electronics (11-23, .470, 7 HR, 8 RBI)
C – John Pierog, Iron Dukes (11-18, .611, 8 RBI)
1B – Emory Lucas, Rolling Hills (14-26, .538, 8 RBI)
2B – Joe Patti, Dino’s Pizza (14-27, .519, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
3B – Doug Gerdes, Snyder’s (21-33, .636, 9 HR, 27 RBI)
3B – Micky Annarella, Croten Dukes (10-19, .526, 7 RBI)
SS – Randy Huey, Croten Dukes (13-21, .619, 4 RBI)
OF – Dave Thayer, Snyder’s (22-33, .667, 10 HR, 22 RBI)
OF – Ron Blaessig, Pace Electronics (15-22, .682, 6 HR, 15 RBI)
OF – Glenn Eichelberger, Pace Electronics (17-29, .586, 7 HR, 18 RBI)
OF – Joe Thieson, Dino’s Pizza (14-30, .467, 5 HR, 10 RBI)
FINAL STANDINGS
(top-10 listed only, 39 teams played)
1. Croten Dukes, New Castle, PA (6-0) *
2. Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, MI (6-2) *
3. Pace Electronics, Rochester, NY (6-2) *
4. Snyder’s Masonary, Redford, MI (6-2)
5t. Rolling Hills, Covington, KY (5-2)
5t. Iron Dukes, New Castle, PA (4-2)
7t. Marasco’s V.F., Milwaukee, WI (4-2)
7t. S&S Builders, New Albany, IN (3-2)
9t. Krivan Club, Springdale, PA (3-2)
9t. Sixth Ward, Pittsburgh, PA (3-2)
*Qualified for the 1974 USSSA Major World Series.
1973 USSSA CENTRAL WORLDS (actually held in early 1974)
Champion – Red Bud, Illinois
Runner Up – Slinger Foundry, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Third Place – Thurmer’s Bar, St. Louis, Missouri
Central MVP – Phil Higgins, Slinger Foundry
Central HR Leader– no info
Central Batting Leader – no info
No Central All-Tournament Team was named, only the MVP
1973 Central World Tournament Standings (only 2 teams played in a special playoff to determine the Central Champ)
1. Slinger Foundry, Milwaukee, WI (2-0) *
2. Thurmers Bar, St. Louis, MO (0-2) *
*Qualified for the 1974 USSSA Major World Series.
1973 West Worlds held at Tempe, Arizona
Champion – Double Tree Inn, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – Association, Orange County, California
The Double Tree Inn squad from Phoenix had to win just one more game to win the championship. The Association had other ideas as they took the first game of the final by a 4-3 score to force the final championship game. Third Basemen Bailey had 2 hits to back the pitching of Crawford, the Association’s Pitcher. That was the Association’s 10th game of the tournament. The Phoenix squad came through to capture the final game 13-2. Steve Rogers was 4-5 to lead the Double Tree Offense. Third Basemen Don Jackson who went 2-4 was the defensive star as he made stop after stop to thwart many an extra base hit.
- West MVP – Don Jackson, Double Tree Inn (10-23, .435)
- West HR Leader – Jerry Gilbreath, CBAC (12-19, .632) – 8
- West Batting Leader – Jack Beavers, Goettl’s Metals (11-16) – .688
USSSA WEST ALL-WORLD TEAM
P – Jerry Gilbreath, CBAC (12-19, .632, 8 HR)
C – Mike Cox, Association (12-28, .429, 1 HR)
IF – Jack Beavers, Goettl’s (11-16, .688)
IF – Dave Walski, Road Runners (10-16, .625)
IF – Lou Smith, Road Runners (8-18, .444, 2 HR)
3B – Don Jackson, Double Tree Inn (10-23, .435)
OF – Lee Elder, Double Tree Inn (11-24, .458)
OF – Bob Woodroof, Association (15-30, .500)
OF – Dan Furnald, CBAC (12-20, .600)
OF – Mike Watson, Bemco (14-22, .636)
FINAL STANDINGS (top-8 listed only, 33 teams played)
1. Double Tree Inn, Phoenix, AZ (6-1)* (went to 1974 World Series with new sponsor Chandler Redi-Mix)
2. Association, Orange County, CA (9-2)* (went to 1974 World Series with new sponsor Capitol Insulation)
3. Road Runners, Pamona, CA (5-2)
4. CBAC, San Gabriel Valley, CA (6-2)
5t. Bemco, Industry, CA (3-2)
5t. Goettl’s Metals, Mesa, AZ (3-2)
7t. Allen Cleaners, Phoenix, AZ (3-2)
7t. Danny’s Bar, Las Vegas, NV (4-2)
*Qualified for the 1974 USSSA Major World Series.
