2021 World Series MVP: Denver v. Pittsburgh
The 2021 Stroh's World Series MVP Award goes to....
DH DRAKE MATHEWS, DEN. Round of Applause!
The 2021 Denver-Pittsburgh World Series did not lack for excitement as it went all 7 games and had several pivotal moments. However, none had more impact than Drake Mathews' Game 7 HR. With Denver up 3-2, Mathews took Bob Sheppard 433 feet deep in the top of the 5th to make the score 6-2. Pittsburgh would not be able to come back from that deficit, sealing the Denver's World Series. Mathews was named Player of the Game and paraded all throughout Denver.
2021 NLCS MVP: Pittsburgh v. New Orleans
The 2021 Stroh's NLCS MVP Award goes to....
LF PAUL OGLETHORPE, PIT. Round of Applause!
Pittsburgh was able to dispatch New Orleans in 6 games and Oglethorpe got at least 2 hits in 5 of those 6. The veteran Oglethorpe came over from Brooklyn in 2021 and joined Nelson English and Shawn Jordin in a very talented outfield. Oglethorpe had two 4 RBI games during the series and was responsible for 2 HRs as well.
2021 ALCS MVP: Denver v. New York
The 2021 Stroh's ALCS MVP Award goes to....
RF JORGE REA, DEN. Round of Applause!
Denver's improbable playoff run already included wins over two traditional powerhouses in Washington and Omaha. Defeating NY would be another titan sized victory on their way to the World Series. Denver started down 2-1 in the series before catching fire and winning the next 3. Jorge Rea was the primary offensive driver of the Amigos playing lights out baseball through the series. Rea posted 14 hits in 24 at bats with 2 HR and 7 RBI. He won Player of the Game in games 2, 4, and 6. In Game 4 he scored the tying run in the 8th and then knocked in the go ahead in the 9th. In Game 6 he was again responsible for the game winning run. Kick back with Stroh's this offseason, Jorge. Well deserved.
2021 ALDS MVP: New York v. Portland
The 2021 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
1B KELLY CRUM, NY. Round of Applause!
In a David versus Goliath matchup, underdog Portland was up 3-1 in the series and poised to win their first playoff series ever. Portland had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 8th of Game 5 and history was right around the corner, that is until NY tied it up with an unfortunate error on SS Allen Roberson. Going into the bottom of the 9th 1-1 Kelly Crum came up with 2 outs. On an 0-2 count Crum hit a 421 foot game winning HR against Mack Dodson! NY went on to win the remainder of the games and the series. Crum finished with a .329/2/7 line and the Fog Devils' testicles.
2021 ALDS MVP: Denver v. Omaha
The 2021 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
SP JUAN MAESTAS, DEN. Round of Applause!
Juan Maestas was 10-14 with a 6.21 ERA for Denver in 2021. Let that sink in for a moment and it will make his postseason performance against Omaha all the more amazing. The 36 year old Maestas had spent his entire career in El Paso before coming over to Denver in free agency prior to the 2021 season. Maestas got the start against Omaha in Game 2 after Denver dropped Game 1 4-0. Maestas was able to calm the Omaha bats down a bit, going 5.2 IP and giving up only 2 ER, allowing Denver to win 6-2. With Denver up 3-2 in the series, Maestas came out in Game 6 and pitched a doozy, going 8 innings with 0 ER and earning the win and the series. Maestas won the Player of the Game and also earned the reputation as a Wolverine killer.
2021 NLDS MVP: Pittsburgh v. San Francisco
The 2021 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
SP STEFFEN PATTERSON, PIT. Round of Applause!
The story behind this series was the amazing pitching of the Pittsburgh Crusaders. The Crusaders were able to take down the SeaWolves 4-1 and only allowed 2 runs in the five game series. That included 3 complete games by Crusaders starters including Robinson Barrera's defeat in Game 4. Steffen Patterson put together the most impressive start in Game 3 which earned him the Stroh's MVP. Patterson went the entire 9 innings and only allowed 2 hits and zero walks. The 32 year old is in his 1st year with the Crusaders after spending his career in Memphis.
2021 NLDS MVP: New Orleans v. Miami
The 2021 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
CF HENRY MELTON, NO. Round of Applause.
The New Orleans Dukes were able to take down Miami in a 7 game series after falling behind 2-0. A large part of their offensive success was due to the young CF Henry Melton who won an astounding 3 Player of the Game Awards in the series. His line totals were .345/1/9 while batting primarily cleanup for the Dukes. Melton, savor this Stroh's 6-pack as it will be the last one earned against the mighty Banditos.
2021 NL King Cobra Wildcard MVP: Miami v. Cleveland
Leon Sanchez, DH, Miami
You probably know Sanchez best from being a disappointment. But he had a fantastic Wild Card round, going .500/2/5 in the 3 game series. In Miami's Game 1 win, he went 4-6 with a run and 2 RBI; in the Game 2 loss he hit a 2 run HR; and in the Game 3 win he started the scoring with a solo homer in the first.
2021 AL King Cobra Wildcard MVP: Denver v. Washington
...Aurelio Garza, 2B, Denver.
One of the more famous players in today's EWB, Garza hit a decent .286/0/3 in the 2-1 series win over the Admirals. After going 0-4 in the Game 1 loss, he was a solid contributor in both Games 2 and 3, and Denver won both.
Really, though, he won this award with the final at bat of the series. In the bottom of the 9th, with the Admirals winning 2-1 and their closer Carmelo Moran on the mound, Garza came up to bat with 2 outs and the bases loaded: tying run on third, go-ahead run on 2nd. Facing an 0-1 count, he slashed a ground ball between third and short and the game was tied. Painfully slow Andy "Frogger" Smith was the runner on 2nd who was signaled to stop by the third base coach, but Smith ran through the sign to go against the weak arm of LF Jesus Llesemia. Llesemia's throw was a bit high and Smith slid into the plate, scoring Sid Bream-style to advance to the next round. Garza was the instant hero.
2020 World Series MVP: St. Louis v. Los Angeles
The 2020 Stroh's World Series MVP Award goes to....
1B LARRY COLLINS, STL. Round of Applause!
Many knowledgeable fans consider Collins to be the best pure hitter in the game, however, he's always lacked the star appeal of his peers in the game. William Walker, Kenny Dukes, Desmond Irvin, and others have alway exuded a panache that Collins can't seem to match. Until now. St. Louis dropped the first two games of the NLCS to El Paso, after that Collins took the team on his shoulders and won 8 of the next 9 to bring home the first World Series since 1973 to St. Louis! In the World Series he posted a .353/.542!/.706 line with 2 HR and 4 RBI. Larry, take these Stroh's home with you this offseason, you earned an ice cold winter.