1975 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1975 World Series was played between the Boston Red Sox
(AL) and Cincinnati Reds
(NL). It has been ranked by ESPN
as the second-greatest World Series ever played. Cincinnati won the series four games to three.
The Cincinnati Reds
won the National League West
division by twenty games over the Los Angeles Dodgers
then defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates
, three games to none, in the National League Championship Series
. The Boston Red Sox
won the American League East
division by games over the Baltimore Orioles
then defeated the three-time defending World Series champion Oakland Athletics
, three games to none, in the American League Championship Series
.
The Reds won the seventh and deciding game of the series on a ninth-inning RBI single by Joe Morgan. The sixth game of the Series was a twelve-inning
classic at Boston's Fenway Park
. While there are many memorable moments from that game (among them Red Sox pinch hitter Bernie Carbo
hitting a game-tying home run in the eighth; Reds reliever Will McEnaney pitching out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the bottom of the ninth; and Boston's Dwight Evans
making a spectacular eleventh-inning catch to rob Joe Morgan
of a go-ahead home run), it is remembered in Boston for the walkoff home run hit in the bottom of the twelfth by Carlton Fisk
. Fisk's home run gave the Sox a 7–6 win to send the series to a deciding seventh game, which the "Big Red Machine" won to clinch the first of back-to-back World Series championships.
The series also included Red Sox starter Luis Tiant
's extended mediations while communing with someone in center field during his windups while pitching, a controversial play involving Fisk and the Reds' Ed Armbrister
in Game 3, Tony Pérez
's home run off a Bill Lee
's blooper pitch in Game 7, and many other memorable events.
in Boston, Massachusetts
Luis Tiant
and Don Gullett were locked in a scoreless pitching duel until the seventh. Tiant, batting in this game for the first time all season (pitchers didn't bat in the American League due to the designated hitter
rule), led off with a single. He later scored the Red Sox's first run on a single by Carl Yastrzemski
. From then on in the seventh, the floodgates opened. Reds reliever Clay Carroll
walked Carlton Fisk
to force in a run, Rico Petrocelli
slapped a two-run single, Rick Burleson
had an RBI single, and Cecil Cooper ended the carnage with a sacrifice fly.
in Boston, Massachusetts
In another stellar pitching performance for the Sox, Bill Lee
held the Reds to four hits and a run through eight innings, the Reds' run scoring in the fourth when Joe Morgan
walked, went to third on a Johnny Bench
single, and scored on a Tony Pérez
forceout.
The Red Sox sandwiched the Reds' run with single tallies of their own in the first on an RBI single by Carlton Fisk
and in the seventh on an RBI single by Petrocelli.
The Reds, however, rallied in the ninth to tie the series. Bench led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Dave Concepción
tied the game by singling in Bench and then stole second. With two outs, Ken Griffey
doubled in Concepción with the go-ahead run. Rawly Eastwick
retired the Sox in the ninth to get the victory and close the win.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Back at home, the Reds prevailed in another squeaker that showed just how much this Series was destined to become a classic. For nine innings, the game was a homer-fest. Carlton Fisk
put the Sox on the board in the second with a solo homer off Reds starter Gary Nolan. The Reds countered by taking a 2–1 lead in the fourth when Tony Pérez
walked and Johnny Bench
hit a two-run shot off Sox starter Rick Wise
.
The Reds then chased Wise in the fifth when Dave Concepción
and César Gerónimo
hit back-to-back solo shots. Pete Rose
followed with a one-out triple and scored on Joe Morgan
's sacrifice fly to give the Reds a 5–1 lead.
The Sox scratched back in the sixth when Reds reliever Pat Darcy
issued consecutive walks to Carl Yastrzemski
and Fisk, wild-pitched Fisk to third, and then gave up a sacrifice fly to Fred Lynn
. In the seventh, Bernie Carbo
closed the gap to 5–3 with a pinch-hit solo homer off Clay Carroll
.To close out the inning Will McEnaney
would enter.
In the ninth, with ace reliever Rawly Eastwick
on the mound, the Reds looked poised to close the game out and take a 2–1 Series lead. But, Eastwick gave up a single to Rico Petrocelli
and a tying two-run homer to Dwight Evans
, sending the game into extra innings.
Eastwick retired the Sox in the top of the tenth, setting the stage for a wild and controversial finish. Geronimo led off the Reds' half of the tenth with a single off Jim Willoughby
. Manager Sparky Anderson
then sent Ed Armbrister
up to bat for Eastwick. Armbrister attempted a bunt that bounced high near the plate toward the first-base line. Armbrister hesitated before running, apparently thinking the ball would go foul, and Carlton Fisk
appeared to collide with him as he was retrieving the ball. Fisk attempted to fire to second to force out Geronimo, but his throw sailed high over shortstop Rick Burleson
. As Geronimo went to third and Armbrister pulled into second, a brouhaha ensued, with Fisk and Sox manager Darrell Johnson
arguing that Armbrister should have been ruled out for interference. Umpire Larry Barnett
ruled otherwise, however. Now, the Reds had the winning run on third with no outs.
Willoughby then intentionally walked Pete Rose
to load the bases and set up a force play situation. Johnson then brought in left-hander Roger Moret
, and Anderson countered by pinch-hitting Merv Rettenmund
for Ken Griffey
. Rettenmund popped out, but Joe Morgan
knocked in Geronimo with the winning run by hitting a deep fly to center over a drawn in outfield.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
With the Reds leading the series 2-1, Luis Tiant
would pitch his second win by going all nine innings and throwing 163 pitches, an extended effort uncommon for pitchers in later decades. More importantly, this win would force the Reds to have to win at least one of two games at Fenway Park
to win the Series.
The Reds struck first off Tiant in the first on RBI doubles by Ken Griffey
and Johnny Bench
. The Sox, however, would get all the runs they needed in the fourth. Dwight Evans
tied the game with a two-run triple, then Rick Burleson
put the Sox ahead by doubling in Evans off Reds starter Fred Norman
. Tiant, continuing his surprising hitting, singled Burleson to third. Burleson then scored on a Tony Perez
error on a ball hit by Juan Beniquez
, while Tiant went to second. Carl Yastrzemski
drove in Tiant with a single for what would turn out to be the winning run.
The Reds were able to counter with two runs in their half of the fourth on an RBI double by Dave Concepción
and an RBI triple by César Gerónimo
, but that was it as Tiant gutted it out the rest of the game. The Reds had a shot at winning the game in the bottom of the ninth when, with two on and one out, Ken Griffey
sent a deep drive into left-center that Fred Lynn
made a spectacular sprawling catch on, saving the two runs. Joe Morgan
then popped out to first on Tiant's 163rd pitch of the game.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
The Reds salvaged their home stand by winning Game 5 as Tony Pérez
picked the right time to shake a batting slump. Pérez, who had no hits in the Series up to this point, rectified that by slamming two home runs and driving in four runs off Sox starter Reggie Cleveland
. Pete Rose
contributed an RBI double and Dave Concepción
a sacrifice fly for the other Reds runs as Don Gullett pitched eight strong innings and won with relief help from Rawly Eastwick
in the ninth.
in Boston, Massachusetts
This game would go down as one of the greatest games not only in World Series and post-season history, but baseball history as well. Thanks to three days of rain in Boston, Sox manager Darrell Johnson
now had the luxury of both of his best starters, Luis Tiant
and Bill Lee
, available for Games 6 and 7 at home to try to stave off the Reds.
Fred Lynn
opened the scoring in the first with a two-out, three-run homer off Reds starter Gary Nolan. Meanwhile, the fresh Tiant breezed through the first four innings, holding the Reds to all zeros.
The Reds finally broke through in the fifth. With two on, Ken Griffey
sent a drive to deep center that Lynn almost made a spectacular leaping catch on against the wall. Lynn would suffer a rib injury, but would continue the game. Both runs scored as Griffey ended up with a triple. Johnny Bench
singled Griffey home to tie the game at 3–3.
In the seventh, George Foster put the Reds ahead with a two-run double and, in the top of the eighth, César Gerónimo
hit a solo homer to chase Tiant and give the Reds a 6–3 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Pedro Borbon
was on the mound, with Rawly Eastwick
warming up in the Reds' bullpen. Borbon gave up a single to Fred Lynn
, and then walked Rico Petrocelli
. Eastwick was brought in to pitch, and proceeded to strike out Dwight Evans
and retire Rick Burleson
on a line-out to left. Eastwick looked on his way out of the inning.
Bernie Carbo
, a former first-round pick of the Reds, who had a pinch-hit home run
in Game 3, was called on to bat for Roger Moret
. Sparky Anderson
was on the top step of the dugout, ready to call in left-hander Will McEnaney
to pitch to the left-hand hitting Carbo. Anderson said later that he was concerned that the Sox would call on Juan Beniquez
to pinch hit for Carbo if he made the move.
Carbo looked hopelessly overmatched by Eastwick, and on a 2–2 pitch, fouled off a pitch on a swing that was described as having "all the athletic grace of a suburbanite raking leaves." On the next pitch, however, Carbo tied the game with a three-run home run just to the left of dead center field.
Supposedly, as Carbo approached third base on his home run trot, Carbo yelled out to former teammate Pete Rose
, "Hey, Pete…don't you wish you were that strong?" To which Rose replied, "This is fun." Carbo admitted in an interview with ESPN
in 2010 that he was stoned on drugs and alcohol during this at-bat as well as in Game 7.
The Sox looked poised to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. With McEnaney, the Reds' seventh pitcher, on the mound, the Sox loaded the bases with no outs. Denny Doyle
walked and went to third on a Carl Yastrzemski
single. McEnaney then intentionally walked Carlton Fisk
to load the bases to face the left-handed hitting Lynn. Lynn flied out on a short fly ball to Foster in left, and Foster gunned down Doyle, who tagged up and attempted to score. McEnaney then retired Petrocelli, ending the jam. Doyle would later admit that, when he tagged at third, he thought he heard Sox third-base coach Don Zimmer
yelling "Go, go, go!", when, in reality, Zimmer was screaming, "No! No! No!".
In the top of the eleventh, with Ken Griffey
on first, Joe Morgan
hit a deep drive to right off Dick Drago
that looked to be headed over the fence. Evans, however, made a spectacular catch near Pesky's Pole
in right to rob Morgan and double Griffey off first.
The Reds mounted another threat in the top of the twelfth. Tony Pérez
and Foster slammed one-out singles off Rick Wise
, but Wise retired Dave Concepción
on a fly to right and struck out Geronimo.
In a fitting end to such an exciting game, Fisk faced Pat Darcy
, the eighth pitcher that Reds manager Sparky Anderson
used. Fisk took Darcy's second pitch and lifted a high drive down the left-field line. The ball struck the foul pole just above the Green Monster
. In what has now become an iconic baseball film highlight, the NBC
left-field game camera caught Fisk wildly waving his arms to his right after hitting the ball and watching its path while drifting down the first base line, as if he was trying to coax the ball to "stay fair." The ball indeed stayed fair and the Red Sox had tied the Series. (According to the NBC cameraman Lou Gerard, located above the third base stands, cameramen at the time were instructed to follow the flight of the ball. Instead, Gerard was distracted by a rat nearby, thus he lost track of the baseball and instead decided to capture the image of Fisk "magically" waving the ball fair). The game was ranked Number 1 in MLB Network
's 20 Greatest Games.
in Boston, Massachusetts
After an exciting Game 6, there was no worry about Game 7 being anti-climactic. Reds starter Don Gullett started having control problems in the third inning. After giving up an RBI single to Carl Yastrzemski
, Gullett walked Carlton Fisk
to load the bases. He then walked Rico Petrocelli
and Dwight Evans
to force in two more runs. However, that would be it for the Sox scoring.
Bill Lee
shut out the Reds through five innings, but, in the sixth with a man on, he tried to throw a slow lob pitch (his famous "Space ball" or "Leephus pitch", an Eephus pitch
) to Tony Pérez
. Pérez hung back, waited for it perfectly, and blasted it for a two-run homer, his third in three Series games. Now, the score was 3–2.
The Reds tied it in the seventh when Ken Griffey
walked, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Pete Rose
.
In the ninth, Griffey led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second by César Gerónimo
, and went to third on a groundout. Sox pitcher Jim Burton
then walked Rose to set up a forceout, but then gave up a bloop single to Joe Morgan
to score Griffey with the go-ahead run. Will McEnaney
retired the Sox in the ninth, closing out an unbelievable World Series.
(N.L.) over Boston Red Sox
(A.L.)
Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+
Ed Armbrister 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 .667 .000 0 | 65 12 0 .185 .454 3
Johnny Bench 7 29 5 6 2 0 1 4 2 4 .207 .258 .379 0 | 530 150 28 .283 .878 11
Jack Billingham 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 65 7 0 .108 .313 0
Pedro Borbon 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 24 7 0 .292 .625 0
Clay Carroll 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 19 0 0 .000 .000 0
#Darrel Chaney 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 160 35 2 .219 .574 3
Dave Concepción 7 28 3 5 1 0 1 4 0 1 .179 .200 .321 3 | 507 139 5 .274 .679 33
*Terry Crowley 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500 .500 .500 0 | 71 19 1 .268 .728 0
*Pat Darcy 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 47 4 0 .085 .191 0
*Dan Driessen 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 210 59 7 .281 .814 10
Rawly Eastwick 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 15 1 0 .067 .133 0
George Foster 7 29 1 8 1 0 0 2 1 1 .276 .300 .310 1 | 463 139 23 .300 .875 2
*César Gerónimo 7 25 3 7 0 1 2 3 3 5 .280 .357 .600 0 | 501 129 6 .257 .690 13
*Ken Griffey 7 26 4 7 3 1 0 4 4 2 .269 .367 .462 2 | 463 141 4 .305 .793 16
Don Gullett 3 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286 .286 .286 0 | 62 14 0 .226 .520 0
*Will McEnaney 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 0 | 14 0 0 .000 .000 0
*Joe Morgan 7 27 4 7 1 0 0 3 5 1 .259 .364 .296 2 | 498 163 17 .327 .974 67
Gary Nolan 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 68 12 0 .176 .474 0
#Fred Norman 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 60 7 0 .117 .292 0
Tony Perez 7 28 4 5 0 0 3 7 3 9 .179 .258 .500 1 | 511 144 20 .282 .816 1
Merv Rettenmund 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 188 45 2 .239 .669 5
#Pete Rose 7 27 3 10 1 1 0 2 5 1 .370 .485 .481 0 | 662 210 7 .317 .838 0
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+
Total 7 244 29 59 9 3 7 29 25 30 .242 .315 .389 9 |5203 1430 124 .275 .753 168
* - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+
Juan Beniquez 3 8 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .125 .222 .125 0 | 254 74 2 .291 .760 7
Rick Burleson 7 24 1 7 1 0 0 2 4 2 .292 .393 .333 0 | 580 146 6 .252 .634 8
Jim Burton 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Bernie Carbo 4 7 3 3 1 0 2 4 1 1 .429 .500 1.42 0 | 319 82 15 .257 .892 2
Reggie Cleveland 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Cecil Cooper 5 19 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 .053 .050 .105 0 | 305 95 14 .311 .899 1
*Denny Doyle 7 30 3 8 1 1 0 0 2 1 .267 .312 .367 0 |+325 97 4 .298 .742 5
Dick Drago 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Dwight Evans 7 24 3 7 1 1 1 5 3 4 .292 .393 .542 0 | 412 113 13 .274 .809 3
Carlton Fisk 7 25 5 6 0 0 2 4 7 7 .240 .406 .480 0 | 263 87 10 .331 .923 4
Doug Griffin 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 287 69 1 .240 .560 2
*Bill Lee 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .167 .167 .167 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Fred Lynn 7 25 3 7 1 0 1 5 3 5 .280 .345 .440 0 | 528 175 21 .331 .967 10
*Rick Miller 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 108 21 0 .194 .557 3
Bob Montgomery 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 195 44 2 .226 .559 1
#Roger Moret 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Rico Petrocelli 7 26 3 8 1 0 0 4 3 6 .308 .379 .346 0 | 402 96 7 .239 .644 0
Dick Pole 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Diego Segui 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Luis Tiant 3 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .250 .400 .250 0 | 1 0 0 .000 .000 0
Jim Willoughby 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Rick Wise 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Carl Yastrzemski 7 29 7 9 0 0 0 4 4 1 .310 .382 .310 0 | 543 146 14 .269 .776 8
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+
Total 7 239 30 60 7 2 6 30 30 40 .251 .333 .372 0 |4522 1245 134 .275 .761 66
* - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Player G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+
*Don Gullett 3 4.34 1-1 0 0 18.2 19 9 10 15 | 15-4 160 2.42 1.15 98
Jack Billingham 3 1.00 0-0 0 0 9.0 8 1 5 7 | 15-10 208 4.11 1.43 79
Rawly Eastwick 5 2.25 2-0 1 0 8.0 6 2 3 4 | 5-3 90 2.60 1.13 61 22
*Will McEnaney 5 2.70 0-0 1 0 6.2 3 2 2 5 | 5-2 91 2.47 1.26 48 15
Gary Nolan 2 6.00 0-0 0 0 6.0 6 4 1 2 | 15-9 211 3.16 1.10 74
Clay Carroll 5 3.18 1-0 0 0 5.2 4 2 2 3 | 7-5 96 2.62 1.30 44 7
Pat Darcy 2 4.50 0-1 0 0 4.0 3 2 2 1 | 11-5 131 3.58 1.48 46 1
*Fred Norman 2 9.00 0-1 0 0 4.0 8 4 3 2 | 12-4 188 3.73 1.31 119
Pedro Borbon 3 6.00 0-0 0 0 3.0 3 2 2 1 | 9-5 125 2.95 1.33 29 5
+-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+
Total 3.88 4-3 2 0 65.0 60 28 30 40 | 94-47 1300 3.37 1.310 598 50
* - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Player G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+
Luis Tiant 3 3.60 2-0 0 2 25.0 25 10 8 12 | 18-14 260 4.02 1.28 142
*Bill Lee 2 3.14 0-0 0 0 14.1 12 5 3 7 | 17-9 260 3.95 1.32 78
Reggie Cleveland
3 6.75 0-1 0 0 6.2 7 5 3 5 | 13-9 171 4.43 1.32 78
Jim Willoughby 3 0.00 0-1 0 0 6.1 3 0 0 2 | 5-2 48 3.54 1.28 29 8
Rick Wise 2 8.44 1-0 0 0 5.1 6 5 2 2 | 19-12 255 3.95 1.31 141
Dick Drago 2 2.25 0-1 0 0 4.0 3 1 1 1 | 2-2 73 3.84 1.38 43 15
*Roger Moret 3 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.2 2 0 3 1 | 14-3 145 3.60 1.43 80 1
Diego Segui 1 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.0 0 0 0 0 | 2-5 71 4.82 1.61 45 6
*Jim Burton 2 9.00 0-1 0 0 1.0 1 1 3 0 | 1-2 53 2.89 1.45 39 1
Dick Pole 1 inf 0-0 0 0 0.0 0 1 2 0 | 4-6 90 4.42 1.49 42
+-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+
Total 3.86 3-4 0 2 65.1 59 28 25 30 | 95-64 1426 3.98 1.360 717 31
* - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
and Joe Garagiola alternating play-by-play along with team announcers Dick Stockton
and Ned Martin
(Red Sox) and Marty Brennaman
(Reds) and Tony Kubek
doing color commentary
.
This was the final World Series broadcast for Gowdy, who had been NBC's lead play-by-play announcer for baseball since 1966
. Garagiola would take over full-time as NBC's lead baseball announcer the following season.
This was also the final Series broadcast for NBC Radio, which had retained exclusive rights to the event since 1957
. CBS Radio
would become the exclusive national radio network for MLB beginning the following season.
This was the only World Series broadcast for Stockton, who would become a prominent national sportscaster for such networks as CBS
, Fox, and TNT
.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(AL) and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(NL). It has been ranked by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as the second-greatest World Series ever played. Cincinnati won the series four games to three.
The Cincinnati Reds
1975 Cincinnati Reds season
The 1975 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a record of 108-54, 20 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds went on to win the National League Championship Series by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in...
won the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
division by twenty games over the Los Angeles Dodgers
1975 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished in second place, 20 games behind the Cincinnati Reds in the Western Division of the National League.- Offseason :...
then defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates
1975 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 89th in the history of the franchise. The Pirates' 92-69 record was good enough to win their fifth National League East title in six seasons by 6½ games over their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies...
, three games to none, in the National League Championship Series
1975 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1975 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe Reds cuffed four Pirate hurlers for 11 hits in the opener, breezing to an 8–3 triumph...
. The Boston Red Sox
1975 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 65 losses...
won the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
division by games over the Baltimore Orioles
1975 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 90 wins and 69 losses.- Offseason :...
then defeated the three-time defending World Series champion Oakland Athletics
1975 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1975 season involved the A's finishing first in the American League West with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses. They went on to play the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 American League Championship Series, losing in three straight games....
, three games to none, in the American League Championship Series
1975 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1975 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsBoston Red Sox starter Luis Tiant allowed just one run on three hits to defeat the Oakland Athletics, 7–1, in the ALCS opener....
.
The Reds won the seventh and deciding game of the series on a ninth-inning RBI single by Joe Morgan. The sixth game of the Series was a twelve-inning
Extra innings
Extra innings is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie.Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine innings , each of which is divided into halves: the visiting team bats first, after which the home team takes its turn at bat...
classic at Boston's Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. While there are many memorable moments from that game (among them Red Sox pinch hitter Bernie Carbo
Bernie Carbo
Bernardo 'Bernie' Carbo is a former outfielder and designated hitter who played from through for the Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Cardinals , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
hitting a game-tying home run in the eighth; Reds reliever Will McEnaney pitching out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the bottom of the ninth; and Boston's Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
making a spectacular eleventh-inning catch to rob Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
of a go-ahead home run), it is remembered in Boston for the walkoff home run hit in the bottom of the twelfth by Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
. Fisk's home run gave the Sox a 7–6 win to send the series to a deciding seventh game, which the "Big Red Machine" won to clinch the first of back-to-back World Series championships.
The series also included Red Sox starter Luis Tiant
Luis Tiant
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels...
's extended mediations while communing with someone in center field during his windups while pitching, a controversial play involving Fisk and the Reds' Ed Armbrister
Ed Armbrister
Edison Rosanda "Ed" Armbrister is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who had a five-year career from 1973 through 1977 with the Cincinnati Reds...
in Game 3, Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
's home run off a Bill Lee
Bill Lee (left-handed pitcher)
William Francis Lee III , nicknamed "Spaceman", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
's blooper pitch in Game 7, and many other memorable events.
Summary
†: postponed from October 18 due to rainGame 1
Saturday, October 11, 1975 at Fenway ParkFenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
in Boston, Massachusetts
Luis Tiant
Luis Tiant
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels...
and Don Gullett were locked in a scoreless pitching duel until the seventh. Tiant, batting in this game for the first time all season (pitchers didn't bat in the American League due to the designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
rule), led off with a single. He later scored the Red Sox's first run on a single by Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
. From then on in the seventh, the floodgates opened. Reds reliever Clay Carroll
Clay Carroll
Clay Palmer Carroll is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St...
walked Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
to force in a run, Rico Petrocelli
Rico Petrocelli
Americo Peter "Rico" Petrocelli is an American retired baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire career in the American League with the Boston Red Sox...
slapped a two-run single, Rick Burleson
Rick Burleson
Richard Paul Burleson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. "Rooster," as he was nicknamed was a famously intense ballplayer...
had an RBI single, and Cecil Cooper ended the carnage with a sacrifice fly.
Game 2
Sunday, October 12, 1975 at Fenway ParkFenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
in Boston, Massachusetts
In another stellar pitching performance for the Sox, Bill Lee
Bill Lee (left-handed pitcher)
William Francis Lee III , nicknamed "Spaceman", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
held the Reds to four hits and a run through eight innings, the Reds' run scoring in the fourth when Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
walked, went to third on a Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
single, and scored on a Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
forceout.
The Red Sox sandwiched the Reds' run with single tallies of their own in the first on an RBI single by Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
and in the seventh on an RBI single by Petrocelli.
The Reds, however, rallied in the ninth to tie the series. Bench led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Dave Concepción
Dave Concepción
David Ismael Concepción Benitez , better known as Dave Concepción, is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, Venezuela...
tied the game by singling in Bench and then stole second. With two outs, Ken Griffey
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
doubled in Concepción with the go-ahead run. Rawly Eastwick
Rawly Eastwick
Rawlins Jackson "Rawly" Eastwick is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1975 to 1981.-Career:...
retired the Sox in the ninth to get the victory and close the win.
Game 3
Tuesday, October 14, 1975 at Riverfront StadiumCinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
Back at home, the Reds prevailed in another squeaker that showed just how much this Series was destined to become a classic. For nine innings, the game was a homer-fest. Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
put the Sox on the board in the second with a solo homer off Reds starter Gary Nolan. The Reds countered by taking a 2–1 lead in the fourth when Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
walked and Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
hit a two-run shot off Sox starter Rick Wise
Rick Wise
Richard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
.
The Reds then chased Wise in the fifth when Dave Concepción
Dave Concepción
David Ismael Concepción Benitez , better known as Dave Concepción, is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, Venezuela...
and César Gerónimo
César Gerónimo
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla , known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed....
hit back-to-back solo shots. Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
followed with a one-out triple and scored on Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
's sacrifice fly to give the Reds a 5–1 lead.
The Sox scratched back in the sixth when Reds reliever Pat Darcy
Pat Darcy
Patrick Leonard Darcy is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1974 to 1976....
issued consecutive walks to Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
and Fisk, wild-pitched Fisk to third, and then gave up a sacrifice fly to Fred Lynn
Fred Lynn
Fredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
. In the seventh, Bernie Carbo
Bernie Carbo
Bernardo 'Bernie' Carbo is a former outfielder and designated hitter who played from through for the Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Cardinals , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
closed the gap to 5–3 with a pinch-hit solo homer off Clay Carroll
Clay Carroll
Clay Palmer Carroll is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St...
.To close out the inning Will McEnaney
Will McEnaney
William Henry McEnaney is a former professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of 6 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He was a member of the 1975 and 1976 World Series champion "Big Red...
would enter.
In the ninth, with ace reliever Rawly Eastwick
Rawly Eastwick
Rawlins Jackson "Rawly" Eastwick is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1975 to 1981.-Career:...
on the mound, the Reds looked poised to close the game out and take a 2–1 Series lead. But, Eastwick gave up a single to Rico Petrocelli
Rico Petrocelli
Americo Peter "Rico" Petrocelli is an American retired baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire career in the American League with the Boston Red Sox...
and a tying two-run homer to Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
, sending the game into extra innings.
Eastwick retired the Sox in the top of the tenth, setting the stage for a wild and controversial finish. Geronimo led off the Reds' half of the tenth with a single off Jim Willoughby
Jim Willoughby
James Arthur Willoughby is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox...
. Manager Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
then sent Ed Armbrister
Ed Armbrister
Edison Rosanda "Ed" Armbrister is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who had a five-year career from 1973 through 1977 with the Cincinnati Reds...
up to bat for Eastwick. Armbrister attempted a bunt that bounced high near the plate toward the first-base line. Armbrister hesitated before running, apparently thinking the ball would go foul, and Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
appeared to collide with him as he was retrieving the ball. Fisk attempted to fire to second to force out Geronimo, but his throw sailed high over shortstop Rick Burleson
Rick Burleson
Richard Paul Burleson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. "Rooster," as he was nicknamed was a famously intense ballplayer...
. As Geronimo went to third and Armbrister pulled into second, a brouhaha ensued, with Fisk and Sox manager Darrell Johnson
Darrell Johnson
Darrell Dean Johnson was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach, manager and scout.-Playing career:...
arguing that Armbrister should have been ruled out for interference. Umpire Larry Barnett
Larry Barnett
Lawrence Robert Barnett is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1999 before becoming the major leagues' supervisor of umpires in 2000-2001.-Career:...
ruled otherwise, however. Now, the Reds had the winning run on third with no outs.
Willoughby then intentionally walked Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
to load the bases and set up a force play situation. Johnson then brought in left-hander Roger Moret
Roger Moret
Rogelio "Roger" Moret is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox , Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers . In 168 games , he posted a career won-lost record of 47-27 and an earned run average of 3.66...
, and Anderson countered by pinch-hitting Merv Rettenmund
Merv Rettenmund
Mervin Weldon Rettenmund is a former Major League Baseball player and coach. He played thirteen seasons with the Baltimore Orioles , the Cincinnati Reds , the San Diego Padres and the California Angels ....
for Ken Griffey
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
. Rettenmund popped out, but Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
knocked in Geronimo with the winning run by hitting a deep fly to center over a drawn in outfield.
Game 4
Wednesday, October 15, 1975 at Riverfront StadiumCinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
With the Reds leading the series 2-1, Luis Tiant
Luis Tiant
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels...
would pitch his second win by going all nine innings and throwing 163 pitches, an extended effort uncommon for pitchers in later decades. More importantly, this win would force the Reds to have to win at least one of two games at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
to win the Series.
The Reds struck first off Tiant in the first on RBI doubles by Ken Griffey
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
and Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
. The Sox, however, would get all the runs they needed in the fourth. Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
tied the game with a two-run triple, then Rick Burleson
Rick Burleson
Richard Paul Burleson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. "Rooster," as he was nicknamed was a famously intense ballplayer...
put the Sox ahead by doubling in Evans off Reds starter Fred Norman
Fred Norman
Fredie Hubert Norman , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1962–1964, 1966–1967, and 1970-1980....
. Tiant, continuing his surprising hitting, singled Burleson to third. Burleson then scored on a Tony Perez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
error on a ball hit by Juan Beniquez
Juan Beníquez
Juan José Beníquez Torres is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers , New York Yankees , Seattle Mariners , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays...
, while Tiant went to second. Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
drove in Tiant with a single for what would turn out to be the winning run.
The Reds were able to counter with two runs in their half of the fourth on an RBI double by Dave Concepción
Dave Concepción
David Ismael Concepción Benitez , better known as Dave Concepción, is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, Venezuela...
and an RBI triple by César Gerónimo
César Gerónimo
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla , known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed....
, but that was it as Tiant gutted it out the rest of the game. The Reds had a shot at winning the game in the bottom of the ninth when, with two on and one out, Ken Griffey
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
sent a deep drive into left-center that Fred Lynn
Fred Lynn
Fredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
made a spectacular sprawling catch on, saving the two runs. Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
then popped out to first on Tiant's 163rd pitch of the game.
Game 5
Thursday, October 16, 1975 at Riverfront StadiumCinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
The Reds salvaged their home stand by winning Game 5 as Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
picked the right time to shake a batting slump. Pérez, who had no hits in the Series up to this point, rectified that by slamming two home runs and driving in four runs off Sox starter Reggie Cleveland
Reggie Cleveland
Reginald Leslie "Reggie" Cleveland is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Cleveland was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers. He ended his career with 105 wins, with a 3.73 ERA and 930 strikeouts. Reggie...
. Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
contributed an RBI double and Dave Concepción
Dave Concepción
David Ismael Concepción Benitez , better known as Dave Concepción, is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, Venezuela...
a sacrifice fly for the other Reds runs as Don Gullett pitched eight strong innings and won with relief help from Rawly Eastwick
Rawly Eastwick
Rawlins Jackson "Rawly" Eastwick is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1975 to 1981.-Career:...
in the ninth.
Game 6
Tuesday, October 21, 1975 at Fenway ParkFenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
in Boston, Massachusetts
This game would go down as one of the greatest games not only in World Series and post-season history, but baseball history as well. Thanks to three days of rain in Boston, Sox manager Darrell Johnson
Darrell Johnson
Darrell Dean Johnson was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach, manager and scout.-Playing career:...
now had the luxury of both of his best starters, Luis Tiant
Luis Tiant
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels...
and Bill Lee
Bill Lee (left-handed pitcher)
William Francis Lee III , nicknamed "Spaceman", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
, available for Games 6 and 7 at home to try to stave off the Reds.
Fred Lynn
Fred Lynn
Fredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
opened the scoring in the first with a two-out, three-run homer off Reds starter Gary Nolan. Meanwhile, the fresh Tiant breezed through the first four innings, holding the Reds to all zeros.
The Reds finally broke through in the fifth. With two on, Ken Griffey
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
sent a drive to deep center that Lynn almost made a spectacular leaping catch on against the wall. Lynn would suffer a rib injury, but would continue the game. Both runs scored as Griffey ended up with a triple. Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
singled Griffey home to tie the game at 3–3.
In the seventh, George Foster put the Reds ahead with a two-run double and, in the top of the eighth, César Gerónimo
César Gerónimo
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla , known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed....
hit a solo homer to chase Tiant and give the Reds a 6–3 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Pedro Borbon
Pedro Borbón
Spudro spärde Von Dolan is a former pitcher. He played Major League Baseball for 12 seasons for four teams, including 10 seasons for the Cincinnati Reds , playing on two World Series winning teams...
was on the mound, with Rawly Eastwick
Rawly Eastwick
Rawlins Jackson "Rawly" Eastwick is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1975 to 1981.-Career:...
warming up in the Reds' bullpen. Borbon gave up a single to Fred Lynn
Fred Lynn
Fredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
, and then walked Rico Petrocelli
Rico Petrocelli
Americo Peter "Rico" Petrocelli is an American retired baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire career in the American League with the Boston Red Sox...
. Eastwick was brought in to pitch, and proceeded to strike out Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
and retire Rick Burleson
Rick Burleson
Richard Paul Burleson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. "Rooster," as he was nicknamed was a famously intense ballplayer...
on a line-out to left. Eastwick looked on his way out of the inning.
Bernie Carbo
Bernie Carbo
Bernardo 'Bernie' Carbo is a former outfielder and designated hitter who played from through for the Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Cardinals , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, a former first-round pick of the Reds, who had a pinch-hit home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in Game 3, was called on to bat for Roger Moret
Roger Moret
Rogelio "Roger" Moret is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox , Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers . In 168 games , he posted a career won-lost record of 47-27 and an earned run average of 3.66...
. Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
was on the top step of the dugout, ready to call in left-hander Will McEnaney
Will McEnaney
William Henry McEnaney is a former professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of 6 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He was a member of the 1975 and 1976 World Series champion "Big Red...
to pitch to the left-hand hitting Carbo. Anderson said later that he was concerned that the Sox would call on Juan Beniquez
Juan Beníquez
Juan José Beníquez Torres is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers , New York Yankees , Seattle Mariners , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays...
to pinch hit for Carbo if he made the move.
Carbo looked hopelessly overmatched by Eastwick, and on a 2–2 pitch, fouled off a pitch on a swing that was described as having "all the athletic grace of a suburbanite raking leaves." On the next pitch, however, Carbo tied the game with a three-run home run just to the left of dead center field.
Supposedly, as Carbo approached third base on his home run trot, Carbo yelled out to former teammate Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
, "Hey, Pete…don't you wish you were that strong?" To which Rose replied, "This is fun." Carbo admitted in an interview with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
in 2010 that he was stoned on drugs and alcohol during this at-bat as well as in Game 7.
The Sox looked poised to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. With McEnaney, the Reds' seventh pitcher, on the mound, the Sox loaded the bases with no outs. Denny Doyle
Denny Doyle
Robert Dennis Doyle is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
walked and went to third on a Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
single. McEnaney then intentionally walked Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
to load the bases to face the left-handed hitting Lynn. Lynn flied out on a short fly ball to Foster in left, and Foster gunned down Doyle, who tagged up and attempted to score. McEnaney then retired Petrocelli, ending the jam. Doyle would later admit that, when he tagged at third, he thought he heard Sox third-base coach Don Zimmer
Don Zimmer
Donald William "Popeye" Zimmer is a former infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball, currently serving as a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization...
yelling "Go, go, go!", when, in reality, Zimmer was screaming, "No! No! No!".
In the top of the eleventh, with Ken Griffey
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
on first, Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
hit a deep drive to right off Dick Drago
Dick Drago
Richard Anthony "Dick" Drago is a former American League relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City Royals , Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners...
that looked to be headed over the fence. Evans, however, made a spectacular catch near Pesky's Pole
Pesky's Pole
Pesky's Pole, commonly referred to as The Pesky Pole, is the nickname for the right field foul pole at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. It is named after Johnny Pesky, who played second base, shortstop and third base for the Red Sox from 1942 to 1952, except for 1943-45 during World War II....
in right to rob Morgan and double Griffey off first.
The Reds mounted another threat in the top of the twelfth. Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
and Foster slammed one-out singles off Rick Wise
Rick Wise
Richard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
, but Wise retired Dave Concepción
Dave Concepción
David Ismael Concepción Benitez , better known as Dave Concepción, is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, Venezuela...
on a fly to right and struck out Geronimo.
In a fitting end to such an exciting game, Fisk faced Pat Darcy
Pat Darcy
Patrick Leonard Darcy is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1974 to 1976....
, the eighth pitcher that Reds manager Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
used. Fisk took Darcy's second pitch and lifted a high drive down the left-field line. The ball struck the foul pole just above the Green Monster
Green Monster
The Green Monster is a popular nickname for the thirty-seven foot , two-inch high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team...
. In what has now become an iconic baseball film highlight, the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
left-field game camera caught Fisk wildly waving his arms to his right after hitting the ball and watching its path while drifting down the first base line, as if he was trying to coax the ball to "stay fair." The ball indeed stayed fair and the Red Sox had tied the Series. (According to the NBC cameraman Lou Gerard, located above the third base stands, cameramen at the time were instructed to follow the flight of the ball. Instead, Gerard was distracted by a rat nearby, thus he lost track of the baseball and instead decided to capture the image of Fisk "magically" waving the ball fair). The game was ranked Number 1 in MLB Network
MLB Network
MLB Network is an American television specialty channel dedicated to professional baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications have minority ownership of the new network, with MLB retaining a controlling two-thirds share...
's 20 Greatest Games.
Game 7
Wednesday, October 22, 1975 at Fenway ParkFenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
in Boston, Massachusetts
After an exciting Game 6, there was no worry about Game 7 being anti-climactic. Reds starter Don Gullett started having control problems in the third inning. After giving up an RBI single to Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
, Gullett walked Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
to load the bases. He then walked Rico Petrocelli
Rico Petrocelli
Americo Peter "Rico" Petrocelli is an American retired baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire career in the American League with the Boston Red Sox...
and Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
to force in two more runs. However, that would be it for the Sox scoring.
Bill Lee
Bill Lee (left-handed pitcher)
William Francis Lee III , nicknamed "Spaceman", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
shut out the Reds through five innings, but, in the sixth with a man on, he tried to throw a slow lob pitch (his famous "Space ball" or "Leephus pitch", an Eephus pitch
Eephus pitch
An Eephus pitch in baseball is considered a junk pitch with very low speed. The delivery from the pitcher has very low velocity and usually catches the hitter off-guard. Its invention is attributed to Rip Sewell of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1940s. According to manager Frankie Frisch, the...
) to Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
. Pérez hung back, waited for it perfectly, and blasted it for a two-run homer, his third in three Series games. Now, the score was 3–2.
The Reds tied it in the seventh when Ken Griffey
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
walked, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
.
In the ninth, Griffey led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second by César Gerónimo
César Gerónimo
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla , known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed....
, and went to third on a groundout. Sox pitcher Jim Burton
Jim Burton
Jim Scott Burton is a former middle relief pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox . He batted right-handed and threw left-handed, standing tall and weighing ....
then walked Rose to set up a forceout, but then gave up a bloop single to Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
to score Griffey with the go-ahead run. Will McEnaney
Will McEnaney
William Henry McEnaney is a former professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of 6 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He was a member of the 1975 and 1976 World Series champion "Big Red...
retired the Sox in the ninth, closing out an unbelievable World Series.
Composite box
1975 World Series (4–3): Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(N.L.) over Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(A.L.)
Cincinnati Reds
SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASONPlayer G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+
Ed Armbrister 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 .667 .000 0 | 65 12 0 .185 .454 3
Johnny Bench 7 29 5 6 2 0 1 4 2 4 .207 .258 .379 0 | 530 150 28 .283 .878 11
Jack Billingham 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 65 7 0 .108 .313 0
Pedro Borbon 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 24 7 0 .292 .625 0
Clay Carroll 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 19 0 0 .000 .000 0
#Darrel Chaney 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 160 35 2 .219 .574 3
Dave Concepción 7 28 3 5 1 0 1 4 0 1 .179 .200 .321 3 | 507 139 5 .274 .679 33
*Terry Crowley 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500 .500 .500 0 | 71 19 1 .268 .728 0
*Pat Darcy 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 47 4 0 .085 .191 0
*Dan Driessen 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 210 59 7 .281 .814 10
Rawly Eastwick 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 15 1 0 .067 .133 0
George Foster 7 29 1 8 1 0 0 2 1 1 .276 .300 .310 1 | 463 139 23 .300 .875 2
*César Gerónimo 7 25 3 7 0 1 2 3 3 5 .280 .357 .600 0 | 501 129 6 .257 .690 13
*Ken Griffey 7 26 4 7 3 1 0 4 4 2 .269 .367 .462 2 | 463 141 4 .305 .793 16
Don Gullett 3 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286 .286 .286 0 | 62 14 0 .226 .520 0
*Will McEnaney 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 0 | 14 0 0 .000 .000 0
*Joe Morgan 7 27 4 7 1 0 0 3 5 1 .259 .364 .296 2 | 498 163 17 .327 .974 67
Gary Nolan 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 68 12 0 .176 .474 0
#Fred Norman 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 60 7 0 .117 .292 0
Tony Perez 7 28 4 5 0 0 3 7 3 9 .179 .258 .500 1 | 511 144 20 .282 .816 1
Merv Rettenmund 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 188 45 2 .239 .669 5
#Pete Rose 7 27 3 10 1 1 0 2 5 1 .370 .485 .481 0 | 662 210 7 .317 .838 0
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+
Total 7 244 29 59 9 3 7 29 25 30 .242 .315 .389 9 |5203 1430 124 .275 .753 168
* - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Boston Red Sox
SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASONPlayer G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+
Juan Beniquez 3 8 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .125 .222 .125 0 | 254 74 2 .291 .760 7
Rick Burleson 7 24 1 7 1 0 0 2 4 2 .292 .393 .333 0 | 580 146 6 .252 .634 8
Jim Burton 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Bernie Carbo 4 7 3 3 1 0 2 4 1 1 .429 .500 1.42 0 | 319 82 15 .257 .892 2
Reggie Cleveland 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Cecil Cooper 5 19 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 .053 .050 .105 0 | 305 95 14 .311 .899 1
*Denny Doyle 7 30 3 8 1 1 0 0 2 1 .267 .312 .367 0 |+325 97 4 .298 .742 5
Dick Drago 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Dwight Evans 7 24 3 7 1 1 1 5 3 4 .292 .393 .542 0 | 412 113 13 .274 .809 3
Carlton Fisk 7 25 5 6 0 0 2 4 7 7 .240 .406 .480 0 | 263 87 10 .331 .923 4
Doug Griffin 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 287 69 1 .240 .560 2
*Bill Lee 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .167 .167 .167 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Fred Lynn 7 25 3 7 1 0 1 5 3 5 .280 .345 .440 0 | 528 175 21 .331 .967 10
*Rick Miller 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 108 21 0 .194 .557 3
Bob Montgomery 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 195 44 2 .226 .559 1
#Roger Moret 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Rico Petrocelli 7 26 3 8 1 0 0 4 3 6 .308 .379 .346 0 | 402 96 7 .239 .644 0
Dick Pole 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Diego Segui 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Luis Tiant 3 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .250 .400 .250 0 | 1 0 0 .000 .000 0
Jim Willoughby 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Rick Wise 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Carl Yastrzemski 7 29 7 9 0 0 0 4 4 1 .310 .382 .310 0 | 543 146 14 .269 .776 8
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+
Total 7 239 30 60 7 2 6 30 30 40 .251 .333 .372 0 |4522 1245 134 .275 .761 66
* - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Cincinnati Reds
SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASONPlayer G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+
*Don Gullett 3 4.34 1-1 0 0 18.2 19 9 10 15 | 15-4 160 2.42 1.15 98
Jack Billingham 3 1.00 0-0 0 0 9.0 8 1 5 7 | 15-10 208 4.11 1.43 79
Rawly Eastwick 5 2.25 2-0 1 0 8.0 6 2 3 4 | 5-3 90 2.60 1.13 61 22
*Will McEnaney 5 2.70 0-0 1 0 6.2 3 2 2 5 | 5-2 91 2.47 1.26 48 15
Gary Nolan 2 6.00 0-0 0 0 6.0 6 4 1 2 | 15-9 211 3.16 1.10 74
Clay Carroll 5 3.18 1-0 0 0 5.2 4 2 2 3 | 7-5 96 2.62 1.30 44 7
Pat Darcy 2 4.50 0-1 0 0 4.0 3 2 2 1 | 11-5 131 3.58 1.48 46 1
*Fred Norman 2 9.00 0-1 0 0 4.0 8 4 3 2 | 12-4 188 3.73 1.31 119
Pedro Borbon 3 6.00 0-0 0 0 3.0 3 2 2 1 | 9-5 125 2.95 1.33 29 5
+-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+
Total 3.88 4-3 2 0 65.0 60 28 30 40 | 94-47 1300 3.37 1.310 598 50
* - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Boston Red Sox
SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASONPlayer G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+
Luis Tiant 3 3.60 2-0 0 2 25.0 25 10 8 12 | 18-14 260 4.02 1.28 142
*Bill Lee 2 3.14 0-0 0 0 14.1 12 5 3 7 | 17-9 260 3.95 1.32 78
Reggie Cleveland
Reggie Cleveland
Reginald Leslie "Reggie" Cleveland is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Cleveland was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers. He ended his career with 105 wins, with a 3.73 ERA and 930 strikeouts. Reggie...
3 6.75 0-1 0 0 6.2 7 5 3 5 | 13-9 171 4.43 1.32 78
Jim Willoughby 3 0.00 0-1 0 0 6.1 3 0 0 2 | 5-2 48 3.54 1.28 29 8
Rick Wise 2 8.44 1-0 0 0 5.1 6 5 2 2 | 19-12 255 3.95 1.31 141
Dick Drago 2 2.25 0-1 0 0 4.0 3 1 1 1 | 2-2 73 3.84 1.38 43 15
*Roger Moret 3 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.2 2 0 3 1 | 14-3 145 3.60 1.43 80 1
Diego Segui 1 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.0 0 0 0 0 | 2-5 71 4.82 1.61 45 6
*Jim Burton 2 9.00 0-1 0 0 1.0 1 1 3 0 | 1-2 53 2.89 1.45 39 1
Dick Pole 1 inf 0-0 0 0 0.0 0 1 2 0 | 4-6 90 4.42 1.49 42
+-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+
Total 3.86 3-4 0 2 65.1 59 28 25 30 | 95-64 1426 3.98 1.360 717 31
* - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Series quotes
Broadcasting
NBC broadcast the Series on television and radio, with Curt GowdyCurt Gowdy
Curtis Edward "Curt" Gowdy was an American sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally-televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:The son of a manager for the Union Pacific railroad,...
and Joe Garagiola alternating play-by-play along with team announcers Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton is an American sportscaster. He is currently employed by Fox Sports and Turner Sports as a football, baseball, and basketball play-by-play announcer.-Early life and career:...
and Ned Martin
Ned Martin
Edwin Martin was an American sportscaster, known primarily as a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox from to...
(Red Sox) and Marty Brennaman
Marty Brennaman
Franchester Martin "Marty" Brennaman , is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the radio voice of Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds on the Cincinnati Reds Radio Network.-Early life:...
(Reds) and Tony Kubek
Tony Kubek
Anthony Christopher "Tony" Kubek is a retired American professional baseball player and television broadcaster....
doing color commentary
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
.
This was the final World Series broadcast for Gowdy, who had been NBC's lead play-by-play announcer for baseball since 1966
1966 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Frank Robinson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at Busch Stadium: National League, 2–1 ; Brooks Robinson, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Ohio State...
. Garagiola would take over full-time as NBC's lead baseball announcer the following season.
This was also the final Series broadcast for NBC Radio, which had retained exclusive rights to the event since 1957
1957 World Series
The 1957 World Series featured the defending champions, the New York Yankees , playing against the Milwaukee Braves . After finishing just one game behind the N.L. Champion Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, the Braves came back in 1957 to win their first pennant since moving from Boston in 1953...
. CBS Radio
Major League Baseball on CBS Radio
Major League Baseball on CBS Radio was the de facto title for the CBS Radio Network's coverage of Major League Baseball. Produced by CBS Radio Sports , the program was the official national radio broadcaster for the All-Star Game and the postseason from 1976 to 1997.-Contracts:CBS first covered...
would become the exclusive national radio network for MLB beginning the following season.
This was the only World Series broadcast for Stockton, who would become a prominent national sportscaster for such networks as CBS
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
, Fox, and TNT
Turner Sports
Turner Sports is the division of Turner Broadcasting System responsible for sports broadcasts on Turner channels including TBS, TNT, and TruTV, and for operating the interactive properties , , , and...
.
External links
- The Sporting News' Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments: Fisk Waves it Fair
- Everything Came Up Reds at SI.com
- 1975 Cincinnati Reds at baseballlibrary.com
- 1975 Boston Red Sox at baseballlibrary.com
- MLB.com: Baseball's Best - Game 6
- MLB.com: Baseball's Best - Game 7
- Audio: Carlton Fisk's 12th-inning home run in Game 6