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1975 - Baseball Clip - Boston Red Sox Season - Highlights · Retro Sports Radio: Classic Games from History

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This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons
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.com for more sports history. There's something
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magic about the Red Sox, something glorious about
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the old town team that brings out the best in
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New Englanders. Each spring it begins anew as
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the good folks from Eastport to Block Island,
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from B Street to the Berkshires, assemble around
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the tribal meeting house called Fenway Park.
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Only the real old timers remember the glory days
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of the early 20th century when the Red Sox won
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pennant after pennant, series after series. Since
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those early days, championships have been few
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and far between. Yet the glorious dream never
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dies. Many fans remember the 46 Sox, the team
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of Williams, Pesky and Doar. And a lot more Red
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Sox fans still daydream about the impossible
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dream of 67, with Lomborg and Hawke, Enrico and
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Yaz and Canigliaro. Lomborg is within one out
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of his biggest victory ever. His 22nd of the
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year. And his first over the twins, the pitch.
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His loop towards shortstop, Petrocelli's back,
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he's got it! The Red Sox win! Pandemonium on
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the field! Red Sox fans also remember their team
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losing the division title by a half game to the
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Tigers in the strike -abbreviated season of 72.
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And there was the sad and sorrowful fall of 74
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for Red Sox fans to reflect upon. Likewise, the
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spring of 1975 offered little for Red Sox fans
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to cheer about, as all -star catcher Carlton
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Fisk would be idled with a broken arm as the
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team headed north for opening day. It was a year
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full of surprises. To most Bostonians, when the
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season began, Lynn was a city somewhere north
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of Boston. Rice was a menu selection at any Chinese
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restaurant. And Wise was a potato chip company.
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By seasons end the most austere citizens of the
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hub blandly referred to them as Fred Jim and
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Rick As the super season of 75 became a reality
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two facts became self -evident one Tom Yawkey's
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farm system have produced a bumper crop of outstanding
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talent and to the trades of Dick O 'Connell in
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1974 had blossomed into fruition in 1975 the
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Super Sox of 75, the season really began on Tuesday,
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April 8th, before the usual sold -out gathering
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of the clan at Fenway. Hank Aaron graced Fenway
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Park for the first time in an American League
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uniform and received a tremendous ovation. There
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were two other wild ovations this day, the first
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when Tony Canigliaro was introduced, the second
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when this valiant comeback player did his thing
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with a bat. And the roar you're going to hear
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will be for number 25, his return to Fenway Park,
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Tony Canigliaro. as the groundswell continues
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for Tony C and his comeback in the Red Sox uniform.
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Possibly the sports story of the year. Here's
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a line drive basic to right field. Tony's got
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a base hit. The Red Sox split their first two
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games of the season with the Brewers and then
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took off for Baltimore and New York. In the opener
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against the Orioles, the Sox charged from behind
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to win. Rick Berlson tied the game in the ninth,
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and then Captain Carl took over in the twelfth.
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There's a long drive by Yastremski, hit way back,
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way back, it is gone! And the Red Sox lead 6
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-5. Despite the fine start, the Sox finished
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the month of April with a 7 -9 record. But the
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Sox started rolling along in May, going 16 -9
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for the month. on sunday may 18th against the
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kansas city royals bernie carbo single -handedly
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snapped the red sox five game losing streak all
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right the red sox with a thread here in the third
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inning doug griffin representing the tying run
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at second base and tim blackwell off first nelly
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bryles on the mound his pitch shutout ball so
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far ready to pitch to bernie carbo here's the
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set the look back towards second and here it
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is the long drive Bernardo Carbo once again he's
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got a couple of hits in the ballgame one of them
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a home run off trials that has put the Red Sox
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where they are right now a three to one lead
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two out here in the fifth inning trials ready
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to wind up the pitch Bernie swings there's a
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high drive toward left field this may be out
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of here it is up into the screen a home running
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Maybe the turning point of the season occurred
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in mid -may when the Sox swept the three -game
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series from the Oakland A's. In a key game, Bill
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Lee pitched a two -hit shutout while the Sox
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got home runs from Jim Rice, Juan Beníquez, and
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Tony Canigliaro, his last as a major leaguer.
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After shutting out the A's, the space cowboy
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Bill Lee came right back to shut out the Angels.
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The next day, the Sox lost not only the game,
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but their tempers as well. Yastremski made this
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dramatic forced exit. Three and two count. Figueroa
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throws, and it's strike three. Call, and Yaz
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now started up the first baseline. He is just
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putting his hands on his hips and looking out.
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He started to say something. Now he is coming
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back. He dusts off home plate, and now he puts
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dirt on home plate, and he has run out. Throws
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his helmet down, and Yastremski's ejected from
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the game. And he gets a big hand. One of the
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keys to the Red Sox success was the strong emergence
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of their young pitchers. On June 3, Dick Pohl
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beat the White Sox 4 -0. Jim Rice provided the
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game -winning hit in the first inning. Here's
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the set. and the pitch long drive left field
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going to hit the wall it's going to go over the
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wall and into the screen home run Jim Rice 3
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-0 Red Sox by mid -June Fred Lynn had already
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established his superstar credentials with the
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Red Sox fans but on the night of June 19th in
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Detroit all the world stood up and took notice
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Curveball, long drive, right field, way up, forget
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it. Home run, upper deck for Freddie Lynn. Red
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Sox lead three to nothing. Burlton at third,
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Yastremski at first. Coleman works. And there
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goes a high shot to right field. That's up, it's
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towering, it's gone. It's on the roof. Freddie
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Lynn hit one, it's on the roof in Detroit for
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his second home run. And the Red Sox now lead
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by a six to one score. Way back, way back, and
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it's off the scoreboard. Here's Burlton in the
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score. Here comes Zastrovsky around the score.
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Lynn is going into third base. He's got a triple.
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Two more runs batted in, and Lynn is giving him
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seven. And there goes a shot deep to right field.
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High in the air, and we watch this one go into
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the upper deck. His third home run of the night,
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as he goes five for six with three home runs.
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This program not not always is a front -runner
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Fred but this time it has to be because of your
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magnificent performance in Detroit first of all
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Congratulations on that and have you gotten over
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it yet? Thanks, Ned I have gotten over it. You
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know I've been spending a lot of time at the
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pool, so I don't have to be in my room Yes, nobody
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ever even dreams of having a night like that.
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Do they no certainly not? Especially me. I you
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know don't consider myself a homeland hitter
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and to hit three in the game and almost hit four
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You know that was that was really something for
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me over the first 63 games of the season veteran
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Bob Montgomery and youngster Tim Blackwell filled
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in admirably for injured catcher Carlton Fisk
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Marty with his clutch hitting and Blackwell with
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his mitt on June 23rd Fisk returned to the lineup
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and Immediately set off a fuse of actions that
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would carry the Red Sox into first place to stay
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in the American League East On June 26th, the
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Yankees came to Boston for four important games.
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This series was a box office smash and a baseball
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buff's dream. The 136 ,000 people who witnessed
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it saw baseball as it was meant to be played.
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In game one, the diehard battery of Louis Tiant
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and Carlton Fist finished the Yankees. Long high
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fly ball. Deep left field. Way back, way back.
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It is gone! Runners lead from first to the second.
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Teod looks down, gets the sign. Into that slow
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set and jiggling motion. Waits. Looks. Throws.
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Strike three. Call. The game's over. The Red
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Sox win the first one six to one. In game two,
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Rick Wise beat the Yankees. But the Red Sox lost
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the next game eight to six. In game four, Yankee
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killer Roger Morett battled Catfish Hunter on
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even terms for eight innings. In the bottom of
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the inning, Bernie Carbo and Rick Burlson put
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the Sox in front. A drive off toward right field,
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Whitney away from Bond if it stays fair. Fair
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ball, bounces into the seat. Turbos scores. Burlson
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is double, 3 -2 Boston. Morett took over from
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there and mowed down the Yankees to put the Sox
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in first place to stay. Coggins off first. He
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represents the tying run. Here's the set by Morett.
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The pitch into the plate. Fly ball, right center
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field. Rick Miller is under it. Rick Miller has
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got it. And the ball game is over as the Red
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Sox beat the Yankees. Grade a two and take the
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series three games out of four and go into first
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place again in the American League East. One
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of the big stories of the season was a successful
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comeback by Rick Wise. He won 19 big games for
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the Red Sox and on July 2nd came within one out
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of a no -hitter. After retiring the first two
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batters, he walked Bill Sharp, and George Scott
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broke up the no -hit bid by belting a two -run
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homer. Rick goes into the stretch. Drops to the
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belt. Here's his pitch. Fly ball deep left -center
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field. There goes the no -hitter, and there goes
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the cutout. It's a home run. From July 7th through
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the 20th, the Red Hot Sox won 10 straight. On
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July 10th, in the middle of that winning streak,
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the Sox rallied back to beat Minnesota and keep
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it alive. The Goldust twins, Lynn and Rice, got
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it started in the eighth. Red Sox trail eight
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to four. Here it comes. There's a fly ball deep
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left center field that's going to be off the
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wall. Doyle scores easily. Rice is going for
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two. He's got himself a double and now it's eight
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to five. One ball, two strikes to Lynn. Here's
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the set by Aubrey and the pitch. And he hits
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the fly ball toward left field fairly deep. A
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home run for Lynn and now it's eight to seven.
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Then in the ninth Cecil Cooper tied it and Doug
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Griffin and Rice pulled it out. Johnson delivers.
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Long drive. Deep right center field. Way out.
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It's gone. Game tied up. Eight to eight. Home
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run Cecil Cooper. The 1 -0 pitch to Griff. Line
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drive, right center field for a base hit. And
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the lead run, the winning run is on first. Doug
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Griffin, a pinch single, lining it into right
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center. Now the step by the pitcher Bergmeier.
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Three and two to right. The pause. The pitch.
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Law drive into left center field. It's in there.
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Base hit. Rolling to the wall. Here comes Griffin
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around third. The relay is not going to be. The
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Red Sox success story was a total team effort,
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but the two players who kept coming through were
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the rookie tandem of Rice and Lin. Lin showed
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his stuff that big night in Detroit with 10 RBIs.
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Rice demonstrated his awesome power the night
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of July 17th, when he became only the sixth player
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to hit a ball over Fenway's center field fence.
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Here's Rice, struck out his first time up, as
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Busby's had a funny two innings. Scored on five
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times and five strikeouts long drive way way
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back out of sight over the American flag and
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out of here home run, right? Did he get all that
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one? That might be the longest one he's hit this
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year Otis didn't even move it disappeared somewhere
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in the folds of the American flag Then six days
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later Jim Rice displayed his fielding prowess
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by robbing Minnesota's Glenn Borgman of two home
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runs Here's the pitch by Morett. Borgman swings
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and sends a long, high drive down into left field
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near the line. Rice going for it. This may be
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out of here. It is up. It is caught by Jimmy
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Rice as he leaps up and takes a home run away
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from Borgman, leaping and taking the ball in
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the air, coming down and nobody knew that he
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had it, but he has the baseball and Borgman is
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out. A sensational catch by Jim Rice. Morett,
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all set. Comes in with his pitch. There's a long
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drive deep toward left center field this time.
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Lynn goes for it. Rice goes for it. Rice wasting
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full tilt toward the wall. He leaps up. He's
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got it! A fine running catch again by Jim Rice.
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And Borgman again is robbed of extra bases. Late
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in July, the Sox travel to New York for a four
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game showdown at Shea Stadium. After dropping
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the opening game, the Sox bounced back to win
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the second game, which was highlighted by two
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sensational fielding plays by shortstop Rick
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Burleson. Bases full, Red Sox leading 1 -0. Here
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is the set by Reggie Cleveland and the pitch.
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Herman sends a bouncer past Cleveland towards
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center field. It is cut off by Burleson going
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to his left, throws over to Doyle of course out.
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Munson scores, the game's tied 1 -1, but Burleson
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saved another run. So now there are two outs
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and Sandy Alomar the number nine hitter in the
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Yankee order at the plate Reggie Cleveland ready
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to pitch to him runners at first and third two
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outs and the game tied 1 -1 Here's the set by
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Cleveland and here it comes Again pass the mound
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up toward the middle burleson flashes to his
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left dies. He's got it flips to Doyle They've
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got him they retire the side on another great
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play by Rick burleson saving another run and
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the game is tied 1 -1 Then in a big doubleheader
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on a warm July Sunday, the Yankees swallowed
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a double dose of southpaw cyanide as first Bill
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Lee, then Roger Morett shut them out. In the
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ninth inning of a scoreless first game, Rick
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Miller hooked the catfish. On the bottom of the
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ninth, Fred Lynn turned in the defensive gem
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of the season. Then in game two of the Twinbill,
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Roger Morrett was dynamite. Here's the pitch.
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And there's a plod up right field. Miller's there.
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He's got it. The ball game's over. And Morrett
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has a shutout. The Red Sox have a double shutout
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over the Yankees and now lead New York by 10
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games. The next night in Boston, Carlton Fisk
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had five RBI's to lead another cardiac comeback
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by the Red Sox. Rammed up the middle in the center
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field. Base hit. The run scores. Here comes Lynn
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in the third. He's beat it. Throw it to his second
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base. Fisk is in his second. He's safe. Do nothing
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possible. All right, three balls, one strike.
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Right to the short lead. Here's the delivery.
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Long drive by Fisk. Way back. Left field. Going,
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going. It is gone over everything. A drive by
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Carlton Fisk. Deep left center field. And it
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is a new ball game, baby. Pudge has done it again.
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Throw and takes off. Here's the throw on down
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to second. He is out. Carlton Fisk. Related on
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the money and darwin got a good running jump
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Just fired him down carlton takes a deep breath
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One ball one strike He outfields in here's the
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pitch fist swings face at the center field games
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over the red sox win it seven to six in the night
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In august The Sox took off on a 15 -game road
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trip, which many thought would be a repeat of
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last year's death march. It wasn't. The Sox won
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nine out of 15 and played inspired baseball.
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Witness this game -winning pinch hit by Doug
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Griffin against the Brewers. Rick Austin of the
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Brewers in a jam right now the Red Sox with a
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threat here base is full Heise at third Berlson
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at second and Dwight Evans at first base a tie
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ball game right now And it's right up to Doug
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Griffin who's come up the bench a lot of times
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this year to deliver important hits Griffin stands
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in from the right side. Austin, the southpaw,
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gets set. Working. And here's the pitch. There's
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a drive into left field. It is dropping in there
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for a base hit. Heist comes across to score.
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The bases remain loaded and the Red Sox go out
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into a 3 -2 lead. And this tape measure shot
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off the bat of Dwight Evans in Chicago. There
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goes a long drive. Deep left field. Way back.
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It is gone into the upper deck. New ball game.
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And this clutch hit by Denny Doyle to beat the
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White Sox. Denny looks out, waving the black
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bat. Here's the pitch. Ground ball, right side,
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base hit. Into right field. Burlton running for
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the plate. Kelly goes to the plate, not in time.
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The Red Sox go ahead. And runners are at second
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and third. It's 4 -3. It's Denny Doyle who wanted
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you now because of the way you've been playing.
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And things have really worked out well for you.
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You look awful happy. Needless to say, I came
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from a bad situation where we weren't winning
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at all and I wasn't playing. And it was frustrating
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in that I knew that I could help a ball club,
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whether it be a winner or whatever. And it's
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really gratifying, this experience right here,
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the situation I'm in. When the Red Sox announced
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the acquisition of Doyle back in June, the news
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was met with a collector's yawn. But Denny hit
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300 for the Sox and fashioned a 22 -game hitting
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streak, longest in the American League in 1975.
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Another important midseason acquisition by General
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Manager Dick O 'Connell was relief pitcher Jim
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Willoughby, witnessed this big save in July.
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And the pitch. Ground ball, hit fair to third.
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Petrocelli has it, over to first, game's over.
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Red Sox win their seventh in a row. And Jim Willoughby
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gets a save. Burroughs grounds out, and the Red
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Sox sweep the Texas Rangers. They sweep the home
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stand, seven in a row. And then there was Bob
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Heiss, a valuable performer all season, who filled
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the breach as the Red Sox infielder during Rico
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Petrocelli's absence. The pitch, Heiss wraps
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it. Fair ball, town pass third. Bouncing off
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the railing, this scores Burlson. Heiss going
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for two, here comes a throw. No tag made, it's
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a double for Heiss. and he knocks in a run is
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now five to one so heist gets a double and drives
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in a run and bobby is two for three tonight he
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has been quite a fill in lately then came september
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the sox were gamely holding on to the lead as
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they came down the home stretch closing fast
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as always were the baltimore orioles on september
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3rd and 4th the sox met the orioles for two crucial
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games in lord baltimore's hometown the orioles
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needed a sweep to close the gap But instead of
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sweeping, they got swept. Eight games behind
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the pennant -crazed Bosocks. Cecil Cooper out
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-dueled a Jim Palmer pitch in the 10th inning
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of the first game. The pitch by Jim. Long drive
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by Cooper. Right field. It's deep. It's deep.
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It's deep. And it is off the wall. Bouncing away.
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Cooper's at second. On his way to third. And
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the throw coming on. He's in with a triple. Cecil
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Cooper just barely missed a home run. Now they're
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rolling home runs. 0 at home run. But the ball
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hit over the wall and then bounced back into
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play. Call to the first base umpire Larry Barnett.
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Here comes Earl Weaver. Red Sox lead 3 -2 on
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a home run by Cooper. Then in the second game,
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the Orioles came unglued early. Bases full and
23:11
one out. In field, double play depth. The pitch
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to Rice. Ground ball toward third. Robinson steps
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on the bag, throws to first and steps away from
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Lee May. Run -run scores. Here comes Lin. He's
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going to score. And in the third goes Jim Rice.
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Oh, did they mess that up. That's all the Sox
23:30
needed as Drago and Pohl held the birds to just
23:33
one run. Here's the set by Drago. Here's the
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pitch. Rich strikes out swinging. Pohl game's
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over. The Red Sox lead by eight games. The Orioles
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were on the endangered species list when two
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weeks later they came to Boston for another important
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two -game series. On September 16th, Louis Tiant
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and Jim Palmer hooked up in a real pitcher's
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duel. Rico Petrocelli put the Red Sox in front
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with a home run. Scoreless tie here in the third.
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Palmer and Tiant for it. Long drive by Petrocelli.
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Deep left field, it is gone for a home run. Another
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home run just for safety's sake by Carlton Fisk
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and El Tiante did the rest. He's working on a
24:28
shutout now in the ninth. The gap is in right
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center field on Ken Singleton. The arm around
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the pitch. Fly ball right center field. Freddie
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Lynn wants it. He's under it. He has got it.
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Ball game's over and the Red Sox win it 2 -0
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and five and a half in front. And you might say,
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one more time, there's pandemonium on the field.
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Well, I wish you'd been here to hear the standing
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ovation that Louis T. Ant got. And listen to
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this. This is something new. Louis, Louis. That's
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a big chant here in Boston now. On Sunday, September
25:08
21st, the Sox were having a terrible time with
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the usually helpless Tigers. They blew an early
25:13
lead, and tragically, Jim Rice was hit by a pitch
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and subsequently finished for the season. Watch
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it. He is hit. He's hit again on the hand. Jim
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Rice. Second time he's been hit on the hand or
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arm this year, and he is in pain as he bends
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over. He got it on the left wrist or hand. And
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that's a tough break for Jim. In the ninth, the
25:36
Sox staged a rally, and Denny Doyle worked his
25:38
magic again. Pence leans in. He pitches and Doyle
25:44
sends the ground ball hits the first base bag
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goes into right field. Here's Miller scoring
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Here comes Vanekas to score the throw to second
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base not in time and the Red Sox go into the
25:53
lead The Sox then went to New York and shot down
25:57
the Yanks six to four in a driving rainstorm.
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The rain continued for three days and three nights,
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and everyone prayed to the Sun God for it to
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end. Finally, on September 26th, the Sox returned
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to action, and Louis Tiant and Reggie Cleveland
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proved invincible. In game one of the doubleheader,
26:14
Tiant threw a five -hitter at the Tribe. Tiant
26:16
in question with 18th win. Here it is. Curve
26:21
ball, pop foul. Then in the second game, Reggie
26:32
Cleveland repeated Louis' five -hit shutout performance.
26:48
With the magic number down to two, Sox fans waited
26:51
to hear the outcome of a Saturday night twin
26:53
bill in New York between the Orioles and the
26:55
Yankees. When it came, it was good news. It sounded
26:58
like this. The Red Sox were the new Eastern Division
27:11
champions. They had beaten the pressure applied
27:13
by the Orioles, beaten the curse of witch doctors,
27:16
and beaten the monsoons of September. Now, it
27:19
was on to the playoffs and hopefully the World
27:21
Series. But first, the Sox had to handle the
27:24
challenge of Charlie Finley's band of mustachioed
27:26
marauders, the reigning champions of the baseball
27:29
world. So the Red Sox had disposed of the Baltimore
27:39
Orioles and had taken the Eastern title by a
27:42
healthy margin. Now it was on to the best of
27:44
five playoff games against the defending champion
27:47
Oakland A's. These were the fabled A's of legend
27:50
and song. They were also the steel -belted pressure
27:53
-proven A's of three straight world championships.
27:56
The big question mark before the playoffs began
27:58
was how would the daring young Red Sox handle
28:00
the postseason pressure? The answer was not long
28:03
in coming. In the opening game of the playoffs
28:06
at Fenway Park, Yaz led things off with a single.
28:10
That brought up Carlton Fisk, and the A's made
28:12
their first in a series of errors that would
28:14
plague them throughout the playoffs. With Fred
28:22
Lynn up, Phil Garner booted one for another run.
28:41
The uncharacteristic sloppy play of the A's was
28:51
contrasted by the brilliant fielding of the Red
28:53
Sox. The 2 -0 pitch to Billy Williams fly ball
29:10
deep left center field. Yes jumps key going back
29:12
back back With the game still up for grabs in
29:26
the seventh inning the Red Sox exploded for five
29:29
runs Boltzmann works Holtzman gets that again.
29:44
Burleson right down in the back. Swing. Ground
29:46
ball, big hit. Left field. Evans in the score.
29:50
Here's Burleson going for two. And he is in there.
29:53
And they're having trouble picking the ball up
29:55
and left. Burleson turned second. And then darted
29:58
back in there. It's 3 -0 Boston. Ground ball
30:01
up in the middle. Big hit. Here's Burleson digging
30:03
around third. He'll head on to the plate and
30:06
he will score. 4 -0 Boston. If we're going to
30:09
miss, the runner breaks the throw. The pitch.
30:16
Out into the left center. North has got it. Benique
30:20
has his tag. Cross out the ball. And Benique
30:23
is a star. Doyle is safe. Billy North tried to
30:26
throw the ball before he got it and dropped it.
30:28
And it's 5 -0 Boston. Line drive. Base hit. Center
30:33
field. Doyle. Speeds for third. The throw will
30:36
come back into second. And Lindblad has been
30:39
touched for a hit. Paul Lindblad. It's all up
30:42
and softball. Works. But Louis Tiant, El Teante,
31:04
was magnificent to the end. In game two, the
31:39
A's came back like wounded bulls. Reggie Jackson
31:42
started it off with this two -run shot. Pitches,
31:45
long drive, hit to right field, way back, and
31:48
it is gone. Home run, Reggie Jackson into the
31:51
bleachers, two -nothing Oakland. In the fourth
31:53
inning, the Sox came back. With Doyle aboard,
31:57
Yaz lost one. Fly ball, deep left center field,
32:00
way back, toward the wall, toward the screen,
32:08
In the sixth inning, Yaz got it started again
32:11
with a double, and Fisk drove him home. With
32:27
the A's rallying in the seventh, Dick Greggo
32:38
came out of the bullpen to strike out Billy Williams,
32:41
and Fred Lynn turned a potential hit into an
32:43
exciting double play. Greggo works, and the drive
32:46
on out into center field, here comes Lynn on,
32:48
he's got it, and Piper is going to be doubled
32:50
up. He was running all the way, and a double
32:54
play, and Greggo's out of it. Time and again,
32:57
the old pros came through in the clutch for the
32:59
Red Sox. In the seventh inning, it was Rico Petrocelli's
33:02
turn. Fingers on a full count of three and two.
33:05
Here's the delivery. In the eighth inning, Freddie
33:24
Lynn drove in the final run of the game, and
33:27
Dick Drago continued to bewitch the bewildered
33:29
A's. Here's the set by Dick Drago. Here's the
33:33
pitch. Ground ball toward the middle. Cut off
33:36
by Berlson. Flips to Doyle. They've got the force
33:39
out on the Red Sox of 1 -2. A force out from
33:44
Berlson to Doyle. Dick Drago gets a save for
33:49
Roger Moret. On the verge of elimination, the
33:51
A's returned home to Oakland to face Rick Wise.
33:54
No one in his wildest dreams would have predicted
33:57
a Red Sox three -game sweep of the world champion.
34:00
But the combination of perfect Red Sox execution
34:02
and the lack of execution by the A's led to their
34:05
downfall. Witness the fourth inning. Fred Lynn
34:08
at the plate. For Rico Petrocelli and Carl Yastremski,
34:22
it was 1967 revisited. Rico drove in a run with
34:25
this hit. Then Yaz came up with this super play
34:38
on Reggie Jackson. With the old boys leading
35:06
the way, the kids and the newcomers followed
35:08
suit. Rick Burlson doubled. On the pitch. Dang.
35:13
Fair ball. Down pass third and into the left
35:15
field corner and Burlson's on his way to second
35:18
base. He goes in standing up for the double.
35:20
Denny Doyle drove him home. Then Jastremski singled,
35:35
Fisk singled, and the Red Sox ran the bases with
35:37
abandon. There's a shot in the right field, that's
35:40
a base hit. Here is the runner going to third,
35:43
Jackson Snow is coming on and he's in there.
35:47
Oh, Jastremski now is two for three. All right,
35:51
runners on, first and third. Yes, at first Denny
35:54
Doyle over third. Here's the pitch to Fisk. As
36:05
the runner at third, Fisk on at second. Ooh,
36:08
and a base hit here could break it open. One
36:10
ball, two strikes on Fred Lynn. Here's the pitch.
36:13
Into the dirt, gets away. Here comes Jostrowski
36:15
down. He scores as the ball gets away. And Bando
36:19
comes on to recover and it's 4 -0, Boston. Wild
36:23
pitch charged to Lynn Bland. In the bottom of
36:26
the eighth, the A's threatened to pull it out.
36:28
Dick Greggo came out of the bullpen in relief
36:30
of Rick Wise. To the dangerous Joe Rudy at bat.
36:33
Drago served up a double play ball. And in the
36:56
night, Drago continued his magic as the Sox pulled
36:59
off their incredible three game sweep by winning
37:02
five to four. Three balls, two strikes, two outs.
37:09
Right side of the infield deep. Cooper laying
37:12
back. Drago getting set with a payoff pitch once
37:15
again. Pauses. Pitches. Ground ball past Drago.
37:20
Charged by Doyle. Goes to first. The Red Sox
37:22
win the pennant. The Red Sox win it. They're
37:25
all out on the field. As they have beaten the
37:27
Oakland A's, three in a row. Looking back on
37:30
it, it was a miracle of sorts. In April, who
37:32
would have predicted the Red Sox would beat out
37:34
the Yankees or the Orioles in the Eastern Division?
37:37
Who could have foreseen the fabulous rise to
37:39
stardom of rookies Rice and Lynn? Who could have
37:42
foreseen Rick Wise coming back to win 19 games?
37:46
Who, in the farthest reaches of their imagination,
37:49
could have foreseen a sweep of the A's and a
37:50
World Series berth for the Red Sox? You had to
37:53
pinch yourself to believe it. But there were
37:56
the Super Sox in friendly Fenway Park. against
37:58
the Cincinnati Reds. The Big Red had eight wins
38:01
in the regular season and blown past the Pittsburgh
38:03
Pirates in three straight playoff wins. What
38:06
were the Sox chances? Asked Sparky Anderson.
38:09
They must be great. They beat the athletics,
38:11
the world's champs three times and knocked them
38:13
off in three straight. So they must be something
38:15
else. I hope they're not that good because if
38:18
they are, we won't even be in the same ballpark.
38:20
Game one was a pitching masterpiece for seven
38:22
innings. Cincinnati ace Don Gullick matched Louis
38:25
Tiont pitch for pitch. Then in the seventh, Teot
38:28
took the offense into his own hands. Swung on
38:32
and hit hard to left field. A base hit. Louis
38:35
Teot and a breaking ball. Five feet rose for
38:38
a single to left field. And listen to this crowd.
38:42
Dwight Evans tried to move him along and did
38:44
more than his job. Evans a hit and three times.
38:48
Pitch he squares bunch at first base side. Gulling
38:51
up with the ball. Shot at second base. Next came
39:00
Denny Doyle. Two on, none out for the Red Sox.
39:05
Pitch, swung on, bouncing ball, left side, a
39:08
hit to left. Deon will get the stop sign at third
39:11
base as Doyle gets one to left field. A base
39:14
hit that fills the bases with Red Sox and nobody
39:16
out. With the bases loaded, Captain Carl delivered.
39:41
delivered a big two -run single. Petrocelli hits
39:45
the shot by Concepcion into left field. Here's
39:48
Foster throwing for the plate. Cut off by Rose,
39:51
a two -run single by Petrocelli and it is 4 -0
39:55
Boston. And Berlson and Cooper kept the parade
40:00
moving. Back at any with the look in, the check
40:04
and the pitch swung on. Like a matador in a bull
40:46
ring, Louis Tiant finished off the Reds to the
40:49
delight of the crowd as the Sox took the series
40:51
opener 6 -0. In game two, Bill Lee pitched an
41:18
out -of -space masterpiece until rain halted
41:20
the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
41:23
The long rain delay gave the bewildered Reds
41:25
a chance to regroup. Johnny Bench's double in
41:27
the ninth sent Bill Lee to the showers. Then
41:30
Griffey and Concepcion combined to give the Reds
41:32
a 3 -2 win. With the series tied at one game
41:35
apiece, Riverfront Stadium became center stage
41:38
for the baseball world. Carlton Fisk got the
41:40
Red Sox going with this bases empty shot in the
41:43
second inning. Joe Morgan's glove Rob Rico and
41:53
the socks of a potential run In the bottom of
42:04
the fourth Johnny bench put the Reds in front
42:06
two to one In the fifth inning, the Reds hit
42:27
back -to -back homers for the first time in World
42:30
Series competition since the 67 Red Sox. and
42:58
a Joe Morgan fly ball gave the Reds the commanding
43:00
five to one lead. But as they have all season
43:03
long, the Red Sox battled back, scoring one in
43:07
the sixth and another in the seventh on Bernie
43:09
Carbo's pinch -hit home run. Left -handed batter,
43:12
inside out stroke. He lined the left field in
43:14
the ninth inning of game two. Fly ball, deep
43:17
left field. Back, it goes, and it's over the
43:19
wall for a home run for Bernie Carbo. Do they
43:23
call it a homer? They do. It's gotta be. He stopped
43:26
at second base. He wondered where the ball was.
43:27
That one just got over the yellow line and disappeared
43:31
over the first fence for Carbo's home run. And
43:34
he comes back to haunt his former ball club and
43:37
bring the Red Sox one run closer. It is now Cincinnati
43:40
five and the Red Sox three. And in the ninth,
43:43
Dwight Evans tied it. The outfield straight away
43:46
on Evans. They don't claim the bull. In the dramatic
44:08
10th inning with Geronimo on first, one of the
44:10
most controversial plays in World Series history
44:12
took place. So with Geronimo having let off the
44:16
10th inning with a base hit to right center field,
44:18
Ed Armbruster will be the pinch hitter for Raleigh
44:20
Eastwick. Right hander, Jim Willoughby, into
44:23
his stretch motion as he checks the runner at
44:25
first base. Here is a pitch to the plate. Armbruster
44:27
squares around the bud, drops it out in front
44:29
of the plate. Carlton Fisk up with the ball,
44:31
taking a shot at second base and he throws it
44:33
away. Joe Morgan ended it abruptly with a single
44:55
Leading two games to one the Reds jumped off
44:58
to a quick two -nothing lead in the first inning
45:00
of the fourth game But in the fourth inning the
45:03
Red Sox bounced back with a succession of base
45:05
hits and the aid of a Cincinnati error Norman
45:08
comes in three one delivery a swung on line in
45:11
the left center of base that Geronimo cuts it
45:14
off. He's got a whole fist to a single on an
45:16
excellent play All right, Norman goes into a
45:20
stretch. Take a look at first Now throws Lin
45:23
hits a round ball in a right field for a base
45:26
hit this stops of second And limbs on first now
45:31
the check of the runners in the pitch There's
45:34
a high fly ball in the deep right center that
45:36
balls well hit way back way back It is at the
45:39
base of the wall. It'll tie the game Evans is
45:42
going for three the relay throw and he is the
45:46
ball gets by the third baseman Hit the screen
45:50
in front of the Red Sox dugout and bounded back
45:53
to Pete Rose. The infield is in. Rick Burleson's
45:57
a batter. Tough little out, and he hits a line
46:00
drive over the head of Concepcion in the left
46:02
field. In the score is Evans. Here's a turn.
46:05
Burleson's hustling for two, and he is safe.
46:08
He beats it out. Hustling base running by Rick
46:10
Burleson. One ball, one strike. The Red Sox have
46:14
taken the lead 3 -2 in the top of the fourth.
46:16
Teot drives it up the middle of base set. They're
46:19
going to hold Berlson, the throw by Geronimo.
46:22
Now they've got Teot. He made a big turn. Perez
46:26
was coming up and looked like they had him hung
46:28
up and Teot scrambled back the first. Teot's
46:32
at first. Berlson the third, one down. Five hits
46:35
by the Red Sox in this inning. That ball is dumped
46:37
to the right. Perez fumbles the ball. In the
46:41
scores Burleson. He dumped it to the right side
46:44
Perez was charging looking for the squeeze and
46:47
couldn't handle it Everybody's safe and the Red
46:51
Sox have four runs in here in the fourth inning
46:54
The odds a big lead just rims get the fly ball
46:57
shallow right center coming hard to run them
46:59
all can't get it in the scores beyond the throw
47:03
is in the second base. Justremski has dumped
47:06
a single in the center. Teon scores five runs
47:09
across for the Red Sox in the fourth inning.
47:12
The Reds battled back with two in the fourth.
47:15
Then Lewis shut them out until the dramatic night.
47:18
Teon to the stretch, looks to the plate. Here's
47:20
the pitch and the runners goes and there's a
47:22
pop -up to the right side. Yastremski calling
47:25
for it. This could be it. Yastremski makes the
47:28
catch. And the Red Sox have held on and defeated
47:31
the Cincinnati Reds to even this 1975 World Series
47:35
at two games apiece. Game five belonged to Don
47:39
Gullick. A hard -throwing southpaw overpowered
47:41
the Red Sox, leading the Reds to a 6 -2 victory
47:44
and a 3 -2 series edge. Game six was a long time
47:48
coming. The Monsoons of September returned again
47:51
to Boston and reigned for three straight days.
47:54
The time off helped set the stage for one of
47:56
the greatest games in World Series history. The
47:59
Red Sox, with their backs to the wall, trailing
48:01
three games to two, started Louis Tiant against
48:04
Gary Nolan. The Sox opened fast, with Lynn supplying
48:07
the firepower. Swung on, a fly ball, hit back
48:10
in the deep right center field, Griffey is back
48:12
in the bullpen and it is... The Reds battled
48:27
back to tie it three all in the fifth, but Louis
48:29
continued to twist and wiggle his way through
48:31
the Reds lineup until the seventh, when George
48:33
Foster solved the teat puzzle, driving in two
48:36
runs with this double. There goes Morgan. At
48:39
the fly ball, the deep center. Lynn going back,
48:41
back. That ball is off the wall. It'll score
48:45
two runs. Foster's in a second, and Foster has
48:48
doubled off the top of the center field wall,
48:51
and nearly had a home run. And things looked
48:54
bleak for the Red Sox. Geronimo hits a high drive
48:58
down the right field line. That one's deep and
49:00
it is a home run for Cesar Geronimo. Right down
49:04
the line it went and dropped into the right field
49:07
grandstand. And the Reds now lead 6 -3. Moret
49:12
came on to relieve Tion and retired the Reds
49:14
in order. Fred Lynn led off the Red Sox eighth
49:17
by literally getting a hit off Pedro Borbón.
49:19
The Red Sox are three runs down and facing extinction
49:22
unless they... and get a rally going. There's
49:27
a drive -off for Bourbon's legs. They don't have
49:30
a play on Lin. Lin's safe with a smash off the
49:33
right leg of Pedro Bourbon. A walk to Petrocelli
49:37
was followed by two quick outs. Then, one of
49:40
the most dramatic moments in World Series history
49:42
occurred. Bernardo Carvo stepped up to hit for
49:45
Roger Moret. Bernie had had a great first half
49:48
of the season. He came into the series spotlight
49:50
in game number three with a dramatic pinch hit
49:53
home run. Could Lightning strike twice? Two balls,
49:56
two strikes. The pitch. Garbo hits a high drive.
50:01
Deep center. Way back. That record tying Thunderbolt
50:41
gave the Sox a new lease on life and rekindled
50:43
the drooping spirits of the 35 ,000 fans at Fenway.
50:46
It set the stage for the bizarre night as Denny
50:49
Doyle drew a walk. Yaz drilled a single to right,
50:52
and Carlton Fisk walked, loading the bases with
50:55
nobody out for Fred Lynn. The Reds have the infield
50:58
in, the outfield very shallow, and a pitch. There's
51:02
a high fly ball down the left field line. It's
51:05
going to be close. It is caught by Foster. Here's
51:09
a tag, here's a throw. He's out! A double play!
51:13
A double play! Foster throws him out! The score
51:16
remained tied at 6 -6, up to the 11th inning.
51:19
And maybe it was fitting and proper that this
51:22
thrilling game played by these two dynamic teams
51:24
should go to extra innings. This was not just
51:27
another World Series. It was baseball at its
51:30
best, entertainment at its best. Just when you
51:33
think you've seen it all, up pops another new
51:35
Vaudevillian with a topper. When you think of
51:38
great World Series outfield plays, you think
51:40
of Al Gianfrido's catch off the bat of Joe DiMaggio
51:43
against the Yankees, or Willie Mays of the Giants
51:46
and his over -the -shoulder grab of a long fly
51:48
ball by Vic Wirtz. Now there's a new one to add
51:51
to the list. Dwight Evans against Joe Morgan.
51:54
And Sparky Anderson, as gracious in defeat as
51:57
he was in victory, called it the greatest catch
51:59
he had ever seen. Given the time, place and circumstance,
52:03
it probably was. jumping high in the air and
52:22
snagging that ball out of the right field grandstand.
52:27
Here is some right fielder. Dick Grego had pitched
52:31
three innings of superlative relief. In the 12th,
52:34
Rick Wise came out of the bullpen and had it
52:36
when he needed it most. Two balls, two strikes,
52:39
two outs, two on. Wise looking down through the
52:43
spectacles gets the sign. The pitch jams him.
52:49
Strike three, call. Wise strikes out Geronimo,
52:53
and that ends the inning. The crowning moment
52:56
of the 75 Super Sox season took place at 1230
52:59
a .m., October 22nd, Eastern Daylight Saving
53:03
Time, at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts,
53:06
in the 12th inning of game six of the World Series.
53:10
Game tied 6 -6, Darcy pitching. Fisk takes high
53:14
and inside, ball one. Freddie Lin on deck. There
53:20
have been numerous heroics tonight, both sides.
53:25
The 1 -0 delivery to Fiske. He swings, long drive,
53:27
left field. If it stays there, it's gone. Home
53:30
run! The Red Sox win! And the series is tied,
53:34
three games apiece. Carlton Fiske in a 1 -0 pitch.
53:45
They're jamming out on the field. His teammates
53:47
are waiting for him. The ball hit the foul ball
53:50
and the Red Sox has set the World Series in the
53:53
game seven with a dramatic seven to six victory.
53:57
What a game. This is one of the greatest World
53:59
Series games of all time. As the faiths would
54:03
have it, the Red Sox 1975 Championship Express
54:06
would be derailed in the ninth inning of the
54:08
seventh game of one of the greatest World Series
54:11
ever played. Ironically, a blue single with two
54:14
outs by Joe Morgan would be the pin that burst
54:16
the beautiful balloon. The true beauty of baseball
54:20
is not so much the eventual outcome, but the
54:23
excitement of a pennant race, the splendor of
54:25
the individual, the effort of the team, and the
54:28
memories of a group of men who did it their way.
54:52
The 1 -0 delivery to Fiske, swings, long drive.