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1975 - Baseball Clip - Cincinnati Reds Championship - 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. Your attention,
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please. Presenting the Cincinnati Reds, the catcher,
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Johnny Fenton, the first baseman, Tony Perez,
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the second baseman, Joe Morgan, the shortstop,
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Dave Concepcion, the third baseman, Pete Rose,
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the left fielder, George Buster, the center fielder,
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Cesar Geronimo, the right fielder, Ken Griffin,
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and the pitcher, Gary Nolan. for Pedro Borbon,
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and here's Mike Marshall's first pitch plateward.
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Swung on, a looper, left center field, a base
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hit. Here comes Cheney, the throw to the plate,
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and this one belongs to the Reds. The 1975 baseball
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season truly did belong to the Cincinnati Reds.
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Cincinnati's Big Red Machine rolled to 108 regular
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season victories, the third highest total in
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National League history. Sparky Anderson's crew
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followed with a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates
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in the championship series, and then came the
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exciting World Series, a seven -game showdown
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with the Boston Red Sox. Many observers called
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it the most exciting World Series on record,
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as the Reds won game seven with a thrilling come
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-from -behind victory that gave Cincinnati its
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first World's Championship in 35 years. It was
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a great season from start to end, from a three
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-game sweep of the arch -rival Los Angeles Dodgers
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in the year's first series to the victory over
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Boston in the final game of the year. It was
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a season full of record -breaking events and
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electrifying moments. The Cincinnati march to
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the world championship was a team effort all
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the way, and this is a story. This one belongs
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to the Reds. Through the first month of the season,
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the Reds were hardly better than a 500 club,
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winning 12 of 23 games in the month of April.
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It was time to make a move. and what a move it
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was. Not only did the Reds move up in the standings,
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but Sparky Anderson made a move on the field
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that shocked everyone. Pete Rose became the Reds'
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third baseman. He hadn't played the infield since
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1965, but from the very beginning, it was apparent
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that Pete felt right at home at the hot corner.
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And the 1 -1 pitch. That has bounced to third.
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Pete Rose backs up, makes the play, throw to
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first, he got it! All right! There isn't a more
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exciting or dangerous player in the major leagues
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than Joe Morgan. He's a power hitter, demonstrated
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by his 17 home runs and 94 RBIs. He hits for
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an average, too, as his .327 mark attested. He
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has the best batting eye in the game, represented
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by his league -leading 132 walks. And he has
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flying feet, as he ranks second in the league
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in stolen bases with 67. Joe is a National League's
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Player of the Month in April and June. He's a
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game -breaker, and this score against the Giants
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at Riverfront points that out solidly. Williams
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with a 3 -2 on the way. Swung on, line drive,
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right center field. It'll be in for a hit. Fielded
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on one big hop. Here comes Morgan to second.
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Head first, sliding safe. Joe Morgan never broke
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stride as Gary Maddox drifted deep in the right
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center to field that big hopping line shot. And
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Joe with a head first slide in safely with a
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two -base hit. That one bounces up there. Can't
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find it. Hill. Here comes Morgan at third. It
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gets by the catcher. The third baseman and Morgan
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will score. And this one belongs to the Reds.
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Well, the ball got away from Mark Hill. He couldn't
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find it. Morgan broke for third. Hill picked
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it up and threw it away at third base. It getting
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down the line away from Anaveros. And Morgan
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scores to give the Reds a 5 -4 victory. Johnny
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Bench remained one of baseball's most prolific
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home run hitters and run producers in 1975, finishing
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second in the major leagues with 110 runs batted
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in. Home runs like this one off Alan Foster helped
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Johnny move into that spot. Strike one delivery.
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Bench fly ball, deep left field, looking up,
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it is gone! A grand slam home run for Johnny
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Bench, the first of the year for a Cincinnati
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Reds, and the Reds have bolted out. Yet things
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were not right for the Big Red Machine. On May
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21st, the record stood at just 21 -21, and the
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Reds were five and one -half games behind the
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Dodgers in the National League Western Division
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race. On that night, however, Mets manager Yogi
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Berra gave his ace Tom Seaver the baseball, and
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the Reds' offense went wild. Tony Perez and rookie
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Doug Flynn hammered home runs as the Reds scored
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a whopping 11 -4 victory. Seaver, a backward
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glance at bench. Long pause. Looking again the
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pitch. Here's a drive. Left field. Milner back.
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He's looking. It's gone. Ready again with the
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next pitch. Swung on. Hammered a deep left field.
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It is going to be a home run for Doug Flynn.
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Doug Flynn on a 3 -1 pitch. Hammers one out of
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here to left field. His first Major League home
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run and it's 11 -4 Cincinnati. That win was a
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big one. It started one of the most fantastic
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streaks in Major League history. The victory
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was the first of 41 in the next 50 games for
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the Big Red Machine. By the All -Star game, the
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Reds had vaulted 12 and one -half games in front
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of the Dodgers and were racing away toward their
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fourth division championship in the last six
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years. Everyone contributed, as evidenced by
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this big hit off the bat of Merv Rettenman. The
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0 -1 to Merv swung on a base at center field.
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Here's Concepcion. Here comes Foster. Redman
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with a two -run single, and the count goes to
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5 -0. The Reds were great in the clutch in 1975,
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winning 28 games in their final time at bat.
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One of them was May 24th, when Joe Morgan's 11th
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-inning single defeated the Phillies. The draw
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is a sign from Bob Boone. He kicks and fires.
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Morgan lines right. He's hit right field, and
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this one belongs to the Reds. Cincinnati depended
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heavily on its bullpen in 1975. Veterans Clay
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Carroll and Pedro Bourbon combined with youngsters
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Raleigh Eastwick and Will McEnany to give the
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Reds the best relief core in the National League.
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Eastwick, who didn't join the Reds until mid
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-May, earned 22 saves in a sensational rookie
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season and tied Al Hrabowski of St. Louis for
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the league lead. This was one of them. Harmon
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at third, Luzinski at second, Holly Brown at
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first. A ball and two strikes on Mike Schmidt
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with the Phillies trailing 4 -2. Eastwick a glance
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to third again and on to the plate. Strike three,
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swing and he got it. What a job. It was grand
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slam time again for Johnny Bench on May 26 against
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Montreal. He hit his sixth career bases loaded
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home run off Don DeMola, tying Beta Pinson for
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the club record. Now the 1 -0. Swung on, a fly
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ball to deep left field. It is going to be a
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grand slam home run. Johnny Bench has just clubbed
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his 10th home run of the year, his second grand
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slam of the year, and the Reds have gone out
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in front 5 -4. Gary Nolan was a comeback kid
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for the Reds in 1975. He led the staff in innings
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pitch and tied for the most victories with 15.
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One of those wins was a two -hit shutout over
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Montreal on May 28, his first shutout since June
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of 1972. and a victory that kept the Reds' winning
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streak alive. Mike Jorgensen, the batter. He
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hits a line shot. Morgan backhands in the hole,
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throws to Dreesen, and this one belongs to the
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Reds. Gary Nolan with an out -of -sight pitching
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performance tonight. As he goes the distance
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for the fourth time, his first shutout, and the
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Reds have their seventh consecutive victory.
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The Reds went into first place for good in 1975
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on June 7th with a win over Chicago. They moved
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four percentage points ahead of the Dodgers that
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day and were never headed as they won the division
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by 20 games, becoming the first team since 1906
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to win by that large a margin. Cincinnati enjoyed
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tremendous success against the Cubs, winning
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11 of the 12 games between the two teams. Included
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was a four -game sweep at Riverfront June 6th,
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7th, and 8th. First, a big base hit by Dave Concepcion.
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One man out. The pitch. Swung on. A base hit
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left field. Right by the third baseman rolling
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in beyond the cup bullpen. Bench is in. Dreesen
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is in. And the Reds lead it 5 -1 on Boya. Clutch
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double by Concepcion. Then back -to -back home
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runs by Johnny Bench and Dan Dreesen. Ferris'
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1 -1 is swung on. Hammered to deep left center
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field. He hit it a bunch. Back is Monday. It's
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gone. Swung on, a fly ball, hit deep and high
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to right center. It might be back to backers.
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It is. And the pitching was excellent. Billingham
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throwing and Thornton ground ball to shortstop.
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Concepcion has it, his running throw, and this
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one belongs to the Reds. The Reds pitching continues
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to be out of sight. The final score today as
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Billingham goes a distance, giving them a run
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on five hits. The Reds eight, the Cubs one. Bench
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continued to play long ball. And the 1 -1. Bench
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swings and hits it deep to left field. Stay fair.
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Baseball gone. But Johnny Bench rips one down
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the left field line. And I mean an absolute shot.
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The Reds lead it 2 -1. Time after time, the Reds'
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strong bench paid dividends. Blocked 3 -2 pitch.
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Grounded right side and through for a base hit.
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Ball just passed him out and out of the reach
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of Manny trio on into center field Redmond's
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first hit in the game Checking the pitch Redmond
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goes pitches swung on popped up looped in the
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shallow left a hit for plumber Redmond at third
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plumber at second Not out one won the count on
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Crowley Here is a pitch swung on hit in the left
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field it is a base at One run will score. Here's
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Plummer coming on to third sliding safely. And
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Crowley with a pinch single to left makes it
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5 -3 our side. The ace of the pitching staff
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was left -hander Don Gulland. And during the
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amazing streak of successes in late May and early
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June, he piled up the victories, earning his
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eighth on June 11th. Ground ball right side.
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Flynn has it. His throw to Perez. And this one
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belongs to the Reds. And the final score tonight
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as Gulland wins his eighth of the season, the
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Reds three. The Cardinals won. Win number nine
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for Gullet was also an eye -popper on June 16th.
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But, as things turned out, it was to be his last
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victory for a long while. The pitch. Smash off
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the pitcher's mound. Now recovered by Chaney,
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throwing to first to get the out. As one run
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scores, that ball hit Don Gullet, and he's down
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and writhing just off to the right of the mound.
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The injury was a broken left thumb, and it set
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him to the sidelines for two months. but the
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Big Red machine kept on rolling. Last at -bat
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victories became the trademark for this ball
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club, such as these on June 27th and June 28th.
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Here's a long drive to deep right field, and
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this one belongs to the Reds. A three -run home
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run by Danny Dreesen into the green seats in
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right field, and the Reds have ended it with
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lightning -like swiftness here in the bottom
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of the 11th inning. The final score, 5 -2 Cincinnati.
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Morgan at second base with two away, 2 -2 on
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the way. Curve, swing on, it's all over, I think.
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Going back, and Yahtzee is this with one in the
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green seat. The Reds won it by a score of 6 -4.
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Ken Griffey blossomed into a star in 1975, batting
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.305. One of the fastest players in baseball,
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Griffey had 38 infield hits during the season
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and used his swift feet to rank among the triples
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leaders in the National League. This one helped
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the Reds draw close. Foster third. Armbrister
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second. Rose at first. Three balls and two strikes
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on Griffey. One man out. The left -hander stretches
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and delivers. Here's a fly ball. Hammer to left
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field. Rosewell. Not being able to get it. And
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it goes all the way to the wall. Three runs are
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going to score. Griffey comes to third. It is
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six to five. And this shot won it. We're tied
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6 -6 in the 12th inning. Necro sets and delivers.
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Ben swings, hits, and that's off. Johnny Benz
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is 16th home run of the year, and the Reds win
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it by a score of 9 -6. Let me say this. This
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one belongs to the Reds. A day later, the Reds
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were victorious again in extra innings as Joe
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Morgan wore the laurel of hero. Rose out at second
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base representing the winning run. The pitch
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to Morgan. Swung out of base at the right center
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field. Here comes Pete Rose. And this one belongs
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to the Reds. Joe Morgan has ended it here in
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the 15th inning with a base hit to right center
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field. And in the longest game of the year for
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the Cincinnati Reds, they win 8 -7 and 15 over
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the Houston Astros. Long home runs were especially
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of George Foster and Tony Perez. George smacked
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23 after taking over the regular left field spot
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on May 3rd when Pete Rose was moved to third
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base. He connected for a long one against the
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Astros in late June. Now Foster waiting. Swings
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and there it goes! A long drive to left field!
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It is a home run! George Foster pounding line
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into the yellow seats in left field, two rows
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deep. A three -run blast on Durker's first pitch,
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and the Reds are up a run 4 -3. And then Tony
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Perez pounded a prodigious shot against the Philadelphia
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Phillies. Here comes a 3 -2 pitch to the plate.
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It is swung on and hit deep to left field. A
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tremendous shot to left. It will be in the red
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seat. A two -run homer for Tony Perez. And that
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ball went into the red seats in left field. A
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tremendous shot by Tony Perez. It finds its way
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into the red seats in left field. And you can
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count on one hand the number of times that has
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been done in this stadium since it opened back
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in 1970. Well, I think you would have to sit
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here and safely say that he got all of that one.
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Just as impressive as the long home runs were
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the defensive gems turned in by the 1975 Reds.
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Cincinnati set a major league record playing
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15 consecutive games without making an error.
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And the Reds made the fewest errors in the major
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leagues. Defensive plays like these were repeated
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time after time. Line drive, right field, Rattenbein
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will make a diving catch! Fine defensive play
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by Merv Redman as he went sprawling on the aspirator.
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Made the catch and hung on to save two runs and
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end the inning. Bruce swings, hits a fly ball
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into right center field. Geronimo coming hard,
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and this one belongs to the ref. Pitch to Maddox,
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swung on a line drive. Morgan has it! Super play
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by Joe Morgan on a line shot. He dove off to
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his left and came up with a ball, and the Reds
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are home free. Now the 3 -2 pitch with John Stone
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breaking. Swung on ground ball to Pete's left.
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He dives. Comes up with it. Now the throw. He
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got it. Fine play. Swung on a bouncing ball.
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Rose cuts it off. Throws to second. Morgan to
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first. We got a double play. Boy, I'll tell you,
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fine play right there. Pitch to him. Swung on.
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A fly ball hit back in a deep left field. Foster
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back on the track. Leaps up, and he makes a catch.
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Here's a run. The Reds streaked on into July
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and held a commanding lead over the Dodgers,
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and more than 150 ,000 were on hand for a three
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-day weekend series with Los Angeles at Riverfront,
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hoping for Cincinnati victories. It was one of
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the most rousing series of the year. Rose, who
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led the league in doubles for the second straight
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year and went back over the 300 mark in 1975,
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added to the excitement in this series. Our show
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ready with the one -two, and here she comes.
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Screwball, swung on, there she goes. That's number
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five for Pete Rose. Get out of here. All right,
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so Pete Rose gets on a high screwball, and for
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Pete, his fifth home run of the year, and the
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Reds lead it now by a score of five to three.
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How about that? And the fans went home happy
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thanks to Raleigh Eastwick. Raleigh Eastwick
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will come on and face Ken McMullen. Strike is
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called on the outside corner. Here's a pitch.
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Swing and a miss. Strike two. He struck him out
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swinging and this one belongs to the Reds. A
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preview of the National League Championship Series
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saw the Reds sweep four games from the Pittsburgh
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Pirates during a mid -August series at Riverfront.
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Foster got the Reds off and running in the first
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game. He hit two home runs off Pittsburgh ace
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Jerry Royce. Here's a high fly ball hit back
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in a deep left field. Going back is Zisk and
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it is... to left field and hit off the facing
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of the green seats. And we fold down in front
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of the Pirates 3 -0. Here's a man who's put the
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runs on the board, George Foster. A three -run
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home run to left field back in the fourth inning.
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Here's a pitch. Swung high and there it goes
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again. A home run to left field. That went into
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the green seats and a second home run of the
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night for George Foster. The Reds continued their
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onslaught against the Pirates the next night
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with a big first inning. Back with a 1 -0. Rose,
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a line drive hit the center field. Rooker picks
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up a strikeout against Ken Griffey. He'll be
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working to Joe Morgan. Fly ball right center.
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Get down. It's a base hit. It bounds by the right
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fielder, Parker. Here's Rose routing third. He's
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coming to the plate. No throw and a game is tied
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at 1 -2. Bench swings. It's a fly ball to right
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field. It's hit a time. Back is Parker. Here's
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Tony. Break -even pitch. Swung on and a line
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shot hit to left field. That ball is going to
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go all the way to the wall. Here's Zisk up throwing.
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Tony digging for second. He is in standing with
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a double. Two balls, one strike. His pitcher
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faces pitcher. Faces loaded, two out. Rooker
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ready with a pitch. That is swung on. Hit on
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the right field. A base hit. Tony Perez is in.
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Foster to the plate. Going to third is Glenn
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and Fred Norman with a two -run single. Sends
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the Reds up 5 -1. The pitch to him. Swung on.
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A smash to left center field. That's another
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base hit. In the score is Flynn. Coming to third.
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Getting the green light now. The stop sign is
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Norman. Rose has had his second hit of the inning.
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Another run is home at 6 -1. Perez helped make
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it three straight the next day with a game -winning
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home run. And then in the series finale, it was
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Pete Rose who stole the show. 2 ,499 career hits.
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The pitch by Keeshan. Swung on. There it is.
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A base hit to center. A feed road with number
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2 ,500. He gets an RBI on it and a standing ovation
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from this capacity house here at Riverfront.
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Don Gullet, who would have undoubtedly crashed
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the 20 -victory circle for the first time without
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his injury, still wound up with 15 victories
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and a glittering earned run average of 2 .42.
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He made a strong comeback from his broken thumb
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as this shutout against the Cardinals on August
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28th demonstrates. Here's a 1 -1 pitch to Rudolph.
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Swung on and a fly ball to right. Riffey moving
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deep and this one belongs to the Reds. Fine five
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-hit shutout by left -hander Don Gullet as the
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Reds defeat the Cardinals in the first of four,
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four to nothing. There's no finer center fielder
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in the game than Cesar Geronimo. He's a gold
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-glover on defense and with a bat he contributed
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some big base hits. Geronimo swings, hits a fly
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ball to right field. That's hit deep. Davis is
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back and it's out of here. A home run. Cesar
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Geronimo jumping on Len McLaughlin's first pitch.
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He took him deep to right field. And just like
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that, the Reds lead it 4 -1. RBI's are synonymous
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with Tony Perez. For the ninth consecutive year,
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he exceeded the 90 mark and runs batted in. And
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for the third straight season, he passes century
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mark with 109. He also reached a big RBI milestone
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in his career on September 2nd against San Diego's
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Jerry Johnson. Perez waiting on the 2 -0 pitch
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to the plate. He hits a base hit to left field.
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Geronimo scores, and Tony Perez is the all -time
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RBI leader in Cincinnati Reds history. His 1
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,010th as they come to their feet with a standing
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ovation here at Riverfront Stadium. A record
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-setting club all season long, it was only appropriate
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the Reds establish another mark when they clenched
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the Western Division title on September 7th.
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By winning that day, the Reds clenched earlier
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than any club in National League history. And
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the 8 -4 victory, coupled with a Los Angeles
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Dodger loss in Atlanta, touched off a clubhouse
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celebration. The Reds kept on rolling through
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September. They set a National League record
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for most home wins with 64 and finally chalked
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up win number 108 on the final day of the season.
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The season ended like it began. A come -from
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-behind victory and an infield hit that knocked
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in the winning run. O'Dell Canton battling to
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send the game into extra innings. Comes with
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the 0 -1. It's swung on a ground ball. Hits.
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Diving blank. He'll not have a play and this
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one belongs to the Reds. A hard ground ball hit
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off to the right of Larval Blank. He dove for
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it, got his glove on the ball. The ball skidded
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loose. Blanks scampering after it to try and
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make a play, but could not. And the Reds have
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pulled it out here in the ninth inning, 7 -6.
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No doubt about it, this one belonged to the Reds.
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The battle cry now, though, was bring on the
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Pirates. The 1975 National League Western Division
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champions Cincinnati Reds are on the air. The
22:38
75 League Championship Series with Marty Brenneman
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and Joe Nuxall. Reds baseball is brought to you
22:46
by Stroh's Beer for 200 years. From one beer
22:50
lover to another. And by the Marathon Oil Company.
22:54
People who believe in people. By the Pepsi -Cola
22:57
Bottling Company of Cincinnati, bottlers of Pepsi
23:00
-Cola, Dr. Pepper, and Schweppes products. By
23:02
Frisch's, at breakfast time, lunch time, or any
23:06
time you're hungry, there's always a Frisch's
23:08
nearby. By the First National Bank of Cincinnati,
23:11
the bank that adds top security to high interest
23:14
on your savings. And by Riverside Ford in Newport,
23:18
a block and a bridge from downtown Cincinnati.
23:24
Now, for all the play -by -play action of the
23:26
Cincinnati Reds Championship Series, we go to
23:28
Marty Brenneman and Joe Nuxall. So now it was
23:41
on to the playoffs against the heavy -hitting
23:43
Pittsburgh Pirates. For the Cincinnati Reds,
23:45
this was their fourth trip to postseason play
23:47
in the last six seasons. But this time, it just
23:50
seemed it was to be their year. As usual, Reds
23:53
fans supported their team enthusiastically to
23:55
the tune of 2 .3 million. And by the time the
23:58
playoffs rolled around, the Reds front office
24:00
was so inundated with playoff applications that
24:03
they had to return 30 ,000 checks for ticket
24:05
requests. Game one of the playoffs opened at
24:07
Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium with Don Gullet
24:10
and Jerry Royce hooking up in a battle of left
24:12
-handers. The Pirates scored first, picking up
24:14
two runs in the second. But the Reds came back
24:16
with one of their own in the bottom half of the
24:18
inning. And then in the third, the Reds won in
24:20
front to stay. Red struck for another big inning
24:34
in the fifth, scoring four times to give themselves
24:37
an 8 -1 lead. One of the big hits of the inning,
24:39
and a big surprise, was a two -run homer by pitcher
24:42
Don Gullick. The Reds have gotten two more runs
24:44
across in the fifth inning to make it a 6 -2
24:47
ballgame. The Reds coasted from that point on
25:11
to an eventual 8 -3 victory. Game 2 was also
25:14
a matchup of left -handers as Fred Norman of
25:16
the Reds opposed Jim Rooker. The Reds struck
25:19
early with Tony Perez's first inning home run.
25:23
Perez with a fly ball, deep left field, back
25:25
is Zisk, and it's gone! A home run! Tony Perez
25:33
hammers a 1 -1 pitch out of here to give the
25:36
Reds a 2 -0 lead. Then in the fourth, the Reds
25:39
scored two more times as they continued to make
25:41
the playoffs a nightmare for pirate catcher Manny
25:44
Sanguien. 1 -0 pitch. Swung on. A looper back
25:48
behind second. Stennett going out. Coming in.
25:50
It falls for a base hit. And now putting on the
25:53
brakes is Foster as he started to go to second.
25:56
Thought better of it. As Frank Tavares quickly
25:59
recovered and went to the second base bag to
26:01
cover. He deals a 2 -0 pitch and that swung on
26:05
and looped into right center field. Oliver and
26:07
Parker coming together. It'll end the end for
26:09
a hit. Here's Foster going to second and holding
26:11
there as the Reds have dumped a couple. Into
26:14
the outfield off of Jim Rooker here in the fourth
26:16
inning and have two men on and nobody out. Here's
26:19
a pitch to Griffey. He bounces one left side.
26:22
It's going to be in for a hit. Here comes Foster.
26:24
Here comes Zisk's throw to the plate. It is not
26:27
in time, and it's 3 -1. Rooker against Fred Norman
26:33
with runners at second and third one out. He
26:36
pitches. Norman hits one in the left field. Richie
26:39
Zisk digging for it. He'll make the catch, but
26:41
here comes Concepcion. The race is on, and it's
26:44
4 -1. Griffey with one foot on the carpet, one
26:51
foot in the sliding pit. There he goes. Ball
26:55
butted through. San Guillen high throw, no. That's
26:59
eight stolen bases for the Reds in the series.
27:03
Hebner looking for a bunt, so too is Stargell.
27:06
He squares. He bunts through it. Throw to second.
27:09
Here comes Griffey to third, and he's in. the
27:15
second base, but as soon as Sam Guillen fired
27:18
that way, Kenny came on to third, and that's
27:20
another steal. Eason has the sign, the stretch.
27:24
There goes Morgan. The pitch is high and inside.
27:26
No chance for Sam Guillen at all. Joe Morgan
27:29
with his fourth stolen base in a championship
27:32
playoff series. That is number nine for the ball
27:36
club and number six here in the ballgame. The
27:40
Reds struck again for single runs in the 6th
27:42
and 7th on their way to an eventual 6 -1 win.
27:46
Meanwhile, Raleigh Eastwick took over in the
27:48
7th and just sawed off the Pirates' bats, retiring
27:51
9 of the last 10 batters. Two men out. Richie
27:55
Zist taking his lead at second base. The 1 -0
27:58
pitch swung on and popped up outside of first.
28:01
Tony may have a play. He's over. He's under.
28:04
And this one belongs to the Reds. With the Reds
28:07
ahead two games to none, the scene shifted to
28:09
Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium. On the verge
28:12
of elimination, the Pirates gave it a bagging
28:14
fight as rookie left -hander John Candelaria
28:17
proved near -invincible over the first seven
28:19
and two -thirds innings as he struck out a record
28:21
14 batters and yielded but one hit. However,
28:24
that one hit was a second -inning home run by
28:27
Dave Concepcion. Fly ball hit back into left
28:30
field. And the Reds have gone out in front 1
28:41
-0. Pittsburgh took a 2 -1 lead in the sixth
28:43
on an Al Oliver home run, and things looked good
28:45
for the Pirates. But in the eighth inning, Candelaria's
28:48
charm life came to an end as he walked Merv Rettman
28:51
and had to face always tough Pete Rose. Rettman
28:55
leading at first base. Candelaria pitches to
28:57
Rose. One on the fly ball. Left field. However,
29:13
the Pirates refused to quit and came back to
29:15
tie it in the ninth. But their newfound light
29:18
was too short -lived as Ken Griffey opened the
29:20
tenth with one of his specialties, an infield
29:23
hit, and eventually scored what proved to be
29:25
the winning run on rookie Ed Armbrister's sacrifice
29:27
fly. 0 -2 the count on Griffey. He punts one
29:31
out in front of the plate. Here's Sankey, and
29:33
up with it. Throws to first, not in time, and
29:35
Kenny has a punt single. The 0 -1 delivery. Swung
29:41
on and hit in the air to center field. That's
29:43
going to be deep enough to get Griffey in. Here's
29:45
Oliver with a catch. Here's Kenny tagging. Here
29:47
comes Oliver's throw. It'll be cut off by Randolph,
29:50
and we go out in front 4 -3. A sacrifice fly
29:53
to center field by Ann Armbrister, and you cannot
29:55
ask for any more than that. And the Reds were
29:58
not through. Throughout, Pete Rose and Joe Morgan
30:00
collaborated to add an important insurance run.
30:03
The 1 -1 pitch. Swung on and looped to right
30:06
field. That will be a base hit. Pete has his
30:13
second straight hit. A wrong field single to
30:16
right. The 2 -0 pitch. Swung out and hit hard
30:19
to right center field. That ball is going to
30:21
be thrown all the way to the wall. Now Pete's
30:23
got to get to the plate. Up for the ball is Oliver.
30:25
He throws to Randolph. It's good on the plate.
30:28
It'll not be in time. It's 5 -3 and Pete is in
30:31
for the run as Morgan goes to third. Then in
30:34
the bottom of the tenth, Pedro Borbon emerged
30:36
from the bullpen to wrap up Cincinnati's eighth
30:38
National League pennant. Randolph right -handed
30:41
batting rookie infielder. Keeney looking for
30:44
the side. He kicks and deals. The pitch is hit
30:46
to Morgan. He's up. He throws to Tony. And the
30:49
1975 pennant belongs to the Rams. Joe Morgan,
30:56
my man. Joe, congratulations. It's a great feeling.
31:01
Right, it's unbelievable, Joe. You know, I really
31:03
feel good myself because I feel like I've helped
31:05
a guy this time. Georgie, boy. Sparky, the white
31:08
fox. Certainly this ball club, well, what can
31:11
you say about it other than it's super. It's
31:14
a super baseball team. Boston must be super,
31:16
Joe, but I'm not going to be naive. To me, this
31:18
is the best baseball team I have had the privilege
31:21
of seeing in my career. I just hope that we can
31:24
win the World Series so that then they can compare
31:26
these guys and judge these guys the way they
31:28
should be judged. In the background, the renowned
31:30
Johnny Betts. And, John, congratulations. Thank
31:32
you very much, Marty. So far, an unbelievable
31:34
season for this baseball team. awfully difficult
31:39
to pinpoint one key to the success of this team
31:42
in 75? Well, I think it's the fact that everybody
31:46
had one goal when they left spring training.
31:49
And everybody was going to sacrifice to no end
31:52
as much as they could in order to win. So we
31:55
had a goal in spring training to go all the way,
31:57
and it just turned out that two steps were there.
32:00
Now it's three. With the National League pennants
32:34
safely tucked away in their hip pocket for the
32:36
third time in the last six seasons, the Reds
32:38
journeyed to Boston for the start of the World
32:40
Series against the Red Sox. It had been a long
32:42
35 years. since the Reds last wore the crown
32:45
of world champions. And they were determined
32:48
that this would be the year. But after the first
32:50
game of the World Series, Reds fans had to be
32:53
wondering, as Louis Theon whirled his magic and
32:56
shut out the Reds 6 -0. Game two looked like
33:03
more of the same. Left -hander Bill Lee held
33:05
the Reds at bay for eight innings. But after
33:07
a slight rain delay late in the game, the Reds
33:10
regrouped themselves for one of their frantic
33:12
ninth -inning finishes. Johnny Bench started
33:14
things by ignoring Fenway Park's famed left field
33:17
wall by taking Bill Lee to the opposite field.
33:21
Johnny Bench. They have the shift on for him.
33:26
They give him the right field corner with a wind
33:29
blowing in. I wouldn't be surprised if he can.
33:31
Let's see him try right center or go to the right
33:33
field corner, Marty. Let's see what happens.
33:37
Fends out, Lee pitches him. And there he goes
33:39
to right field. He hits the ball into the corner.
33:42
He's going to get extra bases. Bench goes in
33:45
a second, and the Reds have the tying run at
33:47
second. Nobody out. Then after two were out,
33:49
Dave Concepcion and Ken Griffey combined to give
33:52
Cincinnati the lead. In comes Drago. There's
33:55
a bounding ball. It's going to be maybe a tie
33:57
game. It is. Bench scores, and Concepcion beats
34:01
out an infield hit to tie it up for Cincinnati.
34:04
Danny Doyle flagged it down and back a second,
34:08
and the Reds have tied it. The 1 -2 pitch. Griffey
34:12
has a drive into left center. That's in the gap.
34:15
Concepcion scoring. Griffey's going to second.
34:18
And the Reds take the lead 3 -2 for the two -run
34:21
ninth inning. And then Raleigh Eastwick emerged
34:25
from the bullpen to preserve Cincinnati's first
34:27
win of the 1975 World Series. Here's the pitch.
34:30
He pops it up. This should be the ballgame. Waiting
34:33
for it is Concepcion. And he has it. And the
34:37
Reds. Win 3 -2 and tie the series that one game
34:41
apiece. And the Reds now go home in their own
34:44
ballpark Tuesday night. A brilliant relief effort
34:47
by Raleigh Eastwick. Much of the pre -series
34:50
speculation centered around Boston's Fenway Park
34:52
and its van box dimensions. However, the heavy
34:55
hitting did not start until game three of the
34:57
series when the scene shifted to much more spacious
34:59
Riverfront Stadium. And all six home runs were
35:02
hit in the game by six different players. Boston's
35:05
catcher Carlton Fisk started things by hitting
35:08
a solo shot in the second. But in the fourth,
35:10
his counterpart, Johnny Bench, did him one better
35:13
by belting a two -run shot that gave the Reds
35:15
a 2 -1 lead. In the fifth inning, Dave Concepcion
35:39
and Cesar Geronimo hit back -to -back home runs
35:42
for the first time since the 1967 World Series.
35:45
He hits one a time, back to the left center field,
35:48
looking up his distress. Wise needs a strike.
36:04
Geronimo a pitch away from a walk. He swings.
36:06
He hits one back in his deep right field. Going
36:08
back is Evans, and it's out of here. Well, Curt
36:17
and Tony, Cincinnati are putting on a long ball
36:19
exhibition here as they have had three hits off
36:22
Rick Wise and all of them home runs. However,
36:25
the Red Sox would not quit, as pinch hitter Bernie
36:27
Carbo homered in the seventh, and Dwight Evans
36:29
tied the game with a two -run poke in the ninth.
36:32
But despite all the long ball heroics, this game
36:35
would be decided on a ball that traveled no more
36:37
than two feet and provided much discussion as
36:40
to how to interpret the baseball rulebook. So
36:43
with Geronimo having led off the 10th inning
36:45
with a base hit to right center field, Ed Armbruster
36:47
will be the pinch hitter for Raleigh Eastwick.
36:50
Right -hander Jim Willoughby into a stretch motion
36:52
as he checks the runner at first base. Here is
36:54
a pitch to the plate. Armbruster squares around
36:56
the bunt, drops it out in front. plate umpire
37:11
Larry Barnett, and he may be arguing interference
37:13
against Armbrister. There may have been some
37:16
contact between Carlton Fisk and Armbrister at
37:19
the plate. They draw it in. Boston Red Sox defense.
37:23
And left -hander Roger Moret will work out of
37:25
the stretch. Has a sign from Carlton Fisk. He
37:30
comes set. He delivers. Morgan with a line drive.
37:38
But the Red Sox weren't quitters, and they showed
37:41
the stuff they were made of when they came back
37:42
the next night to even the series by beating
37:45
the Reds 5 -4. The last baseball game to be played
37:48
at Riverfront Stadium in 1975 took place on Thursday,
37:51
October 16th, as Don Gullet dazzled the Red Sox,
37:54
and the Reds took a 3 -2 lead in the series with
37:57
a 6 -2 win. The Red Sox jumped to an early 1
38:00
-0 lead, but in the fourth, Tony Perez, who was
38:03
0 -15 in the series up to that point, broke out
38:06
of his slump. a big one with a game -tying fourth
38:21
-inning home run. And in the fifth, Gullet and
38:28
Pete Rose combined to put Cincinnati ahead to
38:30
stay. There's a base hit up the middle. Gullet
38:36
is on. The fourth hit off Cleveland, a two -out
38:39
single. And the pitch to see Rose fly ball down
38:44
the left field line. Curving, it is going to
38:46
be a... Then in the sixth, the Reds broke the
39:00
game wide open on Perez's second home run of
39:02
the night. Bench is at second, Morgan at third,
39:05
and nobody out. Tony leveling the bat, waiting
39:08
for Cleveland's pitch. Here it comes. Fly ball,
39:13
long drive, left field. Tony Perez breaking out
39:21
of his series slump with a bang. The Reds added
39:24
another run in the eighth as Don Gellett pitched
39:26
masterfully. including a stretch where he retired
39:28
16 consecutive batters. However, Gullet tired
39:31
in the ninth as the Red Sox mustered a rally.
39:33
But out of the bullpen came Raleigh Eastwick
39:36
to put out the fire. The 0 -2 delivery. Here
39:39
it comes. Strike three. The ball game's over.
39:43
Raleigh Eastwick throws three pitches to Petrocelli,
39:46
nailing it down for Don Gullet as the Cincinnati
39:49
Reds romp over the Red Sox in game five. So now
39:54
it was back to Boston in game number six. one
39:56
of the most dramatic contests in baseball history.
39:59
The Red Sox jumped to a quick 3 -0 lead in the
40:02
first inning when Fred Lynn caught hold of a
40:04
Gary Nolan pitch and sent it soaring into the
40:06
right field bleachers. But the Reds came back
40:09
with three of their own in the fourth inning
40:10
to knock the score. In the seventh, Ken Griffey,
40:13
Joe Morgan, and George Foster combined to put
40:15
the Reds in front 5 -3. Deion's delivery. Big
40:20
bounding ball hit in the right field by Griffey.
40:22
That's the third time he's been on. Deion throws,
40:25
and there's a drive. into left field. That'll
40:27
be out in the corner. Dostoevsky racing over
40:29
and holds Griffey at second base. Again, Teon
40:33
to the stretch. There goes Morgan. That's a fly
40:39
ball to deep center. Lynn going back, back. That
40:42
ball is off the wall. It'll score two runs. Foster's
40:46
in the second and Foster has doubled off the
40:49
top of the center field wall and nearly had a
40:52
home run. And the Reds With superior right -handed
40:56
power tonight, are using Fenway Park better than
40:59
the hometown Red Sox. The Reds now lead 5 -3.
41:03
And in the eighth, Cesar Geronimo appeared to
41:06
put the game out of reach with his solo shot.
41:09
Geronimo hits a high drive down the right field
41:12
line. That one's deep, and it is a home run for
41:15
Cesar Geronimo. Right down the line it went and
41:19
dropped into the right field grandstand. And
41:22
the Reds now lead 6 -3. But the Red Sox would
41:26
not quit. In the eighth inning, Bernie Carbo
41:28
came back to haunt his old ball club with a game
41:31
-tying and record -tying pinch -hit home run.
41:33
Carbo hits a high drive, deep center, way back,
41:37
home run! Bernie Carbo has hit his second pinch
41:45
-hit home run of this series. That was a blast
41:48
up in the center field bleachers. It came with
41:51
two outs and a count two and two. The Red Sox
41:56
have tied it 6 -6. In the bottom of the ninth,
41:59
it looked like the Red Sox would win it. Bases
42:01
loaded, none out, but George Foster made a super
42:04
defensive play. The Reds have the infield in,
42:07
the outfield very shallow, and the pitch. There's
42:10
a high fly ball down the left field line. It's
42:14
going to be close. It is caught by Foster. Here's
42:18
a tag, here's a throw. He's out! A double play!
42:22
A double play. Foster throws him out. Foster
42:26
took that ball, jammed right up against the left
42:28
field stand. Very shallow. And they sent the
42:32
runner from third. Denny Doyle is thrown out
42:35
on a perfect strike. This was just not to be
42:38
the Reds' night. On the 11th, they appeared on
42:40
their way to victory when Joe Morgan sent a deep
42:42
drive to right field. But Dwight Evans made a
42:45
circus catch. The pitch. There's a long shot
42:48
to deep right. Back goes Evans. Back, back. And...
42:54
Made a grab and saved a home run on that one.
42:56
Just the first of a double play as Evans robbed
43:00
Joe Morgan of a home run, jumping high in the
43:03
air and tagging that ball out of the right field
43:06
grandstand. 35 ,000 fans at Fenway Park had hardly
43:10
quieted down from Evans' defensive heroics when
43:13
Carlton Fisk stepped up to lead off the 12 and
43:16
gave Boston fans something to talk about all
43:19
winter long. The 1 -0 delivery to Fisk. He swings,
43:22
long drive, left field. If it stays there, it's
43:25
gone. Home run. The Red Sox win. And the series
43:29
is tied three games apiece. After that sudden
43:37
death victory by Boston, a lot of teams would
43:39
be down emotionally, but not the Reds. In game
43:42
seven, they found themselves down once again
43:44
by a 3 -0 count. But once again, they came fighting
43:48
back. In the sixth, Bill Lee tried to use his
43:50
Ephus curve on Tony Perez. It did not work. Then
43:56
in the seventh with two on and two out, Pete
44:13
Rose tied up the game. and the Reds have tied
44:24
it and have runners on second and third. Griffey
44:28
scored easily. Lynn's throw was wide at the plate.
44:31
Armbruster raced to third, and Rose went down
44:34
to second on the throw to the plate. During the
44:36
course of the season, it seemed as though the
44:38
Reds owned a patent on scoring runs in the ninth
44:40
inning. This was how they would win their third
44:42
world championship. With runners on first and
44:45
second, Joe Morgan looped a single to center
44:47
field for what would be their most important
44:50
run of the long 1975 season. Cincinnati. Two
44:55
down. Ken Griffey at third. Pete Rose at first.
45:02
Joe Morgan at back. One ball, two strikes. There's
45:09
a looper. They drop. It's in for a hit. Here
45:12
comes a throw to third. Rose hits a dirty save.
45:15
And there goes Morgan down to second. And the
45:18
Reds have the lead 4 -3. Then out of the bullpen
45:21
came Will McEnany. And with quickness and dispatch,
45:24
he retired the side. And Cincinnati had its first
45:27
world championship since 1940. The Reds are one
45:30
out away from winning the world championship.
45:36
And Carl Yastrowski gets a standing ovation.
45:40
Win or lose, he's been a great player for Boston
45:43
since 1960. And he's the captain of the team.
45:47
And a high fly ball. It should be all over. is
45:52
under, and Cincinnati has won the World Championship,
45:55
beating the Boston Red Sox 4 -3. Thanks, Chip
45:59
Doe, and congratulations, Chip Doe, to the manager
46:01
of the Reds, Sparky Anderson. What a wonderful
46:03
moment for you. This one's for Milt, boys, and
46:08
for Lefty, who's not here, and for all my friends
46:11
and everybody I love. Sparky Anderson, congratulations
46:13
to you on the Reds. Joe Morgan, Joe Morgan, congratulations.
46:17
Thank you very much, man. It's the one I've been
46:18
looking for for seven years, and I finally made
46:20
it. Joe, for the 115th time this season, this
46:25
one belongs to the Reds, and it was a big one.
46:27
Right on. This is the biggest one I've ever played
46:29
in, Marty. come from behind and look like we're
46:31
dead, but we never died. Pete Rose, the man standing
46:33
to my left, was named the most valuable player
46:35
of the 1975 World Series, and Pete, our congratulations
46:38
to him. It was a triple -A team performance tonight.
46:42
Most teams would have quit when they got us out
46:43
when we had first and third no outs, Tony. We
46:46
struck Toronto out and Redmond hit to a double
46:48
play, but most teams would have quit when we
46:50
stood down by three runs and Perez gave us a
46:52
live with our two -run shot. You can tell I'm
46:54
hoarse from yelling the whole game. Here's Johnny
46:56
Bench. It is, Martin. I'm so excited. I really,
47:00
and here's Bob Housen, who made it all possible.
47:02
I'll tell you, it was just a complete effort.
47:05
I've never wanted to win anything so bad, and
47:06
the way we won it, I think, makes it even more
47:09
exciting.