16. 1975 World Champion Cincinnati Reds v. 97. 1977 World Champion New York Yankees
Region 1 ends here. Two back to back champs- rivals - two of the most noted clubs of the past half century - the Big Red Machine takes on the Bronx Zoo. The Reds beat the Yankees in the '76 World Series - rewind a year in Cincinnati - fast forward a year in New York. Here we are.
Best of 7. Regional Final. Winner becomes one of the final 8 teams standing in what started as a 128 team tournament. They'll meet the winners of Region 8 for the right to advance to the final 4 and play for the pennant.
Reds 108-54 (Pythag: 107-55) Mgr. Sparky Anderson
1st in NL West
d. Pirates 3-0 in NLCS
d. Red Sox 4-3 in World Series (MVP-Pete Rose)
d. #113 1934 Cardinals 2-1 (MVP-Ken Griffey)
d. #49 1941 Yankees 3-2 (MVP-Johnny Bench/Terry Crowley)
d. #81 1943 Yankees 3-0 (MVP-Johnny Bench)
All-Stars: C Johnny Bench (4th NL MVP) SS Dave Concepcion, 2B Joe Morgan (NL MVP) 1B Tony Perez, 3B Pete Rose (5th NL MVP)
Hall of Famers: Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Sparky Anderson
It's the Big Red Machine, arguably the greatest lineup in baseball history. They finished 20 games up in the NL West. The Reds were 64-17 at home, best home record in NL history. They clinched a playoff birth on September 7.
Yankees 100-62 (Pythag: 99-63) Mgr. Billy Martin
Won AL East
d. Royals 3-2 in ALCS
d. Dodgers 4-2 in World Series (MVP-Reggie Jackson)
d. #32. 2007 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Reggie Jackson)
d. #33 1943 Cardinals 3-1 (MVP-Graig Nettles)
d. #65 1984 Tigers 3-2 (MVP-Chris Chambliss/Don Gullett)
All-Stars: OF Reggie Jackson, RP Sparky Lyle (AL Cy Young) C Thurman Munson, 3B Graig Nettles (5th AL MVP) 2B Willie Randolph
Hall of Famers: Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Bobby Cox (first base coach)
Reggie's first year in New York; also the year of the blackout. Steinbrenner feuded with Billy - Billy feuded with Reggie. Reggie said he was the straw that stirs the drink - it's the Bronx Zoo Yankees. The front half of back to back Champions.
Yankees
LF Piniella (33) 138 1.7
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP2 Figueroa (28) 111 3.2
Bench
DH Johnson (29) 173 2.1
LF White (33) (SH) 109 3.3
CF Blair (33) 90
DH May (29) (LH) 66
SP3 Gullett (L) (26) 111 2.4
SP Guidry (L) (26) 140 5.4
SP4 Torrez (30) 104
Reds
3B Rose (34) (SH) 133 4.5
2B Morgan (31) (LH) 169 10.7
C Bench (27) 140 6.8
LF Foster (26) 139 4.8
RF Griffey (25) (LH) 119 2.1
1B Perez (33) 124 3.3
CF Geronimo (27) (LH) 90 3.8
SS Concepcion (27) 88 4.5
SP Gullett (LH) (24) 149 3.5
Bench
DH Driessen (23) (LH) 125
RF Rettenmund (32) 86
C Plummer (28) 49
SS Chaney (27) (SH) 59
2B Flynn (24) 85
SP2 Nolan (27) 114 3.2
SP3 Darcy (25) 101 .4
SP4 Norman (32) (LH) 97
Lineup Battle:
C-Bench, Munson's strong, but Bench is Bench.
1B-Perez, not by much, but he's a little stronger than Chambliss.
2B-Morgan's the best player in the series
SS-Concepcion, easily
3B-Nettles, he's got a glove advantage over Rose
LF-Foster, a little stronger than White/Piniella
CF-Rivers, by the smallest margin over Geronimo
RF-Jackson, over Griffey, who will be the Yankee RF in '82.
DH-Johnson, he's got a better bat this year than Driessen who will be the Reds DH
SP1-Guidry, easily
SP2-Nolan, over Gullett (the Yanks version)
SP3-Figueroa
SP4-Push
Bullpen-Push, Lyle's the best arm, but Reds have more depth.
Reds 6 Yankees 6 -- close as it can be; Reds better lineup, Yanks better arms.
The pitching matchups for the series:
Game One: Figueroa at Gullett (Reds version of Gullett)Yanks took 5 games to win in the last round, so they open with their third starter, Reds swept, so they're at the top of their rotation)
Game Two: Guidry at Nolan
Game Three: Darcy at Gullett (Yankees version)
Game Four (if needed): Norman at Torrez
Game Five (if needed) Gullett (Reds version) at Figueroa
Game Six (if needed) Guidry at Nolan
Game Seven (if needed) Gullett (Yankees version) at Darcy
We've got Hall of Famers, we've got stars - we've got a marquee 1970s showdown. Big Red Machine v. Bronx Zoo. The Reds are slight favorites. Let's do it.
GAME ONE
1st: In high school, Don Gullett was All State (KY) in football, basketball, baseball; the Reds took him 14th overall in the '69 draft. The next year he made his big league debut. Gullett picked up 2 saves against the Pirates in the '70 NLCS, moved to the rotation in '71 and contracted hepatitus in '72. He came back and started games in both the NLCS and in the Reds World Series loss to the A's. In '73, Gullett gave up Willie Mays's final home run, number 660. Gullett added a forkball in '74 - Sparky said Gullett was on his way to the Hall of Fame. 24 years old now, Gullett had a 2.09 ERA in the middle of the '75 season when he took a line drive off the thumb. He missed 2 months, came back in August. Gullett homered in his game one NLCS win over Pittsburgh. He pitched games 1, 5, 7 in the World Series against the Red Sox, going 1 and 1. 1-2-3
1st: In 1966, a 17 year old Ed Figueroa pitched for the Puerto Rican national team; then signed with the Mets - they would release him and he'd spend a year fighting in the Vietnam War. After missing 2 years, he signed with the Giants, they dealt him to the Angels in '73, he made his big league debut in '74 and was strong in '75, winning 16 with an ERA under 3. At the end of the season, he and Mickey Rivers headed to the Yankees for Bobby Bonds. Figueroa won 19 in '76, he was the losing pitcher for the Yanks when the Reds clinched the Series against them. He won 16 more in '77, but fell out of favor with Billy Martin, struggled in the ALCS and didn't get a start in the World Series. But here he is - in Game 1 of the Regional Final. 1-2-3
2nd: Graig Nettles walks. Nettles played both baseball and basketball at San Diego St, the Twins took him in the 4th round in 1965. In '67, his AAA manager was none other than Billy Martin and in '68 he made his big league debut. In '69, Martin got the Twins job, but Nettles couldn't crack the starting lineup and was dealt to Cleveland after the season and installed at third base. In '70, he led the league in fielding percentage and in '71 broke the record for most fielding double plays by a third baseman in a season. After the season he was dealt to the Yankees. Nettles was caught using a corked bat in '74, he was an All Star starter in '75, he went back to the All Star game this year and finished 5th in the AL MVP. Mickey Rivers follows with a single. Chris Chambliss then laces a single to right center - and the Yankees score the first run of the series. Gullett retires the next 3. Yankees 1 Reds 0
2nd: George Foster walks. As a kid in California, he and Dave Kingman were in the same Little League. The Giants took him in the third round in '68. He was a late season callup to the big leagues in both '69 and '70 and broke camp with the big club in '71; his roommate on the road - Bobby Bonds, mentioned an inning ago. The Giants sent him to the Reds before season's end, in '72, he scored the winning run in the NLCS. The Reds sent him back down in '73 where he roomed with Ken Griffey. This is his first season as an everyday player, hitting .300 with 23 homers. Foster hit .364 in the NLCS and .276 in the Series. Griffey walks. And then Tony Perez - who sat in favor of Dan Driessen in game 3 of the previous round - hits a 3 run homer. Long trot for Perez who puts the Reds on top. Figueroa gets 2 - then gives up a base hit to his opposite number and future teammate Gullett. Pete Rose singles. Joe Morgan walks and the Reds have the bases loaded with 2 out. Figueroa escapes. Yankees 1 Reds 3
3rd: Reggie Jackson walks with one out. Reggie was a starting defensive back for Frank Kush at Arizona St; in '66 the A's made him the second overall pick. Reggie, Joe Rudi, Rollie Fingers were all together in A ball. He came up briefly in '67 and for good in '68. Reggie was third in the AL in homers in '69, In the '72 ALCS, he tore his hamstring and missed the A's World Series win over the Reds; he hit .310 a year later against Baltimore, becoming the 1973 World Series MVP, to add to his unanimous selection as regular season MVP. 7 days before Opening Day in '76, the A's dealt him to Baltimore in a salary dump. In the offseason, he signed a 5 year, 2.96 million dollar deal with the Yankees. He and Billy Martin nearly had a nationally televised fight when Reggie was pulled during the middle of an inning against the Red Sox and when he struggled in the first 4 games of the ALCS, Billy benched him for game 5. In the World Series against LA, he homered in games 4 and 5 and then hit 3 in game 6, winning the World Series MVP again. After the second out - Reggie steals second - but that's all.
3rd: Ken Griffey singles with one out. A 4 sport high school sports star, Griffey was drafted by the Reds in the 29th round in 1969, four years later he was up with the big club late in the year and got some at bats in the '73 NLCS. This is his first season as the full time right fielder for the Reds, he hit .305, had a .391 OBP and scored 91 runs. Griffey hit for a .269 average in the '75 Series. That's all Figueroa allows.
4th: Chris Chambliss hits a one out single. Chambliss spent a year at UCLA and was the top pick in the January draft in 1970 by the Indians. In '71, Chambliss tore his quad in spring training, he came up in late May and won the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Chambliss was sent to the Yankees early in the '74 season. 4 pitchers went to Cleveland in a deal that was very unpopular in the Yankee clubhouse Chambliss hit .304 in '75, .293 in '76 with 96 RBI, and he hit .524 in the ALCS including a walk off home run that beat the Royals and ended the series. This year, Chambliss hit .287 with 90 RBI. After the second out - Chambliss scores on a Bucky Dent base hit and the Yankees draw within a run. Yankees 2 Reds 3
4th: Davey Concepcion singles to right center. Concepcion is Venezuelan, signed with the Reds in '67, came up in '70, made the All Star team in '73 and broke his fibula not long after. In '74 he drove in 82 runs and racked up 41 steals. Concepcion his .455 in the NLCS this season. Figueroa holds them here.
5th: Gullett gets 1 -- but then Reggie homers to right -- long, slow, slow trot by Reggie - the boos coming down from this Cincinnati crowd -- Reggie hits a towering home run to knot this game at 3. Munson walks - Gullett gets out with no more damage. Yankees 3 Reds 3
5th: Joe Morgan singles. Morgan didn't get an offer from a 4 year college, he went to Oakland City College and signed at 19 with Houston in 1962. Two days before his 20th birthday he got called up for a cup of coffee. In '65 he was up to stay - second in the NL Rookie of the Year; at the end of the '71 season he was sent to Cincinnati. In '72 Morgan led the league in runs, walks, OBP; he led the league in OBP again in '74. This year - Morgan was NL MVP, he hit .327, had a .466 OBP, stole 67 bases, won his third straight Gold Glove and had the game winning hit in the World Series. Morgan steals second, Figueroa gets 2 - but Griffey comes through with a base hit that gives the Reds the lead. Yankees 3 Reds 4
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Cesar Geronimo walks. Geronimo is Dominican; he didn't play baseball in high school, he played basketball and softball - the Yankees still signed him in '67, he was plucked from their system by the Astros and came up briefly in '69. He was up for good in '71 and sent to the Reds following the season in that Joe Morgan trade. He became an everyday player in '74, hitting .281 and winning a Gold Glove. He was Bob Gibson's 3,000 strikeout (6 years later he will be Nolan Ryan's 3000th strikeout). This year Geronimo hit .257, won another Gold Glove and hit .280 in the World Series. Concepcion then reaches via error - Figueroa gets two outs - then very carefully pitches to Morgan - walking him to load the bases....then comes the big blow - Johnny Bench with a bases clearing double. That sure looks like the big shot. Yankees 3 Reds 7
7th: Gullett gets 2 - then Thurman Munson homers to left to get a run back. Munson went to Kent St, hit .413 his junior year, he was the 4th overall pick by the Yanks in '68, made his big league debut in '69 getting his first hit off of future teammate Catfish Hunter. In the winter, he was on the same winter ball club as Roberto Clemente. Munson took the starting catcher's job in '70, he hit .302 and won the AL Rookie of the Year. Munson became Yankee captain in '76, he would hit .302 and be named the AL MVP; in the postseason he hit .435 in the ALCS and then .529 against the Reds in the World Series. This year he hit .308 and had his 3rd straight 100+ RBI season. Munson hit .285 in the ALCS and then .320 as the Yanks beat the Dodgers to win the World Series. Yankees 4 Reds 7
7th: Figueroa gets 2 - then Geronimo singles and Concepcion walks. That's it.
8th: Bullpen time. Sparky turns to Will McEnaney, 23 year old lefty with 15 saves and a 2.47 ERA. McEnaney's in his second big league season, the best he'll ever have. He heads to the Expos in '77 and his last year in the bigs will be '79 in St Louis. 1-2-3.
8th: Billy turns to Dick Tidrow. 30 year old RH, 11 wins and a 3.16 ERA. Tidrow broke in with Cleveland back in '72, came to New York in the Chambliss deal in '74. The Yanks will deal him to the Cubs for Ray Burris in '79, he finishes with the Mets in '84. 1-2-3
9th: Here's Rawly Eastwick to wrap this up for the Reds. 24 year old RH with 22 saves and a 2.60 ERA, he broke in last season - third this year in the Rookie of the Year. Next year he'll be 5th in the NL Cy Young. He's moved at the deadline in '77 to the Cards for Doug Capilla and then will sign with the Yankees in '78, so he's pitching against future teammates. Eastwick's final season is '81 with the Cubs.
Dent flies to Geronimo.
Ciff Johnson hits for Tidrow - grounds to Perez...flip to Eastwick.
Piniella flies to Foster...ballgame.
Yankees 4
Reds 7
WP Gullett
LP Figueroa
Sv Eastwick
Perez and Bench each drive in 3 runs; Gullett beats his future club and the Reds take game 1.
Rose 1x
Morgan 3x
Bench 1x/double 3RBI
Foster 1x
Griffey 3x
Perez 1x/HR 3RBI
Geronimo 2x
Concepcion 2x
Jackson 2x/HR
Munson 2x/HR
Nettles 1x
Rivers 2x
Chambliss 2x
Dent 1x
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
LF White (33) (SH) 109 3.3
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP Guidry (L) (26) 140 5.4
3B Rose (34) (SH) 133 4.5
2B Morgan (31) (LH) 169 10.7
C Bench (27) 140 6.8
LF Foster (26) 139 4.8
1B Perez (33) 124 3.3
RF Griffey (25) (LH) 119 2.1
SS Concepcion (27) 88 4.5
CF Geronimo (27) (LH) 90 3.8
SP2 Nolan (27) 114 3.2
GAME TWO
1st: 27 year old RH Gary Nolan looks to take game 2 for the Reds. Nine years ago the Reds took him 14th overall in the '66 draft, the next year, at 18 years old, Nolan was in the Reds rotation. Arm soreness began in the spring of '68 and plagued Nolan throughout his career. Nolan went 18-7 in '70, won game 1 in the NLCS, lost game 1 of the World Series. He was selected for the NL All Star team in '72, finished the season 15-5 with a 1.99 ERA. In game 1 of the World Series he gave up two homers to Gene Tenace and lost to the A's. Arm troubles cost Nolan virtually all of both '73 and '74, he came back this year, went 15-9, 3.16, walked just 29 guys all year. Nolan beat the Pirates in game 3 of the NLCS, he was the starter in game 6 of the World Series that ended with the Carlton Fisk homer. Nolan gets 1, then gives up a Roy White single - White's in the lineup against the RH Nolan. Reggie Jackson doubles to right center -- White comes all the way around. The inning will end Yankees 1 Reds 0
1st: The best starter in this series is Ron Guidry, 26 year old lefty. Guidry was a star sprinter in high school, went to Southwestern Louisiana, taken by the Yankees in the third round in '71. In AAA, he was managed by Bobby Cox on a pitching staff including Scotty McGregor and Tippy Martinez and he made his big league debut in the middle of the '75 season. Dick Tidrow, in the Yankee bullpen, gave him the nickname Gator. Guidry joined the Yankee rotation this May, 16-7, 2.82, threw a 3 hitter in Game 2 of the ALCS and won his only start in the '77 World Series. He walks Morgan with 1 out, that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Nolan
3rd: Cesar Geronimo singles, he's the first Cincinnati baserunner. Guidry gets 1 then gives up a Pete Rose single, that's where it ends.
4th: Graig Nettles hits Nolan's first pitch over the wall in dead center and the Yanks are up 2-0. An out later Thurman Munson triples - but Nolan keeps him at third. Yankees 2 Reds 0
4th: Guidy gets 2 - then gives up a Ken Griffey single. But that's it.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Nolan, just four Yankee hits today.
6th: Joe Morgan singles. Guidry gets two and then gives up a George Foster singl, that's all and we head to the 7th with Guidry maintaining the shutout.
7th: Munson singles. And out later Dent singles, but that's all.
7th: 1-2-3, just 5 hits allowed by Guidry and the Yanks are six outs from headed home with a split.
8th: Will McEnaney for the Reds. 1-2-3.
8th: Guidry carrying the shutout into the 8th; he gets 2 and then Morgan singles. Guidry strands him.
9th: Pedro Borbon for the Reds; 28 year old RH with 9 wins and a 2.95 ERA. Borbon broke in back in '69 with the Angels, sent to the Reds after the season. His best year was '73, 11 wins and a 2.16 ERA, he's going to be dealt to the Giants for Hector Cruz at the deadline in '79 and finish the following season with the Cards. Chambliss singles. Munson walks. Can the Yanks get some insurance? Borbon gets the next 3 - and we head to the bottom.
9th: The Cy Young Award winner, 32 year old lefty, Sparky Lyle, comes out of the pen. Lyle signed with the Orioles out of high school in '64, the Red Sox sniped him before the end of the year, a conversation with Ted Williams prompted his developing his slider into his signature pitch. Lyle was 22 when he made his big league debut in '67, in spring training in '72 we was dealt to the Yankees. Lyle saved 35 that year, 23 in '76, breaking the career AL saves record, this year Lyle was 13-5, 2.17, 26 saves.
Foster flies to Rivers.
Perez singles - Griffey singles and that gives the Reds the potential winning run at the plate with just one away.
Concepcion singles.
This Riverfront crowd is frenzied now -- bases drunk with Reds - just one away. 2-0 Yankees.
Geronimo grounds wide of first -- Chambliss makes a nifty scoop - his only play is to Dent at second to get Concepcion; Perez scores - the Reds are now down a run, 2 out, men on the corners.
Sparky Anderson turns to Terry Crowley who has had a lot of success in the tournament in this spot, winning 3 games as a pinch hitter. The 28 year old lefty bat digs in. Can Lyle end this game?
He can't. He walks Crowley. Bases loaded. Pete Rose comes to the plate. Tying run at third - winning run at second. Fans howling. Nowhere to put Rose. Morgan on deck there is nowhere to hide.
Lyle strikes him out and it's done.
Yankees 2
Reds 1
WP Guidry
LP Nolan
Sv Lyle
Guidry goes 8, strikes out 6, walks just 1, gives up 6 hits, Lyle made it interesting but strikes out Pete Rose with the bases loaded and we head to Yankee Stadium for Games 3-5.
Jackson 3x/HR, double
Munson 5x/HR, triple
Nettles 2x/HR
Rivers 2x
Chambliss 3x
Dent 2x
White 1x
Rose 2x
Morgan 6x
Bench 1x/double 3RBI
Foster 2x
Griffey 5x
Perez 2x/HR 3RBI
Geronimo 3x
Concepcion 3x
3B Rose (34) (SH) 133 4.5
2B Morgan (31) (LH) 169 10.7
C Bench (27) 140 6.8
LF Foster (26) 139 4.8
1B Perez (33) 124 3.3
DH Driessen (23) (LH) 125
RF Griffey (25) (LH) 119 2.1
SS Concepcion (27) 88 4.5
CF Geronimo (27) (LH) 90 3.8
SP3 Darcy (25) 101 .4
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
DH Johnson (29) 173 2.1
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
LF White (33) (SH) 109 3.3
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP3 Gullett (L) (26) 111 2.4
GAME THREE
1st It's October following the Summer of Sam in the Bronx that was Burning. 26 year old lefty Don Gullett is on the mound against his former team. Gullett's also in the dugout for the Reds, having won game one. Time and space bend and twist; the Yankee version of Don Gullett is on the mound today - but in Game 5, on this same mound, will stand the Reds version of Don Gullett. So - we discussed Gullett through '75 back in game 1; neck and shoulder issues cost him much of '76, but he still won 11 games and had an ERA of 3. Gullett won game 1 of the NLCS. In the World Series, Gullett beat the Yankees in Game 1, dislocating his ankle in the process. In the off season New York gave him a 6 year deal for 2 million bucks and he switched sides. Injuries got him again this year, but he managed 14 wins. He started game 1 of the ALCS, lasting just 2 innings, he started both Games 1 and 5 of the World Series, going 0-1. Pete Rose singles. Joe Morgan walks. Johnny Bench walks and the bases are loaded - do his former teammates have Gullett's number today? Has to be a concern for Billy. But Gullett escapes unscathed.
1st: Pat Darcy is a 25 year old RH, spent a year at Mesa Community College and signed with the Astros in '69, 5 years later, still in the Astros system, he was sent to the Reds. Darcy, Nolan, Eastwick were all in AAA together, he got a late season call up in '74 and this is his first full big league season. He won 11, had a 3.58 ERA, he didn't pitch in the NLCS and then in the World Series gave up the Carlton Fisk homer that ended Game Six, one of the more famous blows in baseball history. He gives up a single to Mickey Rivers, who then swipes second. Cliff Johnson's in the lineup at DH, he walks. Darcy gets one - but Nettles singles home the game's first run. And then Chambliss singles home the game's second run. Darcy gets the second -- but then Roy White doubles home two more and it is a huge first inning for the Bombers. Darcy walks Randolph -- and Bucky Dent singles home the fifth run of the inning, the Yankees have batted around on Pat Darcy. He does not escape the first inning and it is really unlikely we see him again in the series. Clay Kirby is a 27 year old RH, 10 wins and a 4.72 ERA and he enters. He ends it -- Reds 0 Yankees 5
2nd: The Reds DH for the 3 games in New York is Dan Driessen. A stint with a Black semi-pro team in South Carolina at the age of 17 got Driessen a contract with the Reds in '69, he and Griffey were A ball teammates. Blocked at first by Perez, Driessen came up as a third baseman in '73 and he was third in the Rookie of the Year. This year he was a bench player, hitting .281. He didn't play in the NLCS and was 0-2 in the World Series. Driessen singles and that's all.
2nd: Kirby gets two - then gives up a Nettles homer; that's the Yankee third baseman's second of the series and this is a blowout. Reds 0 Yankees 6
3rd: Morgan walks with one out and Bench singles; Foster singles and the Reds are on the board. Gullett walks Perez - the bases are loaded; can the Reds get an extra base hit? Maybe they don't need one - Gullett walks Driessen and Griffey - his former teammates really waiting him out and now it is 6-3. Concepcion singles home 2 and now it's 6-5 and we have a game 3. Billy goes to the 31 year old lefty Ken Holtzman, he was bad this year, a 5.78 ERA. He gets out of this. Reds 5 Yankees 6
3rd: Both starting pitchers gone here in game 3 of the Region 1 Final. After an out, Roy White doubles. White was a second baseman in high school in Compton, California - the shortstop was Reggie Smith. He signed with the Yankees and started in their system in '62 and was called up in late '65. In '68 he won the left field job, the next year he made the All Star team. In 1970 White hit .296, 22 homers, 94 RBI, 109 runs scored. In '71, White broke the AL record for sac flies in the season, in '72, he led the AL in walks and in 1976, White led the AL in runs scored. He hit .294 in the '76 ALCS and then struggled against the Reds in the World Series, hitting .133. White hit .268 this season and only had 7 plate appearances in the postseason, giving way to Lou Piniella, with whom he is platooning in this series. Kirby gets the second out, then Dent singles home White -- and Mickey Rivers hits a two run jack to right and the Yanks have re-established this lead. Wild - absolutely wild one here at the Boogie Down. Kirby walks Johnson/Jackson back to back - and then loads the bases by walking Nettles. How long does Sparky wait here? Chambliss clears the bases with a double and the Yankees have added 6 more runs on the inning. Kirby stays in the game - Sparky might be waving the white flag - Munson doubles home Chambliss. It's just the third inning! Reds 5 Yankees 13
4th: Pete Rose reaches on an error. Rose went to the same high school from which Don Zimmer graduated. On the day of his graduation, in 1960, he signed with the hometown Reds, three years later he was the Reds second baseman. Rose was Rookie of the Year in '63, made the All Star team in '65, won batting titles in '68 and '69. Rose was NL MVP in '73 and had that brawl with the Mets in the NLCS after a takeout slide of Bud Harrelson. Rose had moved from second to the OF when Morgan arrived and this year moved to third. Rose was the World Series MVP with a .485 OBP. Holtzman gets an out - then Bench homers, it's now 13-7, Holtzman gets the second out - then walks Perez -- and Dan Driessen hits a 2 run homer to center -- and now it's 13-9 in the damndest baseball game you're ever gonna see. Griffey singles and that's all. Reds 9 Yankees 13
4th: 22 year old RH Tom Carroll has a 4.98 ERA and he's the third Reds pitcher. He gets 2 and then Mickey Rivers singles. Rivers spent 2 years at Miami-Dade Jr. College and was selected 40th overall by the Braves in '69. His second agent was Miami Dolphins Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti. The Braves moved him to the Angels in a trade involving Hoyt Wilhelm and he debuted in California in 1970. Rivers was the Angels everyday center fielder in both '74 and '75 and led the league in triples both seasons. He came to the Yankees with Figueroa for Bobby Bonds before the next season and then finished 3rd in the AL MVP in his first Yankee campaign. This year, a 28 year old Rivers hit .326 in the regular season, .396 in the ALCS. Caroll then walks Johnson/Jackson to load the bases. Nettles singles and it's 14 runs for the Yanks. Chambliss singles -- two score - that's 16 Yankee runs. Munson then singles - it's 17-9, Game 3 of the Region 1 Final is a game we are unlikely to forget anytime soon. White singles and another run scores. Reds 9 Yankees 18
5th: Geronimo singles. Holtzman still in the game - he gets 2 out - then Bench singles and Foster doubles both of them home. Reds 11 Yankees 18
5th: 1-2-3. I repeat. 1-2-3
6th: Holtzman gets the first, then Griffey singles. That's all.
6th: Carroll gets 2, then Chambliss singles That's all. It appears that things have calmed down here in New York.
7th: 21 year old RH Gil Patterson is the next Yankee pitcher; Rose singles, Morgan walks, but the Reds do not score.
7th: White and Randolph hit back to back singles. Dent walks to load them up - a Rivers sac fly scores the 19th run. 34 year old RH Clay Carroll enters - a Johnson sac fly scores the 20th Yankee run, which probably means free slices from somewhere. Reds 11 Yankees 20
8th: Driessen walks, Griffey reached on an error and finally, after all these runs, someone gets hit - it's Geronimo - but the Reds do not score.
8th: Nettles homers again -- that adds the extra point to this Yankee win. Bengals 11 Giants 21
9th: Patterson stays on for the third inning, he gets one then walks Bench, and it ends here.
Reds 11
Yankees 21
WP Holtzman
LP Darcy
32 runs, 33 hits (none by Reggie) a 6 RBI day for Chambliss - and the Yankees go up 2 games to 1. 3 Yankees have 4 hit days; Nettles ties the tournament high (shared by many) with 3 homers in a single series.
Jackson 5x/HR, double
Munson 7x/HR, triple, double
Nettles 7x/3 HR
Rivers 5x/HR
Johnson 3x
Chambliss 7x/double 6 game 3 RBI
Dent 5x
White 5x/2 doubles
Randolph 2x
Rose 4x
Morgan 9x
Bench 6x/double, HR
Foster 4x/double
Griffey 8x
Perez 4x/HR
Driessen 4x/HR
Geronimo 4x
Concepcion 4x
3B Rose (34) (SH) 133 4.5
2B Morgan (31) (LH) 169 10.7
C Bench (27) 140 6.8
LF Foster (26) 139 4.8
DH Driessen (23) (LH) 125
RF Griffey (25) (LH) 119 2.1
1B Perez (33) 124 3.3
CF Geronimo (27) (LH) 90 3.8
SS Concepcion (27) 88 4.5
SP4 Norman (32) (LH) 97
LF Piniella (33) 138 1.7
DH Johnson (29) 173 2.1
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP4 Torrez (30) 104
GAME FOUR
1st: The Yankee bats just exploded all over Reds pitching in game 3 - and as Mike Torrez stands on the mound, his Yankees are up 2 games to 1 in this best of 7 series. 30 year old RH, 14-12, 3.82. Torrez signed with the Cards out of a Kansas high school in '64, called up late in the '67 season. 10-4 in '69, 3.59. In '71, Torrez was dealt to the Expos. 1974 saw Torrez win 15 games and then he and Ken Singleton were dealt to the Orioles. Big 1975 for Torrez, 20-9, 3.06 ERA. Torrez was part of the package that then when to Oakland for Reggie Jackson. Torrez led the league in ERA in '76, 2.50 and early this season, the A's sent him to New York. Torrez lost game 3 of the ALCS, but pitched well in relief of Guidry in Game 5. Torrez won two games in the World Series, including the clinching game 6. He walks Rose, Morgan then rocks a double to right center that scores a run. Torrez gets one- then an error allows Foster to reach - Torrez gets the second; and the second error of the inning allows Griffey to reach and Morgan to score. Reds 2 Yankees 0
1st: The Reds turn to 32 year old lefty Fred Norman to even up this series 12-4, 3.73. The A's signed him out of a Miami high school in '61, we was sent to the Cubs organization before the '64 season, made a few appearances with the big club and moved to the Dodgers in '67. His first real serious big league stint was in the Dodger bullpen in '70, they sent him to San Diego during the '71 season and he made the Padres rotation. In a September '72 game Norman struck out 15 Reds and Cincinnati acquired him at the deadline the following season. Norman got a no decision in Game 4 of the '73 NLCS. This year he led the Reds in strikeouts, won Game 2 of the NLCS and lost Game 4 of the World Series. He gets the first - then Cliff Johnson homers to right center to put the Yanks on the board. Reds 2 Yankees 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Nettles singles, that's it.
3rd: Joe Morgan homers to make it 3-1; Morgan has now reached 11 times in the series. Torrez gets 1 and then gives up a homer to George Foster. Griffey follows with a single - that's all. Reds 4 Yankees 1
3rd: Bucky Dent walks. Dent was Miami Dade county baseball player of the year his senior high school season and the Whtie Sox drafted him in 1970. He came up to the big club in '73 and was 2nd in the AL Rookie of the Year to Mike Hargrove in '74. Just before this season, the White Sox dealt him to the Yankees for Oscar Gamble. He hit .247 this year, .214 in the ALCS, .263 in the World Series. He's a year away from becoming one of the most hated men in Massachusetts. That's all.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Reggie walks, Bench guns him out trying to steal on a strikeout to Munson - and then Nettles hits his 4th home run of the series - that's a new tournament high. Rivers singles, that's all Reds 4 Yankees 2
5th: Johnny Bench walks. Bench was valedictorian of his Oklahoma high school class of 21 students; the Reds took him 36th overall in '65. He came up in late '67 and was the everyday catcher in '68, in which he was NL Rookie of the Year at the age of 20. In 1970 - he was the NL MVP; in '74 he led the league in RBI. This year Bench battled a regular season shoulde injury and a postseason flu. Griffey walks 2 outs later, the Reds don't add to the lead.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Concepcion singles with one away, Rose then reaches by error and Morgan walks -- bases loaded, just one out - Reds really very close to blowing this one open on Mike Torrez. Sac fly for Bench. Reds 5 Yankees 2
6th: Cliff Johnson walks. Johnson was the Astros 83rd pick in '66 out of a San Antonio high school. It takes 6 years before he sees action in Houston and isn't up for good until '74. Johnson's a bat only, never finding a position - the Yankees got him at the deadline this season. Norman gets 1, then Munson singles and Nettles walks to load the bases with just one out -- big spot here, tying run is on base here in the 6th. When does Sparky go to the pen? Rivers reaches on an error that scores a run -- Chambliss grounds out to score another. Yankees are right back in this. Reds 5 Yankees 4
7th: Billy turns to Dick Tidrow, the Indians drafted him out of Chabot College in January, '67, he'd come up in '72. Early in the '74 season, he and Chambliss were dealt to New York. As Sparky Lyle's set up man, Tidrow had a 3.12 ERA in '75, 2.67 in '76. He won game 5 of the '76 ALCS. This year, injuries forced Tidrow into the rotation in August and he went 5-0. 1-2-3.
7th: It's Will McEnaney for the Reds. McEnaney is a twin; drafted after graduating from an Ohio high school by the Reds in 8th round in '70. The Reds brought him up in mid '74, this season he had a 2.74 ERA. He pitched in 5 games in the World Series and was on the mound when the Reds won game 7. Lou Piniella singles with one out, after the second out Reggie singles and the Yanks have the tying run at third base --- but do not score.
8th: 1-2-3, Tidrow comes in and retires 6 straight.
8th: Nettles and Rivers single back to back and the Yankees again threaten - runners on the corners with nobody out, trailing by a run. That ends McEnaney's day and Pedro Borbon comes on; he gets one -- but then Willie Randolph singles home the tying run. And then Bucky Dent singles home the go ahead run -- the Yankees have taken the lead. Piniella grounds out -- but it scores another - it's 7-5 Yankees and now this series is really, really in jeopardy for the Reds. 34 year old RH Clay Carroll enters, he gives up a base hit to Johnson, that's all -- but the Yankees have taken the lead. Reds 5 Yankees 7
9th: Sparky Lyle comes on. 3 outs from giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
Morgan grounds to Chambliss. Takes it himself.
Lyle strikes out Bench.
Foster grounds to third - nice play by Nettles - onto first and it's done.
Reds 5
Yankees 7
WP Tidrow
LP McEnaney
Sv Lyle
The Reds really needed this one and only got 5 hits against Yankee pitching; Tidrow and Lyle 3 perfect innings from the pen - and Nettles hit his 4th homer of the series. Yanks are up 3-1 and can clinch this series in game 5 at Yankee Stadium.
Jackson 7x/HR, double
Munson 8x/HR, triple, double
Nettles 11x/4 HR
Rivers 7x/HR
Johnson 6x/HR
Chambliss 7x/double 6 game 3 RBI
Dent 7x
White 5x/2 doubles
Randolph 3x
Piniella 1x
Rose 5x
Morgan 12x/HR, double
Bench 7x/double, HR
Foster 5x/double, HR
Griffey 10x
Perez 4x/HR
Driessen 4x/HR
Geronimo 4x
Concepcion 5x
3B Rose (34) (SH) 133 4.5
2B Morgan (31) (LH) 169 10.7
C Bench (27) 140 6.8
LF Foster (26) 139 4.8
DH Driessen (23) (LH) 125
RF Griffey (25) (LH) 119 2.1
1B Perez (33) 124 3.3
CF Geronimo (27) (LH) 90 3.8
SS Concepcion (27) 88 4.5
SP Gullett (LH) (24) 149 3.5
LF White (33) (SH) 109 3.3
DH Johnson (29) 173 2.1
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP2 Figueroa (28) 111 3.2
GAME FIVE
1st: The Reds have lost 3 straight; including that 21 run Yankee explosion in game 3 and the big 8th inning comeback in Game 4. Now - they're up against it, down 3-1 and needing to win today to force a return to Cincinnati for Game 6. Standing in their way - Ed Figuerora. None of Figueroa's postseason numbers are good - 31 total innings pitched in his career, 7.47 ERA. He gets one and gives up a Morgan double - Joe Morgan has now reached 13 times in the series, he is carrying Cincinnati offensively. Figueroa gets the second out - then Foster singles home Morgan and the Reds are on the board. Reds 1 Yankees 0
1st: It's a tale of 2 Don Gulletts - the one standing on the mound doesn't know about the one in the opposite dugout (or does he...) the one on the mound won game 1 for the Reds - and if he can beat his future teammates today, he keeps the Reds alive and we head back to Ohio. Roy White is back in the lineup in left today - and he hits Gullett's first pitch over the wall in left field to tie the game. It is the 9th Yankee homer of the series. Reggie singles with one out, that's all. Reds 1 Yankees 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Mickey Rivers singles, he's reached 8 times in the series. That's all.
3rd: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Figueroa - Yanke pitching held the Reds to 5 hits in game 4, if that happens again today this series is over.
3rd: Gullett gets one -- and then it's White again with another homer! Roy White, given the start by Billy even against the lefty Gullett has hit two home runs and the Yankees go out in front. Reds 1 Yankees 2
4th: 1-2-3, that is 10 straight for Ed Figueroa - are the Reds about to get bounced?
4th: Gullett gets one -- and then Graig Nettles hits his 5th home run of the series! Graig Nettles homers over the wall in right field! 5 homers for Nettles and the Yankees add to that lead. Reds 1 Yankees 3
5th: Perez hits a one out double, but Figueroa keeps him from crossing the plate.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3 -- Figueroa has given the Yankees all they could have wanted today and they are 9 outs away from winning Region 1.
6th: Reggie walks with one out - nothing results.
7th: Foster singles. Reds need a run here. Figueroa gets 2 and then Perez singles. Tying runs on base -- does Billy go to the pen? He doesn't and Figueroa gets through it.
7th: Gullett gets 2 and walks Randolph, Dent then singles - does Sparky go to his pen? He doesn't and Gullett gets through it.
8th: 6 outs left. Concepcion bounces right back to Figueroa - throws to first. One away.
Rose grounds to Randolph - throw to first. Two away.
Morgan grounds to Dent - throw to first. Ed Figueroa is shutting down the Reds and the Yankees are 3 outs away from winning the Region One Final.
8th: Cliff Johnson singles - Gullett gets one and then Munson singles. Yankees looking for insurance. Gullett gets the second out and and then gives up a Rivers base hit -- that scores Johnson, it's 4-1 Yankees and that might be the end of this series. Reds 1 Yankees 4
9th: Figueroa stays on the mound.
Bench grounds to Dent -- onto Chambliss. One.
Foster laces a single to center.
Driessen grounds to Chambliss - flip to Figueroa - two away, Foster at second.
Griffey hits one to left -- to the track -- White is there -- and that's the series.
Reds 1
Yankees 4
WP Figueroa
LP Gullett
Pandemonium - the fans rush the field; a huge celebration at the mound, Figueroa and Munson embrace -- the camera cuts to White, who hit 2 homers today - and then to Nettles, he hit 5 home runs and is the MVP. The 1977 New York Yankees have won Region 1 - they are one of the final 8 teams left in this tournament - the next time we see them they will face the Winner of Region 8. The New York Yankees - Region 1 Champs!
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