1968 World Series Replay
Cardinals Still Can’t Get a Break
Game 1 St. Louis 4 Detroit 3 (15) WP Granger LP Patterson
Game 2 Detroit 4 St. Louis 1 WP Lolich LP Briles
Game 3 Detroit 4 St. Louis 0 WP Wilson LP Washburn
Game 4 St. Louis 5 Detroit 4 WP Gibson LP McLain SV Granger
Game 5 St. Louis 6 Detroit 2 (10) WP Hoerner LP Hiller
Game 6 Detroit 3 St. Louis 2 WP McLain LP Washburn
Game 7 Detroit 3 St. Louis 1 WP Lolich LP Gibson
Game 1 Summary- Busch Stadium: Curt Flood’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 15th scored Lou Brock who led off with a triple off Daryl Patterson giving the Cardinals the victory and their first world series win at home since Game 2 of the 1946 Series against the Red Sox. The Cardinals lost Game 6 of that series, Games 1, 2, and 6 in 1964, and Games 3, 4, and 5 in 1967 to break their seven game losing streak at home. This was a much anticipated game pitting the first 30 game winner in the major leagues (Denny McLain) in almost 40 years versus the dominating ERA king in Bob Gibson. Gibson’s line is as follow: IP-10 H-8 BB-2 R-3 ER- SO-8. McLain: IP 8 H-6 BB-2 R-3 ER-3 SO-7. Don McMahon pitched three scoreless innings for the Bengals followed by two more from Pat Dobson. Patterson got six consecutive outs before the Brock triple. Joe Hoerner, and Ron Willis pitched two scoreless innings each followed by a single scoreless inning from winner Wayne Granger. Al Kaline delivered a solo homerun off Gibson in the first to give Detroit the early lead. The Card notched three in the fourth when McLain issued a solo homerun (leading off the inning) to Brock, a walk to Roger Maris, and another two run homerun to Orlando Cepeda who was coming off a tough year offensively. Detroit notched a run in the sixth with three singles. Mickey Stanley started it with one out, Kaline flew out and then consecutive singles by Jim Northrup and Willie Horton brought home Stanley making the score 3-2. Gates Brown led off the ninth and pinch hit for Don Wert. Brown doubled off Gibson and scored when Tom Matchick singled home Brown to tie the game. The game stood that way until the Cards won it in the bottom of the 15th.
Game 2 Summary- Busch Stadium: Mickey Lolich went the distance allowing six hits, and striking out nine as the Tigers evened the series at one apiece. The game was scoreless until the Redbirds struck for two runs off Nelson Briles. Bill Freehan led off with a double and scored when Don Wert tripled him home. After Lolich struck out, Dick McAuliffe brought home Wert with a single and the score was 2-0. The game stayed that way until the top of the eighth. Briles began to tire after striking out McAuliffe to start the inning. Mickey Stanley singled, Al Kaline drew a walk and Norm Cash doubled Stanley home, ending Briles day. Kaline scored on a sac fly by Willie Horton and the Tigers led 4-0. Bob Davis who platooned much of the year with Roger Maris led off the bottom of the eighth with a double and scored on a single by Dal Maxvill plating the only run of the game for the Cards.
Game 3 Summary- Tiger Stadium: A five-hit shutout by Earl Wilson completely caught the Cardinals by surprise. Wilson struck out eight and walked just one man and the Tigers took the series lead, 2-1. Ray Washburn allowed all four Tiger runs, which included one in the bottom of the first. Dick McAuliffe led off with a triple and scored one out later on a single by Al Kaline. Norm Cash drove in himself and Mickey Stanley with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth making it 3-0. Bill Freehan added a solo homerun in the bottom of the fifth to complete the scoring. Wilson pitched out of two jams in the first and second innings when the Cardinals opened up both frames with singled. Two of his eight strikeouts came in the first when he nailed Roger Maris and Orlando Cepeda after the singles by Lou Brock and Curt flood before Tim McCarver flew out to end the inning. He got another key strikeout in the second after Mike Shannon and Julian Javier opened the inning with their back to back singles. Contact hitting shortstop Dal Maxvill was the victim before pop outs to Washburn and Brock. The Cardinals never mounted a threat after that and it was smooth sailing for Wilson.
Game 4 Summary- Tiger Stadium: Another McLain and Gibson match-up failed to meet the hype as neither pitcher was very effective. The line on the two starters was as follows: McLain: IP-6 H-8 BB-0 R-5 ER-5 SO-7. Gibson: IP-6 1/3 H-8 BB-1 R-4 ER-4 SO-7. The Cardinals got five of their 8 hits off McLain in the top of the second. Tim McCarver led off with a single, Mike Shannon doubled him to third and both men scored on Julian Javier’s double making it 2-0 St. Louis. After a Dal Maxvill ground out, Bob Gibson singled home Javier giving the Birds a 3-0 edge. Mike Shannon hit a solo homerun in the fourth and Bobby Tolan added a solo homerun in the fifth giving Gibson a 5-0 lead. Jim price pinch hit for McLain in the bottom of the sixth and singled to lead off the inning. Dick McAuliffe doubled him to third and Mickey Stanley drove in both men with a single putting the Tigers on the board (5-2). Gibson reared back and struck out Al Kaline and Norm Cash before Willie Horton flew out to end the inning. The Tigers pulled within one run in the seventh when two more runs came across the plate. After Norm Cash struck out to lead off the inning, Eddie Mathews and Bill Freehan singled putting runners at first and second. Gates Brown pinch hit for John Hiller and drove in Mathews while Freeh and advanced to third. That was it for Gibson as Joe Hoerner retired McAuliffe on a sac fly which scored Freehan making it 5-4. Mickey Stanley singled Brown to third but Kaline popped out to end the threat. Granger earned the save throwing a 1-2-3 ninth after Hoerner tossed a impressive eighth inning. The series was now even leading up to a pivotal game five.
Game 5 Summary- Tiger Stadium: Lolich and Briles were effective going seven and six innings respectively as the Cardinals got four runs in the top of the 10th after blowing a 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Wayne Granger threw a ball away with one out that scored Jim Northrup from second tying the game 2-2. Northrup had reached on a double to lead off the inning before Granger threw Freehan’s tapper away. John Hiller was no match for the Cardinals although he suffered from poor defense in the 10th. Bobby Tolan led off pinch hitting for Granger and reached second when Al Kaline dropped his fly ball. Lou Brock singled him to third and reached second when Julian Javier squeezed home Tolan. Curt Flood walked before Orlando Cepeda lined three run homerun making the score 6-2. Joe Hoerner pitched a scoreless tenth giving the Cards the win and more importantly a 3-2 series lead heading back to Busch Stadium.
Game 6 Summary- Busch Stadium: Bill Freehan’s two-run homer in the fifth put the Tigers ahead 2-1, and Denny McLain went the distance on two-days rest as the Tigers evened the series to force a seventh and deciding game. McLain’s line was: IP-9 H-6 BB-3 R-2 ER-1 SO-7. The Cards got their earned run in the bottom of the third when Orlando Cepeda doubled home Curt Flood who reached on a fielder’s choice. After the Freehan homer the Tigers added an insurance run in the eighth which would prove to be the game winner. Dick McAuliffe led off the top of the eighth with his third triple of the series and scored on a Mickey Stanley single giving the Bengals a 3-1 lead. Things got dicey in the bottom of the ninth as Tiger manager Mayo Smith opted to keep leftfielder Willie Horton in the game. Tim McCarver led off with a fly ball that Horton dropped putting McCarver at second. Mike Shannon drove in McCarver bringing the Cards within a run. Smith paid a visit to the mound and decided to keep McLain in to finish what he started. Julian Javier popped out and Dal Maxvill was robbed of a double when Don Wert stabled his line drive for the second out. Red Schoendienst went with Bobby Tolan to bat for reliever Steve Carlton. Tolan hit a dribbler to towards the mound which the reliable Bill Freehan bobbled putting the tying run at second for Lou Brock. McLain was able to induce Brock to fly out ending the game and setting up a match-up between Bob Gibson and Mickey Lolich who would be working on only two days rest.
Game 7 Summary- Busch Stadium: Mickey Lolich went the distance as the Tigers became world champs while the Cardinals’ World Series woes continued. Detroit got on the board in the first as Bob Gibson walked Dick McAuliffe to the start the game. Mickey Stanley sacrificed McAuliffe to second before Al Kaline reached on an error by Dal Maxvill which put runners at the corners with one out. Gibson struck out Norm Cash before Willie Horton singled to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, Roger Maris reached on an error by Stanley. This was Maris’ first start against Lolich in the series. Maxvill singled Maris to second and then Lolich walked Bob Gibson loading the bases. Lou Brock grounded to Lolich whom forced Maris at home for the first out and the bases remained loaded. Julian Javier beat out a grounder avoiding a double play which scored Maxvill to tie the game, 1-1. Lolich then struck out Curt Flood to end the threat. The game was tied until the top of the seventh when the Tigers scored the two final runs. Gibson walked McAuliffe to start the inning. Mickey Stanley then singled before Gibson walked Al Kaline to load the bases with nobody out. Gibson got Cash to hit a grounder which forced McAuliffe at the plate. But Willie Horton would single home two runs putting the Tigers up for good, 3-1. The Cardinals went quietly in their final three at bats against Lolich and fell victim for the fifth time in six World Series appearances. Their lone win was in 1934 against Detroit winning the series in five but splitting their two home games. The Cardinals are 3-14 at home in six World Series competitions. Gibson Line: IP-7 H-5 BB-5 R-3 ER-2 SO 7 Lolich: IP-9 H-3 BB-4 R-1 ER-1 SO-10
No Miracle Here!
1969 World Series Replay Baltimore Orioles Vs. New York Mets
Game 1 Mets 5 Orioles 4 (14) WP Taylor LP Watt
Game 2 Orioles 1 Mets 0 (16) WP Leonhard LP Ryan
Game 3 Orioles 4 Mets 2 WP Hardin LP Taylor
Game 4 Orioles 17 Mets 0 WP Cuellar LP Seaver SV Hardin
Game 5 Mets 9 Orioles 6 WP Koosman LP McNally
Game 6 Orioles 4 Mets 0 WP Palmer LP Gentry
Series Summary: Two thrilling games started the series and the rest became academic.
The Orioles were stunned by the Dodgers in the ’66 Replay and managed only four runs in the series, they attained that amount in the first game although on the losing end.
You ask why Jim Hardin earned a save in a 17-0 rout in Game 4? Well, Orioles manager Earl Weaver pulled Mike Cuellar after the sixth inning to save his pitcher in case the series went the full seven games.
Game 1: Cuellar faced Tom Seaver but neither got a decision. Cuellar went 9, while Seave pitched 10 innings although neither was overly impressive. They both allowed 10 hits and four walks with Seaving fanning six versus nine from Cuellar. The Mets had a 4-3 lead in the eighth untilFrank Robinson tied the game with a solo blast off Seaver. The Mets won it in the 14th when Eddie Watt of the Orioles walked Tommy Agee to lead off the inning. Bud Harrelson then singled Agee to third and he scored easily on a single by Cleon Jones. Ron Taylor pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win.
Game 2: Another marathon contest which did not see scoring for 15 1/2 innings of play. Starters Dave McNally and Jerry Koosman received excellent bullpen help until Boog homered off young flame throwing right hander Nolan Ryan to start the bottom of the 16th. Ryan was in his second inning of relief. Neither team posed any threats during the game which still saw 10 different pitchers.
Game 3: Don Buford’s three run homerun with two outs in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Birds to a 4-2 win and a 2-1 series lead. Ellie Hendricks grounded out to lead off the inning. Davey Johnson then singled before Mark Belanger lined out. Pinch hitter Dave May drew a walk before Buford’s homer.
Game 4: Mike Cuellar allowed just three hits in six innings before departing with a 15 run lead after the sixth inning. Jim Hardin pitched three scoreless innings to pick up the save. the Orioles held a 2-0 lead in the going into the top of the fifth. 18 batters came to the plate and 13 runs scored as the Birds offense sent Tom Seaver to the showers. Below is the inning summary:
Johnson and Belanger hit consecutive doubles making the score 3-0. Cuellar flew out, Buford and Blair walked loading the bases. Frank Robinson singled home Belanger as the bases remained loaded and the score was 4-0. Boog Powell chased Seaver with a two run single that scored Buford and Blair and sent Frank Robinson to third, (6-0).
Jim McAndrew then issued an RBI single to Brooks Robinson before Elrod Hendricks sent a McAndrew curve ball into the Shea Stadium seats making it 10-0. Johnson started the line moving for the second time in the inning with a single and advanced to third on Belanger’s second double of the inning. Cuellar made his second out of the inning when he fanned.
Buford walked for the second time in the inning to load the bases and put an end to McAndrew’s short stint on the hill. Don Cardwell proceeded to give up an RBI single to Paul Blair which made it 11-0 before another two-run single by Frank Robinson put the score at 13-0. Powell then singled and Brooks Robinson drove in two more with another single to round out the scoring for that inning. Sudddenly, the Mets were down 15-0. The Orioles got 12 hits and earned three walks. Five players got multiple hits in the inning (Frank and Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Mark Belanger, and Davey Johnson).
Game 5: THe Mets bounced back from the previous day’s thrashing scoring six runs of their own in the seventh inning and took a 9-2 lead. The O’s stormed back with two each in the eighth and ninth but it was not enough as the series headed back to Baltimore.
Game 6: Jim Palmer went 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball leaving the game with a 1-0 lead and the bases loaded and two outs. Eddie Watt got Wayne Garrett to pop out to end the threat. After Ron Taylor got two quick outs in the bottom of the eighth he walked Dave May. Tug McGraw McGraw then came on and was greeted with a triple by Don Buford making the score 2-0. Paul Blair then delivered the series’ knockout punch with a two-run shot putting the game out of reach at 4-0. Dick Hall pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning giving the Birds the Series win.
The Birds felt vindicated after only scoring four runs in the 1966 Series against the Dodgers. It was the first world championship for the franchise which began in St.Louis with the Browns.
As Expected
1970 World Series Replay: Orioles Win the Series 4 Games to 1
Game 1: Reds 6 Orioles 1 WP Nolan LP Palmer
Game 2: Orioles 5 Reds 1 WP Cuellar LP McGlothlin
Game 3: Orioles 3 Reds 2 WP Richert LP Gullett
Game 4: Orioles 5 Reds 3 WP Palmer LP Gullett
Game 5: Orioles 3 Reds 1 WP Cuellar LP Merritt
Game 1 Summary: Don Buford led off the game with a solo homerun but the Reds took advantage of an error by the normally sure handed Mark Belanger and scored four of their own in the bottom of the first. Jim Palmer struck out Pete Rose and Bob Tolan to get the first two outs before Belanger’s miscue of a Tony Perez grounder. Johhn Bench doubled Perez to third and Lee May walked to load the bases. Bernie Carbo and Tomm Helms each doubled home two runs making the score 4-1. Bench would hit a two run shot in the bottom of the eighth making the score 6-1. Nolan went the distance allowing three hits while striking out six.
Game 2 Summary: Mike Cuellar went the distance allowing six hits, walking just one, and striking out four as the Orioles evened the series at 1-1. Davey Johnson was the hitting star for the day. He had three hits, including a solo homer and drove in three runs.
Game 3 Summary: Tony Perez hit a solo homerun to give the Reds the lead in the top of the first. Frank Robinson countered with a two run homer in the bottom of the first putting the O’s on top. The Reds tied it in the sixth when pitcher Tony Cloninger singled home Dave Concepcion who doubled to lead the inning off. Cloninger pitched 7 2/3 innings, walking seven men but pitched out of trouble most of the game. Dave McNally also went seven innings, allowing seven hits, walking three, striking out three, and two earned runs, neither pitcher garnered a decision.
The O’s won it in the bottom of the ninth when Brooks Robinson off Don Gullet to bring home Mark Belanger. Belanger led off the inning with a single, Boog Powell struck out before Frank Robinson walked. Gullet got Paul Blair to ground out before the game winner by Brooksie. Sparky Anderson elected to pitch to Robinson because Davey Johnson continue to swing a hot bat as he was 5 for 8 in the three games. (Editor’s note: Hit came off the pitchers card so it did not matter who batted).
Game 4 Summary: Jim Palmer went the distance as the O’s had control from the first inning on and took a commanding 3-1 series lead. Palmer allowed 8 hits, walked 3, struck out 4, and all three runs were earned. Gary Nolan lasted just five innings, yielding three long balls. Boog Powell and Paul Blair hit solo shots, while Mark Belanger connected for a two run dinger in the bottom of the fourth.
Game 5 Summary: Mike Cuellar went the distance allowing just one run (a solo homer by Johnny Bench with two outs in the top of the ninth) as the Orioles captured the Series in five game. The Reds who made their second appearance in 9 nine years have a combined series record of 2 and 8. Merv Rettenmund was the hero as he hit two homers and drove in all three runs. Rettenumund touched Jim Merritt for a solo shot in the bottom of the second and a two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth.
The Reds will turn it around once the Big Red Machine is in place with Joe Morgan. It's hard not to think of Joe as the catalyst for many teams. (although I don't really care for his announcing!)
'72 was just completed, and I will post that with 71 and '73 later this week. Did the machine get oiled enough? Stay tuned, same bat time, same bat channel.
cwsfn,
I have enjoyed following along with your world series project. As you know I have been using the computer to play my Monster Project involving playing all the world series. Right now I'm playing the 1916 series between the Red Sox & Robins. I have played the first 3 games of the series and so far pitching is dominating the series. Thanks again for your updates and good luck with your project.
Delsea2, I have followed your "Monster" Project as well and you are doing great work. I'm glad you can take advantage of the deadball eras. I just posted '71 and '72 results.
1971 World Series Replay: Pirates vs. Orioles
Game 1 Pirates 3 Orioles 2 (11) WP Ellis LP Watt SV Miller
Game 2 Orioles 6 Pirates 3 WP Palmer LP Johnson SV Watt
Game 3 Orioles 6 Pirates 5 (13) WP Leonhard LP Kison
Game 4 Pirates 2 Orioles 1 WP Walker LP Dobson SV Miller
Game 5 Pirates 5 Orioles 2 WP Briles LP McNally
Game 6 Pirates 4 Orioles 3 WP Walker LP Jackson SV Miller
Game 1 Summary: Jose Pagan was the hero driving in all three Pittsburgh runs by hitting two homers. His solo shot off Eddie Watt in the top of the 112th put the Bucs ahead 3-2. His first was a two-run shot off Dave McNally which opened the scoring in the fourth. Brooks Robinson sent the game into extra innings with a solo homer off Doc Ellis to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. Ellis pitched a scoreless 10th and Bob Miller shut the birds down in the 11th to earn the save.
Game 2 Summary: Homeruns were the story in Game 2 as well. Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson delivered three-runs homers while Richie Hebner added two solo shots Jackie Hernandez added the third. Despite giving up three homers, Jim Palmer went 8 innings before giving way to Eddie Watt who earned the save by pitching a scoreless ninth.
Game 3 Summary: Frank Robinson’s RBI single off of Bruce Kison in the top of the 13th was enough to give the Orioles a 6-5 victory and a 2-1 lead in the series. The Orioles used seven pitchers in the game. Dave Leonhard pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win. Kison who was tabbed “the Kid” by his teammates is less than a week away from getting marriage. He came off a stint of three scoreless innings in game two and looked cool as a cucumber. After retiring the side in order in the 12th, Kison surrendered a leadoff single to Merv Rettenmund to start the 13th. Boog Powell then drove Rettenmund to third with another single before Robinson brought him home. Kison then struck the next three batters out to retire the side.
Game 4 Summary: This was the first night game in World Series history and proved to be successful with both League President’s anticipating a mixture of day and night baseball in future World Series. Richie Hebner’s two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh broke a scoreless tie and was all the Pirates needed in the game. The win evened up the series at two apiece. Luke Walker pitched 8 2/3 of brilliant baseball allowing only two hits, one of those was a solo homerun to Davey Johnson with two outs in the ninth. Walker gave way to Bob Miller who retired pinch hitter Tom Shopay on a ground ball that ended the game.
Game 5 Summary: Nellie Briles went the distance as the Pirate pitching continued to hold the Orioles at bay and the Bucs regained the series lead, 3 games to 2. Briles also had two singles and scored two runs. Bob Robertson led the attack with 3 RBI’s, one a single in the third and the other a two-run homer in the fifth. Pittsburgh had the lead from start to finish for the second game in a row. Briles allowed four hits, three walks, and struck out nine.
Game 6 Summary: The Pirates bullpen threw five scoreless innings allowing just three hits and no walks as the Bucs stopped the O’s World Series winning streak at two. The Pirates started quickly off Jim Palmer in the top of the first when Al Oliver drove in two run two out single giving the Bucs a quick 2-0 lead. The O’s struck back off of Bob Moose when Frank Robinson tied the game with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the first. Moose threw four innings allowing all three runs which is all Pittsburgh manager Danny Murtaugh needed. Dave Giusti threw a scoreless fifth and allowed two of the three hits the bullpen surrendered. Luke Walker earned the victory by pitching two more scoreless innings before Bob Miller wrapped things up in the ninth. The game was tied 3-3 until the seventh when the Bucs tallied the fourth run. Jose Pagan hit a two out pinch hit triple and was driven home on a single by Dave Cash.
1972 World Series Replay: A’s vs. Red (A “Chaney” Reaction)
Game 1: A’s 4 Red 2 WP Holtzman LP Nolan SV Blue
Game 2: Reds 3 A’s 2 WP Grimsley LP Hunter SV Carroll
Game 3: Reds 4 A’s 3 WP Billingham LP Odom SV Carroll
Game 4: A’s 5 Reds 4 WP Blue LP Hall SV Hamilton
Game 5: Reds 4 A’s 1 McGlothlin LP Hunter SV Borbon
Game 6: A’s 6 Reds 5 WP Hamilton LP Carroll SV Fingers
Game 7: Reds 4 A’s 3 (12) WP Carroll LP Fingers
gwloar is Psychic, see his post from Oct 27th.
Game 1 Summary: Although an average scoring game, both teams combined for 21 hits and A’s pitcher Ken Holtzman was aided by five double plays. Holtzman made his first World Series appearance after joining the A’s in the off-season deal with the Cubs in exchange for outfielder Rick Monday. Holtzman went 8 innings, allowing 9 hits but also had a hit himself and two RBI’s. Trailing 1-0 the A’s scored three in the top of the second. Mike Epstein led off with a single, Sal Bando followed with a double before George Hendrick singled home Epstein to tie the game. Reds starter Gary Nolan forced Gene Tenace to ground out holding Sal Bando at third while Hendrick advanced to second. Reds Manager Sparky Anderson drew the infield in and the strategy paid off as Dick Green bounced out to Tony Perez and the runners held. Holtzman then came up and delivered the two run single making the score 3-1. Hendrick belted a solo homer in the fourth making it 4-1 and easing the fears of the Oakland brass as Hendrick was the replacement for Reggie Jackson who got injured in the League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers. The Reds would add another run in the fifth and that finished the scoring for the day as the A’s took a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2 Summary: Part-time infielder Darrell Chaney lined a two-run single off Catfish Hunter in the bottom of the fourth which broke a 1-1 tie much to the delight of the Riverfront Stadium crowd. Chaney went 2 for 2 on the day and also was intentionally walked in the bottom of sixth. Ross Grimsley went seven strong innings for Cincinnati allowing just five hits and two runs. Clay Carroll picked up the save throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball after relieving Tom Hall as the Redlegs evened the series 1-1.
Game 3 Summary: Darrell Chaney did it again, this time with a two-run triple in the top of the sixth inning that broke up a 2-2 tie and also proved to be the game winning hit for the Reds who hung on to win 4-3 and they took the series lead, 2-1. Chaney was 2 for 3 on the day, two runs scored, and was walked intentionally for the second game in a row.
Joe Rudi put the A’s on top in the bottom of the first with a two run homerun off Jack Billingham. The Reds added a run in the third and fourth to tie the game, 2-2. Chaney doubled with one out in the fourth, reached third on an error by catcher Gene Tenace, and scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Pete Rose. The A’s would cut the 4-2 deficit to a run in the eighth when Jay Alou doubled home Burt Campaneris, ending Billingham’s day. Clay Carroll shut the door for the second game in a row.
Game 4 Summary: Poor defense by the Reds prevented them from taking a 3-1 series lead as they committed four errors in this losing effort. Shortstop Davey Concepcion, Second baseman Joe Morgan, and Pitchers Don Gullett and Pedro Borbon were the players that faced problems with the leather. The miscues by Concepcion and Gullett led to Oakland runs in the second and third innings, the latter made the score 2-2. The Reds took a 3-2 lead in the sixth thanks to none other than Darrell Chaney who hit a pinch hit sac fly which scored Dennis Menke. That lead was quickly erased in the bottom of the inning when Gene Tenace blasted a two-run homer off Pedro Borbon. Borbon’s error on the previous batter (George Hendrick) is what led to Tenace as it occurred with two outs.
The Reds tied it in the top of the seventh when Johnny Bench hit his first series homerun, a solo shot off Rollie Fingers. The remained tied until the bottom of the eight when Joe Morgan booted a two out bases loaded grounder off the bat of Burt Campaneris which led to the go ahead and eventual winning run. Dave Hamilton retired Pete Rose, Morgan, and Bobby Tolan in order to preserve the victory for Vida Blue who pitched in relief of Rollie Fingers.
Game 5 Summary: A three-run homer by Tony Perez in the first inning and a sac fly by Darrell Chaney in the ninth gave the Reds a 4-1 victory and more importantly a 3-2 lead in the series. Perez launched a Jim Hunter slider with two out and set the tone the rest of the way as Hunter suffered his second loss of the series. Jim McGlothlin pitched in and out of trouble for five innings allowing nine hits and a run to earn the victory. Pedro Borbon sparkled the rest of the way throwing four shutout innings to earn the save. The lone A’s run came on a solo homer by Jay Alou in the tops of the sixth which prompted Reds skipper Sparky Anderson to replace McGlothlin.
Game 6 Summary: George Hendrick’s three-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh gave the A’s a 6-4 lead and Rollie Fingers pitched out of trouble in the ninth giving the A’s a 6-5 win and forcing a seventh and deciding game. The Oakland defense committed three errors and their pitchers surrendered eight walks compared to no errors or walks allowed by Cincinnati. Vida Blue lasted five innings but delivered two hits and scored two runs in the game. He led off the top of the third with a single and eventually came around to score on a base hit by Jay Alou giving the A’s a 1-0 lead.
But Campaneris drove in two runs with a single in the top of the fifth making the score 3-0. Dick Green led off with a single that was followed by a double by Blue. The two-run inning knocked Gary Nolan out of the game when he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the fifth. The Reds scored that same inning when Joe Morgan tripled home Dave Concepcion with two outs cutting the Oakland lead to 3-1.
The Reds took the lead in the bottom of sixth when Blue lost control of his fastball and walked Johnny Bench and Tony Perez to start the inning. Hal McRae singled home Bench putting runners at the corners and cutting the deficit to a run. Dick Williams summoned Bob Locker who got Dennis Menke to pop out and the first Reds’ hitter was retired.
Locker then walked Dave Concepcion to load the bases and Williams came out again and called on Dave Hamilton to face reliever Ross Grimsley. Sparky Anderson countered with his hottest bat, switch hitter Darrell Chaney who was batting right handed for the first time in the series. Chaney is also a much weaker hitter from the right side but he delivered again with a sharp single to left that scored Perez and kept the bases loaded.
Pete Rose drew a bases loaded walk which scored McRae and gave the Reds a 4-3 lead. Williams pulled the infield in and the ploy worked as Joe Morgan bounced one to the mound where Hamilton forced Concepcion at the plate. Bobby Tolan then struck out to end the inning. The A’s came back off Clay Carroll as Gene Tenace and Dick Green opened with singles before Hendrick’s blast. Williams had inserted Hendrick into the ninth spot when he replaced Vida blue in the bottom of the sixth and moved the Pitchers spot in the order to the #6 slot where Angel Mangual was located. Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Johnny Bench led off with a solo homerun finishing Hamilton’s day. Rollie Fingers came in to earn the save retiring Perez, McRae, and Menke and for the third time, the series was even leading into the decisive contest.
Game 7 Summary: Riverfront stadium was packed and the weather was beautiful but the fans did not realize what was in store for them. Two lanky right-handers were on the hill, Jack Billingham for the Reds, and John “Blue Moon” Odom for the A’s. Odom would go 6 1/3, allowed 4 hits, 4 walks, 2 runs and he struck out 4. However, he also contributed to the offense starting a two run rally in the top of the third with a single.
He advanced on a grounder by Campy Campaneris before scoring on Angel Mangual’s single. Joe Rudi would then drive home Mangual with a triple. The Reds got a run back off Odom in the bottom of the inning. Pete Rose walked, reached second on a hit-and-run ground out off the bat of Joe Morgan, and then scored on a single by Bobby Tolan.
The game stood that way in the bottom of the seventh. Caesar Geronimo led off with a double and reached third on Davey Concepcion’s groundout. Concepcion was the surprise starter as he faced left-handers while Darrell Chaney faced right-handers. But Chaney would have his say by driving in Geronimo with a pinch hit single which tied the game 2-2. Williams would replace Odom with Kenny Holtzman
Joe Rudi got the run right back for the A’s in the top of the 8th with a homerun off Pedro Borbon making the score 3-2 Oakland. Holtzman would set the Reds down in order in the eighth and Ross Grimsley would do the same in the top of the ninth. The A’s were three outs away from the championship and Dick Williams had a dilemma. He had used Rollie Fingers in the last four games but Dennis Menke was set to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Williams stuck with Holtzman because he retired two right-handed hitters the previous inning.
Menke grounded out and Sparky Anderson called Caesar Geronimo back for Hal McRae. Williams stuck with Holtzman and McRae stuck a Holtzman fastball in the left field deck tying the game and bring the fans in the Queen City to their feet. Concepcion grounded out and pinch hitter George Foster did the same and the game would go to extra innings.
Clay Carroll retired nine straight Oakland batters while Vida Blue pitched two scoreless innings of relief before being pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the 12th. Williams decided to go with Rollie Fingers in the bottom of the 12th and Joe Morgan promptly led off with a triple. Fingers then walked Bobby Tolan and Williams went to the mound and called on Bob Locker. Locker would issue a free pass to load the bases for Tony Perez. The infield was in and Perez hit a laser into the GAP and the Reds took the series in exciting fashion.
Side Notes: Some of you already know that 1972 is my favorite season of all time mainly because that is the first year I really appreciated baseball. The White Sox came back from the dead with Dick Allen, Walt “No-Neck” Williams was my all time favorite player, and Tom Bradley had a heckuva curve ball. It is also the year I got to witness a world series on TV from start to finish. I picked up the ’72 set about 12 years ago but never replayed this one or any other World Series. This was every bit as exciting as the real series despite the different outcome.
Regarding Darrell Chaney, don’t quote me but I am pretty sure I’m on target. In real life I think he went 0 for 12 in World Series play. His .250 batting average in 1972 was only eclipsed by a .252 mark in 1976, the year he played every day for the Braves coming over in a trade for Marty Perez. Chaney is one of those guys I remembered from the actual World Series and can still picture his Topps card from 1972 in the home uniform with the typical batting stance. I think his ’73 card was a picture of him sliding with an image of the umpire in the mix as well.
Every one of us has a Darrell Chaney in real life and in our replays, hope this one brought back some memories of your own Darrell Chaney.
Nice '71 series cw. I hope to see my '71 series start in a couple years.
Great write up cw. Loved that '72 series. What a bunch of games and who would expect Darrell Chaney to do so well. Now, I can't wait to see what happens in 1975 with Cincy and Bosox. Maybe Boston will win it this time.
Thanks strat and GW....I am through 1975, one of those series went to the team that lost originally. I'll post early next week.
Love the thread, Chisox! Big Newk fin'ly stops the NYY!! My fav thus far!
Thanks for postin'!
Jim
Editors Note: Since I have completed several replays but not completed all the summaries I noticed a glaring error in the '72 post. I referenced Jay Alou for the A's but he did not join until '73, it should have been Matty Alou. I got concerned so I went back to the set hoping I did not have the '73 Jay Alou card in the wrong year but thankfully his brother Matty was all OK with his teams.
1973 World Series Replay: Mets vs. A’s (Ya Gotta Believe, A’s are Amzain’)
Game 1: A’s 4 Mets 3 WP Holtzman LP Matlack SV Fingers
Game 2: A’s 1 Mets 0 WP Blue LP Koosman SV Fingers
Game 3: A’s 3 Meta 0 WP Hunter LP Seaver
Game 4: A’s 1 Mets 0 WP Holtzman LP Matlack
The latest Mets slogan “Ya Gotta Believe” really took shape after another unlikely pennant. This time a division race that was fiercer but mired in mediocrity with the Pirates and Cubs. A stunning upset over the Reds in the NLCS gave Yogi Berra’s team hope against an A’s team that could match the Mets on the mound, in the field, and at bat.
Game 1 Summary: Willie Mays made his only start of the series in Game 1 and as Yogi would say, “Who would have thunk that he would be our offense.” Mays went 2 for 3 with two solo homers and single. His first homer in the third inning off Ken Holtzman opened the scoring. The A’s got three in the bottom of the fourth with the aid of three walks by Jon Matlack (one to Ken Holtzman with the bases loaded) and a two-run single by Burt Campaneris gave the “Swingin’ A’s” a 3-1 lead.
The Mets got an unearned run in the fifth when Wayne Garrett scored on a two base error by first baseman Gene Tenace. Mays tied it in the seventh with his second homer of the game. Tenance made up for his miscue by driving in Campaneris with a two out single in the bottom of the seventh. Mays grounded out to end the game not knowing he would be responsible for most of the team’s offense the rest of the series.
Game 2 Summary: Gene Tenance hit a solo homer off Jerry Koosman in the bottom of the fourth with what was the game’s only run. Vida Blue went eight strong innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth. Rollie Fingers added his second save putting the A’s up 2-0. Koosman matched Blue pitching a strong game himself but made one critical mistake.
Game 3 Summary: A sacrifice fly by Dick Green in the top of the second and two solo homers by Burt Campaneris and Sal Bando in the top of the 8th amounted for the only runs as the A’s took a commanding 3-0 series lead. Both Jim Hunter and Tom Seaver went the distance on a cool night in the “Big Apple.” Hunter allowed just two hits, walked two, and struck out three. Seaver allowed eight hits, walked one, and struck out 14.
Game 4 Summary: Sometimes known as the “vacuum” at shortstop, Bud Harrelson booted Reggie Jackson’s grounder to start the ninth inning which started an inning of miscues and led to the only one of the game as the A’s clinched their World Series Sweep of the Mets with a 1-0 victory. Both Jon Matlack and Kenny Holtzman went the distance matching each other pitch for pitch. After Jackson reached on Harrelson’s error, Matlack struck out Gene Tenace.
Jay Alou then lined a single to left that Cleon Jones booted allowing Jackson to reach third and Alou wound up on second. Matlack then intentionally walked Ray Fosse to load the bases for Dick Green. Green drew a walk that forced in the run and proved to be all the A’s needed. Holtzman struck out and Burt Campaneris lined out to end the inning.
Holtzman retired the Mets in order in the bottom of the ninth. His line was 9-IP 6-H 1-BB 0-R and 5-K. Matlack’s was similar, 9-IP 7-H 3-BB 1-R 0-ER and 5-K.
Oakland pitching shut out the Mets batting for the final 29 innings of the series.
1974 World Series Replay: A’s vs. Dodgers (A’s felt Dodger Blue)
Game 1: Dodgers 2 A’s 1 WP Marshall LP Fingers
Game 2: Dodgers 2 A’s 1 (10) WP Marshall LP Fingers
Game 3: Dodgers 3 A’s 2 WP Downing LP Hunter SV Marshall
Game 4: A’s 6 Dodgers 5 WP Holtzman LP Messersmith SV Fingers
Game 5: A’s 5 Dodgers 4 WP Blue LP Sutton SV Fingers
Game 6: Dodgers 6 A’s 2 WP Zahn LP Hunter
This actually did not surprise me, the real life outcome did. The Dodgers had a solid pitching staff and a little more potent offense. As we have written in other threads, the A’s just do not get enough credit for the team they had in the 70s.
Game 1 Summary: Bill Buckner singled in Ron Cey with the winning run off Rollie Fingers with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the series. Andy Messersmith went seven strong innings for the Dodgers and drove in the game’s first run with a sac fly in the bottom of the fifth. Sal Bando tied the game in the sixth with a solo homer. Mike Marshall pitched two shutout innings in relief to earn the win, while Rollie Fingers took the loss in relief of Ken Holtzman who made the opening series start for the A’s for the his third consecutive year.
Cey led off the ninth with a single and advanced to second on a bunt by Bill Russell. Fingers walked Steve Yeager intentionally to set up a double play. Pinch Hitter Rick Auerbach singled to load the bases. Davey Lopes popped out before Buckner lined his single for the game winner.
Game 2 Summary: Dodger catcher Steve Yeager hit a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the 10th off Rollie Fingers to give the Dodgers a 2-1 victory for the second day in a row and a 2-0 lead in the series. Mike Marshall earned the win for the second day in a row while Rollie Fingers suffered the loss for the second straight game.
All the runs came on solo homers, Ron Cey hit one off Vida Blue in the bottom of the fifth to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Gene Tenace tied the game with a solo shot in the seventh off starter Don Sutton.
Game 3 Summary: Bill Russell’s three-run homer in the top of the fourth off “Catfish” Hunter was all the Dodgers needed in their 3-2 victory. Al Downing picked up the victory pitching five shutout innings before Walter Alston went to his bullpen. Downing is well known for surrendering homerun number 715 off Henry Aaron but fails to get credit for a solid career that included several world series appearances with the New York Yankees.
For the second game in a row, all the runs came off homer’s as the A’s hit two solo shots. One by Sla Bando (off Jim Brewer) in the bottom of the sixth and the other by Gene Tenance off Mike Marshall in the bottom of the ninth. Marshall earned the save by pitching two innings in relief.
Game 4 Summary: Despite allowing four runs in relief, Rollie Fingers still earned the save and kept the A’s alive as they hung on to a 6-5 victory over the Dodgers in Oakland. The A’s got two unearned runs off Andy Messersmith in the bottom of the first off a two-base error by Ron Cey. The two teams traded runs as the A’s held a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. Jim Brewer was on in relief of Andy Messersmith and allowed five hits in the inning which plated three men putting Oakland up 6-2. Reggie Jackson hit a one out double which was followed by three straight singles from Joe Rudi (which scored Jackson), Claudell Washington, and Ray Fosse (scoring Joe Rudi). Dick Green lined out before Rollie Fingers delivered a hit that scored Washington.
Joe Ferguson lined a two-run singled in the top of the eighth that scored Jim Wynn and Steve Garvey. The “Toy Cannon” connected for a two-run homer off Fingers with two outs in the top of the ninth which cut the lead to a run. Steve Garvey grounded out to end the game.
Game 5 Summary: Vida Blue went eight innings and escaped with a win as the A’s took advantage of poor fielding by the Dodgers in their 5-4 victory and brought them back in the series. Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Dodgers committed two errors (one each by Bill Russell and Ron Cey) which led to three runs. The A’s took a 5-2 lead in the seventh when Bill North singled home Burt Campaneris. Rollie Fingers earned the save when he entered the game with a man on third with nobody out. Russell led off with a double and scored on Steve Yeager’s triple. A’s manager Alvin Dark then took the long walk to the mound replacing the tired Blue with Fingers who had not been effective all series.
Pinch Hitter Willie Crawford drew a walk putting runners at first and third with no outs. Dark drew his infield in at the corners but Davey Lopes grounded out to second that scored Yeager and advanced Crawford to second. Bill Buckner and Jim Wynne each flew out to end the game. As the series got set to move back to LA, Dodger manager Walter Alston named Al Downing to start, keeping Andy Messersmith for a seventh game if needed. Jim Hunter got the nod from Alvin Dark.
Game 6 Summary: Al Downing gave manager Walter Alston all he wanted, five decent innings before giving way to the bullpen as the Dodgers handled the A’s 6-2, to earn the Series. Solo homers by Steve Garvey (bottom of the 2nd) and Jim Wynn (bottom of the 4th) gave Downing a 2-0 lead going into the fifth.
Downing threw five shutout innings in Game 3 to earn the win and so far had thrown nine shutout innings. The Dodger defense would crumble again as two unearned runs scored in the fifth and tied the game. Sal Bando led off and reached on an error by Davey Lopes. Reggie Jackson then reached on an error by Steve Garvey which put men on first and second. Joe Rudi then doubled home both men before Downing retried the next three hitters.
Downing was lifted for pinch hitter Von Joshua in the bottom of the inning and would be replaced by young left-hander Geoff Zahn who made his series debut. Zahn retired all six men he faced and he would earn the victory. Jimmy Wynn hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the sixth with Bill Buckner aboard putting the Dodgers up for good, 4-2. Two more runs would be added in the bottom of the seventh putting the game out of reach. Mike Marshall relieved Zahn in the top of the eighth and retired all six men he faced as Burt Campaneris was the final out with a grounder to second.
1975 World Series Replay: Reds vs. Red Sox (No Game 6 Heroics)
Game 1: Reds 10 Red Sox 3 WP Gullett LP Kirby
Game 2: Reds 13 Red Sox 11 WP McEnaney LP Moret
Game 3: Red Sox 5 Reds 2 WP Wise LP Nolan SV Drago
Game 4: Reds 4 Red Sox 0 WP Norman LP Tiant
Game 5: Reds 3 Red Sox 0 WP Gullett LP Cleveland
Game 1 Summary: Luis Tiant’s parents finally got the chance to see him pitch in the big leagues thanks to some political maneuvering in Washington D.C. with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Tiant would last seven innings but run out of gas during a four run seventh for Cincinnati. The game was knotted 2-2 going into the seventh when Pete Rose led off with a double and scored one out later on a Johnny Bench single putting the Reds ahead 3-2.
George Foster would double Bench to third with two outs and both would score on a triple by Davey Concepcion putting the game out of reach at 6-2. Bench would hit a three-run homer off Jim Burton in the eighth and each team added a run in the ninth. Incidentally, Darrell Chaney continued his hot hitting with a pinch hit RBI single off Diego Segui in the ninth. Clay Kirby would finish up for the Reds after seven strong innings from starter Don Gullett.
Game 2 Summary: A seven run ninth inning by the Reds stunned the Fenway faithful as Boston blew a three run lead only to lose by a deuce. Roger Moret who pitched a 1-2-3 eighth started the ninth in a tough way. Caesar Geronimo led off with a single, pinch hitter Merv Rettenmund drew a walk, and Pete Rose singled to load the bases. Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson kept Moret in to face lefty Joe Morgan and Morgan beat out an infield single making the score 9-7 Boston. Johnson then summoned Dick Drago who immediately gave up a two-run double to Johnny Bench which tied the game.
Tony Perez was walked intentionally before George Foster made the first out of the inning with a liner to short. Davey Concepcion walked forcing in a run and giving the Reds a 10-9 lead. Ken Griffey reached on a fielder’s choice with a drawn infield that forced Bench at the plate. Geronimo delivered the fatal blow with a three-run double before Rettenmund grounded out to end the inning with the score 13-9 Reds.
Boston managed two runs off Rawley Eastwick in the ninth but it was not enough as they found themselves down 2-0 heading back to Riverfront Stadium. Starters Jack Billingham and Bill Lee each pitched well but both teams had bullpen issues.
Game 3 Summary: Cecil Cooper led off the game with a homer and Dwight Evans had a solo shot to go with a two-run homer by Carlton Fisk as Boston built up a 5-0 lead by the fourth inning and never looked back. Rick Wise pitched seven solid innings allowing two runs and Dick Drago bounced back from a horrible Game 2 disaster to earn the save by pitching two scoreless innings. Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench each had solo homers for the Reds. The win got the Red Sox back in the series as they now trail 2-1.
Game 4 Summary: Fred Norman went the distance allowing just five hits and two walks as the Reds cruised to a 4-0 win to take the large lead in the series at 3-1. Cincinnati logged single runs in the bottom of the first, fourth, seventh, and eighth. Luis Tiant pitched well over seven innings but it just wasn’t as good as Norman’s effort. Norman did not strike out a single batter. Joe Morgan and Dave Concepcion each had seven assists. Pete Rose was the hitting star going 4 for 5 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
Game 5 Summary: Don Gullett cruised the distance allowing only three hits while walking two in the Reds 3-0 series clincher over the Red Sox. The Reds took an early 1-0 lead off Reggie Cleveland in the bottom of the first when Joe Morgan singled home Ken Griffey. Griffey tripled with one out. George Foster added a solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth and Griffey scored again in the seventh when Roger Moret hit tony Perez with a pitch while the bases were loaded.
Load the background music which would soon become the opening for This Week in Baseball beginning in 1978…..DAH DAH! DAH DAH! DAH, DAH, DAH-DA DA-DAH!
The Game 2 loss really put the hurt on Boston and a victory there probably would have made the series goes the distance and perhaps turn out different.
Oh my! The Big Red Machine is oiled and rolling. Lookout Yankees - here they come.
1976 World Series: Yankees vs. Reds (A little closer than expected)
Game 1: Reds 7 Yankees 0 WP Gullett LP Alexander
Game 2: Yankees 1 Reds 0 WP Hunter LP Norman
Game 3: Reds 8 Yankees 4 (10) WP Eastwick LP Lyle
Game 4: Yankees 5 Reds 4 WP Lyle LP Borbon
Game 5: Reds 7 Yankees 4 (15) WP Billingham LP Jackson
Game 6: Reds 9 Yankees 7 WP Zachry LP Ellis
This was Billy Martin’s first world series as manager after two LCs defeats in Minnesota and Detroit respectively. This was also the first year that the DH was utilized in the World Series and it began a tenure of alternating each season. The ironic part is that it started in a year when the National League had home field advanatage. Lou Piniella of the Yankees and Dan Driessen of the Reds were the inaugural starting DHs.
Game 1 Summary: This one was never close, the Reds inked two runs in the bottom of the first and four more in the third while Don Gullet went seven innings. Tony Perez who struggled in the ’72 and ’75 series’, was the hitting start with three hits and three RBIs. Santo Alcala pitched two scoreless innings for the Reds as Sparky Anderson had the perfect spot to put the struggling 25 year-old Dominican in the game with little pressure. “The kid came from nothing and he will always be able to say he pitched in a World Series,” barked Anderson.
Game 2 Summary: Fred Stanley scored on a double play in the top of the 8th inning and was the only man to score in the game as the Yankees evened the series at one apiece. Stanley led off the inning with a double off Freddie Norman. Norman then walked Mickey Rivers and Roy White to load the bases. Reds manager Sparky Anderson opted to put the corner bagmen in but Thurman Munson hit a ball to Dave Concepcion starting the double play and scoring Stanley. “With our offense I figured we could get the run back and did not want to risk a two-run single late in the game,” said Anderson. Jim Hunter went the distance for the Yankees allowing just three hits.
Game 3 Summary: A four-run 10th inning for the Reds broke a 4-4 tie and gave the Reds the lead in the series 2-1. Oscar Gamble hit a solo homer for the Yankees in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at four. The Yankees jumped on Pat Zachry in the bottom of the first plating three runs, two on a single by Carlos May. Ken Griffey started the scoring for the Reds with a homer in the first. Pete Rose doubled in two men in the second and Dan Driessen hit a sac fly in the third to give the Reds a 4-3 lead. Sparky Lyle lost control of his screwball in the top of the 10th walking three men which is something that will always haunt you against the Reds offense.
Game 4 Summary: Graig Nettles singled home Thurman Munson with two outs in the bottom of the ninth giving the Yankees a 5-4 victory. Sparky Lyle recovered from a tough game three loss to earn the win as the Yankees evened the series 2-2. Each team scored two runs in the first before the Reds took a 4-2 lead in the fourth when Pete Rose doubled home George Foster and Dave Concepcion. The Yanks would get a run each in the third and fourth on homers by Oscar Gamble and Roy White. Pedro Borbon took the loss for the Reds. Neither starter (Ed Figueroa nor Gary Nolan) were effective.
Game 5 Summary: Joe Morgan hit a bases loaded triple off Grant Jackson in the top of the 15th in this wild affair. Each team pounded 15 hits but defense lagged as the Yankees committed three errors and the Reds two. New York got two runs in the first when Chris Chambliss doubled home Roy White and Thurman Munson. Munson reached on an error by Pete Rose. Rose would double in the fifth and score on a triple by Joe Morgan cutting the Yankee lead to a run.
The Reds took a 3-1 lead in the seventh when Munson brought home Mickey Rivers with a single. Sparky Lyle would surrender two runs in the top of the ninth as the Reds tied the game thanks to a triple by Pete Rose (which scored Caesar Geronimo) and a sac fly by Ken Griffey bringing home Rose.
The Reds would take a 4-3 lead in the 11th when Griffey hit a one out double that scored Dave Concepcion from first. That lead would be short lived, as the Yankees tied it in the bottom half of the inning thanks to three walks by Rawley Eastwick and a single by Graig Nettles. The Yankees let a golden opportunity slip by and would have to win both games in Cincinnati in order to capture the series.
Game 6 Summary: The Reds captured the series winning 9-7 but the Yankees made a furious comeback in the final four innings after trailing 9-0. The Reds got three runs off Dock Ellis in the top of the first thanks to four hits, two triples (Pete Rose and Joe Morgan) and two singles (Ken Griffey and George Foster). They would add another run in the third before a big five-run fourth. Joe Morgan doubled in two runs before he was driven in on a homerun by George Foster. The homer by Foster was the only one of the series hit by Cincinnati. Oddly, the Yankees only hit three, two by Oscar Gamble and one by Roy White.
Pat Zachry tired in the sixth allowing two runs but Reds skipper Sparky Anderson was not worried since he possessed a strong bullpen. Pedro Borbon who pitched strong in the ’72 and ’75 tilts, surrendered three runs in two inning as the Yankees cut the Reds deficit to four runs (9-5). Anderson summoned Rawley Eastwick to close out the game but Bill Martin’s team still had fight in them. Pinch hitter Carlos May opened the inning with a walk and immediately reached third on a double by Mickey Rivers. Eastwick then got Roy White to bounce out to third as Rose kept May at third base. Thurman Munson hit a shallow fly ball for an out which was not deep enough to score the runner. Chris Chambliss then lined a single scoring both runners. Anderson went to the mound to stall so Jack Billingham could begin to warm up. Oscar Gamble represented the tying run and Greg Nettles was on deck so Anderson had no choice but to pitch to him. Gamble lined sharply to Tony Perez to end the game. Anderson tinkered with his lineup moving foster to clean-up which paid dividends as he drove in three runs. Rose had three hits, Griffey four, and Morgan had two.
1977 World Series Replay: Dodgers vs. Yankees (Was this 1978 instead)?
Game 1: Dodgers 9 Yankees 6 WP Hough LP Gullett SV Sosa
Game 2: Dodgers 11 Yankees 9 WP Hough LP Tidrow
Game 3: Yankees 4 Dodgers 1 (10) WP Lyle LP Hough
Game 4: Yankees 3 Dodgers 2 WP Guidry LP Rau SV Lyle
Game 5: Yankees 4 Dodgers 1 WP Gullett LP Sutton SV Lyle
Game 6: Yankees 4 Dodgers 3 WP Torrez LP Hooton SV Lyle
Free-Agency really takes off, Elvis Presley dies at 42, “The Straw that Stirred the Drink”, Son of Sam murders, 1977 was quite a year and New York was where most of the happenings took place. Embattled manager Billy Martin feuded with owner George Steinbrenner, the clubhouse was divided into the Munson or Jackson camp, yet the Yankees persevered and took the series in six games. This time trailing 2-0 and winning four straight similar to the actual 1978 events but this time in a fantasy replay which took place one year earlier.
The Yankees had two starting pitchers making their fifth World Series appearance although nothing new to the Yankees these appearances came in the same decade but due to Free Agency. Don Gullett came over from the Reds in the off-season while Jim Hunter was throwing in his second fall classic with the Yankees after three with Oakland.
Game 1 Summary: The Dodgers jumped on Don Gullett in the first inning scoring four runs on four hits and aided by two walks. Gullet would settled down until the seventh before the Dodgers knocked in five more runs two more off him and three off Sparky Lyle. They Yankees actually had 5-4 going into the seventh thanks to a three-run homer by Reggie Jackson. Don Sutton would only last 2 1/3 innings for the Dodgers but got great relief from Charlie Hough the eventual winning pitcher and Elias Sosa.
Game 2 Summary: This was a wild one from the start, the Dodgers held a 6-0 lead going into the seventh. The Yankees countered with three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game. The Dodgers would plate five in the ninth and then be forced to hold off the Bronx Bombers as they scored three in the bottom of the ninth. Los Angeles hit four homers, Rick Monday had two 2-run shots, Davey Lopes added a two-run shot, and Reggie Smith a solo shot. Smith and Monday homered in the ninth. Jim Hunter allowed six runs but managed to pitch six innings, Burt Hooton pitched well enough to win for the Dodgers but Charlie Hough could not hold the lead in the eighth.
Game 3 Summary: A run scoring double by Thurman Munson and two-run homer by Lou Piniella in the top of the 10th enabled the Yankees to down the Dodgers 4-1 and marked their first win in the series. Munson had an RBI double off Tommy John in the top of the first as well. The Dodgers would tie the game in the bottom of the fourth when Mike Torrez walked Rick Monday with the bases loaded. That was the only blemish against Torrez who went eight innings. The Dodgers has a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. They loaded the bases with nobody out against Dick Tidrow before Sparky Lyle came in and retired Bill Russell, Reggie Smith, and Ron Cey all on short fly balls which were not deep enough to score Manny Mota who led off the inning with a double. The Dodgers never recovered from this game as the Yankees found ways to get key hits the rest of the series while the Dodgers could not.
Game 4 Summary: Both Doug Rau and Ron Guidry put in strong outings but the Yankees benefited with three RBI singles with two outs throughout the game giving them the 3-2 win but more importantly tying the series at two games each.
Game 5 Summary: Don Gullett pitched six innings and Sparky Lyle the final three to earn the save and give the Yankees a 3-2 series lead in this 4-1 victory at Dodger Stadium. Don Sutton was rolling along for six innings but ran out of gas in the top of the seventh when the Yankees notched three runs, two on a pinch hit double by Roy White.
Game 6 Summary: The Yankees scored three runs in the sixth inning to overcome a two-run Dodger lead while Sparky Lyle pitched three more scoreless innings to save the game for Mike Torrez and give the Yankees the championship with a one run victory (4-3).
