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Machine. A group of parts acting together to create a force, a motion. Go ahead, look it up in the dictionary.
That's what the word machine means. And someday very soon you'll be able to look not in Webster's, but in the record books of baseball and find this phrase, the Big Red Machine.
A group of men in Cincinnati, Ohio, who in the year 1970, acted together to create a force that bombarded the left field fences, smashed center field fences, and obliterated right field fences.
The Big Red Machine that just would not stop, could not be stopped by anybody, any team in the National League. And the machine started rolling from the opening garden, the opening day of the season 1970.
Just about set and ready for the 1970 season to get underway in the National League. The Reds with the traditional opener here before a packhouse. Better than 30,000 will be here this afternoon. Cloudy and damp and rather chilly, Joe, as Jim Merritt and Joe Sparmer get set to square off.
Jim, of course, the damp weather kind of worries you, the temperature, because coming out of Florida, we've been touched by the warm weather down there. You just wonder what effect it might have on the two pitchers this afternoon.
We've had 58 opening days at Crosley Field, Joe. This is the 59th, and this will be the last. The Reds moving into the new riverfront stadium.
The Big Red Machine didn't need to warm up. Bang, wham, bang, three quick home runs let the world know right off the bat. This was the name of the Cincinnati game. Two blasts were belted by Lee May and Bobby Toler. And then came this shot by a raw rookie named Carbo.
Carbo at 359 at Indianapolis last year and led the American Association. Joe Sparmer, right-hander, kicks and throws.
Sworn on a high drive, deep right center field, that ball was well hit. Going up and up, it hit the light tower, not a deep right center field. A home run for Bernie Carbo. Following a home run by Lee May and the Reds, they get three and nothing.
And speaking of rookies, what about Wayne Simpson? Once a control trouble kid, on April 9th, he rared back and fired this two hitter at the Dodgers.
Two outs, bottom of the ninth, and young Wayne Simpson is working on a whitewash job in his first major league start. One ball, one strike. Fitzgibbon Simpson swung on a high bouncer, third base line, and up with it is Perez over the bench. A burst and tiny gutting for the third out to retire the side. And Wayne Simpson shuts out the Los Angeles Dodgers on two little singles, one by Sizemore and one by Crawford. It is first major league start.
In one day, one memorable day, an old star was hurt and a new star discovered. The great Jim Maloney ruptured the tendon in his left ankle. But 19-year-old Don Gullit discovered the greatness in his left arm.
This is the eighth inning and the Reds are leading 10-2. Big lead. Young Don Gullit stands to be the winning pitcher in this ball game if he can keep them going and getting them out. Here's a strike at the knees, a good fast ball, and that one really set by and constantly gave him a chance to take a good cut.
There's a swing and a high five ball to right field. And up in and over under is Piroz waiting and makes the catch for the third out to retire the side. Gullit gets the Dodgers in the eighth inning. No runs, one hit, and one man left off.
Don Gullit has fixed himself five terrific innings in relief here against the Dodgers. All they are are three hits as we go to the last half of the eighth inning. The Reds, 10 and the Dodgers, 2. Very sad report on Jim Maloney. He was ruptured. He's a college tendon in his left ankle. So a real very serious injury to Jim Maloney.
Well that's what it takes to make a great machine. One part stops, the others work just a little better, a little harder, taking up the slack. McLaughlin, Merritt, Nolan, Simpson, all the pitchers stayed in their pitching, and the hitters, boy they did some hitting.
Well that's Gullit at third base here in the eighth inning, and the Reds are leading by a score of 9 to 5 in here's to beat Piroz. Bill Pappas on the mound for Braves, the third, and Lantopachy. Two balls, one strike to Piroz. Here's a swing and a high five.
Get out of here, get out of here. He can't get it over a whole line. Piroz has just done a full run over the center field, scoring John Collingham to make the score 11 to 5, and that is full run number 7 in the game.
Well here in Atlanta tonight the Reds make it 13 wins in their first 17 games. Hang on to first place in the Western Division, filing up 17 hits. 13 runs, 17 hits in one hour for the Reds, 8 runs, 11 hits in one hour for Atlanta, and 10 home runs were hit in this ballgame here tonight.
Boy what a fast getaway this big Red machine was making. Their heavy artillery was the talk of the sports world. If Bench didn't bang one out, Tony Piroz did.
Tony Piroz has the plate. Tony, well, one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now, seems like everything he hits, a line drive. The master checks hole in the third, lines the pitch. Piroz swings. All right, the one C out and that's 15 on the 10th hit in. Tony has his 10th home run of the year, 25 RBIs.
Please, class four, three to one here in the third inning. Tony has tied the major league mark and set a new national league record for home runs in the first month of the season. April turned to May and still the rampaging Reds machine kept turning it on.
This time it was the Pirates who walked the plank three times in a three game series.
The Reds won 11 to 7, sweep the Pirates. Friday night it was Wayne Simpson and a six to four win and last night it was Jimmy Thompson hurls a complete game and gets a seven to two victory.
And this afternoon here, the Reds make it three straight over the Pirates, 11 to 7, and now have won 19 of their first 25 games. It doesn't matter much who else hits. If Rose doesn't hit, the Reds don't win.
That's been the story in other years and Pete Rose hit. But this year, Pete was off to a slow start and the fans were talking mostly about the other hitters in the Reds lineup. Well, Mr. Rose did sharpen up that fabulous batting touch and as usual, he did it with style.
Jimmy Stewart at first and here's Pete Rose, ninth and eighth, score a tie by five. Ferguson Dickens going all the way for the Cots. The Reds have gotten to him for ten hits but he's still out there pitching two all-time strikes.
They're going to have to pitch to Big Swim on a high fly, deep left turn. Hit it, hit it, hit it. All-time. Pete Roberts has just over and left center field leaser scoring a short hander down the Reds' sixth and eight, seven to five.
Most of the league's red hot hitters were wearing red stockings, but there was one guy down in Atlanta that nobody could get up.
Hitter Jim McLaughlin.
And the pitch is swung, and a smash from out, McLaughlin's swung all down for a second, McLaughlin's in and up with an over to Manny, and Manny McLaughlin's a close play.
31 straight, he couldn't make it 32 against the Reds and McLaughlin here today. Maybe the Reds could handcuff Rico, but nobody in the National League has ever handcuffed hammering Henry Harris.
And on May 17th, Hank Aaron made this hit, and history.
Hank Aaron at the point with Felix Beatt on second base, one down, first inning, game number two, today's twin bit. Beautiful day for baseball.
And a swing and a high bouncer over the mound, charging over Woodward in front of the bag, up with it, here's his 12th first, not in time, Beatt is coming around third, he's had it all, here's the 12th of May to the plate, not in time there, he slides in straight, and Aaron is safe in first.
And there's that 3,000th, and time is called, they're holding up the game, and here's Hank Aaron at first base, and the crowd is standing to applaud as Aaron and Donsie's kept, time called, he walks over, and here's Stan Musial coming out, Joe, to congratulate him and hand him that ball that he just got his 3,000th.
Here we are in the middle of May, and to hear the fans talk, you would have thought it was October. People were talking pennant, and making their World Series plans, and who could blame them? The Big Red Machine was rolling, rolling, rolling.
17 wins in 21 games at home, rolling on, rolling over the Western Division. Seven games in front already, and more coming. Remember what it was like, Donsie?
Nux and I sat up here, and we were afraid to blink our eyes, afraid we'd miss another home run.
That's a home run for Lee May. Back to the wall. It is in the seat of the home run for Mike Carbone.
That's a home run for Lee May.
Connie and Dons want to cut it. That's a way back. That's a home run. That's a 50-point lead.
That might be. It's a wall and over. Home run, Mike Carbone.
With this heavy bombardment, no wonder the month of May ended up 20 wins and only 8 losses, capped by Jim Merritt's mastery of Montreal to become the season's first 10-game winner in the majors.
Two men down, the bases loaded. The Rad's are leading 6-4 here in the night inning. One strike to go, and the Rad's will rack up another victory over the X-Balls. Here's the windup. The pitch is swinging on out. The Rad's over up with it.
The X-Balls back in the night inning, but they don't score as Wayne Granger sets them down and gets settled on a high-pump serve. Tony Eddonover, who he's not to make the play, and they leave them loaded in the night inning.
No runs, they hit Manera, and three men left, and the Rad's won it 6-4 and sweep the X-Balls to make it 36 wins in their first 50 ball games.
Boy, what a difference one year can make. Last year it was the Amazin' Mets, this year the Amazin' Reds.
Two out here in the night inning, the Rad's are leading 10-2, and here's Simpson's first pitch. On and outside, ball one. There's a swing and a high-pump of foul off the first-game line. Over under it is Warren. Warren is calling for it. He's there, he makes it. He's burnt out, and Simpson sets the Mets down on the night inning. The Rad's won it, 10-2, and sweep the series, and the Mets 3-0.
31, count of 31 opposing pitchers have taken the mound at Crosley Field against our Big Red Machine, and 31 have taken an early shower. Shellshocked victims of the Big Red Blaster.
But finally, on June 21st, the Dodgers' Don Sutton went to pull 9 and beat the Rad's 9-3, the first opposing pitcher to go the route at Crosley Field. Well, we snapped out of it quickly, like we always snap, with the long ball. All runs 100, 101, 102.
Help to cut the Giants down to size, and we're hit by Perez, May, and an unsung hero named Al. Here's Al McCray, two men around, nobody on base. 3-2, the Rad's are leading the last half of the game.
On the mound, the Giants, right to the ball, here's McCray, a high-fly on the left field. Down to the corner, and back over, and it's up to Sam. Can't get it, it's on the speed of home run. Down the play, and just within a high-fly on the left field line, and player to top of the first line-up.
And we've got Al McCray 5 feet inside the foul ball on the right field, 4-2. Now you say goodbye to an old friend. There are a lot of ballparks that are just like a lot of other ballparks. Bland, no personality. But nobody could ever say that about Crosley Field.
There was more than fond memories within her walls, there was history. An entire era of our national pastime came to a dramatic close on June the 24th.
Johnny Ventures all-around, and Joe Cridle with a 4-4. And Mr. Marischal is now allowing the Rad's nine hits, and we've got a brand new ballgame, 4-4, here in the eighth inning. 2-2 to May, on Beck-Burney-Carbone, the outfielder on the left and deep.
On the last day of June, the Rad's officially opened their spacious new showcase, Riverfront Stadium, baseball's finest facility. With 51,050 fans looking on, and the flags flying and all that fanfare, you just knew something had to go wrong.
And it did. The Braves spoiled the script 8-2. On July 1st, however, the Rad's got revenge and beat Atlanta 9-2 for their first stadium victory.
Years from now, people will be guessing which of those big muscle men on the 1970s Rad's hit the first home run at Riverfront. Was it Finch, May, Perez? Guess again.
Tommy Helms, there he is, reached for switches of ball, high and outside. But he out-clined it first, six inning reds, four, Braves, nothing. Now the pitch is swung on a high drive.
It hit the foul pole screen, the home run. The home run, Tommy Helms, scoring high-clined ahead of him. Well now, Tommy Helms with his first home run of 1970, just above the fence, and it hit the foul pole screen.
That's the first home run in the new Riverfront Stadium by a member of the Cincinnati Rad.
The Rad's hurlers came through, too. Nobody could believe Wayne Simpson and his sensational rookie record. 13 wins, one loss, 10 wins in a row.
That's what Wayne was celebrating after the July 4th weekend and the fireworks didn't stop there.
Gary Nolan and Jim Merritt fired back-to-back shutouts at the pot race, and the whole staff pitched more complete games than during the entire 1969 season.
Three straight losses in mid-July would be normal for most teams. For the red-hot Reds, it was to be their longest losing streak of the season.
But everybody came around, and the Reds reeled off three straight to keep 10-up on the Dodgers at the All-Star break. Tony Klontiger helped out, Ray Washburn saved one of those games.
But most memorable of all was the day little Woody Woodward became the Sultan of Swat.
The Rad's batting in the eighth inning now with one out and Carvel with first, and here's Woody Woodward. Ron Reed, who's been staggering along here, holds on to a 10-to-5 lead.
Ron Reed takes a stretch, a look over the shoulder, and out of it, and is making a high-five all over the field. Back to Jimmy Hall, back to Jeff Wallace, and over the fence, a hold on. Woody Woodward is just in a hold on to make it back to seven now, throwing Carvel ahead of him. And how about that?
They said last year that the Mets were the team of destiny, that they seemed touched by that special magic that makes impossible dreams become possible.
So, nobody was surprised that at the All-Star game with President Nixon looking on the game's greatest galaxy of stars doing battle, nobody was surprised to see Cincinnati supply the hero as our own Pete Rose came busting into the home plate with a winning run.
The second half of the season began with the Reds traveling to Pittsburgh for the Pirates' first game in their new Three Rivers Stadium, and Tony Perez and the Reds spoiled the occasion for the Bucks.
Only Perez took the plate and held the ball in his stride. Ellis checks it all in the second base, delivers a fast ball. There it goes. The Reds, 30th home run of the year, and the Reds lead 2-1.
Just two days later, Jim Merritt stopped the Pirates again, 3-1, to become the first 15-game winner in baseball. But winning games isn't all there is to pitching, as Wayne Granger, who is just great at saving games.
On July 24th, he saved game number 22 for Gary Nolan as the Reds routed the Redbirds 4-0. How do you pick highlights from a year like Johnny Bench had? Maybe one such day was the 26th of July.
Alright, Jim, it will be Johnny Bench for the leadoff of the fifth inning. John has had two home runs already in the ball game. In the first inning with two on, his 31st home run of the year, he hit number 32 in the second inning with one on, he's leading off the fifth.
Steve Carlton on the mound. His first pitch to Bench is going inside the ball. Johnny has had 32 home runs, and here he is, one ball, no strikes with Carlton. Carlton winds, a third ball going inside, it's 2-0. Carlton's ready with his 31st.
The fastball, on the right, left field, going back to the right, he's not going to get to that one. It lands in the fourth goal of the green field. Bench's third home run of the game.
John's now at 33 home runs on the year, and, well, what can you say about the other Johnny Bench? So the Reds defeat the Cardinals here this afternoon in a wild and woolly one, 12-5, and look at the line score for Johnny Bench.
Three home runs a single, four for five on the day, and seven runs batted in. Seven of the 12 scored for the Reds knocked across the Johnny Bench, homers in the first, second, and fifth, and the Reds whopped the Cardinals 12-5.
On August 1st, the Reds set their all-time attendance mark. 1,131,076 fans had come to cheer on the Big Red Machine, which responded this day with a 6-4 win over the Cubs, and Bobby Tolan waited until the 11th inning of the next game to personally beat the Cubs again.
Two men out, flying in second rows at first, and Pizarro completing his wallop tosses to work to Bobby Tolan. The Reds three the Cubs three, and Boyd is proud here this afternoon to love the 11th inning.
Extra innings for the Cincinnati Reds. This is the sixth time the Reds have played overtime, and they've won four of their first five extra inning games, and here's Bobby's step again.
Pizarro the third Cubs pitcher, following Holtzman and Jim Colborne, and now here's Pizarro, battering left-hander. First pitch to Bobby is a ball inside.
Rows at first, flying at second, and two down in the bottom half of the 11th inning. 3-3, Boyd what a ball game. These Cubs are tough. A swing and a low line drive at center field, and up the hill, Kate Middendorf in her playing, and around the corner, the Scullers come.
Guess they clean hit the center field, the traffic zone couldn't get to it, and the Reds win 4-3 in 11 innings over the Cubs.
When did you begin to think the Reds were in? Well for me, I guess it was after the four game series with the Dodgers in early August out on the coast. If they swept us, they were back in the rights.
But when we got a split, the headlines in Los Angeles read, Dodgers Magic Number Now 1971. I guess that's when I began to believe the 1970 Reds were going all the way to the flag.
With the Dodgers dead and buried, the question was not whether the Reds would conquer the West, but when they would do it. The only thing that could possibly stop them now was injuries.
The Big Red Machine may be a lot of things, but they are not superstitious. And on the 13th day of August, Ben Shumay gave that fact some dramatic proof. Listen.
297 average. He can do it all. Ben Shumay swings flat over left, the paint is served, it's a home run for Johnny Mitch. And another barrel of beer, brought in number 40 for Josh.
And the boys right up in the dugouts are greeting. A home run for Johnny Mitch. Torres Perez ahead of him. And the Reds take the lead 2-1.
Somebody out here is Lee May. Lee May waiting for the 1-1. It is. The change up is outside. Two balls to strike. Sadecki works. Five-ball with deep right. That might be. That's a home run for Lee May.
That's 25 for Lee. And 55 gallons of Super-L.
Speaking of superstitions, don't believe that old tale about pitchers not knowing how to hit.
Ryan Ready to pitch to Conniger, who he has struck out twice. Gets this one outside, ball one. Conniger's been called out once and he's gone down swinging once. Johnny Bench now has 118 runs batted in. He's batted in all three today.
Way back and a home run. Oh no, hit the top of the fence and bounce back. No, it didn't either. It hit me in the feet out there. Over the top of the fence. A home run.
Great day in the morning for Tony Palmer, that's it. Maybe no victory is quite as sweet as victory over the World Champs.
For Morris, no time to play. That's all the scores. The Reds take a 3-2 lead. Bench doubles to the right field wall.
Ryan and Thomas score at his 3-2 Reds in the ninth.
Whoever heard of a good machine running very long without spare parts? And that was the Red's secret this year.
Zealots 0-2 pitch. Swirl on, fly ball, deep to right. Going like Scamota. Looking up, out of all fronts. Jimmy Stewart. It is first-room run of the year. The Reds score up front, 7-5.
How about that? Jimmy Stewart, a 10-cent home run. And the Reds lead last ball, 7-5.
If there's one guy the girls love and the pitchers hate, it's Bernie Carville.
That's it. That's it. Slow curve and it's hit the left. Deep back-toe break to the wall. In the deep of the home run for Bernie Carville. Bernie Carville hits one of the opposite field. Number 21, Bernie Bench and Bay ahead of him. And the Reds take a lead now.
That's it. That's a home run for Bernie. Two home runs in the inning. It's now 6-2 Reds and coming up, Tommy Hill.
Ask Frankie Anderson what he does when he wants a game saved. He picks up the phone and calls for Granger, who saves 30 games through August.
Wayne walks one way or the other to get the ball back from Bench. Says something to Shag Crawford and turns and walks back to the hill. He's 3-0 to Staley with grand third base.
The boy at first. Wayne gets the sign. Here's the pitch. Strike call. He got it right over. It's 3-1. You have to figure out Staley to be taking in that situation.
Now it's 3-1. Wayne gets the sign. Sets. Delivers. Swung on a ground ball. He made it first. He'll make the play himself and end the game. And the Reds win by a score of 4-3 in the left inning.
September was a tune-up month for the Big Red Machine. With a big lead in the rest, Sparky Anderson started shotting the team for the playoffs to come.
As if the Dodgers weren't far enough out of it, along came a kid named Wilcox.
Wilcox was a second-round draft choice of the Reds in the regular phase in June of 1968. And here, just a little over two years after he was drafted, he's pitching in the Major Leagues.
He has the sign and throws and hollers a slow bouncer toward Elms who is in private and throws him out and ends the game.
And young Mr. Will Wilcox has shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-0. One fine performance.
In the night, no runs and one hit for L.A. with one man left. And the Reds win 6-0.
In his entire career, Lee May hit one grand slam. Yet this year alone, he hit three.
Here's Lee May. One out and runners at first, second and third. Chance for a big first inning right here. Wind up by Moeller in the pitch.
Line drive deep left, way back. Up, up, up it is. In the seat the home run I believe it is. A grand slam for Lee May.
Lee May hits the first pitch for Moeller. A line shot into the left center field, Leachers.
Line drive up over Moda's head. A grand slam for Lee May. And the Reds lead 5-0. Wow.
Music
Chatting with Lee May in the dugout. Lee, congratulations on a big, big home run.
Thank you very much, Jim. I know one thing, we've talked about it all along with the bench and the Perez batting ahead of you this year.
Oh, 130 and 120 some odd runs batted in. Here you have now 83 and I think that's an amazing total considering the fact you've been hitting behind those two guys.
Yeah, it's an after the game I think I told Johnny and Perez believing in on baseball change.
At least you had something to slot at, didn't you?
Right. I didn't know whether the ball was going to clear the fence or not, Lee. It looked like it was just over the top of the fence. You hit it so hard, but so low.
Right, I didn't think it was going to make it either because I saw a motor going back to the wall and he leaping. I thought it was going to be off the top of the wall, but I saw that it managed to get up under the bar some kind of way and I was proud of that.
This was it, the battle between the Pirates of the East and the Reds of the West. At stake, the National League pennant for 1970.
Both clubs were hungry for it. The Reds hadn't won it in nine years. The Pirates hadn't won it in ten.
Tension, that's the word to describe this meeting and the way to describe the first nine innings of that opening game in Pittsburgh is Doc Ellis and Gary Nolan threw bullets and it all came down to who would break it open in the tenth.
A one-two pitch. Fine swings, hits it into the right center field. It might be extra bases of this. Klein on his way to second. He couldn't get three, he's around second. On his way to third and he's in there. And a close play and a throw to Rich Hentner, but Ty Judge did get there.
Then with two out and Klein about to die on third, Mr. Reliable stepped up. Pete Rose at the plate, the Pirate in field pulls in. Rose has won the fourth. First pitch outside of all.
Ty Klein, a pitch triple. The Reds have their first real, real good opportunity to go out in front in this ballgame. One-oh pitch. Rose swings, blocks it into the right field and the Reds lead one and nothing.
After Bench was walked intentionally, the Bucks tried to get Lee May and couldn't do it.
On to the count now to Lee May for the O2 pitch. Swing on, wide barrel on the left field line. Rose will score. On his way to third, he spanks the balls by Jeter. Bench will score easily and May at second base with a double. The Reds lead three to nothing.
So that was game one and the Reds won it three to nothing. And I talked to Ty Klein after the game. Ty, I have to think that you gained a lot of respect from a lot of baseball fans everywhere for that big hit you came up with in the tenth inning to start us off to the victory.
Well I sure hope so, Jim. The bench was really exciting the whole game. Everybody was up and chatting on each play. Everybody was really exciting. In fact, when balls would hit our outfielders and infielders, everybody would start cheering. There was tremendous amount of excitement on the bench and all the fellas had to be given a great deal of credit for everything that they've done.
We pulled together all year. We've been a real fine unit and everybody's done their job and it's just been a tremendous year. We just hope things will continue and we'll have a tremendous series.
It's game two and if ever one man dominated one game more than Bobby Tolan did this day in Pittsburgh, well I've never seen it. Listen.
The pitch from a lot of bounce over the mound and in the center field of HF. Tolan makes the turn at first and holds as the loop feels involved in the hurry. The pitch Tolan goes and a pitch out but Bobby is there to ball into right center field. Tolan six four. He's the third and Gramison holding him up.
The throw gets by Sankean and bounces off Walker's leg behind the plate but Tolan is held at third base. The stretch of the pitch.
On inside it bounces away from Sankean and Tolan scores to one pitch. Swing on and hits deep to center field. Matty O'Chasey going back. He looks up. Bye bye baseball. And Bobby Tolan hits the first home run of the series for the reds lead two to nothing.
Bouncer over the mound up the middle end center and another hit for Tolan. His third of the day. Big turn puts on the brakes as the loop dared him to try and Bobby's thought better of it. Tolan leaves the pitch.
Reds it's a smash player by the first big track down the line in the corner. Tolan digging for third in the corner. That was his try. Tolan's going to try to score. He stops. Now the throw to the plate and he scores.
Guess who was my star of the game. Bobby have you hit a ball any higher than the one you hit in the fifth inning?
I don't think so Jim. I know I hit the ball a few but I didn't know the ball was going to go out of the net so I got to first base.
Tolan had a little stop 15-20. He knew it was done and I was real pleased about it.
Yes you had to be. Bobby what are the chances of pirates now? You'd kind of hate to be over in that dugout wouldn't you?
I know it's tough for them to come over to our ballpark and take three straight hits. I don't think any other national league team can come over and take three straight hits this year. It's tough for them and all I know is they're like that situation.
You kind of like it.
I love it.
Well two down one to go and home to Cincinnati we go to try and win it. In this one the pirates got one run in the first. Their first and only lead in the three game series. But how brief it was with the big red machine. They brought out their back to back home run guns.
Next pitch to Perez. One-two.
It's either left or right base. Start to look that it is out of here. Home run. Tony Perez. Left 55 down on the super end for a home run. The second in the series for the reds. And if you count all of them that's Tony's 41st in 1970.
And Betches with a deep left.
The Bucks tied it and it stood two to until Klein walked and rose single in the eighth to set the stage for the biggest base hit in Cincinnati history.
The count two strikes to throw in. Now the stretch. Here's the pitch.
Ground ball in the left field.
Here comes the throw and he is taking home the reds lead 3 to 2.
That was the tiebreaker and now it was Cincinnati by the Bucks. It all fell on the broad shoulders and strong left arm of a 19 year old kid who wasn't a kid anymore.
19 year old Don Gullett is called in from the bullpen.
There are two men out with Clemente on third and the batter Al Oliver.
Hey FDR.
The air goes bucky on the shoulders of the red players as the Reds win the National League
flag.
They're bombing each other in front of that dugout.
The club very orderly is staying back as the Reds wrap up the National League finish as
Don Gullick, Wayne Ranger, do the job and the right thing, they beat the Pirates 3-2.
We're chatting with Johnny Betch in the dugout, but he got a little champagne, didn't he,
Don?
Oh, all over my body.
Well, sweet it is.
I hope that microvoid doesn't short out your hand, John.
I've got them on a good weather on TV.
And they got you right back.
John, congratulations.
Thank you very much, Jim.
Thank you.
Let me get the champagne.
Can you see?
No.
I may well see tomorrow.
I love it.
It's beautiful.
I've been wasting it.
I'd like to taste it.
Tell him to just wait a little while there.
You can taste a little bit in a few minutes.
The Reds win the pennant.
That's the cry that kept the Queen City up late that night.
The players went wild.
The big red manly put together that special combination of raw power, defense, and pitching
balance to roll over the National League in 1970.
The World Series was rated so close that nobody in their right mind wanted to go out on a limb
and pick the winner.
Two beautifully balanced teams with the Birds rated stronger for front line pitching.
You never would have known it in the first game.
The big red machine tore into the Orioles for three quick runs.
There's a curve hit to the right field.
Robinson will round it down by up against the best.
Robinson with great speed goes to second base and will hold there with a double.
Coleman drives a curve ball off the wall about 380 feet away on the first half.
Now that's the first baserunner of the day.
Right-handed batter Palmer back with the fastball laced over the head.
It's over the left in Cincinnati.
Over the head of the Robinson, Bench makes the turn at first.
Cincinnati goes in front.
Bench swinging on the first pitch, finding a single over the head of Robinson at third base.
And Coleman scores from third.
Another curve ball deep to left field.
Back to those fielders looking up.
Hold them up.
Three to nothing Cincinnati.
The Birds battled back with three runs and the score was tied in the sixth
when the man who was to become the monkey wrench in the red machine struck for the first time.
The 2-2, the May swing ground ball third base side.
Brooks Robinson's got it going from foul ground toward first base.
It is in time.
And the golden glove artistry of Brooks Robinson was never more apparent than on that last play.
If that doesn't break Cincinnati's rally and their heart, this next play does.
A play called the most controversial call in baseball in 1970.
The set by Palmer.
Here comes the 2-2.
Curve ball swinging the ground ball.
Then it's going to be fair.
They wait for the hop and now Hendricks makes the grab and tags the letter coming to the plate.
It was the Baltimore chopper.
It hit right in front of the plate and then went straight under the air.
Hendricks was powerless to do anything but wait for it.
Carve ball broke for the plate.
Hendricks made the grab, fell on top of Carve ball with a tag for the second out of the inning.
And we have a beat from Cincinnati manager, Sparky Anderson.
Helms moves into second base.
On with the fielder's choice is Ty Klein, the pinch hitter.
They're now two out.
And Anderson continues his beat, the home plate, with the plate on Fahrken Berthardt.
That could be for several reasons.
Number one, Berthardt had his back to the play and had to look over his right shoulder.
According to a monitor that we have here for television, the tag was made and the runner, Carve ball, did not touch home plate.
But then again, Sparky Anderson might be out to say that Berthardt was in the way of the runner and blocking home plate, forcing Carve ball to slide around it.
In any case, the run does not count and they're two out.
And they've just thrown some towels on the field from the Cincinnati dugout.
Game number two began just the same way, when they're rolling out in front with the big red machine, four to nothing.
And at the plate now, Lee May.
They are six.
Klein drives well hit.
Alley left center field.
Blair can't get there.
It's all to Clump.
Off the wall, deep in left field, one run at this.
Here is Ferrez around third.
They're waving him home on his way to third.
Here goes May and there's no throw. A triple for May and the Reds lead two to nothing.
Here now is a foul at the third base out of an outback of Tray.
Tray has thrown to the plate.
It's wild.
And the third run scores.
And the Tray has reached.
Fly ball really will deep right field.
It's going to go home run Bobby Poehler.
But again, fate steps in.
The first in the Brooks Robinson, who once again robbed the Reds.
The pitch to May.
Ground ball suddenly.
Brooks Robinson now to third.
Throws to the back of back one.
Now to first.
Double play.
The long way around.
Brooks Robinson to Johnson to Bruce Harrell.
And Sebas on down pitch.
Stops the Reds in the third inning.
Once again, a defensive gem by the incredible Brooks Robinson seemed to signal a Baltimore rally.
Five times they scored in the fifth.
And when the Reds tried to get the lead back, in came reliever Dick Hall to slam the door.
Heavereaux kneeling on deck hoping to get a chance to back.
Six to five to score.
The pitch.
Ball is hit to center field.
Paul Blair going way back.
One to one in fact.
Curve.
Looks up and holds it.
And he hits the wall.
Here they start with amazing power.
The center field and Paul Blair with a pass of goal to drop catch and beat center field.
For the Reds and their fans, those two losses at home were hard losses to take.
Because now the action shifted to enemy territory where the Birds are mighty tough to beat.
Buford started off with a loss.
The Lanser flying to right.
Moved out with a gem and fouled out to Johnny Bench.
And then on the hit and run Robinson placed a line drive single right field.
Buford raced over the third base.
And on the three-two count Paul Blair walks to load the bases in this scoreless game.
Leninger looking in to Johnny Bench.
All the runners edging off.
Leninger ready to throw.
Drive out of the alley.
He had left their field.
It was rock and roll.
And picked up by Poland.
One run score.
Two runs scored.
The run.
The ball comes in to 20 for the Reds.
It is 2-0.
On a double by Brooks Robinson.
And what a series he has had.
Blake Robinson who used to play for Cincinnati went to Riverfront Stadium and didn't have
a hit in nine tries.
He came home to Baltimore Memorial Stadium where he's been since 1966.
Had a perfect hit and run single and scored a run in the first and a home run here in
the third.
Swarr on deep right.
Well hit.
Goes back.
Blowing back.
And it is a home run.
Over.
Three-one fetch for Bench.
Drew Holden.
A step.
A line stop.
And Brooks Robinson.
A drive in a one-point.
A third out for the Tigers.
What a play.
Wow.
What a play.
And the score now is eight to one Baltimore.
And the Tigers lead the second as players and throw their nine-five in a double.
And now the Orioles lead nine to three.
Down three games to none and on the brink of a sweep the Reds called on the pride that
had kept them rolling all season long.
In game four the lead seesawed back and forth.
The pitch swung on.
Lined in the right center field.
Boy hit.
The ball is going to the right side of the field.
May to second.
East to third.
He's around third scoring.
Concepcion headed for third and is there sliding with a triple.
The Reds lead the second game.
And the score is rolled and the second.
And May is on it first.
Two to one the Reds lead that's a hit.
And an RBI.
Frank Robinson at first.
Move now at second two out.
Two-two tie.
And two and one to Brooks.
Nolan shakes off one.
Okay is the next one.
Here it is.
Swung and hit up the middle.
And in the center field by it.
Now all around he's playing and the ball is going to the right side of the field.
Brooks and Frank Robinson going to third.
Brooks Robinson in the second.
And the Orioles think the lead three to two.
Then in the eighth with the Orioles up five to three.
Lee May.
Mr. Clutch hitter so many times before stepped up to the plate.
Reds with runners at first and third.
Nobody out.
And Lee May tossing aside the weight at bat and strolling up toward home plate.
And strolling back to the NBC microphone Jim Simpson.
All right Jim Lee May during the regular season hit 34 home runs.
Lee May back in 1969 he hit 38 home runs.
A home run here would catapult the Reds into a come to mind position.
And a six to five lead.
We knew this would be a tough eighth inning.
And thus far it is.
With Tony Perez at third, Johnny Venture first.
None out.
Baltimore leading five to three in the fourth game of the World Series.
And Eddie Waters ready and throws.
Long drive left field.
Back in zone.
Simpson at the lead.
One pitch.
And the two are in lead.
A Baltimore is wiped out.
It is six to five since the running.
The Reds fight back.
Maybe that's where we should leave the 1970 season on a high note because that's what it was.
The Big Red Machine, magnificent for six months, was just unlucky enough to run into another machine.
A vacuum cleaner named Brooks Robinson.
Sure our Reds lost the series.
But from Bob Housen down to the Bat Boy.
There was no regrets.
No shame.
Just pride in winning the pennant.
And lots of confidence in this great young team in the future.
Well, Sparky, it's officially over.
The season has ended.
Sincere congratulations.
Well, thank you so much, Jim.
And I'd just like to say to all the people that we won 102 ball games.
But you don't win these kind of ball games unless you have the type of ball club as we do.
I thought we were capable of, so we got going on to win 110.
And maybe we can look forward to that next year.
Thank you.