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