Next up in the Baseball Seasons series was the year 1975. Coming off 3 straight titles, the Oakland Athletics remained the team to beat. They are the only franchise in history other than the Yankees to win 3 straight. They would lose their ace, Catfish Hunter before the season started. Unable to agree to a contract with notoriously cheap owner Charlie Finley, a certain Yankees owner swooped in and backed up the truck to sign him, starting the reputation of the Yankees paying anything to get their guy. Still, it was the As who would reach the playoffs again; this year they would face a surprise team out of Boston.
The Red Sox, the curse of the bambino… yeah, well before that the Red Sox were 5-0 in the World Series, of course with the last one being in 1918. After that it was a 28 year drought before they made the World Series again. When they finally got back, it was 1946; that’s when the heartbreak began. They would lose the World Series in 7 games against the Cardinals. 21 years later it would be the same two teams facing off in the World Series; it was the same result, another 7 game World Series defeat. They only had to wait 8 years to get back to the Series, as it was the Red Sox who would finally dethrone in the As in the ALCS, sweeping them in 3 games. Would this be the year the Red Sox would break their curse, and win their first World Series in 57 years?
Well, if they were going to do it, they would have to overcome one of the greatest teams in MLB history. The Cincinnati Reds, better known as the Big Red Machine, would storm through the season with the best MLB record in almost 70 years, going 108-54, winning the division by 20 games. Yet, it was no sure thing for them to win it. Speaking about heartbreak, the Reds knew a little bit about that. Sure, back in the day, like the Red Sox, the Reds had some success. They would go 2-1 in their first 3 World Series, with their last title coming in 1940; their heartbreak would begin in 1961, losing to the Yankees in the Series. But in more recent history, this Reds team would drop the World Series to the Orioles in 1970, the As in 1972, and lose in the NLCS to the Mets in 1973. This machine came up short already 3 times in this decade; turning in the best regular season record, the pressure would be on. You wouldn’t be able to tell, as the Reds swept their Championship Series against the Pirates setting up the battle of the Reds.
Even though the Reds had the better record, home field advantage would be determined by a rotation between leagues; it was the American League’s turn, so Game 1 would be in Boston. This would be huge as the Red Sox would go on to take Game 1 behind Luis Tiant. Boston was 1 out away from winning Game 2 before the Red Sox tied it, and took the lead on consecutive hits from Dave Concepcion and Joe Morgan. Heading back to Cincy, the Reds would need another dramatic ending to grab the win, this time with controversy. After Boston tied it up with 2 runs in the top of the 9th, the game would go to extra innings. It was the bottom of the 10th, there was a runner on first base in Cesar Geronimo, it was a bunt in front of home plate by Ed Armbrister; as Carlton Fisk jumped out to get it, the batter was in the way… Fisk air mailed one to 2nd base, which made it first and third. Interference was not called. After intentionally walking Rose, it brought up arguably the Reds best clutch hitter: Joe Morgan would come through with a deep fly ball to center. Reds up 2-1.
When brain transmits signal to nerve, libido arises, and ultimately male organ generic viagra line cute-n-tiny.com works as a signal receiving device. What is Sildenafil? You must canadian cialis no prescription buy at shop be wondering what it is. If he is not stimulated, then the effect of acai in the human body. 1. cute-n-tiny.com buy levitra Improper dosage of kamagra sildenafil jelly could either prove viagra rx online cute-n-tiny.com to be useless or sometimes cause adverse effects.The drama in this World Series was only just beginning. Game 4 would bring another 1 run victory, this time by the Red Sox; it would be Luis Tiant again. He was in trouble in the 9th, and his manager went out to get him. He told him no, as he had multiple times during the season; he would be left in, as he was all year long. On his 155th pitch of the game, he would get Morgan to pop up with runners on in the bottom of the 9th for the win. Yes, that’s not a typo; 155 fricking pitches!!! What a warrior. Man, I would love to see starters go the distance like they used to. And you know what? He’d pitch Game 6 too!!! OK, there was a 3 day delay between games 5 and 6 due to rain, which would make it 6 days since he’d pitch, but still. Speaking of Game 5, the Reds finally got an “easy” victory 6-2, setting up one of the most famous games in World Series history.
Tiant wouldn’t be able to do it for a 3rd time against the Reds, but he did keep them in the game. Still, the Reds held a 3 run lead into the bottom of the 8th inning, when Bernie Carbo stepped to the plate with 2 runners on. Who? Yeah, exactly. Bernie Carbo was originally taken by the Reds with their #1 pick in the first ever draft in 1965, ahead of Reds HOF catcher Johnny Bench. Now, he would hit a historic game tying home run against his ex-team, yet this home run would be overshadowed… Yes, it was the bottom of the 12th, when Carlton Fisk stepped up and hit one that I’m guessing everybody has seen. He hit one down the line and waved it fair, giving the Red Sox the win, tying the series, setting off a celebration in Boston. But as Pete Rose said, it didn’t win the series, it only tied it.
Game 7 had more drama, of course. The Red Sox, riding the wave of that Game 6 victory, held a 3 run lead through 5 innings. The Reds would score 2 in the 6th courtesy of a Tony Perez 2 run homer, 1 in the 7th, and 1 in the 9th from a Joe Morgan game winning single, to keep that curse of the Bambino going, and hand the Red Sox franchise their 3rd straight 7 game World Series loss. The Reds however, overcame their losses earlier in the decade, and officially made the 1975 Reds one of the best teams ever. It was fitting that this would be one of the best World Series ever. 1975… what a year.
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