Editor’s note: How good were the 1975 Cincinnati Reds? The best way to end the speculation is to challenge the team with a 162-game season against some great teams that won world championships. This series has advanced to the post-season as the Reds finished 100-63 in games played with the Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The Reds defeated the 1969 New York Mets in the NLCS during this project, while the 1975 Boston Red Sox beat the 75 Oakland A’s to take the ALCS.
A four-run rally in the ninth inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 6-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of the 1975 World Series at Fenway Park.
Boston was in front 3-2 as the Reds prepared to hit in the top of the ninth Red Sox reliever Jim Burton.
Tony Perez tied the game with a solo homer to set the stage for a big rally.
Burton gave up a single to Dave Concepcion, who would then steal second. After Cesar Geronimo was retired by Burton, Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson brought in Jim Willoughby to face pinch-hitter Dan Driessen.
Driessen coaxed a walk before Willoughby got Pete Rose on a fly ball to Fred Lynn in center.
Ken Griffey etched his name into post-season history as he smacked a line drive that hooked around Pesky’s Pole to bring home three runs.
Dick Drago induced Joe Morgan to hit a grounder to second for the final out of the frame, but the damage had been done.
Reds Take Lead
Cincinnati starter Don Gullett and his Boston counterpart Luis Tiant kept the contest scoreless through the first three innings.
The Reds grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the fourth. Morgan reached on an error and stole second before George Foster knocked him in with a double.
Geronimo drove a solo homer into the right field stands in the fifth as the Reds went in front 2-0.
Red Sox Comeback
Boston put together a three-run frame in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead.
Gullett gave up singles to Carlton Fisk and Denny Doyle before leaving the mound with one out.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson called Will McEnaney from the bullpen. It appeared to be a good decision as the lefty retired pinch-hitter Cecil Cooper for the second out.
However, Rick Burleson‘s two-run double tied the affair at 2-2. Dwight Evans gave Boston the lead with a single that drove in Burleson to make it 3-2.
Both teams had chances in the eighth, but Burton (0-1) stopped a Reds rally and Cincinnati’s Pedro Borbon (2-0) worked out of a jam to come out with the victory.
Game two of the best of seven series features Cincinnati’s Gary Nolan (0-0) and Boston’s Rick Wise (1-0) on the mound.
1975 Reds Replay World Series Schedule
Game 1 – Cincinnati 6, Boston 3
Game 2 – Cincinnati (Nolan 0-0) at Boston (Wise 1-0)
Game 3 – Boston (Lee 1-0) at Cincinnati (Norman 0-1 or Billingham 0-0)
Game 4 – Boston (Tiant 1-0) at Cincinnati (Gullett 1-0)
Game 5 – Boston at Cincinnati, if necessary
Game 6 – Cincinnati at Boston, if necessary
Game 7 – Cincinnati at Boston, if necessary