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. This is a series that will include each game played with the Strat-o-Matic cards and dice, while hoping to reach the 108-54 record that the Reds had that season.
Back in 1975, the National League was divided into two divisions. The Reds were in the West with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres. The East consisted of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and the Montreal Expos.
The schedule is broken down with 18 games against teams from the West and 12 contests against the East squads.
Cincinnati opens the season with a three-game series at home against the Dodgers. What’s a little different about this replay is that it won’t be the 1975 Dodgers that the Reds will face. It will be the 1981 Dodgers that won the World Series.
Except for the Expos and Padres, the Reds will do battle with World Series winners.
Here is the breakdown of the two divisions and the teams featured in this replay. Part of the selection process was based on card availability.
NL EAST
1967 Cardinals
1969 Mets
1971 Pirates
1975 Expos
2008 Phillies
2016 Cubs
NL WEST
1954 Giants
1957 Braves
1975 Reds
1975 Padres
1981 Dodgers
2017 Astros
The Roster
Another difference with traditional replays is the there will be some players missing, who do not have cards.
The most notable is John Vukovich, who was to be the third baseman. Vukovich was picked up in a trade after the 1974 season with hopes of filling a void at third. He would hit .211 in 31 games before being sent to the minors and then traded to the Phillies.
Pete Rose was moved to third in early May and Vukovich would be sent to Indianapolis a few weeks later.
A pivotal figure of the 1975 World Series is also missing as Ed Armbrister does not have a card.
The pitching staff is nearly intact with Tom Carroll (4-1) and Tom Hall (0-0) not on the staff.
The Rules
Strat-o-Matic rules will be followed with games played as the only season stat used with that number being matched as close as possible for non-pitchers.
Cincinnati’s four starting pitchers in order are Don Gullett, Gary Nolan, Fred Norman and Jack Billingham. Pat Darcy and Clay Kirby will serve as No. 5 starters and work out of the bullpen.
As far as the opponents, each team will have the starting pitchers arranged one through five. The starter of the opponent will match the corresponding number of the Reds pitcher.
The only injuries used will be in-game only.
Game One
Gullett will be on the mound for the Reds at Riverfront Stadium in the opener, while the Dodgers will use rookie left-hander Fernando Valenzuela.