1975 Reds Replay 105: 1954 Giants

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. Game stories will be published periodically on Press Room Pass through out the year. What’s your predicted victory total?

Cincinnati fell short in another pitcher’s duel as the New York Giants defeated the Reds 3-1 at Riverfront Stadium.

Sal Maglie went the distance for the Giants limiting the Reds to five hits with Joe Morgan‘s homer in the ninth preventing a shutout.

Maglie had six strikeouts and only faced trouble in the fourth when Johnny Bench and Dan Driessen had back-to-back singles.

Willie Mays provided all of the offense the Giants needed.

Mays drove in Whitey Lockman and Billy Gardner in the second, after both had single to start the inning.

In the eighth, Mays capped his day with his fourth hit as he blasted a solo shot off Reds starter Fred Norman.

Norman (10-8) took the loss despite fanning 10 Giants. Pedro Borbon got the final four outs, but the Reds couldn’t muster anything after Morgan’s homer.

Jack Billingham (11-3) takes the mound for the Reds in the third contest of the four-game series as Jim Hearn goes for the Giants.

National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)

East Division
1971 Pirates (3-2)
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (3-4)
1975 Expos (2-7)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (2-10)

West Division
1954 Giants (4-2)
1975 Reds (69-36)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (3-8)
1975 Padres (3-11)