1975 Reds Replay 163: Preview

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?

The decision has been made.

Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson had to make a choice on who is starting pitcher would be for the winner take all one-game playoff for the National League West title.

Since winning his 19th game of the season, Reds ace Don Gullett (19-8) has struggled in his last three starts with two losses and a no-decision that ended up as a Reds victory.

“Gullett is my guy,” Anderson said. “I know he’s had a bad run lately, but we need him to throw the ball good and I know he will do that.”

In a 4-0 win over the San Diego Padres, Gullett suffered a leg injury while batting. He was removed from the contest as a precaution according to Anderson.

“Physically, I’m fine,” Gullett said after the Reds beat the Milwaukee Braves 5-3 in what was to be the regular season finale. “I’ve just made a few bad pitches in my last three games.”

Gullett said the worst pitch came in a 5-3 loss to the Giants as Monte Irvin hit a three-run homer to put the Giants on top for good.

“When you put the ball in the wheelhouse for a guy, that is the expected result,” said Gullett, who is 0-3 in his games against the Giants.

Giants manager Leo Durocher also has an ace up his sleave. Johnny Antonelli is 1-0 against the Reds this season with a pair of no decisions. Hoyt Wilhelm won both of those contests for the Giants.

The Giants have an 11-7 edge in the season series against the Reds. The teams have also spilt four extra inning affairs that featured a pair of walk-off victories.

Al Dark hit a walk-off homer as the Gaints beat the Reds 7-6 in 20 innings, while Doug Flynn hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th in a 2-1 Reds win.

Jack Billingham (13-9) had perhaps the top outing of the season against the Giants. Billingham lost a no-hitter in the top of the 10th inning as the Reds fell 1-0 when Irvin knocked in the game-winning run.

Homers have played a vital role in the season series as the Giants hold a 21-11 advantage in that department.

Cincinnati’s George Foster leads the way with seven long balls, but he is the only Reds player with more than one. Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez and Dave Concepcion have one each.

Willie Mays leads the Giants with five, while Irvin and Don Mueller have four apiece. Dark, Hank Thompson and Wes Westrum have two each with Dusty Rhodes and Dave Williams both hitting one.

Winner of the playoff battle will entertain the NL East champion New York Mets in the first two contests of the NL Championship Series, which is a best of five.

Final National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)

East Division
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (6-6)
1971 Pirates (5-7)
1967 Cardinals (4-8)
1975 Expos (4-8)
2008 Phillies (2-10)

West Division
1975 Reds (99-63)
1954 Giants (11-7)
1957 Braves (7-11)
1981 Dodgers (7-11)
2017 Astros (6-12)
1975 Padres (4-14)