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 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 1969 New York Mets “won” the NL East with a 7-5 record against the Reds. The ALCS teams are the actual participants in the post-season.
It’s on to the World Series for the Boston Red Sox.
Spaceman Bill Lee landed with a solid pitching performance as the Red Sox beat the Oakland A’s 3-2 to clinch the American League Championship Series.
Lee, who left the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum mound with one out in the bottom of the eighth, gave up a pair of runs on five hits to earn the victory.
After Dick Drago got out of the eighth, Roger Moret picked up the save for Boston with a scoreless ninth as the Red Sox claimed the pennant.
Oakland scored in the first with an unearned run off Lee. Bert Campaneris singled and stole second with Joe Rudi at the plate.
Boston’s Jim Rice misplayed a fly ball to left by Rudi that allowed Campaneris to score.
The Red Sox tied the game in the fourth against A’s starter Dick Bosman on a RBI single by Carlton Fisk.
In the fifth, Boston knocked out Bosman with a pair of runs to take a 3-1 lead.
Dwight Evans doubled to begin the frame and Rico Petrocelli triple to put Boston on top. Denny Doyle drove in Petrocelli with a single to bring home the final tally for the Red Sox.
After Doyle’s hit, Rollie Fingers went the rest of the way on the mound for the A’s as they tried to stay alive in the post-season.
For Oakland in the eighth, Phil Garner had a one-out double to get to Lee. Bill North‘s RBI single ended the day for Lee.
Drago came on for Lee and North swiped second before the Boston righty retired Campaneris on strikes and Rudi on a fly ball.
NL Championship Series
New York sends Gary Gentry (13-12) to the Shea Stadium mound for game three of the National League Championship Series as the Mets try to prevent a Cincinnati sweep, while Fred Norman (16-11) gets the call for the Reds.
1975 Reds Replay Post-Season Schedule
American League Championship Series
Game 1 – Boston 5, Oakland 1, (Red Sox lead series 1-0)
Game 2 – Boston 8, Oakland 3, (Red Sox lead series 2-0)
Game 3 – Boston 3, Oakland 2, (Red Sox win series 3-0)
National League Championship Series
Game 1 – Cincinnati 2, New York 1, (Reds lead series 1-0)
Game 2 – Cincinnati 2, New York 1, (Reds lead series 2-0)
Game 3 – Cincinnati (Fred Norman 16-11) at New York (Gary Gentry 13-12)
Game 4 – Cincinnati at New York, if necessary
Game 5 – Cincinnati at New York, if necessary
World Series
Game 1 – NL at Boston
Game 2 – NL at Boston
Game 3 – Boston at NL
Game 4 – Boston at NL
Game 5 – Boston at NL, if necessary
Game 6 – NL at Boston, if necessary
Game 7 – NL at Boston, if necessary