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.
A wild crowd at Shea Stadium witnessed a crazy ending as the Cincinnati Reds celebrated a pennant-winning victory.
It took 10 innings, but the Reds survived the rambunctious New York fans to beat the Mets 7-5 in the fourth and final contest of the National League Championship Series.
With the three games to one victory in the best of five, the Reds will face the American League’s Boston Red Sox in the opener of the World Series at Fenway Park.
The Mets appeared to be on their way to forcing a decisive fifth game as they grabbed an early advantage against Reds starter Jack Billingham.
Ken Boswell knocked in a run in the second with a RBI single and Bud Harrelson homered in the third to put the Mets up 2-0.
Billigham didn’t get an out in the fifth as his mound counterpart Tom Seaver began the frame with a double. Harrelson doubled to give the Mets a 3-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Mets, Seaver lost his control in the top of the sixth as the Reds tied it at 3-3.
Tony Perez and Dave Concepcion both walked with the bases loaded to make it 3-2. With pinch-hitter Dan Driessen at the plate with two outs, Johnny Bench scored on a passed ball by J.C. Martin and the game was tied.
In the top of the ninth, Tug McGraw went to the mound for the Mets in place of Seaver and Bench excited the Cincinnati dugout with a two-run blast that gave the Reds a 5-3 lead.
Pedro Borbon, Pat Darcy and Will McEnaney held the Mets scoreless until the bottom of the ninth.
With the champagne on ice in the Reds clubhouse, Harrelson collected his third hit of the contest with a single off McEnaney to start a rally.
McEnaney retired Wayne Garrett before giving way to Reds closer Rawly Eastwick.
Eastwick fanned Cleon Jones to put the Reds one out away from victory, but Tommie Agee didn’t want to watch a celebration.
Agee smacked a two-run homer to tie the contest and send it to extra innings.
With McGraw still on the hill in the top of the 10th, Reds left fielder Merv Rettenmund would drive in the go-ahead run. Rettenmund had entered the contest in the third inning for an injured Cesar Geronimo, which put George Foster in centerfield.
Ken Griffey finished the scoring with a RBI single that put the Reds up by two runs.
In the bottom of the 10th, Clay Carroll was Reds manager Sparky Anderson‘s choice to close out the series.
Jerry Grote, who entered the affair during a double switch, singled before Carroll got himself together.
The man nicknamed “The Hawk” fanned Boswell and pinch-hitter Ron Swoboda before he got Donn Clendenon to fly to center for the final out.
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 – New York 4, Cincinnati 0, (Reds lead series 2-1)
Game 4 – Cincinnati 7, New York 5 in 10 innings, (Reds win series 3-1)
World Series
Game 1 – Cincinnati at Boston
Game 2 – Cincinnati at Boston
Game 3 – Boston at Cincinnati
Game 4 – Boston at Cincinnati
Game 5 – Boston at Cincinnati, if necessary
Game 6 – Cincinnati at Boston, if necessary
Game 7 – Cincinnati at Boston, if necessary