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 that won world championships. 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 Reds defeated the 1969 New York Mets in the NLCS during this project, while the 1975 Boston Red Sox beat the 75 Oakland A’s to take the ALCS.
Boston manager Darrell Johnson made the right decision whe he selected Rise Wise to start the second game of the 1975 World Series.
Wise went the distance for the second time in the post-season for the Red Sox as he shutdown the high-powered Cincinnati Reds in a 3-1 victory at Fenway Park.
Johnny Bench drove in a run in the top of the first to give the Reds a 1-0 that wouldn’t last.
In the second, Boston’s Carlton Fisk tied it with a RBI double off Reds starter Gary Nolan (0-1), who would last into the sixth inning.
Jim Rice gave the Red Sox the lead for good with a solo homer to begin the fourth. He ended later ended Nolan’s day with a run-scoring single in the sixth.
Wise (2-0) blanked the Reds after the first frame giving up seven hits with eight strikeouts.
Nolan gave way to Pat Darcy and Clay Kirby, who only allowed one base runner after the hit by Rice.
Darcy got six straight outs. Kirby walked Carl Yastrzemski in the eighth before retiring Rice on a double play.
The series shifts to Cincinnati for the third contest of the best of seven games.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson decided to stay with his normal rotation as he announced that Fred Norman (0-1) would start game three at Riverfront Stadium.
Norman was the losing pitcher in the third game of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
Bill Lee (1-0), who beat Oakland in the third and final game of the American League Championship Series, will take the mound for the Red Sox.
1975 Reds Replay Post-Season Schedule
World Series
Game 1 – Cincinnati 6, Boston 3
Game 2 – Boston 3, Cincinnati 1
Game 3 – Boston (Lee 1-0) at Cincinnati (Norman 0-1)
Game 4 – Boston (Tiant 1-0 or Cleveland 0-0) at Cincinnati (Gullett 1-0 or Billingham 0-0)
Game 5 – Boston (TBA) at Cincinnati (TBA)
Game 6 – Cincinnati at Boston, if necessary
Game 7 – Cincinnati at Boston, if necessary