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.
Dan Driessen was in the Cincinnati Reds dugout at Riverfront Stadium waiting for his moment.
It finally arrived in the bottom of the 10th inning.
With the game tied 2-2, Reds manager Sparky Anderson told Driessen to grab a bat and get ready to go in for Pedro Borbon.
“I knew I was going to bat for Pedro no matter what happened,” Driessen said of the conversation. “It just happened to be a huge opportunity.”
Dave Concepcion led off the inning with a single against Boston reliever Dick Drago (0-1).
With Cesar Geronimo at the plate, Concepcion swiped second. After Geronimo tapped out to Drago, it was time for Driessen.
Driessen smacked a single to right and Boston’s Dwight Evans fired the ball to Carlton Fisk to attempt to nail Concepcion.
The Reds shortstop managed to sneak by Fisk and the celebration was underway as Cincinnati beat the Red Sox 3-2 in the fourth game of the 1975 World Series.
“It was great to see Danny come through,” Anderson said. “I guess that’s why I picked him to hit because I knew he could do it.”
The Reds are now in control of the best of seven series with a 3-1 advantage heading into game five in Cincinnati.
Don Gullett (1-0) is expected to start what the Reds hope will be the final game of the series.
Boston manager Darrell Johnson is sending Rick Wise (2-0) is now in a must-win situation for the Red Sox as they are fighting for another game in Fenway Park.
Early Lead
Cincinnati took an early lead on Geronimo’s two-run double in the second inning off Boston starter Luis Tiant, who would toss six innings.
Roger Moret worked two scoreless frames to keep the Red Sox in the game.
Reds starter Jack Billingham was in command as he blanked the Red Sox through eight innings on five hits.
Billingham fanned Rice to begin the top of the ninth. Fred Lynn doubled and Reds pitching coach Larry Shepard went to the mound as Fisk walked to the plate.
“Just be careful is what I told him,” Shepard said. “Pedro is going to be ready. Just don’t give him anything to hit and we’ll come and get you.”
Unfortunately for Billingham, Fisk was able to get a pitch he could handle and deposited into the green seats in left field to tie the game.
Borbon came on and retired Rico Petrocelli and gave up a single to Denny Doyle before getting pinch-hitter Bernie Carbo to end the threat and send the contest to extra innings.
With half of Cincinnati’s post-season victories, Borbon (3-0) worked a scoreless 10th to earn the win.
1975 Reds Replay Post-Season Schedule
World Series
Game 1 – Cincinnati 6, Boston 3
Game 2 – Boston 3, Cincinnati 1
Game 3 – Cincinnati 9, Boston 2
Game 4 – Cincinnati 3, Boston 2, 10 innings
Game 5 – Boston (Wise 2-0) at Cincinnati (Gullett 1-0)
Game 6 – Cincinnati at Boston, if necessary
Game 7 – Cincinnati at Boston, if necessary