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 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 .
The stage is set for a showdown that features a Green Monster.
The Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox are ready to battle for the World Series title in Fenway Park after both defeated their playoff opponents to reach the Fall Classic.
Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson announced his first two starting pitchers in the series for the games in Boston.
Don Gullett (1-0) is set to go in the opener with Gary Nolan (0-0) preparing for the second contest.
Anderson wasn’t quite ready to determine his pitcher for game three, which will be at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.
“Those two guys have led us all year and I’m happy that it’s worked out they can go in Boston,” Anderson said of Gullett and Nolan. “As far as game three goes when we return to Cincinnati, we’ll have to see how the first two games end up.”
Fred Norman (0-1) and Jack Billingham (0-0) are the likely choices for Anderson, but he is concerned about the last time both pitched against the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series.
Norman gave up all four runs in his game three loss to the Mets, while Billingham didn’t make out of the fifth inning of the Reds 7-5 10-inning victory in the fourth and final contest. With that in mind, rookie Pat Darcy (0-0) remains a possibilty after ending the season 11-7.
Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson was a little more definite about his staff in the series.
“Our big three pitchers will be ready to throw in the biggest games of their careers,” Johnson said. “They were dominant against Oakland.”
Luis Tiant (1-0), Rick Wise (1-0) and Bill Lee (1-0) are scheduled in that order for the first three games.
All three hurlers beat Oakland during the sweep of the A’s in the American League Championship Series.
Designated Hitter
Even though the AL implimeted the designated hitter rule in 1973, it will not be a used in World Series action until 1976.
“It may be a factor for us,” Johnson said. “We’re going to have to make some decisions with our lineup.”
“We’ve had some of our pitchers take batting practice over the last few weeks,” Johnson added. “However, they’ve not hit in game for quite some time.”
Tiant was the only Red Sox pitcher to bat in 1975 and he hit a fly ball in a plate appearance against Texas in a 10-4 complete game win over the Rangers at Fenway on July 12.
Cecil Cooper was the DH for the Red Sox against the A’s. He batted .311 this season.
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 (Gullett 1-0) at Boston (Tiant 1-0)
Game 2 – Cincinnati (Nolan 0-0) at Boston (Wise 1-0)
Game 3 – Boston (Lee 1-0) at Cincinnati (Norman 0-1 or Billingham 0-0)
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