During the 1970 season, there were two big league stadiums that opened in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh and both venues would host major events that year.
Both facilities were part of the “Cookie Cutter” era featuring artificial turf with the same basic look and feel for fans.
There were other stadiums during that time that fit that same mold in St. Louis, Houston and a year later in Philadelphia. All of the stadiums were also used for National Football League games as well.
The Reds were involved in the first baseball games at Riverfront Stadium and Three Rivers Stadium.
Riverfront would also be the site of the 1970 all-star game where Pete Rose scored in the winning run for the National League in the 12th inning as he and Cleveland’s Ray Fosse met at home plate.
All of the games of the NL Championship Series were played in both parks as the Reds swept the Pirates in three games. The first two games of the World Series as Baltimore beat the Reds four games to one.
Cincinnati held an 8-4 advantage over the Pirates that season with one series taking place in Riverfront and Three Rivers along with the old ballparks Crosley Field and Forbes Field.
Riverfront Opener
On June 30, the Reds fell 8-2 to the Atlanta Braves in first game in Riverfront Stadium.
Atlanta’s Hank Aaron blasted a two-run homer off Reds starter Jim McGlothlin, which set the tone of the night.
Rico Carty hit a three-run homer two innings later and the Braves were on their way to crashing the Cincinnati party.
Pat Jarvis would get the win for the Braves to give him an 8-6 record on the season. McGlothlin would get the loss and fall to 10-4.
Pete Rose did get the first hit for the Reds and he would have three in the contest.
Jarvis finished the season with a 16-16 record, while McGlothlin ended 14-10 and started game two of the World Series in Cincinnati against Baltimore.
First Game in Three Rivers
The Reds opened Three Rivers Stadium with a 3-2 victory over the Pirates on July 16.
Pittsburgh took an early lead on a RBI double by Al Oliver in the first off Cincinnati starter Gary Nolan.
Tony Perez hit a two-run homer off Dock Ellis in the fifth to put the Reds on top.
The Pirates tied it in the sixth when Willie Stargell smacked a solo long ball.
Perez scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth as Lee May had a one-out single that sent Eliis to the showers.
Clay Carroll (6-1) got the win for the Reds, while Ellis (9-7) was tagged with the loss.
Carroll finished the season at 9-4 with 16 saves. He would also pitch in six post-season contests, while picking up the win in game four of the World Series.