1975 Major League Baseball postseason

1975 Major League Baseball playoffs July 2022 Major League Baseball postseason 1975 October 4–22, 19751975 Major Leagues Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1975-schedule.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 May 20, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220520112840/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1975-schedule.shtml live 4 Cincinnati Reds(3rd title) Boston Red Sox 13 584526 Tony Pérez (CIN) 4 Joe Morgan (CIN) 6 Don Gullett (CIN) & Luis Tiant (BOS) 35 Rawly Eastwick (CIN) 1.54 Pete Rose (CIN) 1974 1976 The 1975 Major League Baseball postseason was the playoff tournament of Major League Baseball for the 1975 season. The winners of each division advance to the postseason and face each other in a League Championship Series to determine the pennant winners that face each other in the World Series. In the American League, the Oakland Athletics made their fifth straight postseason appearance, and the Boston Red Sox made their first postseason appearance since 1967. This was Boston’s last postseason appearance until 1986. In the National League, the Cincinnati Reds returned for the fourth time in the past six seasons, and the Pittsburgh Pirates returned for the fifth time in the past six seasons. This edition of the postseason would replicate itself in 1990, as all four teams from the 1975 postseason would return that year. The playoffs began on October 4, 1975, and concluded on October 22, 1975, with the Cincinnati Reds defeating the Boston Red Sox in seven games in the 1975 World Series. It was the first title for the Reds since 1940, and their third overall. Teams right 10px American League Teams 10px National League Teams 480 360 220 100 10 USA 380 USA 42.34 -71.10 Red pog.svg 80 left Red Sox USA 37.75 -122.20 Red pog.svg 80 right Athletics USA 40.45 -80.01 Blue pog.svg 80 left Pirates USA 39.10 -84.51 Blue pog.svg 80 bottom Reds The following teams qualified for the postseason: American League Boston Red Sox – 95–65, AL East champions1975 Boston Red Sox Statistics https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1975.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 April 22, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220422190219/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1975.shtml live Oakland Athletics – 98–64, AL West champions1975 Oakland Athletics Statistics https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/1975.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 April 22, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220422233452/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/1975.shtml live National League Pittsburgh Pirates – 92–69, NL East champions1975 Pittsburgh Pirates Statistics https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/1975.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 July 7, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170707074402/http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/1975.shtml live Cincinnati Reds – 108–54, NL West champions1975 Cincinnati Reds Statistics https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1975.shtml Baseball-Reference.com 11 July 2022 June 17, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220617093618/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1975.shtml live Playoff bracket League Championship Series(ALCS, NLCS) World Series East Boston West Oakland 3 0 East Pittsburgh West Cincinnati 0 3 AL Boston NL Cincinnati 3 4 American League Championship Series 1975 American League Championship Series Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox Boston 3–0 Oakland Athletics – 1, Boston Red Sox – 7 October 4 Fenway Park 2:40 35,578 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10040BOS1975.htm 1975 ALCS Game 1 – Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135147/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10040BOS1975.htm live Oakland Athletics – 3, Boston Red Sox – 6 October 5 Fenway Park 2:27 35,578 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10050BOS1975.htm 1975 ALCS Game 2 – Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135149/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10050BOS1975.htm live Boston Red Sox – 5, Oakland Athletics – 3 October 7 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 2:30 49,358 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10070OAK1975.htm 1975 ALCS Game 3 – Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics 11 July 2022 Retrosheet September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135152/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10070OAK1975.htm live This was the first postseason meeting between the Red Sox and Athletics. The Red Sox shockingly swept the three-time defending World Series champion Athletics to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1967 (in the process denying a rematch of the 1972 World Series between the Reds and Athletics). Luis Tiant pitched a complete game for the Red Sox as they blew out the Athletics in Game 1. Carl Yastrzemski led the comeback effort for the Red Sox as they won by three runs to take a 2–0 series lead headed to Oakland. Rick Wise pitched seven solid innings and the Sox bullpen stopped a rally by the A’s to clinch the pennant. Game 3 was the first night game in ALCS history.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iYFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2954%2C4641245 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Baseball plans night playoffs August 16, 1975 2B November 21, 2022 This was the first playoff series win by the Red Sox since the 1918 World Series. The Red Sox would win their next pennant in 1986 over the California Angels in seven games after trailing 3–1 in the series and being a strike away from elimination in Game 5, but they would come up short in the World Series. The loss to the Red Sox marked the end of the Athletics’ dynasty. The Athletics would make it back to the ALCS in 1981, but were swept by the New York Yankees. The Red Sox and Athletics would meet in the postseason again three more times - in the ALCS in 1988 and 1990, and the ALDS in 2003, with the Athletics sweeping the former two series, and the Red Sox winning the latter. National League Championship Series 1975 National League Championship Series Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds Pirates–Reds rivalry Cincinnati 3–0 Pittsburgh Pirates – 3, Cincinnati Reds – 8 October 4 Riverfront Stadium 3:00 54,633 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10040CIN1975.htm 1975 NLCS Game 1 – Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds 11 July 2022 Retrosheet July 15, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210715142501/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10040CIN1975.htm live Pittsburgh Pirates – 1, Cincinnati Reds – 6 October 5 Riverfront Stadium 2:51 54,752 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10050CIN1975.htm 1975 NLCS Game 2 – Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds 11 July 2022 Retrosheet July 15, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210715142505/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10050CIN1975.htm live Cincinnati Reds – 5, Pittsburgh Pirates – 3 (10) October 7 Three Rivers Stadium 2:47 46,355 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10070PIT1975.htm 1975 NLCS Game 3 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 11 July 2022 Retrosheet July 14, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210714224931/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10070PIT1975.htm live This was the third postseason meeting in the history of the Pirates-Reds rivalry (1970, 1972). The Reds swept the Pirates to advance to the World Series for the third time in five years (in the process denying a rematch of the 1903 World Series between the Pirates and Red Sox (who were then known as the Boston Americans)). This series was not close - Don Gullett pitched a complete game as the Reds blew out the Pirates in Game 1, and Fred Norman and Rawly Eastwick held the Pirates' offense to just one run scored in Game 2 as the Reds went up 2–0 in the series headed to Pittsburgh. In Game 3, the Pirates held a 2–1 lead after seven innings, until Pete Rose hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to put the Reds ahead for good, effectively securing the pennant. Game 3 was the first NLCS game played at night.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iYFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2954%2C4641245 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Baseball plans night playoffs August 16, 1975 2B November 21, 2022 The Reds returned to the NLCS the next year, and swept the Philadelphia Phillies en route to repeating as World Series champions. The Pirates and Reds would meet again in the NLCS in 1979 and 1990, with the Pirates winning the former in a sweep and the Reds winning the latter in six games, with both teams going on to win their most recent championships. 1975 World Series 1975 World Series Curse of the Bambino Boston Red Sox (AL) vs. Cincinnati Reds (NL) Cincinnati 4–3 Cincinnati Reds – 0, Boston Red Sox – 6 October 11 Fenway Park 2:27 35,205 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10110BOS1975.htm 1975 World Series Game 1 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 7, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210307200430/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10110BOS1975.htm live Cincinnati Reds – 3, Boston Red Sox – 2 October 12 Fenway Park 2:38 35,205 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10120BOS1975.htm 1975 World Series Game 2 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308082719/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10120BOS1975.htm live Boston Red Sox – 5, Cincinnati Reds – 6 (10) October 14 Riverfront Stadium 3:03 55,392 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10140CIN1975.htm 1975 World Series Game 3 – Boston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308043114/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10140CIN1975.htm live Boston Red Sox – 5, Cincinnati Reds – 4 October 15 Riverfront Stadium 2:52 55,667 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10150CIN1975.htm 1975 World Series Game 4 – Boston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308070757/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10150CIN1975.htm live Boston Red Sox – 2, Cincinnati Reds – 6 October 16 Riverfront Stadium 2:23 56,393 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10160CIN1975.htm 1975 World Series Game 5 – Boston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308015927/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10160CIN1975.htm live Cincinnati Reds – 6, Boston Red Sox – 7 (12) October 21† Fenway Park 4:01 35,205 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10210BOS1975.htm 1975 World Series Game 6 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308120324/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10210BOS1975.htm live Cincinnati Reds – 4, Boston Red Sox – 3 October 22 Fenway Park 2:52 35,205 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10220BOS1975.htm 1975 World Series Game 7 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox 11 July 2022 Retrosheet March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308214145/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B10220BOS1975.htm live †: postponed from October 18 due to rain In what many consider to be one of the greatest World Series ever played, the Reds defeated the Red Sox in seven games in a back-and-forth series, winning their first championship since 1940. Luis Tiant pitched a five-hit complete game shutout as the Red Sox took Game 1. The Reds took Game 2 by one run to tie the series despite using four different pitchers. When the series shifted to Cincinnati, the Reds narrowly took Game 3 thanks to a walk-off RBI from Joe Morgan in the bottom of the tenth. In Game 4, despite giving up four runs, Tiant pitched another complete game for the Red Sox on three-days rest as Boston evened the series. In Game 5, Don Gullett and closer Rawly Eastwick helped the Reds win by a 6–2 score to gain a 3–2 series lead going back to Fenway Park. Game 6 of the series is widely regarded as one of the greatest games ever played in World Series history - Boston's Fred Lynn got the Red Sox an early lead in the bottom of the first inning with a three-run home run, and after four more innings, the Reds scored three runs to tie the game at three runs each. The Reds then scored three more runs in the top of the seventh and eighth to take a 6–3 lead, then Boston's Bernie Carbo hit another three-run home run to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Then, no runs were scored in the ninth, tenth, or eleventh innings of play. In the bottom of the twelfth, Carlton Fisk hit one of the most famous walk-off home runs in postseason history to force a decisive seventh game. In Game 7, the Red Sox were leading 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh and were seven outs away from the championship, but the lead would not hold, as Pete Rose hit a two-out RBI single to tie the game. Then, the Reds took the lead for good in the top of the ninth thanks to a single by Morgan which scored Ken Griffey. Will McEnaney pitched a one-two-three ninth to capture the Reds’ first championship in 35 years. This was Rose’s first World Series championship, and he was named World Series MVP. The Reds would go on to repeat as World Series champions the next year, sweeping the New York Yankees. The Red Sox's collapse in Game 7 contributed to the popular mythology of the Curse of the Bambino, which had been extended to 57 years. The Red Sox returned to the World Series in 1986, but they lost the New York Mets in seven games after being a strike away from the championship twice in Game 6, and ten outs away in Game 7. They would eventually end the curse in 2004, where they swept the St. Louis Cardinals to end their 86-year championship drought. Broadcasting This was the last year that NBC televised all postseason games nationally in the United States. Beginning in 1976, the postseason coverage would be split between NBC and ABC. Each team's local broadcaster also televised coverage of LCS games. References External links League Baseball Standings & Expanded Standings - 1975 collapsed Category:Major League Baseball postseason