The 'WHAT IF' 1975 World Series (Game 6)

We arrive back in Boston for Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Not only do the Red Sox return to Boston, but Jim Rice returns from his 3-game injury stint (where he missed all the action in Cincinnati). The good news Boston didn't hurt too much without Rice, as they own a 3-2 series lead.

Game 6 will feature the same pitching match-up of Game 3, Boston's Rick Wise facing off against Cincinnati's Gary Nolan; In that game, Wise pitched a complete-game shutout, shutting down the "Big Red Machine" & holding them to 7 hits... while Boston had a big four-run 4th inning, as Boston won 4-0.

Can the Reds force a Game 7? We'll have to see....

Game 6 (at Boston)

Morgan has been racking up the steals in this series.

The Cincinnati Reds' Joe Morgan got running early & has been doing a lot of that this series actually. Morgan (batting 2nd) smacked a single to left off Wise & then stole second; The stolen base was his 7th steal of the series (he would later steal base #8 in the 5th) & has stolen a base in every game except for Game 4, while he stole as many as 3 bases in Game 5. For the life of me, in all my APBA Baseball projects, I have never had a player steal this often in any World Series replay or 7-game series format.

Now I have seen stolen bases this frequent though, during season formats in two players through my APBA projects, those two players being Tim Raines' 1981 card & Billy Hamilton's 1894 Phillies card (during my BATS 1 Season). Raines currently has 33 steals in 32 games, while Hamilton stole 56 bases in 51 games for the All-Time Phillies team.


Back to the action, Morgan's single & stolen base in the 1st inning, set up Johnny Bench's RBI on a ground out to deep short, as the speedy Morgan never tapped the breaks... It is this kind of heads up, great base running that helped make Morgan a Hall of Famer.

Top of the 2nd - Dave Conception drew a walk, but got caught stealing 2nd for the second out of the inning, but it became evident early on that Rick Wise's control from Game 3 was nowhere evident in Game 6, as he would walk Ken Griffey, while plucking Cesar Geronimo with a pitch in the next at-bat -- that is 2 walks & a HBP in three consecutive at-bats. With runners on 1st & 2nd, with 2 outs, Pete Rose makes Wise pay with an RBI single. Wise's control problems continue as he walks Joe Morgan, allowing a bases loaded situation to Johnny Bench -- something the Red Sox would love to avoid... fortunately for Boston, Bench would fly out for the third out. This inning could have been far worse, and Boston only trails 2-0 at this point.

Gary Nolan's control was not much better early on this one, he would allow 3 walks & also hit a batter with a pitch, inside the first three innings of the ball game. Nolan's biggest jam in those first three innings came when Fred Lynn singled to right, to advance the runner (Denny Doyle reached on Nolan's 3rd walk). With two outs, and two runners on, plus Carlton Fisk coming up to the plate, the Red Sox chose to intentionally walk Fisk & his season batting average of .331, by taking their chances with another Hall of Famer in Carl Yastrzemski & his less dangerous .269 batting average -- Not too often you would ever see this scenario, even in a World Series, would you see someone intentionally walk one HOF'er to face another. Cincinnati's big gamble pays off, as Nolan strikes out "Yaz" to get out of the early jam.

Joe Morgan's bases on balls & stolen base in the 5th Inning, would lead to another Reds run, as he would later score from third base on a Tony Perez sacrifice fly -- making it a 3-0 lead.

This game (Game 6) could be considered a complete role reversal for both pitchers, Gary Nolan would settle down after the first three innings & would settle in for a complete game, 4-0 shutout -- the same exact score & shutout that Rick Wise for Boston experienced in Game 3. Wise would allow 4 earned runs & 5 hits through 6.1 innings (Nolan allowed similar numbers in Game 3, with 4 ER & 5 hits in 5 innings); Nolan would go on to only allow 5 hits in the shutout.

Now the big kicker, the game would come at a price for the Cincinnati Reds, with two outs & Joe Morgan on first during the top of the 9th, Tony Perez would hit the ball to Denny Doyle at deep second, Doyle would relay the throw to Rick Burleson at second for the force, Morgan's slide was rough at second, in which he would lay there in pain. The trainers came out, helped him off the field, and according to post game reports, he will indeed miss the crucial Game 7, while the Reds play in enemy territory.

Can the Cincinnati Reds pull off a consecutive victory without Morgan, at Fenway?

Stay tuned...

The 'WHAT IF' 1975 World Series (Game 5)

The Cincinnati Reds evened the series in Game 4, led by George Foster, who went 2-for-3, with a three-run homer, double, while drawing two walks & scoring twice; Foster is having an amazing series, batting .563 (9-for-16), 2 HR, 8 RBI & 6 runs.

The Boston Red Sox want to win this last game in Cincinnati & go home with two chances to win the World Series in front of their home crowd.

Game 5 (at Cincinnati)

Bill Lee cheering on his hitters from the dugout.

Bill "The Spaceman" Lee takes the mound for Boston, he got roughed up in Game 2 at Fenway, allowing 5 earned runs & 6 hits in 6 innings of work. Lee will face the Reds' Fred Norman, who will get his first start of the series, he did appear in one scoreless inning of work in Game 2.

Boston got things started early in this one, as rookie Fred Lynn smacks a solo HR in the first inning with one out; Lynn's first HR of the series, he has 4 RBI now on 4 hits (lifting his average up to .267). Carl Yastrzemski followed with a double, but the Red Sox could do no more that inning.

Cincinnati would have runners on 2nd for three consecutive innings, but could not score in the runners.

Top of the 4th - Carlton Fisk hits a one-out double off of Norman, while Dwight Evans would follow by drawing a walk. Cecil Cooper would take advantage of his opportunity by hitting a three-run home run to give the Red Sox an early commanding, 4-0 lead. That was Cooper's 2nd HR of the series.

One of the few highlights for the Cincinnati Reds in this game, belonged to Joe Morgan, who would steal second three times in this game; Other than that, Bill Lee & Boston was in control... Lee pitched 8 strong innings, allowing only 5 hits & one earned run (RBI double to Cesar Geronimo in the 7th).

Carlton Fisk would tack on a solo HR (2) in the 9th off of Pedro Borbon for extra insurance, as the Boston Red Sox win Game 5, by the score of 5-1.

The series now heads back to the east coast, for Game 6 in Boston... We'll see if they can wrap up the series, now that they have a 3-2 series lead.

The 'WHAT IF' 1975 World Series (Game 4)

George Foster making huge impact on series.

The Boston Red Sox find themselves up 2-1 in the series, after Rick Wise's Game 3 (4-0) shutout of the "Big Red Machine". Now Cincinnati looks to even things up, with Don Gullett (Grade A-Y) on the mound, as he will be matched up against the Red Sox' Cuban sensation Luis Tiant (Grade B-YZ).

Game 4 (at Cincinnati)

Denny Doyle leads the game off with a triple to left-center off of Gullet; Fred Lynn follows with sac fly RBI. Carl Yastrzemski hits a single to right, but Carlton Fisk & Dwight Evans would not continue this early momentum for Boston. Boston leads 1-0.

The Reds answer back quickly, starting with a lead-off double by Pete Rose to kick off the bottom-half of the 1st Inning; Joe Morgan draws a walk on next at-bat. Johnny Bench hits a grounder to deep second, as Boston gets the runner at second for the force; Fielder's choice, one out. Tony Perez steps up to the plate, with runners on the corner, slashes a single over short to drive in the tying run at 1-1; Bench advances to second. The dangerous George Foster would take advantage of a mistake pitch by Luis Tiant, sending the ball over the right field fence for a three-run homer. Reds take an early 4-1 lead.

Don Gullett would help his pitching cause with the bat, by leading off the bottom of the 2nd Inning, with a double off of Tiant. Pete Rose gives the Reds more scoring insurance, with RBI single.

Carlton Fisk would hit a three-run homerun in the top of the 3rd, to pull within a run, but that's as close as it would get, as the Reds come up huge later in the game with a monster 8th inning. The monster inning featured 7 runs, including a two-run single by Tony Perez.

Perez would finish the game with 3 hits, 3 RBI & 2 runs, while George Foster has been putting up great World Series numbers -- .563 Batting Average (9-for-16), 2 HR, 8 RBI & 6 runs.

Series is now tied 2-2, with Game 5 in Cincinnati.

The 'WHAT IF' 1975 World Series (Game 3)

The series is at a 1-1 tie, between the Boston Red Sox & Cincinnati Reds, after both teams' bullpens self-imploded. The 'WHAT IF' concept of the 1975 World Series was a healthy Jim Rice & the American League's DH rule in effect at Fenway Park... unfortunately for Boston, Rice ended up getting hurt in APBA play in Game 2 & will be out for the entire stretch in Cincinnati, he will be available to play Game 6 & Game 7 in Boston (if necessary). Juan Beniquez who played good for Boston this series, is out for the remainder of the series, and will no longer play a factor in Boston's possible success.

Game 3 (at Cincinnati)

Boston sends Rick Wise (19-12, 3.95 ERA & 141 K / Grade B-YZ) to the mound, to face the Reds' Gary Nolan (15-9, 3.16 ERA & 74 K / Grade B-Z).

Boston has Carl Yastrzemski playing in left (due to the Rice injury), after playing at first during the first two games. The Red Sox thought about using Bernie Carbo, but kept him out for a bench option, due to the fact he's not a good fielder as well; This also allowed Boston to play Cecil Cooper (Game 1's hero) at first base, since there is no designated hitter at a N.L. ballpark.

It would be Yastrzemski that would kick things off for Boston in Game 3. Fred Lynn would lead off the top of the 4th, by drawing a walk off of Gary Nolan; Carl Yastrzemski capitalized the opportunity with an RBI double. Carlton Fisk followed with a walk, placing runners on 1st & 2nd with no outs for Dwight Evans -- who followed with an RBI single, driving in "Yaz". With runners on 1st & 3rd, Denny Doyle would smack both runners in on a double to right; Nolan would retire the next three batters & get out the four-run inning.

For Rick Wise, that was all he needed, a 4-0 cushion -- Wise cruised on to keep the Reds' bats silent for the most part, allowing only 7 hits, with a complete-game shutout of the "Big Red Machine". Another great thing about Wise's performance is that he gave the Red Sox' bullpen a much-needed rest after their Game 2 failures. Wise struck out 6 Cincy batters & walked one.

No Cincy base-runners would reach third, as their biggest threat was Johnny Bench's lead-off double during the bottom of the 4th.

Red Sox win 4-0, and lead the series 2-1.

The WHAT IF 1975 World Series (Game 2)

Dwight Evans smacks early three-run homer for Sox.

The Cincinnati Reds will be sending Jack Billingham to the mound to face Boston's Bill "The Spaceman" Lee. The Reds are hoping to bounce back after the bullpen blew the game against Boston, or should I say Cecil Cooper, who tied the game up with a two-run homer in the 9th, and won the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th.

GAME 2 (at Fenway Park)

The Cincinnati Reds needed to get the last game behind them, and what better way of doing that than striking first with 2 runs in the top of the 1st. Pete Rose led of with a bases on balls, then Joe Morgan followed by hitting a single over first, advancing Rose to third; Morgan would steal second. With runners on 2nd & 3rd, Johnny Bench was walked, loading up the bases with no outs. Tony Perez (DH), the cleanup hitter would hit into a fielder's choice, which Boston got the force at second, but Rose would score from third. George Foster added a RBI single, before Dan Driessen (playing 1B) would hit into an inning-ending double play.

The Boston Red Sox strike back in the bottom of the second with a three-run homer by Dwight Evans, after back-to-back singles by Carlton Fisk & Jim Rice; The Boston hitters were retired for the remainder of the inning.

Top of the 4th, George Foster of the Reds, leads off with a single. Dan Driessen hits a single over first, and advances Foster to third, Driessen steals second. This next play would play a huge factor on the series; No outs with runners on 2nd & 3rd for shortstop Dave Conception, Conception hits a pop fly to shallow left, with Rick Burleson & Jim Rice chasing it down, they collide! Burleson makes the catch, but Foster tags up & scores -- game is tied, 3-3 & both players remain on the ground. The trainers come out & help them off the field.

REMEMBER -- Part of the concept of this 'WHAT IF' World Series was a healthy Jim Rice; Rice will now miss 3 games (the entire time, Boston plays in Cincinnati for Games 3 through 5) -- which begs the question was Rice always meant to miss this series?

Carbo to play bigger part with Rice injury.

Due to the injuries, Bernie Carbo, who has some pop in his bat, takes over in left, while Juan Beniquez moves from third to short, as Rico Petrocelli takes over at third. The Reds would do no more damage in the 4th Inning.

Bottom of the 5th, Denny Doyle reaches first on a rare Dave Conception error. Juan Beniquez would come up big again for Boston with a RBI triple, giving the Red Sox the lead, 4-3; Rico Petrocelli adds to lead with, RBI sac fly.

In what is turning out to be quite the see-saw battle, it was not surprising to watch the Cincinnati Reds battle back. Tony Perez leads off the 6th Inning, with a double, while George Foster draws a walk from Bill Lee. Dan Driessen would ground out, but advance the runners to 2nd & 3rd. Dave Conception would hit his 2nd sac fly of the day, as Perez scores from third. Rightfielder Ken Griffey smacks in Foster on a RBI single, and then would steal second base... tying the game at 5-5; Cesar Geronimo fails to keep the inning going for Cincy.

Bottom of the 6th, with Carlton Fisk on first, Rice's replacement Bernie Carbo hits a two-run homer off of Reds' reliever, Clay Carroll, to make the game 7-5 Red Sox; Jack Billingham came out of the game for the Reds, after 5 innings -- allowing 4 hits,  4 earned runs (5 runs) with 5 strikeouts.

Bottom of the 7th, with Clay Carroll still on the mound for the Reds, Rico Petrocelli hits lead-off single, while Cecil Cooper (batting first in the batting order) gets plunked with a pitch, runners on 1st & 2nd. Sparky Anderson ("Captain Hook") goes to the mound, and calls on Fred Norman (B-YW) to come out of the pen; Norman loads up the bases by walking Fred Lynn. Stepping up to the plate is Carl Yastrzemski, who is 0-for-6 in the series, and would continue to be hitless as he hits into a 6-4-3 double play... but it was not a complete failure, as he would score in Petrocelli from third. Carlton Fisk would fly out to right, for the final out of the 7th.

Both teams would not score in the 8th, with Boston starting to have a commanding, 8-5 lead, as both teams head into the 9th. Boston wanted to go with Jim Burton (B-X) again for the 9th, after two successful, scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, but did not want to risk not having his services for Game 3. [I have a rule that I play with that relievers go 3 innings, if they go beyond that, its one more game to miss for each inning more] Due to this rule, Dick Drago could have pitched in this game, but I also have a rule, if they pitched previous game with 3 innings, each inning in the next game would also be a game missed -- all to make it more realistic. So with all that's going on Boston decided to call on reliever Jim Willoughby (C-YZ) to pitch the top of the ninth & close the game.

Willoughby's task: Cincinnati's 8-9-1 hitters of the lineup -- Griffey, Geronimo & Rose. Willoughby would have a hard time finding the strike zone, as he walks Ken Griffey. Cesar Geronimo hits a single to right, advances the runner to second. With runners on first & second, Pete Rose hits a grounder to the shortstop Juan Beniquez, Beniquez throws the ball over Yastrzemski's glove, Griffey scores, Geronimo thinks about third, Rose thinks of second, but stays on first. Joe Morgan steps to the plate with runners on 1st & 2nd, down 8-6, with no outs... Morgan grounds out, moves the runners up to 2nd & 3rd Base. Boston manager Darrell Johnson calls on Reggie Cleveland (Grade C) to face Johnny Bench, does his job by getting Bench to pop out, for out number two; Johnson goes back to the bullpen and calls on Roger Moret (B-YW). Runners still on 2nd & 3rd with two outs, Tony Perez hits a RBI single, driving in Geronimo, Rose advances to third.

Foster delivers huge blast in 9th.

Boston's lead is cut to a single run, as Boston is barely clinging to a 8-7 lead, with the Reds having runners on the corners. George Foster comes to the plate, Moret delivers the pitch, strike! Foster steps back in, finds his pitch, this one is going, it's gone! Flying over the Green Monster, a three-run blast for Foster! Reds now lead, 10-8! Boston's weak bullpen has been exposed, and the Big Red Machine has scored 5 runs in the ninth to take back the game & possibly have evened the series. Dan Driessen would ground out to finish the inning, but not before the Reds inserted a dagger.

The Reds' Rawly Eastwick would do the job, by closing out Game 2 with the save, he only allowed a two-out walk to Fred Lynn, than got Carl Yastrzemski to ground out for the final out of the game.

George Foster's final stats of the game: 3-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB & 3 runs; He was 2-for-5 in Game 1, with an RBI & run.

The WHAT IF World Series (1975) - Red Sox vs Reds (A Few Tweaks)

Starting a "WHAT IF" World Series with my custom-made 1975 Boston Red Sox & a healthy Jim Rice for the series -- plus the DH rule is in effect (which back in 1975, despite the fact that the American League had DH's -- both teams had pitchers bat in the Fall Classic).

GAME 1 (at Fenway Park)

Don Gullet (CIN) and Luis Tiant (BOS) on the mound & the game started the same way as the actual Game 1, with 6 scoreless innings. Heading into the 7th, Tiant only allowed one hit, while Gullet only allowed two hits.

Bench Mark: Bench points the way for his teammates.

This time, the scoring was reversed with Cincinnati having a big 7th Inning with 4 runs (in real-life, Boston scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th). Johnny Bench kicked things off with a solo home run to right, followed by a Tony Perez double... George Foster would smack in Perez, as Cincinnati takes a 2-0 lead. Dan Driessen would hit a single to right-center, then steal second, Dave Conception would reach first on a Rick Burleson error, bases loaded. Boston would go to the pen & call on Jim Burton to face only the next batter Griffey.

Boston would finally record two outs, on back-to-back plays with Ken Griffey flying out to left, and (with Roger Moret now on the mound) Cesar Geronimo striking out. The Reds were not done though, as Pete Rose would score in two runners on a single... Joe Morgan would follow by drawing bases on balls... all coming back to the man who led of the inning, in Mr. Bench -- with bases loaded & a chance to really break this game open -- against Boston's third reliever of the inning in Jim Willoughby... Bench would strike out.

The damage was done, and the Reds are up, 4-0 & have knocked Luis Tiant out of the game. Tiant who was pitching a beauty, ended up with a messy box score line of 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 runs, 2 K's & 2 walks.

Lynn, was simply the man in 1975.

Willoughby would keep the Reds off the board, pitching a scoreless 8th Inning. The bottom of the 8th, Carl Yastrzemski would draw a walk, while Don Gullet would follow that, by plunking Carlton Fisk with a pitch, runners on 1st & 2nd... Fred Lynn, who would go on to win both the American League Rookie-of-the-Year Award & American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1975 -- hits a two-run double, to cut the lead in half; Sparky Anderson seen enough, calls on Rawly Eastwick from the Reds' bullpen... striking out Jim Rice & getting Dwight Evans to fly to left for the final outs of the 8th Inning.

Boston down 4-2, they call on Dick Drago to take the mound, to face Griffey, Geronimo & Rose. Griffey would do nothing but fly to right... Cesar Geronimo would single to right, but the lead runner would have to remain at first, as Pete Rose hit into a fielder's choice (getting Geronimo out at second)... Joe Morgan draws his second walk of the game, setting the tables with runners on 1st & 2nd for Johnny Bench... Bench would not be able to add some insurance runs for Cincy though.

Sparky Anderson selects Will McEnaney to close the game out for the Reds. Boston goes to the bench and calls on Juan Beniquez to pinch-hit for Rico Petrocelli, he is likely to take over at third if Boston can tie this up & move on to extras; Beniquez hits a lead-off single off of McEnaney. The Red Sox' wheels are still turning, and Boston skipper Darrell Johnson calls on Bernie Carbo to step up to bat in place of Rick Burleson, who is 0-for-3... Carbo would ground out, but advances Beniquez to second. One out, with a runner on second, it's back to the top of the Boston batting order with Cecil Cooper at the plate, 1-for-his previous 4 at-bats... he likes his pitch, 66-1... Gone! The game is all knotted up at 2-2; Denny Doyle and Carl Yastrzemski would be retired to finish the inning.

This game goes to extras...

Cooper, before his Brewer days.

Dick Drago after a successful, scoreless 9th Inning, would pitch the top of the 10th, and would only allow a two-out single to George Foster... Cincinnati keeps Will McEnaney in the ballgame, and he would pitch a scoreless bottom-of-the-10th -- only allowing a two-out double to Jim Rice, but successfully getting Dwight Evans to ground out to short for the third out.

I want to take this brief moment to let my readers know that I have been playing APBA lately with Optional Fielding, all thanks to James Welch. I have had the privilege of meeting Welch at the Chicago Fantasy World Series, we may have talked briefly at the my first Chicago tourney experience, this time I really got to know him more, since he was in my division at the recent Chicago tournament. We played only once against each other, since we were both eliminated & we felt playing the last two would be senseless we can socialize with other people... In that game, he further explained how Optional Fielding works, now I have been playing with that all the time & it does make a nice difference -- he called it "fine-tuning", which is the best way of putting it. 

Before we move on, here is an example of Optional Fielding... Recently in my APBA 2K9 Project (Best of the players from 2009-2011 for each of the 30 franchises), a team playing against the Cincinnati Reds.... The batter rolled a play result of #15, I believe the Cincinnati Reds were a fielding 2, but with play results of 15's, you go to that position player which is LF... Jonny Gomes, who is only a (1), is a fielding 3 in this case, and the result was 1st & 2nd on a error -- If I was playing in regular, straight-up basic mode, against a team fielding two it would have been a single, against a team fielding 1, that would have Fly-out... Now if there was a fielder in left, with 3 fielding points, in Optional Fielding it would have been a fly-out. I have seen this Optional Fielding work well, with third baseman, makes a whole difference if you have a 3B with 5 or 6 points, making them a fielding one, getting that double-play, where a fielding 2 third baseman would get the force instead. 

Okay, after this brief intermission, let's get back to the ballgame, shall we? Dick Drago still in the game for Boston would allow back-to-back lead-off walks to Ken Griffey & Cesar Geronimo, but Pete Rose would hit into a double-play... Joe Morgan, with a runner on third, would strike out.

I have specific rules that I use when I play, a reliever can go 3 innings or more, but once he hits 3 innings, he will have to sit the next game out, each additional inning, would be one more game. Dick Drago will not be able to pitch in Game 2, which could be really good for Cincy with Boston not having much of a bullpen anyways.

Bottom of the 11th, with Will McEnaney still on the mound for the Reds... Juan Beniquez would get his second hit off the bench... Doug Griffin (in for Burleson) puts down a sacrifice bunt, out at first, but successfully moves Beniquez over to second base, leading up to Cecil Cooper. Cooper tied the game earlier in the bottom of the 9th off of McEnaney, with a two-run homer. McEnaney delivers, it's a hit to the right-center gap, Beniquez will come around & score the winning run -- The board result was a double, but likely Beniquez (Fast) would score winning run before Cooper makes it to second -- so walk-off single by Cooper! Red Sox win!

Player of the Game: Cecil Cooper.

The Red Sox came back from a 4-0 deficit, scoring their first run in the 8th inning. Cecil Cooper ends the game, 3-for-6, with a HR & 3 RBI.. Will McEnaney records the loss, with 2.1 innings in relief... while Dick Drago goes 3 scoreless innings in relief, to notch the victory.

Game 2 will see the Reds' Jack Billingham face Boston's Bill "The Spaceman" Lee.

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