1975 Cincinnati Reds season

Last updated

1975  Cincinnati Reds
World Series Champion
National League Champion
National League West Division Champion
League National League
Division West
Ballpark Riverfront Stadium
City Cincinnati
Record108–54 (66.7%)
Divisional place1st place
Owner Louis Nippert
General manager Bob Howsam
Manager Sparky Anderson
Television WLWT
(Ken Coleman, Woody Woodward)
Radio WLW
(Marty Brennaman, Joe Nuxhall)
←  1974 Seasons 1976  →

The 1975 Cincinnati Reds season was the 106th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 6th and 5th full season at Riverfront Stadium. The Reds dominated the league all season, and won the National League West Division with a record of 108 wins and 54 losses, the best record in MLB and finished 20 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds went on to win the NLCS by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in three straight games, and the World Series in seven games over the Boston Red Sox. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson and played their home games at Riverfront Stadium. It was the first World Series championship for Cincinnati since 1940. The 1975 Reds are one of the few teams to consistently challenge the 1927 New York Yankees for the title of the best team in major league history. The Reds went 64–17 at home in 1975, which remains the best home record ever by a National League team. It is currently the second-best home record in MLB history, behind the 1961 Yankees, who went 65-16.

Contents

Offseason

Regular season

The 1975 Reds clinched a playoff appearance on September 7, the earliest clinch date of any MLB team in a 162-game season. [4]

Joe Morgan was the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1975.

Season standings

NL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cincinnati Reds 10854.667—64‍–‍1744‍–‍37
Los Angeles Dodgers 8874.5432049‍–‍3239‍–‍42
San Francisco Giants 8081.49727½46‍–‍3534‍–‍46
San Diego Padres 7191.4383738‍–‍4333‍–‍48
Atlanta Braves 6794.41640½37‍–‍4330‍–‍51
Houston Astros 6497.39843½37‍–‍4427‍–‍53

Record vs. opponents

1975 National League record

Sources:
TeamATLCHCCINHOULADMTLNYMPHIPITSDSFSTL
Atlanta —5–73–1512–68–108–44–85–74–87–118–93–9
Chicago 7–5—1–117–55–79–97–1112–66–125–75–711–7
Cincinnati 15–311–1—13–58–108–48–47–56–611–713–58–4
Houston 6–125–75–13—6–128–44–86–66–59–95–134–8–1
Los Angeles 10–87–510–812–6—5–76–67–55–711–710–85–7
Montreal 4–89–94–84–87–5—10–87–117–117–55–711–7
New York 8–411–74–88–46–68–10—7–115–138–48–49–9
Philadelphia 7-56–125–76–65–711–711–7—11–77–57–510–8
Pittsburgh 8–412–66–65–67–511–713–57–11—8–45–710–8
San Diego 11–77–57–119–97–115–74–85–74–8—8–104–8
San Francisco 9–87–55–1313–58–107–54–85–77–510–8—5–7
St. Louis 9–37–114–88–4–17–57–119–98–108–108–47–5—

Notable transactions

Roster

1975 Cincinnati Reds
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

OutfieldersManager

Coaches

Game log

Regular season

Legend
 Reds win
 Reds loss
 Postponement
 Clinched division
BoldReds team member
1975 regular season game log: 108–54 (Home: 64–17; Away: 44–37)
April: 12–11 (Home: 7–2; Away: 5–9)
#DateTime (ET)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
1 April 72:30p.m. EST Dodgers W2–1(14) Darcy (1–0) Hough (0–1)—3:23 52,526 1–0 W1
2 April 98:05p.m. EST Dodgers W4–3 Borbón (1–0) Marshall (0–1)—2:40 15,554 2–0 W2
3 April 108:05p.m. EST Dodgers W7–6 C. Carroll (1–0) Hough (0–2)—2:43 20,550 3–0 W3
7 April 148:15p.m. EST @ Dodgers L2–5 Rau (1–0) Billingham (0–1) Marshall (1)2:22 45,502 4–3 L1
8 April 1510:30p.m. EST @ Dodgers L1–3 Sutton (2–0) Kirby (0–1)—2:05 31,663 4–4 L2
9 April 1610:30p.m. EST @ Dodgers L6–7 Marshall (1–1) C. Carroll (1–1)—3:06 36,578 4–5 L3
10 April 174:15p.m. EST @ Dodgers L4–5(11) Marshall (2–1) C. Carroll (1–2)—3:01 27,835 4–6 L4
May: 16–10 (Home: 11–3; Away: 5–7)
#DateTime (ET)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
—May 127:35p.m. EDT @ Phillies Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 15
33 May 137:35p.m. EDT @ Phillies L0–4 Underwood (4–3) Nolan (1–3)—2:12 11,634 18–15 L2
34 May 147:35p.m. EDT @ Phillies L0–4 Carlton (2–4) Darcy (1–2)—2:30 30,908 18–15 L3
35 (1)May 155:35p.m. EDT @ Phillies L3–6 McGraw (2–0) Gullett (4–2)—2:20 — 18–16 L4
36 (2)May 158:20p.m. EDT @ Phillies L3–5 Garber (2–2) Carroll (3–4) McGraw (3)2:37 24,038 18–17 L5
42 May 238:05p.m. EDT Phillies W5–2 Nolan (3–3) Christenson (0–1) Carroll (3)2:05 36,197 22–20 W2
43 May 247:05p.m. EDT Phillies W3–2(11) Carroll (4–4) McGraw (2–2)—3:20 36,165 23–20 W3
44 May 252:15p.m. EDT Phillies W4–3 Kirby (3–3) Lonborg (3–2) Eastwick (1)2:29 25,72636,165 24–20 W4
June: 21–7 (Home: 12–4; Away: 9–3)
#DateTime (ET)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
—June 27:35p.m. EDT @ Pirates Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 22
51 June 37:35p.m. EDT @ Pirates W8–4 Nolan (5–3) Moose (0–2)—2:26 9,438 30–21 W3
52 June 47:35p.m. EDT @ Pirates L1–2 Reuss (5–4) Norman (2–2) Hernández (1)2:25 13,754 30–22 L1
57 June 98:30p.m. EDT Pirates L2–9 Reuss (6–4) Norman (2–3)—2:08 22,555 34–23 L1
58 June 108:05p.m. EDT Pirates L5–9 McDowell (2–1) Darcy (1–3) Hernández (2)2:45 19,107 34–24 L2
July: 20–9 (Home: 14–3; Away: 6–6)
#DateTime (ET)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
84 July 78:25p.m. EDT Phillies W7–3 Darcy (4–5) Carlton (7–7)—2:30 25,096 55–29 W4
85 July 88:05p.m. EDT Phillies W2–1 Nolan (8–5) Underwood (9–6) Eastwick (4)2:14 28,479 56–29 W5
86 July 98:05p.m. EDT Phillies W9–7 Borbón (5–1) Garber (7–5)—2:25 28,789 57–29 W6
—July 158:30p.m. EDT 46th All-Star Game in Milwaukee, WI
94 July 201:35p.m. EDT @ Phillies L4–11 Underwood (10–7) Kirby (7–4) Garber (7)2:51 44,134 62–32 L2
95 July 217:35p.m. EDT @ Phillies W10–4 Darcy (5–5) Schueler (3–2)—2:48 43,698 63–32 W1
99 (1)July 255:35p.m. EDT Dodgers L3–4 Messersmith (13–8) Carroll (5–5) Marshall (7)2:33 — 64–35 L1
100 (2)July 258:33p.m. EDT Dodgers W6–3 Darcy (6–5) Marshall (6–9) Borbón (4)2:06 51,087 65–35 W1
101 July 262:15p.m. EDT Dodgers W5–3 Billingham (11–5) Rau (8–8) Eastwick (9)2:33 50,236 66–35 W2
102 July 272:15p.m. EDT Dodgers L3–5 Sutton (14–9) T. Carroll (3–1) Marshall (8)2:38 50,609 66–36 L1
August: 21–8 (Home: 11–2; Away: 10–6)
#DateTime (ET)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
107 August 110:30p.m. EDT @ Dodgers L3–5(10) Hough (1–4) Borbón (6–3)—2:45 50,331 69–38 L1
108 August 210:00p.m. EDT @ Dodgers W1–0 T. Carroll (4–1) Messersmith (13–10) C. Carroll (5)2:34 52,015 70–38 W1
109 August 34:00p.m. EDT @ Dodgers W3–1 Darcy (8–5) Rau (9–9) Eastwick (10)2:15 51,667 71–38 W2
118 August 148:05p.m. EDT Pirates W6–1 Nolan (11–6) Reuss (12–9)—1:54 40,062 79–39 W5
119 August 158:15p.m. EDT Pirates W8–3 Norman (8–3) Rooker (8–9)—2:20 45,003 80–39 W6
120 August 168:05p.m. EDT Pirates W5–3 Billingham (14–5) Candelaria (6–3) Eastwick (13)2:15 51,286 81–39 W7
121 August 172:15p.m. EDT Pirates W3–1 Darcy (9–5) Kison (9–10) Eastwick (14)1:56 50,121 82–39 W8
125 (1)August 226:05p.m. EDT @ Pirates L2–7 Demery (6–3) Billingham (14–6)—2:41 — 83–42 L3
126 (2)August 229:11p.m. EDT @ Pirates L2–4 Candelaria (7–3) McEnaney (4–2) Giusti (14)2:04 46,756 83–43 L4
127 August 232:15p.m. EDT @ Pirates W12–7 Kirby (9–4) Kison (9–11) Eastwick (16)3:21 32,068 84–43 W1
128 August 241:35p.m. EDT @ Pirates L1–5 Reuss (14–9) Nolan (11–8)—1:53 35,598 84–44 L1
September: 18–9 (Home: 9–3; Away: 9–6)
#DateTime (ET)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
138 September 38:05p.m. EDT Dodgers W13–2 Nolan (13–8) Messersmith (15–14)—2:36 27,881 92–46 W2
139 September 48:05p.m. EDT Dodgers L2–3 Rau (13–9) Kirby (9–5)—2:14 29,512 92–47 L1
145September 1010:30p.m. EDT @ Dodgers L2–3 Hooton (16–9) Eastwick (5–3)—2:25 27,432 96–49 L2
146September 1110:30p.m. EDT @ Dodgers L2–5 Rhoden (2–2) Billingham (15–8)—2:16 27,640 96–50 L3

Postseason Game log

Legend
 Reds win
 Reds loss
 Postponement
BoldReds team member
1975 Postseason game log: 7–3 (Home: 4–1; Away: 3–2)
NL Championship Series vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Away: 1–0)
#DateTime (ET)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceSeriesBox/
Streak
1 October 44:00p.m. EDT Pirates W8–3 Gullett (1–0) Reuss (0–1)—3:00 54,633 CIN 1–0 W1
2 October 54:00p.m. EDT Pirates W6–1 Norman (1–0) Rooker (8–9) Eastwick (1)2:51 54,752 CIN 2–0 W2
3 October 78:32p.m. EDT @ Pirates W5–3(10) Eastwick (1–0) Hernández (0–1) Borbón (1)2:47 46,355 CIN 3–0 W3
World Series vs. Boston Red Sox 4–3 (Home: 2–1; Away: 2–2)
#DateTime (ET)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceSeriesBox/
Streak
1 October 111:00p.m. EDT @ Red Sox L0–6 Tiant (1–0) Gullett (0–1)—2:27 35,205 BOS 1–0 L1
2 October 121:00p.m. EDT @ Red Sox W3–2 Eastwick (1–0) Drago (0–1)—2:38 35,205 TIE 1–1 W1
3 October 148:30p.m. EDT Red Sox W6–5(10) Eastwick (2–0) Willoughby (0–1)—3:03 55,392 CIN 2–1 W2
4 October 158:30p.m. EDT Red Sox L4–5 Tiant (2–0) Norman (0–1)—2:52 55,667 TIE 2–2 L1
5 October 168:30p.m. EDT Red Sox W6–2 Gullett (1–1) Cleveland (0–1) Eastwick (1)2:23 56,393 CIN 3–2 W1
—October 181:00p.m. EDT @ Red Sox Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 21
—October 191:00p.m. EDT @ Red Sox Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 21
—October 208:15p.m. EDT @ Red Sox Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 21
6 October 218:15p.m. EDT @ Red Sox L6–7(12) Wise (1–0) Darcy (0–1)—4:01 35,205 TIE 3–3 L1
7 October 228:15p.m. EDT @ Red Sox W4–3 C. Carroll (1–0) Burton (0–1) McEnaney (1)2:52 35,205 CIN 4–3 W1

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C Johnny Bench 142530150.28328110
1B Tony Pérez 137511144.28220109
2B Joe Morgan 146498163.3271794
3B Pete Rose 162662210.317774
SS Dave Concepción 140507139.274549
LF George Foster 134463139.3002378
CF César Gerónimo 148501129.257653
RF Ken Griffey 132463141.305446

[7]

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Dan Driessen 8821059.281738
Merv Rettenmund 9318845.239219
Darrel Chaney 7116035.219226
Bill Plummer 6515929.182119
Doug Flynn 8912734.268120
Terry Crowley 667119.268111
Ed Armbrister 596512.18502
John Vukovich 31388.21102
Don Werner 781.12500

[7]

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Gary Nolan 32210.21593.1674
Jack Billingham 33208.015104.1179
Fred Norman 34188.01243.73119
Don Gullett 22159.21542.4298
Pat Darcy 27130.21153.5846
Clay Kirby 26110.21064.7248

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Tom Carroll 1247.0414.9814

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGWLSVERASO
Rawly Eastwick 5853222.6061
Will McEnaney 7052152.4748
Pedro Borbón 679552.9529
Clay Carroll 567572.6244
Tom Hall 20000.003

Postseason

National League Championship Series

Game One

October 4, Riverfront Stadium

Team123456789RHE
Pittsburgh020000001380
Cincinnati01304000X8110
W: Don Gullett (1–0)  L: Jerry Reuss (0–1)  
HRs: CIN – Don Gullett (1)

Game Two

October 5, Riverfront Stadium

Team123456789RHE
Pittsburgh000100000150
Cincinnati20020110X6121
W: Fred Norman (1–0)  L: Jim Rooker (0–1)  SV: Rawly Eastwick (1)
HRs: CIN – Tony Pérez (1)

Game Three

October 7, Three Rivers Stadium

Team12345678910RHE
Cincinnati0100000202560
Pittsburgh0000020010372
W: Rawly Eastwick (1–0)  L: Ramón Hernández (0–1)  SV: Pedro Borbón (1)
HRs: CIN – Dave Concepción (1), Pete Rose (1); PIT – Al Oliver (1)

World Series

NL Cincinnati Reds (4) vs. AL Boston Red Sox (3)
GameScoreDateLocationAttendanceTime of Game
1Reds – 0, Red Sox – 6Sat. Oct 11 (D) Fenway Park 35,2052:27
2Reds – 3, Red Sox – 2Sun. Oct 12 (D) Fenway Park 35,2052:38
3Red Sox – 5, Reds – 6 (10 inns)Tue. Oct 14 (N) Riverfront Stadium 55,3923:03
4Red Sox – 5, Reds – 4Wed. Oct 15 (N) Riverfront Stadium 55,6672:52
5Red Sox – 2, Reds – 6Thu. Oct 16 (N) Riverfront Stadium 56,3932:23
6Reds – 6, Red Sox – 7 (12 inns)Tue. Oct 21 (N) Fenway Park 35,2054:01
7Reds – 4, Red Sox – 3Wed. Oct 22 (N) Fenway Park 35,2052:52

Awards and honors

All-Stars

All-Star Game

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Indianapolis Indians American Association Vern Rapp
AA Trois-Rivières Aigles Eastern League Jim Snyder and Ron Plaza
A Tampa Tarpons Florida State League Russ Nixon
A-Short Season Eugene Emeralds Northwest League Greg Riddoch
Rookie Billings Mustangs Pioneer League Jim Hoff

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Eugene [10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Andy Kosco at Baseball Reference
  2. ↑ Phil Gagliano at Baseball Reference
  3. ↑ Joe Henderson at Baseball Reference
  4. ↑ Earliest division-clinching dates in a 162-game season
  5. ↑ Roger Freed at Baseball Reference
  6. ↑ Doug Corbett at Baseball Reference
  7. 1 2 1975 Cincinnati Reds Statistics and Roster – Baseball-Reference.com
  8. ↑ "MLB Lou Gehrig Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Hutch Award | Baseball Almanac".
  10. ↑ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

References

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