by Mark Frost
PITCHERS:
CIN-Gullett, Carroll (7), McEnaney (7)
BOS-Tiant
WP-Luis Tiant
LP-Don Gullett
SAVE–one
PITCHERS:
CIN-Billingham, Borbon (6), McEnaney (7), Eastwick (8)
BOS-Lee, Drago (9)
WP-Rawly Eastwick
LP–Dick Drago
SAVE–none
PITCHERS:
BOS-Wise, Burton (5), Cleveland (5), Willoughby (7), Moret (10)
CIN-Nolan, Darcy (5), Carroll (7), McEnaney (7), Eastwick (9)
WP-Rawly Eastwick
LP-Jim Willoughby
SAVE-none
PITCHERS:
BOS-Tiant
CIN-Norman, Borbon (4), Carroll (5), Eastwick (7)
WP-Luis Tiant
LP-Fred Norman
SAVE-none
PITCHERS:
BOS-Cleveland, Willoughby (6), Pole (8), Segui (8)
CIN-Gullett, Eastwick (9)
WP-Don Gullett
LP-Reggie Cleveland
SAVE–Rawly Eastwick
PITCHERS:
CIN–Gullett, Billingham (5), Carroll (7), McEnaney (9)
BOS-Lee, Moret (7), Willoughby (7), Burton (9), Cleveland (9)
WP-Clay Carroll
LP-im Burton
SAVE-Will McEnaney
SERIES MVP
Pete Rose
Acknowledgments
MANY PEOPLE TO THANK: none more than Marty Brennaman, the first person I spoke to about the book and without whom so much of this work would not have been possible. Special thanks to Chet Simmons, Tony Kubek, Thom Brennaman, Dick Stockton, and Lesley Visser; Michael Weisman and David Israel; Carolyn Sullivan and Dick Williams with the Reds; John Blake, Pam Ganley, and Dick Bresciani with the Red Sox; and Bill Francis at the Baseball Hall of Fame, for his tireless research and diligent fact-checking. Special thanks to my researchers, Jim Farmer in Cincinnati and Alex and Meghan Law in Boston, couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks in Boston as well to Stan Abrams, Bob Donovan, Dick Connolly, Ryan Connolly, Ed Carpenter, Curt Flight, Bruce Hauck, Dan Meyer, and Justin Ansel. In Los Angeles, Billy Crystal, John Marin, and Al Michaels.
To the players, without whom this book would be neither possible nor necessary, live long and prosper: Johnny Bench, Jack Billingham, Bernie Carbo, Dave Concepcion, Pat Darcy, Denny Doyle, Dick Drago, Dwight Evans, Doug Flynn, George Foster, Ken Griffey Sr., Bill Lee, Fred Lynn, Will McEnaney, Joe Morgan, Gary Nolan, Tony Perez, Rico Petrocelli, Bill Plummer, Jim Rice, Luis Tiant, Rick Wise. To Yaz: get well soon, everyone involved sends their best wishes.
Many thanks as always to my friend and agent Ed Victor, and to Bob Miller and Will Schwalbe. At Hyperion, my publishers Ellen Archer and Will Balliett and my wonderful longtime editor Gretchen Young. Many thanks also to my photo editor, David Plotkin.
Finally, special thanks to two extraordinary gentlemen who, despite the sport’s many self-inflicted wounds, have always made it easy to love the game of baseball: Vin Scully and Sparky Anderson.
Searchable Terms
Note: Entries in this index, carried over verbatim from the print edition of this title, are unlikely to correspond to the pagination of any given e-book reader. However, entries in this index, and other terms, may be easily located by using the search feature of your e-book reader.
Aaron, Hank, 39, 199
ABC sports, 17, 19, 20
Ali, Muhammad, 244
American Association, 92
American League:
designated hitters in, 20, 60, 74–75, 117, 195
early years of, 93, 95–97, 127–28
Eastern Division title, 21
“Junior Circuit” of, 93
pitching in, 60
American Sportsman, The (TV), 349
Anderson, George Lee “Sparky,” 90, 113–14, 168, 244, 378
and balk, 69–71
and Carbo, 238–40
discipline of, 42–43, 47–48, 216, 234, 279, 292, 328
early years of, 1–5, 42, 46, 49
and fatherhood, 238–39
fired by Cincinnati, 343–44
and Game Seven, 293, 294, 305–6, 308, 309
and Game Six, 11, 41–44, 46, 56, 86, 136, 166, 267, 272–73, 282, 290–91
in Hall of Fame, 373–74
instinct of, 51, 239–40, 243, 245, 248, 294, 306
and lineup, 43–44, 50–51, 66, 74, 103, 294
as manager, 46–48, 49, 104, 106, 140, 201, 311, 340, 344, 369, 372
as mentor, 234, 238
nicknames of, 5, 42, 49
and 1970 season, 47–48
and 1975 season, 42, 44
and 1976 season, 327, 329
and 1978 season, 340, 341
personal traits of, 49, 238
and pitchers, 41–43, 78–79, 85, 111, 114, 123, 124, 125, 130, 131–32, 138–42, 164, 165, 188, 229, 232, 233, 239–40, 249, 251, 255, 261–62, 282, 305–6, 329
principles of, 371, 372–74
public image of, 48–49, 369
and team building, 104, 121, 122, 152, 156, 290, 310, 311, 328, 333, 369
and Tigers, 369–70, 371, 372
and World Series (1975), 49, 79, 103, 204, 271, 310–11, 314
Anderson, Leroy, 2
Angell, Roger, 53
Aparicio, Luis, 84, 107, 143
Arizona Diamondbacks, 350, 351, 377
Arledge, Roone, 349
Armbrister, Edison Rosanda, 192, 342
career of, 173, 352–53
in Game Seven, 301, 302
in Game Six, 172–76, 182–84
in Game Three, 173–75, 176, 177, 275, 301, 302, 353
Associated Press, All-Star voting, 13
Atlanta Braves, 93, 188
Autry, Gene, 47
Avila, Bobby, 8, 9
Baltimore Orioles: early years of, 128
and 1973 season, 84
and 1975 season, 55
and 1976 season, 323, 329
and 1977 season, 339
World Series lost by, 21
World Series won by, 48, 156, 345
Barnett, Larry, 174–78, 193, 286, 301 baseball:
aging audiences, 20
aging players, 278
antitrust exemption of, 19, 94
audiences dwindling for, 18, 19
audiences returning to, 314–15
baby boomer generation in, 216, 218
balk in, 69–71
barnstorming teams, 91, 360–61, 362
Basic Agreements (1970s), 317, 318–19, 323, 326, 327, 370
batting helmets in, 145, 306–7
belonging to the fans, 378
blue-collar fans of, 330
changes in the game, 19–20, 33–34, 316, 320, 323, 331–32, 336, 345, 370, 377
color bar in, 7, 8, 34, 98, 151, 345
computer stats in, 73–74
dead ball era, 213
designated hitters, 20, 60, 331
dishonor in, 375–76
early years of, 90–97
as entertainment, 65, 218, 375, 377
farm system, 33
finding meaning in, 376–77
free agency, 19, 319, 323, 324–27, 330, 331–32, 336, 339–40, 346, 351, 354, 370, 374–75
instant replay, 176
intentional walks, 136–37
large media market franchises, 330
Latin players in, 62, 67, 98, 102, 119, 171–72
leagues divided in, 19–20
living the moment in, 289, 311
managers in, 344
and money, 32, 91, 371, 375–76
multi-use stadiums, 37
as “National Pastime,” 91
night games, 17, 33, 56, 376
owners vs. players, 19, 93–94, 312–19, 370, 371
pitcher specialization, 245
pitching charts, 192
pitching mound, 129
postseason games, 20
reserve clause,
18–19, 94, 95, 330–31
as “rounders,” 90
rules of, 90
salary arbitration in, 236
scouting, 33
seventh-inning stretch, 215
skills needed in, 133
substance abuse in, 233–34, 375
syndicates in, 94
team spirit in, 53, 376
television ratings, 18, 339
ticket prices in, 330, 375
umpires, 177–78, 193
women’s league in, 216
Baseball Assistance Team, 360
Batista, Fulgencio, 99
Bench, Johnny Lee, 11, 48, 101, 260
at bat, Game Six, 72, 153–56, 185–86, 208–9, 210, 247–48, 275–77
as catcher, 43, 81, 83, 86, 114, 132, 136, 138, 153, 198, 228, 240, 254–55, 263, 281–82, 366
early years of, 81, 153–54
in Game One, 70, 71
and Game Seven, 291, 298–300, 302, 305, 307, 308
in Game Three, 277
in Game Two, 247
Gold Gloves to, 45, 328
in Hall of Fame, 348, 373
injuries to, 155, 275, 276
in lineup, 45, 103, 105, 122
and 1975 season, 74, 216, 275, 276
and 1976 season, 330
and 1977 season, 336, 337
and 1978 season, 341
and pitchers, 130, 241, 249, 255
retirement of, 346
skills of, 153, 154, 156, 185
as superstar, 25, 42, 107, 157
and teammates, 290, 333
and World Series (1972), 137
and World Series (1975), 310–11
and World Series (1976), 329
Beniquez, Juan, 74, 75, 232, 233, 253, 271, 306, 322
Berra, Yogi, 23, 185
Bicentennial Year (1976), 333–34
Billingham, Jack, 75, 189, 220, 340
as “Cactus Jack,” 142
career of, 78, 139, 167
and Darcy, 289–90
early years of, 139
and Game Seven, 297–98, 300, 301
and Game Six, 78, 79, 86, 111, 133, 139–42, 144–46, 164–67, 223
and Game Two, 78, 131–32, 141, 145
in later years, 351–52
and 1975 season, 130, 132
and World Series (1972), 137
Blackwell, Tim, 85, 163
Blish, Milt, 239, 309
Blue, Vida, 325, 326, 339
Bonds, Barry, 375
Borbon, Pedro Rodriguez, 196–98, 255
at bat, Game Six, 225, 226
early years of, 196
and Game Seven, 296–97
in Game Six, 196–97, 198, 203, 221–22, 227–29
retirement of, 352
Boston: baseball culture in, 93, 96, 214, 289, 291, 292
racial tensions in, 168–71, 218, 315
“Rooters” in, 96, 111, 126–27
sportswriters of, 13–15, 33, 201, 217–18, 241, 244, 286, 339
Boston Americans, 95–96, 109–11, 126–27, 204
Boston Braves, 39, 92–93
Boston Globe, 13–15, 33, 204, 286
Boston Herald, 361
Boston Nationals, 205
Boston Red Sox: and AL Championship (1975), 14, 39, 55, 80, 88, 144, 201, 246
the Babe as player for, 27, 213–14
“Buffalo Heads” in, 339, 342, 348
and “curse of the Bambino,” 344–45, 377
downward trend of, 336, 344–45
faithful fans of, 37, 171, 214, 227, 229, 242, 248, 249, 257, 292–93, 297, 353, 374
and fans’ elusive dreams, 14, 208, 211, 212, 215, 227, 257, 315, 344, 364
fantasy camps and cruises, 361
farm system of, 35, 345
franchise value, 375
and free agency, 331–32, 339
Hall of Fame, 361, 363, 365, 368
history and culture of, 213–15
and “Impossible Dream,” 36, 37, 38, 89, 143, 168, 342
lineup of, 73, 74, 75
management ineptitude of, 345, 365, 366
name change to, 205–6
and 1912 season, 213
and 1967 season, 35–36
and 1973 season, 84
and 1974 season, 54, 55
and 1975 season, 39, 54–55, 200–201
and 1976 season, 322–26, 329, 334
and 1977 season, 338–39
and 1978 season, 340–43
and 2004 and 2007 seasons, 377
“Picket Line” of (1912–1918), 27
undisciplined players in, 216, 235, 338–39
unhappy endings amassed by, 14, 214, 255, 257, 315, 334, 341, 342, 344
and World Series (1975), 46, 311–13, 314, 315, 381–90; see also specific games
World Series lost by, 34, 36–37, 116, 308, 311–13, 344, 357
World Series won by, 27, 213, 214
Yankee rivalry with, 323–24, 341–42, 357
see also specific players Boston Red Stockings, 92–93, 205
Bouton, Jim, Ball Four, 362
Brennaman, Marty: career summary of, 350
and Game Seven, 294, 309
and Game Six, 22, 23, 45, 174, 216, 286–87
in Hall of Fame, 350, 368, 373, 374
Brennaman, Thom, 350
Brooke, Edward W., 147, 148–49, 160–61
Brooklyn Dodgers, 46, 47, 92, 152, 329
Brush, John, 128
Bryant, Don “Bear,” 200, 212
Burleson, Rick, 52, 173, 200, 323, 327, 335, 344, 366
at bat, Game Six, 114–17, 165, 198, 232–33, 263
early years of, 114–15
fielding in Game Six, 158, 159, 193–94, 195, 196, 210, 211, 212, 258, 267, 270, 278
in Game Seven, 296, 298, 301, 302, 309
in later years, 361
and 1976 season, 334
in Red Sox Hall of Fame, 361
as “Rooster,” 116
in World Series (1975), 116–17, 312
Burton, Jim, 186, 193, 258, 259, 303–5, 352
Busch, August, family of, 151
California Angels, 162, 163, 337, 340, 361
Campbell, Bill, 332, 338
Capilla, Doug, 337
Caray, Harry, 215
Carbo, Bernie, 154
and Anderson, 238–40
at bat, Game Six, 232, 233–43, 244, 263–64, 360
career of, 233, 234, 237, 257
fielding in Game Six, 243, 261
in Game Seven, 294–95, 296, 297
in later years, 359–60
and 1974 season, 235
and 1975 season, 236
and 1977 season, 338, 339
substance abuse problem of, 233–34, 235, 236, 238, 359
and teammates, 312, 359
traded back and forth, 274, 324, 332, 338, 341
and World Series (1975), 74, 232, 237–38, 287–88
and Yawkey, 37, 235, 236, 322, 360
Carlton, Steve, 274
Carroll, Clay, 158, 164, 166, 330–31
career of, 188–89, 197
early years of, 190
in Game Seven, 302–3, 331
in Game Six, 188–91
in Game Three, 232
as “Hawk,” 188, 189
and 1975 season, 189
retirement of, 352
Carson, Johnny, 245
Carter, Jimmy, 315, 331
Castro, Fidel, 99, 119–21, 149–50, 160–61
CBS Sports, 348, 349
Cepeda, Orlando, 84
