I just started re-watching the 1975 World Series (thanks to InstaFace and the others who helped, see the post in P&G if you are a member.)
Anyone else re-watching this? It's pretty great, as anyone who has seen it already knows.
The first thing that struck me is how much faster the game moves. The time between pitches just flies by compared to recent games. This is how baseball should be paced. Compare these games to recent ones, it's so much more enjoyable to watch games played at this pace. It can be done, it was done, and baseball needs a competent leader to get back to this pace of play.
Anyway.
The background: The 1975 Sox were in the same division as the Orioles, who, going into the season, were still considered a dynasty. They had won the division in 5 of the past 6 seasons and were considered likely to do it again. But the Red Sox finished 95-65, 4.5 games ahead of the Orioles.
That earned them the right to play the 3-time defending champs Oakland, another dynasty. And they would have to do it without Jim Rice, their rookie outfielder whose great first season (841 OPS, 128 OPS+) was ended in late September due to injury.
Boston swept the A's in 3 straight games.
Their reward for that was to face the Big Red Machine, one of the greatest teams in baseball history. That is about as tough a road as you can get.
Game 1: Luis Tiant vs. Don Gullet at Fenway.
Tiant is so much fun to watch. If you've never actually seen him pitch, this is the game to watch. He's fun to watch not just as a dazzling pitcher, but also as a flailing hitter and comedic baserunner too. On the mound, he's in complete command of this game, against a fierce lineup.
Other reactions to watching this game:
The Red Sox had the reputation of just being slow sluggers, but they played great defense in this series.
Tiant was called for a balk on a throw to first that wasn't a balk and wouldn't ever even be considered a close call today.
Another difference: check swings were given a huge leeway back then-- if a hitter checks his swing at any point, it's almost never called a strike. Guys virtually complete their swings before checking, and still get it called a ball. It's vastly different from today.
This game was a surprising pitchers' duel, considering the offenses, but the Sox broke through in a big way late.
Game 1 box score:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS197510110.shtml
Anyone else re-watching this? It's pretty great, as anyone who has seen it already knows.
The first thing that struck me is how much faster the game moves. The time between pitches just flies by compared to recent games. This is how baseball should be paced. Compare these games to recent ones, it's so much more enjoyable to watch games played at this pace. It can be done, it was done, and baseball needs a competent leader to get back to this pace of play.
Anyway.
The background: The 1975 Sox were in the same division as the Orioles, who, going into the season, were still considered a dynasty. They had won the division in 5 of the past 6 seasons and were considered likely to do it again. But the Red Sox finished 95-65, 4.5 games ahead of the Orioles.
That earned them the right to play the 3-time defending champs Oakland, another dynasty. And they would have to do it without Jim Rice, their rookie outfielder whose great first season (841 OPS, 128 OPS+) was ended in late September due to injury.
Boston swept the A's in 3 straight games.
Their reward for that was to face the Big Red Machine, one of the greatest teams in baseball history. That is about as tough a road as you can get.
Game 1: Luis Tiant vs. Don Gullet at Fenway.
Tiant is so much fun to watch. If you've never actually seen him pitch, this is the game to watch. He's fun to watch not just as a dazzling pitcher, but also as a flailing hitter and comedic baserunner too. On the mound, he's in complete command of this game, against a fierce lineup.
Other reactions to watching this game:
The Red Sox had the reputation of just being slow sluggers, but they played great defense in this series.
Tiant was called for a balk on a throw to first that wasn't a balk and wouldn't ever even be considered a close call today.
Another difference: check swings were given a huge leeway back then-- if a hitter checks his swing at any point, it's almost never called a strike. Guys virtually complete their swings before checking, and still get it called a ball. It's vastly different from today.
This game was a surprising pitchers' duel, considering the offenses, but the Sox broke through in a big way late.
Game 1 box score:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS197510110.shtml