NewsPhillies can follow in Big Red footsteps
Defending title a difficult task, but Cincinnati succeeded
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
10/27/09 3:43 PM EST
MIAMI -- Once the Big Red Machine overcame the disappointment of Carlton Fisk's dramatic walk-off homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, they felt unstoppable in their bid to repeat the following year.
The storied Cincinnati Reds of the 1970s, a powerhouse club filled with some of the biggest names in its era, are the last National League franchise to win back-to-back World Series titles.
The 1975 Reds edged the Boston Red Sox in seven games in one of the most historic World Series played. Riding their momentum over into '76, the Big Red Machine plowed through the playoffs, winning all seven of its games. The Reds handled the Philadelphia Phillies in three straight before sweeping the New York Yankees.
"When we beat the Red Sox in one of the best World Series I think was ever played, we were very confident that we were going to beat the Yankees," said Hall of Famer Tony Perez, the first baseman on the Big Red Machine. "We didn't know we were going to sweep them, but we knew we were going to win. In '75, it was tough. The Red Sox came back in Game 6, but we came back in Game 7. After that, we knew the next year in the National League, we could beat anybody."
World Series repeats
| Team | Years |
|---|---|
| Yankees | 1998-2000 |
| Blue Jays | 1992-93 |
| Reds | 1975-76 |
| Athletics | 1972-74 |
| Yankees | 1961-62 |
| Yankees | 1949-53 |
| Yankees | 1936-39 |
| Athletics | 1929-30 |
| Yankees | 1927-28 |
| Giants | 1921-22 |
| Red Sox | 1915-16 |
| Athletics | 1910-11 |
| Cubs | 1907-08 |
The 2009 World Series begins on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium at 7:57 p.m. ET on FOX, with the Phillies trying to become the first NL squad since the Big Red Machine to repeat.
"It's going to be tough to repeat," said Perez, now a special assistant for the Florida Marlins. "The Yankees have a good team. They've got good pitching. The Phillies do too. But I think, because they are the defending champions, there is more pressure on them than the Yankees."
A reason the Reds were able to string together two successive titles is because they were able to overcome adversity.
In the 1970 World Series, the Baltimore Orioles beat the Reds in five games. The Reds also dropped a seven-game series to the Oakland A's in 1972.
The Big Red Machine was expected to go back to the World Series in 1973, but Cincinnati was upset in the NL Championship Series by the New York Mets.
Those years of falling short magnified the Reds' intensity to claim the title in 1975.
"We were the Big Red Machine, and we were supposed to be the best team," Perez said. "In '73, the Mets beat us for the National League [pennant]. That was disappointing. We were supposed to be the best, but we'd never won the big series.
"In '75, we were ahead in [Game 6] and they came back. They tied it [in the eighth inning] when Bernie Carbo hit that home run. Then Fisk hit the other one. For us, there was disappointment. Was it going to happen again?"
The Reds certainly didn't collapse after Fisk seemingly willed near home plate his game-winning home run to stay fair. In 12 innings, the Red Sox claimed a 7-6 win in Game 6.
Rather than be distraught over the disheartening loss, the Reds reveled in the fact they were part of such a memorable game.
"That was a great game," Perez said. "We really enjoyed playing in that game. Even though we lost that game, we enjoyed it."
An appreciation for the moment helped put the 1975 World Series into perspective for the Reds. It also miffed Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson.
"We enjoyed Game 6, because there were a lot of big plays made by the defense," Perez said. "There was good pitching. We enjoyed it. But we knew we had another game. We were disappointed losing Game 6, but we were confident we could win.
"Everybody was talking about it, and what a great game it was. Sparky walked by, and said, 'You guys are crazy. They just tied the Series.' We said, 'We've got another game tomorrow, Sparky.'"
The Reds claimed the crown by winning Game 7, 4-3, rallying from three runs down.
Their path to the 1976 title came with less drama. Following up their first title, the Reds won the NL West by 10 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their 102 wins were the most by any team that year, and they didn't lose in the postseason.
"We had no distractions at all that year," Perez said. "We were very focused on what we were going to do and how we were going to play the Yankees. We went through four games like it was another series."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
