Game Six (43 page)

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Authors: Mark Frost

BOOK: Game Six
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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.

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

Chaney, Darrel, 106, 123–24, 125, 129

Chapman, Ray, 134

Chicago Cubs, 357

Chicago White Sox, 98, 366

Cincinnati Reds: Big Red Machine of, 14, 41, 44, 45, 48, 76, 93, 102, 105, 157, 216, 221, 310, 328

and designated hitters, 331

discipline of, 215–16, 279, 328–29

early years of, 92–93

farm system of, 98, 100

franchise value, 375

and free agency, 332–33, 339–40

glory days ended, 333, 336

Hall of Fame players, 41, 352, 354

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