This Day in Reds History: Bucky Does It All

October 7, 1882: The National League champion Chicago White Stockings return a favor from the previous day by shutting out the American Association champion Cincinnati Red Stockings, 2-0.

The White Stockings, heavily favored as the National League champion over the newly formed American Association champion had lost the first game of the two game set the previous day, 4-0. After having played the first game with their best pitcher, Larry Corcoran, at shortstop, the White Stockings pitched Corcoran the second game and he shutout the AA champion Reds. Two unearned first inning runs were the only runs of the game.

No third game was ever played or ever scheduled. The White Stockings were on their way to play a post season tournament against the second place Providence Grays. The Red Stockings were fined $100 by the American Association for playing a postseason game against league wishes.

October 7, 1919: Chicago White Sox first baseman Chick Gandil singled home Buck Weaver with the go ahead run in the top of the tenth inning as the White Sox defeated the Reds, 5-4. The Reds still lead the best-of-nine series at four games to two.

The Reds had taken a 4-0 lead through four innings before the White Sox scored once in the fifth and three times in the sixth to tie the game. Dickie Kerr went the distance to win the game for the White Sox. Greasy Neale had three hits for the Reds.

October 7, 1939: The New York Yankees reach Reds starter Junior Thompson for four home runs as the Yankees go up three games to none over the Reds with a 7-3 victory. The Reds outhit the Yankees, 10-5, but Thompson tied a World Series record by giving up the four homers. Thompson had only given up six homers the entire regular season through 152 innings pitched.

The Yankees took the lead in the top of the first inning thanks to the first of two two-run homers on the day by slugger Charlie Keller. The Reds scored once in the bottom of the first on an Ernie Lombardi single and took the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the second inning on run-scoring singles by Billy Werber and Ival Goodman. The Yankees regained the lead in the top of third, though, on a two-run home run by Joe DiMaggio and they never looked back. Keller and Bill Dickey both hit solo home runs in the fifth.

The Reds got three hits from Goodman and two hits from Frank McCormick in the game. All ten Reds hits were singles.

October 7, 1940: The Reds avoided elimination and tied the World Series at three games apiece as Bucky Walters threw a five-hit shut out in a Reds 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers in Cincinnati.

The Reds knocked Tigers starter Schoolboy Rowe out of the box in the first inning. Billy Werber led off the inning with a double and Mike McCormick sacrificed him to third base. Ival Goodman followed with a run scoring single. Frank McCormick singled with Goodman stopping at second, and Goodman scored on a Johnny Ripple single. Johnny Gorsica then relieved Rowe to stop the bleeding. The Reds added another run in the sixth inning when pitcher Walters reached safely on a bases loaded fielder’s choice ground ball, and then Walters himself homered in the eighth inning off Fred Hutchinson.

Walters allowed five hits, walked two, and struck out two from the mound in addition to his home run and run scoring single. Werber, Goodman, and Ripple all had two hits.

October 7, 1961: The Yankees take a two games to one lead over the Reds in the World Series. Roger Maris, who broke Babe Ruth’s home run record for the year, broke an 0-10 World Series streak with a ninth inning home run to provide the winning run.

The Reds scored first in the third inning when Elio Chacon reached on a bunt single and Frank Robinson doubled him home. The Yankees tied it in seventh on a Yogi Berra rbi-single, but the Reds regained the lead in the bottom half of the seventh on a run-scoring single by Eddie Kasko.

The Yankees power took over the game and won it in the end. Pinch hitter John Blanchard homered off Bob Purkey to tie the game in the eighth and Maris homered off Purkey to lead off the ninth inning to give the Yankees the lead. Yankees reliever Luis Arroyo retired three Reds ninth inning pinch hitters in order in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win.

Purkey went the distance in a losing effort, while Arroyo got the win in relief. Kasko and Gordy Coleman each had two hits for the Reds.

October 7, 1972: The Pittsburgh Pirates opened the the 1972 NLCS with a 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Pittsburgh.

Joe Morgan homered in the top of the first with one out to provide the Reds’ their only run and only lead of the game. The Pirates scored three times in the bottom of the first inning off the Reds’ Don Gullett and they never looked back. Pete Rose had two hits for the Reds in the game.

October 7, 1973: Jon Matlack fires a two-hit shutout as the New York Mets even the 1973 NLCS at one game each with a 5-0 win over the Reds in Cincinnati.

The Mets scored once in the fourth when Rusty Staub homered off Reds starter Don Gullett and the score remained 1-0 through eight innings of play. The Mets blew it open with four runs in the ninth off Reds relievers Tom Hall and Pedro Borbon. Andy Kosco had both Reds hits, both singles. Gullett allowed only two hits in five innings while Clay Carroll pitched three shutout innings in relief.

October 7, 1975: The Reds complete a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS with an exciting 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh.

The Reds opened the scoring with a Dave Concepcion second inning home run, but the Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Al Oliver homered off Reds starter Gary Nolan with one runner on base. The Reds regained the lead in the eighth on a Pete Rose two-run homer, but the Pirates tied it in the bottom of the ninth when Rawly Eastwick walked in the tying run and force the game into extra innings.

The Reds scored the winning runs in the top of the tenth. Ken Griffey reached on a bunt single and was balked to second by Pirate reliever Ramon Hernandez. Griffey advanced to third base on a ground out and scored on an Ed Armbrister sacrifice fly. Rose singled to right and then scored when Joe Morgan doubled into the right centerfield gap. Pedro Borbon retired the Pirates in order in the bottom of the tenth to end the game.