1970 Cincinnati Reds season

1970Cincinnati Reds
National League Champions National League West Champions
League	National League
Division	West
Ballpark	Crosley Field(since 1934) Riverfront Stadium
City	Cincinnati
Record	102-60 (.630)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	Francis Dale
General managers	Bob Howsam
Managers	Sparky Anderson
Television	WLWT (Ed Kennedy,Pee Wee Reese)
Radio	WLW (Jim McIntyre,Joe Nuxhall)
Seasons

The1970Cincinnati Redsseasonconsisted of the Reds winning theNational League Westtitle with a record of 102 wins and 60 losses,14+1⁄2games ahead of theLos Angeles Dodgers.The Reds defeated thePittsburgh Piratesin three straight games in theNLCSto win their firstNational Leaguepennantsince1961.The team then lost to theBaltimore Oriolesin theWorld Seriesin five games.

The Reds were managed by first-year managerGeorge "Sparky" Andersonand played their home games atCrosley Fieldduring the first part of the year, before moving into the then-newRiverfront Stadiumon June 30.

Offseason

• October 24, 1969:Mel Queenwas purchased from the Reds by theCalifornia Angels.
• October 29, 1969:Pedro Ramoswas released by the Reds.
• November 14, 1969:Joaquín Andújarwas signed as an amateur free agent by the Reds.
• November 25, 1969:Alex JohnsonandChico Ruizwere traded by the Reds to theCalifornia AngelsforPedro Borbón,Vern GeishertandJim McGlothlin.
• January 14, 1970:Jack Fisherwas traded by the Reds to the California Angels forBill Harrelsonand Dan Loomer (minors).
• January 17, 1970:Joel Youngbloodwas drafted by the Reds in the 2nd round of the1970 Major League Baseball draft.
• February 4, 1970:Dennis Ribantwas traded by the Reds to thePittsburgh PiratesforBo Belinsky.

Regular season

Buoyed by a lineup that includedthird basemanTony Pérez,NL MVPcatcherJohnny Bench,right fielderPete Rose,center fielderBobby Tolanandfirst basemanLee May,the Reds got off to a 70–30 start. The Reds, who had been near the bottom of the NL in pitching in 1969, were aided by a young staff that included 18-game winnerGary Nolan(22), rookiesWayne Simpson(21) andDon Gullett(19), 20-game winnerJim Merritt(26) and record-setting relieverWayne Granger,who appeared in a then-record 90 games in 1969.Simpson, a hard-throwing former first-round draft pick, started the season 9–1 and earned an all-star berth. He was 14–3 before he suffered a season-ending arm injury with 30 games left.

Season standings

NL West

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Cincinnati Reds	102	60	.630	—	57‍–‍24	45‍–‍36
Los Angeles Dodgers	87	74	.540	14½	39‍–‍42	48‍–‍32
San Francisco Giants	86	76	.531	16	48‍–‍33	38‍–‍43
Houston Astros	79	83	.488	23	44‍–‍37	35‍–‍46
Atlanta Braves	76	86	.469	26	42‍–‍39	34‍–‍47
San Diego Padres	63	99	.389	39	31‍–‍50	32‍–‍49

Record vs. opponents

1970 National League record Sources:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	8–4	5–13	9–9	6–12	6–6	6–6	7–5	6–6	9–9	7–11	7–5
Chicago	4–8	—	7–5	7–5	6–6	13–5	7–11	9–9	8–10	9–3	7–5	7–11
Cincinnati	13–5	5–7	—	15–3	13–5	7–5	8–4	7–5	8–4	8–10	9–9	9–3
Houston	9–9	5–7	3–15	—	8–10	8–4	6–6	4–8	6–6	14–4	10–8	6–6
Los Angeles	12–6	6–6	5–13	10–8	—	8–4	7–5	6–5	6–6	11–7	9–9	7–5
Montreal	6–6	5–13	5–7	4–8	4–8	—	10–8	11–7	9–9	6–6	6–6	7–11
New York	6–6	11–7	4–8	6–6	5–7	8–10	—	13–5	6–12	6–6	6–6	12–6
Philadelphia	5-7	9–9	5–7	8–4	5–6	7–11	5–13	—	4–14	9–3	8–4	8–10
Pittsburgh	6–6	10–8	4–8	6–6	6–6	9–9	12–6	14–4	—	6–6	4–8	12–6
San Diego	9–9	3–9	10–8	4–14	7–11	6–6	6–6	3–9	6–6	—	5–13	4–8
San Francisco	11–7	5–7	9–9	8–10	9–9	6–6	6–6	4–8	8–4	13–5	—	7–5
St. Louis	5–7	11–7	3–9	6–6	5–7	11–7	6–12	10–8	6–12	8–4	5–7	—

Notable transactions

• April 13, 1970:Al Jacksonwas released by the Reds.
• May 27, 1970:Arturo DeFreiteswas signed as an amateur free agent by the Reds.
• June 4, 1970:1970 Major League Baseball draft
  • Will McEnaneywas drafted by the Reds in the 8th round.
  • Ray Knightwas drafted by the Reds in the 10th round.
• June 15, 1970:Clyde Mashorewas traded by the Reds to theMontreal ExposforTy Cline.

Riverfront Stadium

Riverfront Stadiumwas opened in 1970, and it was the home of theCincinnati RedsNational Leaguebaseball team and theCincinnati BengalsNational Football Leagueteam. Located on theOhio Riverin downtownCincinnati,the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine",as the Reds were often called in the 1970s. Construction began on February 1, 1968, and was completed at a cost of less than $50 million. On June 30, 1970, the Reds hosted theAtlanta Bravesin their grand opening, withHank Aaronhitting the first ever home run at Riverfront. Two weeks later on July 14, Riverfront hosted the1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.This game is most remembered for the often-replayed collision at home plate between the home-grownPete Roseand catcherRay Fosseof theCleveland Indians.

Roster

1970 Cincinnati Reds
Roster
Pitchers 33Mel Behney 34Bo Belinsky 34Pedro Borbón 36Clay Carroll 40Tony Cloninger 37Wayne Granger 35Don Gullett 46Jim Maloney 31Jim McGlothlin 30Jim Merritt 38Gary Nolan 42John Noriega 45Wayne Simpson 39Ray Washburn 43Milt Wilcox		Catchers 5Johnny Bench 7Pat Corrales 9Bill Plummer Infielders 12Darrel Chaney 13Dave Concepción 15Frank Duffy 19Tommy Helms 23Lee May 24Tony Pérez 17Jay Ward 6Woody Woodward		Outfielders 22Ángel Bravo 25Bernie Carbo 17Ty Cline 11Hal McRae 14Pete Rose 16Jimmy Stewart 28Bobby Tolan		Manager 10Sparky Anderson Coaches 2Alex Grammas 18Ted Kluszewski 3George Scherger 4Larry Shepard

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Johnny Bench	158	605	177	.293	45	148
1B	Lee May	153	605	153	.253	34	94
2B	Tommy Helms	150	575	136	.237	1	45
3B	Tony Pérez	158	587	186	.317	40	129
SS	Dave Concepción	101	265	69	.260	1	19
LF	Bernie Carbo	125	365	113	.310	21	63
CF	Bobby Tolan	152	589	186	.316	16	80
RF	Pete Rose	159	649	205	.316	15	52

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Woody Woodward	100	264	59	.223	1	14
Hal McRae	70	165	41	.248	8	23
Pat Corrales	43	106	25	.236	1	10
Jimmy Stewart	101	105	28	.267	1	8
Darrel Chaney	57	95	22	.232	1	4
Angel Bravo	65	65	18	.277	0	3
Ty Cline	48	63	17	.270	0	8
Frank Duffy	6	11	2	.182	0	0
Bill Plummer	4	8	1	.125	0	0
Jay Ward	6	3	0	.000	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Gary Nolan	37	250.2	18	7	3.27	181
Jim Merritt	35	234.0	20	12	4.08	136
Jim McGlothlin	35	210.2	14	10	3.59	97
Wayne Simpson	26	176.0	14	3	3.02	119

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Tony Cloninger	30	148.0	9	7	3.83	56
Milt Wilcox	5	22.1	3	1	2.42	13
Jim Maloney	7	16.2	0	1	11.34	7
Mel Behney	5	10.0	0	2	4.50	2

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Wayne Granger	67	6	5	35	2.66	38
Clay Carroll	65	9	4	16	2.59	63
Don Gullett	44	5	2	6	2.43	76
Ray Washburn	35	4	4	0	6.92	37
Pedro Borbón	12	0	2	0	6.75	6
John Noriega	8	0	0	0	8.00	6
Bo Belinsky	3	0	0	0	4.50	6

Postseason

1970 National League Championship Series

Main article:1970 National League Championship Series

Game One

October 3, Three Rivers Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	9	0
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
W:Gary Nolan(1–0)L:Dock Ellis(0–1)SV:Clay Carroll(1)
HRs:None

Game Two

October 4, Three Rivers Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	8	1
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	2
W:Jim Merritt(1–0)L:Luke Walker(0–1)SV:Don Gullett(1)
HRs:CIN–Bobby Tolan(1)

Game Three

October 5, Riverfront Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	10	0
Cincinnati	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	X	3	5	0
W:Milt Wilcox(1–0)L:Bob Moose(0–1)SV:Don Gullett(2)
HRs:CIN–Tony Pérez(1),Johnny Bench(1)

1970 World Series

Main article:1970 World Series

After their win in the NLCS, additional injuries to Merritt and Granger caught up to the Reds against the Orioles. In three of their losses, the Reds had leads of 3–0, 4–0 and 3–0. The Reds' only win came in Game 4 on a Lee May 3-run home run in the eighth inning.

1970 World Series(4–1):Baltimore Orioles(A.L.)over Cincinnati Reds (N.L.)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore Orioles	4	3	6	3	8	5	2	2	0	33	50	5
Cincinnati Reds	7	2	4	0	1	1	2	3	0	20	35	3
Total Attendance:253,183Average Attendance:50,637
Winning Player's Share:– $18,216,Losing Player's Share– $13,688 *Includes Playoffs and World Series

Awards and honors

• Johnny Bench,National League MVP Award (He was the youngest National League player in the 20th century to win the MVP Award.)

Farm system

See also:Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Indianapolis Indians	American Association	Vern Rapp
AA	Asheville Tourists	Southern League	Jim Snyder
A	Tampa Tarpons	Florida State League	Dick Kennedy
A-Short Season	Sioux Falls Packers	Northern League	Russ Nixon
Rookie	GCL Reds	Gulf Coast League	Ron Plaza

References

• 1970 Cincinnati Reds season at Baseball Reference