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post #31 of 60
6/13/06 at 11:49pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Quote:
Game 5 of the NLCS that year {1980} between the Phils and Astros (arguably the best NLCS of all time, by the way).

I'll argue with you on that one.

1972 NLCS; Bucs/Reds; one of the best ever.

"Back goes Clemente! AT THE FENCE!! SHE'S GONE!!!"

www.johnnybench.com





Quote:
I think the issue was that the photos for the cards were usually taken sometime early in spring training, and then players were traded after the photos had already been sent to the printers.

Right. Which makes this 1972 card of Joe Morgan (as an Astro) all the more perplexing, seeing as how Joe had been traded to Cincinnati at the winter meetings in late November of 1971, well before any photos were taken for the '72 Topps set. ......

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post #32 of 60
6/14/06 at 12:11am
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Here's a great shot of Little Joe before he turned into an African-American:

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post #33 of 60
6/14/06 at 5:58am

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

All right, Dave! Thanks for the side-by-side comparison. Now I'm convinced! Larry Biitner really WAS Johnny Bench! The left-handed thing was a weak attempt to throw everyone off! Kinda like when Clark Kent donned a pair of eyeglasses to convince everyone he wasn't really Superman!
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post #34 of 60
6/14/06 at 9:08pm

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

David, it's nice to know my memory wasn't playing tricks on me re the bubble-gum contest!

And, those 1975 cards you pictured (such as the Bench-Rose-Morgan cards at the top of your review) were issued in "mini" versions to limited areas. All the minis are worth a premium, with George Brett's rookie mini-card likely leading the pack for that year.

The '75 cards were a year or two removed, I believe, from the days when Topps issued cards in series. The lower-numbered cards were rolled out first, at the start of the baseball season, but the higher-number ones either weren't printed in great quantities or didn't make their way into most stores (or were sent back unsold if they did). Whatever the case, you ended up with a gem if you had a likely Hall-of-Famer or a great rookie whose card fell in that 600-700 number range.

Regarding traded players, at some point in the late '70s Topps started issuing "traded" sets around August or September with maybe 100-and-some cards featuring all the rookies who did well during the summer and all the players who had been dealt to other teams. Somewhere at home I've got a Fleer or Donruss card from the year they entered the market (1981? Fleer actually re-entered after a long absence) where the text on the back editorializes that "for some reason" the player had been traded in the past! They had to reissue that one.

Those four extra-inning games made that 1980 NLCS memorable, for sure. On the ALCS side, I'll never forget those two 2-run homers the Red Sox hit in the top of the ninth in 1986 at California, with the Angels tying it in the bottom of the ninth before Henderson won it for the Sox in the 11th. Donnie Moore, RIP...
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post #35 of 60
6/14/06 at 11:09pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

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post #36 of 60
6/14/06 at 11:23pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

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post #37 of 60
6/14/06 at 11:26pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

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post #38 of 60
6/14/06 at 11:28pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Quote:
At some point in the late '70s Topps started issuing "traded" sets...

Yes...I seem to recall those as well.




Also -- Do you recall the "Washington Natl. League" cards that Topps printed in 1974 (when it was rumored the Padres were moving to the nation's Capital)? I had some of those (which are probably worth quite a few greenbacks today, seeing as how S.D. did not move to Washington).
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post #39 of 60
6/15/06 at 10:47am

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Funny, Dave. Beckert is pictured in his old Cubs uniform.

I, like you am a diehard Reds fan. I have been since around 1970. I have always lived in NE Indiana and only get to a couple games a year. BTW, I was there yesterday (6/14) when Dunn hit that bomb in the 11th to beat the Brewers.

I watched every game of that series as well as any other game we got on TV. I also listened to many games on the radio. I even remember when Al Michaels was a Reds announcer prior to Marty B.

In 1972, Did you feel after the big trade with Houston that the Reds had given the Astros the pennant. At the time, Lee May and Tommy Helms were very popular and productive in Cincy. Morgan hadn't entered his prime yet, Billingham "had potential", and Menke and Geronimoe were journeymen at best. I definitely thought we were doomed. But instead, I was quickly proved wrong, and we got a World Series appearance in 1972 and World Series wins in 1975 and 1976.

Thanks for letting me know about this DVD. I will be ordering it soon.
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post #40 of 60
6/15/06 at 4:45pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Quote:
Funny, Dave. Beckert is pictured in his old Cubs uniform.

Well I'll be horn-swaggled and French-dipped! You're right. Hadn't noticed that. Talk about confusing the youngsters circa '74 -- Is Beckert with Chicago, San Diego, or Washington?

~laugh aloud now~


Quote:
In 1972, did you feel after the big trade with Houston that the Reds had given the Astros the pennant? .... I definitely thought we were doomed.

Oh, you bet. Good golly, I don't think I'd ever even heard of this guy "Joe Morgan" when the Reds plucked him from Houston's roster in the big 8-player trade at the '71 Winter Meetings.....let alone Billingham, Menke, Geronimo, or Armbrister.

But that was the genius of Bob Howsam (that time anyway). But that genius unraveled quite a bit in '76, when one of the worst trades the Reds ever made was engineered....letting the Expos have a "franchise" player (albeit an aging one) in Tony Perez in a trade that brought the Reds Woodie "I'll Be Lucky If I Can Survive 3 Innings" Fryman and Dale Murray.

And we not only gave Montreal Perez, but also let 'em have our top lefty bullpen stopper, Will McEnaney, to boot. I cringe at the thought of that miserable deal.

The Perez deal rivals the hideous "Let's Trade Frank Robinson To Baltimore And Watch Him Win The A.L. Triple-Crown Immediately" lulu of a bad transaction in '65.

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it? The Reds thought Robby was on his way out. And Perez too. But both players still had some great years after their trades from Cincy.

On the brighter side of "Reds Trades Central" -- I think one of the best deals the Reds ever made was when they picked up an unknown little lefty hurler named John Franco from the Dodgers' organization in May 1983 for utilityman Rafael Landestoy.

So, ya win some and ya lose some.

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post #41 of 60
6/16/06 at 1:20am
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

A few (additional) general observations re. this 1975 World Series Collector's Edition..........

While re-watching WS Game #1, I took note of these things that were commonplace in 1975 that are no longer par for the course in the 21st century:

1.) The "Split-Screen" camera shot. Doesn't this shot bring back memories whenever you see it? You never see the "split-screen" done today on MLB broadcasts (do we?)....I don't think it's utilized anymore. But IMO it was a very good camera shot, keeping an eye on both the pitcher and batter on the left side of the screen; while we get a look at the runner leading off first base on the right side. Whenever Joe Morgan is on base, you're likely to see this camerawork.

2.) The camera angle from a low POV directly behind home plate. I don't believe this low, behind-home angle is ever featured in MLB games nowadays either. But this nearly-ground-level shot from behind HP is a terrific shot, and gives you a true sense of the vast speed of a Don Gullett fastball, or a Luis Tiant hummer.

3.) Wet and/or semi-dirty baseballs that are not thrown out of play between pitches. .... This I noticed many times in Game 1, which was a rainy, messy day in Boston too, making it more surprising -- esp. from a 2006 POV, when the umpires are changing baseballs virtually every pitch.

But in the 70s, when a Reds' pitcher would toss a pitch in the dirt...Johnny Bench would pick it up and just give it right back to the pitcher. It wasn't tossed out of play....even on a rainy, crappy day like in G.1 of this '75 WS. It'd take two or even three in-the-dirt plays to get that ball tossed out. I found that quite interesting.

4.) During powwows at the pitching mound, the players in '75 didn't give a darn about covering their mouths with their gloves while talking to each other (as we always see in today's era). Are players truly THAT paranoid in the modern era...fearing their lips will be read by the opposition, thereby giving the other team a slight advantage? Anyway, that's something you're never gonna see circa '75.

5.) Batting helmets -- That is to say: the lack of the protective ear flap on many of the helmets worn by players in the 70s. Most of the Reds' players opted to wear the helmet sans the ear flap (Bench, Morgan, Rose, Geronimo, and Perez all went "flapless"; with Concepcion daring to go without the ol' flap some of the time as well). I challenge anyone to watch a baseball game today and find a player whose batting helmet lacks the protective ear flap. I don't think such a helmet exists today. (Is the "flap" actually a rule in today's baseball environment? It might be; I'm not sure.)

Of course, in the even-older olden days, no players wore any type of helmet while batting. The batting helmet didn't become a regular sight in MLB until the 60s.
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post #42 of 60
6/16/06 at 9:27am

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by David VP
5.) Batting helmets -- That is to say: the lack of the protective ear flap on many of the helmets worn by players in the 70s. Most of the Reds' players opted to wear the helmet sans the ear flap (Bench, Morgan, Rose, Geronimo, and Perez all went "flapless"; with Concepcion daring to go without the ol' flap some of the time as well). I challenge anyone to watch a baseball game today and find a player whose batting helmet lacks the protective ear flap. I don't think such a helmet exists today. (Is the "flap" actually a rule in today's baseball environment? It might be; I'm not sure.)

Batting helmets with an earflap are now required by Major League Baseball. I don't recall exactly when that rule went into effect (late '80s?), but players who were already in baseball and prefered no earflap were still allowed to wear helmets without one under a grandfather clause. I'm trying to remember who the last active player was to not use an earflap. Ozzie Smith, maybe?
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post #43 of 60
6/16/06 at 12:37pm

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Marty, that rule went into effect in the 1983 season. But I believe that your guess about Ozzie Smith being the last to wear a batting helmet withoiut an ear flap may be a good one. I can certainly remember seeing Ozzie late into his career without the ear flap, and he was one of the few players still playing into recent years who preceded the rule change.

David, I can tell you that the thing I miss most about 1970's era baseball is the old double knit poly uniforms, with the stirrup socks. There were some very cool looking uni's from that era that were much nicer than the sloppy looking "softball" style uniforms of today. I especially hate the solid colored softball jerseys that don't even have the team name, just a replice of the hat logo. Uggh..
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post #44 of 60
6/16/06 at 5:48pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Thank you, gentlemen, for the ear-flap data/info.


Quote:
The old double knit poly uniforms, with the stirrup socks.

Yeah....you don't see players with big ol' socks like this nowadays......



Now....shall we segue this into a discussion about protective "cups". That could be quite educational.
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post #45 of 60
6/17/06 at 2:59am

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Here is a picture of the 1972 Topps Joe Morgan (it's part of a high number subset that updates a few players that were traded after appearing in the set with another team)



And somebody mentioned something about a bubble blowing card, this is the only one I know about, from the 1976 Topps set.



-- Andy
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post #46 of 60
6/17/06 at 3:43am
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Interesting Joe Morgan "Traded" card.....and quite odd in numerous ways. That pic certainly wasn't taken in '72 (not the parts below the neck anyway)....the uniform isn't right at all. Looks like Morgan's head has (possibly) been pasted onto someone else's body, or possibly Morgan's own pre-'72 body....a la the Lee Harvey Oswald debate re. the "Backyard Photos".

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post #47 of 60
6/19/06 at 1:40pm

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by David VP
[/b]

Oh, you bet. Good golly, I don't think I'd ever even heard of this guy "Joe Morgan" when the Reds plucked him from Houston's roster in the big 8-player trade at the '71 Winter Meetings.....let alone Billingham, Menke, Geronimo, or Armbrister.

I too, had not heard of or had little knowledge of all those players. And I thought that adding Lee May to that already powerful lineup (Watson, Wynn, Rader and Cedeno) was a terrible trade. All of those Houston players did have good years, but being able to move Tony (Doggie) Perez to first and the resultant team chemistry was incredible.

Well, anyway, I will order this DVD and enjoy the games all over again.
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post #48 of 60
6/20/06 at 8:28pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Get a load of the goofy review of this product by "chatchi" (from June 19, 2006). It's obviously a tongue-in-cheek type of review....because nobody could be that stupid. (There's that, plus the fact this guy claims that he received this DVD in January, which is not even remotely possible.) Anyway, it's good for a chuckle or two....

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009PLM6W
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post #49 of 60
6/21/06 at 9:19am

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

I think chatchi should play poker with this friend instead of traveling to Vegas to gamble.
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post #50 of 60
6/28/06 at 12:22pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Now's a good time to pick this up.....48% off the MRP @ Amazon (as of this writing on 06/28/2006) ......

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009PLM6W

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post #51 of 60
6/28/06 at 6:33pm

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by David VP
Now's a good time to pick this up.....48% off the MRP @ Amazon (as of this writing on 06/28/2006) ......

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009PLM6W

Yet the darn Red Sox 2004 World Series set is NEVER on sale. Currently at a whopping 10% off at Amazon.com...or $116.99!!!

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post #52 of 60
7/1/06 at 6:09am

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Thanks for the heads up Dave. That's all I needed to pick this up. I am leaving today for our lake cottage in KY, but when I get back Thursday, hopefully this will be waiting for me.
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post #53 of 60
10/11/07 at 5:42pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

A CINCINNATI REDS' ANNIVERSARY WORTHY OF COMMEMORATION:

35 years ago today......

"Back goes Clemente! At the fence....!!!"

Let's listen......

www.JohnnyBench.com








www.amazon.com/review/R3AA0Q4J7OEFWG
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post #54 of 60
10/11/07 at 6:46pm

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

To celebrate, here's my favorite Johnny Bench photo:

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post #55 of 60
12/7/07 at 2:02pm
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HAPPY SIXTIETH, JB!

I've just dropped by today to wish ex-Cincinnati Red Johnny Lee Bench a happy 60th birthday. (I'm suddenly feeling kinda old.)



www.JohnnyBench.com
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post #56 of 60
12/7/07 at 7:28pm

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

That center photo is classic!

Hey, Dave! The 2007 World Series set comes out on Tuesday! Just in case you might want to pick it up!
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post #57 of 60
2/28/08 at 5:16pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

A belated farewell to longtime Cincinnati Reds' radio announcer Joe Nuxhall, who passed away in November 2007. .....

The Enquirer - Nuxhall dies at 79

The Official Site of The Cincinnati Reds: Fan Forum: Joe Nuxhall Tribute

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post #58 of 60
2/28/08 at 9:25pm

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

That i must say was a passion-filled review that i enjoyed reading. I own the 1986 NY Mets set that was released in pretty much the identical way. I feel exactly the sameway for the 86 Mets as you do for the 75 Reds. Baseball is and always will be my favorite sport. I am looking forward to watching the Mets spring training telecast tomorrow vs the Cardinals on SNY. Bring on the season! and hopefully more great sets like this will be released in the future
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post #59 of 60
2/28/08 at 11:04pm
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Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

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That I must say was a passion-filled review that I enjoyed reading.

Thank you, Aryn.
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post #60 of 60
2/29/08 at 6:24am

Re: "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" -- A Personal Review

Let's leave the "boners" with Fred Merkle in 1908, okay?!

I tell ya...after 2004 and 2007, watching that ball dribble through Bill Buckner's legs almost looks quaint rather than heart-wrenching.
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