OCT 5 .. 40 Yrs Ago Today, Riverfront Was Rockin'

OCTOBER 5, 1970…The Cincinnati Reds win the National League pennant by sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in the best-of-five NLCS. Reds’ sluggers Johnny Bench and Tony Perez hit first-inning back-to-back HR’s in the 3-2 win at Riverfront Stadium. Milt Wilcox picks up the win, Don Gullett gets the save.

--other Oct 5 Baseball History--

OCTOBER 5, 1910 … With a commanding lead over the second-place New York Highlanders in the American League standings, Philadelphia Athletics owner and manager Connie Mack inserts his son Earle into the starting line-up despite hitting just .135 in minor league action this year. The twenty-year-old Earle, making his major league debut, rewards Dad with a single and a triple while catching future Hall of Fame pitcher Eddie Plank. The Highlanders win the contest, 7-4. Earle’s two hits will prove to be the only hits in 16 major league at-bats over 3 seasons.

OCTOBER 5, 1929…Cincinnati Redlegs’ right-hander Rube Ehrhardt makes his first start after 23 relief appearances this year and wins his only game of the season by tossing a five-hit shutout over the Chicago Cubs. The thirty-four year-old Ehrhardt becomes the fifth player in MLB history to throw a shutout in his last major league game.

October 5, 1961…The Reds beat the mighty Yankees in New York, 6-2, and even up the World Series at one game each. Joey Jay is rewarded with the victory in return for his four-hit complete game pitching effort. The series moves on to Cincinnati’s Crosley Field for games 3, 4, and 5.

OCTOBER 5, 1968… Tim McCarver and Orlando Cepeda each hit a three-run HR to lead St. Louis to a 7-3 win over Detroit. The Cardinals take a 2-1 World Series lead.

OCTOBER 5, 1971…The Orioles overcome two Reggie Jackson HR’s and complete a sweep of Oakland in the ALCS with a 5-3 victory.

OCTOBER 5, 1979…The Pirates complete a sweep of the NLCS, beating the Reds, 7-1. Willie Stargell is named series MVP.

OCTOBER 5, 1980…Capping an improbable comeback, the Dodgers beat the Astros for the third day in a row to force a one-game playoff for the NL West title. Los Angeles trailed Houston by three games with three games left in the season and then won each game by a single run.

OCTOBER 5, 1984…Milt Wilcox and Willie Hernandez combine on a three-hitter to give Sparky Anderson’s Tigers a 1-0 win and a sweep of the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS.

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I forgot that Milt Wilcox pitched a long time in the big leagues. He's mentioned in the 1970 playoffs with the Reds and then again with the Tigers in the 1984 Playoffs. Sparky was manager of both of those teams too.