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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