Gabe Paul and Bill Dewitt took pride in their part of
building the Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine.”
This club dominated the 1970’s in the National League. They won six Western Division Titles, four
National League pennants, and back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and
1976. Meanwhile, Reds’ Head Coach
“Sparky” Anderson’s club won 102 games and the pennant in his first year as
skipper, and lost the 1970 World Series to the Baltimore Orioles in five
games. “Any college kid could have managed
this club,” said Sparky. After robbing
Cincinnati players, Lee May, Tony Perez, Johnny Bench, and Tommy Helms of sure
base hits in the 1970 World Series, Orioles’ third baseman, Brooks Robinson,
was awarded the Series MVP Award. Reds’
skipper Sparky Anderson was asked by a reporter if he had ever witnessed
anything like Robinson’s defensive play at third base. Sparky answered, “I haven’t been around all
that long, and it’s been said that Brooks was even better five years ago. Hell, if Brooks Robinson was any better, the
Orioles wouldn’t need a shortstop.” My favorite sportswriter, Jim Murray, of the Los Angeles
Times summed it up well when he wrote, “When Brooks Robinson retires, he’s
going to take third base with him.” Andy Purvis
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