Amazin' Octobers: 1973 NLCS
Listen to the entire five-game series between the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds.
Game 1: Reds 2, Mets 1
With one out in the eighth inning and the New York Mets hanging on to a skinny 1-0 lead, Tom Seaver requested timeout and pointed to his right shoe.
Home plate umpire Ed Sudol obliged and a record crowd of 53,431 at Riverfront Stadium waited as Yogi Berra and Rube Walker huddled around Seaver and the Mets trainer Tom McKenna in the dugout to replace the padding in his right shoe (a protective lining designed to protect the top part of Seaver’s right foot, the one that often dragged along the dirt when he threw a pitch).
Seaver returned to the hill and, five pitches later, surrendered a home run to Pete Rose to tie the game.
“He hit a pretty good pitch, a fastball above the waist,” said Seaver after the game. “Bench hit a nothing pitch. My shoulder? What difference does it make—we lost the game.”
“The stadium police reported later that two anonymous phone calls had been received warning that bombs had been placed in the park. No bombs were found.” - New York Times, 10.07.1973
Seaver supplied the only Mets offense. After a leadoff walk to Bud Harrelson in the second inning, Seaver doubled off Jack Billingham.
Still tied 1-1 in the ninth, Seaver induced Tony Perez to ground out, but on the second pitch to Bench the Reds catcher hammered a line over the left‐field fence.
Game 2: Mets 5, Reds 0
Jon Matlack quieted another record crowd at Riverfront Stadium — 54,041 — pitching a two‐hit shutout that silence the Cincinnati Reds bats, 5‐0, and tie the National League Championship Series at one.
Andy Kosco accounted for all the Reds offense with a pair of singles. None of Cincinnati’s first four hitters—Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Johnny Bench—reached base.
In the 4th inning with the game scoreless, Rusty Staub blasted a solo home run to right field. It was the Mets' first run—in fact, first hit—since a double by Seaver in the second inning the day before.
The Mets tacked on four more runs through the middle inning to jump out to a 5-0 lead.
In the 7th inning, Matlack suffered a blister on his left middle finger that Mets trainer Tom McKenna treated after a brief stop in play during the inning. The injury didn’t phase Matlack one bit as he sailed through the final innings to tie the series.
“I felt physically drained when I first started to warm up … but it was probably the best game I ever pitched. I wasn't overly strong, but that seemed to help me because they were off stride. It was one of those days you have once in a lifetime. I didn't talk to Tom about the Reds, except for how to pitch to Cesar Geronimo, their centerfielder. With my good stuff, Tom thought I could throw the ball by him.” - Jon Matlack
Game 3: Mets 9, Reds 2
The Mets dominated the Reds in Game 3, winning 9-2 at Shea Stadium, and stealing the series momentum after the infamous Pete Rose-Bud Harrelson fight.
According to Harrelson, Rose went in high and elbowed him.
“That was a cheap f—ing shot,” said Harrelson.
“What did you say?” Rose asked.
Harrelson repeated his statement.
“Then all hell broke loose,” said Harrelson.
“I’m no damn little girl out there,” said Rose after the game. “I’m supposed to give the fans their money’s worth and try to bust up double plays – and shortstops.”
Game 4: Reds 2, Mets 1 (12 innings)
Game 5: Mets 7, Reds 2
Game Five was a reprise of the series opener in Cincinnati four days earlier: Jack Billingham vs. Tom Seaver.
Seaver got off to a shaky start. After a walk, a single, and a wild pitch, an intentional walk to Johnny Bench loaded the bases with two outs. But Seaver got Ken Griffey to fly out to center field to escape without damage.
Like Seaver, Reds starter Jack Billingham wobbled through the first inning, allowing back-to-back singles to Felix Millan and Cleon Jones and a walk to John Milner before Ed Kranepool singled in a pair of runs, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.
The Reds scratched out a pair of runs to tie the game. Then the Mets all but sealed the deal scoring four runs in the 5th inning to take a 6-2 lead.
The Mets extended the lead to 7-2 headed to the ninth inning. But Seaver loaded the bases with one out and Yogi Berra called on Tug McGraw to save and the National League championship.
But then, in a swirling scene, thousands of persons in the crowd of 50,323 stormed the field … and clawed huge chunks of fence, sod and fixtures from the arena. Professional sports may have had more clamorous moments. But New York baseball has had none since the Mets won the World Series four years ago, after eight seasons as the comic relief of the leagues. - Joe Durso