October 21, 1976 Are Reds the Greatest? Don’t Ask Them “’Break up the Big Red Machine.’ That could be baseball’s new rallying cry after the Cincinnati Reds swept past the New York Yankees in four games for their second straight World Series championship.” “But it appears to be a frighteningly difficult task. Who’s going to do it?” “Becoming the first National League team in 54 years to win consecutive World Series’, the Reds gave an awesome demonstration of power and all-a-round strength and set historians searching for some guage of greatness.” “Are they better than the great Yankee teams of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig? How do you compare them with the champions of Joe DiMaggio and Lefty Gomez and those of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in later years? Or the Brooklyn teams of Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella? “Don’t ask. Don’t go to the trouble trying to find out. Let the Reds tell you. They are the Cincinnati Reds, the best team in baseball for 1975 and 1975 and maybe for the next few years.” “’We’re not like anybody else, we are just ourselves,’ insisted Johnny Bench, whose two prodigious homeruns accounted for five of the runs in the Reds’ 7-2 victory over the Yankees in the clinching game.” Bench continued. “’We’re the champions of baseball. We’re the best playing today. We’re satisfied with that. You can’t compare teams of different eras.’” “Pete Rose, the scrappy third baseman whose fiery play adds considerable spark to the functioning of the Big Red Machine, said he resented efforts to compare the Reds with giants of the past.” “’I feel like I know Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb,’ he said. ‘They were heroes of mine…I’m not going to say anything bad about them. They were great. We are great. We should be the best for the next several years, if we can stay together.’” “After clinching the Series, the Reds trooped into their locker room very casually.” “Satisfaction and pride showed on every sweaty face. But there was no loud rejoicing, no rah-rah, champagne pouring outburst.” “They dived into huge platters of lasagna. Only a few – the uninitiated – popped bottles and timidly poured some of the bubbling spirits over unsuspecting heads.” “’I am proud the team reacted the way it did,’ said Sparky Anderson, the white-haired manager. 'It shows they are real professionals. They have matured. They know they are champions and don’t have to flaunt it.’” Associated Press

October 21, 1976 Bench’s blues belted with HRs “Johnny Bench pays his debts. The Cincinnati slugger felt he owed his teammates something after struggling through his worst season. He delivered and found an appreciative welcoming committee in the Reds’ dugout.” “’You could see it in their faces,’ said Bench, the hitting hero in a 7-2 victory over the New York Yankees that powered the National League juggernaut to its second straight World Series title.” “Shedding personal and physical problems that contributed to his worst big league season, Bench made amends by belting two homeruns for five runs batted in. The outburst helped the Reds become the first National League team in 54 years to repeat as World Champions.” “’I never dreamed anything like this could happen,’ said the champagne-soaked superstar, voted the Most Valuable Player of the Series.” “’I feel like I’ve given something back to my teammates,’ he added over the shouting of Cincinnati’s jubilant clubhouse. ‘A lot of people stuck with me through the year.’” “Winning pitcher Gary Nolan looked on, sharing the glow of the emotionally charged scene.” “’He’s always had great timing,’ said Nolan, referring to Bench’s too-much-in-the-clutch heroics.” “’I broke into the big leagues with John and nothing he does surprises me,’ said Nolan, who teamed up with Will McEnaney to complete the four-game sweep, only the second suffered by the Yanks in 30 World Series appearances.” “The 29 year-old Bench, who struggled through a career-low .234 season, found his old form in time to spur Cincinnati through an unbeaten playoff season.” “His 8-for-15 effort in the World Series produced a .533 batting average that ranks fourth best in the 73- year history of the classic. Only Babe Ruth, Hank Gowdy of Boston and Lou Gehrig hit for higher averages in the Series.” “The nine-time All- Star, who overcame lingering shoulder ailments and a wrecked marriage this year, cracked a two-run homer in the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie, then put the Series title on ice with a three-run blast in the ninth.” Associated Press