OT - 1977 Dodgers v Reds

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Posted By: Andy Cook

In the 1970s my Dad and I went to a lot of Dodgers games and it was great. In 1977, we saw the Dodgers host the Reds. We sat in the left field bleachers and as I recall, the first three batters in the top of the first got on and Bench, batting clean up, hit a grand slam that was caught by a big fat guy about four feet from me. Later, Foster hit one of his 52, as well as homers by Driessen, Griffey Sr and Garvey.

My question - based on these facts, can someone tell me the date of the game? Second, is my memory accurate? Can someone post a box score?

Thanks,
Andy

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Posted By: barrysloate

Andy- you can find it right on this site. Hit "vintage links" on the top of the page, and you will eventually find a new link to retrosheet.

Then check all games for 1977, then all the Dodgers-Reds games from that year, until you find the box score. It's fun, I look up games often. Retrosheet is terrific.

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Posted By: Doug

The game on May 29, 1977 sounds like it fits that description. Here's a link to the box score: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197705290.shtml

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Posted By: barrysloate

Doug beat me to it. I was just about to post May 29.

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Posted By: barrysloate

I remember I went to Shea Stadium in 1966 and saw Sandy Koufax beat the Mets 16-3. That score sticks in my mind. What I also remember is Koufax got two hits in one inning (and he was a weak hitter).

I just looked up the game on retrosheet. It was June 5, 1966.

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Posted By: Andy Cook

Thanks guys. My memory was pretty good. Swap Morgan for Driessen in the HR department, and change Garvey's HR to a double. The online box score shows weather as unknown. I can report, it was warm and sunny. In spite of my Dodgers terrible loss to their arch divisional foe, it was fun.

Andy

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Barry, you old fart, that was my first birthday!

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Posted By: Steve

geez I was already 22 years old myself.

ahhh to be 22 again........forget it


Steve

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Posted By: Mark

Dodgers/Reds was the best rivalry of the 1970s. Boy, did those two teams battle (and hate) each other. MLB really lost something special when they realigned/split that old NL-West division.

Not that the rivalry could have kept up its intensity, with the way the Reds and so many other small market teams (Pirates, Royals, Orioles) declined after the '70s. Those were exciting, and better days for Reds fans...

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Posted By: Paul

Geez, you guys are good. Now, can anyone find a website that would identify the big fat guy that caught Bench's grand slam?

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Posted By: Richard Cline - RC

As a Reds fan, I truly miss the rivalry with the Dodgers. It may not have made sense for the Reds to be in the West but I loved going to Riverfront during the 70's when the Dodgers were in town.



Plus, sneaking a transistor radio under the pillow at night when the games were on the west coast so mom wouldn't catch me staying up to late.



Ahh...the memories.



RC

Edit to add: Walter Alston shared a place with my uncle when both were coaching and teaching here in Ohio and that made things a bit more interesting on a personal note.

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Posted By: JimB

I grew up as a passionate Dodger fan in the '70's and loved that rivalry with the Reds.
JimB

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Posted By: barrysloate

Older Jeff, but sadly not wiser...I'm losing brain cells with each passing year.

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Posted By: Roger

Retrosheet is fantastic

My first game was at dodger stadium in 1977.

I just looked it up. It was July 9th. Sutton pitched

Winfield hit a home run. Ahh but the dodgers lost.

Still a very memorable event for a young fan.

Roger

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Posted By: J Levine

So, for a time the Dodgers sold season tickets to the left field pavillion. My first season tickets were the first row of the left field pavillion. I was seats 2 and 3. I sat next to an older woman who had seat one and had been going to games since the Dodgers moved west. She would tell stories of the LA Coliseum years, that she grew up in Pasadena a few blocks from where Jackie played his first college ball, etc. I loved those seats. I had them for three years and then the Dodgers retrofitted the pavillions and stopped selling tix there. I moved my season seats up into the Reserved section and eventually down into the Loge but had to finally sell them as my friends who I split them with moved away. Every year I try to get at least one game from the front row of the pavillion.

I still think Dodger Stadium (now the third oldest in the major leagues) is one of the best parks to watch a game.

Joshua

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Posted By: macboube

Is a hidden gem on the vast grounds of the Los Angeles Veterans Administration property in Westood.....Jackie Robinson Stadium............home of the UCLA Bruins. Check it out. What a ballprak!