1976 World Series

1976 World Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season
Cincinnati Reds (4) Sparky Anderson 102–60, .630, GA: 10
New York Yankees (0) Billy Martin 97–62, .610, GA: 10+12
DatesOctober 16–21
VenueRiverfront Stadium (Cincinnati)
Yankee Stadium (New York)
MVPJohnny Bench (Cincinnati)
UmpiresLee Weyer (NL), Lou DiMuro (AL), Billy Williams (NL), Bill Deegan (AL), Bruce Froemming (NL), Dave Phillips (AL)
Hall of FamersReds:
Sparky Anderson (mgr.)
Johnny Bench
Joe Morgan
Tony Pérez
Yankees:
Catfish Hunter
Broadcast
TelevisionNBC
TV announcersJoe Garagiola
Marty Brennaman (in Cincinnati)
Phil Rizzuto (in New York)
Tony Kubek
RadioCBS
Radio announcersBill White (in Cincinnati)
Marty Brennaman (in New York)
Win Elliot
ALCSNew York Yankees over Kansas City Royals (3–2)
NLCSCincinnati Reds over Philadelphia Phillies (3–0)
← 1975 World Series 1977 →

The 1976 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1976 season. The 73rd edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the National League (NL) champion Cincinnati Reds and the American League (AL) champion New York Yankees. The Reds swept the Series in four games to repeat as champions, avenging their 1939 and 1961 World Series losses to the Yankees. The 1976 Reds became, and remain, the only team to sweep an entire multi-tier postseason, one of the crowning achievements of the franchise's Big Red Machine era.[1] They also became the third NL team (following the Chicago Cubs in 190708 and the New York Giants in 192122) to win consecutive World Series, and remain the last to do so.

This was also the second time that the Yankees were swept in a World Series—the Los Angeles Dodgers were the first to sweep them in 1963. It was the first sweep of the World Series in ten years and the Reds' first; their next came fourteen years later in 1990.

The Reds won the NL West division by ten games over the Dodgers, then defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in three straight games in the NL Championship Series, after losing seven of twelve to them during the regular season. The Yankees won the AL East division by 10+18 games over the Baltimore Orioles, then defeated the Kansas City Royals in the deciding fifth game of the AL Championship Series.

This World Series was the first in which the designated hitter rule, which had been introduced in the AL three years prior, was in effect; it was used for all games (for the first ten years, the use of the DH alternated; in even-numbered years, it was used in all games, in odd-numbered years, it was not used; starting in 1986, the DH was used only in games played at the AL representative's park).[2] The use of the DH wound up benefiting the Reds, who were able to get utility infielder Dan Driessen's bat in the lineup. Driessen hit .357 with one home run. Elliott Maddox, Carlos May, and Lou Piniella shared the role for the Yankees. Game 1, played at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, marked the first time the DH was used in a NL ballpark. Game 2, also at Riverfront Stadium, was the first World Series weekend game to be scheduled at night.

Reds catcher Johnny Bench was named the World Series MVP. Bench batted .533 with 8 hits, 6 RBIs and two home runs and also scored 4 runs.

  1. ^ Fimrite, Ron (November 1, 1976). "Ah, How Great It Is". Sports Illustrated. p. 18.
  2. ^ "American League adopts designated hitter rule". history.com. History.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018. At first, the designated hitter rule did not apply to any games in the World Series, in which the AL and NL winners met for the world championship. From 1976-1985, it applied only to Series held in even-numbered years, and in 1986 the current rule took effect, according to which the designated hitter rule is used or not used according to the practice of the home team.

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