The 1965 Cincinnati Reds defeated the Indians 4 games to 2 to win the 1965 World Series. Cleveland took the first 2 games of the series and headed home for what long suffering Tribe fans were hoping would be their first World Series win since 1948. But alas those hopes were dashed as the Reds pitching staff righted themselves and led them to four straight wins and the championship. Let’s take a look at each of these memorable games from the 1965 classic.
Game 1
Cleveland 4 - Cincinnati 0
Sam McDowell vs. Jim Maloney
The aces of both staffs met up in game 1. Cleveland’s Sam McDowell bested Jim Maloney as he went 8.1 innings with 11 strike outs and only 3 walks. The Sudden one was just wild enough to keep the Reds hitters of balance all evening. Gary Bell came in to close it out as Sam had thrown 140 pitches. Cleveland scored 2 runs in the 3rd on a walk, a couple of singles, and an error. That was all Sam would need as he earned MVP honors and gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead.
Game 2
Cleveland 5 - Cincinnati 1
Sonny Siebert vs. Sammy Ellis
Another strong pitching effort by Sonny Siebert gave the Tribe a 2-0 lead. Siebert went the distance allowing 1 run on 3 hits. The only run came on a Johnny Edwards homer in the 5th. Leon “Daddy Wags” Wagner provide all the offense support that Siebert would need as he went 3-4 with 4 RBIs including a 2-run homerun in the 1st. Siebert earns MVP honors.
Manager Burnette was so upset with the Reds effort in the first two games that he made them take a Greyhound bus up to Cleveland. Would it wake up the struggling offense? Only time will tell.
Game 3
Cincinnati 7 – Cleveland 3
Luis Tiant vs. Joe Nuxhall
That bumpy bus ride was just what the doctor ordered. The Reds offense struck quickly scoring 3 runs in the 2nd to take the early lead and knock starter Tiant out of the box. Cleveland then went through a myriad of pitchers of the next couple of innings but to no avail. Cincy added 2 runs in the 6th and 7th innings to pull out a comfortable lead. Deron Johnson, Vada Pinson and game MVP Leo Cardenas each had 2 hits while Nuxhall went 7 innings for the win. Cleveland leads 2-1.
Game 4
Cincinnati 7 – Cleveland 3
Ralph Terry vs. Joey Jay
Cleveland struck first on a Leon Wagner 2 run homer in the 1st giving the Tribe faithful a glimmer of hope that they could still win the series at home. But the Reds brought their big bats to the game. Home runs by Cardenas, Johnson, Gordy Coleman and Pete Rose, easily offset the early blast by Wagner to lead the Reds to victory. Jay wasn’t great but he was good enough to last 8 innings giving up 3 runs. Rose earned MVP honors. Series is now tied at 2 apiece.
Game 5
Cincinnati 1 – Cleveland 0
Sam McDowell vs. Jim Maloney
Every great series has that game or moment that everyone can recall years after. Willie Mays making the catch and throw off the blast by Vic Wertz in 1954. Bill Mazeroski’s game winning homerun in the 1960 series. Bobby Richardson somehow catching that line drive off the bat of Willie McCovey to give the Yankees the World Series in 1962.
This was that game for the 1965 series. Two great pitchers performing at the top of their game. McDowell went 8 innings giving up only 1 run while striking out 10 Reds batters. His only mistake was a hanging curve to Vada Pinson in the second that Vada deposited in the right field bleachers.
Jim Maloney, game and series MVP, was at his best. He went the distance allowing no runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. He was so dominant that Cleveland could only move one runner to second and that was way back in the second inning. Maloney went 5-1 for the playoff series with an ERA of 1.86. McDowell, who deserved a better fate in this game, was 3-1 with 1.67 ERA. For those of you who like pitcher’s duels you could not have asked for more than you saw in this game.
Game 6
Cleveland 0 - Cincinnati 3
Sonny Siebert vs. Sammy Ellis
Game 6 saw another pitching gem, this time by the Reds’ Sammy Ellis. Ellis, game MVP, went 8 innings giving up only 2 hits before tiring in the 9th and turning it over to Billy McCool for the save. Up until the 9th inning Cleveland again could only get one runner to second as Ellis was in top form. A Pete Rose solo home run in the first gave the Reds the only run they would need. They tacked on 2 more in the 4th on RBIs by Frank Robinson and Deron Johnson. Cincinnati wins the series 4-2
--submitted by Ron Burnette--
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