Product Details

• Actors: Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench, Boston Red Sox
• Format: Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 7
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• DVD Release Date: June 13, 2006
• Run Time: 1033 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009PLM6W
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,575 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

CINCINNATI REDS 1975 WORLD SERIES COL - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the big Red Machine, April 19, 2008

By 

Michael R. Chernick "statman31147" (Holland PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series (Collector's Edition) (DVD)

This has been put up there as the greatest or one of the greatest World Series ever played. It has all the credentials. Sparky Anderson had put together a great team that would remain great for many years. They had Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and more. The Red Sox had Jim Rice, Fred Lynn and Carl Yastremski for an outfield and Carlton Fisk for a catcher. Yet it is the little known player not destined for Cooperstown who sometimes have a big moment in the World Series. Billy Martin and Bobby Richarson for the 1952 and 1960 Yankees respectively. Al Gionfreddo for his catch on Joe D. in 1947. Sandy Amoros for his catch on Yogi Barra in 1955 and many others. In this series there was a very clutch home run by Bernie Carbo of the Reds.

Of course the most famous home run of th series was Carlton Fisk's because
(1) It won game 6 for the Red Sox and (2) it took the series to a decisive 7th game and (3) it was so close to the left field foul pole that Fisk went down the first base line and tried to "wave" the ball fair (a very familiar sight every time the home run is shown).

63 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate 1975 World Series Collectible! All Seven Games In One Great DVD Set! (Rally 'Round The Reds!), June 11, 2006

By 

David Von Pein (Mooresville, Indiana; USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series (Collector's Edition) (DVD)

SOME RIGHT-OFF-THE-BAT DVD STATS:

Number of DVDs -- 7 (Single-Sided).
Video -- Full Frame 1.33:1. (A few of the bonus interviews are presented in Widescreen, approx. 1.78:1.)
Audio -- English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (Re-Mixed From Original Mono Source).
Color or B&W -- Color.
Subtitles -- None.
Packaging -- 7 Slim Cases With Outer Slipcase.
Any Separate Paper Enclosures Included? -- No.
DVD Marketers/Distributors -- MLB Properties Inc.; A&E Home Video; New Video Group Inc.
DVD Release Date -- June 13, 2006.

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It's hard for me to imagine owning a better collectible keepsake of the stellar 1975 World Series than what A&E Home Video and Major League Baseball Properties have put together for baseball fans here -- a 7-Disc DVD compilation featuring all seven games from the original NBC-TV network telecasts (with Tony Kubek, Curt Gowdy, Joe Garagiola, and Reds' play-by-play man Marty Brennaman, among others, at the microphones calling the action).

All of these games are presented complete and uncut, with two exceptions -- a half-inning of Game 2 (top of the 2nd) and 1-and-a-half innings (plus one additional batter) of Game 3 are missing on these DVDs. Evidently that video footage could not be obtained by A&E/MLB for this collector's set.

The missing moments of Games 2 and 3, however, do not involve either team's scoring. So no big home runs, RBIs, or crucial plays are part of the AWOL footage.

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THE 1975 WORLD SERIES:

The Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox battled each other over the course of seven memorable baseball games during the fall of 1975. The Reds, managed by 41-year-old South Dakota native George "Sparky" Anderson, barely squeezed by the A.L.-champion Sox, 4 games to 3, to capture Cincy's first world-championship title since 1940.

This '75 Fall Classic is regarded by many fans as the very best and most exciting World Series ever played. Five of the seven games were decided by just a lone run (including each of the last two thrilling contests played at cozy Fenway Park in Boston).

The "Big Red Machine" of Cincinnati steamrolled its way to the National League pennant in '75, winning 108 regular-season games and then sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS in three straight. The Reds won the N.L. Western Division by an amazingly-decisive 20 games over their nearest rivals (the second-place Dodgers).

Cincinnati's imposing "starting eight" in 1975 was one of the best and most potent lineups ever put on a baseball diamond. Here's a glance at the impressive lineup that National League pitchers (and Boston's hurlers in the WS) had the difficult task of facing in '75 -- with some 1975 regular-season numbers also listed (B.A./HR/RBI):

C -- Johnny Bench (.283/28/110)
1B -- Tony Perez (.282/20/109)
2B -- Joe Morgan (.327/17/94 .... Was named NL MVP in '75)
SS -- Dave Concepcion (.274/5/49)
3B -- Pete Rose (.317/7/74)
LF -- George Foster (.300/23/78)
CF -- Cesar Geronimo (.257/6/53)
RF -- Ken Griffey Sr. (.305/4/46)

The 1975 Red Sox, piloted by 47-year-old Darrell Johnson, proved to be worthy opponents for Sparky's Red Machine in the post-season (to say the least). The Bosox won 95 games during their A.L. regular campaign in '75, and they breezed past the Oakland A's in three straight playoff games (ending Oakland's chance at winning its fourth World Series title in a row following the A's "three-peat" in 1972-73-74).

Boston, like the N.L. Reds on the other side of the diamond, had their league's MVP -- 23-year-old Fred Lynn, who also doubled as the American League Rookie-of-the-Year in 1975 as well. Lynn's sparkling first-year stats in '75 included a .331 average, with 21 home runs, and 105 RBIs (plus an impressive .566 slugging percentage).

Lynn gave an indication of his productive seasons to come by way of his brief 'cup of coffee' with the Red Sox at the end of the 1974 season, when he batted .419 in 15 games (with a .698 slugging mark). But Freddie still qualified as a "rookie" in '75.

The Sox roster also featured the likes of Carl Yastrzemski, Dwight Evans, Bill Lee, Rick Burleson, Carlton Fisk, Luis Tiant, Rico Petrocelli, Rick Wise, and Jim Rice. Rice (.309/22 HR/102 RBI in '75), fortunately for the Reds, was injured and could not play in a single game of the World Series.

By the way, Boston skipper Darrell Johnson, ironically, was a back-up catcher for the Reds for parts of two seasons (1961 and 1962), which included a career-high .315 batting average for the pennant-winning '61 Reds' squad (albeit in just 20 games; 54 AB; 1 HR).

The '75 World Series, numbers-wise, was about as evenly-matched as you could get -- with the Reds batting a collective .242 (59 base hits), while the Red Sox swung the lumber at a combined .251 clip, with 60 hits.

Other tightly-knit WS stats:

Runs Scored:
Reds 29; Sox 30.

Team ERA:
Reds 3.88; Sox 3.86.

Cincinnati third baseman Pete Rose was named the MVP for this '75 World Series. Pete batted .370 during the seven games (10-for-27), with 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs, and 5 walks.

I can vividly recall watching these games on television in '75, plus one game that I saw in person, which was Game #4 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Sadly, for me (being a Reds' rooter), that one turned out to be a Reds' loss, as Luis Tiant picked up his second complete-game win in the Series, defeating Cincy 5-4. A standing-room-only crowd of 55,667 crammed into Riverfront that Wednesday night (10/15/75).

Via this nice DVD set, I can now watch that fourth Series game in my living room, instead of from the seat that I occupied in Peanut Heaven (aka: the "Nosebleed Section") in left-center field at Riverfront back in '75 (Upper Deck; Aisle #339; Row 10; Seat 102). Even though that was hardly the best seat in the house, it's still a great childhood baseball memory....to have attended a game during one of the most famous World Series in baseball history.

I still have the ticket stub from that game too (the ticket cost just $10.00, which must be a drop in the bucket compared to WS ticket prices in the 21st century...even for seats up in Peanut Heaven). :)

For those who can remember watching all seven of these classic Reds/Red Sox battles back in 1975, this DVD Collector's Edition will easily rekindle every single memory without much prodding at all.

Memories such as:

>> Luis Tiant's gyrations on the mound. (Was Tiant "balking"? Sparky Anderson and the Reds thought so.)

>> The "Fisk/Armbrister" rhubarb in Game 3 at Riverfront Stadium. (Was it really interference? You decide. You'll see the replay a dozen times thanks to the Game-Three DVD provided in this collection.)

>> The persistent New England rain that resulted in a three-day delay prior to Game Six.

>> The two pinch-hit homers by former Red Bernie Carbo (one in Game 3 and an incredible three-run, game-tying monster shot in Game 6, that sent the Fenway Park crowd into a frenzy).

>> Joe Morgan's game-winning RBI blooper in Game 7.

>> The Dwight Evans "catch" of Joe Morgan's smash.

>> Tony Perez "connecting" on a super-duper Bill Lee blooper pitch in Game 7. (Lee, IMO, should have been run out of Boston town on a rail for daring to throw that ridiculous circus-like pitch in Game #7 of a World Series to ANY member of the "Big Red Machine". It was a bomb ready to explode in Lee's face. And it did.)

>> George Foster's throw from left field to Johnny Bench in Game 6 to nail Denny Doyle at the plate. (I can vividly recall the ecstasy of seeing the umpire's "out" call to complete this double play and keep Game 6 tied.)

>> Cesar Geronimo squeezing Carl Yastrzemski's lofty fly ball to center field for the final out in Game 7.

>> And, of course, The "Please Stay Fair" Home Run .... i.e., Carlton Fisk's Game-Six walk-off clout off the foul pole to knot the Series at 3-3.

And it's all here in this comprehensive DVD set from A&E/MLB. Every game. Every clutch hit. Every home run. (Sans the TV commercials; those have not been included here.)

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THE DVDs AND THE PACKAGING:

The packaging, the look, and the overall presentation for this 7-Disc DVD Collector's Edition is first-class all the way down the line. It couldn't possibly be any better, IMO.

Each of the seven World Series games gets its own separate single-sided disc, with attractive bright-red disc art.

The video quality for all of these games looks pretty decent in most places to me, being limited, of course, by the age of the decades-old original taped source material. Close-up shots are definitely clearer and more pleasing than are the longer, more-distant camera shots, which suffer from considerable "ghosting"; and all of these games will no doubt look better on a smaller TV screen. The bigger your monitor, the more digital annoyances you're likely to see. But, overall, I'm pleased with the PQ here.

Unlike baseball telecasts nowadays, you're not going to find all of the flashy graphics or the constant barrage of detailed stats on your screen in these '75 games. Baseball broadcasts in 1975 were much "quieter" and less frenetic, with less moving around of the camera and far fewer instant replays (and no "Fox Box" telling you the score up in the corner all the time).

The screen ratio for these games is the original Full-Frame television... Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reliving the 1975 World Series Gem, August 9, 2006

By 

Clint Eastwood "Man With No Name" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series (Collector's Edition) (DVD)

The 1975 World Series featured an incredibly talented Cincinnati Reds' squad that won the first of consecutive World Championships and would be included among the best that the sport has ever seen.

They met a Boston Red Sox' team that swept the three-time defending World Champion Oakland A's in shocking style. The Reds, too, swept their League Championship defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates setting up what would be a roller-coaster of emotions and civic pride as the Reds had not won a series since 1940 and the Red Sox since 1918.

Game 1 featured the dazzling performance of Boston's Luis Tiant who baffled the Reds in a 6-0 complete game shutout. The game was scoreless until Boston swatted in six runs in the bottom of the 7th.

In Game 2, Boston was one out away from a commanding 2-0 series lead but consecutive two out hits by Dave Concepcion and Ken Griffey provided a pair of ninth inning runs that gave Cincinnati a 3-2 win.

Game 3, one for the ages, was highlighted by a controversial play at home plate featuring contact by Cincinnati pinch-hitter/runner Ed Armbrister and Boston catcher Carlton Fisk which resulted in Fisk throwing wildly to second base and eventually leading to a game-winning run. The Reds blew a 5-1 lead in the game and Boston scored twice in the 9th to set up the controversy.

In Game 4, Boston scored in just one inning but that was enough as they tallied five times in the fourth to hold off the Reds 5-4 thanks to another complete game by pitcher Tiant.

In Game 5, the last of three straight in Cincinnati, the Reds' Don Gullett was masterful before tiring in the 9th inning in a 6-2 romp over Boston. In the must-win situation for the Reds, Tony Perez broke out of his series-long slump with two home runs and four RBIs.

And then came Game 6, finally, after three days of rainouts in Boston. One of the wildest most completely invigorating contests on any level, game 6 featured a myriad of heroics culminating with a home run by Carlton Fisk off the foul pole in the 12th inning to give Boston a 7-6 win to knot the series at 3. The Reds overcame a 3-run first inning to go ahead 6-3 in the 8th inning and were just six outs removed from a title. But the game got goofy thanks in part to Reds' castoff Bernie Carbo's dramatic home run that evened the scored at 6 in the 8th. Boston loaded the bases with no outs in the 9th but failed to scored when George Foster nailed Denny Doyle at home plate in stunning fashion but that play was offset by an amazing catch by Boston rightfielder Dwight Evans in the 11th. Fisk's legendary homer off the Reds' 8th pitcher Pat Darcy is one for the archives.

In game 7, Boston scored 3 runs in the 3rd and cruised to a 3-0 lead in the 6th inning before pitcher Bill Lee tried to fool slugger Tony Perez with a tantalizing slow pitch that Perez deposited on the Mass Pike. Tying the game in the 7th, the Reds somehow and magically stole all Boston's momentum and won with a clutch two out single by 1975 NL MVP Joe Morgan and fittingly this miraculously close series ended in the 9th inning of Game 7. The Reds won the 1975 World Series thanks to a true team performance.

Oh, by the way, the discs are excellent. There are slight glitches but nothing to warrant a dismissal of purchasing this remarkable series.