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The 1976 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The Reds entered the season as the reigning world champs and they looked to improve upon their MLB best 108–54 record in 1975. Despite not improving on their record, the Reds won their second consecutive National League West title with a record of 102–60, beat record in MLB and finished 10 games ahead of the runner-up Los Angeles Dodgers. They went on to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1976 National League Championship Series in three straight games, and then win their second consecutive World Series title in four straight games over the New York Yankees. They were the third and most recent National League team to achieve this distinction, and the first since the 1921–22 New York Giants. The Reds drew 2,629,708 fans to their home games at Riverfront Stadium, an all-time franchise attendance record. The Reds went 49–32 at home and 53–28 on the road in 1976. The 76 Reds are considered by many as one of the greatest baseball teams ever to play. The Reds scored 857 runs in 1976, easily the most in the league that season. Their +224 run differential was also the best in the league in 1976. As of 2017, the Reds are the only team in baseball history to sweep through an entire postseason since the addition of divisions. The Reds went 7–0 in postseason play in 1976.
Contents
Offseason
Season summary
The "Big Red Machine" was at the height of its power in the 1976 season, with four future Hall-of-Famers (Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Pérez, and manager Sparky Anderson), the future MLB all-time hits leader Pete Rose, and a notable supporting line up including Dave Concepción at shortstop, and Ken Griffey, César Gerónimo, and George Foster in the outfield.
The Reds retained their NL pennant by winning the NLCS in three games over the Phillies, and their second consecutive World Series title by defeating the Yankees in four games, becoming only the second team to sweep a World Series from the Yankees (following the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers). By sweeping both the Phillies and Yankees, the Reds became the first and only team to have a perfect postseason since the League Championship Series was started in 1969. Joe Morgan was the NL's Most Valuable Player for the second straight season and Johnny Bench was the World Series MVP.
To celebrate the National League's 100th anniversary, the Reds and several other teams adopted pillbox-style caps.
Notable transactions
Starters by position
Note: Pos=Position; G=Games played; AB=At bats; R=Runs scored; H=Hits; Avg.=Batting average; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in; SB=Stolen Bases
Other batters
Note: G=Games played; AB=At bats; R=Runs scored; H=Hits; Avg.=Batting average; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in; SB=Stolen Bases
Starting pitchers
Note: G=Games pitched; IP=Innings pitched; W=Wins; L=Losses; ERA=Earned run average; SO=Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G=Games pitched; IP=Innings pitched; W=Wins; L=Losses; ERA=Earned run average; SO=Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G=Games pitched; W=Wins; L=Losses; SV=Saves; ERA=Earned run average; SO=Strikeouts
Game 1
October 9, Veterans Stadium
Reds starter Don Gullett held the Phils to two hits in eight strong innings and helped his own cause with an RBI single in the sixth and a two-run double in the eighth. George Foster added a solo homer.
Game 2
October 10, Veterans Stadium
Game 3
October 12, Riverfront Stadium
Summary
NL Cincinnati Reds (4) vs. AL New York Yankees (0)
Awards and honors
1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game