#19: The Greatness of Ken Holtzman

We continue the "25 Greatest Oakland A's Wins" weekly countdown with a return to Wednesday, October 16, 1974, and game 4 of the 1974 World Series.  

The World Series of 1974 was a California face-off that featured two teams at different points in their lifespans. On one side there was the Oakland A’s, coming off of two World Series titles, and they were looking to cement their place in history as one of the greatest teams of all time. The 1974 season was a time of change for the Oakland A’s. Their great manager, Dick Williams left after winning the 1973 World Series because he could not get along with the A’s owner, Charlie Finley. The recently deceased Alvin Dark took over for the A’s in 1974.  Dark had previously managed the Kansas City A’s in 1965 and was fired over a disagreement with Finley over player discipline. The A’s players were becoming increasingly antsy with Finley, Reggie Jackson went to court with Finley over salary arbitration and won, winning an extra $35,000 in salary. This was just one example of the ongoing battle between players and ownership, and with free agency beckoning, there would be more to deal with. Despite all this, the A’s would easily roll to 90 wins and win the AL West with 6 games to spare over the Texas Rangers. The A’s would dominate the Baltimore Orioles in 4 games to win the pennant and advance to their third straight World Series.

The Dodgers on the other hand, were looking at the genesis of a new shiny era of Dodgers baseball. After the glory days of the 1960s with legends like Don Drysdale, and Sandy Koufax, there was bound to be a time of rebuilding once those legends had to hang it up. This happened during the 1967 and 1968 seasons, as the Dodgers would finish in 8th place and 7th place, respectively. In the early 70s, the Dodgers returned to winning ways, winning over 85 games between 1969-1973 but they did not win the division in any of those seasons. In 1974, the Dodgers finally seemed to have found the ingredients to put themselves over the top as they won 102 games and outlasted the Cincinnati Reds who won 98 games to win the 1974 NL West. Led by their longtime, legendary manager, Walter Alston, the Dodgers certainly had a winning pedigree. And like the A’s, the Dodgers would roll in the Championship Series as they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in 4 games. Led by crafty pitching of Andy Messermith and Don Sutton to go along with the young hitting of Bill Buckner (Yes, that Bill Buckner), Steve Garvey, and Steve Yeager, the Dodgers were the big favorite to win the 1974 World Series.

The World Series would start at Dodgers Stadium, the first three games would all end with the final score of 3-2, the A’s would win the first 3-2 contest (you can watch that full game HERE, Vin Scully on the broadcast) behind a first inning home run from Reggie Jackson and the great relief work from Rollie Fingers. The Dodgers would win game 2, largely due to Don Sutton’s 8 innings of shutout ball. The series would head to Oakland in Game 3, and Catfish Hunter’s brilliance would set the table, Walter Alston’s crafty managing kept the game from getting out of hand and allowed the Dodgers to bring the game back into the fold thanks to two home runs, one by Bill Buckner (that drove Hunter out of the game) and Willie Crawford. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, these were both solo home runs and Rollie Fingers would pick up the 5-out save to salvage another 3-2 A’s win and extend the series to 2-1 in favor of the A’s.

The stakes would be high for game 4. The Dodgers needed Andy Messersmith to bring home a win that would ensure the series would go back to Los Angeles. The A’s would send Ken Holtzman out to try and bring the series firmly in control of Oakland. Holtzman would start the game quite well. He’d nullify a Bill Buckner double in the top first by striking out Jim Wynn and the hottest hitting Dodger, Steve Garvey. Holtzman would retire the side in order in the second and would foil a squeeze play in the third to end the inning and looked quite comfortable. Messersmith looked comfortable as well, as he’d scatter a couple hits but would nullify them quite easily. This was until the bottom of the third, the bottom of the order was up for Oakland, and the defensive master Dick Green would groundout to start the inning, and the pitcher Ken Holtzman was coming to the plate for the first time. Holtzman was definitely a capable hitter (he even doubled off of Messersmith in game 1) but Messersmith was definitely far from nervous. Messersmith would throw a first pitch ball to Holtzman and on the second pitch, Messersmith would live his biggest nightmare. Messersmith would throw what appears to be a high fastball to Holtzman, and he took a huge rip at it, the ball soared into the marine layer but not even mother nature could knock down that ball as it flew over the head of the left fielder, Buckner and now it was 1-0 A’s. It was as if Holtzman said to his hitters, if you’re not gonna give me run support, I’ll do it myself!! 

A pitcher hitting a home run on the biggest stage is certainly something great. You can watch Holtzman’s home run HERE. (Monte Moore is on the call, “THERE SHE GOES!”)

Holtzman went back out for the top of the fourth, and he retired Jim Wynn to begin the inning. Then Steve Garvey would continue his good series by lacing a clean single into right field to get a one-out baserunner for the Dodgers. Holtzman would then walk Jim Ferguson to make it runners on first and second with one out. Holtzman would answer by burying Ron Cey on three pitches to make it two outs. Then came Bill Russell (no relation to the greatest NBA Champion of all time and fellow USF Don), and with a 3-1 count, Russell lined a ball into the right-center field gap. Garvey would score easily, and Ferguson followed Garvey to do the same. Before the crowd knew it, Russell was into third with a 2-run triple to make it 2-1 Dodgers. Steve Yeager would not be able to extend the lead as he fouled out to A’s catcher, Ray Fosse to end the inning.

Messersmith would face the minimum in the bottom of the fourth by nullifying a Captain Sal Bando walk by striking out Reggie Jackson and forcing Joe Rudi to ground into a double play. Holtzman would then answer with a one-two-three inning in the top of the 5th. The bottom of the 5th is where the A’s would start to make some noise. Singles by Claudell Washington and Ray Fosse created a promising situation for the A’s.  Alvin Dark would order a sac bunt which was successfully executed bringing a second and third base situation with one out. Ken Holtzman would step up to the plate next, this time, he wouldn’t be able to come through as he struck out in a six pitch battle. With two outs, Bert Campaneris would be the last hope in the inning and he flied out to left, to end the inning with no damage done.

Holtzman would keep the score still after a Jim Wynn leadoff double. Holtzman would force Garvey and Ferguson to give the hot corner some action which Sal Bando dealt with for two outs. Now to the bottom of the 6th, and this is where the A’s would bring another ring into their crosshairs. It all started with the speedy Billy North singling to lead off the inning. Messersmith was well versed in the threat known as Billy North on the basepaths and he threw over to first but a rare Steve Garvey error allowed North to hustle on over to second and with a 1-2 count. Captain Sal would single to right field and North would score easily to tie the game and bring an unearned run to Messersmith’s scorecard. Reggie Jackson would walk to add to the chaos of the inning. Dark then put the bunt sign on and Joe Rudi would oblige, bringing Jackson and Bando to second and third with one out. Walter Alston asked Messersmith to walk Claudell Washington to load the bases and face the lighter hitting, Ray Fosse. Alvin Dark would counter by pinch hitting Jim Holt for Ray Fosse. And Jim Holt would take Dark off the hook for his rally killing bunt in the 5th by singling to right. Bando would walk home, and Jackson put the afterburners on and scored to make it 4-2 A’s. The breakthrough was on and the Las Vegas oddsmakers were looking like the true chumps as the underdog A’s were winning again. Dark would pinch run with Herb Washington the “designated runner” for Jim Holt and the A’s were looking to really close the book on the Dodgers. Dick Green would then beat out a double play in the next at bat and that would make the score 5-2 A’s.

Holtzman got another one-two-three inning in the top of the 7th including a strikeout of Steve Yeager. Walter Alston would pinch hit for Andy Messersmith as his day on the mound was over in disappointment. His replacement Mike Marshall would only allow one hit in his two innings of relief work. Holtzman would come out for the top of the 8th, a three run lead and Rollie Fingers waiting in the bullpen sure seemed to be an imposing mountain for the Dodgers to climb. Holtzman showed no signs of fatigue by striking out Davey Lopes. He’d then get Bill Buckner to groundout on the first pitch, Jim Wynn would continue his good day by forcing a walk. Steve Garvey would then single to left field, showing his contact hitting prowess to make it first and second with two outs. Alvin Dark would then come out of the dugout and take the ball from Holtzman and he’d make the move for the closer, Rollie Fingers. Ken Holtzman’s line read: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO. This would produce a game score of 64, so all in all a great day for Holtzman on the mound on the biggest stage. Let’s also look at his day at the plate, 1 for 3 with a solo home run. Not too shabby.

Rollie Fingers would strikeout Joe Ferguson to end the Dodgers threat in the 8th. The A’s were now three outs away from a commanding 3-1 series lead in the World Series. Leading off the top of the 9th would be Ron Cey who would single to center. Fingers would silence the threat by striking out Bill Russell, then Alston would pinch hit with Von Joshua for Steve Yeager. that move did not produce anything as Joshua grounded to Dick Green who flipped to Campy and he fired it to Gene Tenace at first and the ballgame was over. The A’s had won! Rollie Fingers had completed the four-out save, one night after completing a 5-out save. And more importantly, the A’s had made it 3-1 in the series. The next night, the A’s would try to clinch the title in front of their home fans....

As we all know, the A’s won the World Series in 5 games! Rollie Fingers rightfully was named MVP.

Sadly, this would be the end of the A’s winning ways, Finley would refuse to pay for his big time stars and prolong the dynasty and after 1975, the A’s would not find the postseason for another 6 years. The Dodgers would battle with the Big Red Machine for the NL West crown for the next few years, they’d then return to the World Series in 1977, 1978, and 1981. They’d face the Yankees in all three of those World Series, and they’d win their only title with that core group of players in 1981. Reggie Jackson was a thorn in their side in all those World Series ironically.

The greatness of Ken Holtzman should not be underestimated, his home run in game 4 was the final turn of momentum in this World Series and his great pitching performance was the nail in the Dodgers coffin. Another underrated piece of the A’s 1970s Dynasty, he rarely got the headlines of guys like Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter but no one disputes his value.

Next week, Win #18. Stay tuned!

-- Wes

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