Swingin' A's 1974 World Series Gm. 3 vs. Dodgers

In 1974, the A’s sought a new face between Finley and the players, turning to Alvin Dark as their new manager. With Dark at the helm, they tried to become the only franchise other than the Yankees to win three straight titles. This was Hunter’s season to lead the way, as he won the Cy Young Award with another phenomenal season, winning a career-best 25 games.
While the other A’s championship teams sailed through the regular season and had to fight through tough series in the playoffs, this one was the opposite. The A’s lost just twice in nine postseason games, beating the Orioles in the ALCS and then the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Rollie Fingers won the World Series MVP Award, a rare honor for a relief pitcher, after picking up a victory and two saves, working 9-1/3 innings in the series.
The first era of the A’s in Oakland, known as the “Swingin’ A’s,” won three consecutive World Series championships in the early 1970s, something only one other Major League franchise (the Yankees) has ever been able to equal.

[@krisscanlon4051]

To look at the As stadium and fan antics this past weekend versus this glorious age of baseball is completely astounding

[@jimmym2486]

Love these old games. I am getting to the point where most of my baseball is listening and watching old games while sprinkling in my favorite team (Mets) most of the summer until the pennant race heats up and post season, because for the most part the bottom line is that old games whether experiencing them for the first time or seeing them again for the thousandth time are so much better than today’s game.

[@jimmym2486]

@breadandcircuses8127 Because baseball in general was so much better back then. Funny thing though My dad used to say baseball was so much better when he was younger. So maybe it's a generational thing.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

cannot even pronounce the names of the players in this modern era game.they have nothing in common with me. my country is dead. so is baseball the game i loved. its an alien game played by people who have as much in common with me as do with red winged blackbirds......

[@EdsterIII]

I grew up in the 70's. My Dad took me to my first game in either 76 or 77. He had signed me up for Little League Baseball that summer. When I walked into Milwaukee County 🏟Stadium🏟 I was awestruck. Not only was it massive, but you could literally feel the excitement of the game. I also agree that Baseball was absolutely incredible back in the 70's. Before all of the lunacy of steroids came into play. When players and team owners had some loyalty. Players like Carl Yaztremski, Jim Rice, Robin Yount, and George Brett all stayed with one team their entire career and didn't automatically run for the money. Well there were some that did, Reggie Jackson being one that was an Oakland A's player initially. I really miss the 70's. Not just ⚾️Baseball⚾️, but it seemed as though everything was better, definitely simpler for sure. Back when kids didn't have their noses buried in a smartphone, or a 💻Laptop💻Computer💻. When we actually used something ingenious, our IMAGINATIONS.......LOL. Food tasted better, television shows were absolutely much better as were movies, and music, especially the music. Even the broadcasts or sporting events were much better. Monday Night Football was by far superior back then than it is today. On Sunday, the Pre-game and Post-game shows, the NFL Today was also superior to today's broadcasts. Brent Musberger, Irv Cross, Jimmy the Greek, and Jayne Kennedy all did a phenomenal job covering the games. The 70's had so many other wonderful things to do. Drive-in Theaters was one. Going to a park to either swim at the pool or fish in the mini-lake or pond they made was another. We had 3 network television stations. Sorry 5, we also had 2 PBS stations and one non-affiliated network. But during the day, unless it was raining, storming really badly, or it was below zero, we were outside playing. I really miss those days.

[@EdsterIII]

​@@graciemaemarie11jones16As I said my era was the 70's. I was born in 1967, so the 70's were my childhood and it was such a wonderful time. Players actually stayed with their original team. Not always but a LOT MORE than nowadays. The game has been "overhauled". Extra innings now give each team an automatic player at 2nd base?? That really, in my opinion destroys the excitement of the game. It was much better back then.

[@justyndelbridge7467]

I love seeing stuff like this. So much of this was unavailable to the public eye for so long, at least in this quality. For us young folks, this really brings the history to life instead of just saying “Yeah, the A’s won 3 World Series in the 70’s” as if it was a legend lol

[@randquadrozzi5850]

Funny kinda like if a tree falls in the woods does it make a noise if nobody is watching.The all star game was basically the only time I got to see players on the west coast

[@rayray4192]

The players referred to plate umpire Doug Harvey as “ God.” His strike signal is weak.

[@EdsterIII]

Exactly! These games have historical significance for ⚾️Baseball⚾️. My childhood was in the 70's. In 74 I was 7, so I may have seen some of these or this particular game, but having it available now to watch is absolutely incredible. I especially love when they included all of the commercials that originally aired back in the 70's broadcasts. It adds a level of realism, almost a mini time machine. It brings back so many memories.

[@davesmith6146]

Love that A's Green and Gold uniforms.

[@mainman127]

@M nobody cares about soccer

[@johnwalker4329]

​@@mainman127Lol 😆.

[@keef67]

Thank you for this. Love the swinging A's.

[@EdsterIII]

The Oakland A's had a incredibly talented team. Great hitters. Really good pitching. They were a really dangerous team. It's really sad what the Owner is now doing or pulling the garbage he's doing. The fans of Oakland deserve better. When your city loses it's Sports team, whether it's an NFL, a MLB, a NHL, or a NBA team, it really stinks! Kids lose heroes. Well nearby heroes. Granted California has several teams to choose from. But when you've cheered for your team for decades, losing them hurts!

[@mistafrooz]

The classic coliseum chants around 18:00🥰

[@hippiecolleen1352]

I was there!!!!

[@JOSELOPEZ-qs8yq]

Incredible picture quality!!!!!!!! How about the 1974 NLCS clips?

[@rayray4192]

Great background behind home plate. Fielders can see the ball very well.

[@Birth4Men]

The quality of the video is good. Thanks.

[@SCANTALK51]

Great game!

[@LoriHarrisKerygma]

There's some duplication at about the 1 hour mark after Jim Brewer comes in for relief, all of a sudden Downing is pitching again and Brewer is back in the bullpen. oops.

[@EdsterIII]

I absolutely love these classic games. 😍 One statistic that blew me away....@ the 1:10 mark, Jim "Catfish" Hunter's 1974 Pitching Statistics are on the screen. 25 wins 12 losses. Thats 37 decisions. Back when Pitchers used to actually pitch all 9 innings of the game. Not 5 or 6 innings. When pitch counts didn't determine when a pitcher left the game. His performance did. There were pitchers who had 15-20 complete games. Nowadays your lucky if an entire team can get 2 or 3.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

the A'S were a great team.GREAT

[@johnwalker4329]

Back then the coliseum was only 8 years old.

[@davidlahn7390]

1973 upstart Mets club versus the A's was the most exciting World Series of 3 played.

[@johnhenryclark911]

Uh.... This Is The 1974 World Series Game 3! Not 🚫 The 1973 World Series! 😅😂🤣 Put The Bong Pipe Down!

[@davidlahn7390]

@@johnhenryclark911 With all do respect, read my message again. I said the most exciting World Series out of the 3 the A's won was 1973 over Mets. 1974 was the Dodger Series.

[@altonpaige2388]

I beg to differ the 1972 World Series was more exciting the swingin A's vs the big red machine.

[@altonpaige2388]

@@johnhenryclark911What wrong with you telling someone to put a bong down. That 's not even funny plus your reading comprehension is terrible.

[@michaelleroy9281]

You want an upstart Mets team? 1969

[@deanw0rmer]

The A’s played fundamental baseball 3 peat

[@dskywalker3397]

The California Series!

[@williamdunphy352]

Umpires (Game 3) HP Doug Harvey (NL) 1B Don Denkinger (AL) 2B Andy Olsen (NL) 3B Ron Luciano (AL) LF Tom Gorman (NL) (Crew Chief) RF Bill Kunkel (AL)

[@coilmanjoe]

Denkinger years before his boo boo in '85.

[@williamdunphy352]

@@coilmanjoe It was Don's 1st World Series in 1974.

[@josephscott6388]

1974 charlie hough looks just like 1994 charlie hough only in hippy disguise.

[@freethinkerrr2897]

Incredible to think that 19 years later he would start the first ever game for the Florida Marlins

[@randquadrozzi5850]

Back in the day the sure had a lot of great announcers but today they are so bad I hit the mute button cause they never shut up

[@64yanks]

A- Rod

[@williamdunphy352]

NBC Radio: Jim Simpson (PBP) 1st half Vin Scully (PBP) 2nd half

[@kingrey465]

The announcers keep commenting on how difficult it is for Ferguson to be catching after playing right field. He started 106 games in 1974-82 as a catcher

[@MatthewBaumgarten]

As a fan of the older era of baseball im blown away by how much the commentators discuss how bad the Oakland A's team was playing at the time of this series, mainly they speak of how bad the hitting was, my gosh they are playing in the world series, they couldnt have been playing in the world series if they hadnt have hit the ball, Just saying!!

[@bobsmith3217]

Tommy John would have pitched for the Dodgers in this series, but he got injured after starting the season 13-3. He then became the first pitcher to have Tommy John surgery (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_John#1974%E2%80%931975:_Tommy_John_surgery).

[@dskywalker3397]

Catfish Hunter! It doesn’t get any better!

[@matta3968]

They were called the 'swingin' A's' but I don't think they were referring to their bats.

[@lennyparadise4303]

Thay just one of the best teams

[@craiggibson4037]

This is the best high-def quality I have seen for an early 70's World Series game. What's the source?

[@robertwesley4416]

swingin A's games 2 and 4 of 1972 WS ARE INCRED TOO!

[@Tuning_Spork]

@M Nah, soccer's so simple it shouldn't be played by anyone over the age of 10. :-P

[@mainman127]

@M nobody cares about soccer

[@robertwesley4416]

The eucharist is the source and summit

[@williamdunphy352]

1:27:57 Curt Gowdy, Monte Moore & Tony Kubek.

[@joeblenkle5546]

So sad watching the A's now. Fisher has destroyed the team. SELL!!!!

[@williamdunphy352]

Curt Gowdy (PBP) Monte Moore-Tony Kubek (C) 1st half Moore (PBP) Gowdy-Kubek (C) 2nd half

[@homerun8032]

Check out the big cut by Jackson, no wonder he had chronic hamstring problem's 23:32.

[@mistafrooz]

Lets go Reg-Gie Lets Go 52:00

[@christopheroliver2465]

Carl Maldin: Sponsored by American Express travelers checks and by your local Plastic Surgeon (half-price nose jobs). Hey, it's "Catfood" Hunter!

[@kcwilshaw4449]

Home plate ump is blind!

[@bobsmith3217]

Catfish Hunter's last game for Oakland. He made it a good one.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

f jimmy wynn...(lose)

[@williammize8270]

This was a very boring world series not like reds red Sox 75?

[@kennyrogers5267]

As an A's Fan I think it's great this was the peak of the dynasty that leaves you to wonder what might have been

[@lennyparadise4303]

A great team with pitching and defense And Timely hitting

[@bobsmith3217]

Most series are boring compared to the '75 series.

[@rayray4192]

Billy North singles and went up third on a ground ball out to third base. Then scored on an error. There’s no substitute for speed.

[@lindacorwin9066]

You can't coach speed.

[@rayray4192]

Dodger defense is unsteady in the third inning.

[@rayray4192]

Campy wanted a triple play.

[@rayray4192]

Willie Crawford could hit.

[@rayray4192]

Reggie’s first two at bats are pathetic.