For my next Diamond Legacies series, I'm going with the "World Series that wasn't" in 1975: Pittsburgh vs. Oakland. Those two teams had combined to capture the four previous world championships (1971-1974) and in 1975 they both made the playoffs but were swept by the pennant-winning Reds and Red Sox respectively. Game 1 took place at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The home team started 22-game winner Vida Blue while the visitors countered with their ace, 18-game winner Jerry Reuss.
Both teams put at least one runner on base in each of the first three innings, but neither side could score. Then both pitchers really started dealing, not allowing a hit in innings four through seven. In the top of the eighth, Manny Sanguillen lead off with a walk. Richie Hebner then drew a free pass to give the Pirates two men on with nobody out. Blue, however, retired the next three Bucs to end the threat.
The Oakland ace then helped his own cause by drawing a walk against reliever Kent Tekulve to start the home half of the eighth. After Bill North grounded into a force out, Bert Campaneris doubled to drive in the first run of the game. The Pirates put two men on with two outs in the ninth, but Sanguillen grounded out to end the game. Blue struck out eight in a masterful four-hit shutout.
Game 1: Oakland 1, Pittsburgh 0
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