During the Big Red Machine years who batted leadoff?

[julusnc]

Did Rose or Morgan ever leadoff or was it Griffey?

[leecemark]

--It was mostly Rose, with Morgan batting 2nd or 3rd. If memory serves, Morgan batted more leadoff after Rose left as a FA and Griffey occasionally led off both before and after. I don't think they really had a set lineup, as Sparky liked to juggle a bit.
.

[Iron Jaw]

The original "Big Red Machine" team (1970) had Rose batting leadoff with Bobby Tolan hitting second. Then you had the big bombers, Bench, Perez and May.

I remember Rose batting leadoff most of the time in the 1960's, but for a couple of seasons I believe Tommy Harper led off for the Reds.

[OhioYankee]

Big Red Machine

Go to www.retrosheet.org and click on boxscores. You can find the boxscores for many past seasons.

[john_moore238]

who batted leadoff

Rose was the leadoff hitter simply becuase charlie hustle could get on base and we all know how important the leadoff batter getting on base is to a team. FYI, here is the lineup that Sparky used for most of '75 and '76 while the other Big Red Machines in early '70's had a few different players but I really didnt consider them as the Big Red Machine of 75 and 76.

Rose
Griffey
Morgan
Bench
Perez
Foster
Concepcion
Geronimo
Pitcher


In fact, I think Rose was leadoff for most of his playing time with the Reds.
What a team they were.

[EvanAparra]

Rose was the leadoff hitter simply becuase charlie hustle could get on base and we all know how important the leadoff batter getting on base is to a team. FYI, here is the lineup that Sparky used for most of '75 and '76 while the other Big Red Machines in early '70's had a few different players but I really didnt consider them as the Big Red Machine of 75 and 76.

Rose
Griffey
Morgan
Bench
Perez
Foster
Concepcion
Geronimo
Pitcher


In fact, I think Rose was leadoff for most of his playing time with the Reds.
What a team they were.

Looking at that lineup, its no question why they were so good.

[HDH]

The http://www.baseball-reference.com/te.../1976_bo.shtml


Lineup usually looked like this:
Rose
Griffey
Morgan
Foster
Bench
Perez
Geronimo
Concepcion

During the WS:
Rose
Griffey
Morgan
Foster
Driesen
Bench
Perez
Concepcion
Geronimo

[Ravenlord]

The http://www.baseball-reference.com/te.../1976_bo.shtml


Lineup usually looked like this:
Rose
Griffey
Morgan
Foster
Bench
Perez
Geronimo
Concepcion

During the WS:
Rose
Griffey
Morgan
Foster
Driesen
Bench
Perez
Concepcion
Geronimo

was Driesen the DH? and how good of a hitter was he that he was put ahead of JB (i ask because i honestly know nothing of Driesen)?

[The Kid]

Morgan should have led off.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Morgan should have led off.

I think they did fine how they had it.

[SDL]

was Driesen the DH? and how good of a hitter was he that he was put ahead of JB (i ask because i honestly know nothing of Driesen)?

Driessen was the DH in all four games. In fact, it was the first year the allowed the DH in the Series.When they finally allowed the DH in the Series, it was on a every-other year basis and in ALL games (until '86 when it became yearly and only in the AL parks), so in 76, Driessen DHed in both Yankee Stadium & Riverfront.

He went 5 for 14 (.357) with a homer and 2 doubles. The HR was his only RBI in the '76 Series.

[HDH]

You know, a funny thing happened as soon as Pete Rose retired... Before he retired, he was deamed the greatest leadoff hitter of all time. After he retired, it coincided with new national announcers and he was virtually forgotten. The new announcers crowned Rickey Henderson greatest leadoff hitter. From someone who saw them both at their peaks, Pete Rose is my choice as the greatest lead off hitter. Joe Morgan batted 3rd and fit perfectly in that lneup. Rose, Ken Griffey, and Joe Morgan all acted as a leadoff team, if that makes sense to you.

I remember thinking Sparky Anderson was a lunatic for putting Dan Driesen in the lineup in the World Series ahead of Tony Perez and Johnny Bench. As it turned out, it was perfect. The entire Reds lineup including DXriesen and George Foster could run well except Perez and Bench. Also, Dan Driesen was a left handed hitter. Bench was injuried and had an off year during the season. The old Johnny Bench showed up at the WS and was the Classic's MVP.