[Nick Soulis]

Series #192



1931 Brooklyn Robins
Record: 79-73
Finish: 4th in NL
Manager: Wilbert Robinson
Ball Park: Ebbets Field
WAR Leader: Watson Clark (6.3)
Franchise Record: 6-7
1931 Season Record: 1-2
Hall of Famers: (3)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BRO/1931.shtml

1975 Texas Rangers
Record: 79-83
Finish: 3rd in AL West
Manager: Billy Martin
Ball Park: Arlington Stadium
WAR Leader: Toby Harrah (7.1)
Franchise Record: 2-3
1975 Season Record: 2-0
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TEX/1975.shtml
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Don't Mess With Texas
Harrah Shines In Supurb Seven Game Ranger Win



Game 1
At Ebbets Field
1975 Texas Rangers 5
1931 Brooklyn Robins 1
WP: B. Hand2 (1-0) LP: D. Vance (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Bill Hands (7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 116 P)
1975 Rangers Lead Series 1-0

In Game 1 of the Field of Dreams Series #192 at Ebbets Field on October 1, 1931, the 1975 Texas Rangers kicked off the best-of-seven clash with a 5-1 victory over the 1931 Brooklyn Robins, seizing an early 1-0 lead under partly cloudy 65-degree skies with a 12 mph breeze. Bill Hands anchored the Rangers with 7 strong innings, allowing just one run on 6 hits, while Willie Davis went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Toby Harrah’s fifth-inning single drove in two to spark a rally. Roy Howell added a double and an RBI, but the Robins’ lone run came on Babe Herman’s two-out single in the fifth, as Dazzy Vance battled through 9 innings but took the loss despite 6 strikeouts. Three errors by Harrah didn’t derail Texas, who capitalized on Brooklyn’s two miscues to secure the opener in this playoff matchup before a spirited crowd.

Game 2
At Ebbets Field
1975 Texas Rangers 9
1931 Brooklyn Robins 1
WP: J. Bibby (1-0) LP: W. Clark (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Jim Bibby (9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 123 P)
1975 Rangers Lead Series 2-0

On a crisp autumn afternoon at Ebbets Field, the 1975 Texas Rangers made a loud statement in Game 2 of their Field of Dreams series against the 1931 Brooklyn Robins, routing the home team 9-1 to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Jim Bibby was magnificent on the mound, going the distance with a seven-hit complete game, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run. The Rangers broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with two runs, then erupted for three in the sixth and four more in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Bibby even contributed at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Offensively, Willie Davis and Mike Hargrove each drove in runs and combined for four hits, while Toby Harrah and Mike Cubbage delivered clutch 2-out RBIs. Brooklyn managed just a lone sacrifice fly from starter Watty Clark, who was tagged for 12 hits and 7 runs across six innings. The Robins’ offense never found its rhythm, stranding seven runners and committing two costly errors. As the series shifts to Arlington for Game 3, the Rangers now find themselves just two wins away from advancing.

Game 3
At Arlington Stadium
1931 Brooklyn Robins 5
1975 Texas Rangers 3
WP: F. Heimach (1-0) LP: F. Jenkins (0-1)
HR: E. Lombardi (1), T. Grive (1)
POG: Ernie Lombardi (3-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, R)
1975 Rangers Lead Series 2-1

With their backs against the wall, the 1931 Brooklyn Robins delivered in Game 3, securing a 5-3 victory over the 1975 Texas Rangers at Arlington Stadium in this thrilling Field of Dreams series. Catcher Ernie Lombardi was the hero, smashing a solo home run in the second inning and later adding a clutch two-run double in the fourth to fuel Brooklyn's offense. Texas answered with Toby Harrah's RBI single in the fourth and a booming solo homer by Tom Grieve in the sixth, but they struggled to string together hits against Freddie Heimach, who tossed a complete game, scattering nine hits while striking out three. The game was knotted at 3-3 entering the ninth, but Brooklyn broke through with a go-ahead triple from Lefty O'Doul and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch taken by Wally Gilbert to extend their lead. Fergie Jenkins, who went the distance for Texas, took the tough-luck loss, allowing 12 hits and three walks. With the win, the Robins narrow the series deficit to 2-1, setting up a crucial Game 4 in Arlington.

Game 4
At Arlington Stadium
1931 Brooklyn Robins 7
1975 Texas Rangers 6
WP: R. Phelps (1-0) LP: S. Hargen (0-1) S: J. Shaute (1)
HR: B. Herman (1), T. Harrah (1)
POG: Toby Harrah (1-2, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1 SB)
Series Tied 2-2

In a thrilling Game 4 of the Field of Dreams series, the 1931 Brooklyn Robins outslugged the 1975 Texas Rangers 7-6 to even the series at two games apiece. On a crisp October afternoon in Arlington, Brooklyn’s bats came alive with 14 hits, overcoming Texas’ early lead and a fiery performance from Toby Harrah, who homered, walked twice, scored three runs, and drove in two. Harvey Hendrick led the Robins with a three-hit game, including a crucial RBI single in the sixth inning that gave Brooklyn the lead for good. Babe Herman delivered the game’s biggest blast with a two-run homer in the fifth, part of a three-RBI effort. Despite yielding six runs in five innings, Robins starter Ray Phelps earned the win, and Joe Shaute closed the door with four dominant innings of one-hit ball. Texas starter Steve Hargan struggled with Brooklyn’s relentless lineup, allowing 14 hits and all seven runs. The Rangers threatened early with doubles from Mike Hargrove and Tom Grieve, and a Harrah homer tied it in the fifth, but Brooklyn’s depth proved decisive. With the series now deadlocked, Game 5 promises to be a pivotal clash back under the Texas sun.

Game 5
At Arlington Stadium
1931 Brooklyn Robins 3
1975 Texas Rangers 5
WP: B. Hands (2-0) LP: D. Vance (0-2) S: M. Kekich (1)
HR: None
POG: Jim Spencer (4-4, RBI, 2 R)
1975 Rangers Lead Series 3-2

In a critical Game 5 showdown under the soft autumn skies of Arlington Stadium, the 1975 Texas Rangers edged out the 1931 Brooklyn Robins, 5-3, to take a 3-2 lead in the Field of Dreams series. Jim Spencer was the catalyst for Texas, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four singles and two runs scored, earning Player of the Game honors. The Rangers struck early, capitalizing on a three-run second inning capped by a clutch two-run single from Willie Davis. Despite being outhit 13 to 10, Texas’s defense held firm and their bullpen closed the door. Brooklyn's Lefty O'Doul dazzled with a 4-for-4 day at the plate, including a two-run single in the third, but the Robins left eight men on base. Dazzy Vance labored through 7.2 innings for Brooklyn, throwing 145 pitches in a valiant but losing effort. Texas starter Bill Hands bent but didn’t break, scattering 13 hits over 8.2 innings before Mike Kekich slammed the door for the save. With the series now shifting back to Ebbets Field, the Robins will fight to stay alive in Game 6 on Thursday.

Game 6
At Ebbets Field
1975 Texas Rangers 4
1931 Brooklyn Robins 5 (10 inn)
WP: J. Quinn (1-0) LP: S. Thomas (0-1)
HR: J. Sundberg (1), G. Wright (1)
POG: Watty Clark (9 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 127 P)
Series Tied 3-3

With their backs against the wall, the 1931 Brooklyn Robins refused to go quietly, walking off the 1975 Texas Rangers in a dramatic 5-4 victory in 10 innings to knot the Field of Dreams series at three games apiece. In a rollercoaster showdown at Ebbets Field, it was Fresco Thompson who etched his name into Brooklyn lore with a bases-loaded walk against Stan Thomas in the bottom of the 10th, scoring pinch-hitter Al López and sending the Brooklyn faithful into a frenzy. Starter Watty Clark labored through 9 innings, surrendering 4 earned runs on 10 hits but gutted it out long enough to give his team a chance, earning Player of the Game honors for his resilient performance. The Rangers had taken a 4-2 lead in the top of the 9th behind a solo homer from Jim Sundberg, but the Robins answered back immediately with a clutch two-run triple by Jimmy Flowers. Bernie Herman’s leadoff triple in the 10th set the stage for the thrilling finish. Brooklyn outhit Texas 13-11 and left 11 runners on base, but none of that mattered once Thompson’s patient at-bat completed the comeback. With the series now even, Game 7 looms tomorrow, where history will be made under the fall skies in Brooklyn.

Game
At Ebbets Field
1975 Texas Rangers 6
1931 Brooklyn Robins 3
WP: F. Jenkins (1-1) LP: F. Heimach (1-1)
HR: J. Sundberg (2), J. Fredrick (1)
POG: Toby Harrah (3-4, RBI, 2 R, SB)

In a thrilling Game 7 under the crisp October skies of Ebbets Field, the 1975 Texas Rangers completed their improbable rise by defeating the 1931 Brooklyn Robins 6–3 to win the Field of Dreams best-of-seven series, four games to three. It was a tale of timely power and relentless execution for Texas, who broke open a scoreless game with back-to-back three-run innings in the fourth and fifth. The key blow came from catcher Jim Sundberg, who crushed a two-out, three-run homer off Fred Heimach in the fourth, electrifying the Rangers' dugout. Toby Harrah continued his sensational series with three hits, a run scored, an RBI, and a stolen base to earn Player of the Game honors. Ferguson Jenkins went the distance, scattering 11 hits but limiting damage with masterful efficiency, inducing 12 groundouts and 12 flyouts on 125 pitches. The Robins mounted a last gasp in the ninth, with a solo homer from Johnny Frederick and a double from Ernie Lombardi, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. Despite a valiant three-hit effort from Lombardi and two hits each from Lefty O'Doul and Babe Herman, Brooklyn came up short. As the final out settled into the glove of Lenny Randle, Texas players erupted onto the field, celebrating a coronation nearly five decades in the making. The wind carried cheers into the Brooklyn afternoon as the Rangers etched their name into the annals of baseball’s dreamiest diamond.

1975 Texas Rangers Win Series 4 Games To 3

Series MVP:

(.423, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB, .516 OBP, 1.093 OPS)