1975 Junior World Series

The 1975 Junior World Series was the 50th Junior World Series between the champions of the American Association and International League. The Evansville Triplets won the American Association title by beating the Denver Bears in a six-game series, while the Tidewater Tides won the International League's Governors' Cup after also capturing the IL pennant.

Attendance for the five-game JWS was only 10,186. This would be the last postseason series between the two leagues until the 1983 Triple-A World Series.

Evansville had gone 77-59-1 to lead the AA's Eastern Division under manager Fred Hatfield. They outscored opponents 617-545. Their lone All-Star was OF Bob Molinaro, who hit .287/.327/.429 and stole 26 bases in 33 tries.

On the other hand, Tidewater had paced the IL by going 86-55 and outscored opponents 547-425, allowing 71 runs fewer than any other IL club. Managed by Joe Frazier, they had four All-Stars: 1B Brock Pemberton (.297/.360/.357), 3B Roy Staiger (.282/.334/.418, a league-best 81 RBI), OF Mike Vail (.342/.394/.494, the league leader in average and also in triples, 9) and P Craig Swan (13-7, 2 Sv, 2.24). Vail and Swan were unavailable for the Series as they were in the majors by then.

Evansville's Mark Lemongello fanned 8 and allowed only 4 hits in a 4-0 shutout in the Opener. A 2-run triple by Marvin Lane was the big blow.

In the second game, Bill Slayback and Steve Grilli combined to hold Tidewater to 7 hits and a run as Evansville won 6-1.

Game three went to Tidewater as Bill Laxton tossed a two-hit shutout. Mark Fidrych battled Laxton through 5, but in the 6th, Mark DeJohn singled, was bunted over and scored on a hit by Ron Diggle.

In game four, Frank MacCormack shut down Tidewater to one run. Lane homered in the second to put Evansville ahead 1-0. With a 1-1 game in the 6th, Evansville went ahead for good on an infield single by Jerry Manuel, an error by 3B Randy Trapp and a RBI single by Molinaro.

Tidewater looked to rally in game five when they went ahead 5-0 after 4 1/2 thanks in part to four errors by their foes. Evansville rocked the strong Tide staff in the fifth, tying the game, thanks to a 3-run homer by Lane and a 2-run shot by Ed Kurpiel. In the 7th, John Gamble singled home Bruce Kimm with the winning run and Evansville tacked on two more. Meanwhile, Tom Makowski retired 13 in a row to win the game for the Triplets.

Evansville vs. Tidewater Date Away Home September 11 Evansville 4 Tidewater 0 September 13 Evansville 6 Tidewater 1 September 14 Evansville 0 Tidewater 1 September 15 Tidewater 1 Evansville 2 September 16 Tidewater 5 Evansville 8 Evansville wins series 4-1

References

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff, editors. Baseball America, 1993.

1976 Baseball Guide