1975 Baseball Season

 

Highlights:

Surf City was the class of the league leading in total wins while copping their second 3RBL title.  The Beach Boys finished with 107 wins to lead the Dean Division.  Surf City tied with New York for the most runs scored (4.8) per game and led the league in pitching with a 2.59 ERA, 31 points better than Lansing who finished second.  Surf City has never emphasized defense as they finished with the fourth worst fielding percentage and were fifth in most stolen bases allowed.  However, the one thing they have emphasized is the home run and the led the league with an even 200 for the season, 31 better than West Deer.

​

Andy Messersmith (28-6 1.88) led the staff but Tom Seaver (24-9 2.56)and Doug Rau (22-12 2.38) rounding out the best top three in the league.  Boog Powell (.291-34-111) was the anchor to the offense while Gene Tenace (24 HRs) and Bernie Carbo (21 HRs)  rounding out the heart of the order.

​

Philadelphia claimed the Presley Division crown in a tie breaker decision over Meadville.  The teams both finished with 92 wins but Philadelphia won the season series with Meadville 14-8 to claim the title.  Philadelphia was led by league batting champ Rod Carew (.353-21-101) and slugging outfielders Rusty Staub (.271-23-113) and Willie Horton (.258-21-77).

​

West Deer's Reggie Jackson led the league with 50 homers and 148 RBI and West Deer's Joe Morgan led in stolen bases with 127.  Messersmith was top in wins and strikeouts (224) but Lansing's Jim Hunter led in ERA with a 1.77 mark.

​

Post Season:

Surf City drew a bye in the Classic side of the league and watched as Meadowbrook dispatched New York in five.  The Beach Boys dropped the opener of their series with Meadowbrook but swept the next four to advance to the finals.

​

Philadelphia drew the Wildcard Meadville in the opening round of the Rockabilly and, true to form, defeated the Eagles in six games.  Philly faced Lansing in the second round and rallied from a 3-2 deficit to win the final two games on the road to advance.  The final game ranks among one of the all time 3RBL nail-biters as the game went 14 innings before Philadelphia scored the decisive tally.

​

The final series also went seven games with Surf City rallying from a 3-2 deficit to win the final two games at home for the crown.  The final game was a 4-3 win as Messersmith recorded his fourth win of the post season.