On Oct. 21, 1976, the Cincinnati Reds became the first National League team in more than 50 years to win back-to-back World Series championships, sweeping the New York Yankees with a 7-2 Game 4 victory before 56,700 baseball fans at Yankee Stadium.

Reds ace Gary Nolan was the winning pitcher, while reliever Will McEnaney got the save. Catcher Johnny Bench hit two home runs.

Six of the Reds starters - plus designated hitter Danny Driessen - batted above .300 in the series. Bench - who led the way with a .533 batting average - was voted Most Valuable Player of the series.

More than 54,800 spectators had packed Riverfront Stadium for Games 1 and 2, which the Reds won 5-1 and 4-3. Cincinnati took Game 3 by a score of 6-2 before more than 56,600 in New York.

Manager Sparky Anderson also led the Big Red Machine over the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 World Series - marking the first back-to-back championships by an NL team since 1921-22.

- Rebecca Goodman

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8361.