Jack Billingham

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Lore & Background

Billingham's journey to stardom began after he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent on June 12, 1961. After seven years in the minor leagues, he debuted with the Dodgers on April 11, 1968, posting a 3-0 record and a 2.14 ERA before being selected by the Montreal Expos in the expansion draft. His path to Cincinnati started when the Expos traded him to the Houston Astros in January 1969 to complete a deal involving Rusty Staub. In 1971, Billingham was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him from the Astros to the Reds alongside Ed Armbrister, Cesar Geronimo, Denis Menke, and Joe Morgan. This move transformed Cincinnati into the juggernaut known as the Big Red Machine.

In Their Own Story

The turning point for Billingham came during the 1972 World Series against the Oakland A's. In Game 3, he pitched eight shutout innings before being removed in favor of reliever Clay Carroll while facing the first batter of the bottom of the ninth inning. Cincinnati won 1-0, and Billingham earned the victory. His dominance continued into the 1975 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. After starting Game 2 and holding them scoreless for four innings following a first-inning run, he appeared as a relief pitcher in Game 6. The climax arrived in Game 7; with the Reds trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Billingham entered as a reliever. He held the Red Sox scoreless for two crucial innings, allowing Cincinnati to rally from behind and secure a 4-3 victory to clinch the championship. Over seven World Series games, he went 2-0 with a microscopic 0.36 ERA.

Reader's Guide

Billingham's career statistics reflect his consistency as a starter. In 1973, he achieved career-best numbers, going 19-10 with a 3.04 ERA while leading the National League with 40 starts, 293 innings pitched, and seven shutouts, earning him an All-Star berth. He also recorded a memorable moment on April 4, 1974, when he gave up Hank Aaron's 714th career home run, tying Aaron with Babe Ruth for the all-time lead. Throughout his 13-season career, Billingham posted a 145-113 record with 1,141 strikeouts and a 3.83 ERA in 2,231.1 innings. He also recorded 27 shutouts and 74 complete games. In the postseason specifically, he maintained a 1.93 ERA over 42 innings. His legacy was formally recognized when he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1984.

Did You Know?

• Billingham's 0.36 World Series ERA held the record for lowest in history until Madison Bumgarner broke it in 2014.
• He was part of a massive five-player trade from Houston to Cincinnati that included Joe Morgan, helping build the Big Red Machine.
• In Game 7 of the 1975 World Series, he entered as a relief pitcher with his team trailing 3-0 and helped secure the championship victory.
• He gave up Hank Aaron's 714th career home run on April 4, 1974, tying Aaron with Babe Ruth for the all-time record at that time.