Hal McRae did not mess around on the base paths.

Fantastic body tackle. Would be a 25 game suspension in 2026, but Dick Green took it like a man and barely said a word.

Some folks like to say guys back then couldn’t play now, but are we sure guys now could have played back then?

Dick Green understood that’s how the game was played then. Hal McRae just doing his job to break up a double play.

Dick move.

Hal was a summa cum laude graduate of the Pete Rose School of Baserunning.

Back when there were no fake tough guys, unlike how soft MLB is now, when benches clear and no punches are ever thrown because they may break a nail. It was just part of the game. Greene said "nice slide dude, you got me".

If that happened today he’d be suspended multiple games

Something like this ended Dustin Pedroia's career.

1972 World Series. I was 12 years old and a Reds fan...The A's won and it would be 1990 before the Reds got their revenge!

When it was a man’s game

We need to get back to this version of baseball.

Hal McRae and Bill Madlock gave middle infielder fits.⚾️😱

I love how Dick Green wasn't the least bit upset about being taken out on such a hard slide. They were both so nonchalant about it because that's just how the game was played back then. I realize player safety is important, but I miss how the game was played back then.

Make sure your helmet is on tightly for your next plate appearance.

Appropriate yardage markers in the field

No double play

He was a Kamakaze running the bases.

I miss baseball when it was still baseball!

And by "didn't mess around", you mean "blatantly cheated by the rules of MLB governing player contact in place at the time, both then and now, but back then they were routinely not enforced by the officials"

Yep, you can ask Willie Randolph.

Baseball has changed a lot, but clips like this remind me why I fell in love with the game in the first place. Thanks for the nostalgia.

Today, this kind of play would get you a three game suspension.

@70sBaseball Look up his slide in the 1977 ALCS. He did the same to Willie Randolph. He also had a run with a telephone on his desk when he managed.

McRae was a total Red Ass

Don’t dig in next at bat

No he did not. Fuck the Oakland A's and the other 28 teams not wearing Hal's colors.

McRae was a hard nosed player he sometimes played overaggressively. Today’s game is a little too soft for my taste but intentionally injuring opponents is not okay

They would ban him forever nowadays but damn that’s real good base running

there is breaking up a double play and then there is trying to end careers.

Nigger

That would be a bench clear brawl today with possible lawsuits and suspensions. 70's baseball was fantastic and for real! Miss it big time!!

@70sBaseball