Books and articles about Dan Driessen

Overshadowed on the star-studded "Big Red Machine," Driessen gave the Reds valuable versatility for his first four seasons. He hit a career-high .301 in his rookie season and then was Cincinnati's starting third baseman in 1974. Pete Rose moved to third base in 1975, but Driessen replaced Tony Perez at first base from 1977 to 1981, one of the longest tenures at first base in Reds history. The uncle of Gerald Perry, Driessen led NL first basemen in fielding three times. A smart, steady hitter, he led the NL with 93 walks in 1980 and generally walked more than he struck out.

SHOPPING » Look for Dan Driessen books at BN.com » Look for Dan Driessen books at Amazon.com Your purchases keep BaseballLibrary.com online. Thank you!

RELATED LINKS Greatest Teams » 1975 Reds Around the Web » Dan Driessen from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

In 1976, Driessen was the NL's first DH in the World Series. He hit .357, the only good average he had in post-season play. Traded in mid-1981, he wandered the league until his retirement, finishing his career filling in at first base for the 1987 NL champion Cardinals after first Jack Clark and then Cesar Cedeno were injured. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 9, 1973: At Wrigley, the Reds turn a 4–1 deficit into an 8–4 win over the Cubs, by scoring seven runs in the 9th inning. Dan Driessen, in his ML debut, has a double and walk in the 9th. » August 25, 1973: Dan Driessen drives in five runs to pace the Reds to a 6–4 win over the visiting Cardinals. Ken Griffey debuts in the ML with a pair of hits. » May 9, 1976: The Reds score another 14 runs to beat the Cubs, 14–2. Ken Griffey hits a grand slam, one of six homers hit by the Reds. Tony Perez has a pair with George Foster, Dan Driessen, and Pete Rose leaving the park as well. » October 19, 1976: At Yankee Stadium, DH Dan Driessen contributes 2 singles and a HR to Cincinnati's 3rd straight WS triumph. The final score is 6-2. » April 26, 1977: Dan Driessen has two homers and six RBIs to pace the Reds to a 9–1 win over the Braves in Atlanta. » August 27, 1977: Dan Driessen and Johnny Bench hit back-to-back homers in the 9th inning to give the Reds a 5–4 win over the Phils. Tug McGraw serves up both. Driessen's homer is a line drive that hits the CF wall at Riverfront and rebounds back over Jerry Martin's head all the way to the infield for an IPHR. Bench follows with one over the LF wall. » April 6, 1978: In a rain-delayed season opener in Cincinnati, Houston's Terry Puhl leads off with a homer against Tom Seaver, who allows five runs in three innings. But led by Joe Morgan's pair of two-run doubles and a homer, the Reds prevail, 11–9. In the bottom of the 7th, with Morgan on 3B and George Foster on 1B, Dan Driessen strikes out and Foster is caught stealing 2B, Ferguson to Roger Metzger. Morgan tries to score on the play and is thrown out on the return. According to Retrosheet, this is apparently the first triple play begun with a strikeout. In 1982, the Twins will start a triple play with a strikeout. » September 15, 1979: At Los Angeles, the Reds Dan Driessen hits a long drive to CF with two outs in the 9th that bounces off the glove off Derrell Thomas and over the wall for a home run. The Reds win it over the Dodgers, 2–1. » May 27, 1980: In the 3rd inning at Riverfront Stadium, Don Sutton serves up consecutive homers to Ken Griffey, George Foster, and Dan Driessen. The homer outage is good for five runs in the Reds 6–1 win over the Dodgers. » August 20, 1983: Pittsburgh's Jose DeLeon takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning for the 3rd time this season, but Cincinnati's Dan Driessen doubles with two out to spoil the gem. DeLeon finishes with 13 strikeouts in a 4–0 two-hitter. » July 26, 1984: The Expos trade P Andy McGaffigan and minor leaguer Jim Jefferson to the Reds for 1B Dan Driessen.