1974–75 Ashes series, Fourth Test – Sydney, England – Second Innings
At this point Lloyd edged the ball off Thomson (2/74) to Greg Chappell, who took his twelfth catch of the series. Amiss gloved an unplayable, rearing ball from Lillee (2/65) to the predatory Marsh. John Edrich came in and ducked a Lillee bouncer that stayed low and gave him a sickening blow to his ribs. He was helped off the field by the England physiotherapist Bernie Thomas and taken to hospital for an X-ray. Colin Cowdrey steered an awkwardly lifting ball from Walker (2/46) to Ian Chappell and England were 74/3, effectively 74/4.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fourth Test – Sydney, England – Second Innings
Keith Fletcher was joined by Tony Greig who took the score past 100, but the Essex captain, having fended off a sharp bouncer the ball before, played back to a fuller delivery and was caught by Ashley Mallett in the gully. Mallett's hand had recovered enough for him to bowl and he took 2/3 after lunch, Knott caught by Redpath glancing the ball off his legs and Titmus was caught sweeping.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fourth Test – Sydney, England – Second Innings
To everyone's surprise Edrich returned to the wicket at 156/6; he had been told that his ribs were only badly bruised, but he moved with obvious pain (later tests revealed that they were broken). Ian Chappell promptly brought Lillee back into the attack even though he was not fully rested and the fast bowler gave the England captain two overs of short-pitched bowling. At the other end Greig had made a confident 54, but was stumped trying to drive Mallet (4/21). Underwood was caught and bowled by Walker and England went in to tea on 184/8.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fourth Test – Sydney, England – Second Innings
On their return Edrich played a captain's innings against Lillee and Thomson, controlling the strike and bringing up the 200. Lillee ironically bowled Willis with a yorker just after being warned for the third or fourth time about his short-pitched bowling to the tailender. By this time England were 211/9, but only needed to survive 10 overs for a draw. Arnold held out for 35 minutes and made 14 when he misread Mallet's spin and edged him to Greg Chappell. Edrich had batted for 155 minutes for his 33 not out, but it was not enough. England were dismissed for 228 and lost the Test by 171 runs and with it the Ashes. The crowd flooded the field as the players walked off and Australia started their celebrations.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fourth Test – Sydney, Result
I suspected that even the Australian administrators were praying for rain and the delaying of the final outcome of a series that was proving a financial bonanza. A draw in Sydney would do wonders for the Adelaide gate and takings; whereas an Australian win and the resolution of the rubber might cause a loss of interest in the remaining Tests.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fourth Test – Sydney, Result
Australia won by 171 runs to win the series 3–0 with two Tests to play. They recovered the Ashes having lost them four years before on the same ground in the 1970–71 Ashes series and Greg Chappell equalled Bobby Simpson's record of 13 catches by a fielder in a Test series.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Preliminaries
A fresh pocket of black clay soil was discovered in the preceding winter and the whole Adelaide wicket area had been re-laid. A dispute between the cricket authorities and the local football players also meant that little of the Australian game was played on its undisturbed surface during the winter of 1974. The question about the Adelaide surface for the Fifth Test was whether it would be a pitch in the old tradition of batting excellence or a wicket whose unsettled nature would lead to bowling supremacy throughout the game.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Preliminaries
England had a good time between the Fourth and Fifth Tests. Mike Denness returned to form with 157 not in their innings victory over Tasmania and 99 in a 187 run win over New South Wales. Dennis Amiss made 52 and 124 in the Sydney game and Chris Old took 7/59. Denness therefore returned to the team as England captain, replacing the injured vice-captain John Edrich who was still recovering from his damaged ribs, which had in fact been broken, not just bruised as previously thought. Australia dropped the batsman Ross Edwards in favour of the local leg-spinner Terry Jenner.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Preliminaries
There was a storm the night before the first day, which ripped the covers off the field and flooded the ground. The nightwatchman had not called the curator, so the damage could not be repaired in time for the first day's play, which had to be abandoned. The ex-Australian umpire Col Egar thought that play might not even start on the second day. What made it more distressing was that a record crowd appeared despite the series having already been won, but had to be turned away.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Preliminaries
Jim Laker and Ken Barrington were part of the crowd, escorting travel groups of British cricket fans. As it was there was a steady wind which helped dry out the ground overnight, except at the River Torrens end, but the famously long boundary was pulled in with ropes marking a now egg shaped Adelaide Oval. Denness called heads and for the first time England won the toss. With the pitch still worse for wear he chose to field, the third time the winning captain had taken this unusual course in the series.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – First Innings
Doug Walters is not a creature of habit nor indeed the perfect cricket technician. He is a batsman who depends on his natural aggressive flair and his superb eye... While Jenner top-scored in Australia's first innings it was Walters who not only bore the brunt of the worst of the wicket but also scored freely in spite of the pitch.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – First Innings
Ian Redpath (21) and Rick McCosker (35) upset the England plans by adding 52 in 83 minutes for the first wicket. Geoff Arnold made the ball cut and lift immediately, but Bob Willis struggled and after six overs Derek Underwood replaced Arnold, who changed ends so as to have the advantage of the wind behind him. "Deadly Derek" (7/113) was called an umbrella bowler – there in case of a rain-affected wicket – and he was able to make the ball leap and turn from his first over.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – First Innings
The openers managed to survive, and by surviving most of the first session they ensured that the Australian middle order would be able to play on a less lethal wicket. Denness failed to bring on Fred Titmus at the other end until the last over before lunch in conditions tailor-made for spin bowling, a decision for which he was greatly criticised though E.W. Swanton thought the damps patches were not on Titmus's length. As it was Underwood had to do all the work, bowling 29 overs compared to 31 by the other five bowlers.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – First Innings
He achieved the breakthrough when McCosker clipped a ball to Cowdrey in the slips, then both Chappell brothers, Ian was surprised by a leaping ball and skyed it to Knott, while Greg was lbw to a ball that turned from leg to middle stump while he tried to run a leg-bye. With the last ball before lunch Redpath edged the ball the Greig at silly-point and Australia were 77/4. After lunch Marsh tried to hit Underwood out of the attack, but was taken by Greig at mid-wicket at 84/5 with the Kent bowler having taken all the wickets 5/35.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – First Innings
The South Australian sun was now drying out the wicket, which reverted to its normal, placid self in the afternoon. The brilliant Doug Walters hit 55 off 66 balls with 7 fours and a six, adding 80 with Terry Jenner who made his only Test fifty on his home ground. Titmus replaced Underwood just as the pitch was losing its turn and Walters was getting into his stride. The Australian batsmen took 24 runs off two overs and Walters's six was caught one handed in the member's stand.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – First Innings
The tired Underwood was brought back as his left arm spin could not be hit so easily and Walters spooned a catch to a surprised Willis at mid-off. The tall Max Walker had yet to fail in the series and hit 41, adding 77 with Jenner until the latter became Underwood's seventh successive wicket when he misjudged the flight and hit over a ball. Walker hit what looked like an easy two only to end up at the same end as Lillee while Denness threw down the stumps after a fine pick up.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – First Innings
Lillee walked to keep Walker in until Amiss insisted that Walker was the man to go and the umpire agreed. Lillee (26) added 36 with Mallett (23 not out) and hooked Willis for four until the new ball was taken. Willis then spread Lillee's stumps and Arnold those of Thomson and Australia were out for 304, the mystery being why they had not been out in the morning such a poor wicket.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – First Innings
The South Australia Test always coincides with the Australia day week-end. Without fail the South Australian Cricket Association celebrates 27 January with a stirring flag-raising ceremony before the start of play. The flag-pole before the member's enclosure is erected and both teams, together with the officials and umpires, troop out to form a guard of honour on each flank of the President of the Cricket Association as he raises the flag. To a man, and woman, the crowd rise to their feet to sing the national song...the men placing their hats and hands over their hearts. Equally there was no doubting the sincere determination of the Australian team as they took the field with their caps set in a resolute angle over their eyes.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – First Innings
Amiss and Lloyd lasted the few balls left on the first day and a couple of byes gave the 2/0. On the third day Lillee for once looked better than Thomson, who was working hard digging the ball into the soft pitch. Throughout the series Lillee had peppered batsmen with bouncers, but on this occasion he had Amiss caught by Ian Chappell off the third ball of the day, bowled at medium-fast pace and well up.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – First Innings
Encouraged by this the Western Australian bowled with much greater skill and even when he crowded Cowdrey with off and leg side slips in Bodyline fashion he kept the ball up and was rewarded with 4/49, his best figures of the series. Lloyd was playing so far back that he was in danger of stepping on his stumps, but ended when he glanced Lillee straight behind to Marsh with England 19/2. The River Torrens Stand a banner "Denness' Last Stand" and a trumpeter in the crowd played the Last Post when the England captain came to the wicket.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – First Innings
Buoyed by his recent innings against Tasmania and NSW he struck 51 off 66 balls with 7 fours, using the square cut with effect. At noon the concentration of the batsmen was disturbed by the 21 gun salute from the barracks behind the Victor Richardson Stand, which held up play for five minutes. When play resumed Cowdrey was dismissed off a Thomson bouncer that swung in and flew off his bat high above Walker's head, only for the 6'4" Victorian to leap up Aussie Rules style to take an 'impossible' catch.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – First Innings
Thomson (3/58) also accounted for Denness a few minutes before lunch when an attempted cut went to Marsh, having made most of England's 90/4. Thus the Queenslander set a new Australian record for the most wickets in a series by a fast bowler, beating Lillee's 31 in the 1972 Ashes series. Terry Jenner's leg-spin was brought in after lunch, but Keith Fletcher hit him for 12 runs off one over and he was replaced by Ashley Mallett's off-spin.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – First Innings
At the other end Tony Greig became Lillee's third victim when he slashed a ball behind for Marsh's third catch of the day at 130/5. The last five wickets fell in a daze as first Fletcher tried to cut Thomson two feet off the off-stump and was caught by Ian Chappell and Knott, Titmus and Underwood gave Mallett figures of 3/14 by trying to sweep him out of the ground, giving two catches to Lillee in the deep and Greg Chappell a record 14 catches by a fielder in a Test series.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – First Innings
Lillee bowled Arnold for a duck and England few from 155/5 to 172 all out, a deficit of 132 runs. It was a poor performance, the tourists were dismissed on a flat wicket inside two sessions and threw away the rain-given chance of winning a Test that was handed to them with the toss of a coin on the second day.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – Second Innings
As in the First and Fourth Tests Australia were left to improve a large first innings lead and set England a target with a declaration. Rick McCosker was caught by wicketkeeper off Arnold on 16/1, but there were few other problems for the home side who ended the day on 111/2. England could have taken more wickets as Fletcher and Cowdrey both dropped Ian Chappell, who hit Underwood for six, then made an indecisive drive-sweep that skied the ball to Knott for 41.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – Second Innings
In the intervening rest day the players were invited to the Barossa Valley vineyard of 'Windy' Hill-Smith, where Jeff Thomson sprained his shoulder playing tennis. The following day he found that he could not raise his bowling arm and that he was out of cricket for the rest of the series, having taken a remarkable 33 wickets (17.93) in four and a half Tests. To balance the books Bob Willis was also out for the rest of the series with his recurring knee cap injury.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Australia – Second Innings
Redpath and Greg Chappell lasted the day, but were both out in the morning to Underwood (4/102) to leave Australia 133/4 as only 24 runs were scored in the first 12 overs of the day. Doug Walters (71 not out) and Rod Marsh (55) were more aggressive and took 10 runs off one Underwood over. Marsh swept the spinner, once for six, twice to see Knott spill a running catch and third to be caught by Greig. Chappell waited for a few more overs before declaring at 272/5, 404 runs ahead with 500 minutes of play left, very similar to the situation at Sydney.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – Second Innings
The excitement and interest of the dying game now centred around the batting performance of Alan Knott. His last day survival was more than just occupation of the crease. Beginning the day without a run to his name, he consistently thumbed his nose at the Australian attack for over three hours, playing shots even though he knew that his ship was sinking under his very feet. It was a magnificent solo effort of defiance.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – Second Innings
There were hopes that England could make the 405 runs for victory on the now flat pitch, but these were soon dispelled when Amiss, Lloyd and Cowdrey were out with 10 runs on the board and Lillee 2/0. Lillee (4/69) and Walker (3/83) were able to swing the ball and Amiss picked up his second pair against Australia, having done this before at Old Trafford in 1968. Cowdrey was taken by a low left-handed catch by Mallett in the gully "that those who were not present would not believe".


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – Second Innings
Ian Chappell decided to feed Denness's favourite cut and stationed Jenner at fly-slip while Lillee bowled outside off-stump, the captain duly cut and was out for 14. The lanky Greig played over a low ball from Walker and by the end of the day England were 94/5, thanks mainly to Fletcher's 39. The following day Fletcher and Knott took 15 runs off Lillee's first over and their fifty partnership came up in 51 minutes against the spin of Jenner and Mallett.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – Second Innings
Lillee had Fletcher lbw on his return when a yorker hit the Essex-man's toe and he was reluctantly out for 63 at 144/6. Knott made his fourth fifty of the series and he and Titmus made 50 runs in even time. Jenner went round the wicket and bowled googlies at Titmus as if he were an off-spinner and rapped him on the pads three times in a row without playing a stroke, the third producing a lbw decision from the umpire.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, England – Second Innings
Mallett bowled a spell of 2/1 off 8 overs; Underwood caught at grass level by Ian Chappell and Arnold bowled, both making pairs like Amiss. This left England 217/9 and Knott quickly cut his way to a century, the first by an England keeper against Australia since Les Ames at Lords in 1934, Ames being at Adelaide to congratulate his fellow Man of Kent. He made an unbeaten 106 when Willis was out and England were dismissed for 241.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Result
There was no doubt in my mind that Adelaide represent the very nadir of the Australian tour... The reasons behind the ease of their successful loss were fourfold: unenterprising captaincy, bad England batting, a good Lillee bowling performance and a lack of penetration in the depleted touring attack.


1974–75 Ashes series, Fifth Test – Adelaide, Result
Australia beat England by 163 runs to take a 4–0 lead in the series. Greg Chappell had taken a then record 14 catches in a Test series and Jeff Thomson 33 wickets (17.93), a record for an Australian fast bowler.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Preliminaries
The North Melbourne Cricket Club, inspired by their president, the former Test 'keeper, Len Maddocks, launched the first morning of the game with a champagne breakfast in the sumptuous ballroom of the Melbourne Hilton Hotel. The five hundred breakfasters were a motley crew. They included state and federal parliamentarians such as Dick Hamer and Bill Snedden, trade union leaders of the calibre of Bob Hawke, former players like Neil Harvey, Bob Cowper, Richie Benaud and Sam Loxton and members of the cricket and business communities. The proceedings were compeered in humorous vein by football commentator Lou Richards and the programme was televised live in colour with the proceeds going to charity. Tony Greig and Dennis Lillee each received awards as the main personalities of the series...


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Preliminaries
Injuries affected the selection of the two sides for the final Test. Mike Hendrick was still suffering from his hamstring, Bob Willis from his troubled knees, so Peter Lever was brought in for Willis and Chris Old's good form was finally rewarded with a Test place instead of the veteran Fred Titmus. David Lloyd had an old football injury to his neck flare up and Colin Cowdrey took his place as makeshift opener. John Edrich had now recovered from his broken ribs and was recalled to the team in place rather than the out of form Brian Luckhurst.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Preliminaries
Jeff Thomson was out with his tennis shoulder and Australia brought in Geoff Dymock, a fast-medium left-arm bowler who had taken a wicket with his second ball the previous year at Adelaide. After top-scoring at Sydney the leg-spinner Terry Jenner was dropped for the return of batsman Ross Edwards. Despite the hot weather a thunderstorm wetted the covers before the match and the groundsmen spilled water on the wicket when removing them in the morning, which would drastically affect play. Ian Chappell won the toss for the fifth time in the series and chose to bat, probably as he underestimated the amount of water on the wicket which was otherwise excellent for batting.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – First Innings
Walker stole a single to mid-off and with his eye fixed exclusively on the swooping fieldsman, Denness, hurtled blindly towards the bowler's wicket. Umpire Brooks, too, was concentrating on the ball and fieldsman whilst moving towards the off side and was skittled by the batsman who flung himself in the direction of safety with little or no consideration for the safety of others. Walker beat Denness's return to the wicket, but at the cost of a collision between the immovable mass and the irresistible force. Umpire Brooks, having been a first class bowler in his day was a man of some substance, and pound for pound was a good match for the burly Walker. Umpire and bowler toppled slowly to the ground and...resumed their upright position slowly...


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – First Innings
Ian Redpath and Rick McCosker came out to open for Australia on another wet wicket, but this time failed to make the stand that saved Australia at Adelaide. They were not even able to claim that their wickets fell because of the damp patch on a fast bowler's length. Lever had increased his pace with age and was thought to be fast than Willis, but had dropped the ball short at Brisbane for figures of 0/111.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – First Innings
Back in the England team he pitched the ball up and moved it in the heavy atmosphere to have both men caught by Greig at second slip. The English fielding perked up, Mike Denness set aggressive fields and it took 25 minutes for Australia to score their first run.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – First Innings
In the Melbourne heat Geoff Arnold was replaced by Old after four overs, but Lever stayed on for seven overs and was rewarded with figures of 4/13 as Greg Chappell was caught in the covers by Denness, Ross Edwards was taken by Dennis Amiss at leg-slip for 0 and Australia were 23/4. The ball was now leaping dangerously, Ian Chappell had to fend a ball off his head and Greg had been hit on the chin. The captain decided that attack was the best form of defence and made 43 of his team's 66/5


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – First Innings
by lunch, with Doug Walters popping the ball off Old to Edrich in gully with a frightful stroke. The exhausted Lever only managed two overs after lunch and Chappell and Rod Marsh hit 54 runs for the sixth wicket. Chris Old (3/50) had Chappell (65) caught behind after making a too fine a glance and bowled Marsh (29) for 115/7. Max Walker and Lillee hit out a few more runs, even turning down bad light so that they could continue play and get England in.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – First Innings
The burly Tasmanian ran straight into Umpire Brooks trying to avoid a run out they were both sent to the ground. Lever returned to remove Lillee and Mallett and Greig ended the innings by having Dymock out for a duck, with Walker 20 not out. Lever's 6/38 was his best bowling in Tests and Australia were out four minutes before tea for 152, easily their lowest score of the series.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, England – First Innings
Denness's 188 beat by 15 runs the next best score by an England captain in Australia. A.E. Stoddart's great innings on this ground just eighty years before. It was also the highest Test score made by an English batsmen in Australia since the war – a fact which escaped general notice at the time.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, England – First Innings
The gloom increased during tea and play was delayed regardless of the vocal protests of the 32,000 strong crowd, with some being arrested as they tried to invade the ground. When play resumed Amiss and Cowdrey – his 114th and final Test – came out to open. They stayed out long enough for Amiss to be out lbw to a Lillee swinger for his third successive duck and stumps were drawn at 15/1.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, England – First Innings
In the morning Walker had Cowdrey caught behind off a ball that bounced surprisingly, but Lillee pulled up with a trapped nerve in his foot and was unable to play for the rest of the Test. With their two strike bowlers removed and the damp spot drying out Australia struggled and Denness and Edrich took full advantage, taking the score from 18/2 to 167/3 with a third wicket stand of 149 and overtaking the home side's total with ease.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, England – First Innings
There were some difficult chances off the England captain, but it was the otherwise impeccable Edrich who was out for 70 edging Walker to Ian Chappell at first slip. The vice-captain was replaced by Keith Fletcher who had suffered so much in the series with Denness, but now proved that they were attractive batsmen when not faced by blistering pace and England were 273/3 by the end of the day. Walker bowled manfully and Mallett tried to stop the flow of runs, but when Walters and Chappell were brought on for long spells the game was up.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, England – First Innings
Denness was almost run out on 94 and bought up his hundred with a leg-glance that just missed Marsh's gloves, but rode his luck well. He was only the fourth England captain to make a Test hundred in Australia after Andrew Stoddart's 173 in 1894–95, Archie MacLaren's 116 in 1901–02 and Peter May's 113 in 1958–59. When Walker finally had him out caught and bowled the next day he had made 188 in 492 minutes with 17 fours, still the highest Test century by an England captain in Australia.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, England – First Innings
Denness and Fletcher had added 192 for the fourth wicket took take the score to 359/4, the first time England had passed 300 in the series. Fletcher made his first Ashes century in 333 minutes with only seven fours, though he and Greig added 100 runs in 71 minutes as the big South African started thumping the tired bowlers around the deserted ground. By tea the third new ball had been seen off and England were 496/4, a lead of 344.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, England – First Innings
Discussion of when Denness would declare were rendered null and void when the bullish Walker ran through the England batting as the tourists lost 6 wickets for 33 runs after tea. The tall Tasmanian had already taken 3/131, but produced a spell of 5/12 as Greig was caught off a mistimed drive for 89 off 94 balls, followed later in the over by Fletcher for 146. Old was bowled by a shooter from Dymock, who bowled just as long and as well, but with no luck. Alan Knott and Geoff Arnold were caught behind glancing the ball and Underwood was bowled to dismiss England for 529, only their second score over 500 in Australia since Bodyline in 1932–33. Walker returned to the pavilion with figures of 8/143 off 42.2 overs, his best analysis in Tests.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – Second Innings
Every Greg Chappell score is compiled with the maximum of timing, a straight elegance of backlift and an unassuming mastery of the bowlers. it makes the observer wonder whether the bowlers pose any problems of flight, spin and swerve to the younger Chappell. Throughout the series it was maintained that Chappell was never fully fit because of a tonsil infection. if that were the case one can only feel sorry for the bowlers when he returns to full health.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – Second Innings
With Australia needing 377 runs to avoid an innings defeat Denness could afford to set an aggressive field, but to no avail as Redpath and McCosker made 32/0 when bad light stopped play. Peter Lever had caught a fever on the rest day and retired after three overs, to be replaced by Old and Greig. Though much of the pitch was flat the area around the damp patch of the first day was pock-marked and made the odd ball fly up and hit the hands of the batsmen, who were surrounded by slips, gullies and short-legs.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – Second Innings
McCosker took to hooking the ball over their heads and outscored Redpath so that when he edged Arnold (3/83) to Cowdrey for his 120th and last Test catch he mad made 76 of their 111 in 108 minutes. Redpath (83) added another century stand with Ian Chappell (50) until the captain glanced another catch to Knott off Grieg (4/88), but was unsatisfied with the decision and stayed to argue with the bowler and losing his temper in the process before leaving at 215/2.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – Second Innings
Greig caught Redpath at close short-leg, but the England appeals were turned down and in his next over the South African saw 12 runs scored while Greg Chappell gave three half-chances. After 335 minutes Redpath was out for 83, hitting the ball to Amiss at short-leg, who took a 'golden catch'. Soon after Ross Edwards appeared to be lbw, but much to the surprise of the commentary box was given not out, having caught a tiny edge as he moved across the ball.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – Second Innings
Denness delayed the taking of the new ball as he hoped to use it in the morning when Lever was better, but was forced to take it in the evening to no avail as Australia reach 273/3 with the local press proclaimed "WE SAVED IT". Lever was back on the field, but it was Arnold who made the breakthrough, feeding Edwards his favourite leg-glance until he edged it behind his to Knott. The Surrey bowler then made the ball cut from leg to hit Walter's off stump.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Australia – Second Innings
When Denness caught Marsh off a Lever out-swinger Australia were 306/6 and struggling, but Chappell made his seventh half-century of the series and with Walker took Australia to 360/6 by lunch. After the break the tail collapsed, Walker got above himself and drove the ball into the hands of the bowler Greig, Lever moved the ball back nine inches to bowl Chappell (102) just after he reach his second century of the series and Mallett, Dymock and the injured Lillee failed to make any runs and Australia were suddenly out for 373 with three hours to spare.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Result
My last sight of Melbourne Cricket Ground was an impromptu little gathering on the outfield in front of the banner reading 'M.C.G. Fans Thank Colin – Six Tours.' The central figure, wearing a large straw sun-hat, was signing endless autographs, posing for photographs and exchanging friendly talk with young and old in the way that has made him as popular a cricketer as has ever visited Australia.


1974–75 Ashes series, Sixth Test – Melbourne, Result
England beat Australia by an innings and 4 runs, but still lost the series 4–1 and with it the Ashes. It was the first time that Australia had beaten England since the 1964 Ashes series and the first at home since 1958–59. Mike Denness's 188 was the highest Test century by an England captain in Australia and, until Alastair Cook made 235 not out in 2010–11, the highest century by an England batsman in Australia since Wally Hammond's 231 not out in 1936–37. Alan Knott took six catches in the match and made his 200th dismissal in Tests, only the second wicketkeeper to achieve this feat after Godfrey Evans (219).


1974–75 Aston Villa F.C. season
The 1974–75 English football season was Aston Villa's 75th season in the Football League, this season playing in the Football League Second Division. Villa qualified for Europe for the first time by winning the League Cup.


1974–75 Aston Villa F.C. season
Ron Saunders was appointed manager in June 1974, replacing Vic Crowe who had been sacked in April. Saunders guided Aston Villa to League Cup success against Norwich in the only final of the competition between two Second Division teams. Both clubs were also promoted to the First Division.


1974–75 Athenian League
The 1974–75 Athenian League season was the 52nd in the history of Athenian League. The league consisted of 33 teams.


1974–75 Athenian League, Division One
The division featured three new teams, promoted from last season's Division Two:


1974–75 Atlanta Flames season
The 1974–75 Atlanta Flames season was the third season for the franchise.


1974–75 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1974–75 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Skaters
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. ‡Traded mid-season


1974–75 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


1974–75 Atlanta Flames season, Transactions
The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season.


1974–75 Atlanta Hawks season
The 1974–75 NBA season was the Hawks' 26th season in the NBA and seventh season in Atlanta.


1974–75 Atlanta Hawks season
An unusually high total of eight Hawk players averaged double figures in points per game for the season, though Lou Hudson only played in eleven games.


1974–75 Australian Film Institute Awards
The 17th Australian Film Awards ceremony, presented by the Australian Film Institute (AFI) honoured the best Australian films of 1974 and 1975 and took place on 23 March 1975, at the Sydney Opera House, in Sydney, New South Wales. Actress Glenda Jackson hosted the ceremony.


1974–75 Australian Film Institute Awards, Winners
In the competition the Australian Film Institute (AFI) presented awards across nine categories. The winners of the Golden Reel prize included feature film Sunday Too Far Away (which is considered the winner of the Best Film category), tele-movie Billy and Percy, and documentary Mr. Symbol Man; feature films Petersen and The True Story of Eskimo Nell and documentaries A Steam Train Passes and Stirring won the Silver prize; and the film Between Wars won the Bronze prize.


1974–75 Australian Film Institute Awards, Winners
Awards were also handed out in feature film categories for Best Actor, which went to Jack Thompson for Sunday Too Far Away and Petersen and Martin Vaughan for Billy and Percy; Julie Dawson for Best Actress, for Who Killed Jenny Langby? ; Barry Humphries and Reg Lye for Best Supporting Actor, for The Great Macarthy and Sunday Too Far Away respectively; and John Power for Best Direction, for Billy and Percy. Winners of the gold prize. Winners of the silver prize. Winners of the bronze prize.


1974–75 Australian bushfire season
The 1974–75 Australian bushfire season is a series of bushfires, also known around the world as wildfires, that burned across Australia. Fires that summer burned up an estimated 117 million hectares (290 million acres; 1,170,000 square kilometres; 450,000 square miles). Approximately 15% of Australia's land mass suffered "extensive fire damage" including parts of New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Statistics
The fires killed six people, approximately 57,000 farm animals, farmers' crops, and destroyed nearly 10,200 kilometres (6,300 mi) of fencing.


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics attributed the extent of the fires to "exceptionally heavy rainfall in the previous two years".


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Statistics
Stephen J. Pyne qualified the fire season as the most destructive event in terms of hectares burned among historical fires in Australia, but added that “the 1974/75 fires had almost no impact and much of the damage was found by satellite after the fact.”  In 2011, retired Australian government scientist David Packham warned that "we are in for one big season" that could repeat the 1974 summer fires.


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Areas impacted
Australia, being a federation of States and territories, breaks up the 1974-1975 fires by state or region:


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Areas impacted
Six people killed. Area burned: 3.5 million hectares (8.6 million acres). 50,000 livestock lost, 10,170 kilometres (6,320 mi) of fencing destroyed. Bourke to Balranald, Cobar Shire, Moolah–Corinya—most of the Western Division. Lost crops, and widespread damage to infrastructure, including communications, roads and railways.


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Areas impacted
The Moolah-Corinya fire was "the largest fire ever contained by man in New South Wales without the help of the weather." It burned 1.166 million hectares (2.88 million acres) and its perimeter was over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi).


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Areas impacted
Area burned: 45 million hectares (110 million acres). The fire reached Barkly Tableland, Victoria River district, near Newcastle Waters.


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Areas impacted
The bushfire season was defined as October 1974 to February 1975. Area burned: 7.3 million hectares (18 million acres). 95 cattle, 6,850 sheep lost. Areas damaged: Thargomindah, Bulloo Shire, Boulia Urandangie, McKinlay Shire.


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Areas impacted
Area burned: 15 million hectares (37 million acres). The areas affected were the north-west of the state (arid and semi-arid zones), and the Adelaide Hills.


1974–75 Australian bushfire season, Areas impacted
Area burned: 29 million hectares (72 million acres) of fires, damaging east and north-east of Kalgoorlie.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season
The 1974–75 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Marcia
The first named storm of the season developed as a small depression out over the open waters of the southern Indian Ocean. Over the following three days, the system gradually developed into a tropical cyclone as it tracked towards the southeast. On 18 October, a ship named Alkuwait encountered the storm and reported winds near hurricane-force; however, the satellite presentation of the system was not supportive of these winds. Later named Marcia, the storm is estimated to have attained peak winds around 85 km/h (50 mph) on 20 October.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Marcia
Around this time Marcia also attained a barometric pressure of 989 mbar (hPa; 29.2 inHg). The following day, as the storm was situated 320 km (200 mi) west-southwest of the Cocos Islands, the outer bands of Marcia brought unsettled weather to the islands. On 22 October, the storm slowed and began tracking towards the west. A weakened system, the remnants of Marcia crossed 90°E into the South-West Indian Ocean basin.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Norah
Cyclone Norah existed over the eastern Indian Ocean from October 28 to November 4.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Penny
Cyclone Penny also existed over the eastern Indian Ocean from November 6 to November 16.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Selma
Cyclone Selma was predicted to impact Darwin, but instead, the system turned westward out to sea and eventually dissipated over open water.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974. It is the most compact cyclone or equivalent-strength hurricane on record in the Australian basin, with gale-force winds extending only 48 kilometres (30 mi) from the centre and was the most compact system worldwide until Tropical Storm Marco of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season broke the record, with gale-force winds extending only 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the centre. After forming over the Arafura Sea, the storm moved southwards and affected the city with Category 4 winds on the Australian cyclone intensity scale, while there is evidence to suggest that it had reached Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale when it made landfall.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy
Tracy killed 71 people, caused A$837 million in damage (1974 dollars) and destroyed more than 70 percent of Darwin's buildings, including 80 percent of houses. Tracy left more than 41,000 out of the 47,000 inhabitants of the city homeless prior to landfall and required the evacuation of over 30,000 people. Most of Darwin's population was evacuated to Adelaide, Whyalla, Alice Springs and Sydney, and many never returned to the city. After the storm passed, the city was rebuilt using more modern materials and updated building techniques. Bruce Stannard of The Age stated that Cyclone Tracy was a "disaster of the first magnitude ... without parallel in Australia's history."


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Flora
Tropical Cyclone Flora existed from January 12 to January 22.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Robyn-Deborah
Severe Tropical Cyclone Robyn-Deborah existed from January 14 to January 28.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Gloria
Tropical Cyclone Gloria existed from January 14 to January 23.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Shirley
Tropical Cyclone Shirley existed from February 3 to February 12.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Trixie
Wind gusts of 259 kilometres per hour (161 mph) at Mardie and 246 kilometres per hour (153 mph) at Onslow were measured during cyclone Trixie on 19 February 1975. The Onslow anemometer was destroyed after measuring its maximum gust during this storm. The gust at Mardie is the second-highest recorded on the Australian mainland, although the figure given was the limit of the anemometer, so the actual gusts may have been higher.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Wilma
Tropical Cyclone Wilma existed from March 10 to March 14.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Vida
On 20 March 1975 winds were recorded to 128 km/h at Fremantle, Western Australia and 109 km/h in neighbouring Perth. There was some damage including St George's Cathedral and Perry Lakes Stadium. At Rockingham a 7m-yacht sank, a 6m cabin cruiser was destroyed and many other craft were damaged. Near Perth, the remnants of Vida produced strong winds, recorded up to 126 km/h (78 mph), damaged several structures. Some homes lost their roofs and a few buildings had their walls collapse. Offshore, several vessels were damaged by rough seas. Relatively little rain was associated with the storm as only 17 mm (0.67 in) was measured in Cape Leeuwin. Overall losses from the storm reached A$1 million ($700,000 USD).


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Beverley
Tropical cyclone Beverley affected Exmouth, Western Australia and the west coast in March 1975.


1974–75 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Other systems
During 19 November, a tropical disturbance was first noted, while it was located within the Australian region about 500 km (310 mi) to the north of Brisbane, Australia. Over the next couple of days, the system moved north-westwards into the South Pacific basin towards New Caledonia, before it recurved south-eastwards and was last noted during 25 November after it had moved back into the Australian region.


1974–75 Austrian Football Bundesliga
1974–75 Austrian Football Bundesliga is the 1st season of the Bundesliga. It was contested by 10 teams, and Wacker Innsbruck won the championship.


1974–75 Austrian Hockey League season
The 1974–75 Austrian Hockey League season was the 45th season of the Austrian Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Austria. Eight teams participated in the league, and ATSE Graz won the championship.


1974–75 Bahraini Premier League
The Bahraini Premier League is an association football league in Bahrain.


1974–75 Bahraini Premier League
The basketball league of the same name had its first season in 1974-1975.


1974–75 Belgian First Division, Overview
It was contested by 20 teams, and R.W.D. Molenbeek won the championship. At the end of the season the division was reduced in size from 20 to 19 clubs, so three clubs were relegated with two clubs promoted from Division II to replace them.


1974–75 Birmingham City F.C. season
The 1974–75 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 72nd in the Football League and their 41st in the First Division. They finished in 17th position in the 22-team division, four points above the relegation positions. They entered the 1974–75 FA Cup at the third round proper and lost to Fulham in the last minute of the semi-final replay, lost to Crewe Alexandra in their opening match of the League Cup in the second round, and reached the semi-final of the Texaco Cup.


1974–75 Birmingham City F.C. season
Twenty-eight players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were thirteen different goalscorers. Goalkeeper Dave Latchford and forward Bob Hatton played in 53 of the 56 first-team matches over the season, and the leading goalscorer was Hatton with 18 goals, of which 14 came in league competition.


1974–75 Birmingham City F.C. season, FA Cup
For the third time in seven seasons, Birmingham reached the semi-final of the FA Cup. This time, they drew with Fulham at Hillsborough so the tie went to a replay, played at Maine Road, Manchester. Goalless through normal time and all but a few seconds of extra time – an announcement had already been made that the second replay would be at Highbury the following Monday – a long ball towards Birmingham's penalty area was struck by John Mitchell straight into goalkeeper Dave Latchford's face. The ball rebounded onto Mitchell's chest and back towards the goal to bobble over the line.


1974–75 Blackpool F.C. season
The 1974–75 season was Blackpool F.C. 's 67th season (64th consecutive) in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing seventh.


1974–75 Blackpool F.C. season
Mickey Walsh was the club's top scorer, with thirteen goals (twelve in the league and one in the League Cup).


1974–75 Blackpool F.C. season
Glyn James retired at the end of the season after fifteen years of service for Blackpool, his only professional club.


1974–75 Blackpool F.C. season
On 24 August, 18-year-old Blackpool fan Kevin Olsson was fatally stabbed in the Bloomfield Road stands during the Blackpool v. Bolton Wanderers League match. No arrest was ever made for the murder. 25 years later, a plaque commemorating Olsson was installed on the exterior wall of Bloomfield Road's North-West Stand.


1974–75 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
The 1974–75 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team represented Boise State University during the 1974–75 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Broncos were led by head coach Bus Connor, in his second full season, and played their home games on campus at Bronco Gymnasium in Boise, Idaho.


1974–75 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
They finished the regular season at 13–13 overall, with a 7–7 record in the Big Sky Conference, tied for third in the standings. League champion Montana nearly knocked off eventual national champion UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.


1974–75 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
Junior center Pat Hoke was named to the all-conference team; junior guard Terry Miller and freshman guard Steve Connor were honorable mention.


1974–75 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
There was no conference tournament yet; it debuted the following year, and Boise State won it.


1974–75 Borussia Mönchengladbach season
The 1974–75 Borussia Mönchengladbach season was the 75th season in club history. The club won a double of the Bundesliga and UEFA Cup.


1974–75 Borussia Mönchengladbach season, Review and events
Borussia Mönchengladbach won the double. The club faced 1. FC Köln 5 times during the season which includes two Bundesliga matches, two UEFA Cup matches and one DFB-Pokal match. The club won three, drew twice and lost once against 1. FC Köln.


1974–75 Boston Bruins season
The 1974–75 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 51st season in the NHL.


1974–75 Boston Bruins season, Regular season
On December 22, 1974, Phil Esposito scored the 500th goal of his career.


1974–75 Boston Celtics season
The 1974–75 Boston Celtics season was the 29th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics entered the season hoping to repeat as NBA champions, but were unable to defend their title, falling in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Washington Bullets in 7 games. They did however, win their division for the fourth consecutive season.


1974–75 Boston Celtics season
The Boston Celtics were one of a handful of teams to play home games in four arenas. Their main venue was Boston Garden, but three home games were played at the Hartford Civic Center, three at the Providence Civic Center and one at the Springfield Civic Center.


1974–75 Bradford City A.F.C. season
The 1974–75 Bradford City A.F.C. season was the 62nd in the club's history.


1974–75 Bradford City A.F.C. season
The club finished 10th in Division Four, reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, and the 2nd round of the League Cup.


1974–75 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1974–75 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. After a poor first half of the season, manager Mike Everitt was sacked and replaced by John Docherty, who produced a strong run of results to finish the campaign in 8th place.


1974–75 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
Off the back of Brentford's lowest finish in the Football League since the 1925–26 season, only three players were signed – defender Keith Lawrence on a permanent deal from Chelsea, goalkeeper Steve Sherwood on a season-long loan from Chelsea and Wimbledon midfield trialist Graham Smith. Two long-serving players were released, winger John Docherty and full back Alan Hawley. New chairman Les Davey announced that the club would move to a new stadium in West London and that there was talk of a £1,000,000 takeover bid by local firm Brentford Nylons, but nothing came of either plan.


1974–75 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
Brentford began the season poorly and after eight league matches were just two points above the Fourth Division re-election zone, though one early season highlight was a League Cup second round tie versus First Division giants Liverpool at Anfield, where Roger Cross scored the opener in a 2–1 defeat. The Liverpool match was also notable for it being the final appearance made by centre half Peter Gelson, then the club's second-highest appearance-maker, who had his contract cancelled and departed the club shortly afterwards. Under recently appointed chairman Dan Tana, manager Mike Everitt was given a vote of confidence in November 1974 and strengthened the team by signing forward Willie Brown on loan from Newport County (and later permanently for £4,000) and midfielder Terry Johnson from Southend United for £15,000.


1974–75 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
The signings had the desired effect and Brentford rose into mid-table after winning four and drawing one of a seven-match spell from late November through to mid-January 1975, but on 16 January, manager Mike Everitt was sacked. Trainer Jess Willard took over as caretaker manager for the following match, before the appointment of former player John Docherty on 20 January. Docherty turned Brentford's season around, losing just four of the remaining 19 matches of the season to finish in 8th place. Four wins, two draws and just one defeat in April won Docherty the Football League Manager of the Month award.


1974–75 British Home Championship
The 1974–75 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. It resulted in a resounding victory for an England team which was going through one of the worst periods of consistent play in their history. The tournament saw several draws, including two dramatic 2–2 ties for the Welsh team against England and Scotland and a goalless draw between England and Northern Ireland. The Scots had begun better, beating the Irish 3–0 in their second game and so entered the final match with a real chance of victory.


1974–75 British Home Championship
The Welsh, like the English, had a 2-point advantage in their final match, but failed to capitalise on this, losing to Northern Ireland and ending in last place. The final game, between England and Scotland was in the end a one-sided affair, the English crushing the Scots in a 5–1 rout and winning the tournament.


1974–75 British Ice Hockey season
The 1974–75 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League for teams from Scotland and the north of England and the Southern League for teams from the rest of England.


1974–75 British Ice Hockey season
Whitley Warriors won the Northern League and Streatham Redskins won the Southern League. Murrayfield Racers won the Icy Smith Cup.


1974–75 British Ice Hockey season, Autumn Cup, Game results
Glasgow Dynamos 6 - Dundee Rockets 8All other results unknown


1974–75 British Ice Hockey season, Autumn Cup, Top of table
Statistics and full list of teams unavailable. Other known teams, with unknown placements: Glasgow, Dundee.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season
The 1974–75 Buffalo Braves season was the fifth season for the expansion Buffalo Braves franchise in the National Basketball Association and its Atlantic Division. It was the team's third season under head coach Jack Ramsay. The team's official home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season
Despite losing three key players in Gar Heard, Jim McMillian and Ernie DiGregorio for long stretches, the Braves continued to improve. The Braves finished in 2nd place with a 49–33 record, as Bob McAdoo captured the NBA MVP Award. McAdoo led the league with 34.5 points per game, while adding 14.1 rebounds per game, which was 4th best in the league.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season
In the 1975 NBA Playoffs, the Braves earned the franchise's second playoff berth, this time against the Washington Bullets. The series went to seven games. However, the Braves lost  game seven 115–96 on the road. After the season, the team was occupied with legal wrangling surrounding the departure of minority owner and general manager Eddie Donovan.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Offseason
On March 21, Braves general manager Eddie Donovan announced that he would resign effective April 1. The resignation was controversial because there were rumors that he would return to work for his prior team, New York Knicks, but there were simultaneous rumors that the Knicks had unfairly tampered with Donovan while under contract with the Braves. Upon the announced resignation, NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy announced that the league would conduct a hearing on the matter. The transition was complicated by Donovan's 5% ownership of the Braves. Incoming commissioner, Larry O'Brien announced an amicable settlement as one of his first orders of business.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Offseason, NBA Draft
The following members of the 1974–75 Buffalo Braves were drafted during the 1974 NBA Draft. McMillen played for a year in Europe before joining the 1975–76 Buffalo Braves. He played for a team in Bologna, Italy.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
An early eleven-game winning streak helped the Braves achieve a 16–4 record to start the season and a later seven-game streak took them to 31–16. Buffalo supplanted the New York Knicks as Boston's closest competitor in the Atlantic foursome with 49 wins and 33 losses. Buffalo boasted high-scoring super star Bob McAdoo, who posted a 34.5 scoring average to lead the NBA, while making more field goals than any other player. He also led in minutes played, while also ranking among the best rebounders and shot blockers in the league.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
McAdoo also earned 798 free throw tries, another league high, converting 81% of his attempts. The Braves lost reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ernie DiGregorio to a knee injury that limited him to 31 games, watched former Laker Jim McMillian battle illness that caused him to miss 20 games, and also lost Gar Heard for 15 games, which dropped the team from the elite and put more of the load on their star. The Braves attendance increased by 40,000 to 467,267 in their 41 home games, but the team fell to 5th of 18 teams. The team defense improved sufficiently to create an average 2.2-point scoring margin after a slight average deficit the year before.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
McMillian ranked tenth in the league in field goal percentage. Heard ranked 9th in blocks per game (1.8). Jack Marin, who played in 81 games, ranked seventh in free throw percentage (86.9%). Randy Smith, who played in all 82 regular-season games for the third consecutive season, finished fourth in assists per game (6.5). McAdoo, who also played all 82 games, led the NBA in minutes played, field goals, rebounds (ranked fourth per game), points, and points per game. Meanwhile, he ranked sixth in blocks per game, second in total free throws, and fifth in field goal percentage. This performance earned him the league MVP and first team All-NBA honors.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season, October–November
As he had the season before, DiGregorio had a tremendous opening night with 33 points. The Braves defeated the defending champion Boston Celtics 126–119, giving them their first win in nine games against Boston as a visitor. The Celtics had eliminated the Braves from the 1975 NBA Playoffs. DiGregorio was sidelined after six games due to knee surgery. After a 4–3 start, the Braves won eleven in a row starting with a November 3, 1974, victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Los Angeles Forum and culminating with a November 23 victory over the Phoenix Suns at home. In order to win the eighth game of the streak, the Braves had to overcome a seventeen-point deficit to earn a 111–106 victory against the Golden State Warriors. Even after losing to the Chicago Bulls on November 24, their 15–4 record was the best in the NBA.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season, December–January
During December, the Braves dealt with injuries to McMillan, who required an emergency appendectomy, and DiGregorio. After their great start, the Braves compiled a 6–7 month of December. On December 19, despite 49 points by McAdoo, the Braves lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On December 28, the NBA's smallest player, Calvin Murphy scored a career-high 45 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 125–117 victory over Buffalo. By January, Heard was suffering from a knee injury. As a result, in some games, the Braves only played seven players.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season, December–January
In a January 3 game against the Detroit Pistons, Dale Schlueter was involved in two altercations that resulted in bench-clearing brawls. In January 1975, the Braves recorded a seven-game winning streak starting with a January 10 win over the Cavaliers and ending with a January 24 victory over the New York Knicks. In the fifth game of the streak, McAdoo outscored Pete Maravich 43–40 at New Orleans.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season, February–April
Following an 11–4 January, the Braves struggled to a 7–7 record in February. On January 24, DiGregorio returned to the active roster following his October 29 knee cartilage injury. The March 13 victory against the Golden State Warriors established the franchise record for most wins in a season at 43, surpassing the prior season's total of 42. From March 14 to March 21, the Braves posted their season-worst four-game losing streak. Donovan announced his April 1 resignation in late March. In late March, DiGregorio was sidelined for the rest of the season. The Braves then went on a five-game winning streak from March 22 to March 29, but the team lost three of four April regular-season games.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Playoffs
During the playoffs, the Braves captured home court advantage with a victory over the Washington Bullets in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but the Bullets returned the favor in game two. The home teams won the remaining games as Buffalo lost the series in seven games. DiGregorio missed the playoffs. McAdoo played 46.7 minutes per game during the playoffs and averaged 37.4 points, which both led the league. Heard averaged 11.7 points and 10.9 rebounds.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Playoffs
During the regular season the Bullets had been 36–5 (which was an NBA single-season record for home victories) at home, but lost both games to the Braves. The Braves then opened the series at the Capital Centre with a 113–102 victory in game 1. McAdoo was the game-high scorer with 35 and game-high rebounder with 14. The Bullets rebounded for a 120–106 victory in game 2 in Buffalo. Wes Unseld totaled 25 rebounds and Elvin Hayes added 16 as well as 34 points. Meanwhile, McAdoo, who had averaged 14.1 rebounds during the regular season only had 6.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Playoffs
In game 3, Phil Chenier scored 18 points in the third quarter as the Bullets expanded a 53–52 lead to 81–70. Unseld had 18 rebounds and Hayes had 16 to go along with his 30 points. McAdoo had a game-high 34 and Smith added 26 in a losing effort. Before game 4, McAdoo received his hardware for his league MVP and league scoring title and responded that night with a 50-point performance as the Braves evened the series 2–2 with a 108–102 victory.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Playoffs
Two nights later Hayes responded with 46 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, as the Bullets completed a 97–93 comeback victory to regain the series lead 3–2. In the game, the score was tied at 89 with two minutes left when Nick Weatherspoon hit a 17-foot jumper to give the Bullets the lead for good. Chenier and Hayes built the lead up to 94–89 before McMillian made two short shots to bring the Braves back within 1 point in the final minute.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Playoffs
An Unseld offensive rebound and putback of a Hayes miss gave the Bullets crucial points in the final seconds. On the night Hayes shot 19-for 26 and McAdoo countered with 34 points. In game 6, the Braves earned a 102–96 victory as McAdoo scored 9 of his 37 points in the final five minutes. The game had 19 tie scores, with the last being at 89. In game 7, Washington jumped to a 28–13 lead after one quarter behind 14 points by Chenier. Washington expanded the lead to 42–19 before closing the first half with a 56–38 lead. On the night, Chenier had a career-high 39 points in the 115–96 victory. McAdoo had 36 for Buffalo.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Transactions
Prior to the season the team lost Bob Kauffman to the New Orleans Jazz in the May 20, 1974 NBA Expansion Draft.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Transactions
On August 29, 1974, the Braves purchased Dale Schlueter from the Atlanta Hawks. On September 4, 1974, Matt Guokas was traded along with a 1977 NBA Draft second round pick and a future second round draft pick to the Chicago Bulls for Bob Weiss. Bernie Harris was waived on January 20, 1975. Mike Macaluso did not return to play for the Braves and never played in the NBA again.


1974–75 Buffalo Braves season, Transactions
The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season
The 1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' fifth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Sabres finished in a tie for the best record in the NHL in the 1974–75 regular season after a disappointing 1974 that saw the 1973–74 team fail to return to the NHL playoffs as they had the year before. Buffalo advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in team history to play against the rough Philadelphia Flyers (who had been recently nicknamed the "Broad Street Bullies"), a series which included the legendary Fog Game (game three of the series). The Sabres lost the series 4–2.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season
The season marked the Sabres' second NHL playoffs appearance. The season was the first under the tenure of Floyd Smith and the team's first in the newly created Adams Division in the NHL's Prince of Wales Conference.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season
Sabres players earned numerous accolades. Don Luce won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Rick Martin, Rene Robert, Jerry Korab and Luce were all selected to the 1975 NHL All-Star Game. Martin was a first team NHL All-Star Team selection at left wing, while Robert was a second team selection at right wing. The French Connection (Martin, Robert and Gilbert Perreault) were all among the league leaders in important scoring statistics.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Transactions
Goaltender Dave Dryden was lost to the World Hockey Association following the 1973–74 season. During the 25-round May 1974 NHL amateur draft that was held by conference call, the team participated in the first twelve rounds of the draft. Although several of their selections eventually played in the NHL, the Sabres only drafted three players that played for the team that year. The Sabres acquired defenseman Lee Fogolin (1st round, 11th overall), right winger Danny Gare (2nd round, 29th overall) and defenseman Paul McIntosh (4th round, 65th overall) in the 1974 NHL amateur draft. They had acquired left winger Morris Titanic in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft (1st round, 12th overall) and he was called up from the team's American Hockey League minor league affiliate, the Hershey Bears during the season. In addition, the Sabres drafted Taro Tsujimoto with the 183rd overall pick.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Transactions
Prior to the season, the team had lost right winger Ron Busniuk to the Detroit Red Wings in the June 10, 1974 NHL Intra-League Draft. Buffalo lost right winger Steve Atkinson and center Randy Wyrozub to the Washington Capitals in the June 12, 1974 NHL Expansion Draft. The team also lost defenseman Paul Terbenche to the Kansas City Scouts in the same draft.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Transactions
On October 14, 1974, The Sabres acquired 1974 All-Star defenseman Jocelyn Guevremont and forward Bryan McSheffrey from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for left winger Gerry Meehan and defenseman Mike Robitaille. On January 27, 1975 Buffalo acquired left winger Fred Stanfield from the Minnesota North Stars for right winger Norm Gratton and Buffalo's 3rd round choice in 1976 NHL Amateur Draft. The veteran Stanfield had finished in the top ten in the league four times in assists before being acquired by the Sabres. The Sabres acquired the NHL rights to goaltender Gerry Desjardins from the New York Islanders for defenseman Garry Lariviere on February 19, 1975.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Transactions
In May, after the season ended, left winger Rick Dudley, who later coached the Sabres for three seasons, signed to play in the WHA. After 11 seasons in the NHL, 1974–75 was the final one for right winger Larry Mickey before his retirement.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
The Sabres returned after a season of injury and tragedy in which their captain Tim Horton died in an automobile accident. The team also seemed to have mended an apparent preseason feud between Perreault and Martin. On October 10, 1974, in the season-opening game, Danny Gare set the tone for the new season by scoring a goal 18 seconds into the first game of his career. Perreault added a hat trick and two assists in the 9–5 victory over the Boston Bruins.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
After starting the season 3–3–1, the Sabres had an 18–1–3 hot streak between October 26 and December 8, 1974, to move to a 21–4–4 record. By the time they reached 7–3–1 following a November 3 victory over the New York Rangers, they had taken over the Adams Division lead. The streak included two unbeaten stretches of at least 10 games. They went 9–0–1 on a streak that extended until November 14 with a win against the Minnesota North Stars. The penultimate win of the streak was the Sabres' first ever win at the Montreal Forum on November 13.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
After a November 16, loss to the Bruins, they started a 9–0–2 streak on November 17 against the Atlanta Flames. In the third game of this streak, which was also against the Flames, they made a comeback from two separate three-goal deficits to tie the game. The other tie during the streak was also a comeback.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
By the end of the two unbeaten streaks and before the 30-game mark, the Sabres had the best record in the NHL, the league's leading scorer in Perreault, three 20-goal scorers among the French Connection and the leading rookie scorer in the league in Gare. Martin had the second four-goal game of his career in a December 3 5–3 victory against the Washington Capitals on the road. Perreault had three goals and an assist in the December 5 9–2 victory against the Washington Capitals at home. Then, Martin was lost with a recurring thumb injury. Following Martin's injury, the Sabres eleven-game unbeaten streak came to an end, and the team had two different three-game stretches without a win that started in December.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
The team posted a season high six-game win streak between January 12, 1975 – January 25, 1975. The streak culminated in a second win against the Montreal Canadiens on the road. After a February 1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Sabres went undefeated for the rest of the month. The team had a season-high 12-game unbeaten streak between February 2, 1975 – February 27, 1975. During that streak, the team went 7–0–5. The 4–4 February 16 tie with the St. Louis Blues clinched a playoff spot for the Sabres.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
The February 18 3–2 victory over the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum was only the second loss of the season for the Islanders at home. The February 20 6–6 tie against the Flyers, in which the Sabres lost several leads, extended the Flyers unbeaten streak against the Sabres to nine. The final game of the streak was a 5–0 shutout victory over the Los Angeles Kings, who had handed the Sabres three of their eleven defeats prior to that point in the season.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
At the beginning of March, Desjardins quit the Baltimore Blades of the World Hockey Association to join the Sabres. Desjardins was frustrated at not getting paid when attendance was sparse. On March 16 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Martin dislocated his thumb during a fight. This necessitated that he wear a cast. Desjardins made his first appearance in a March 20 6–3 victory over the New York Rangers. In their last win of the month, the Sabres clinched the division title on March 23 with a 9–4 victory over the California Golden Seals.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
Rookie defenseman Hajt was injured with a broken bone in his foot during a 5–1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on March 26. The Sabres would lose the next two games for the season's only three-game losing streak. The Sabres ended the season by winning all three regular season games in April. The Sabres did not clinch the Prince of Wales Conference until winning the final game of the season against the Maple Leafs.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Regular season
The season was the first of three full seasons coached by Floyd Smith, who had coached one game during the 1971–72 season. Smith had played for the Sabres during their first two seasons. The team played its home games at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Two members of the team later coached the Sabres: Dudley and Jim Schoenfeld.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Player statistics
The French Connection members led the Sabres in scoring by finishing 1–2–3 in both goals and points, although none of them played as many as 75 of the team's 80 games. Perreault's eight game-winning goals was fifth highest in the NHL for the season, although he only played 68 games, he finished ninth in the league in scoring with 96 points (39 goals and 57 assists). Martin also only played 68 games and finished third in goals (52) and tenth in points (95). Martin's 21 power play goals was second in the league.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Player statistics
Robert was seventh in points (100), tenth in goals (40) and tenth in assists (60) in 74 games. Luce's 8 shorthanded goals was second and Craig Ramsay had 7, which was third. Other statistical leaders included Luce who had a 61 plus/minus, which ranked fourth and Peter McNab who led the league in shooting percentage.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Player statistics
Over the course of the season, the team scored a total of 354 goals, which ranked second in the 18 team league and its 49–16–15 record ranked it first in the league. The team used several goaltenders. Although Gary Bromley led the team with 26 wins in the regular season, and Roger Crozier was second with 17 wins, the team was led in the post season by Desjardins who recorded 7 of the team's 10 post season victories.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Player statistics, Skaters
Note 1: A bench minor is when the team is penalized for a minor infraction that is not attributed to any individual player.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Quarter Finals
The Sabres had a bye in the first round of the playoffs and then met the first round victor Chicago Black Hawks in the Quarter-Finals. In the first game of the series, the Sabres were the beneficiaries of an 18–2 penalty minutes differential and won 4–1. Although the Black Hawks scored in the first minute of game two, the Dudley scored a pair of goals on the way to a 3–1 Sabres victory.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Quarter Finals
In game three, the Black Hawks took a one-goal lead four times and the Sabres tied the score each time, which led to sudden death overtime in which Chicago came out on top. The Sabres scored five times in the third period to post a 6–2 victory in game 4. The Sabres won the series 4–1, with Robert scoring the series clinching goal after getting into fisticuffs with Pit Martin and third man Phil Russell (who got ejected) earlier in the clinching game.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Semi Finals
The Sabres won the first game with an overtime goal by Gare. In game two, Robert was sidelined with the flu and Dudley was inactive due to a sprained knee, but the checking line of Luce, Ramsay and Gare each scored a goal as the Sabres took a 2–0 lead with a 4–2 victory. In the game, Henri Richard surpassed his brother Maurice Richard with his 127th Stanley Cup playoff point. Following their strong 7–0 game three performance, the Canadiens handily won game four at home by an 8–2 margin.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Semi Finals
The game was marked by a bench clearing incident when Doug Risebrough and Gare squared off. Bill Hajt got ejected as third man in and Larry Robinson who took on Hajt was also ejected. The Sabres surrendered an early 3–1 lead, but won in overtime of game five on Robert goal. The Sabres scored three goals in the first period of game six on their way to a series-clinching 4–3 victory. They led 3–1 after one period and added one in the second before withstanding a third period two-goal rally by Montreal.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals
The Flyers came into the series with their own good luck pre- game singer in the form of Kate Smith who sang "God Bless America" before home games at The Spectrum. The Flyers had a 43–3–1 record following her pregame performances in lieu of the traditional "Star Spangled Banner". In addition, the Sabres had never won a game against the Flyers in Philadelphia in their short five-year franchise history, had never beaten Flyer starting goalie Bernie Parent, and entered the series on a 13-game streak against the Flyers without a win.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals
Although the Sabres held the Flyers to two shots in the first period of game one, eight in the second, and were the beneficiaries of a 1:04 two-man advantage at one point, the game remained scoreless until the third period when the Flyers connected four times in a 4–1 victory. In game two, the Sabres were held to 19 shots on goal with none coming after Bobby Clarke scored at the 6:43 mark of the third period.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals
Due to unusual heat in Buffalo in May 1975, portions of game three, which is known as "The Fog Game", were played in heavy fog. The game was stopped 12 times due to the conditions. Buffalo goalie Desjardins gave up three first period goals, and Crozier started the second period. After having surrendered goals on his first two shots faced and three of his first six, Desjardins removed himself from the game. The Sabres recovered from the three-goal deficit on two goals 17 seconds apart by Gare and Martin.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals
After a goal by Luce netted the score, Reggie Leach gave the flyers the lead again. Bill Hajt scored his first career playoff goal to tie the score. Robert scored the game winner in overtime with a goal that Flyer goalie Bernie Parent did not see until it was too late. The game was the longest NHL overtime game in over four years. Players, officials, and the puck were invisible to many spectators. During a face-off and through the fog, Sabres center Jim Lorentz spotted a bat flying across the rink, raised his stick, and killed it.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals
Many superstitious Buffalo fans considered this to be an "Evil Omen," pertaining to the result of the series. It was the only time that any player killed an animal during an NHL game. This was one of three playoff appearances for Crozier. Desjardins surrendered a goal on the third Flyer shot in game four, but he stayed in the game for a 4–2 victory. In game four, the unseasonable temperature only caused the play to be stopped twice (with 8:08 and 4:44 remaining) as five pairs of arena employees skated around the ice with bed sheets to clear the haze.


1974–75 Buffalo Sabres season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals
By game five of the Finals Dave Schultz had claimed both the single-season regular season penalty minutes record and the post-season record. However, he contributed his first two goals of the playoffs in a 5–2 win to help the Flyers take a 3–2 lead in the series. It was Schultz' first two-goal performance of the season and his first goal since March 9. In the sixth game Conn Smythe Trophy MVP Bernie Parent shut out the Sabres 2–0 to clinch the series four games to two. Crozier held the Flyers scoreless for the first two periods of the final game.


1974–75 Bulgarian Cup
The 1974–75 Bulgarian Cup was the 35th season of the Bulgarian Cup (in this period the tournament was named Cup of the Soviet Army). Slavia Sofia won the competition, beating Lokomotiv Sofia 3–2 in the final at the Vasil Levski National Stadium.


1974–75 Bulgarian Hockey League season
The 1974–75 Bulgarian Hockey League season was the 23rd season of the Bulgarian Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Bulgaria. Nine teams participated in the league, and HK CSKA Sofia won the championship.


1974–75 Bundesliga
The 1974–75 Bundesliga was the 12th season of the Bundesliga, West Germany's premier football league. It began on 24 August 1974 and ended on 14 June 1975. FC Bayern Munich were the defending champions.


1974–75 Bundesliga, Competition modus
Every team played two games against each other team, one at home and one away. Teams received two points for a win and one point for a draw. If two or more teams were tied on points, places were determined by goal difference and, if still tied, by goals scored. The team with the most points were crowned champions while the three teams with the fewest points were relegated to their respective 2. Bundesliga divisions.


1974–75 Bundesliga, Team changes to 1973–74
Fortuna Köln and Hannover 96 were relegated to the newly introduced 2. Bundesliga after finishing in the last two places. Both teams were replaced by Tennis Borussia Berlin and Eintracht Braunschweig, who won their respective promotion play-off groups.


1974–75 Bundesliga, Champion squad
Defenders: Berti Vogts (34); Hans-Jürgen Wittkamp (29 / 6); Rainer Bonhof (28 / 6); Hans Klinkhammer (23); Frank Schäffer (14); Ulrich Surau (14); Walter Posner (2). Midfielders: Herbert Wimmer (29 / 1); Uli Stielike (25 / 1); Christian Kulik (24 / 6); Dietmar Danner (21 / 3); Lorenz-Günther Köstner (18 / 1); Horst Köppel (7 / 1). Forwards: Allan Simonsen  (34 / 18); Henning Jensen  (34 / 13); Jupp Heynckes (31 / 27); Lorenz Hilkes (5); Karl Del'Haye (4). (league appearances and goals listed in brackets)


1974–75 Bundesliga, Champion squad
On the roster but have not played in a league game: Gregor Quasten; Norbert Kox; Roger Roebben.


1974–75 CHL season
The 1974–75 CHL season was the 12th season of the Central Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. Eight teams participated in the regular season, and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles won the league title.


1974–75 California Golden Seals season
The 1974–75 California Golden Seals season was the Seals' 8th season in the NHL. The team continued to be operated by the league until early 1975, when new local ownership led by Mel Swig, owner of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, was found. The Seals adopted new uniforms this season with new turquoise and gold colors. They recorded a 15-point improvement over the previous season. In early 1975, rumors began to circulate that the Seals would be relocated to Denver, Colorado, although this did not come to pass.


1974–75 California Golden Seals season
On March 28, 1975, the Seals suffered the indignity of losing at home to the expansion Washington Capitals, 5–3, providing the Caps with the only road win of their inaugural season.


1974–75 California Golden Seals season, Regular season
On March 28, 1975, the Seals lost at home 5–3 to Washington, giving the expansion Capitals their only road win of the season.


1974–75 California Golden Seals season, Player statistics, Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


1974–75 California Golden Seals season, Player statistics, Skaters
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Seals. Stats reflect time with the Seals only. ‡Traded mid-season


1974–75 California Golden Seals season, Player statistics, Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


1974–75 California Golden Seals season, Transactions
The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season:


1974–75 California Golden Seals season, Playoffs
The Seals did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.


1974–75 Cambridge United F.C. season
The 1974–75 season was Cambridge United's fifth season in the Football League.


1974–75 Cardiff City F.C. season
The 1974–75 season was Cardiff City F.C. 's 48th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing twenty-first, suffering relegation to Division Three.


1974–75 Cardiff City F.C. season, Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1974–75 Carlisle United F.C. season, Season summary
Carlisle were relegated at the end of their first (and, as of 2019, only) season in English football's top flight. Carlisle started the season well beating Chelsea 2 - 0 at Stamford Bridge. After 3 games they were top of the league for the only time in their history.


1974–75 Carlisle United F.C. season, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1974–75 Celtic F.C. season
During the 1974–75 Scottish football season, Celtic competed in Scottish Division One.


1974–75 Centenary Gents basketball team
The 1974–75 Centenary Gents basketball team represented Centenary College of Louisiana as an NCAA Division I Independent during the 1974–75 college basketball season. The team was coached by Larry Little and played their home games at Gold Dome in Shreveport, Louisiana. Led by junior center Robert Parish, future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and College Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, the Gents finished with an overall record of 25–4.


1974–75 Challenge Cup
The 1974–75 Challenge Cup was the 74th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. The final was contested by Widnes and Warrington at Wembley.


1974–75 Challenge Cup
Widnes beat Warrington 14–7 at Wembley in front of a crowd of 85,098.


1974–75 Challenge Cup
The winner of the Lance Todd Trophy was Widnes fullback, Ray Dutton.


1974–75 Challenge Cup
This was Widnes’ fourth Cup Final win in sixth Final appearances.


1974–75 Chester F.C. season
The 1974–75 season was the 37th season of competitive association football in the Football League played by Chester, an English club based in Chester, Cheshire.


1974–75 Chester F.C. season
Also, it was the 17th season spent in the Fourth Division after its creation. Alongside competing in the Football League the club also participated in the FA Cup, Football League Cup and the Welsh Cup.


1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season
The 1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 49th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a 41–14–23 record in 1973–74, earning 105 points, and finishing in second place in the West Division. The Black Hawks defeated the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL quarter-finals, but lost to the Boston Bruins in the semi-finals.


1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season
During the off-season, the NHL made a number of changes. The league expanded by two more teams, as the Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals joined the league, making the NHL an 18 team league. The schedule was then bumped up from 78 games to 80, and the previously two division league was split into two conferences and four divisions. The Black Hawks found themselves in the newly created Smythe Division with the Minnesota North Stars, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and the expansion team Kansas City Scouts. The Smythe Division was part of the newly created Campbell Conference.


1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season
Chicago began the regular season with a strong 7–3–1 in their first eleven games, however, the team fell into a slump, and found themselves under the .500 level 26 games into the season with a record of 11–12–3. The Black Hawks would continue to hover around .500 for the rest of the season, and eventually finish the year with a 37–35–8 record, earning 82 points. Chicago's 37 victories and 82 points were their lowest totals since the 1968–69 season, while their 35 losses was the most since the team lost 39 in 1957–58. The team finished in third place in the Smythe Division, and earn a spot in the post-season as the eleventh seed.


1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season
Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Stan Mikita, who led the club with 36 goals, 50 assists and 86 points. Jim Pappin tied Mikita with 36 goals, and added 27 assists for 63 points. Newly acquired Ivan Boldirev, who spent the previous season with the California Golden Seals, stepped in and finished second in team scoring with 67 points, as he recorded 23 goals and 44 assists. Cliff Koroll had a strong season, scoring 27 goals and 59 points, while defenseman Dick Redmond led the blueline with 14 goals and 57 points. John Marks led the Black Hawks with a +27 rating, while Phil Russell had a team high 260 penalty minutes.


1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season
In goal, Tony Esposito once again led the club with 34 victories and a 2.74 GAA, earning six shutouts in 71 games.


1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season
The Hawks opened the playoffs against the fifth seeded Boston Bruins in a best of three preliminary round. The Bruins finished the season with a 40–26–14 record, earning 94 points, and a second-place finish in the Adams Division. The series opened with a game at the Boston Garden, and the heavily favored Bruins easily disposed the Black Hawks by a score of 8–2. The series moved to Chicago Stadium for the next game, and the Hawks responded, with a 4–3 overtime victory, to set up a third and final game back in Boston. Chicago would complete the upset, stunning the Bruins by a score of 6–4 in the third game, to advance to the NHL quarter-finals.


1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season
Chicago's next opponent in a best of seven series was the second seeded Buffalo Sabres, who had a record of 49–16–15, earning 113 points, and a first-place finish in the Adams Division. The series started with two games at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The Sabres used their home ice advantage, and quickly took a 2–0 series lead with wins of 4–1 and 3–1. The series moved to Chicago for the next two games, and the Hawks cut into the Sabres lead with a 5–4 overtime win in the third game. Buffalo responded in the fourth game though, as they cruised to a 6–2 win. The Sabres closed out the series in the fifth game back in Buffalo, winning the game 3–1.


1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season, Draft picks
Chicago's draft picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft held via conference call at the NHL office in Montreal, Quebec.


1974–75 Chicago Bulls season
The 1974-75 NBA season was the Bulls' ninth season in the NBA. The season saw the Bulls clinch the Midwest Division championship, their first title of any kind, and the only one prior to the dynasty years of the 1990s.


1974–75 Chicago Cougars season
The 1974–75 Chicago Cougars season was the Chicago Cougars third and final season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Cougars finished third in the East, but did not have enough points to qualify for the playoffs.


1974–75 Chicago Cougars season, Player stats
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;


1974–75 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 1974–75 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the fifth season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).


1974–75 Cleveland Crusaders season
The 1974–75 Cleveland Crusaders season was the Cleveland Crusaders third season of operation in the World Hockey Association. It was the Crusaders' first season in the new Coliseum at Richfield. The Crusaders made the playoffs, losing in the quarter-finals to the Houston Aeros.


1974–75 Cleveland Crusaders season, Player stats
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;


1974–75 Clydebank F.C. season
The 1974–75 season was Clydebank's ninth season after being elected to the Scottish Football League. They competed in the Scottish League Division Two where they finished 7th in the table, Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup.


1974–75 Colchester United F.C. season
The 1974–75 season was Colchester United's 33rd season in their history and their first season back in the third tier of English football for six years, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.


1974–75 Colchester United F.C. season
Jim Smith consolidated Colchester's position back in the third tier by leading them to an eleventh position finish to the season. They experienced a successful cup run in the League Cup, eventually falling to Second Division Aston Villa in the quarter-final stage. However, they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the second round by non-League outfit Leatherhead.


1974–75 Colchester United F.C. season, Season overview
Ahead of the new season, Colchester's board warned that a break-even gate of 9,200 was required and that players would be sold if attendances didn't reach an average of 7,500. However, manager Jim Smith returned to former club Boston United to sign Bobby Svarc's old strike partner John Froggatt for £6,000. The acquisition was fruitful, with Svarc finding the back of the net 24 times in the league and 25 times in total, with Froggatt registering 18 with 16 in the league.


1974–75 Colchester United F.C. season, Season overview
Having reached the quarter-final of the FA Cup four seasons prior, the U's emulated that achievement in the League Cup. After beating Oxford United and Southend United, they hosted First Division Carlisle United, beating the Cumbrians 2–0 to earn a home tie with Southampton. A 0–0 draw at Layer Road led to a 1–0 replay win at The Dell, courtesy of a Barry Dominey goal. This set up a quarter-final tie with Second Division Aston Villa. Villa were just too strong for United, winning 2–1 before a Layer Road crowd of 11,812.


1974–75 Colchester United F.C. season, Season overview
Colchester's success in the League Cup was not replicated in the FA Cup as they were knocked out by non-League outfit Leatherhead in the second round. In the league, a strong start to the season was followed up by a weaker second half to the campaign as the U's fell from fifth to eleventh where they ended the season.


1974–75 Colchester United F.C. season, Season overview
Crowds fell a long way short of the target expected by the board, with a league average of 4,941 attending during the season.


1974–75 Colchester United F.C. season, Squad statistics, Player debuts
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.


1974–75 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team
The 1974–75 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 1974–75 collegiate men's basketball season. The Huskies completed the season with an 18–10 overall record. The Huskies were members of the Yankee Conference, where they ended the season with a 9–3 record. They made it to the first round in the 1975 National Invitation Tournament. The Huskies played their home games at Hugh S. Greer Field House in Storrs, Connecticut, and were led by sixth-year head coach Dee Rowe.


1974–75 Copa del Generalísimo
The 1974–75 Copa del Generalísimo was the 73rd staging of the Spanish Cup. The competition began on 30 October 1974 and ended on 5 July 1975.


1974–75 Coppa Italia
The 1974–75 Coppa Italia was the 28th Coppa Italia, the major Italian domestic cup. The competition was won by Fiorentina.


1974–75 Coupe de France
The Coupe de France 1974–1975 was its 58th edition. It was won by AS Saint-Étienne which defeated RC Lens in the Final.


1974–75 Cuban National Series
The 14th Cuban National Series was won by Agricultores, a team from Havana. The short (39-game) season coincided with the first Selective Series, a sort of domestic all-star league for Cuban baseball players.


1974–75 Cupa României
The 1974–75 Cupa României was the 37th edition of Romania's most prestigious football cup competition.


1974–75 Cupa României
The title was won by Rapid București against Universitatea Craiova.


1974–75 Cupa României, Format
First round proper matches are played on the ground of the lowest ranked team, then from the second round proper the matches are played on a neutral location.


1974–75 Cupa României, Format
If a match is drawn after 90 minutes, the game goes in extra time, and if the scored is still tight after 120 minutes, then the winner will be established at penalty kicks.


1974–75 Cupa României, Format
From the first edition, the teams from Divizia A entered in competition in sixteen finals, rule which remained till today.


1974–75 Cypriot Cup
The 1974–75 Cypriot Cup was the 33rd edition of the Cypriot Cup. A total of 16 clubs entered the competition. It began on 28 May 1975 with the first round and concluded on 6 July 1975 with the final which was held at GSP Stadium. Anorthosis Famagusta won their 6th Cypriot Cup trophy after beating Enosis Neon Paralimni 3–2 in the final.


1974–75 Cypriot Cup, Format
Due to the Turkish invasion participation was limited to the 14 Cypriot First Division teams, the champion team of the 1974–75 Special mixed championship Second–Third Division and APOEL. APOEL participated unofficially in the 1974–75 Cypriot First Division, and their matches did not count towards the official league table.


1974–75 Cypriot Cup, Format
The competition consisted of four knock-out rounds. In all rounds each tie was played as a single leg and was held at the home ground of the one of the two teams, according to the draw results. Each tie winner was qualifying to the next round. If a match was drawn, extra time was following. If extra time was drawn, there was a replay at the ground of the team who were away for the first game. If the rematch was also drawn, then extra time was following and if the match remained drawn after extra time the winner was decided by penalty shoot-out.


1974–75 Cypriot Cup, Format
The cup winner secured a place in the 1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup.


1974–75 Cypriot Cup, First round
8 clubs from the 1976–77 Cypriot First Division, 7 clubs from the 1976–77 Cypriot Second Division and 7 clubs from the 1976–77 Cypriot Third Division were added.


1974–75 Cypriot First Division, Overview
It was contested by 14 teams, and AC Omonia won the championship. APOEL did not participate in the Greek championship, even though they were not relegated in the previous season, due to the volatile situation in Cyprus in 1974. They competed in the championship unofficially, but their matches did not count towards the official league table.


1974–75 Czechoslovak Extraliga season
The 1974–75 Czechoslovak Extraliga season was the 32nd season of the Czechoslovak Extraliga, the top level of ice hockey in Czechoslovakia. 12 teams participated in the league, and TJ SONP Kladno won the championship.