#24. 1938 World Champion New York Yankees v. #97. 1977 World Champion New York Yankees
The 1939 Yankees were the top overall seed in this tournament, but they didn't win Region 1 - who won Region 1 was the '77 Yankees. They take on the 1938 Yankees, who are like the '39 Yankees but with Lou Gehrig. Winners advance to play for the pennant.
The 7th Yankees World Champions vs. the 21st Yankees World Champions. Winners advance the Final Four, playing for the pennant. They face the winners of the 1970 Orioles v. 1998 Yankees. 3 out of the 4 teams in this half of the bracket are Yankees. They have no teams remaining in the bottom half of the bracket, that means, it will not be Yankees v. Yankees in the World Series (only the Orioles have the chance to do that)
Yankees 99-53 (Pythag 97-55) Mgr Joe McCarthy
Won AL Pennant
d. Cubs 4-0 to win World Series
d. #105 1957 Braves 2-0 (MVP-Joe Gordon)
d. #41 2019 Dodgers 3-1 (MVP-Frankie Crosetti/Joe Gordon)
d. #56 2001 Mariners 3-1 (MVP-Joe DiMaggio/Bill Dickey)
d. #40 1995 Indians 4-1 (MVP Joe DiMaggio)
All-Stars Bill Dickey (2nd AL MVP) Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Johnny Murphy, Red Rolfe, Red Ruffing (4th AL MVP)
Hall of Fame: Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Joe Gordon, Red Ruffing, Joe McCarthy
Another Joe McCarthy team, third straight World Championship for the Yankees, it hadn't been done before. They win it again next year. Won the AL by 9.5.
Yankees 100-62 (Pythag: 99-63) Mgr. Billy Martin
Won AL East
d. Royals 3-2 in ALCS
d. Dodgers 4-2 in World Series (MVP-Reggie Jackson)
d. #32. 2007 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Reggie Jackson)
d. #33 1943 Cardinals 3-1 (MVP-Graig Nettles)
d. #65 1984 Tigers 3-2 (MVP-Chris Chambliss/Don Gullett)
d. #16 1975 Reds 4-1 (MVP-Graig Nettles)
All-Stars: OF Reggie Jackson, RP Sparky Lyle (AL Cy Young) C Thurman Munson, 3B Graig Nettles (5th AL MVP) 2B Willie Randolph
Hall of Famers: Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Bobby Cox (first base coach)
Reggie's first year in New York; also the year of the blackout. Steinbrenner feuded with Billy - Billy feuded with Reggie. Reggie said he was the straw that stirs the drink - it's the Bronx Zoo Yankees. The front half of back to back Champions.
Yankees
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
LF White (33) (SH) 109 3.3
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP Guidry (L) (26) 140 5.4
Bench
DH Johnson (29) 173 2.1
LF Piniella (33) 138 1.7
CF Blair (33) 90
DH May (29) (LH) 66
SP2 Figueroa (28) 111 3.2
SP3 Gullett (L) (26) 111 2.4
SP4 Torrez (30) 104
Platoon in LF.
Yankees-Joe McCarthy
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Powell (29) 76
P Ruffing (33) 138 6.1
Bench
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
C Glenn (29) 67
2B Knickerbocker (26) 73
LF Hoag (30) 75
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
P Pearson (29) 115
Platoon in LF, there's not an obvious DH.
Lineups:
C-Dickey over Munson
1B-Gehrig over Chambliss
2B-Randolph over Gordon
SS-Crosetti over Dent
3B-Nettles over Rolfe
LF-White over Selkirk
CF-DiMaggio over Rivers
RF-Jackson over Henrich
DH Johnson over Hoag
SP1-Ruffing over Guidry
SP2-Gomez over Figueroa
SP3-Push
SP4-Pearson over Torrez
Pen-1977
WAR: 1938 7 1977 6 -- So, the position by position is close, with '38 taking the advantage because of their SP; '38 has the top player (DiMaggio) and has the seed advantage. 1938 has been favored in every series; 1977 the underdog in every series, that remains true for this one.
GAME ONE
1st: 6 months ago there were 128 teams and now there are 8. Yankee Stadium is the site for each game of our first Elite 8 series - winner to advance to play for the pennant. Red Ruffing is on the mound for 1938. 4th in the AL MVP this year, he will one day be in the Hall of Fame, right now, he's a 33 year old RH, 21-7, 3.31. When he retires, Ruffing will have made the All Star team 6 times and won 6 World Championships. He gets an out then gives up a Reggie Jackson single. Graig Nettles singles to put men on the corners - but that's where they remain.
1st: Ron Guidry takes the mound for 1977. 26 year old lefty, 16-7, 2.82. Guidry was 7th in the AL Cy Young this year; it's his first full year in the rotation. For his career, Guidry will make 4 All Star teams, win 2 World Championships and win the Cy Young. 1-2-3
2nd: Willie Randolph doubles to center with one out. The 22 year old second baseman hit .274, with a .347 OBP and slugged .387. He made the All Star team this year and did so 6 times in his career. He misses the '78 World Series, so the only one he ever played in and won was this season. That's all Ruffing allows.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Mickey Rivers singles to left, 1977 has four hits. The 28 year old CF had a slashline of .326/.350/.439 (that's the highest BA for any Yankee every day player). Rivers made one All Star team in his career (last year) and won 2 World Championships. That's all.
3rd: Jake Powell doubles; the 29 year old gets the first shot at LF today. He played in just 45 games this season, .256/.326/.378. He'll be a 3 time World Champion. 2 outs later - Lou Gehrig knocks in the game's first run. Bill Dickey singles. Tommy Henrich singles home the game's second run. And then Joe Gordon singles home another - big inning here in the third, 1977 0 1938 3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Powell walks with one out. That's all.
5th: 1-2-3, Ruffing sets down 9 straight.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Rivers singles again, but Dickey guns him down trying to swipe second. Reggie follows with his second single. The 1977 RF is 31, .286/.375/.550, leading the Yankee everyday players in both on base and slugging. Jackson made the All Star team this year and was 8th in the MVP. For his career, Reggie would win 1 MVP award, make 14 All Star teams, win 5 World Championships, win the World Series MVP twice and be inducted to the Hall of Fame. Ruffing maintains the shutout.
6th: Red Rolfe hits a one out single. The third baseman is 29, .311/.386/.441. He made the All Star team. For his career, he made 4 and won 5 World Championships. That's it.
7th: 1-2-3, 1938 is 6 outs away from taking game one.
7th: Red Ruffing singles. He hit .224 this year. That's all.
8th: 1-2-3, Ruffing retires 8 straight, 1938 maintains the shutout.
8th: Dick Tidrow comes on for 1977. 30 year old RH, 11 wins, 5 saves, 3.16. Tidrow will retire as a 2 time World Champion. He walks Henrich. That's all.
9th: Joe McCarthy leaves Ruffing in. McCarthy is 51 years old, he managed the Cubs for 5 years, winning one pennant and came to New York in '31. McCarthy will remain the Yankee manager through the '46 season winning 7 World Championships. He manages the Red Sox for three seasons to end his managerial career.
Ruffing strikes out Reggie.
Ruffing strikes out Nettles.
Munson grounds softly to Gordon - onto first -- Gehrig squeezes it and the game is over.
Complete game 6 hitter for Ruffing, 5 Ks, no walks. Guidry was good, going 7, striking out 6, giving up 7 hits and the 3 runs in the third -- but that third did him in.
1977 0
1938 3
WP Ruffing
LP Guidry
Gehrig 1x
Dickey 1x
Henrich 2x
Gordon 1x
Rolfe 1x
Powell 2x/double
Rivers 2x/
Jackson 2x
Nettles 1x
Randolph 1x/double
LF Piniella (33) 138 1.7
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP2 Figueroa (28) 111 3.2
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
GAME TWO
1st: Ruffing was just too much for 1977 in Game One - 1938 follows up with 29 year old Lefty Gomez. 18-12, 3.35. Gomez made the All Star team this year, one of 7 times he'd make it in his career. He would win 5 World Championships and like Ruffing, he'll make the Hall of Fame. Lou Piniella's in the lineup today and he singles to start the game. Thurman Munson follows with a walk but that's all Gomez allows.
1st: Ed Figueroa is not in the Hall of Fame. The 28 year old RH went 16-11, 3.57. He'll win 2 World Championships. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: George Selkirk's in left today and he singles with 2 out. .254/.384/.409. For his career Selkirk was a 2 time All Star, 5 time World Champion. Figueroa strikes out the other 3 hitters he faces.
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Gomez.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Reggie Jackson walks with 1 out and Graig Nettles follows with a single. The third baseman is 32, .255/.333/.496. Nettles made the All Star team and was 5th in the MVP. For his career he's a 6 time All Star. Won 2 World Championships and will be ALCS MVP in 1981. Gomez gets the next two.
4th: Tommy Henrich singles with 2 out. The RF is 25, .270/.391/.490. He'll be a 5 time All Star and win 4 World Championships. That's it.
5th: Bucky Dent walks with 1 out. The shortstop is 25, .247/.300/.352. He'll have the lowrst OBP of any position player we'll see in either lineup in the series. Dent will make 3 All Star teams, win 2 World Championships, and he'll be next year's World Series MVP. That's it.
5th: Joe Gordon singles to center with 2 out. The rookie second baseman is 23, .255/.340/.502. He'll go on to win an MVP, be a 9 time All Star, win 5 World Championships and be elected to the Hall of Fame. That's all Figueroa allows - we head to the 6th, still scoreless.
6th: Gomez has allowed just 2 hits through 5. After an out, Reggie singles. Nettles then walks, after the second out - Chris Chambliss comes through with a base hit and 1977 scores its first run of the series. The first baseman is 28, .287/.336/.445. Chambliss made one All Star team in his career and won 2 World Championships. 1977 1 1938 0
6th: Figueroa's allowed just 3 hits, can he maintain the lead? Joe DiMaggio pounds the first pitch to left center for a double. The CF is 23, .324/.386/.581. He has the highest slugging % for any everyday player for either team. DiMaggio was an All Star this year and finished 6th in the MVP. DiMaggio retires as a 13 time All Star, 9 time World Series Champion, 3 time MVP and, of course, is in the Hall of Fame. 2 outs later Henrich walks - but the inning ends here.
7th: Piniella singles with 2 out. 33 years old, platooning in left. .330/.365/.510 - highest batting average you'll see in the series. That's all.
7th: 1-2-3, Ed Figueroa is shutting out the '38 Yankees with 6 outs to go.
8th: Reggie singles again; and Nettles follows with a double down the right field line - Jackson going on the pitch - he comes all the way around to score - 1977 takes the 2-0 lead. Gomez gets the next 3 - but now 1977 has an extra run. 1977 2 1938 0
8th: DiMaggio singles with one out and Gehrig follows with a base hit that puts men on the corners. The Iron Horse is 35, .295/.410/.523. He's a 2 time MVP, 6 time World Champion, won the Triple Crown, made the Hall of Fame, and he is the unquestioned greatest first baseman in the history of the sport. Figueroa gets Dickey 3-6-3 to end the inning - huge, huge, huge.
9th: Johnny Murphy is the 1938 closer and he comes on. 29 year old RH, 8 wins, 11 saves, 4.24. Murphy led the league in saves and made the All Star team. For his career he will be a 3 time All Star, 6 time World Champion. 1-2-3
9th: Billy Martin leaves his starter in to finish this up. Billy's 49, he managed a season in Minnesota, 3 in Detroit, 3 in Texas - this is his 3rd year of what will be portions of 8 seasons in multiple stints with the Yankees. He won the pennant last yeat and wins the World Series this year.
Henrich grounds to first.
Rolfe flies to right.
And Figueroa strikes out Selkirk to end the game.
Near exact reversal of game one - Figueroa goes the whole way, gives up just 6 hits, strikes out 4 and walks 1. 1977 evens up the series and they will be the home team for games 3-5, meaning the DH will be utilized.
1977 2
1938 0
WP Figueroa
LP Gomez
Rivers 2x/
Jackson 5x
Nettles 4x/double
Randolph 1x/double
Piniella 2x
Munson 1x
Chambliss 1x
Dent 1x
DiMaggio 2x/double
Gehrig 2x
Dickey 1x
Henrich 4x
Gordon 2x
Rolfe 1x
Powell 2x/double
Selkirk 1x
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Powell (29) 76
DH Hoag (30) 75
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
DH Johnson (29) 173 2.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
LF White (33) (SH) 109 3.3
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP3 Gullett (L) (26) 111 2.4
GAME THREE
1st: Red Ruffing shut out the '77 Yanks in Game One. Ed Figueroa shut out the '38 Yanks in Game Two. On the mound for 1977 for Game Three is Don Gullett, co-MVP in the regional semi-final. Gullett's a 26 year old lefty, 14-4, 3.58. Three Time World Champion. 1-2-3
1st: 1938 counters with 30 year old RH Spud Chandler. 14-5, 4.03. He'll go onto be a 4x All Star, win 3 World Championships, win the MVP five years from now. He gives up a leadoff single to Mickey Rivers. That's it.
2nd: Yankee Stadium hopping today for Game 3 - two Yankee clubs separated by 40 years of baseball in this generational war. Tommy Henrich walks, Gullett gets one then walks Red Rolfe - and Frankie Crosetti puts 1938 on the board with a base hit that scores Henrich. The shortstop is 27, his OBP higher than his slugging, .263/.382/.371 -- Crosetti led MLB in both steals and being hit by pitches this season. For his career he will be a 2x All Star and win 6 World Championships. Jake Powell follows with a run scoring single and it's 2-0. Joe DiMaggio walks after the second out and that's where it ends. 1938 2 1977 0
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Henrich walks again with one out, that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Chandler
4th: Rolfe walks and an out later so does Powell. But that's all.
4th: Reggie singles. He and Henrich have both reached a half dozen times, pacing the series. After the first out, Nettles reaches via error and after the second out, Chambliss walks to load the bases -- but Chandler escapes.
5th: Lou Gehrig singles. 2 outs later Henrich walks for the third time today, but it ends here.
5th: 1-2-3 - both the first two games ended in shutouts, is Chandler going to make it 3 for 3?
6th: Rolfe singles. An out later Powell singles. Myril Hoag is the DH today for 1938 and he hits a sac fly to make it 3-0. Hoag is 30, .277/.344/.352 -- For his career Hoag will make one All Star team (next year) and win 3 World Championships. 1938 3 1977 0
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Chandler
7th: Bill Dickey walks with 1 out. The great catcher is 31, .313/.412/.568 - his 143 OPS+ leads the '38 squad. Dickey's an All Star, 2nd in the AL MVP this year. He'll make a total of 11 All Star teams and win 7 World Championships. Dickey is in the Hall of Fame. That's all Gullett allows.
7th: Just 3 hits for 1977 today; 1-2-3, 10 in a row for Chandler and it appears we are seeing the exact same game, each of the 3 games in this series.
8th: The Yankee brain trust decides to go to the pen.
Cloyd Boyer, Bobby Cox, Elston Howard, Dick Howser, Yogi Berra, Art Fowler the coaching staff for Billy Martin. Boyer is the brother of Clete and Ken; Cox is a year away from his first stint managing the Braves, Howard's Yankee playing career is in between these two eras, he's a Yankee from '55-'66. Howser will manage these Yankees to 103 wins in 1980. Yogi knows some of these 1938 players; his rookie year will be '46. He managed the Yankees to a pennant back in '64 and will get the job again in '84. And Fowler's Billy's longtime pitching coach.
Dick Tidow takes the ball again; Joe Gordon singles, That's all.
8th: 1-2-3, 13 straight set down for Chandler, 1938 is 3 outs from taking the 2-1 series lead.
9th: Powell singles. Tidrow is charged with a balk, that moves him to second and after an out, DiMaggio singles him home and that should do it for today. 1938 4 1977 0
9th: Joe McCarthy and his staff decide to go to the pen for Johnny Murphy.
Art Fletcher, Earle Combs, Johnny Schulte are the 1938 coaches. Fletcher managed the Phillies for 4 seasons back in the 20s; Combs played for the Yanks for a dozen years and is in the Hall of Fame; Schulte played less than 200 big league games.
Reggie grounds to first
Cliff Johnson flies to left
And Murphy strikes out Nettles to end the game.
It happened again - 3 games, 3 shutouts - 1938 takes the 2-1 series lead; Chandler and Murphy combine on a 3 hit shutout. Chandler goes 8, doesn't walk a batter - throws just 84 pitches in a dominant performance.
1938 4
1977 0
WP Chandler
LP Gullett
DiMaggio 4x/double
Gehrig 3x
Dickey 2x
Henrich 7x
Gordon 3x
Rolfe 3x
Powell 6x/double
Selkirk 1x
Crosseti 1x
Rivers 3x/
Jackson 6x
Nettles 4x/double
Randolph 1x/double
Piniella 2x
Munson 1x
Chambliss 2x
Dent 1x
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
DH Powell (29) 76
P Pearson (29) 115
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
DH Johnson (29) 173 2.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
LF Piniella (33) 138 1.7
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP4 Torrez (30) 104
GAME FOUR
1st: Ruffing shut out the '77 Yanks in game one. Figueroa evened up the series in game two with a shutout of his own. And then Chandler came back for 1938 - shut out the '77 Yanks again and here we are in game 4. Mike Torrez is a 30 year old RH, 14-12, 3.82. Torrez never made an All Star team in his 18 year career and this was his only World Champion. 1-2-3
1st: 29 year old RH Monte Pearson looks to extend the series lead for 1938; 16-7, 3.97. Pearson retires as a 2 time All Star and 4 time World Champion. Mickey Rivers singles. That's all.
2nd: Torrez gets two and then George Selkirk homers to right center to put 1938 on the board. 1938 1 1977 0
2nd: Thurman Munson singles with 1 out. Munson's 30, .308/.351/.462. He made the All Star team this year and finished 7th in the MVP. He was a 7 time All Star, won 2 World Championships and was MVP last year. That's all.
3rd: Frankie Crosetti singles. That's all.
3rd: Bucky Dent singles with one out. After the second out Reggie Jackson ensures we won't see our 4th shutout with a double to center that scores the tying run. Cliff Johnson walks - The Yankee DH is 29, played in 56 games for New York this year and he hit the hell out of the ball, .296/.405/.606. Johnson retires after 15 seasons a 2 time World Champion. Graig Nettles then singles home the go ahead run. 2 runs with 2 out and '77 takes the lead. 1938 1 1977 2
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Selkirk walks. That's it - Torrez has allowed just 2 hits.
5th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Pearson.
6th: Gehrig draws a one out walk, but that's all - Mike Torrez with the strong outing.
6th: Nettles walks with one out - and that's all. We head to the 7th in a tight game 4.
7th: Joe Gordon singles with 2 out and then Crosetti walks. 2 on, 2 out - 1938 trailing by a run - does Billy leave in Torrez or go to his pen? Torrez stays in -- And Gives Up a 3 Run Homer to Jake Powell! Powell hit 2 homers all season - but hits a 3 run blast here to give 1938 the lead! The older fans here at Yankee Stadium, the ones wearing the suits, are jubilant. Dick Tidow comes on - maybe a batter too late - and ends it. 1938 4 1977 2
7th: Chris Chambliss singles with one out, that's all. Pearson's 6 outs from giving 1938 a 3-1 lead.
8th: Tidrow gets one -- and then Dickey just bombs one - crushes a homer to right - that sure looks like the insurance run. Henrich walks. Rolfe singles and that sends Henrich to third; he then scores on a Selkirk groundout. 1938 is maybe just too tough. 1938 6 1977 2
8th: Pearson gets an out - and then Reggie hits one further than Dickey, an upper deck shot to right that gets '77 a run. Cliff Johnson walks and that's the end of Pearson's day, McCarthy goes to Johnny Murphy. He ends it. 1938 6 1977 3
9th: 1-2-3
9th: Murphy is looking for the save.
Munson flies to center.
Chambliss grounds to first.
Randolph grounds to short -- Crosetti onto first -- ballgame.
Jake Powell hits the huge 3 run shot, Dickey follows wth a solo homer - 1938 has now grabbed ahold of this series 3 games to 1.
1938 6
1977 3
WP Pearson
LP Torrez
Sv Murphy
DiMaggio 4x/double
Gehrig 4x
Dickey 3x/HR
Henrich 8x
Gordon 4x
Rolfe 4x
Powell 7x/double, HR, 3 game 4 RBI
Selkirk 3x/HR
Crosseti 3x
Rivers 4x
Jackson 8x/HR, double
Nettles 6x/double
Randolph 1x/double
Piniella 2x
Munson 2x
Chambliss 3x
Dent 2x
Johnson 2x
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
DH Powell (29) 76
P Ruffing (33) 138 6.1
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
DH Johnson (29) 173 2.1
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
LF White (33) (SH) 109 3.3
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP Guidry (L) (26) 140 5.4
GAME FIVE
1st: Ron Guidry stands on the Yankee Stadium mound, 1977 trailing 1938 three games to one. Joe DiMaggio hits the first pitch of the game over the wall in right center and '38 is on the board. 1938 1 1977 0
1st: Red Ruffing shut 1977 out in game one and he looks to wrap up the series today and advance 1938 into the Final Four, where they will play for the pennant. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Thurman Munson singles with one out. That's all.
3rd: 1-2-3, Guidry retires 9 straight.
3rd: Bucky Dent doubles - Dent had 18 doubles all season but gets 1977 going right here. And out later, Reggie grounds a single to right center - Dent comes around to score and it's tied. After the second out Cliff Johnson singles and that's all. 1938 1 1977 1
4th: Bill Dickey singles with one out. That's all.
4th: Chambliss singles to left - an out later Willie Randolph singles. Ruffing stops it here.
5th: Joe Gordon singles to left. That's all.
5th: Cliff Johnson doubles with 2 out - and scores when Munson triples! Munson had 5 triples on the year - he gets a huge, huge one here and 1977 takes the lead. 1938 1 1977 2
6th: 1-2-3, Guidry has allowed just 3 hits.
6th: Dent singles with 2 away, that's all. We head to the 7th.
7th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Louisiana Lightning - can he finish the job?
7th: Reggie singles. Ruffing gets one - and then Cliff Johnson laces a homer to left! Johnson follows his double with a 2 run homer and 1977 adds insurance. Johnny Murphy comes on for '38, he ends it. 1938 1 1977 4
8th: Crosetti singles with 2 away, but that's all - and Guidry is 3 outs from sending this series to game 6.
8th: Randolph reaches on a 1 out error and then Murphy walks Dent - after the second out it's Reggie with his third hit of the day - a run scoring single that makes it 5-1. Nettles walks - thats al for Murphy, Ivy Andrews makes his first appearance in the series, 31 year old RH, 3.00. This is Andrews' final big league season, he does not pitch in the '38 World Series. He ends it - 1938 1 1977 5
9th: Guidry stays on.
DiMaggio grounds to third.
Guidry strikes out Gehrig
Dickey walks.
Henrich grounds to short -- onto first. Ballgame.
Complete game 4 hitter for Guidry keeps 1977 alive, forcing game 6. 4Ks, just one walk. Cliff Johnson hits the big 2 run homer in what will be his last start of the series as we move back to 1938 Yankee Stadium and eliminate the DH.
Rivers 4x
Jackson 11x/HR, double
Nettles 7x/double
Randolph 2x/double
Piniella 2x
Munson 4x/triple
Chambliss 4x
Dent 5x/double
Johnson 5x/double, HR
DiMaggio 5x/double, HR
Gehrig 4x
Dickey 5x/HR
Henrich 8x
Gordon 5x
Rolfe 4x
Powell 7x/double, HR, 3 game 4 RBI
Selkirk 3x/HR
Crosetti 4x
LF Piniella (33) 138 1.7
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
CF Blair (33) 90
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP2 Figueroa (28) 111 3.2
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
GAME SIX
1st: Lefty Gomez can end the series today and advance 1938 into the Final Four. Lou Piniella leads off with a base hit. Munson and Jackson reach on back to back errors and the bases are loaded, nobody out - and the Bronx is Burning generation is making its presence known here in 1938 Yankee Stadium. Nettles singles. Pineilla scores - Munson gets thrown out at the plate on a laser shot by DiMaggio. Chambliss reaches on the 3rd 1938 error of the inning - 1938 showing some nerves early on and that scores another run. 1977 2 1938 0
1st: Ed Figueroa shut out 1938 in game 2 - if he can do it again this series will go to Game 7. Dickey singles with 2 out. That's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Joe Gordon walks with 2 out and Crosetti singles. That's it.
3rd: Munson doubles - he tripled in game 5 and doubles here. Reggie then singles - Munson doesn't try to score this time; Reggie has reached a dozen times, that easily leads both clubs. Nettles flies to the track - easy sac fly, 1977 tacks on a run. 1977 3 1938 0
3rd: Gehrig walks with one out. Henrich walks with 2 out. And then Rolfe and Selkrik line back to back run scoring singles - no shutout today. Gordon walks to load the bases - that's all. 1977 3 1938 2
4th: Paul Blair got his first start today and he's hit here. We've seen Blair a lot with the Orioles; he's on 2 Elite Eight teams still to come - this year he's the Yankees 5th OF, 33, .262/.303/.396. Blair's a 2 time All Star, 4 time World Champion. That's it.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Piniella and Munson single back to back. Gomez gets one -- and then Graig Nettles Hits a 3 Run Homer! Nettles rattles Yankee Stadium with a 3 run jack - and now - and now it really starts to look like we are going to see a Game 7. Gomez is done, 28 year old RH Steve Sundra enters, 6 wins, 4.80. Sundra didn't pitch in this year's World Series. He walks the bases loaded - Chambliss, Randolph, Blair -- then gets the second out, and then Figueroa helps himself with a base hit that scores 2 -- it is 8-2 1977. Piniella then walks, it ends here. 1977 8 1938 2
5th: Rolfe singles with 2 out. That's it.
6th: Reggie walks. McCarthy goes back to the pen for 30 year old Wes Ferrell and his 8.10 ERA. Ferrell was an All Star last year in Washington, but fell off this season and got released. The Yanks picked him up late, pitched in just 5 games. He didn't pitch in the World Series. Ferrell gets 2 - and then Randolph singles Reggie home and it's 1977 9 1938 2
6th: Myril Hoag doubles with 2 out, hitting for the pitcher. That's all.
7th: 27 year old RH Joe Beggs enters, 5.40. This is his rookie season, the only one he'll play as a Yankee. 1-2-3
7th: Gehrig walks - that's all.
8th: 1-2-3
8th: Figueroa's day is over, 21 year old RH Gil Patterson comes on. 5.40. This was his only big league season. He gives up a double to Rolfe and then Selkirk hits a 2 run homer. That's it for Patterson - Dick Tidrow enters. He gets one and then Crosetti doubles. That's it. 1977 9 1938 4
9th: Johnny Murphy for 1938. 1-2-3
9th: Tidrow gets 2, then Henrich singles - it ends here.
7 strong for Figueroa - the bats really showed up today, that huge Nettles homer pacing the way.
1977 9
1938 4
WP Figueora
LP Gomez
Rivers 4x
Jackson 13x/HR, double
Nettles 9x/double, HR, 5 Game 6 RBI
Randolph 4x/double
Piniella 5x
Munson 6x/triple, double
Chambliss 5x
Dent 5x/double
Johnson 5x/double, HR
Blair 2x
DiMaggio 5x/double, HR
Gehrig 6x
Dickey 6x/HR
Henrich 10x
Gordon 7x
Rolfe 7x/double
Powell 7x/double, HR, 3 game 4 RBI
Selkirk 5x/2HR, 3 game 6 RBI
Crosetti 6x
CF Rivers (28) (LH) 115 4.1
RF Jackson (31) (LH) 150 4.1
3B Nettles (32) (LH) 124 4.9
LF Piniella (33) 138 1.7
C Munson (30) 121 4.9
1B Chambliss (28) (LH) 112 2.7
2B Randolph (22) 101 4.5
SS Dent (25) 79 2.4
SP3 Gullett (L) (26) 111 2.4
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
GAME SEVEN
1st: The two most glorious words on all of sport: Game Seven.
Spud Chandler shut out 1977 in Game 3. He gets 2 - then gives up a double to Nettles. Huge Game 6 for Nettles, 5 RBI. Piniella follows with a double of his own and 1977 in on the scoreboard and the younger fans in the stadium might burn this building down in joy. Chandler hits Munson - and the Yankee catcher goes down. 1938 might be sending an old school message - they've dropped the last two games and now go down early here. 1977 1 1938 0
1st: Don Gullett for 1977. He walks DiMaggio on 4 pitches and then Gehrig rips a single to center, sending DiMaggio to third. Dickey walks and the bases are loaded. Henrich grounds out and it scores a run. Gordon and Rolfe have back to back run scoring singles. It ends here - it's as if 1938 is saying "we're done fooling around with you guys" 1977 1 1938 3
2nd: Chandler hits Gullett with 2 out - and we might see some real violence here - lot of souped up 1977 Yankee fans - are we going to see this place explode? Mickey Rivers singles. 2 on. 2 out. That's all.
2nd: DiMaggio singles with 1 out. That's all.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Henrich walks. An out later Rolfe doubles him home. Crosetti walks, Gullett gets the second - but then Chandler comes through with a single that scores two - it's 6-1, 1938 is laying it on today. 1977 1 1938 6
4th: Chambliss doubles. An out later Dent singles. Chandler gets the second - and then Rivers singles home a run. 1977 2 1938 6
4th: Gehrig walks, that's all.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
6th: McCarthy, even with the 4 run lead - goes to Johnny Murphy in the 6th. Chambliss doubles again. That's all.
6th: Selkirk walks. An out later DiMaggio walks - Gullett escapes further damage.
7th: Rivers singles. Reggie singles. Rivers goes all the way to third - and he scores on a Nettles sac fly. After the second out Munson walks - Ivy Andrews comes on for 1938 to end it. 1977 3 1938 6
7th: 1-2-3
8th: 6 outs to go. Randolph singles. That's all.
8th: Dick Tidrow for 1977; Rolfe singles, that's it.
9th: Joe Beggs gets the ball to wrap this up.
Reggie crushes his first pitch deep into RF. The long, slow trot around the bases for Reggie as he cuts the lead to 6-4.
Nettles grounds to second. One away.
Piniella flies to center. Two away.
Munson grounds to short. Crosetti has it - onto Gehrig - and it's over.
Dickey runs out to the mound to hug Beggs - Gehrig slips the ball into his pocket - 1938 pours out of the dugout - they survive the comeback from 1977 and they advance to the final four!
1977 4
1938 6
WP Chandler
LP Gullett
Sv Beggs
DiMaggio 8x/double, HR
Gehrig 8x
Dickey 7x/HR
Henrich 11x
Gordon 8x
Rolfe 10x/ 2doubles
Powell 7x/double, HR, 3 game 4 RBI
Selkirk 6x/2HR, 3 game 6 RBI
Crosetti 7x
The Yankees spread around the offense throughout the series; Rolfe came through today with 3 hits including his 2nd double. Chandler only goes 5 - but he does win his second game and he drives in 2 runs. That's enough to make them co-MVPs.
