Fall Classic Rewind

1978 World Series Game 5 and 6 Sunday October 15th @ Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, New York Tuesday October 17th @ Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles, California After being down two games to none to start this series, the Yankees have evened things up in the Fall Classic, and they look to keep things rolling here in game five. No team has yet to overcome a 2 - 0 deficit by winning four straight, but if any team could be the first, it would be Bob Lemon’s Yankees. They’ve certainly had their share of good fortune here at Yankee Stadium, and they have capitalized on nearly every Dodger’s mistake. Misplays, errors, and just rotten luck have been the story of Tommy Lasorda’s squad the past few days. Whether it was Graig Nettles incredible reflexes, Bucky Dent’s unrelenting hustle, or Reggie Jackson’s ‘subtle’ hip movement, there was always something in the way for Los Angeles, not to mention a costly errors in the field and on the bases from the usually reliable Bill Russell. If they don’t clean up their act soon, they will lose their second straight World Series. Since the Yankees evened this series at two games apiece, we are guaranteed at least one game back in Los Angeles. Who will have the advantage heading in to game six will come down to the pitching matchup in game five. For the Yankees it will be rookie righty Jim Beattie(6 - 9 3.73 ERA 128 IP). The former Dartmouth basketball star was shaky, but effective against the Royals in the ALCS, but he hasn’t pitched in nearly two weeks. The Dodgers will send Burt Hooton (19 - 10 2.71 ERA 236 IP) to the mound, and although he’s been their best regular season pitcher the past few seasons, his postseason starts have been hit or miss. He can be brilliant, but if that knuckle-curve isn’t dancing, ‘Happy’ Hooton can make his hot-tempered manager furious. In game six, it will be a match-up of future Hall-of-Famers and 200 game winners, Don Sutton (15 - 11 3.55 ERA 238 IP) and Catfish Hunter (12 - 6 3.58 ERA 118 IP). Ultimately this series will come down to who can come up with the big hit. Will it be the stars, like Reggie Jackson or Steve Garvey? Or maybe it will be someone unheralded, like a pair of scrappy middle-infielders? Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube. NBC broadcast with Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, Tom Seaver, and Curt Gowdy Game 5 Game 6 - some CBS radio with Bill White As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Saturday October 14th, 1978 @ Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, New York The sun is out on a Saturday afternoon in the Bronx, but rain clouds are looming in the distance. Thanks to an outstanding defensive game from third baseman Graig Nettles, the Yankees took game three in convincing fashion to avoid going down three games to none in this series against the Dodgers. If they hope to even things at two games apiece, the Yanks will need a much better effort from their starting pitcher, Ed Figueroa (20 - 9 2.99 ERA 253 IP). The Puerto Rican right-hander has been lit up in his previous postseason starts, but New York manager Bob Lemon has a lot of trust in the guy who has won the third most games in the American League the past three seasons. For Los Angeles, it will be veteran lefty Tommy John (17 - 10 3.30 ERA 213 IP) taking the ball. John was solid, but unspectacular in a blowout game one win. His reconstructed left elbow has been a dependable weapon for manager Tommy Lasorda, though John’s approach is pitch-to-contact, which could be an issue given the shaky infield defense the Dodgers have displayed of late. Of greater concern, though, has been the Dodgers' struggles with runners in scoring position. Los Angeles stranded eleven men on base in game three, and they were unable to deliver the big hit despite that constant opportunity. If Los Angeles wants to maintain control of this series, they can’t let those opportunities slip away again. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - NBC broadcast with Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, Tom Seaver, and Curt Gowdy CBS radio with Ross Porter, Win Elliot, and Bill White As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 World Series Game 3 Friday October 13th, 1978 @ Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, New York As the series heads east, the Dodgers are in strong position, up two games to none. Game one was a blowout, thanks to a power outburst from LAD 2B Davey Lopes, but game two was nail biter. Ron Cey drove in all four runs, including a go-ahead three run homer off of Catfish Hunter in the 6th inning. The Yankees had the tying and go-ahead runners on base in the ninth for Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson, and Tommy Lasorda turned to rookie fireballer Bob Welch to hold the line. With incredible determination and guile, the kid came through, forcing Munson to fly out and striking out Jackson after an epic nine pitch battle. The crowd was electric, and while they would love another opportunity to cheer on their squad, the LA faithful are hoping the Boys in Blue take care of business in New York. In previous World Series, only five teams had ever overcome a 2 - 0 deficit, the most recent being the 1971 Pirates. And in each of those series where a team did come back, they had to do it in seven games. The task is hard, but it is nigh impossible if you go down 3 - 0 in the series. No team has ever overcome a 3 - 0 deficit in a World Series, so the Yankees are desperate to win this one. Good thing that they have the best pitcher in the world going for them, Ron Guidry (25 -3 1.74 ERA 273 IP). The young lefty has been sensational the entire year, but it has been quite the workload he’s compiled. For a pitcher who relies on plus stuff matched with plus command, fatigue could hamper his effectiveness. If the Gator isn’t missing bats like usual, he’ll need his defense to be sharp, particularly the left side with Bucky Dent and Graig Nettles. On the other side, the Dodgers will turn to Don Sutton (15 - 11 3.55 ERA 238 IP). The future Hall-of-Famer picked up his 200th career win during the regular season, however 1978 was probably his weakest year in nearly a decade. Sutton, who entering the playoffs had never lost a postseason start, got shelled against the Phillies in the NLCS. He’ll need to be much sharper if the Dodgers hope to take an insurmountable lead in this series. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - NBC broadcast with Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, and Tom Seaver As always, shoutout to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 World Series Games 1 and 2 Tuesday October 10th and Wednesday October 11th @ Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA The Los Angeles Dodgers (95 - 67) and the New York Yankees (100 - 63) meet yet again in the World Series. Behind the heroics of Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, the Yankees took last year’s Fall Classic in six games, securing the 21st championship in their franchise’s dominant history. If they’re going to repeat as champions, it will be with a new manager, as Bob Lemon replaced Billy Martin in July. The Yanks turned their season around under the stewardship of Lemon, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a pitcher in 1976. His cool, calm, and collected manner was in stark contrast to the explosive Martin; still, there are rumors abound that owner George Steinbrenner regretted firing the firebrand (technically Martin resigned for ‘health reasons’), and even wanted him back as manager within a matter of days. You can’t deny the success the Yankees have had under Lemon, but they’ll need to win it all to satisfy the Boss. And even that might not keep him happy for long. The Dodgers dispatched the Phillies in four games, winning the series in walk-off fashion with a Bill Russell single to score Ron Cey. Their offense was hitting on all cylinders in the NLCS, and it was their vaunted All-Star infield that led the way. The aforementioned left side (Russell and Cey) combined for 12 hits and 5 RBI in the four games, only to be outdone by the right side. Team Captain 2B Davey Lopes and former MVP 1B Steve Garvey combined for 14 hits, 6 home runs, and 12 RBI, with Garvey taking home NLCS MVP honors. It has been truly inspired play from this core group, who lost their mentor, hitting and infield coach Jim Gilliam, just a few days ago. His memorial service is planned before the start of game two.  Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda desperately wants to start this series with a pair of wins, so to defend home-field advantage he will turn to the top two in his excellent rotation, Tommy John and Burt Hooton. John is coming off of a shutout against Philly, and Hooton is as good as anyone when that knuckle curve is dancing. Yankees manager Bob Lemon will counter with 1978 20 game winner Ed Figueroa and former five time 20 game winner Catfish Hunter. Ace Ron Guidry won’t be available until game three, as he pitched the final game of the ALCS against Kansas City. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube (links to games below). NBC Broadcast with Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, Tom Seaver, and Curt Gowdy Game 1: LAD LHP Tommy John (17 - 10 3.30 ERA 213 IP) vs. NYY RHP Ed Figueroa (20 - 9 2.99 ERA 253 IP) Game 2: LAD RHP Burt Hooton (19 - 10 2.71 ERA 236 IP) vs. NYY Jim ‘Catfish’ Hunter (12 - 6 3.58 ERA 118 IP) As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 NLCS We have another repeat matchup on the National League side of the playoffs, with the Los Angeles Dodgers (95 - 67) and the Philadelphia Phillies (90 - 72) squaring off once again. This is the third straight NLCS appearance for the Phils, but they’ve yet to win a playoff game at Veterans Stadium, much to the disappointment of their energized fans. Although the Phillies lead the NL East for most of the season, there was fear of a 1964-esque collapse in September. The Pirates and Cubs were chasing them down, but Danny Ozark’s squad rallied for a strong finish to stave off their pursuers. The pitching staff was solid, yet unspectacular. Carlton and Christenson provided both quality and quantity in terms of innings, and the bullpen was as reliable as ever with Reed, McGraw, and Brusstar. The Phillies had an elite offense just a year ago (5.23 R/G 108 OPS+ 1st in NL), but their run production slipped this season (4.37 R/G 99 OPS+ 3rd in NL). This was largely due to a significant drop in power from the likes of Mike Schmidt (.574 SLG in ’77 -> .435 SLG in ’78), and Bake McBride (.564 SLG -> .392 SLG), not to mention paltry bench production compared to the previous year. Greg “The Bull” Luzinski put together another excellent campaign (35 HR 101 RBI 153 OPS+) and will look to continue his great postseason play. He’ll need his teammates to join him this year if they want to advance to the World Series. The Dodgers road back to the World Series was certainly more challenging than last year, as they trailed both San Francisco and Cincinnati in the NL West at the beginning of August. They proceeded to finish out the year 33 - 19 while the Giants and Reds sputtered down the stretch. Although not as dominant as they were in ’77, Tommy Lasorda’s Dodgers were quite formidable. The lineup boasted a quartet of 30 HR hitters last year, but did not have a single guy reach that mark this season. That is not to say those guys had bad years. To the contrary, Reggie Smith (29 HR 93 RBI 162 OPS+), Steve Garvey (21 HR 113 RBI 138 OPS+), and Ron Cey (23 HR 84 RBI 134 OPS+) provided more than enough punch to lead the NL’s top offense (4.49 R/G 108 OPS+). Bounce back seasons from veteran Rick Monday and pinch-hitter extraordinaire Lee Lacy offset letdowns from Steve Yeager and Dusty Baker. The starting rotation was best in the league once again, with Sutton, Hooton, John, and Rau all winning at least 15 games and throwing nearly 200 innings or more. General manager Al Campanis added much needed bullpen help with a free agent signing of a former White Sox and Pirate standout, Terry Forster (22 SV 1.93 ERA 65 IP). The lefty fireballer has been money in the late innings for LA. As the Dodgers get ready to defend their NL Pennant, their thoughts are with their hitting coach, Jim Gilliam. The former All-Star second baseman, who spent all of his MLB playing and coaching career with the Dodgers, suffered a brain bleed in late September and has been in a coma ever since. Unfortunately, he will never wake up from that coma. Gilliam had always felt lucky to be a Dodger, and they were lucky to have him. If the Dodgers are able to win this series, it will be for Jim Gilliam. Game 1: PHI RHP Larry Christenson (13 - 14 3.24 ERA 228 IP) vs. LAD RHP Burt Hooton (19 - 10 2.71 ERA 236 IP) Game 2: PHI RHP Dick Ruthven (13 - 5 2.99 ERA 150 IP) vs. LAD LHP Tommy John (17 - 10 3.30 ERA 213 IP) Game 3: LAD RHP Don Sutton (15 - 11 3.55 ERA 238 IP) vs. PHI LHP Steve Carlton (16 - 13 2.84 ERA 247 IP) Game 4: LAD LHP Doug Rau (15 - 9 3.26 ERA 199 IP) vs. PHI LHP Randy Lerch (11 - 8 3.96 ERA 184 IP) Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - ABC Broadcast with Al Michaels, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Bench As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 ALCS - October 3rd - 7th, 1978  For the third straight season, the Kansas City Royals (92 - 70) and the New York Yankees (100 - 63) will battle for the American League pennant. The previous two series were classics, with the Yanks pulling through in the ninth inning of winner-take-all game fives. For the Royals, they are hoping that the third time will be the charm. Their offensive machine kept rolling, with strong performances by stalwart George Brett, reliable Darrell Porter, and a return to form from Amos Otis. The starting pitching continued to be solid, led by Leonard, Splittorff, and Gura, but perhaps the most significant addition was to the bullpen (which had struggled in previous playoffs). The ‘Mad Hungarian’, Al Hrabosky, has been outstanding in late innings, and the fans have certainly appreciated his showmanship. Manager Whitey Herzog will need his lefty reliever to combat the big left-handed bats of New York.   The final three games of this series will be in New York, but the Yankees will be at a slight pitching disadvantage to start, since ace Ron Guidry won’t be available until game four. Rookie Jim Beattie will get the game one start for the Yankees, and the Royals will turn to back-to back 20 game winner Dennis Leonard. Manager Bob Lemon will need some innings from the young righty. If the Yankees can steal one in Kansas City, they will be in position to take the series when it gets back to New York. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube (links below) ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Jim Palmer WPIX Broadcast with Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto, and Bill White Game 1: KCR RHP Dennis Leonard (21 - 17 3.33 ERA 294 IP) vs. NYY RHP Jim Beattie (6 - 9 3.73 ERA 128 IP) Game 2: KCR LHP Larry Gura (16 - 4 2.72 ERA 221 IP) vs. NYY RHP Ed Figueroa (20 - 9 2.99 ERA 253 IP) Game 3: NYY RHP Jim 'Catfish' Hunter (12 - 6 3.58 ERA 118 IP) vs. KCR LHP Paul Splittorff (19 - 13 3.40 ERA 262 IP) Game 4: NYY LHP Ron Guidry (25 - 3 1.74 ERA 273 IP) vs. KCR RHP Dennis Leonard As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 Game AL East Playoff Monday October 2nd, 1978 @ Fenway Park Boston, MA After 162 games played, the bitter rivals of the northeast find themselves deadlocked for the division crown, each sporting identical 99-63 records. The entire season comes down to just one game at Fenway Park, and it’s gonna be a great one. It looked like it was going to be a banner year for the Red Sox, with Jim Rice playing like an MVP, Dennis Eckersley winning 20 games, and a whole host of spectacular performances. But like the previous season, the division lead began slipping away. They were up 14 games on the Yankees in mid-July, but that was cut to just 7 games by the end of August. And after a four game sweep dubbed “The Boston Massacre” in early September, the Yankees had caught the Sox.  The downward spiral continued in Beantown, but a furious rally of eight straight wins to close the season has forced a playoff against the Yanks. Having been forced to use their best starters (Eckersley and Luis Tiant), manager Don Zimmer will turn to an experienced, post-season tested veteran, Mike Torrez (16 - 12 3.92 ERA 243 IP). The big righty was instrumental for New York’s World Series run in 1977, but he has scuffled in the stretch run, losing 6 of his last 7 decisions. They’ll need him to recapture his form if they hope to advance to the ALCS. The 1977 season was tumultuous for the New York Yankees, but it culminated in a World Series and a return of nearly everyone who contributed to that greatness. But a second go-round for this group was filled with turmoil once again, as the Yankees struggled out of the gate. This time, there was too much trouble on and off the field, and it cost Billy Martin his job. They were just 52 - 42 with Martin at the helm, but once again caught fire (47 - 20) in the second half under Bob Lemon’s stewardship. Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles were excellent once again. Goose Gossage was a new weapon out of the pen, and Catfish Hunter had a great rebound. The story of this season, however, was the ascendance of their young lefty, Ron Guidry. The fireballer ran roughshod through the entire American League (24 - 3 1.72 ERA 267 IP), putting together one of the most dominant modern pitching seasons in baseball history. He will get the ball with the season on the line, and there’s no other pitcher in the league you’d rather have. Audio clips from MLB Vault on Youtube - WPIX broadcast with Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto, and Bill White As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information and much, much more.

1977 World Series Game 6 Tuesday October 18th, 1977 @ Yankee Stadium in New York, New York The Dodgers avoided elimination behind an explosive rout in game five, but now they’re going to have to do it on the road. Burt Hooton (12 - 7 2.62 ERA 223 IP) will get the ball with the season on the line, and the veteran righty was absolutely brilliant in game two. To stay alive in this series, LA manager Tommy Lasorda will need the man he jocularly called “Happy” to deliver once again. The Yankees are just one win away from securing their 21st World Series trophy, but all is far from well in the Bronx. The originally scheduled starter was Ed Figueroa, but a finger issue and questions of effectiveness made manager Billy Martin turn to righty Mike Torrez (17 - 13 3.88 ERA 243 IP). The Figueroa Situation became headline news as he threatened to leave the team and fly back to Puerto Rico upon hearing he wouldn’t pitch. Tensions were eventually resolved there, but it was not the only problem in the clubhouse. Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Billy Martin, George Steinbrenner, and the press were all feuding with one another, and there was a bombshell report suggesting that Martin would be fired if the Yanks lost the series. To the shock of many, GM Gabe Paul announced before game 6 that Martin signed a contract extension through the 1979 season. A brilliant chess move from “the Boss”, but it would only work if the Yankees could seal the deal tonight. And to really quell the doubts, a superstar performance may be required. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube. ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver. Postgame with Bill White As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 World Series Game 5 Sunday October 16th, 1977 @ Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA The Dodgers are on the verge of elimination in this World Series, and they are in serious danger of being swept in their own ballpark if they don’t win today. The usually potent offense for LA has been quieted by the New York rotation, with Mike Torrez and Ron Guidry spinning consecutive gems in games three and four, respectively. The good news for the Dodgers, they will have their future Hall-of-Famer, Don Sutton (14 - 8 3.18 ERA 240 IP), on the hill. The curly-haired righty was solid in game one, but he picked up a no-decision in a game that went 12 innings. He has yet to take a loss in a postseason start for his career, and the Dodgers will need him to continue that streak. Opposing him for the Yankees will be the lefty Don Gullet** (14 - 4 3.58 ERA 158 IP), who pitched into the ninth inning in game one, despite a rough start. With a 3 - 1 series lead and the final two games at home if necessary, the Yankees don’t “need” this one, but boy, would they like to have it. It has been a tenuous year in the Bronx, so they want to take care of business before any doubt sets in. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O. ** RIP to Don Gullet (the Yankees starter for game 5), who passed away last week at just 73 years old. The former Reds great compiled a career 109 - 50 record, with a 3.11 ERA in 1390 IP across 9 seasons. He was a 3x World Series champion, and after his playing career was a pitching coach with the Reds. His career was cut short due to a torn rotator cuff, but he was a key cog in the Big Red Machine. He will be missed. **

1977 World Series Game 4 Saturday October 15th, 1977 @ Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, CA The Yankees took game three in convincing fashion to regain home field advantage in this best of seven series. Looking to press their advantage, they will turn to an emerging star, Ron Guidry (16 - 7 2.82 ERA 210 IP). The Louisiana-born lefty broke out in a big way during his first full major league season, helping to solidify the rotation along with right-hander Mike Torrez. The 26 year old was fantastic down the stretch, going 11 - 3 over his final 16 starts with a 2.47 ERA. On the offensive side, all eyes are on Reggie Jackson, who has yet to play like “Mr. October”. The former MVP has been a non-factor in the playoffs so far, putting up a meager .160/.300/.160 slash line (4 - 25 2 RBI in 8 games). Billy Martin and the Yankees are hoping that Reggie can turn it around in rapid fashion, like he did for the A’s in 1973. For Tommy Lasorda and the Dodgers, this afternoon’s game is a must win. You do not want to go on the verge of elimination if you can avoid it. The LA bats have provided some thump (5 HRs in the last two games), but they’ve mostly been unable to touch the Yankees starters outside of Catfish Hunter. On the mound will be a lefty of their own, Doug Rau (14 - 8 3.43 ERA 212 IP). Rau won 11 of his first 12 decisions, but then lost 7 of his final 10, though his record belies the underlying numbers. He actually pitched to a 2.81 ERA in the losing stretch, compared to a 3.86 ERA in the winning one. Such can be the life of a pitcher. If Rau struggles, expect Lasorda to turn to his other starter, Rick Rhoden (16 - 10 3.74 ERA 216 IP) in relief. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 World Series Game 3 Friday October 13th, 1977 @ Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California The series is tied at a game apiece as we head out to the West Coast for the first of three games in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are in good spirits, coming off of an absolute drubbing in game two behind a Burt Hooton masterpiece and four long home runs from Cey, Smith, Garvey, and Yeager. They turn to veteran lefty Tommy John (20 - 7 2.78 ERA 220 IP), who finished runner-up in Cy Young voting in ’77. The workhorse has been nothing short of outstanding after returning from an experimental elbow surgery (yes, that one) the previous season. Tommy Lasorda’s starters have kept the powerful Yankees offense at bay through two games, can John make it a third? All is not well in the Bronx, and that’s not even talking about tumult in Billy Martin’s clubhouse. We’ll leave the unrest in the city to those who have covered it in depth, and we’ll just try to focus on the baseball. That’s probably what the Yankees need to do themselves. Reggie Jackson is simultaneously feuding with his manager, the Boss, his teammates, and the New York media. Thurman Munson just wants to go back home to Ohio, and no one is quite sure if the Yanks will have enough arms to even get through five games. Getting the call today is the man who has stepped up in big games throughout the season, Mike Torrez (17 - 13 3.88 ERA 243 IP). The big right-hander, who is on the verge of free agency, was dynamite down the stretch, going 9 - 3 with 10 complete games in his final 15 starts. He also provided a season saving relief effort against the Royals in game five of the ALCS. The Yankees will need a big game from him if they want to retake home field advantage. They will also need the offense, particularly leadoff man Mickey Rivers and the aforementioned Jackson to step up on the offensive side. Audio clips from joeydbball on YouTube - ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver  Pregame CBS News with Walter Cronkite and Terry Drinkwater As always shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 World Series Game 2 Wednesday October 12th, 1977 @ Yankee Stadium New York, New York After a thrilling extra-inning walk-off victory, courtesy of reserve outfielder Paul Blair, the Yankees look to press the advantage in this best of seven World Series. To the surprise of many, it will be Jim ‘Catfish’ Hunter (9 - 9 4.71 ERA 143 IP) getting the ball for Billy Martin’s Yankees, who has not pitched in over a month. It has certainly been a year to forget for the 8x All-Star, 5x 20 game winner, 3x World Series champion, former Cy Young, and future Hall-of-Famer. Arm fatigue and other health issues have maligned him all year, but the Yankees hope he can rediscover the craft that made him one of the best postseason pitchers of the decade (8 - 4 2.81 ERA 109 IP 15 GS *thru 1976). For Tommy Lasorda and the Dodgers, they really want to win tonight. Going down 2-0 in a series before 3 straight games at home is not an overwhelming deficit, but it’s not ideal. If they can steal a game on the road, they will feel much better about their chances on the flight back to Los Angeles. Who better to turn to than one of the best road warriors in 1977, Burt Hooton (12 -7 2.62 ERA 236 IP). The veteran righty is admist the best stretch of his underrated career, and he was outstanding away from LA with a 2.32 ERA in 124 IP. He did fail to get out of the second inning in his NLCS start at Philly, but that might have had more to do with questionable umpiring than his pitching ability. When Hooton has his signature knucklecurve dancing, he can be near unhittable. If the Dodgers hope to tie up this series, they will need Hooton to lead the way. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 World Series  Game One - Tuesday October 11th, 1977 @ Yankee Stadium, New York, NY The Big Apple versus Hollywood. The City that Never Sleeps against the City of Angels. What used to be coined the ’Subway Series’ in the 40’s and 50’s is now a battle of the coasts. The New York Yankees (100 - 62) take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (98 - 64), formerly of Brooklyn, in their ninth World Series against one another. The Bronx Bombers have had the Dodgers number, winning six of the previous eight matchups. But that is old history, and these teams bring a whole new cast of characters to this storied rivalry. And they are sure to bring some really entertaining baseball. The Yankees, managed by former scrappy infielder Billy Martin, are looking for the 21st World Series title. After getting swept by the Reds in last year’s series, Martin and the Yanks certainly want to start off with a win. What better option to turn to than the guy who beat you last year, lefty Don Gullet (14 - 4 3.58 ERA 158 IP). The former Cincinnatti ace, who has been dealing with an ailing shoulder all year, lacked command and was rocked by the Royals in the ALCS. With rest and treatment, he says he is ready to go. The Yankees will need length out of him, as the bullpen (really just Sparky Lyle) has been taxed so far in these playoffs. For the Dodgers, who are also led by a former 50’s player in Tommy Lasorda, they will turn to their most reliable arm, Don Sutton (14 - 8 3.18 ERA 240 IP). The future Hall-of-Famer has yet to lose in 5 previous playoff starts, sporting a 1.38 ERA across 39 innings pitched. The curly-haired righty was outstanding against the Phillies in the NLCS, allowing just one run in a complete game win. For both of these teams, a lot is expected of their stars (Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Steve Garvey, and Reggie Smith). But as it often happens in the Fall Classic, it will be the role players, the unsung heroes that come through in key moments. And these teams have a bevy of guys that star in their roles. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - ABC Sports with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver As always shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

ALCS - Royals vs. Yankees For the second consecutive year, the Kansas City Royals (102 - 60) and the New York Yankees (100 - 62) will face off with the AL pennant on the line. Last year, the series went the distance, with one of the most iconic endings in playoff history, a Chris Chambliss walk off home run to send the Yanks to the World Series. This year, the series will once again go five games, with a dramatic finish in the final inning. Since he was hired as full time manager after an interim stint in 1975, all Royals manager Whitey Herzog has done is lead Kansas City to their first two playoff appearances in their relatively short history. They may have come up short in the 1976 ALCS, but this team is more than ready for a second chance. These Royals and their young core have established themselves as perennial AL contenders. Leading the was is star third baseman George Brett (22 HR 88 RBI 142 OPS+), who has cemented himself as one of the top players in the game in just his age 24 season. Bolstering the heart of this powerful lineup are Hal McRae (21 HR 92 RBI 136 OPS+) and Al Cowens (23 HR 112 RBI 137 OPS+), both of whom received MVP votes but were surprisingly not All-Stars in the ’77 season. Dennis Leonard (20 - 12 3.04 ERA 292 IP) and Paul Splittorff (16 - 6 3.69 ERA 229 IP) led the way for the starters, and Herzog could deploy a bevy of reliable, but unspectacular arms to cover the late innings or spot starts. Despite the magical finish to the previous year’s ALCS, the Yankees disappointed in the World Series, getting swept by the Big Red Machine. Still, expectations were sky high for manager Billy Martin, who had already taken 3 different teams to the playoffs to this point in his career. The Boss, owner George Steinbrenner, demands results; therefore, it’s not enough to have the reigning MVP in catcher Thurman Munson, bring in superstar Reggie Jackson on the biggest contract ever awarded to a player. The rotation was strong with former A’s All-Stars Catfish Hunter and Ken Holtzman. Let’s sign Don Gullet, who just beat us in last year. With all these new faces, it is no surprise that this team got off to a slow start, but they were just too talented to let that spoil the season. The Yankees went absolutely nuclear with a 50 - 20 second half record. Munson (18 HR 100 RBI 121 OPS +) and Jackson (32 HR 100 RBI 150 OPS+) were their typical MVP-caliber-selves, while Graig Nettles (37 HR 107 RBI 124 OPS+) put together one of the best seasons of his underrated career. The pitching staff delivered, but it wasn’t the stars that got it done. Gullet was solid in his first year as a Yankee, but Hunter and Holtzman were disasters. Figueroa and Torrez carried much of the load, but it was the unexpected breakout of lefty Ron Guidry (16 - 7 2.82 ERA 210 IP) that really elevated the NYY rotation. Perhaps the savior of the season was the duo out of the bullpen, Dick Tidrow (11 - 4 5 SV 3.16 ERA 151 IP) and Sparky Lyle (13 - 5 26 SV 2.17 ERA 137 IP), the latter taking home the AL Cy Young. If the Yankees want another pennant, they will need their stars to perform, especially on the road. Game 1 @ NYY: LHP Don Gullet (14 - 4 3.58 ERA 158 IP) vs. LHP Paul Splittorff Game 2 @ NYY: LHP Ron Guidry vs. LHP Andy Hassler (9 - 6 4.20 ERA 156 IP) Game 3 @ KCR: RHP Dennis Leonard vs. RHP Mike Torrez (17 - 13 3.88 ERA 243 IP) Game 4 @ KCR: LHP Larry Gura (8 - 5 10 SV 3.13 ERA 106 IP) vs. RHP Ed Figueroa (16 - 11 3.57 ERA 239 IP) Game 5 @ KCR: LHP Paul Splittorff vs. LHP Ron Guidry Audio clips from Youtube, links to specific games below  1976 ALCS GM 5 - ABC by Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Reggie Jackson Game 2 - NBC by Dick Enberg and Don Drysdale Game 4 - WPIX by Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto, and Bill White NBC by Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek Game 5 - WPIX  As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 NLCS Meeting up for the first of two consecutive NLCS battles in 1977 and 1978, the Philadelphia Phillies (101-61) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64) face off with games one and two at Dodger Stadium, and the final three (if necessary) at Veterans Stadium in Philly. The Phillies captured their second of three consecutive NL East titles behind the stewardship of Danny Ozark. The Fightin’s had the best lineup in the NL, and they were stacked at nearly every position. Michael Jack Schmidt was his typical outstanding self (38 HR 101 RBI .274/.393/.574 151 OPS+), but it was Greg ‘the Bull’ Luzinski (39 HR 130 RBI .309/.394/.594 156 OPS+) who finished runner-up in MVP voting. The mid-season trade for former Cardinals OF Bake McBride bolstered are already strong outfield core with Garry Maddox and the Bull. Larry Bowa and Bob Boone provided excellent defense and timely hits, while platoon hitters like Jay Johnstone, Tim McCarver, and Davey Johnson crushed their opportunities. ‘Lefty’ Steve Carlton picked up his second career Cy Young by leading the NL in wins, but the rest of the rotation left a lot to be desired. These Phillies were able to win over a 100 games because Danny Ozark could turn to a dominant bullpen, with 4 guys (Gene Garber, Ron Reed, Tug McGraw, and Warren Brusstar) sporting ERAs in the 2s. With a high-powered offense, a true ace, and a lights-out bullpen, this is a modern team to be reckoned with. In his first full year as manager of the Dodgers, Tommy Lasorda led this storied franchise back to the playoffs. His lineup packs a punch to rival the Phillies, with four 30+ home run hitters (Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Dusty Baker, and Reggie Smith). The corner infielders (Garvey and Cey) both drove in 110+ runs, while the corner outfielders (Baker and Smith) provided more in on-base and slugging, with Smith leading the NL in OPS+ and finishing fourth in MVP voting. Where the Dodgers had the greatest edge over the league was with their pitching staff, who collectively had a 3.22 ERA, 20% better than league average. All 5 of their starters pitched over 200 innings with above average ERAs and double digit wins. Tommy John led the way with 20 wins and a 2.78 ERA. The bullpen was not as reliable as Philadelphia’s, but that is partially because they weren’t relied on as frequently. The pitching matchups will be as follows: Game 1 @ LAD - LHP Tommy John (20 - 7 2.78 ERA 220 IP) vs. LHP Steve Carlton (23 - 10 2.64 ERA 283 IP) Game 2 @ LAD - RHP Don Sutton (14 - 8 3.18 ERA 240 IP) vs. Jim Lonborg (11 - 4 4.11 ERA 157 IP) Game 3 @ PHI - RHP Larry Christenson (19 - 6 4.06 ERA 219 IP) vs. Burt Hooton (12 - 7 2.62 ERA 223 IP) Game 4 @ PHI - LHP Steve Carlton vs. LHP Tommy John Audio clips from Youtube linked below Game 1 - Vin Scully on KTTV Game 2 - Russ Porter and Jerry Doggett on KTTV Game 3 - Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, and Andy Musser on WPHL-TV Game 4 - Dick Enberg and Don Drysdale on NBC (plus Kalas on WPHL-TV) As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 BBWAA HOF Ballot With the new year nearly upon us, it’s time to once again talk about the Hall of Fame, focusing on the candidates on the BBWAA ballot. There are many strong holdovers who either have a shot at election this year, like Todd Helton and Billy Wagner, or will make strides towards future enshrinement, like Andruw Jones and Carlos Beltrán. There are the suspected or confirmed PED users, like AROD, Manny Ramirez, Andy Pettite, and Gary Sheffield, who will all likely fall short of the 75% threshold. And then there’s the new guys. There’s Adrián Beltré, whose 3,000 hits, 477 HR and 5 Gold Gloves at third base pretty much guarantee his election, the only question being how many writers don’t vote for him. Former Twins MVP and standout catcher Joe Mauer makes his debut on the ballot, and he brings with him a very compelling case, though he is anything but a sure bet given the injuries that hampered his longevity. Phillies gritty second baseman Chase Utley is a sabermetric darling, but he lacks the career counting stats and accolades that usually accompany players of his caliber. There are plenty of other intriguing names on this ballot, and for most of the them, the honor is just making it to this point. Take a listen as we discuss this year’s candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Audio clip sources listed below Adrián Beltré’s 3000th hit - TEX radio KRLD 105.3 by Matt Hicks Joe Mauer’s final game - MIN TV Fox Sports North by Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven Chase Utley is ‘The Man’ - PHI radio WIP by Harry Kalas and Chris Wheeler Bartolo Colon - the impossible has happened - NYM TV SNY by Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 Hall of Fame: Contemporary Era Managers, Executives, and Umpires As Baseball Winter Meetings get underway, the Contemporary Era committee for the Baseball Hall of Fame will have eight candidates to consider. On this year’s ballot are a selection of managers, umpires, and executives, who are listed below. On today’s episode, we discuss the candidates, their cases, and some of top moments from their careers. Jim Leyland - Manager of Pirates, Marlins, Rockies, and Tigers. 1997 World Series, 2x AL pennant (’06, ’12) 3x Manager of the Year. 8x playoffs Marlins walk-off 1997 World Series - called by Bob Costas on NBC Leyland yells at Barry Bonds Bill White - 8x All-Star, 7x GG 1B for Cardinals and Phillies, legendary broadcaster with Yankees and nationally with CBS, AL President 1989-1994 Kirk Gibson’s one-legged walk off called by Jack Buck and White on CBS Radio Cito Gaston - Toronto Blue Jays Manager 1992, 1993 World Series 4x playoffs. First black manager to win World Series Joe Carter’s Walk-off in ‘93 - called by Tom Cheek on CJCL Lou Pinella - 1969 ROY, All-Star, 2x WS as player. Manager of Yankees, Reds, Mariners, Devil Rays, and Cubs. 1990 World Series. 3x Manager of the Year. 8x playoffs Oliver walks of Game 2 of 1990 WS - called by Jack Buck and Tim McCarver on CBS Reds sweep A’s - called by Marty Brennaman on WLW Davey Johnson - 4x All-Star, 3x GG, 2x WS as player. Manager of Mets, Reds, Orioles, Dodgers, and Nationals. 1986 World Series, 2x Manager of the Year. 6x playoffs Mets survive on Buckner’s error - called by Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola on NBC Also on the ballot are umpires Joe West and Ed Montague, as well as former Orioles, A’s, and Indians (now known as Guardians) general manager/president Hank Peters. The committee will meet this weekend and vote. Take a listen to our thoughts on these candidates, who we’d vote for, and who we expect to be enshrined World Series Broadcast History As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 World Series Game 5 Rangers (90-72) @ Diamondbacks (84-78) TEX leads 3-1 The Texas Rangers stand just one win away from their first ever World Series Championship after taking games three and four in convincing fashion. To seal the deal, they turn to one of the best postseason pitchers of this era, Nathan Eovaldi. The Texas-born righty has been electric this postseason and looks to become the first pitcher to ever win 5 starts* in a single postseason, and to have his team go 6-0 in those starts. Corey Seager continues to mash, adding two run homers in consecutive games to his stellar postseason résumé. If Texas secures victory in this game, he will likely become just the second position player to win multiple WS MVPS. The other, Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, of course, whom Seager just passed in all-time postseason HRs. The Rangers have benefited from production all throughout the lineup, including from youngsters Evan Carter and Josh Jung, as well as veterans Mitch Garver and Jonah Helm. They will be without ALCS MVP and game one hero Adolis García, who left game 3 with an oblique injury, but picking up some of the slack has been Marcus Semien, who appears to be righting the ship after an abysmal start to these playoffs. The Rangers are 10-0 on the road this postseason, and if they make it 11, it will put manager Bruce Bochy in exclusive company with 4 WS rings, which just 5 other managers* have accomplished. If they get it done tonight, that would also make it 4 WS clinched on the road for Boch. On the other side, Arizona will call upon ace Zac Gallen, who will need to be a lot sharper than he’s been in the playoffs so far. Facing elimination, there will be no margin for error. Torey Lovullo’s squad fought back hard to make game four interesting, but the story of this series has been Arizona’s inability to get out to an early lead, save for game two. They’ve faced early deficits in 3 of the 4 games, and the comeback magic they relied upon so often this season has been absent as of late. These Dbacks have been counted out before, but we will see if the pressure of the World Series is too much for these underdogs. Can the Snakes stay alive, or will the Rangers be crowned as champions? Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel, Matt Hicks, and Jared Sandler (producer) ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Chris Garagiola Catch you next time, P.C.O. *Both Randy Johnson (’01) and Stephen Strasburg (’19) won 5 games, but each had a win in a relief appearance (WS G7 for Johnson, NLWC for Strasburg)* *Joe McCarthy (7), Casey Stengel (7), Connie Mack (5), Walter Alston (4), Joe Torre (4) Jesse Goldberg-Strassler LinkedIn on Broadcasting

2023 World Series Game 3 and 4 @ Chase Field Rangers (90-72) @ Diamondbacks (84-78) Series Tied 1-1 We head to Phoenix with the series tied at a game apiece. The Texas Rangers have yet to drop a game on the road this postseason, and they will be sending Max Scherzer to the hill to start game 3. Mad Max has not been his dominant self due to a late season injury, but manager Bruce Bochy will likely only need a few innings from the righty with his top relievers rested and raring to go. For the Diamondbacks, breakout rookie Brandon Pfaadt looks to build off of his impressive outings against the Dodgers and the Phillies, both tough lineups to navigate. He’ll need to be on his game to keep these Texas bats quiet, especially with Corey Seager locked in. If the Rangers want to keep their road winning streak alive, they are going to need a lot more out of Marcus Semien, who is hitting below .200 this postseason entering game three, despite leading the AL in hits and runs in the regular season. For Arizona, their offense usually goes how stars Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte have gone, but as of late it’s been the veteran Tommy Pham who’s been red hot. As we look ahead to game four, it will likely be a bullpen game with lefties Andrew Heaney and Joe Mantiply opening things. How effective they and the other relievers will pitch remains to be seen. Taking games three and four will put a team just one win away from a World Series trophy, but split and we are guaranteed to head back to Arlington. Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel, Matt Hicks, and Jared Sandler ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Chris Garagiola Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 World Series Games 1 and 2 @ Globe Life Field Diamondbacks (84-78) @ Rangers (90-72) A dozen teams entered the postseason, and now only two remain. The Fall Classic gets underway down in Arlington, Texas, with the Rangers back in the series for the first time since 2011 and the Diamondbacks returning for their second ever appearance. Just two years ago, both of these teams lost over 100 games, and just last year, Texas lost 94 and Arizona lost 88. These teams have taken different pathways to return to relevancy. the Rangers invested heavily in free agency, shook up the front office, and hired a future Hall-of-Famer as manager. With a brand new ballpark that opened in the covid-shortened 2020 season, Texas ownership expressed a sense of urgency to its new architects. The Diamondbacks retained their coach and GM despite a brutal and disappointing stretch, because they knew the future was still bright. Arizona GM Mike Hazen (a Princeton grad like new Texas GM Chris Young) had strong track record with drafting and developing players, which he supplemented with shrewd deals during the offseason and at the trade deadline. Torey Lovullo, in his seventh year at the helm, led the DBacks to the playoffs in his first season, and he now has an NL Pennant under his belt. His calm and steady demeanor has been attributed to keeping this young team focused despite some bumps along the way. Few experts or prognosticators would have picked this matchup at the beginning of the year, or even at the start of these playoffs, but for us avid baseball fans, this should make quite a compelling series. Game one will be a battle of right-handed All Stars. Texan Nathan Eovaldi looks to continue his excellent postseason (4-0 2.42 ERA 26 IP 4 GS) and cement a legacy of playoff dominance. Zac Gallen gets the ball for the Snakes, though his second half struggles have rolled over to the postseason (2-2 5.27 ERA 22.1 IP 4 GS). In game two, the Rangers will call upon lefty Jordan Montgomery, who’s been nothing short of outstanding these playoffs (3-0 2.16 ERA 25 IP 4 GS 1 GR). Opposing him will be Merrill Kelly, a solid veteran (2-1 2.65 ERA 17 IP 3 GS) amidst an excellent two-year stretch (25-16 3.33 ERA 378 IP 63 GS). For the offenses, Corey Seager and Adolis García (ALCS MVP) have provided a ton of thump for the Rangers, while it’s been the trio of Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte (NLCS MVP), and Gabriel Moreno getting things going for the Snakes. Texas desperately wants to maintain home field advantage in the best of seven, but Arizona will be happy with a split before things head to Phoenix. Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel and Matt Hicks ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, and Chris Garagiola FOX Broadcast - Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, and Tom Verducci Catch you next time, P.C.O.