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.