MISSING IN ACTION -1979 WORLD SERIES SUB-SET GAME 6

Time to finaly finish this “missing 1979 postseason sub-set” thread with Game 6 of the 1978 World Series, a game which saw the New York Yankees repeat as World Champions against the Los Angeles Dodgers:

With Catfish Hunter squaring off against Don Sutton, the Yankees were on a three-game winning streak after opening the series with two straight losses to L.A.
Though Los Angeles scored in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead, the Yanks countered with three runs in the second, followed by two runs each in the six and seventh inning while Hunter kept the Dodger bats at bay with two runs on six hits.
Here’s the write-up for the game from Wikipedia:

“Game 6 turned out to be the Bucky Dent –Brian Doyle show.
Davey Lopes gave the Dodgers home crowd a ray of hope with a leadoff home run off Catfish Hunter. Dent and Doyle put the Yankees ahead in the second; Doyle with an RBI double, Dent with an RBI single and an additional run scoring on an error on the play.  Lopes had an RBI single in the third to cut it to 3–2 through the fifth inning, but that would be it for the Dodgers. Sutton pitched well until the sixth inning.
Dent and Doyle pushed the score to 5–2 in the sixth with RBI singles and Reggie Jackson put the final nail in the Dodgers coffin with a tremendous two-run blast in the seventh inning to get revenge against his Game 2 nemesis, Bob Welch.
Dent would be named World Series MVP, batting .417 with ten hits, seven RBI, and three runs scored. Doyle would make a claim for the MVP himself with a .438 average, seven hits, two RBI, and four runs.
While Lopes had a monster series with three homers and seven RBIs and Bill Russell had 11 hits, the Dodgers power hitters lack of production and the Dodgers shoddy defense was their downfall. Steve Garvey (5–for–24, no RBIs) was no factor, and neither were Dusty Baker (5–for–21, one RBI) or Ron Cey (no RBIs after Game 2) and the Dodgers defense committed seven errors.
Thurman Munson caught the final out of the game on a foul pop by Cey. This would be the final post-season game for Thurman Munson before his death during the 1979 season.”

Of course the Dodgers would get their revenge against the Yankees three years later when they themselves would be in a 0-2 hole going into Game 3 of the World Series before reeling off four straight to win the Championship, a series I remember vividly as a 12-year-old in Brooklyn.
Well there you have it, the 1979 “missing” postseason sub-set in the books for posterity!
Hope you enjoyed it!

 

MISSING IN ACTION- 1978 WORLD SERIES GAME 5

On the blog today is a “missing” 1979 World Series card for Game 5 of the 1978 Fall Classic, a sub-set that for some reason Topps scrapped that year, much to my young Yankee-loving dismay:

In Game 5, the Yankees moved one game closer to repeating as champions with a surprise pitching performance by young Jim Beattie, who pitched a complete game, allowing only two Dodgers runs on nine hits.
For a more comprehensive write-up, I defer here to this summary from Wikipedia:

“The Yankees took one step closer to a repeat World Series championship on the strength of an unexpected complete game victory by young Jim Beattie. Beattie scattered nine Dodgers hits and was buoyed by an 18-hit Yankees performance, including a World Series-record 16 singles.
Early on, the Dodgers tried to run to take advantage of a sore-shouldered Thurman Munson behind the plate. Davey Lopes led off the game with a single, stole second, and scored on a Reggie Smith single.  The Dodgers stretched their lead to 2–0 in the third when Lopes scored again on a double by Bill Russell.
But, that would be it as Beattie settled down and shut out the Dodgers the rest of the way. In the bottom of the third, after a leadoff walk and single, Roy White's RBI single cut the Dodgers' lead to 2–1. After a double steal, Munson's two-run single put the Yankees up 3–2. One out later, Lou Piniella's RBI single made it 4–2 Yankees and knocked starter Burt Hooton out of the game. Next inning, after two one-out singles, Mickey Rivers's RBI single and White's sacrifice fly made it 6–2 Yankees. Charlie Hough relieved Lance Rautzhan and allowed an RBI single to Munson. In the seventh, with runners on second and third and two outs, a strike three wild pitch by Hough to Rivers allowed a run to score and Rivers to reach first. White's RBI single made it 9–2 Yankees, then Munson's two-run double increased their lead to 11–2. They scored one more run in the eighth on Bucky Dent's RBI double off Hough as their 12–2 win gave them a 3–2 series lead heading back to Los Angeles.”

Back to Los Angeles they went, with the Bronx Bombers one game from a second straight title, and a second straight win over the Dodgers in the World Series.
Next week, the “missing” Game 6 card...

 

 

MISSING IN ACTION- 1979 WORLD SERIES GAME 4

 Up on the blog today, we’re up to Game 4 of the “missing” 1979 postseason sub-set, a pivotal game that saw the New York Yankees even up the Series but not without controversy (and Reggie Jackson’s hip):

Now, instead of writing it all myself, here’s the recap of the game from Wikipedia, which also describes why Reggie Jackson and his “shady” move may have helped the Yankees not only win the game, but eventually the World Series itself:

“Starters Ed Figueroa and Tommy John were locked in a scoreless duel before Reggie Smith struck with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning. John continued his shutout through the fifth, but, in the Yankees' half of the sixth, they scored.

Reggie Jackson finally got the Yankees on the board with a one-out RBI single. With Thurman Munson on second and Jackson on first, Lou Piniella hit a low, soft liner shortstop Bill Russell fumbled (some claim intentionally). Russell recovered the ball, then stepped on second to force Jackson, then his attempted throw to first to complete the double play struck a "confused" Jackson in the right hip and caromed into foul territory.
Munson scored, partially because first baseman Steve Garvey stopped to yell at the first-base umpire over the non-interference call before retrieving the ball.
The Dodgers' protests went for naught but would not have been necessary if Russell had made the proper play. Thinking Russell was going to catch Piniella's liner, Munson retreated towards second and was on second base when Russell picked up the ball. Munson then turned to third and Russell stepped on second to force Jackson and threw to first. The inning would have been over if Russell had tagged Munson (out #2) and stepped on second (out #3) to force Jackson or Russell steps on second to force Jackson (out #2) and gets Munson in a rundown between second and third (out #3); the score would have remained 3–1, instead the score was then 3–2. But of course, Russell had no reason to the think his throw would not reach first base.

Later review of the play clearly showed Jackson had stopped midway between first and second when Russell had made his throw to first. As the ball carried very close to Jackson's immediate right, Jackson had moved his hips to the right just as the ball sailed past, deflecting the ball down the first base line. While Jackson continued to deny it, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, along with other eyewitnesses, steadfastly believed the Yankees outfielder purposefully interfered in the play.

The Yankees tied it in the eighth when Munson doubled home Paul Blair . The score remained tied until the bottom of the tenth inning.  Dodgers rookie and Game 2 hero Bob Welch walked Roy White with one out.  After Welch retired Munson, Jackson strode to the plate for his first confrontation with Welch since Game 2.  This time, Jackson got the better end by singling White to second. Lou Piniella then lined a single to center, scoring White and tying the series.

The bungled Russell/Jackson play changed the game and the entire Series; instead of the Dodgers going up 3–1 in games, the Series was then tied and the momentum shifted to the Yankees who outscored the Dodgers 19–4 in the final two games.”

Wow. Was this shrewd baseball genius on the part of Jackson or some shadiness that should be frowned upon?
Regardless, what a huge shift in momentum that allowed the Yankees to go on to repeat as champions.
But first, the final two games! See you next week!

 

 

MISSING IN ACTION- 1978 WORLD SERIES GAME 3

Time to celebrate the game that created the defensive legendary of New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles, who put on a clinic in Game 3 of the 1978 World Series to give the Yankees their first win and kill some of the momentum the Dodgers built over the first two games:

With the Yankees desperate for a win in Game 3, they had their ace Ron Guidry on the mound, but it was their All-Star third baseman Nettles who would be the “stopper” of sorts.
To really get the idea of what went on, here’s a great write-up on the SABR. Org site that recaps the games, thanks to Steven C. Weiner:

“For Game Three, the Yankees had their ace on the mound, Ron Guidry. Guidry had a career year, leading the American League in wins, ERA, winning percentage (.893), and shutouts (9) while completing 16 games in 35 starts.
With the Dodgers countering with Don Sutton (15-11, 3.55 ERA, and 12 complete games), there was every expectation that a stellar pitching performance on either side could determine the outcome of the game. The defensive prowess of Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles was well known, even if underappreciated since he broke in with the Minnesota Twins in 1967. His defensive plays would turn Game Three and the World Series toward the Yankees in dramatic fashion and become the lead highlight of Joseph Wancho’s SABR biography of Nettles.

The Yankees struck first with single runs in the first and second innings for a 2-0 lead. Roy White homered down the right-field line in the first and Bucky Dent’s one-out groundout in the second scored Nettles, who had singled earlier in the inning. The Dodgers got one run back in the third when Bill Russell singled to score Bill North, who had walked, stolen second, and advanced to third on a groundout. It could have been worse had it not been for Nettles’ wizardry. Reggie Smith  hit a rocket down the third-base line. Nettles dived to his right to snag it, hurried to his feet, and threw Smith out at first to end the inning.

Nettles’ best would come in the fifth and sixth innings to bail out Ron Guidry. Guidry was still holding a 2-1 lead without his best stuff. In each of the first six innings, Guidry walked a batter. In the fifth inning, Smith came up again and lined another shot toward Nettles, who was only able to knock it down, holding Smith to a single and loading the bases. Steve Garvey did the same thing, lining a shot to third. This time Nettles backhanded the ball from his knees, spinning in one motion for a throw to second for an inning-ending force out. Davey Lopes came to bat in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs and drilled one in Nettles’ direction. Again, Nettles made the play, throwing to second for a force out to end the inning.

The Yankees got to Don Sutton decisively in the seventh inning with three more hits. An RBI single by Thurman Munson scored Bucky Dent from third and brought in reliever Lance Rautzhan, who yielded another RBI single to Reggie Jackson, scoring White. Lou Piniella’s groundout scored Munson to finish the game’s scoring, 5-1. For Guidry, it had been a struggle not being able to retire the Dodgers in order in any inning. “When I was warming up before the game, I thought I had a good fastball. I must have left it in the bullpen,” he said. But his 137-pitch gutsy performance meant the Dodgers’ World Series lead had been cut in half, two games to one.”

What an instant Major League classic! One of the earlier baseball highlights of my live as a nine-year-old back then.

 

 

MISSING IN ACTION- 1979 WORLD SERIES GAME 2

Today we have the “missing” World Series Game 2 card that Topps decided NOT to include in their 1979 set, and it depicts the commanding Los Angeles Dodger victory over the New York Yankees, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series:

Though Dodger third baseman Ron Cey would seemingly be the hero in this one, hitting a three-run homer and driving in all four runs in the 4-3 win, it would end up being remembered for the battle of young rookie Bob Welch against slugger Reggie Jackson in the ninth inning, with Welch coming out on top, striking out the future Hall of Famer.
With two men on base in the ninth and holding on to the slim one-run lead, Welch was brought in to relieve Terry Forster and got Thurman Munson to fly-out for the second out, bringing Jackson to the plate.
With Postseason heroics Jackson’s specialty, the odds seemed against the young pitcher, even getting to a 3-2 count against one of the greatest Postseason hitters the game has ever seen.
But wouldn’t you know it, while he could have given Jackson first base and concentrated anew against Graig Nettles, Welch attacked Jackson inside and got him to strikeout, giving the Dodgers what seemed to be an insurmountable 2 games to none lead.
Great baseball moment though as a young Yankee fan in Brooklyn at the time, I hated it!

MISSING IN ACTION- 1979 WORLD SERIES GAME 1

Time to begin the process of “righting” the wrong that is a missing World Series sub-set in the 1979 Topps set, beginning with game one, as the Los Angeles Dodgers trounced the New York Yankees 11-5 in L.A.:

The star of the game was Davey Lopes, who went 2-for-5 at the plate with two homers and five runs batted in, giving the Dodgers an opening win as they tried to avenge their loss to the Yanks the previous season.
The Dodgers jumped on starter Ed Figueroa and drove him out of the game with two outs in the second inning, as he gave up five hits and a walk in that brief outing.
For the Dodgers, starter Tommy John was solid, pitching into the eighth inning and giving up three earned runs in 7 and two-thirds, with four strikeouts and two walks, with Terry Forster coming in for the inning and a third relief effort to close it out.
On to Game 2!!

1979 MISSING IN ACTION- AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Time to add the American League Championship series to the newly designed 1979 missing postseason sub-set, following the National League counterpart from last week:

Over in the American League, the New York Yankees once again defeated the upstart Kansas City Royals for a third straight season, heading to the World Series once again to meet the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Yankees took the series 3 games to 1, with Ron Guidry supplying the series-clincher in a 2-1 win at the Stadium on October 7th.
Reggie Jackson led the way for the Yanks, hitting .462 with two homers and six runs batted in, with Mickey Rivers and Chris Chambliss also reaching .400.
On the Kansas City side, George Brett and Amos Otis did their best to bring an American League championship to K.C., hitting .389 and .429 respectively, with Brett also supplying the muscle, hitting three homers and scoring seven runs.
So the tables were set for yet another NY-LA match-up, and beginning next week we’ll go through each game with a highlight card, in full color.
Stay tuned!

1979 MISSING IN ACTION- NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Well here’s something I’ve been meaning to get to for years now: rectifying Topps omission of the 1978 Post-Season in their 1979 set, beginning with an all-encompassing card for the Championship Series in each league, with today the National League. Take a look:

For the second year in a row the Philadelphia Phillies were facing the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers winning the previous year on their way to the World Series.
Sadly for the City of Brotherly Love, the result would end up being the same as the Dodgers would go on to win three games to one, culminated by a dramatic 10-inning walk-off win in Game 4, which you see depicted on the card here.
On the flip side, as you all know, 1978 would repeat 1977 for the Dodgers yet again, this time with them losing against the New York Yankees in the World Series for a second year in a row.
But they’d get their revenge a few years later when they’d face the Bronx Bombers in 1981, this time beating them and taking home their first championship since 1965.
Coming up next week, the American League Championship Series card that “never was”, followed by one card each for each game of the 1978 World Series.