WILD CARD PLAYOFF — YANKEES – RED SOX 1978

As a long-time sportswriter with fond memories of past events, the first year I was assigned to cover the New York Yankees, I remember best the American League playoff game in 1978, when this one game would decide who remains in the playoffs and who goes home to get in some golf.

It was easy to recall this. (1) It was the same two rivals that had All-Star lineups and battled all season. (2) it was kind of a short trip from Yankee Stadium to Fenway Park, (3) and whenever these two franchises would meet up, all tickets would cost more and less seats were available.

For number four, it meant having to postpone my post-season from New Jersey to the Island of Jamaica. So I had no where to turn except heading up to where the Boston Tea Party would gave way to our national anthem.

It was big in popularity, tickets went fast, it was televised by ABC, with Keith Jackson Gand Don Drysdale calling the game and Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer doing the radio and TV commentaries, five All-Star umpires, and there I was, in the middle of whether my coverage would continue or that I was flying to Jamaica.

The men not in these home pinstripes did not score until the seventh inning, with right-hander Mike Torrez starting for the Bosox. Southpaw Ron (Louisiana Lightning) Guidry started for the visitors and gave up a run in the last of the second and another in the sixth to go up 2-0.

But up came Nu Yawk in the top of the first. outfielder Reggie Jackson had coaxed a walk, catcher Thurman Munson singled to right, and with one down, light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent hit a high, long shot over the Green Monster in left and the Yanks now had a 3-2 lead that would prove to be the game-winner, but it still became a close call.

In the eighth, the Bronx Bombers added a two-run clout to left-center by Jackson and it was now 5-2. But the Sox weren’t going away. It scored twice with two out in the eighth, and behind by one with runners on first and second, catcher Carlton Fisk lifted a short, high fly ball to right and in charged Lou Pinella to grab it before it dropped.

With two out, both runners were off and racing at full speed. They were the tie and winning base runners, but future Yankee manager Pinella saved the day.

Boston’s first two runs scored on outfielder Carl Yastrzemski’s solo shot in the second and RBI single in the sixth from Fisk.

In the ninth, the Yanks called on reliever Goose Gossage, and with one on and two down, he got Yastrzemski to pop up to Graig Nettles at third base. Onward New York and golf time for Boston.

New York, 5 runs, 8 hits, and no errors. Boston, 4 runs, 11 hits, error less ball. Guidry was the winning pitcher to bring him a 23-7 season record, and Torrez (15-9) the loser. Attendance was announced at 37,354, although the capacity for Fenway is listed at 34,064.

And from this, the Yankees moved on to the pennant chase and carried off the World Series championship with an impressive overall record of 108-65.They remain the only team to win a tie-breaker playoff game and a World Series.

Now 43 years later, they get in on again Tuesday night, Yankees and Red Sox. One game, just like then, and this time I won’t be going out to the ballgame, instead watching it on the tubes. Boston won the tiebreaker this time by winning the season rivalry 14-13.