Season for the Major League Baseball team the New York Yankees
Major League Baseball team season
The 1978New York Yankees season was the 76th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 100–63, finishing one game ahead of theBoston Red Sox to win their thirdAmerican League East title. The two teams were tied after 162 games, leading to aone-game playoff , which the Yankees won.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] Yankee Stadium inThe Bronx and was managed byBilly Martin ,Dick Howser , andBob Lemon .
In the best-of-fiveLeague Championship Series (ALCS), they defeated theKansas City Royals in four games. In theWorld Series , they defeated theLos Angeles Dodgers in six games in a rematch of theprevious year's .
The season was tumultuous for the Yankees, asReggie Jackson was suspended in a mid-season showdown with Billy Martin, which resulted in Martin resigning a week later. For television viewers of the Bronx Bombers, it was the first season to be broadcast nationwide via satellite viaWPIX , which that year became a superstation as well partly in response to Ted Turner'sWTCG-TV nationwide broadcasts of theAtlanta Braves beginning on Opening Day of1977 . WPIX remained the team's exclusive broadcast partner for the Greater New York television viewers on FTA television and then by now superstation status and satellite broadcasts finally enabled millions all over the country to watch Yankees home and away games live as they happened.
LefthanderRon Guidry was the last Yankee pitcher to win at least 25 games in a season in the 20th century.[ 8] 273+ 2 ⁄3 innings, compiled a 25–3 record with 248 strikeouts, 1.74 ERA, and nine shutouts. Guidry won theCy Young Award by unanimous vote.[ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
Relief pitcher Goose Gossage wonRolaids Relief Man of the Year Award , leading theAmerican League with 27saves .
A week after theAll-Star Game in July, the team was fourteen games behindBoston , but rallied to tie for first place. With a week to go, New York led by one game and won six straight,[ 12] Cleveland on Sunday, October 1, while Boston won their final eight games.[ 13] [ 14] [ 15] Fenway Park and defeated the Red Sox 5–4 in theone-game playoff for the AL East title; the Monday afternoon game featured light-hitting shortstopBucky Dent 's famous three-run go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Jackson's solo home run in the eighth was the winning margin.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
For decades, some have mistakenly thought the Yankees trailed by 14½ games, but the maximum deficit was fourteen games, after the July 17 loss and until the July 20 win.[ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] Boston Massacre " by the sports press;[ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 23]
AL East tie-breaker game [ edit ] Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1978 American League record
Sources:[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Team BAL BOS CAL CWS CLE DET KC MIL MIN NYY OAK SEA TEX TOR Baltimore — 7–8 4–6 8–1 9–6 7–8 2–8 7–8 5–5 6–9 11–0 9–1 7–4 8–7 Boston 8–7 — 9–2 7–3 7–8 12–3 4–6 10–5 9–2 7–9 5–5 7–3 3–7 11–4 California 6–4 2–9 — 8–7 6–4 4–7 9–6 5–5 12–3 5–5 9–6 9–6 5–10 7–3 Chicago 1–8 3–7 7–8 — 8–2 2–9 8–7 4–7 8–7 1–9 7–8 7–8 11–4 4–6 Cleveland 6–9 8–7 4–6 2–8 — 5–10 5–6 5–10 5–5 6–9 4–6 8–1 1–9 10–4 Detroit 8–7 3–12 7–4 9–2 10–5 — 4–6 7–8 4–6 4–11 6–4 8–2 7–3 9–6 Kansas City 8–2 6–4 6–9 7–8 6–5 6–4 — 6–4 7–8 6–5 10–5 12–3 7–8 5–5 Milwaukee 8–7 5–10 5–5 7–4 10–5 8–7 4–6 — 4–7 10–5 9–1 5–5 6–4 12–3 Minnesota 5–5 2–9 3–12 7–8 5–5 6–4 8–7 7–4 — 3–7 9–6 6–9 6–9 6–4 New York 9–6 9–7 5–5 9–1 9–6 11–4 5–6 5–10 7–3 — 8–2 6–5 6–4 11–4 Oakland 0–11 5–5 6–9 8–7 6–4 4–6 5–10 1–9 6–9 2–8 — 13–2 6–9 7–4 Seattle 1–9 3–7 6–9 8–7 1–8 2–8 3–12 5–5 9–6 5–6 2–13 — 3–12 8–2 Texas 4–7 7–3 10–5 4–11 9–1 3–7 8–7 4–6 9–6 4–6 9–6 12–3 — 4–7 Toronto 7–8 4–11 3–7 6–4 4–10 6–9 5–5 3–12 4–6 4–11 4–7 2–8 7–4 —
Notable transactions [ edit ] 1978 New York Yankees Roster Pitchers Catchers Infielders
Outfielders Other batters
Manager Coaches
The defending World Series champions got off to a slow start in1978 , prompting ownerGeorge Steinbrenner to put pressure on managerBilly Martin . Compounding the issue was the already-tumultuous relationship between Martin andReggie Jackson , and Steinbrenner was pressuring him as well. On July 17, with the team at 47–42 (.528) and in fourth place in the American League East, it came to a head during a home contest with theKansas City Royals on Monday, July 17. With the score tied in the bottom of the tenth inning andThurman Munson on first, Martin sent Jackson to the plate with orders to lay down asacrifice bunt . Jackson tried to bunt the first pitch, but failed. Martin then relayed to third-base coachDick Howser for Jackson to swing and Howser passed it on, but Jackson ignored Howser and attempted another bunt. Howser called time and talked with Jackson, but to no avail. On his final bunt attempt, Jackson fouled out to the catcher. Martin then removed Jackson from the game and suspended him (owner Steinbrenner limited it to five days, Tuesday through Saturday), but Kansas City won in eleven innings and swept the three-game series. Tuesday was an open date; the Yankees traveled toMinnesota and Jackson went toCalifornia .[ 29] [ 30]
Jackson returned to the team in Chicago on Sunday, July 23; he did not take batting practice and remained on the bench as the Yankees swept theWhite Sox for their fifth consecutive win.[ 31] [ 32] [ 33] [ 34] [ 35] [ 36] [ 36] [ 37] ABC 'sMonday Night Baseball Bob Lemon arrived as manager for the rest of the season.
In his first appearance since the bunting incident ten days earlier, Jackson started in right field on Thursday, July 27, and went three-for-three, with a home run, a walk, and three RBI. In the nightcap of the doubleheader, he had two hits.[ 38]
During the Old-Timer's Day ceremony at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, July 29, Yankee public address announcerBob Sheppard introduced Martin to the crowd and announced that Martin would return as manager for the1980 season.[ 39] [ 40] 1979 ,[ 41] Minnesota hotel.[ 42] [ 43] Oakland in1980 , then owned byCharlie O. Finley .[ 44] [ 45] [ 46] 1983 ,1985 , and1988 .
Under Lemon in 1978, the Yankees were 47–20 (.701) for the rest of the 162-game season to tie for the division title, after having been fourteen games back on July 19. They won the division in a one-game playoff on the road,[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] World Series champions.
On September 30,Ed Figueroa won his twentieth game of the season, which clinched a tie for the AL East title.[ 47] [ 48] Puerto Rico to win twenty games in a major league season.[ 49]
Legend Yankees win Yankees loss Postponement Clinched division Bold Yankees team member
1978 regular season game log: 100–63 (Home: 55–26; Away: 45–37)[ 50] April: 10–9 (Home: 5–3; Away: 5–6)
# Date Time (ET ) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ 1 April 8 @ Rangers L 1–2 Matlack (1–0)Gossage 40,078 0–1 L1 2 April 9 @ Rangers W 7–1Figueroa Alexander (0–1)20,243 1–1 W1 3 April 10 @ Rangers L 2–5 D. Ellis (1–0)Tidrow Moret (1)14,299 1–2 L1 4 April 11 @Brewers 6–9 Augustine (2–0)Hunter Caldwell (1)County Stadium 8,934 1–3 5 April 12 @Brewers 3–5 Haas (2–0)Gossage County Stadium 8,751 1–4 6 April 13 White Sox 4–2 Guidry Wood (0–2)Yankee Stadium 44,667 2–4 7 April 15 White Sox 3–2 Figueroa Barrios (0–1)Yankee Stadium 20,965 3–4 8 April 16 White Sox 3–0 Tidrow Kravec (1–1)Lyle Yankee Stadium 32,750 4–4 9 April 17 Orioles 1–6 Flanagan (1–2)Hunter Yankee Stadium 15,674 4–5 10 April 18 Orioles 4–3 Lyle T. Martinez (0–1)Yankee Stadium 15,628 5–5 11 April 19 @Blue Jays 3–4 Murphy (1–0)Gossage Exhibition Stadium 13,306 5–6 — April 20 @Blue Jays Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 20 12 April 21 Brewers 2–9 Augustine (3–1)Figueroa Yankee Stadium 15,105 5–7 13 April 22 Brewers 4–3(12) Lyle McClure (0–1)Yankee Stadium 17,594 6–7 14 April 23 Brewers 2–3 Sorensen (2–1)Hunter McClure (0–1)Yankee Stadium 26,291 6–8 15 April 24 @Orioles 8–2 Guidry McGregor (0–3)Memorial Stadium 18,053 7–8 16 April 25 @Orioles 4–3 Beattie Palmer (2–1)Lyle Memorial Stadium 14,159 8–8 17 April 28 @Twins 3–1 Figueroa Thormodsgard (1–2)Metropolitan Stadium 11,674 9–8 18 April 29 @Twins 1–3 Zahn (2–0)Tidrow Metropolitan Stadium 10,543 9–9 19 April 30 @Twins 3–2 Gossage Scarce (0–1)Metropolitan Stadium 13,929 10–9
May: 19–8 (Home: 11–3; Away: 8–5)
# Date Time (ET ) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ 20 May 1 8:00 p.m. EDT Royals W 8–4Eastwick (1–0) Splittorff (4–2) Lyle (3) 2:37 17,340 11–9 W2 21 May 2 8:00 p.m. EDT Royals W 4–2Hunter (1–3) Gura (2–1) Lyle (4) 2:09 19,152 12–9 W3 22 May 3 8:00 p.m. EDT Royals W 6–5Figueroa (4–1) Leonard (3–4) Gossage (1) 2:20 21,230 13–9 W4 23 May 5 Rangers W 5–2Guidry Matlack (2–4)Gossage 17,285 14–9 W5 24 May 6 Rangers L 5–9 Umbarger (1–1)Tidrow 19,788 14–10 L1 25 May 7 Rangers W 3–2(12) Gossage Barker (1–2)53,829 15–10 W1 — May 8 Twins Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 30 26 May 9 Twins 3–1 Hunter Thormodsgard (1–4)Lyle Yankee Stadium 11,271 16–10 27 May 12 8:30 p.m. EDT @ Royals L 3–4 Bird (2–2) Gossage (2–4) — 2:28 33,061 16–11 L1 28 May 13 8:30 p.m. EDT @ Royals W 5–2Guidry (4–0) Leonard (3–6) Gossage (3) 2L27 40,903 17–11 W1 29 May 14 2:30 p.m. EDT @ Royals L 9–10 Hrabosky (1–0) Clay (0–1) — 2:57 36,034 17–12 L2 30 May 15 @White Sox 4–1 Beattie Wortham (1–2)Lyle Comiskey Park 17,569 18–12 31 May 16 @White Sox 8–3 Holtzman Wood (3–4)Gossage Comiskey Park 21,837 19–12 32 May 17 @Indians 4–5(10) Monge (1–0)Lyle Cleveland Stadium 10,370 19–13 33 May 18 @Indians 5–3 Guidry Kinney (0–2)Gossage Cleveland Stadium 13,625 20–13 34 May 19 @Blue Jays 11–3 Tidrow Jefferson (2–5)Exhibition Stadium 26,025 21–13 35 May 20 @Blue Jays 8–10 Lemanczyk (1–7)Clay Exhibition Stadium 30,550 21–14 36 May 21 @Blue Jays 2–1 Figueroa Underwood (1–4)Gossage Exhibition Stadium – 22–14 37 May 21 @Blue Jays 9–1 Clay Garvin (2–2)Exhibition Stadium 41,308 23–14 38 May 23 Indians 10–1 Guidry Hood (3–2)Yankee Stadium 20,618 24–14 — May 24 Indians Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 27 39 May 25 Indians 9–3 Tidrow Waits (3–4)Yankee Stadium 15,403 25–14 40 May 26 Blue Jays 4–3 Lyle Garvin (2–3)Yankee Stadium 24,171 26–14 41 May 27 Blue Jays 1–4 Clancy (3–4)Figueroa Murphy (3)Yankee Stadium 56,078 26–15 42 May 28 Blue Jays 5–3 Guidry Jefferson (3–6)Yankee Stadium – 27–15 43 May 28 Blue Jays 6–5(13) Gossage Murphy (2–1)Yankee Stadium 41,534 28–15 44 May 29 @Indians 2–0 Eastwick Waits (3–5)Cleveland Stadium 19,563 29–15 45 May 30 @Indians 1–5 Wise (3–8)Tidrow Cleveland Stadium 6,069 29–16 46 May 31 Orioles 2–3 Flanagan (6–4)Figueroa Yankee Stadium 21,404 29–17
June: 14–15 (Home: 7–4; Away: 7–11)
# Date Time (ET ) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ 47 June 1 Orioles 0–1 Palmer (7–4)Beattie Yankee Stadium 19,943 29–18 48 June 2 @Athletics 3–1 Guidry Johnson (4–3)Gossage Oakland Coliseum 18,993 30–18 49 June 3 @Athletics 1–5 Keough (3–4)Messersmith Oakland Coliseum 14,499 30–19 50 June 4 @Athletics 4–6 Lacey (5–2)Eastwick Sosa (7)Oakland Coliseum 19,289 30–20 51 June 5 @Mariners 3–7 House (4–4)Figueroa Kingdome 15,189 30–21 52 June 6 @Mariners 3–4 Rawley (3–5)Gossage Kingdome 12,638 30–22 53 June 7 @Mariners 9–1 Guidry Colborn (1–4)Kingdome 12,544 31–22 54 June 9 @Angels 3–1 Figueroa Tanana (9–3)Gossage Anaheim Stadium 29,415 32–22 55 June 10 @Angels 3–4(12) LaRoche (5–2)Gossage Anaheim Stadium 37,848 32–23 56 June 11 @Angels 6–9 D. Miller (2–0)Clay Anaheim Stadium 31,646 32–24 57 June 12 Athletics 2–0 Guidry Heaverlo (2–2)Yankee Stadium 28,457 33–24 58 June 13 Athletics 5–3 Figueroa Langford (1–3)Gossage Yankee Stadium 30,779 34–24 59 June 14 Mariners 11–9(10) Lyle Montague (0–2)Yankee Stadium 18,015 35–24 60 June 15 Mariners 5–2 Gullett Mitchell (2–7)Lyle Yankee Stadium 18,643 36–24 61 June 16 Angels 7–10 Aase (3–3)Beattie Yankee Stadium 35,968 36–25 62 June 17 Angels 4–0 Guidry Hartzell (1–5)Yankee Stadium 33,162 37–25 63 June 18 Angels 2–3 Knapp (7–5)Figueroa Yankee Stadium 55,604 37–26 64 June 19 7:30 p.m. EDT @Red Sox L 4–10 Burgmeier (2–1) Gossage (3–7) — 2:48 33,163 37–27 L2 65 June 20 7:30 p.m. EDT @Red Sox W 10–4Gullett (2–0) Torrez (10–3) — 3:13 32,643 38–27 W1 66 June 21 7:30 p.m. EDT @ Red Sox L 2–9 Eckersley (7–2) Beattie (2–3) — 2:38 32,459 38–28 L1 67 June 22 @Tigers 4–2 Guidry Rozema (2–4)Gossage Tiger Stadium 33,971 39–28 68 June 23 @Tigers 12–3 Lyle Wilcox (4–6)Tiger Stadium 39,022 40–28 69 June 24 @Tigers 3–4 Slaton (7–4)Tidrow Tiger Stadium 37,681 40–29 70 June 25 @Tigers 4–2 Gullett Baker (1–1)Gossage Tiger Stadium 34,014 41–29 71 June 26 8:00 p.m. EDT Red Sox L 1–4 Eckersley (8–2) Messersmith (0–2) Campbell (3) 3:01 52,124 41–30 L1 72 June 27 8:00 p.m. EDT Red Sox W 6–4(14) Lyle (6–1) Drago (2–2) — 4:08 55,132 42–30 W1 73 June 28 @Brewers 0–5 Caldwell (8–5)Tidrow County Stadium – 42–31 74 June 28 @Brewers 2–7 Augustine (9–8)McCall County Stadium 39,283 42–32 75 June 30 Tigers 10–2 Gullett Baker (1–2)Yankee Stadium 33,894 43–32
July: 15–14 (Home: 8–8; Away: 7–6)
# Date Time (ET ) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ 76 July 1 Tigers 4–8 Billingham (6–5)Messersmith Yankee Stadium 37,260 43–33 77 July 2 Tigers 3–2 Guidry Hiller (6–4)Gossage Yankee Stadium – 44–33 78 July 2 Tigers 5–3 Gossage Slaton (8–5)Yankee Stadium 51,327 45–33 79 July 3 7:30 p.m. EDT @Red Sox L 5–9 Eckersley (9–2) Figueroa (7–6) — 2:54 34,722 45–34 L1 — July 4 2:00 p.m. EDT @Red Sox Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: September 7) 80 July 5 @ Rangers L 2–3 Matlack (7–8)Gullett 37,702 45–35 L2 81 July 6 @ Rangers W 7–2Tidrow Medich (3–4)37,930 46–35 W1 82 July 7 @Brewers 0–6 Caldwell (9–5)Guidry County Stadium 40,216 46–36 83 July 8 @Brewers 5–6 Rodríguez (1–3)Gossage McClure (4)County Stadium 46,518 46–37 84 July 9 @Brewers 4–8 Travers (5–4)Gullett Stein (1)County Stadium 42,633 46–38 49th All-Star Game in San Diego, California 85 July 13 White Sox 1–6 Wood (10–5)Tidrow Yankee Stadium 28,532 46–39 86 July 14 White Sox 7–6(11) Gossage Hinton (1–3)Yankee Stadium 21,981 47–39 87 July 15 8:00 p.m. EDT Royals L 2–8 Leonard (10–11) Figueroa (7–7) — 2:21 34,979 47–40 L1 88 July 16 2:00 p.m. EDT Royals L 1–3 Gura (7–2) Beattie (2–4) Hrabosky (13) 2:36 45,089 47–41 L2 89 July 17 8:00 p.m. EDT Royals L 7–9 (11) Hrabosky (3–3) Gossage (5–9) — 3:21 27,020 47–42 L3 90 July 19 @Twins 2–0 Figueroa Zahn (8–8)Metropolitan Stadium 29,591 48–42 91 July 20 @Twins 4–0 Guidry Jackson (2–3)Metropolitan Stadium 30,660 49–42 92 July 21 @White Sox 7–4 Lyle Hinton (1–4)Gossage Comiskey Park 30,348 50–42 93 July 22 @White Sox 7–2 Hunter Wood (10–7)Comiskey Park 32,163 51–42 94 July 23 @White Sox 3–1 Figueroa Kravec (7–8)Gossage Comiskey Park 27,651 52–42 95 July 24 8:30 p.m. EDT @ Royals L 2–5 Leonard (12–11) Tidrow (4–8) — 2:25 38,859 52–43 L1 96 July 25 8:30 p.m. EDT @ Royals W 4–0Guidry (15–1) Splittorff (11–9) — 2:05 40,183 53–43 W1 97 July 26 Indians 3–1 Gossage Waits (7–11)Yankee Stadium 31,631 54–43 98 July 27 Indians 11–0 Figueroa Clyde (5–6)Yankee Stadium – 55–43 99 July 27 Indians 5–17 Hood (5–4)Hunter Yankee Stadium 33,412 55–44 100 July 28 Twins 5–7(10) Marshall (5–8)Lyle Yankee Stadium 25,037 55–45 101 July 29 Twins 7–3 Clay Jackson (3–4)Gossage Yankee Stadium 46,711 56–45 102 July 30 Twins 4–3 Gossage Marshall (5–9)Yankee Stadium – 57–45 103 July 30 Twins 0–2 Goltz (10–7)Beattie Marshall (14)Yankee Stadium 41,491 57–46 104 July 31 Rangers W 6–1Figueroa Medich (5–6)15,419 58–46 W1
August: 19–8 (Home: 11–3; Away: 8–5)
# Date Time (ET ) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ 105 August 1 Rangers W 8–1Hunter Matlack (8–9)18,485 59–46 W2 106 August 2 8:00 p.m. EDT Red Sox L 5–7 (17) Stanley (6–1) Clay (2–4) — 5:00 52,701 59–47 L1 107 August 3 8:00 p.m. EDT Red Sox L 1–8 (7) Torrez (13–6) Beattie (2–6) — 2:15 53,379 59–48 L2 108 August 4 Orioles 1–2 Flanagan (14–9)Guidry Stanhouse (15)Yankee Stadium 28,189 59–49 109 August 5 Orioles 3–2 Lyle T. Martinez (3–2)Yankee Stadium 26,727 60–49 110 August 6 Orioles 3–0 Hunter Palmer (13–10)Yankee Stadium 40,765 61–49 111 August 8 Brewers 3–0 Tidrow Caldwell (14–6)Gossage Yankee Stadium 22,549 62–49 112 August 9 Brewers 8–7 McCall McClure (2–3)Yankee Stadium 27,172 63–49 113 August 10 Brewers 9–0 Guidry Augustine (10–11)Yankee Stadium 35,127 64–49 114 August 11 @Orioles 2–1(6) Hunter D. Martínez (8–10)Memorial Stadium 29,539 65–49 115 August 12 @Orioles 4–6 Flanagan (15–10)Beattie Stanhouse (17)Memorial Stadium 32,153 65–50 116 August 13 @Orioles 0–3(6) McGregor (12–10)Figueroa Memorial Stadium 31,591 65–51 117 August 14 @Orioles 4–1 Gossage Palmer (14–11)Memorial Stadium 30,397 66–51 118 August 15 @Athletics 6–0 Guidry Langford (6–8)Oakland Coliseum 13,862 67–51 119 August 16 @Athletics 5–3 Hunter Lacey (8–6)Gossage Oakland Coliseum 10,394 68–51 120 August 18 @Mariners 6–1 Figueroa Mitchell (6–12)Kingdome 19,824 69–51 121 August 19 @Mariners 1–4 Colborn (4–8)Tidrow Kingdome 29,915 69–52 122 August 20 @Mariners 4–5 Romo (10–4)Gossage Kingdome 21,834 69–53 123 August 22 @Angels 6–2 Hunter Tanana (16–8)Anaheim Stadium 35,644 70–53 124 August 23 @Angels 3–6 Knapp (13–7)Figueroa LaRoche (18)Anaheim Stadium 33,472 70–54 125 August 25 Athletics 7–1 Guidry Johnson (10–7)Yankee Stadium 29,010 71–54 126 August 26 Athletics 5–4 Lyle Lacey (8–8)Yankee Stadium 53,883 72–54 127 August 27 Athletics 6–2 Hunter Langford (6–10)Gossage Yankee Stadium 40,628 73–54 128 August 28 Angels 4–1 Figueroa Tanana (16–9)Gossage Yankee Stadium 22,481 74–54 129 August 29 Angels 4–3(11) Gossage LaRoche (9–6)Yankee Stadium 24,203 75–54 130 August 30 @Orioles 5–4 Guidry T. Martinez (3–3)Gossage Memorial Stadium 20,501 76–54 131 August 31 @Orioles 6–2 Tidrow McGregor (12–12)Lyle Memorial Stadium 15,579 77–54
September: 22–8 (Home: 13–4; Away: 9–4)
# Date Time (ET ) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ 132 September 1 Mariners 0–3 Mitchell (7–13)Hunter Yankee Stadium 20,167 77–55 133 September 2 Mariners 6–2 Figueroa Colborn (4–10)Yankee Stadium 18,530 78–55 134 September 3 Mariners 4–3 Beattie Honeycutt (5–8)Gossage Yankee Stadium 22,386 79–55 135 September 4 Tigers 9–1 Guidry Wilcox (12–9)Yankee Stadium – 80–55 136 September 4 Tigers 4–5 Hiller (7–4)Lyle Yankee Stadium 46,896 80–56 137 September 5 Tigers 4–2 Tidrow Young (5–5)Gossage Yankee Stadium 16,891 81–56 138 September 6 Tigers 8–2 Figueroa Billingham (15–7)Yankee Stadium 24,452 82–56 139 September 7 7:30 p.m. EDT @ Red Sox W 15–3Clay (3–4) Torrez (15–9) — 3:09 34,119 83–56 W3 140 September 8 7:30 p.m. EDT @ Red Sox W 13–2Beattie (4–7) Wright (8–3) — 2:55 33,134 84–56 W4 141 September 9 2:00 p.m. EDT @ Red Sox W 7–0Guidry (21–2) Eckersley (16–7) — 2:26 33,611 85–56 W5 142 September 10 2:00 p.m. EDT @ Red Sox W 7–4Figueroa (16–9) Sprowl (0–2) Gossage (23) 2:57 32,786 86–56 W6 143 September 12 @Tigers 4–7 Young (6–5)Tidrow Hiller (13)Tiger Stadium 14,162 86–57 144 September 13 @Tigers 7–3 Beattie Billingham (15–8)Tiger Stadium 16,841 87–57 145 September 14 @Tigers 4–2 Figueroa Slaton (15–11)Lyle Tiger Stadium 17,118 88–57 146 September 15 8:00 p.m. EDT Red Sox W 4–0Guidry (22–2) Tiant (10–8) — 2:24 54,901 89–57 W3 147 September 16 2:00 p.m. EDT Red Sox W 3–2Hunter (10–5) Torrez (15–11) — 2:38 55,091 90–57 W4 148 September 17 2:00 p.m. EDT Red Sox L 3–7 Eckersley (17–8) Beattie (5–8) Stanley (9) 2:40 55,088 90–58 L1 149 September 18 Brewers 4–3 Figueroa Travers (10–11)Yankee Stadium 20,557 91–58 150 September 19 Brewers 0–2 Caldwell (20–9)Tidrow Yankee Stadium 26,682 91–59 151 September 20 @Blue Jays 1–8 Willis (3–6)Guidry Exhibition Stadium – 91–60 152 September 20 @Blue Jays 3–2 Gossage Cruz (7–3)Exhibition Stadium 38,080 92–60 153 September 21 @Blue Jays 7–1 Hunter Moore (6–8)Gossage Exhibition Stadium 28,653 93–60 154 September 22 @Indians 7–8(10) Monge (4–3)Gossage Cleveland Stadium 10,035 93–61 155 September 23 @Indians 1–10 Clyde (8–11)Beattie Cleveland Stadium 17,452 93–62 156 September 24 @Indians 4–0 Guidry Paxton (12–10)Cleveland Stadium 15,855 94–62 157 September 26 Blue Jays 4–1 Figueroa Underwood (6–14)Gossage Yankee Stadium 20,535 95–62 158 September 27 Blue Jays 5–1 Hunter Willis (3–7)Yankee Stadium 20,052 96–62 159 September 28 Blue Jays 3–1 Guidry Moore (6–9)Yankee Stadium 30,480 97–62 160 September 29 Indians 3–1 Beattie Kern (10–10)Gossage Yankee Stadium 30,253 98–62 161 September 30 Indians 7–0 Figueroa Paxton (12–11)Yankee Stadium 55,219 99–62
October: 1–1 (Home: 0–1; Away: 1–0)
Month Games Won Lost Win % RS RA Total
Games Won Lost Win % RS RA Home Away Total
Postseason Game log [ edit ] Legend Yankees win Yankees loss Bold Yankees team member
1978 Postseason game log: 7–3 (Home: 5–0; Away: 2–3)
Starters by position [ edit ] Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
= Indicates league leader
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
October 3:Royals Stadium
October 4:Royals Stadium
October 6:Yankee Stadium
October 7:Yankee Stadium
AL New York Yankees (4) vs. NLLos Angeles Dodgers (2) Game Score Date Location Attendance Time of Game 1 Yankees – 5,Dodgers – 11 October 10 Dodger Stadium 55,997 2:48 2 Yankees – 3,Dodgers – 4 October 11 Dodger Stadium 55,982 2:37 3 Dodgers – 1,Yankees – 5 October 13 Yankee Stadium 56,447 2:27 4 Dodgers – 3,Yankees – 4 (10 inns) October 14 Yankee Stadium 56,445 3:17 5 Dodgers – 2,Yankees – 12 October 15 Yankee Stadium 56,448 2:56 6 Yankees – 7 , Dodgers – 2October 17 Dodger Stadium 55,985 2:34
Ron Guidry, Yankees single season record, most strikeouts in a season (248) All-Star Game
Stolen Bases – Willie Randolph, 36 Walks – Willie Randolph, 82 LEAGUE CO-CHAMPION: Tacoma [ 53]
^a b c "Yanks win playoff game on two homers" .Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. wire service reports. October 2, 1978. p. 1D.^a b c "Yankees edge BoSox; playoffs open tonight" .Wilmington Morning Star . North Carolina. Associated Press. October 3, 1978. p. 3B.^a b c "Yankees Dent Red Sox, play Royals for pennant" .Pittsburgh Press . UPI. October 3, 1978. p. C1.^ Goose Gossage atBaseball Reference ^ Jesús Figueroa atBaseball Reference ^ Sergio Ferrer atBaseball Reference ^ Stan Thomas atBaseball Reference ^ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures , 2008 Edition, p. 99, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York,ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0 ^ "Guidry unanimous Cy Young winner" .Reading Eagle . Pennsylvania. Associated Press. November 1, 1978. p. 65.^ "Suspense lacking for Ron Guidry" .Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. November 2, 1978. p. 32.^ Moses, Sam (January 22, 1979)."Yankee from Louisiana" .Sports Illustrated . p. 60. ^ " .Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. wire service reports. October 1, 1978. p. 7B.^ McMane, Fred (October 2, 1978)."Rick Waits gives Sox another chance" .Nashua Telegraph . New Hampshire. UPI. p. 32. ^ "Bosox catch Yanks; playoff set today" .Wilmington Morning Star . North Carolina. wire reports. October 2, 1978. p. 3B.^ "Yankees lose a big one" .Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. Associated Press. October 2, 1978. p. 5B.^ "How they stand" .Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. July 18, 1978. p. 4C.^ "Baseball standings: American League" .Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. July 19, 1978. p. 18.^ "Yankees slip a 'Mickey' past Yaz" .Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. wire service reports. September 17, 1978. p. 8B.^ "Yankees fly to 3½-game lead" .Reading Eagle . Pennsylvania. UPI. September 17, 1978. p. 85.^ Keith, Larry (September 25, 1978)."Seeing ain't believing" .Sports Illustrated . p. 24. ^ "Holy cow!! It's a new season" .The Day . New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. September 11, 1978. p. 25.^ "Those Damn Yankees tie Red Sox for division lead" .Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. wire service reports. September 11, 1978. p. 3B.^ May, Peter (September 11, 1978)."The Big Collapse: Part 4 is staged" .Nashua Telegraph . New Hampshire. UPI. p. 31. ^ Ken Holtzman atBaseball Reference ^ Bobby Brown atBaseball Reference ^ Mickey Klutts atBaseball Reference ^ Rex Hudler atBaseball Reference ^ Steve Balboni atBaseball Reference ^ "Reggie Jackson suspended" .The Day . New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. July 18, 1978. p. 19.^ "Billy's goat" .Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. Associated Press. July 18, 1978. p. 1C.^ "Yankees' turmoil" .Wilmington Morning Star . North Carolina. Associated Press. July 24, 1978. p. 1C.^ Cass, Murray (July 25, 1978)."Tempestuous Martin out as manager" .Wilmington Morning Star . North Carolina.(New York Times) News Service. p. 3B. ^ "Billy sheds a tear for himself" .Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. wire service reports. July 25, 1978. p. 1D.^ Chass, Murray (July 25, 1978)."Billy Martin tearfully quits job with Yankees" .The Day . New London, Connecticut. (New York Times). p. 1. ^ "Odyssey ends: Billy quits" .Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 25, 1978. p. 17.^a b Keith, Larry (July 31, 1978)."A bunt that went boom!" .Sports Illustrated . p. 14. ^ "Remarks about boss may bring Martin's dismissal" .The Day . New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. July 24, 1978. p. 21.^ "Yankees, Indians split" .Wilmington Morning Star . North Carolina. Associated Press. July 28, 1978. p. 3C.^ Cass, Murray (July 30, 1978)."Manager merry-go-round" .Sunday Star-News . Wilmington, North Carolina.(New York Times) News Service. p. 1C. ^ "New York rehires Billy for '80" .Reading Eagle . Pennsylvania. Associated Press. July 30, 1978. p. 81.^ "Martin sees Jackson key to success" .Reading Eagle . Pennsylvania. Associated Press. June 19, 1979. p. 22.^ Rappoport, Ken (October 29, 1979)."Billy Martin axed again" .Reading Eagle . Pennsylvania. Associated Press. p. 22. ^ "Yankees fire Martin again" .Pittsburgh Press . UPI. October 29, 1979. p. B4.^ "Martin missed game, happy with A's job" .Toledo Blade . Ohio. Associated Press. February 22, 1978. p. 21.^ "Martin's back, thanks to Charlie O." Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. (Chicago Sun Times). February 22, 1980. p. 21.^ Fimrite, Ron (March 10, 1980)."Berkeley Billy comes home again" .Sports Illustrated . p. 18. ^ "Yanks clinch AL East tie, but Boston wins, too" .Sunday Star-News . Wilmington, North Carolina. Associated Press. October 1, 1978. p. 5C.^ Hernández, Lou (June 27, 2016).Chronology of Latin Americans in Baseball, 1871-2015 ISBN 9781476662275 ^ "Ed Figueroa - Society for American Baseball Research" .sabr.org .^ "1978 New York Yankees Schedule & Results" .Baseball Reference . RetrievedApril 2, 2025 .^ "1978 American League Championship Series" .Baseball Reference . RetrievedApril 2, 2025 .^ "1978 World Series" .Baseball Reference . RetrievedApril 2, 2025 .^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed.,The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball , 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007
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