35 Years Later, Bucky "Bleepin" Dent's Swing Still Resonates

Monday, October 2, 1978 was a sun splashed day in Boston, Mass. Fenway Park was filled to the brim for Game #163 between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Many schools were closed due to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, so there was a large crowd seated at home in front of their television sets in the living rooms and dens of America.

Back in July no one thought a one game, winner-take-all contest would take place. The Red Sox had a comfortable 14 game lead over the Yankees on the 19th of the month. Yankees manager Billy Martin was fired after he blasted outfielder Reggie Jackson and owner George Steinbrenner- "One's a born liar, the other's convicted." Bob Lemon replaced Martin and steadied the ship, and the Yankees started to play better.  The Red Sox were led by manager Don Zimmer, who found his own place in Pinstripes nearly 20 years later.

The Yankees won 11 of 15 and Boson started to stumble a bit. The 14 game lead was reduced to 6.5 when the calendar turned to August. Hope was quickly dashed, however, when  the Red Sox swept a three game series at Yankee Stadium that put the Bronx Bombers back in the soup.

A team made up of battle worn veterans, the Yankees went on another tear against the A's, Angels, Orioles, Mariners, and Tigers (13-3) to move with four games of the slumping Red Sox. The calendar read September 7th as the Yankees entered Fenway Park for a four game series.

Four days later, after the Yankees had outscored the Red Sox 42-9, the two teams were tied for first place with identical 84-56 records. A three games series in the Bronx a week later saw the Yankees take the first two, 4-0 and 3-2 to build up a 3.5 game lead. The Red Sox won the finale and left town 2.5 games behind the Yankees.

The Yankees stayed hot, but despite nine wins in 13 games, they couldn’t shake the suddenly resurgent Red Sox. Boston won seven straight and 10 of 12 as the two teams entered the final Sunday of the regular season schedule. A Yankees win or a Red Sox loss would clinch the division for the Pinstripes.

The Yankees faced left-hander Rick Waits and the Cleveland Indians while Boston sent Luis Tiant out against the Toronto Blue Jays, who were in the midst of a seven game losing streak. The Indians jumped all over Catfish Hunter in the first two innings to build a 6-0 lead and coasted to a 9-2 win. Meanwhile, "El Tiante" dominated the neighbors to the North with a 2-hit complete game shutout. There would be a Game 163 in Boston on Monday.

Monday's game matched the about-to-be-crowned AL Cy Young winner Ron Guidry against his former teammate Mike Torrez. The 1977 World Series ended when Torrez snared Lee Lacy’s pop up to give the Yankees their 21st World Championship.

Guidry's '78 performance was one for the ages. He entered Monday's game 24-3, with all three losses coming against pitchers, ironically, named Mike. The Brewers Mike Caldwell, the Orioles Mike Flanagan and the Blue Jays Mike Willis provided the only blemishes on Guidry’s record.

The lefty’s ERA stood at 1.72 and he had thrown five complete games in his previous six starts, three of them shutouts. (Guidry led the league with nine shutouts.) He also had 243 strikeouts and a WHIP under 1.000. The only disadvantage he had was pitching Game 163 on three days rest.

Torrez was 16-12, 3.92 and had thrown a complete game shutout against the Detroit Tigers in his last start. He too was going on three days rest and was 1-3 against the Yankees during the regular season.

Torrez looked nervous when he walked the game’s lead off hitter Mickey Rivers on four pitches and “Mick the Quick” promptly stole second base. But after falling behind 2-1 to Thurman Munson, Torrez struck out the Yankees catcher and retired Lou Piniella and Reggie Jackson to escape the jam

Guidry, on the other hand, retired the side in order and struck out a pair of Sox, including the league's top hitter, Jim Rice. One inning later though, Carl Yastrzemski ripped a flyball to right that stayed just inside the Pesky Pole for a 1-0 Boston lead.

Torrez settled down and was barely tested by the Yankees lineup. He gave up a double to Rivers in the 3rd inning, a single to Piniella in the 4th and a leadoff walk to Roy White in the 5th. When Torrez retired the side in order in the 6th and Rice delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, it appeared that two runs might be enough to decide the contest.

Then came the 7th inning and the team’s fortunes changed. Chris Chambliss reached on a one out single, the Yankees’ first hit since the 4th inning. White followed that with a single of his own to centerfield to put the tying runs on base. Torrez retired pinch-hitter Jim Spencer  for the second out, which left things in the hands of Bucky Dent.

The Yankees shortstop had a miserable season at the plate- he entered the game with a .243 average and .596 OPS and was already 0-2 on the day- but rather than go to another pinch-hitter, Lemon stuck with him.

Dent barely laid off a low breaking pitch on the first delivery from Torrez for a ball.  Torrez followed with a fastball on the inside of the plate that hobbled Dent when he fouled it off his left in-step.  Trainer Gene Monahan tended to Dent for several minutes before number 20 stepped back in the batter's box. Just as he did, a bat boy brought him some new lumber courtesy of Rivers.

Finally ready, Dent stepped in and sent one out on Torrez’s next pitch. The fastball took flight and landed into the net atop the "Green Monster" in left field. Yastrzemski watched, hoping for a richochet off the wall, but momentarily collapsed to one knee as he saw the ball clear the wall. In a matter of seconds Dent had turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

The Yankees weren't done in the inning either. Torrez walked Rivers for the second time in the game and was pulled in favor of Bob Stanley. Rivers stole second and scored on Munson's double to centerfield. Stanley finally retired Piniella to end the inning.

Guidry had gutted his way through six innings without his best or sharpest stuff, so when Gator gave up a one out single in the 7th to George Scott, Lemon sent for the Yankees closer, Goose Gossage.

A passed ball by Munson put a runner in scoring position, but Gossage struckout Bob Bailey and retired Rick Burleson on a grounder to Dent to keep the score 4-2. It quickly beame 5-2 in the 8th when Jackson led off the inning with a solo home run to dead centerfield, but the Red Sox weren't dead yet.

Boston had blown the big divisional lead, but had rallied to force the one game playoff.  They would rally in Game 163 as well. Jerry Remy led off the 8th with a double and scored on Yaz's RBI single. Carlton Fisk and Fed Lynn followed with a singles of their own to plate Yaz and it was suddenly a one run game again.

Gossage got Butch Hobson to fly out and struck out Scott to keep it 5-4. The Yankees got a hit from Paul Blair in the 9th, but went down pretty quickly. To win the game, Gossage would have to face the heart of the Red Sox lineup.

Goose retired Dwight Evans to start the frame, but then walked Burleson. Remy was down to his final strike when he turned on a Gossage fastball in his wheelhouse and dunked one into right field. With the sun directly in his face, Piniella didn't see the ball to the last minute and stood with his arms outstretched to the side. Intentional or not, it was enough to fool Burleson into thinking he might have a shot at the catch.

Not only did Piniella have no shot of recording the putout, he barely snared the ball after it droppped in.  (He was also playing further over towards the line than he normally would be for a non-power hitter against Gossage.) Burleson hit the brakes as he turned towards third and retreated back to second base. It would prove to be a crucial mistake when Rice hit a deep fly to right that would have easily scored the tying run had Burleson continued on to third. (To this day, Rice still talks about the play costing the Red Sox the game.) So it all came down to two future MLB Hall of Fame members.

The game came down to a one on one battle between  two future MLB Hall of Fame members. Gossage came out on top when Yaz lofted a high infield pop that Graig Nettles squeezed into his glove as he straddled the left field line. The rest as they say, was history.

The Yankees beat Kansas City in four games to reach the World Series and then came back from a 2-0 deficit in games to the LA Dodgers to capture their 22 and last title until the dynasty of the last 1990's.

In 2003, the Red Sox invited Dent back to Fenway Park for the 25th anniversary of the ’78 classic. The man whose name is never uttered in Boston without an unflattering nickname, sat in the new seats atop the Green Monster, not far from where a baseball landed and made him a Yankees legend.

Soriano Smash, Reynolds Foils Bosox

The Yankees front office overruled GM Brian Cashman when Alfonso Soriano could be had from the Chicago Cubs for a young pitcher at this year's trade deadline. For a time it was a decent trade with Soriano providing much needed help against left-handed pitchers. For the last four games it has been an incredible trade.

The 37-year old has made like the Incredible Hulk and smashed baseballs and pitcher's egos at an alarming rate. The Boston Red Sox and starter Felix Doubront became the latest victims in the Yankees 10-3 win Friday night.

After he hit four home runs and drove in 13 runs in back to back games against the Los Angels, Banner Soriano had four hits and a one ribbie in the finale against the Halos. The Hulk was back for the opener of a three game series in Fenway Park. Soriano gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single and then broke open a 3-0 game with a 3-run home run in the 3rd inning.

It gave the left fielder 18 RBI in his last four games over which he has gone 13-18 (.722) Fellow Yankees Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Tony Lazzeri, and Jim Bottomley and Sammy Sosa are the only other players that have driven in 18 runs in four games. The hot streak has given Soriano a 1.021 OPS in 19 games since his acquisition.

Soriano wasn't the only right-handed hitter to do damage last night. Mark Reynolds, who hadn't hit a home run in his last 68 at-bats before his release by Cleveland, found the top of the Green Monster in his first at-bat as a Yankee. It turned a 1-0 game into a 3-0 game and the rout was on. Reynolds, who also drove in a run with a single in the 9th, became the 22nd different Yankee to a hit home run this year. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it tied the franchise record set by the 1965 and 2000 Yankees teams.

Andy Pettitte earned his 8th win with his best game in months. It would have been even better if Joe Girardi hadn't left him in the game too long. He allowed three unearned runs - Eduardo Nunez with yet another error on his resume - in 6.1 innings pitched. Pettitte scattered six hits, walked one, and struck out five.

Doubront had dominated the Yankees the prior two times he faced them this season, but was charged with six earned runs in just four innings of work.

Alex Rodriguez was booed as expected with an accompaniment of "You do steroids" chant. Needless to say it was hypocritical coming from fans that saw their team win two World Series with failed drug test veterans Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. A-Rod hit the ball sharply all night and reached base safely with two hits and a walk.

To make room on the roster for Reynolds, the Yankees demoted Preston Claiborne from the 25-man roster and designated Luis Cruz for assignment from the 40-man roster.

Mariano Rivera was prepared to enter the game in the 9th until the Yankees scored three times in the final frame. He had to get up in the pen again though when the Red Sox loaded the bases against Joba Chamberlain with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. David Huff made it unnecessary when he got Jacoby Ellsbury to ground out to Robinson Cano to end the game.

Happy Yankeeversary

It was a big day in Boston on Friday afternoon, the Old Town Team was celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. A veritable plethora of Boston Red Sox alumni was introduced prior to the game with the Yankees. From 91 year old Bobby Doerr to Carl Yastrzemski to Jim Rice to Johnny Pesky to Rico Petrocelli to recently fired manager Terry Francona. On and on it went. Then the teams got down to business and the Red Sox continued to struggle.

The teams wore throw back uniforms circa 1912, which contained no numbers on the back. But like most Yankees-Red Sox contests over the years, the Yankees got the better of Boston. This time the Yankees crashed the Red Sox party with five solo home runs, including a pair of Eric Chavez blasts, and came away with a 6-2 victory. Ivan Nova was very good for six innings and won his third game of the season. He allowed two runs, seven hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out five. David Ortiz's solo home run in the 2nd inning was one of the few mistake pitches Nova made on the day.

Meanwhile the Yankees took advantage of a shaky Clay Buchholz. The right-hander missed most of last season with a back injury and hasn't looked good so far this season. The Yankees led 1-0 in the 2nd when Nick Swisher hit an opposite field blast for third home run and 14th RBI of the season. Two batters later Chavez hit his first long ball of the season.

Chavez struck again in the 4th with a long blast to deep centerfield for his first multi-home run game in six years. One inning later, Alex Rodriguez, who also had an RBI single in the 1st, took Buchholz deep for his second round tripper of the year.

The Red Sox got a run back in the home half of the 5th on Mike Aviles' RBI double, but that was the last run the Red Sox would score against the Yankees pitching. Cory Wade, David Robertson, Cody Eppley (in his Yankees debut), and Mariano Rivera scattered three hits over the final three innings to seal the win. The Yankees weren't done scoring though- Russell Martin added one more home run when he finished Buchholz's scoring line with a solo blast in the 6th.

Friday Night Lights

That loud clicking sound you heard last night was not a mass chorus of flamenco dancers performing. Those were TV sets that were shut off when the Yankees fell behind Boston 5-1 and then 7-2. The Yankees were sloppy, non-clutch, and ugly. And then the 8th inning came and the Yankees had themselves an 8-7 lead that they would not relinquish. A stunned Fenway Park crowd watched as Mariano Rivera struck out rookie Jacoby Ellsbury to seal the Yankees improbable win.

With a pair of Jason Giambi errors and some shoddy pitching by Andy Pettitte and the bullpen having put them in the hole, the Yankees knew if they were going to come back it was against going to have to be against the Red Sox dynamite tandem of Hideki Okajima and Jon Papelbon. And apparently that's what the Bombers were waiting for.

Okajima had not allowed a home run to a left-handed hitter all season. Then Giambi and Robinson Cano hit back-to-back jacks to start the 8th. When Melky Cabrera walked and Johnny Damon, who had 4 hits, followed with a double, the Yankees suddenly had the timing run at the plate. Terry Francona immediately went to his closer for a 6-out save (can anyone understand while Michael Kay kept questioning Francona's urgency to win the game?).

But Derek Jeter, who had a shaky night in the field and at the plate, singled to right to cut the lead to 7-5, with Damon holding at 3rd. Bobby Abreu absolutely crushed a pitch off the wall in dead center for a game tying 2-run double. Suddenly the invinceable were very human. Alex Rodriguez capped the inning with his 135th RBI, a single to right to give the Yankees their first lead of the night. It was just the 3rd blown save by Papelbon (1-3) this season.

The Red Sox put base runners on 1st in both the 8th and 9th innings, but Jorge Posada gunned down pinch-runner Coco Crisp trying to steal 2nd to end the 8th and Mariano dominated his inning for his 27th save.

Leading 2-1 in the 4th, the Red Sox looked to add to it. With runners on the corner with one out, Pettitte picked Ellbsury off of 1st. But Giambi, who had already committed a run scoring error, hesitated on his throw to 2nd and Ellsbury had himself a stolen base. Dustin Pedroia made the Yankees pay with a lined single to center for a 4-1 lead. Back-to-back singles by David Ortiz and Mike Lowell produced a 5th run, before Pettitte finally got out further trouble. Having thrown 101 pitches his night was done after the 4th.

The Yankees had opportunities against Daisuke Matsuzaka all evening, but couldn't capitalize. Even when they scored they came out disappointed. Posade lead off the 4th with a double and scored when Hideki Matsui tripled off of his fellow country men. But Matsui was stranded at 3rd. Dice-K, working very deliberately, went 3-2 on a lot of Yankees, but only allowed only 4 hits. His 5 walks helped contribute to a long evening that fell 2 minutes shy of the longest 9-inning game in MLB history.

The Sox added 2 more runs in the 7th thanks in part to another error by Giambi. Ortiz should have been doubled off of 1st on Lowell's fly to right, but Giambi dropped Abreu's throw and did an embarrassing belly flop in the process.

....

It was Andy Pettitte's shortest outing since his 1 2-3 inning debacle against the A's in July. He remains at 199 wins.

Brian Bruney (3-1) picked up the win after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings when the Yankees desperately needed it. Joe Torre rewarded him with the scorecard and game ball.

Friday Night Lights

That loud clicking sound you heard last night was not a mass chorus of flamenco dancers performing. Those were TV sets that were shut off when the Yankees fell behind Boston 5-1 and then 7-2. The Yankees were sloppy, non-clutch, and ugly. And then the 8th inning came and the Yankees had themselves an 8-7 lead that they would not relinquish. A stunned Fenway Park crowd watched as Mariano Rivera struck out rookie Jacoby Ellsbury to seal the Yankees improbable win.

With a pair of Jason Giambi errors and some shoddy pitching by Andy Pettitte and the bullpen having put them in the hole, the Yankees knew if they were going to come back it was against going to have to be against the Red Sox dynamite tandem of Hideki Okajima and Jon Papelbon. And apparently that's what the Bombers were waiting for.

Okajima had not allowed a home run to a left-handed hitter all season. Then Giambi and Robinson Cano hit back-to-back jacks to start the 8th. When Melky Cabrera walked and Johnny Damon, who had 4 hits, followed with a double, the Yankees suddenly had the timing run at the plate. Terry Francona immediately went to his closer for a 6-out save (can anyone understand while Michael Kay kept questioning Francona's urgency to win the game?).

But Derek Jeter, who had a shaky night in the field and at the plate, singled to right to cut the lead to 7-5, with Damon holding at 3rd. Bobby Abreu absolutely crushed a pitch off the wall in dead center for a game tying 2-run double. Suddenly the invinceable were very human. Alex Rodriguez capped the inning with his 135th RBI, a single to right to give the Yankees their first lead of the night. It was just the 3rd blown save by Papelbon (1-3) this season.

The Red Sox put base runners on 1st in both the 8th and 9th innings, but Jorge Posada gunned down pinch-runner Coco Crisp trying to steal 2nd to end the 8th and Mariano dominated his inning for his 27th save.

Leading 2-1 in the 4th, the Red Sox looked to add to it. With runners on the corner with one out, Pettitte picked Ellbsury off of 1st. But Giambi, who had already committed a run scoring error, hesitated on his throw to 2nd and Ellsbury had himself a stolen base. Dustin Pedroia made the Yankees pay with a lined single to center for a 4-1 lead. Back-to-back singles by David Ortiz and Mike Lowell produced a 5th run, before Pettitte finally got out further trouble. Having thrown 101 pitches his night was done after the 4th.

The Yankees had opportunities against Daisuke Matsuzaka all evening, but couldn't capitalize. Even when they scored they came out disappointed. Posade lead off the 4th with a double and scored when Hideki Matsui tripled off of his fellow country men. But Matsui was stranded at 3rd. Dice-K, working very deliberately, went 3-2 on a lot of Yankees, but only allowed only 4 hits. His 5 walks helped contribute to a long evening that fell 2 minutes shy of the longest 9-inning game in MLB history.

The Sox added 2 more runs in the 7th thanks in part to another error by Giambi. Ortiz should have been doubled off of 1st on Lowell's fly to right, but Giambi dropped Abreu's throw and did an embarrassing belly flop in the process.

....

It was Andy Pettitte's shortest outing since his 1 2-3 inning debacle against the A's in July. He remains at 199 wins.

Brian Bruney (3-1) picked up the win after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings when the Yankees desperately needed it. Joe Torre rewarded him with the scorecard and game ball.