Hate, fate and the Yankee summer of ‘78

Sports Illustrated cover signed by Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent as well as bullpen coach Dom Scala and public relations director Mickey Morabito.

A few years ago, in the fall of 2018, Sports Illustrated published an intriguing 40-year anniversary story about the New York Yankees turbulent summer of 1978.

Down 14 games to the Boston Red Sox in the American League’s East Division, the talented yet bickering Yankees – earning the nickname “the Bronx Zoo” – were on the verge of falling apart.

But the Yankees rallied, beating the Red Sox in a dramatic one-game playoff on Bucky Dent’s home run to win the division. And then went on to win the World Series.

Sluggers Reggie Jackson and Graig Nettles each hit 27 home runs to lead the Yankees while Lou Piniella hit an impressive .314.

Left-handed pitcher Ron Guidry had a phenomenal season, going 25-3, and posting a 1.74 earned-run average. Relief pitchers Goose Gossage (10 wins, 27 saves) and Sparky Lyle (9 wins, 9 saves) had strong seasons.

While I’ve enjoyed watching numerous Yankee teams over the years, the 1978 team might be the most memorable.