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The 1977 Major League Baseball season. The American League (AL) had its third expansion as the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays began play. However, the National League (NL) did not expand, remaining at 12 teams compared to the AL's 14, until the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins joined the NL in 1993.
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1977 NLCS G1 Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers - Radio Broadcast
The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers met for Game 1 of the 1977 National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium. Philadelphia, led by ace Steve Carlton, came into the game looking to build on a strong season that saw them win 101 games. Carlton, who was a key figure in the Phillies’ rotation, was tasked with facing veteran left-hander Tommy John of the Dodgers. Los Angeles, fresh off a 98-win season, boasted a powerful lineup, including Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, and Reggie Smith, who had played crucial roles in their success that year. Both teams were aiming to take an early lead in the best-of-five series with a trip to the World Series at stake.
The Phillies struck early in the first inning when Greg Luzinski launched a two-run homer off John, giving them a quick 2-0 lead. Philadelphia added to their advantage in the fifth with a pair of unearned runs, thanks to a couple of errors by Bill Russell. Carlton was effective through six innings, but the Dodgers rallied in the seventh. Ron Cey delivered the biggest blow of the inning with a grand slam, tying the game at 5-5. Despite the momentum shift, the Phillies regained control in the ninth, scoring two runs on singles by McBride and Schmidt, helped by a balk from Elias Sosa.
The Phillies closed out the game with a 7-5 victory, handing Tug McGraw a save. Carlton earned a win, despite the rough seventh inning, and Gene Garber held the Dodgers at bay. The Phillies took a crucial 1-0 lead in the series as they pushed closer to their first World Series appearance since 1950, while the Dodgers, who were favorites to win the NL pennant, found themselves with an uphill battle to reclaim control.
The decisive Game 5 of the 1977 American League Championship Series featured the New York...
1977 ALCS G5 - New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals - Radio Broadcast / The decisive Game 5 of the 1977 American League Championship Series featured the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals at Royals Stadium. The Yankees were on the brink of another World Series appearance under the leadership of manager Billy Martin, while the Royals, managed by Whitey Herzog, were determined to break through to their first-ever World Series. The Yankees sent left-hander Ron Guidry to the mound, who had been reliable throughout the season, while Kansas City countered with their veteran southpaw Paul Splittorff. Both teams were in fine form, with Kansas City relying heavily on George Brett and Hal McRae, and New York banking on their power-laden lineup, led by Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson.
The Royals took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, courtesy of a triple by George Brett that scored Hal McRae. Kansas City added another run in the third, with Al Cowens driving in McRae to make it 3-1. The Yankees battled back, with a key RBI single from Thurman Munson in the third inning and a clutch RBI from Reggie Jackson in the eighth inning to close the gap to 3-2. In the ninth inning, New York rallied for three runs, capitalizing on a defensive error by Brett and a critical single from Mickey Rivers. Sparky Lyle came in to shut down Kansas City's final attempts, and the Yankees secured the victory to advance to the World Series.
#NewYorkYankees #KansasCityRoyals #RonGuidry #GeorgeBrett #ThurmanMunson #ReggieJackson #ALCS1977 #PaulSplittorff #SparkyLyle #MickeyRivers
On October 8, 1977, the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals faced off in...
1977 ALCS G4 - New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals - Radio Broadcast / On October 8, 1977, the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals faced off in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Royals Stadium. The Yankees, under manager Billy Martin, were aiming for another World Series appearance and sent Ed Figueroa to the mound. The Royals, managed by Whitey Herzog, were looking to keep their season alive, with Larry Gura starting for Kansas City. New York had been powered all season by key players like Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson, while Kansas City relied heavily on George Brett and Hal McRae to drive their offense.
The game opened with a fast pace, as Mickey Rivers led off the game with a double, eventually scoring to give the Yankees an early lead. New York built a 4-0 advantage by the third inning, but the Royals quickly answered back in the bottom of the third and fourth innings, with Freddie Patek and Frank White delivering key hits to narrow the deficit to 5-4. Both teams’ offenses quieted down after the early scoring bursts, as the game turned into a battle of the bullpens. Sparky Lyle came in for the Yankees and shut down the Royals' bats, while Kansas City's bullpen, led by Marty Pattin, kept the Yankees from extending their lead.
In the top of the ninth inning, New York added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly from Thurman Munson, and Lyle closed out the game in the bottom half, securing a 6-4 victory.
#Yankees #Royals #ALCS #MickeyRivers #GeorgeBrett #ThurmanMunson #FreddiePatek #SparkyLyle #BillyMartin #HalMcRae
Game 4 of the 1977 National League Championship Series saw the Los Angeles Dodgers face...
1977 NLCS G4 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs Philadelphia Phillies - Radio Broadcast / Game 4 of the 1977 National League Championship Series saw the Los Angeles Dodgers face the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium. The Phillies were trailing in the series, making this a crucial game to stay alive. Los Angeles sent veteran left-hander Tommy John to the mound, while Philadelphia countered with their ace, Steve Carlton. The Dodgers were in fine form, led by players like Ron Cey and Steve Garvey, and were coming off a strong regular season in which they finished atop the NL West. The Phillies, anchored by Mike Schmidt and Greg Luzinski, had won the NL East, but were under pressure after falling behind in the series. Both teams were loaded with talent, but the Dodgers had momentum on their side.
The game began with a two-run homer from Dusty Baker in the second inning, which gave the Dodgers an early lead. Philadelphia responded in the fourth when Garry Maddox drove in Greg Luzinski to cut the deficit to one. However, Los Angeles extended their lead in the fifth inning, thanks to a combination of a wild pitch and a single by Bill Russell that brought in two more runs. Tommy John kept the Phillies in check throughout the game, scattering seven hits and allowing only one run, while Steve Carlton struggled and was pulled after the fifth inning. The Dodgers' bullpen, featuring Mike Garman and others, helped close out the game as the Phillies failed to mount a comeback.
#LosAngelesDodgers #PhiladelphiaPhillies #TommyJohn #SteveCarlton #DustyBaker #RonCey #GarryMaddox #SteveGarvey #NLCS1977 #VeteransStadium
On October 6, 1977, the New York Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in Game...
1977 ALCS G2 - Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees - Radio Broadcast / On October 6, 1977, the New York Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium. Ron Guidry took the mound for the Yankees, while Larry Hassler started for the Royals. The Yankees were in pursuit of their 23rd American League pennant, coming off a strong season under manager Billy Martin. Key players like Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson led their lineup. The Royals, on the other hand, were making their first postseason appearance after winning the AL West, with stars such as George Brett and Hal McRae at the forefront of their campaign.
The game began slowly, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The Royals struck first in the third inning when Freddie Patek's sacrifice fly put them ahead 1-0. The Yankees responded in the fifth inning as Chris Johnson hit a home run to give them the lead. The sixth inning proved pivotal for the Yankees, who scored three runs, aided by a critical error from George Brett that allowed two unearned runs to score. As the game progressed, the Yankees' lineup depth shone through, with Thurman Munson and Willie Randolph contributing significant hits, while the Royals struggled to match their offensive output. The Yankees ultimately won the game 6-2, taking a commanding lead in the ALCS.
#Yankees #Royals #ALCS #RonGuidry #GeorgeBrett #ThurmanMunson #ReggieJackson #BillyMartin #FreddiePatek #ChrisJohnson
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The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies met for Game 2 of the 1977 National...
1977 NLCS G2 - Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers - Radio Broadcast / The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies met for Game 2 of the 1977 National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 5. The Dodgers, led by manager Tommy Lasorda in his first season at the helm, had won 98 games to capture the NL West title. The Phillies, under Danny Ozark, claimed their second straight NL East crown with 101 victories. Don Sutton took the mound for Los Angeles, while Jim Lonborg started for Philadelphia. Both teams boasted potent lineups, with the Dodgers featuring Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Reggie Smith, while the Phillies countered with Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski, and Garry Maddox.
The game remained tight early on, with Bake McBride's solo home run in the third inning giving Philadelphia a brief 1-0 lead. Los Angeles quickly responded, tying the score in the bottom of the third. The pivotal moment came in the fourth inning when Dusty Baker launched a grand slam off Lonborg, breaking the game open and putting the Dodgers ahead 5-1. Los Angeles added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to extend their lead. Sutton pitched a complete game, scattering nine hits and allowing just one run while striking out four.
The Dodgers' victory gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five NLCS. They would go on to win the series in four games, advancing to face the New York Yankees in the World Series. Though Los Angeles fell short in the Fall Classic, losing in six games, the 1977 season marked the beginning of a successful run for the Dodgers. They would return to the World Series in both 1978 and 1981, with the latter resulting in a championship.
#DustyBaker #DonSutton #SteveGarvey #MikeSchmidt #BakeMcBride #RonCey #JimLonborg #ReggieSmiith #GregLuzinski #1977NLCS
1 Comment
I sincerely appreciate the research work, and the information being shared. It is important and interesting history.
I sincerely appreciate the research work, and the information being shared. It is important and interesting history.