MLB

SUMMER OF ‘77

Remember the sizzling, scintillating summer of 1977 when Billy Martin’s Yankees stormed past the Red Sox and went on to capture their first World Championship in 15 years by beating the Dodgers in six games as Reggie Jackson blasted three home runs in the grand finale?

In this series, The Post takes you back 30 years to one of the greatest seasons in Yankee history.

SEPTEMBER 20, 1977
BOSTON 6, YANKEES 3

BOSTON – He had put on his usual pre-game light-and-thunder show, a couple of baseballs off the Green Monster, a couple more over the net, another attacking unsuspecting pedestrians in neighboring Kenmore Square.

Now Dave Kingman sat on the bench in the fifth inning. Boston led 4-1 in a game they needed to win to stay alive in the American League pennant race.

The Red Sox were to beat the Yankees 6-3 to move into a tie for second place with Baltimore as the Yankees stayed 3 ½ games ahead and lowered their magic number to nine.

Graig Nettles singled off Reggie Cleveland in that fifth inning to begin it, Lou Piniella singled and Paul Blair flied out. Bucky Dent was the scheduled hitter as Kingman sat oon the end of the bench.

“I don’t hit for my shortstop in the fifth inning,” said Billy Martin. “He’s gotten a lot of big hits for us and I don’t want him to get down now.”

Kingman sat and Dent hit a hard ground ball to third. Butch Hobson turned it into an innning-ending double play. The Red Sox were pumped up for this night and the Yankees were deflated.