On October 6, 1978, George Brett hits three home runs for the Kansas City Royals in the third game of the American League playoffs off Catfish Hunter, but the New York Yankees manage a 6-5 win on Thurman Munson’s eighth-inning home run.
The Kansas City Royals notch 16 hits off three Yankees pitchers to even the ALCS with a 10 – 4 triumph. A two-run home run by Freddie Patek seals the victory.
Steve Garvey hits two home runs and a triple to pace the Dodgers to a 9 – 5 victory over the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLCS. Davey Lopes and Steve Yeager also homer at Veterans Stadium.
On October 2, 1978, In a one game playoff, Bucky Dent’s unlikely home run helps the New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox in a dramatic one-game playoff at Fenway Park. Trailing by two runs in the seventh inning, Dent smacks a three-run shot against pitcher Mike Torrez into the screen above the Green…
Eventual NL Cy Young Award winner Gaylord Perry becomes the third major league pitcher, joining Walter Johnson (1923) and Bob Gibson (1974), to record 3,000 career strikeouts. The 40 year-old future Hall of Fame right-hander fans Joe Simpson, who will later become better known as a Braves’ broadcaster, in the eighth inning to reach the milestone, and will strike out the LA left fielder again in the tenth to finish the season with 3001.
On the last day of the season at Qualcomm Stadium, Ozzie Smith does his signature flip for the first time. The Padres shortstop, asked by the club to do it for Fans Appreciation Day, will continue his gymnastic prowess as a member of the Cardinals, with the somersault becoming an Opening Day tradition at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
On the last day of the season, Expo left-hander Ross Grimsley becomes the first 20-game winner in franchise history when he throws a five-hitter, beating St. Louis at Busch Stadium, 5-1. The 28 year-old southpaw, who finishes 20-11 for the fourth-place club, will compile a 124-99 (.556) record pitching for the Reds, Orioles, and Montreal during his 11-year major league career.
On October 1, 1978, the Boston Red Sox win their eighth consecutive game to force a playoff game that will decide the American League East. Luis Tiant turned in one of the greatest clutch pitching performances in Red Sox history — shutting out Toronto, 5-0, on the final day of the regular season. The…
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