Rod Carew won the 1977 AL batting title by 52 points. That was the largest difference between the leader and the runner-up since 1901. Nap Lajoie batted .426 to win the title by 86 points over runner-up Mike Donlin.
This was the sixth of Carew's seven AL batting titles. Rod would win his final batting title in 1978.
Dave Parker won the NL batting championship in both 1977 and in 1978. Parker was a very dangerous hitter when you combine his batting average with his power. If it weren't for those lost years in the early 1980s Dave would have been a sure Hall of Famer.
Hall of Fame count:
National League - none.
American League - four (Rod Carew, Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, George Brett)
I still remember that night (game 6 of the 1977 World Series) when Jackson hit three home runs against the LA Dodgers. For me that World Series was like choosing between HIV or ebola. I didn't care for him at the time, but now I have a greater appreciation for Reggie. I'm surprised Topps didn't mention that game on the back of this card.
This card has a great picture of Jackson at the end of his swing. It looks like he hit a long ball in Yankee Stadium.
Reggie caught some flak for his defense (and early in his career he was below average), but at this stage of his career he was right at league average in range factor and slightly above average in fielding percentage. His fielding didn't start to drop off until about 1980.
1978 Stats:
Regular season: .274, 27 HR, 97 RBI in 146 games
AL Championship Series: .462, 2 HR, 6 RBI in 4 games
World Series: .391, 2 HR, 8 RBI in 6 games
1978 Highlights:
May 13 - Homered twice and knocked in three runs in New York's 5-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Oct 2 - Hit a home run in the 8th inning to put the Yankees ahead 5-2 in the playoff game that decided the AL East championship. New York eventually beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4.
Oct 3 - Went 3 for 3 with a 3-run home run to help the Yankees beat the Royals 7-1 in game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
Here is Reggie's at bat in game 2 of the 1978 World Series when Bob Welch struck him out to end the game.
And here's the famous play where Jackson may or may not have interfered with a throw to first base, allowing a run to score. Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda sure thinks he interfered.
Nino Espinosa was the #2 starter for the New York Mets in 1978.
Espinosa was 5-2 with a 3.33 ERA at the end of May, but he had two rough stretches during the season. Nino lost four straight starts in June and then took the loss in five straight starts in late July and in August.
1978 Stats: 11-15, 4.73 ERA in 32 starts
1978 Highlights:
May 17 - Allowed one run on six hits in a complete game 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
June 20 - Pitched a shutout against the Montreal Expos.
Bob Bailor had career highs in most of the offensive categories in 1978. Bob spent most of his time in right field but he also played the other OF positions as well as third base and shortstop.
Bob has quite the chaw in his mouth. I remember how my grandmother would have a lot to say about players who had chew in their mouths (although she smoked a couple of packs of Marlboros a day).
