Neither the Yanks in the Series nor anyone else during the rest of the season got to second base against the Reds, whose Joe Morgan repeated as the league MVP.
A RUNAWAY FAVORITE
New York took over first in the American League East on April 12. The Phillies did the same in the National East on May 9. Kansas City jumped ahead in the AL West on May 18, and the Reds moved into the National West lead on May 29. None of them was headed thereafter. Then Cincy ran off seven straight wins over the Phils and Yanks to take the pennant and the Series. Still, without tight races, a slugger threatening to clout 62 homers or a 30-game winner, baseball drew a record 31,318,331 fans.
The Yankees lined up for their first Series in 12 seasons.
The Series' two best players were Cincy's Johnny Bench (.533) and Yank Thurman Munson (.529), who was also his league's MVP.
In his seventh year as Reds manager, Sparky Anderson won a fifth division title, a fourth pennant and a second world Series.
In guiding the Yankees to their pennant, Billy Martin managed with a religious fervor that frequently made the umpires cross.
Phillie Mike Schmidt hit four homers in an early-season game and kept on swinging for his third straight home-run title with 38.
Chris Chambliss won the AL pennant with this homer swing.
Third base became Pete Rose's fourth All-star position.
George Brett led the American League with a .333 average.
Bill Madlock (.339) won his second straight batting title.
Expoextra Jose Morales set a record with 25 pinch hits.
Red Schoendienst kept the heat off his nose, not his job.
Spring training got off and running 17 days late because of a dispute between the owners and players resulting in a lockout.
Detroit's Mark Fidrych was a rara avis who groomed the mound, talked to the ball, won 19 games and was Rookie of the Year.
The new free-agent system elated an emancipated Reggie Jackson, who left Baltimore to sign a $2.9 million Yankee contract.
New Braves Owner Ted Turner brought in a bevy of beasts, beauties and new ballplayers to raise Atlanta attendance by 283,507.
In the New York version of the Boston Massacre, Red Sox Pitcher Bill Lee (left) ripped an arm ligament and missed nine starts.
Reflecting upon the game that was his passion is Tom Yawkey, Red Sox owner for 43 years, who died in July at the age of 73.
The four division champs so dominated the season that Pirate Frank Taveras—and players on other second-place teams—could do little but beg for mercy.
TWENTY PHOTOS
