The 1937 Yankees defeated the 1978 Yankees four games to two in their series to improve their record to 66-42, 5th best behind the '27, '32, '36, and '28 Bombers. The '78 Yankees dropped further under .500 at 61-65 with five series left to play.
The '37 Yankees scored five runs in the 5th inning of Game One which was all they needed for a 5-2 win. Their bats were red hot in a 13-2 drubbing; 10 of their 14 hits were for extra bases. Tommy Henrich hit two doubles and two triples while driving in three RBI. The '78 Yankees won the next two games, starting with Game Three by a score of 5-2. Ed Figueroa calmed the '37 Yankee bats with 8 2/3 no hit innings before a Joe Dimaggio double and George Selkirk homer ruined the no-no and shutout. They won Game Four 9-8 in 10 innings after blowing a 7-2 lead in the 8th inning. The '37 Yankees cut the deficit to 7-6 after a three-run homer by Lou Gehrig followed by a solo blast from Dimaggio. Reggie Jackson gave the '78 Yankees a little cushion in the 9th with a solo home run of his own to make it 8-6. Goose Gossage gacked another save opportunity in the 9th with three walks that led to a tying two-run single by Dimaggio. The '78 Yankees went back ahead for good when Selkirk misplayed a Willie Randolph single, resulting with pinch hitter Gary Thomasen scoring from first. In the pivotal Game Five, the '78 Yankees scored four runs in the 1st. inning, but the '37 Yankees countered with eight unanswered runs the rest of the game for a 8-4 win. In the finale, the '37 Yankees cruised to a 12-2 with; Selkirk and Red Rolfe teamed up with three hits apiece (Selkirk hit another home run) and five RBI each.
Gehrig leads the '37 Yankees in hitting at .351 with 26 home runs, 86 RBI, 110 runs scored, and a 1.150 OPS. Selkirk had a huge series, hitting .444 with FIVE home runs and 13 RBI; he is now hitting .329 with 33 home runs, 85 RBI, 88 runs scored, and a 1.115 OPS. Dimaggio hit .346 in the series to raise his average to .313 with 42 home runs, 134 RBI, 96 runs scored, and a 1.044 OPS. Bill Dickey is hitting .255 with 18 home runs and 88 runs scored. Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing won all three of their combined starts; they have identical 14-3 records with a 2.27 ERA for Gomez and a 2.54 ERA for Ruffing.
Jackson hit .440 in the series with three homers and eight RBI to raise his average to .327 with 37 home runs, 102 RBI, 88 runs scored, and a 1.007 OPS. Randolph and Mickey Rivers both have 40 or more stolen bases. Figueroa’s masterpiece improved his record to 16-6 with a 3.51 ERA. The '78 Yankees will battle the 55-35 1938 Yankees in the next series.
