The 1978 Yankees finished their season dropping four of six to the 1928 Yankees. The 1978 Yankees finished with a record of 69-87, 6th worst among the 27 Yankee champions. The '28 Yankees are in first place at 46-20.
The '78 Yankees lost the first four games to run their losing streak to 10 games. The '28 Yankees won Game One 4-3 in 10 innings. Benny Bengough drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out RBI single in the 10th. They shredded the '78 Yankee pitching staff in Games Two and Three, winning 16-2 and 12-2. Lou Gehrig went 4-5 with a home run and five RBI in Game Two while Earle Combs was 4-6 in Game Three with a triple, homer, four RBI and four runs scored. They clinched the series with a 8-4 win in Game Four. The '78 Yankees won the final two games 12-2 and 7-1. Lou Pinella and Reggie Jackson had four RBI apiece in Game Five, and Ron Guidry finished the season on a high note in the last game with a complete game win and 10 strikeouts.
The 1978 Yankees finished with a team batting average of .260, 14th best, and scored 4.36 runs a game. They have the most team stolen bases, 135. Here are the final numbers for the starting lineup.
C: Thurman Munson: .272, 65 RBI, 66 runs scored.
1B: Chris Chambliss: .251, 17 home runs, 67 runs scored
2B: Willie Randolph: .211, 55 stolen bases, 97 runs scored
SS: Bucky Dent: .221, eight home runs, 68 RBI.
3B: Graig Nettles: .282, 28 home runs, 92 RBI, 79 runs scored
LF: Roy White: .276, 11 home runs, 14 stolen bases
LF/RF: Lou Piniella: .278, 70 runs scored, 61 RBI
CF: Mickey Rivers: .278, 44 stolen bases, 12 home runs, 71 RBI
RF/DH: Reggie Jackson: .324, 44 home runs, 124 RBI, 107 runs
The pitching staff for the 1978 Yankees had a team ERA of 4.53, ninth worst among the 27 Yankee championship teams. Here are the final numbers for their top five starters and closer.
Ron Guidry: 14-12, 2.40 ERA, 294 strikeouts, 13 complete games
Ed Figueroa: 18-11, 3.91 ERA, 179 LOB
Dick Tidrow: 8-9, 4.14 ERA, 28 home runs
Jim Beattie: 6-12, 5.68 ERA, .319 Opp BA
Catfish Hunter: 6-5, 5.50 ERA, one save
Goose Gossage: 2-7, 37 saves, 3.66 ERA
Tony Lazzeri leads the '28 Yankees in hitting at .354 with 57 RBI, 61 runs scored, 11 triples and a 1.019 OPS. Gehrig is hitting .329 with 10 home runs, 65 RBI, 54 runs scored, and a 1.021 OPS. Combs is hitting .326 with 10 triples, 68 runs scored, and a .923 OPS. Babe Ruth is hitting .320 with 26 home runs, 69 RBI, 78 runs scored and a 1.212 OPS. Bob Meusel is hitting .256 with 62 RBI. The streak for George Pipgras and Waite Hoyt continues as they are a combined 21-0 in 26 combined starts. Pipgras has a 2.85 ERA while Hoyt’s is 1.64. The '28 Yankees will face the 65-73 1952 Yankees in the next series.
