This was the year that owner George Steinbrenner began to play musical managers
with the Yankees. Billy Martin was hired in 1975, won a pennant in 1976,
and a World Series in 1977. This year, the Yankees got off to a slow start,
and Martin made some caustic comments about his owner and star player. Martin
was FIRED and replaced by Bob Lemon; under Bob's leadership, the Yankees
caught the Red Sox and won another World Series. After 1979, Bob Lemon was
FIRED and replaced by Billy Martin, who after that season was FIRED and
replaced by Dick Howser... and then it becomes really complicated after that.
On the playing field, Jim Rice became the
first American League player to record 400 total bases in a season since Joe DiMaggio
in 1937. This is impressive, but it is not as significant as it first may
seem. Rice was able to compile a lot of big hits, but he also came up to
the plate over 700 times, and his on-base percentage wasn't great. But though Rice may
have had his limitations, his numbers were certainly MVP calibre.
Jim Rice's career started brilliantly, but
was hampered by injuries. He was the third great Red Sox player to patrol
left field, following Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. As a rookie in
1975, Rice finished third in the MVP vote; in the late 1970's, he emerged
as the most devastating power hitter in the game. He had his last big year
in 1986, leading the Sox to the pennant. He was only 33, but was finished
as a great player. In 16 years, Rice pounded out 2452 hits, and 382 home
runs.
Rice was followed in the vote by Larry Hisle, and then Amos
Otis. Otis missed a little time with injury, so he didn't produce
as many runs as Hisle... but Otis led the Royals to a division
title. And Otis was a better baserunner and defensive player. So
Otis gets my pick after Rice.
Every year from 1976-78, the Yankees and Royals met in the
playoffs, and the Yankees won. The Royals always found ways to lose
in heartbreaking fashion; this year, George Brett hit three home runs in the
crucial Game Four, which the Royals still lost. They would, however,
finally get their revenge in 1980.
Graig Nettles played for 22 years, and had his best ones with the
championship Yankee teams of the late 1970's. Nettles won only two
Gold Gloves, but his defense was his greatest asset. Nettles had lightning-quick
reflexes, and played shallow in the infield to cut down the number of balls
that could get by him. In 1971, Nettles set records for both assists and double
plays turned by a third baseman.
In addition to his great defense, Nettles hit
390 lifetime home runs, and once led the league. His batting averages were
often low (he was a lifetime .248 hitter), and for that reason he is not
considered a great player. Nettles was also a bit of a screwball, famous
for his sarcastic comments. He was also nicknamed "Woosh" because of his
ability to instigate an argument in the volatile Yankee clubhouse, and
then — "woosh" — disappear.
Rangers catcher Jim Sundberg had one of his best seasons with the bat this year. Sundberg was an outstanding defensive catcher, though early in his career it didn't look like he would ever hit. In 1975, he played in 155 games but batted only .199. The next year he hit just .228. But from 1977-1981, Sundberg played almost every game behind the plate, won a Gold Glove each year and batted over .270 in each of those seasons as well. Sundberg played for 16 seasons; though his career batting average was only .248, his excellent defense kept him active behind the plate. In 1985, when he was 35 years old, Sundberg was the regular catcher for an excellent Royals pitching staff that won the World Series.
