1980 is among the most intriguing seasons in Yankees’ history.
The Yankees were determined to get back to the World Series in 1980. After winning back-to-back World Series in 1977 and 1978, the New York Yankees had an off year in 1979, finishing the season with an 89–71 record and failing to reach postseason play. More importantly, Captain Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash.
The Yankees had good reason to be optimistic. Most of their top players from 1979 returned in 1980, including outfielders Bobby Murcer, Lou Piniella, and Reggie Jackson; infielders Buck Dent, Graig Nettles, and Willie Randolph; starting pitchers Ed Figueroa, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, and Luis Tiant; and relief pitchers Rich “Goose” Gossage and Ron Davis.
But there were some changes, too. Rick Cerone took over at catcher, and pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter retired during the off-season. Nearing the end of his career, Roy White went to play in Japan, first baseman Chris Chambliss left for the Atlanta Braves, and outfielder Mickey Rivers joined the Texas Rangers. Perhaps the most significant change was the new manager; Dick Howser took over as the skipper after the previous four and a half seasons under Billy Martin and Bob Lemon.
The team got off to a slow start in April, but by June, the Yankees were red hot, at one point winning nine games in a row. By July 19th, they had built a nine-and-a-half-game lead for first place in their division, and Bucky Dent, Reggie Jackson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Tommy John, and Goose Gossage made the All-Star team. Pitcher Tommy John, acquired from the Dodgers before the 1979 season, was having a great season, as was the always controversial Reggie Jackson. Catcher Rick Cerone filled in admirably for the late Thurman Munson, while Bob Watson, who took over for Chris Chambliss at first base, was also having a great season.
But as the season progressed, it became apparent that division rival, the defending American League Champion Baltimore Orioles, was a team to be reckoned with. The Yankees lost seven of the thirteen games they played against the Orioles, and it would take a lot of work to win the division, but NY was up to the task. The Bronx Bombers were only 1.5 games ahead of Baltimore by the end of August but then went 25–8 in their final 33 games to finish the season 103-59, their best record since 1963. The Orioles finished in second place with 100 wins.
Individually, Tommy John went 22-9, Ron Guidry was 17–10, and Goose Gossage had 33 saves on the year. First baseman Bob Watson led the team in batting at .307, and Reggie Jackson had one of the best seasons of his career, batting .300 with 41 home runs and 111 RBIs. Second baseman Willie Randolph batted .294, while left fielder Lou Piniella hit 287.
It was on to the American League Championship Series to see which team would represent the AL in the World Series. Their opponent was the KC Royals, a team the Yankees had defeated in the ALCS three years in a row, 1976–1978. The Royals were no slouch, though, finishing the 1980 season with a 97–65 record, the 3rd best record in the majors, and KC had beaten the Yankees in eight of the 12 games the teams played against each other.
Still, the Yankees were favored to win, and after Rick Cerone and Lou Piniella hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning of Game One, it appeared the Bombers’ playoff dominance over KC would continue. But then the Royals scored seven unanswered runs, and pitcher Larry Gura silenced Yankee bats as KC went on to win 7-2. In the second game, the Yankees were trailing by a run in the eighth with a chance to tie the game, but Willie Randolph was thrown out at the plate. Again, KC prevailed, this time, 3-2.
The teams would travel to the Bronx for game three at the “House that Ruth built.” Surely, the Royals would fold under the pressure. The Yankees held a 2–1 lead in the seventh inning when League MVP George Brett belted a three-run home run to give the Royals a 4–2 lead. The Yankees stormed back in the eighth inning, loading the bases with no outs, but came away empty, and the lead held, KC winning 4-2.
Just like that, the Yankees’ brilliant season was over.
Despite leading the Yankees to their best regular season record since 1963, Manager Dick Howser was fired, and–as we have seen repeatedly over the years–the team with the best record doesn’t always win the Championship.
The Yankees would bounce back in 1981 and win the AL Pennant, but then a dry spell hit, and the team didn’t win another pennant until 1996.
