New York Yankees 1980 Team Yearbook & Topps Cards

[tillman40]

This is back when baseball players looked and played like baseball players..

I remember when hitting 40+ homers meant something..now they do it before a contract becomes due..with a little help from their chemist..

[yankschamps]

I have a bunch of Indiana Jones 4 filming videos from Essex and New Haven, CT at my channel to check out.

[dzanier]

That's true but the Yanks had a better record in 76. They were 97-62 and the Royals were 90-72. Yanks had 19-game winner in Figueroa, 17-game winners in Ellis and Hunter. Royals had a lot of speed with Patek, McRae, Rojas, Brett, White, Otis. Whitey Herzog was manager and he was a running manager. Chambliss' homer is to me the greatest moment of the Steinbrenner era. Though we did lose the series that year.

[dzanier]

Yeah but Brett was in a lucky position backing up the play. And Wille got a bad jump and slipped a little. But you're right the Royals were due. Of all the years that Yanks beat KC, 1977, with the Yanks winning the final two in KC and scoring three runs in the 9th of the fifth game was the one KC maybe should have won. The Yanks were better in 76 and 78.

[los005]

76 they were pretty even. We didn't have Reggie and 6-6 in the 9th of game 5 series tied 2-2 doesn't get much more even. 77 they had us, but blew it. Remember the Nettles/Brett fight man those were the days! LOVED the BRONX ZOO!

[los005]

By the way, we just have to take our hat off to the Royals that year. Although, we were the better team we beat them 3 straight 76-78 and they were due. Also they made the play on Willie, it wasn't bad luck they just execute perfectly. No shame in losing to that Royal team.

[dzanier]

That was a great Royals team. Yanks won 103 games that year but we did not have Munson and Chambliss. Those two guys always killed KC. Yanks were heavily lefthanded that yeare which was a good thing. The top 4 were John, Guidry, May, and Underwood. You win at the stadium with lefties.

[los005]

We have much in common. Chambliss was my favorite player growing up. I was devasted when we traded him. As for us being heavy lefty handed I agree, but I wish the New Stadium would push back left center again. Unless there's a 4 infront of it, death valley just doesn't seem that deep to me.

[dzanier]

They traded hin to Toronto for Cerone so they had to replace Munson. I'm sure they were not actively shopping Chambliss who was only 30 at the time. It was a deal they kind of had to make. Chambliss was a big game player. He was a GREAT fastball hitter. I'm not sure the 80 team was so heavily left-handed by design.

[dzanier]

The 1980 team had Guidry, John, Underwood, and May, and then Tiant as a fifth starter. But having lots of lefties at the stadium is a good idea. You're right about death valley. They moved that in to help Jack Clark in 1988, and he hit 27 home runs. Since he only stayed one year that sure was a waste. Funny the 76 team was heavily right handed. Ellis, Hunter, Alexander, Figeuroa, and then Holtzman as the only lefty.

[Starfeathers]

yankees rock cat

[gambi44]

The leftfielder missed the SS-cutoff man(UL Washington) and effing Brett was there to wheel and deal and get Randolph at the plate. Bob Watson hit it; Steinbrenner decided to fire Howser right at that moment if they didn't come back. They didn't and Howser was gone on a 'florida' adventure. He ended up managing the Royals to the '85 WS title to screw Georgie !! I was 12 years old and I didn't miss a game on TV or radio that whole season. That series made me sick !!

[dzanier]

Yanks had a great team that year. I'm still shocked KC beat them in the ALCS in three straight.

[los005]

Yanks ran into a K.C team and an all time great in Brett. He owned us and Gossage. I still haven't got over the upper deck shot he hit in 1980 off Gossage.

[dzanier]

That was maybe the hardest hit ball I've ever seen. Brett nearly hit 400 that year. They had bad breaks in that series. Randolph getting thrown out at home in the 8th inning of Game 2. Plus the Yanks had bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the inning where Brett homered and Cerone lined into a double play.

[los005]

Yep..he hit .390 and I remember dreading Brett coming up to the plate. He always killed us and I sensed something bad was about to happen. I remember that double play too. Thanks for bringing back two unpleasant memories. Should we talk about WS '81 and Mariners in '95 next.

[dzanier]

WS 81 was strange. That whole year was strange. The Yanks had a good team that year but not great. In the first three games of That series Reggie was hurt, Winfield went 1-22, Nettles missed Games 3-5. But the Yanks were leading 1-0 late in Game 5 and Guidry gave up back to back hrs. And Valenzuela was not that sharp in Game 3 though he won.