1978 New York Yankees season

Offseason

• November 22, 1977: Goose Gossage was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.
• December 5, 1977: Jesús Figueroa was drafted from the Yankees by the Chicago Cubs in the 1977 rule 5 draft.
• December 9, 1977: Sergio Ferrer was traded by the Yankees to the New York Mets for Roy Staiger.
• December 12, 1977: Stan Thomas and Ed Ricks (minors) were traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for Jim Spencer, Tommy Cruz, and Bob Polinsky (minors).

Regular season

Lefthander Ron Guidry was the last Yankee pitcher to win at least 25 games in a season in the 20th century. In 35 starts in the regular season (including the playoff game), he pitched innings, compiled a 25–3 record with 248 strikeouts, 1.74 ERA, and nine shutouts. Guidry won the Cy Young Award by unanimous vote.

Relief pitcher Goose Gossage won Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, leading the American League with 27 saves.

Season summary

A week after the All-Star Game in July, the team was fourteen games behind Boston, but rallied to tie for first place. With a week to go, New York led by one game and won six straight, but lost the finale at home to struggling Cleveland on Sunday, October 1, while Boston won their final eight games. The Yankees traveled to Fenway Park and defeated the Red Sox 5–4 in the one-game playoff for the AL East title; the Monday afternoon game featured light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent's famous three-run go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Jackson's solo home run in the eighth was the winning margin.

For decades, some have mistakenly thought the Yankees trailed by 14½ games, but the maximum deficit was fourteen games, after the July 17 loss and until the July 20 win. New York's biggest lead was 3½ games, after another victory over Boston on Saturday, September 16. The previous weekend, the Yankees swept a four-game series at Fenway, dubbed "The Boston Massacre" by the sports press; it left the teams tied at with three weeks remaining.

AL East tie-breaker game

Main article: 1978 American League East tie-breaker game

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Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• June 10: Ken Holtzman was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. Ron Davis was sent to the Yankees on June 12.
• June 14: Rawly Eastwick was traded by the Yankees to the Philadelphia Phillies for Bobby Brown and Jay Johnstone.
• June 15: Mickey Klutts, Dell Alston and $50,000 were traded by the Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for Gary Thomasson.

Draft picks

• June 6: 1978 Major League Baseball draft
  • Rex Hudler was selected by the Yankees in the first round (18th pick), and he signed on June 20.
  • Steve Balboni was selected by the Yankees in the second round.

Roster

Notable events

The defending World Series champions got off to a slow start in , prompting owner George Steinbrenner to put pressure on manager Billy Martin. Compounding the issue was the already-tumultuous relationship between Martin and Reggie Jackson, and Steinbrenner was pressuring him as well. On July 17, with the team at and in fourth place in the American League East, it came to a head during a home contest with the Kansas City Royals on Monday, July 17. With the score tied in the bottom of the tenth inning and Thurman Munson on first, Martin sent Jackson to the plate with orders to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Jackson tried to bunt the first pitch, but failed. Martin then relayed to third-base coach Dick Howser for Jackson to swing and Howser passed it on, but Jackson ignored Howser and attempted another bunt. Howser called time and talked with Jackson, but to no avail. On his final bunt attempt, Jackson fouled out to the catcher. Martin then removed Jackson from the game and suspended him (owner Steinbrenner limited it to five days, Tuesday through Saturday), but Kansas City won in eleven innings and swept the three-game series. Tuesday was an open date; the Yankees traveled to Minnesota and Jackson went to California.

Jackson returned to the team in Chicago on Sunday, July 23; he did not take batting practice and remained on the bench as the Yankees swept the White Sox for their fifth consecutive win. Martin commented in a post-game interview at the Chicago airport that (referring to Jackson and Steinbrenner, respectively) 'one's a born liar, and the other's convicted.' The Steinbrenner reference was alluding to a past incident where the Yankee owner made illegal U.S. presidential campaign contributions. The next day in Kansas City, Martin appeared on live television and tearfully announced his resignation as Yankees manager, but most sources believed he was actually fired by Steinbrenner for the "convicted" comment. Howser was acting manager for one game on July 24, a 5–2 loss at Kansas City on ABC's Monday Night Baseball, then Bob Lemon arrived as manager for the rest of the season.

In his first appearance since the bunting incident ten days earlier, Jackson started in right field on Thursday, July 27, and went three-for-three, with a home run, a walk, and three RBI. In the nightcap of the doubleheader, he had two hits.

During the Old-Timer's Day ceremony at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, July 29, Yankee public address announcer Bob Sheppard introduced Martin to the crowd and announced that Martin would return as manager for the 1980 season. Martin returned ahead of schedule, in June 1979, and was fired again four months later, after a fight in a Minnesota hotel. He went west to Oakland in 1980, then owned by Charlie O. Finley. Martin returned to the Yankees and managed the team in 1983, 1985, and 1988.

Under Lemon in 1978, the Yankees were for the rest of the 162-game season to tie for the division title, after having been fourteen games back on July 19. They won the division in a one-game playoff on the road, and went on to repeat as World Series champions.

On September 30, Ed Figueroa won his twentieth game of the season, which clinched a tie for the AL East title. As of 2018, Figueroa is the only native of Puerto Rico to win twenty games in a major league season.

Game log

Regular season

|-style=background:#fbb | 1 || || || style=";" |@ Rangers || L 1–2 || Matlack (1–0) || Gossage (0–1) || || || 40,078 || 0–1 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 2 || || || style=";" |@ Rangers || W 7–1 || Figueroa (1–0) || Alexander (0–1) || || || 20,243 || 1–1 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 3 || || || style=";" |@ Rangers || L 2–5 || D. Ellis (1–0) || Tidrow (0–1) || Moret (1) || || 14,299 || 1–2 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 4 || April 11 || @ Brewers || 6–9 || Augustine (2–0) || Hunter (0–1) || Caldwell (1) || County Stadium || 8,934 || 1–3 |-style=background:#fbb | 5 || April 12 || @ Brewers || 3–5 || Haas (2–0) || Gossage (0–2) || || County Stadium || 8,751 || 1–4 |-style=background:#bfb | 6 || April 13 || White Sox || 4–2 || Guidry (1–0) || Wood (0–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 44,667 || 2–4 |-style=background:#bfb | 7 || April 15 || White Sox || 3–2 || Figueroa (2–0) || Barrios (0–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 20,965 || 3–4 |-style=background:#bfb | 8 || April 16 || White Sox || 3–0 || Tidrow (1–1) || Kravec (1–1) || Lyle (1) || Yankee Stadium || 32,750 || 4–4 |-style=background:#fbb | 9 || April 17 || Orioles || 1–6 || Flanagan (1–2) || Hunter (0–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 15,674 || 4–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 10 || April 18 || Orioles || 4–3 || Lyle (1–0) || T. Martinez (0–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 15,628 || 5–5 |-style=background:#fbb | 11 || April 19 || @ Blue Jays || 3–4 || Murphy (1–0) || Gossage (0–3) || || Exhibition Stadium || 13,306 || 5–6 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 20 || @ Blue Jays || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 20 |-style=background:#fbb | 12 || April 21 || Brewers || 2–9 || Augustine (3–1) || Figueroa (2–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 15,105 || 5–7 |-style=background:#bfb | 13 || April 22 || Brewers || 4–3 (12) || Lyle (2–0) || McClure (0–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 17,594 || 6–7 |-style=background:#fbb | 14 || April 23 || Brewers || 2–3 || Sorensen (2–1) || Hunter (0–3) || McClure (0–1) || Yankee Stadium || 26,291 || 6–8 |-style=background:#bfb | 15 || April 24 || @ Orioles || 8–2 || Guidry (2–0) || McGregor (0–3) || || Memorial Stadium || 18,053 || 7–8 |-style=background:#bfb | 16 || April 25 || @ Orioles || 4–3 || Beattie (1–0) || Palmer (2–1) || Lyle (2) || Memorial Stadium || 14,159 || 8–8 |-style=background:#bfb | 17 || April 28 || @ Twins || 3–1 || Figueroa (3–1) || Thormodsgard (1–2) || || Metropolitan Stadium || 11,674 || 9–8 |-style=background:#fbb | 18 || April 29 || @ Twins || 1–3 || Zahn (2–0) || Tidrow (1–2) || || Metropolitan Stadium || 10,543 || 9–9 |-style=background:#bfb | 19 || April 30 || @ Twins || 3–2 || Gossage (1–3) || Scarce (0–1) || || Metropolitan Stadium || 13,929 || 10–9 |- |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |-style=background:#bfb | 23 || || || style=";" |Rangers || W 5–2 || Guidry (3–0) || Matlack (2–4) || Gossage (2) || || 17,285 || 14–9 || W5 |-style=background:#fbb | 24 || || || style=";" |Rangers || L 5–9 || Umbarger (1–1) || Tidrow (1–3) || || || 19,788 || 14–10 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 25 || || || style=";" |Rangers || W 3–2 (12) || Gossage (2–3) || Barker (1–2) || || || 53,829 || 15–10 || W1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 8 || Twins || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 30 |-style=background:#bfb | 26 || May 9 || Twins || 3–1 || Hunter (2–3) || Thormodsgard (1–4) || Lyle (5) || Yankee Stadium || 11,271 || 16–10 |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#fbb;" |-style=background:#bfb | 30 || May 15 || @ White Sox || 4–1 || Beattie (2–0) || Wortham (1–2) || Lyle (6) || Comiskey Park || 17,569 || 18–12 |-style=background:#bfb | 31 || May 16 || @ White Sox || 8–3 || Holtzman (1–0) || Wood (3–4) || Gossage (4) || Comiskey Park || 21,837 || 19–12 |-style=background:#fbb | 32 || May 17 || @ Indians || 4–5 (10) || Monge (1–0) || Lyle (2–1) || || Cleveland Stadium || 10,370 || 19–13 |-style=background:#bfb | 33 || May 18 || @ Indians || 5–3 || Guidry (5–0) || Kinney (0–2) || Gossage (5) || Cleveland Stadium || 13,625 || 20–13 |-style=background:#bfb | 34 || May 19 || @ Blue Jays || 11–3 || Tidrow (2–3) || Jefferson (2–5) || || Exhibition Stadium || 26,025 || 21–13 |-style=background:#fbb | 35 || May 20 || @ Blue Jays || 8–10 || Lemanczyk (1–7) || Clay (0–2) || || Exhibition Stadium || 30,550 || 21–14 |-style=background:#bfb | 36 || May 21 || @ Blue Jays || 2–1 || Figueroa (5–1) || Underwood (1–4) || Gossage (6) || Exhibition Stadium || – || 22–14 |-style=background:#bfb | 37 || May 21 || @ Blue Jays || 9–1 || Clay (1–2) || Garvin (2–2) || || Exhibition Stadium || 41,308 || 23–14 |-style=background:#bfb | 38 || May 23 || Indians || 10–1 || Guidry (6–0) || Hood (3–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 20,618 || 24–14 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 24 || Indians || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 27 |-style=background:#bfb | 39 || May 25 || Indians || 9–3 || Tidrow (3–3) || Waits (3–4) || || Yankee Stadium || 15,403 || 25–14 |-style=background:#bfb | 40 || May 26 || Blue Jays || 4–3 || Lyle (3–1) || Garvin (2–3) || || Yankee Stadium || 24,171 || 26–14 |-style=background:#fbb | 41 || May 27 || Blue Jays || 1–4 || Clancy (3–4) || Figueroa (5–2) || Murphy (3) || Yankee Stadium || 56,078 || 26–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 42 || May 28 || Blue Jays || 5–3 || Guidry (7–0) || Jefferson (3–6) || || Yankee Stadium || – || 27–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 43 || May 28 || Blue Jays || 6–5 (13) || Gossage (3–4) || Murphy (2–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 41,534 || 28–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 44 || May 29 || @ Indians || 2–0 || Eastwick (2–0) || Waits (3–5) || || Cleveland Stadium || 19,563 || 29–15 |-style=background:#fbb | 45 || May 30 || @ Indians || 1–5 || Wise (3–8) || Tidrow (3–4) || || Cleveland Stadium || 6,069 || 29–16 |-style=background:#fbb | 46 || May 31 || Orioles || 2–3 || Flanagan (6–4) || Figueroa (5–3) || || Yankee Stadium || 21,404 || 29–17 |- |-style=background:#fbb | 47 || June 1 || Orioles || 0–1 || Palmer (7–4) || Beattie (2–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 19,943 || 29–18 |-style=background:#bfb | 48 || June 2 || @ Athletics || 3–1 || Guidry (8–0) || Johnson (4–3) || Gossage (7) || Oakland Coliseum || 18,993 || 30–18 |-style=background:#fbb | 49 || June 3 || @ Athletics || 1–5 || Keough (3–4) || Messersmith (0–1) || || Oakland Coliseum || 14,499 || 30–19 |-style=background:#fbb | 50 || June 4 || @ Athletics || 4–6 || Lacey (5–2) || Eastwick (2–1) || Sosa (7) || Oakland Coliseum || 19,289 || 30–20 |-style=background:#fbb | 51 || June 5 || @ Mariners || 3–7 || House (4–4) || Figueroa (5–4) || || Kingdome || 15,189 || 30–21 |-style=background:#fbb | 52 || June 6 || @ Mariners || 3–4 || Rawley (3–5) || Gossage (3–5) || || Kingdome || 12,638 || 30–22 |-style=background:#bfb | 53 || June 7 || @ Mariners || 9–1 || Guidry (9–0) || Colborn (1–4) || || Kingdome || 12,544 || 31–22 |-style=background:#bfb | 54 || June 9 || @ Angels || 3–1 || Figueroa (6–4) || Tanana (9–3) || Gossage (8) || Anaheim Stadium || 29,415 || 32–22 |-style=background:#fbb | 55 || June 10 || @ Angels || 3–4 (12) || LaRoche (5–2) || Gossage (3–6) || || Anaheim Stadium || 37,848 || 32–23 |-style=background:#fbb | 56 || June 11 || @ Angels || 6–9 || D. Miller (2–0) || Clay (1–3) || || Anaheim Stadium || 31,646 || 32–24 |-style=background:#bfb | 57 || June 12 || Athletics || 2–0 || Guidry (10–0) || Heaverlo (2–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 28,457 || 33–24 |-style=background:#bfb | 58 || June 13 || Athletics || 5–3 || Figueroa (7–4) || Langford (1–3) || Gossage (9) || Yankee Stadium || 30,779 || 34–24 |-style=background:#bfb | 59 || June 14 || Mariners || 11–9 (10) || Lyle (4–1) || Montague (0–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 18,015 || 35–24 |-style=background:#bfb | 60 || June 15 || Mariners || 5–2 || Gullett (1–0) || Mitchell (2–7) || Lyle (7) || Yankee Stadium || 18,643 || 36–24 |-style=background:#fbb | 61 || June 16 || Angels || 7–10 || Aase (3–3) || Beattie (2–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 35,968 || 36–25 |-style=background:#bfb | 62 || June 17 || Angels || 4–0 || Guidry (11–0) || Hartzell (1–5) || || Yankee Stadium || 33,162 || 37–25 |-style=background:#fbb | 63 || June 18 || Angels || 2–3 || Knapp (7–5) || Figueroa (7–5) || || Yankee Stadium || 55,604 || 37–26 |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#fbb;" |-style=background:#bfb | 67 || June 22 || @ Tigers || 4–2 || Guidry (12–0) || Rozema (2–4) || Gossage (10) || Tiger Stadium || 33,971 || 39–28 |-style=background:#bfb | 68 || June 23 || @ Tigers || 12–3 || Lyle (5–1) || Wilcox (4–6) || || Tiger Stadium || 39,022 || 40–28 |-style=background:#fbb | 69 || June 24 || @ Tigers || 3–4 || Slaton (7–4) || Tidrow (3–5) || || Tiger Stadium || 37,681 || 40–29 |-style=background:#bfb | 70 || June 25 || @ Tigers || 4–2 || Gullett (3–0) || Baker (1–1) || Gossage (11) || Tiger Stadium || 34,014 || 41–29 |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |-style=background:#fbb | 73 || June 28 || @ Brewers || 0–5 || Caldwell (8–5) || Tidrow (3–6) || || County Stadium || – || 42–31 |-style=background:#fbb | 74 || June 28 || @ Brewers || 2–7 || Augustine (9–8) || McCall (0–1) || || County Stadium || 39,283 || 42–32 |-style=background:#bfb | 75 || June 30 || Tigers || 10–2 || Gullett (4–0) || Baker (1–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 33,894 || 43–32 |- |-style=background:#fbb | 76 || July 1 || Tigers || 4–8 || Billingham (6–5) || Messersmith (0–3) || || Yankee Stadium || 37,260 || 43–33 |-style=background:#bfb | 77 || July 2 || Tigers || 3–2 || Guidry (13–0) || Hiller (6–4) || Gossage (12) || Yankee Stadium || – || 44–33 |-style=background:#bfb | 78 || July 2 || Tigers || 5–3 || Gossage (4–7) || Slaton (8–5) || || Yankee Stadium || 51,327 || 45–33 |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#bbb;" |-style=background:#fbb | 80 || || || style=";" |@ Rangers || L 2–3 || Matlack (7–8) || Gullett (4–1) || || || 37,702 || 45–35 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 81 || || || style=";" |@ Rangers || W 7–2 || Tidrow (4–6) || Medich (3–4) || || || 37,930 || 46–35 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 82 || July 7 || @ Brewers || 0–6 || Caldwell (9–5) || Guidry (13–1) || || County Stadium || 40,216 || 46–36 |-style=background:#fbb | 83 || July 8 || @ Brewers || 5–6 || Rodríguez (1–3) || Gossage (4–8) || McClure (4) || County Stadium || 46,518 || 46–37 |-style=background:#fbb | 84 || July 9 || @ Brewers || 4–8 || Travers (5–4) || Gullett (4–2) || Stein (1) || County Stadium || 42,633 || 46–38 |-style=background:#bff |-style=background:#fbb | 85 || July 13 || White Sox || 1–6 || Wood (10–5) || Tidrow (4–7) || || Yankee Stadium || 28,532 || 46–39 |-style=background:#bfb | 86 || July 14 || White Sox || 7–6 (11) || Gossage (5–8) || Hinton (1–3) || || Yankee Stadium || 21,981 || 47–39 |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#fbb;" |-style=background:#bfb | 90 || July 19 || @ Twins || 2–0 || Figueroa (8–7) || Zahn (8–8) || || Metropolitan Stadium || 29,591 || 48–42 |-style=background:#bfb | 91 || July 20 || @ Twins || 4–0 || Guidry (14–1) || Jackson (2–3) || || Metropolitan Stadium || 30,660 || 49–42 |-style=background:#bfb | 92 || July 21 || @ White Sox || 7–4 || Lyle (7–1) || Hinton (1–4) || Gossage (13) || Comiskey Park || 30,348 || 50–42 |-style=background:#bfb | 93 || July 22 || @ White Sox || 7–2 || Hunter (3–3) || Wood (10–7) || || Comiskey Park || 32,163 || 51–42 |-style=background:#bfb | 94 || July 23 || @ White Sox || 3–1 || Figueroa (9–7) || Kravec (7–8) || Gossage (14) || Comiskey Park || 27,651 || 52–42 |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |-style=background:#bfb | 97 || July 26 || Indians || 3–1 || Gossage (6–9) || Waits (7–11) || || Yankee Stadium || 31,631 || 54–43 |-style=background:#bfb | 98 || July 27 || Indians || 11–0 || Figueroa (10–7) || Clyde (5–6) || || Yankee Stadium || – || 55–43 |-style=background:#fbb | 99 || July 27 || Indians || 5–17 || Hood (5–4) || Hunter (3–4) || || Yankee Stadium || 33,412 || 55–44 |-style=background:#fbb | 100 || July 28 || Twins || 5–7 (10) || Marshall (5–8) || Lyle (7–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 25,037 || 55–45 |-style=background:#bfb | 101 || July 29 || Twins || 7–3 || Clay (2–3) || Jackson (3–4) || Gossage (15) || Yankee Stadium || 46,711 || 56–45 |-style=background:#bfb | 102 || July 30 || Twins || 4–3 || Gossage (7–9) || Marshall (5–9) || || Yankee Stadium || – || 57–45 |-style=background:#fbb | 103 || July 30 || Twins || 0–2 || Goltz (10–7) || Beattie (2–5) || Marshall (14) || Yankee Stadium || 41,491 || 57–46 |-style=background:#bfb | 104 || || || style=";" |Rangers || W 6–1 || Figueroa (11–7) || Medich (5–6) || || || 15,419 || 58–46 || W1 |- |-style=background:#bfb | 105 || || || style=";" |Rangers || W 8–1 || Hunter (4–4) || Matlack (8–9) || || || 18,485 || 59–46 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#fbb;" |-style=background:#fbb | 108 || August 4 || Orioles || 1–2 || Flanagan (14–9) || Guidry (15–2) || Stanhouse (15) || Yankee Stadium || 28,189 || 59–49 |-style=background:#bfb | 109 || August 5 || Orioles || 3–2 || Lyle (8–2) || T. Martinez (3–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 26,727 || 60–49 |-style=background:#bfb | 110 || August 6 || Orioles || 3–0 || Hunter (5–4) || Palmer (13–10) || || Yankee Stadium || 40,765 || 61–49 |-style=background:#bfb | 111 || August 8 || Brewers || 3–0 || Tidrow (5–8) || Caldwell (14–6) || Gossage (16) || Yankee Stadium || 22,549 || 62–49 |-style=background:#bfb | 112 || August 9 || Brewers || 8–7 || McCall (1–1) || McClure (2–3) || || Yankee Stadium || 27,172 || 63–49 |-style=background:#bfb | 113 || August 10 || Brewers || 9–0 || Guidry (16–2) || Augustine (10–11) || || Yankee Stadium || 35,127 || 64–49 |-style=background:#bfb | 114 || August 11 || @ Orioles || 2–1 (6) || Hunter (6–4) || D. Martínez (8–10) || || Memorial Stadium || 29,539 || 65–49 |-style=background:#fbb | 115 || August 12 || @ Orioles || 4–6 || Flanagan (15–10) || Beattie (2–7) || Stanhouse (17) || Memorial Stadium || 32,153 || 65–50 |-style=background:#fbb | 116 || August 13 || @ Orioles || 0–3 (6) || McGregor (12–10) || Figueroa (11–8) || || Memorial Stadium || 31,591 || 65–51 |-style=background:#bfb | 117 || August 14 || @ Orioles || 4–1 || Gossage (8–9) || Palmer (14–11) || || Memorial Stadium || 30,397 || 66–51 |-style=background:#bfb | 118 || August 15 || @ Athletics || 6–0 || Guidry (17–2) || Langford (6–8) || || Oakland Coliseum || 13,862 || 67–51 |-style=background:#bfb | 119 || August 16 || @ Athletics || 5–3 || Hunter (7–4) || Lacey (8–6) || Gossage (17) || Oakland Coliseum || 10,394 || 68–51 |-style=background:#bfb | 120 || August 18 || @ Mariners || 6–1 || Figueroa (12–8) || Mitchell (6–12) || || Kingdome || 19,824 || 69–51 |-style=background:#fbb | 121 || August 19 || @ Mariners || 1–4 || Colborn (4–8) || Tidrow (5–9) || || Kingdome || 29,915 || 69–52 |-style=background:#fbb | 122 || August 20 || @ Mariners || 4–5 || Romo (10–4) || Gossage (8–10) || || Kingdome || 21,834 || 69–53 |-style=background:#bfb | 123 || August 22 || @ Angels || 6–2 || Hunter (8–4) || Tanana (16–8) || || Anaheim Stadium || 35,644 || 70–53 |-style=background:#fbb | 124 || August 23 || @ Angels || 3–6 || Knapp (13–7) || Figueroa (12–9) || LaRoche (18) || Anaheim Stadium || 33,472 || 70–54 |-style=background:#bfb | 125 || August 25 || Athletics || 7–1 || Guidry (18–2) || Johnson (10–7) || || Yankee Stadium || 29,010 || 71–54 |-style=background:#bfb | 126 || August 26 || Athletics || 5–4 || Lyle (9–2) || Lacey (8–8) || || Yankee Stadium || 53,883 || 72–54 |-style=background:#bfb | 127 || August 27 || Athletics || 6–2 || Hunter (9–4) || Langford (6–10) || Gossage (18) || Yankee Stadium || 40,628 || 73–54 |-style=background:#bfb | 128 || August 28 || Angels || 4–1 || Figueroa (13–9) || Tanana (16–9) || Gossage (19) || Yankee Stadium || 22,481 || 74–54 |-style=background:#bfb | 129 || August 29 || Angels || 4–3 (11) || Gossage (9–10) || LaRoche (9–6) || || Yankee Stadium || 24,203 || 75–54 |-style=background:#bfb | 130 || August 30 || @ Orioles || 5–4 || Guidry (19–2) || T. Martinez (3–3) || Gossage (20) || Memorial Stadium || 20,501 || 76–54 |-style=background:#bfb | 131 || August 31 || @ Orioles || 6–2 || Tidrow (6–9) || McGregor (12–12) || Lyle (8) || Memorial Stadium || 15,579 || 77–54 |- |-style=background:#fbb | 132 || September 1 || Mariners || 0–3 || Mitchell (7–13) || Hunter (9–5) || || Yankee Stadium || 20,167 || 77–55 |-style=background:#bfb | 133 || September 2 || Mariners || 6–2 || Figueroa (14–9) || Colborn (4–10) || || Yankee Stadium || 18,530 || 78–55 |-style=background:#bfb | 134 || September 3 || Mariners || 4–3 || Beattie (3–7) || Honeycutt (5–8) || Gossage (21) || Yankee Stadium || 22,386 || 79–55 |-style=background:#bfb | 135 || September 4 || Tigers || 9–1 || Guidry (20–2) || Wilcox (12–9) || || Yankee Stadium || – || 80–55 |-style=background:#fbb | 136 || September 4 || Tigers || 4–5 || Hiller (7–4) || Lyle (9–3) || || Yankee Stadium || 46,896 || 80–56 |-style=background:#bfb | 137 || September 5 || Tigers || 4–2 || Tidrow (7–9) || Young (5–5) || Gossage (22) || Yankee Stadium || 16,891 || 81–56 |-style=background:#bfb | 138 || September 6 || Tigers || 8–2 || Figueroa (15–9) || Billingham (15–7) || || Yankee Stadium || 24,452 || 82–56 |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |-style=background:#fbb | 143 || September 12 || @ Tigers || 4–7 || Young (6–5) || Tidrow (7–10) || Hiller (13) || Tiger Stadium || 14,162 || 86–57 |-style=background:#bfb | 144 || September 13 || @ Tigers || 7–3 || Beattie (5–7) || Billingham (15–8) || || Tiger Stadium || 16,841 || 87–57 |-style=background:#bfb | 145 || September 14 || @ Tigers || 4–2 || Figueroa (17–9) || Slaton (15–11) || Lyle (9) || Tiger Stadium || 17,118 || 88–57 |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#fbb;" |-style=background:#bfb | 149 || September 18 || Brewers || 4–3 || Figueroa (18–9) || Travers (10–11) || || Yankee Stadium || 20,557 || 91–58 |-style=background:#fbb | 150 || September 19 || Brewers || 0–2 || Caldwell (20–9) || Tidrow (7–11) || || Yankee Stadium || 26,682 || 91–59 |-style=background:#fbb | 151 || September 20 || @ Blue Jays || 1–8 || Willis (3–6) || Guidry (22–3) || || Exhibition Stadium || – || 91–60 |-style=background:#bfb | 152 || September 20 || @ Blue Jays || 3–2 || Gossage (10–10) || Cruz (7–3) || || Exhibition Stadium || 38,080 || 92–60 |-style=background:#bfb | 153 || September 21 || @ Blue Jays || 7–1 || Hunter (11–5) || Moore (6–8) || Gossage (24) || Exhibition Stadium || 28,653 || 93–60 |-style=background:#fbb | 154 || September 22 || @ Indians || 7–8 (10) || Monge (4–3) || Gossage (10–11) || || Cleveland Stadium || 10,035 || 93–61 |-style=background:#fbb | 155 || September 23 || @ Indians || 1–10 || Clyde (8–11) || Beattie (5–9) || || Cleveland Stadium || 17,452 || 93–62 |-style=background:#bfb | 156 || September 24 || @ Indians || 4–0 || Guidry (23–3) || Paxton (12–10) || || Cleveland Stadium || 15,855 || 94–62 |-style=background:#bfb | 157 || September 26 || Blue Jays || 4–1 || Figueroa (19–9) || Underwood (6–14) || Gossage (25) || Yankee Stadium || 20,535 || 95–62 |-style=background:#bfb | 158 || September 27 || Blue Jays || 5–1 || Hunter (12–5) || Willis (3–7) || || Yankee Stadium || 20,052 || 96–62 |-style=background:#bfb | 159 || September 28 || Blue Jays || 3–1 || Guidry (24–3) || Moore (6–9) || || Yankee Stadium || 30,480 || 97–62 |-style=background:#bfb | 160 || September 29 || Indians || 3–1 || Beattie (6–9) || Kern (10–10) || Gossage (26) || Yankee Stadium || 30,253 || 98–62 |-style=background:#bfb | 161 || September 30 || Indians || 7–0 || Figueroa (20–9) || Paxton (12–11) || || Yankee Stadium || 55,219 || 99–62 |- |-style=background:#fbb | 162 || October 1 || Indians || 2–9 || Waits (13–15) || Hunter (12–6) || || Yankee Stadium || 39,189 || 99–63

Detailed records

Postseason Game log

|- style="background:#bfb;" |- style="background:#fbb;" |- style="background:#bfb;"

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Postseason

ALCS

Main article: 1978 American League Championship Series

Game 1

October 3: Royals Stadium

Game 2

October 4: Royals Stadium

Game 3

October 6: Yankee Stadium

Game 4

October 7: Yankee Stadium

World Series

Main article: 1978 World Series

Awards and honors

• Gold Glove Awards
  • Chris Chambliss, first baseman
  • Graig Nettles, third baseman
• Bucky Dent, Babe Ruth Award
• Bucky Dent, World Series MVP
• Goose Gossage, Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award
• Ron Guidry, AL Cy Young

Franchise records

• Ron Guidry, Yankees single season record, most strikeouts in a season (248)

All-Stars

All-Star Game

• Guidry, Gossage, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, and Graig Nettles represented the Yankees.

Other team leaders

• Stolen Bases – Willie Randolph, 36
• Walks – Willie Randolph, 82

Farm system

LEAGUE CO-CHAMPION: Tacoma

Notes

References

• 1978 New York Yankees at Baseball Reference
• 1978 World Series
• 1978 New York Yankees at Baseball Almanac

References

1. (October 2, 1978). "Yanks win playoff game on two homers". Eugene Register-Guard.
2. (October 3, 1978). "Yankees edge BoSox; playoffs open tonight". Wilmington Morning Star.
3. (October 3, 1978). "Yankees Dent Red Sox, play Royals for pennant". Pittsburgh Press.
4. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gossari01.shtml Goose Gossage] at ''Baseball Reference''
5. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/f/figueje01.shtml Jesús Figueroa] at ''Baseball Reference''
6. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/ferrese01.shtml Sergio Ferrer] at ''Baseball Reference''
7. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/t/thomast01.shtml Stan Thomas] at ''Baseball Reference''
8. ''Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures'', 2008 Edition, p. 99, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, {{ISBN. 978-0-451-22363-0
9. (November 1, 1978). "Guidry unanimous Cy Young winner". Reading Eagle.
10. (November 2, 1978). "Suspense lacking for Ron Guidry". Spokesman-Review.
11. Moses, Sam. (January 22, 1979). "Yankee from Louisiana".
12. (October 1, 1978). "'Miracle' Yanks go for it all today". Eugene Register-Guard.
13. McMane, Fred. (October 2, 1978). "Rick Waits gives Sox another chance". Nashua Telegraph.
14. (October 2, 1978). "Bosox catch Yanks; playoff set today". Wilmington Morning Star.
15. (October 2, 1978). "Yankees lose a big one". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
16. (July 18, 1978). "How they stand". Eugene Register-Guard.
17. (July 19, 1978). "Baseball standings: American League". Spokesman-Review.
18. (September 17, 1978). "Yankees slip a 'Mickey' past Yaz". Eugene Register-Guard.
19. (September 17, 1978). "Yankees fly to 3½-game lead". Reading Eagle.
20. Keith, Larry. (September 25, 1978). "Seeing ain't believing".
21. (September 11, 1978). "Holy cow!! It's a new season". The Day.
22. (September 11, 1978). "Those Damn Yankees tie Red Sox for division lead". Eugene Register-Guard.
23. May, Peter. (September 11, 1978). "The Big Collapse: Part 4 is staged". Nashua Telegraph.
24. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/holtzke01.shtml Ken Holtzman] at ''Baseball Reference''
25. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brownbo04.shtml Bobby Brown] at ''Baseball Reference''
26. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kluttmi01.shtml Mickey Klutts] at ''Baseball Reference''
27. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hudlere01.shtml Rex Hudler] at ''Baseball Reference''
28. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/balbost01.shtml Steve Balboni] at ''Baseball Reference''
29. (July 18, 1978). "Reggie Jackson suspended". The Day.
30. (July 18, 1978). "Billy's goat". Eugene Register-Guard.
31. (July 24, 1978). "Yankees' turmoil". Wilmington Morning Star.
32. Cass, Murray. (July 25, 1978). "Tempestuous Martin out as manager". Wilmington Morning Star.
33. (July 25, 1978). "Billy sheds a tear for himself". Eugene Register-Guard.
34. Chass, Murray. (July 25, 1978). "Billy Martin tearfully quits job with Yankees". The Day.
35. (July 25, 1978). "Odyssey ends: Billy quits". Spokesman-Review.
36. Keith, Larry. (July 31, 1978). "A bunt that went boom!".
37. (July 24, 1978). "Remarks about boss may bring Martin's dismissal". The Day.
38. (July 28, 1978). "Yankees, Indians split". Wilmington Morning Star.
39. Cass, Murray. (July 30, 1978). "Manager merry-go-round". Sunday Star-News.
40. (July 30, 1978). "New York rehires Billy for '80". Reading Eagle.
41. (June 19, 1979). "Martin sees Jackson key to success". Reading Eagle.
42. Rappoport, Ken. (October 29, 1979). "Billy Martin axed again". Reading Eagle.
43. (October 29, 1979). "Yankees fire Martin again". Pittsburgh Press.
44. (February 22, 1978). "Martin missed game, happy with A's job". Toledo Blade.
45. (February 22, 1980). "Martin's back, thanks to Charlie O.". Spokesman-Review.
46. Fimrite, Ron. (March 10, 1980). "Berkeley Billy comes home again".
47. (October 1, 1978). "Yanks clinch AL East tie, but Boston wins, too". Sunday Star-News.
48. Hernández, Lou. (June 27, 2016). "Chronology of Latin Americans in Baseball, 1871-2015". McFarland.
49. "Ed Figueroa - Society for American Baseball Research".
50. "1978 New York Yankees Schedule & Results".
51. "1978 American League Championship Series".
52. "1978 World Series".
53. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball'', 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007