Legendary sportscaster Curt Gowdy covers the 1978 Major League Baseball season in this video seen herewith for NBC Sports 1978 Year in Sports program….which is certainly another “nugget of gold” in our treasure chest of vintage baseball memories here at ImaSportsphile.
The 1978 Major League Baseball season saw the New York Yankees defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win their second consecutive World Series….and 22nd overall….in a rematch of the prior season’s Fall Classic….as the Yanks overcame clubhouse turmoil….a mid-season managerial change….and a 14-game mid-July deficit in the American League East en route to the championship…..when aAll four teams that made the playoffs in 1977 returned for this postseason….as none of the four would return to the postseason in 1979.
There were many highlights in the 1978 MLB season….to include two “no-hitters” from Cards Bob Forsch on April 16 in a 5 – 0 win verses the Phillies and Reds Tom Seaver in a 4 – 0 win over the Cardinals on June 16…..while three players hit for “the cycle” when Indians Andre Thornton did it on April 22nd against the Red Sox, then Expos Chris Speier did it on July 20th against the Braves and then Twins Mike Cubbage did it again on July 27th against the Blue Jays.
There were American League records set in 1978…..as Yankees P Ron Guidry struck out 18 in a June 17 game with the Angels….and for the season, Guidry set the AL record for most shutouts in a season by a left-handed pitcher with 9.
The National League records that were set in 1978 were the “longest modern day consecutive game hitting streak” of 44 games was set by Reds Pete Rose from June 14 to July 31….along with the most strikeouts in a season by a right-handed pitcher at 303, as set by the Astros J R Richard.
There were notable career milestones set in 1978…..as Reds Pete Rose collected his 3,000th hits on May 5th against the Expos with a 5th inning single against Expos P Steve Rogers….and the 500 Home Runs barrier was reached on June 30th by Giants Willie McCovey against the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium with a solo HR off Jamie Easterly…..while Padres P Gaylord Perry reached his 3,000th strikeout on October 1st verses the Dodgers in the 8th inning against Joe Simpson.
Having sportscasting legend Curt Gowdy provide the narrative for NBC’s review of MLB baseball in 1978….is well worth the price of admission to see this video herewith….as it is simply “pure gold” in our treasure chest of baseball memories here at ImaSportsphile.
