MLB: Reggie Jackson Saved the 1977 Yankees as Well as Billy Martin’s Job
September 8, 2011 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
When the New York Yankees signed Reggie Jackson following the 1976 season, Thurman Munson told the media that he thought Jackson was the type of player who could carry a club for a month.
At the end of play on Aug. 9, 1977, the Yankees were in third place, two-and-a-half games behind the second-place Baltimore Orioles and five games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox.
Yankees manager Billy Martin decided to move Jackson into the clean-up slot. It was a wise move, but most of Martin’s moves usually worked out.
Jackson hit 13 home runs, drove in 49 runs and hit .286 as the Yankees went 38-13 to win the Eastern Division title for the second consecutive season.
The Yankees gave Jackson a five-year contract for $3 million. No, not $3 million per year—$3 million over five years.
Many didn’t think he was worth so much money. They pointed out that Jackson could be a divisive force and the critics were right, but not completely.
Jackson antagonized many of the other Yankees, feuded with Munson and was resented by Martin, but winning always meant the most to him.
Twice during the season, owner George Steinbrenner wanted to fire Martin.
The first time followed the infamous dugout confrontation Martin and Jackson had before a national television audience at Fenway Park in June. The second time followed the All-Star Game.
In each instance, Jackson supported Martin by speaking to Steinbrenner and imploring him to retain Martin. Jackson realized that he would be perceived as the villain if one of the most popular Yankees were fired.
Significantly, when Martin was almost released in July, Jackson was the only Yankee player who was willing to be quoted in the media as supporting his manager.
Some writers thought that Jackson’s two-month performance that led the Yankees to the division championship was significant enough for him to be considered seriously for the MVP Award. He did his best when it mattered the most. There was no question that without Jackson, the Yankees would be on the golf course in October.
Jackson finished batting .286/.375/.550 with 32 home runs and 110 RBIs. He received 17 percent of the MVP votes he could have received, finishing eighth behind winner Rod Carew of the fourth-place Minnesota Twins.
Carew garnered 70 percent of the votes he could have received; Jackson received one first-place vote.
The debate in 2011 with respect to whether Jose Bautista is the MVP despite playing for the fourth-place Toronto Blue Jays is the type of discussion that has been occurring since the award was instituted in 1931. Lefty Grove, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, won the award.
In 1977, as is the case today, many took the position that the best player might not be the most valuable player. After writing about Jackson and the MVP, Dave Anderson of the New York Times turned briefly to the National League. He wrote:
“With more than 50 homers and nearly 150 runs batted in, George Foster is the most outstanding player, but Greg Luzinski has been the most valuable.”
George Foster, whose Cincinnati Reds finished second, 10 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, led the league with 52 home runs, 124 runs scored, 149 RBIs and a .631 slugging average. He hit 320.
Greg Luzinski, Foster’s main competition from the Eastern Division champion Philadelphia Phillies, hit 39 home runs, scored 99 times, drove in 130 runs and slugged .594, while batting .309.
Foster was the MVP. He received 15 first-place votes to Luzinski’s nine.
Reggie Jackson didn’t deserve the 1977 MVP, but it cannot be denied that he was worth the $3 million the Yankees paid him for five years.
Reference:
Anderson, D. (1977, Oct 02). “Reggie Jackson: The Most Valuable Player.” New York Times (1923-current file), pp. S5. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/123176103?accountid=46260
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