This weekend, several of the 1977 Yankees will be on-hand for Old Timer's Day to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their World Series victory. Of the 27 championship seasons in team history, 1977 is perhaps the most memorable and unique, largely because it was won by a fractured, feuding and friction-filled squad whose clubhouse atmosphere led to its moniker, "The Bronx Zoo."
Here are some of the key things that made the 1977 Yankees a team for the ages:
1. They were hungry
By the 1970s, the Yankees were in a championship drought. New owner George Steinbrenner assembled a team in 1976, led by new manager Billy Martin, that brought the World Series back to Yankee Stadium for the first time in over a decade. Unfortunately, they were swept in four games by Cincinnati's Big Red Machine. That didn't sit well with The Boss, his manager or the players.
2. They spared no expense
George Steinbrenner mastered free agency when it was first introduced in 1975. Money was no object. Pitcher Catfish Hunter arrived from the A's and, combined with All-Star catcher and captain Thurman Munson, put the team on a path to the World Series. The biggest free agent in 1977 was A's slugger Reggie Jackson, who had a quick one-year stopover with the Orioles in 1976 before testing the market. Steinbrenner aggressively wooed Jackson, promising that he'd be the King of New York. Shortly after Thanksgiving, Reggie signed a five-year, $3.5 million deal to play in the Bronx. All seemed perfect until a reporter twisted a spring training conversation with Jackson into a profile that made Reggie look like he thought of himself before his team. That caused alienation, especially with Munson, who never warmed up to the power-hitting superstar and resented both the salary and attention he drew.
3. They openly feuded
No secret was made of the hostility between Jackson and Munson. Their teammates took sides in the split. Though they were winning ballgames, there was anything but good cheer in the Yankees locker room. Billy Martin, never one to cater to star players, joined Munson in his animosity towards Reggie. Both the manager and the captain were firm believers in fundamentals and routine. They unfairly viewed Reggie as a slacker who was only interested in padding his personal stats. The rest of the country saw it play out on live TV, when Martin and Jackson had to be restrained from brawling with each other in front of a national audience during a game of the week at Fenway Park. The Red Sox swept that series, and the Yankees seemed to be spiraling out of control.
4. Their supporting cast was stellar
While Jackson, Munson and Hunter were the superstar faces of the club, it was the other Yankees who got the team back on track, contributing to their 100-win season in key ways. Center fielder Mickey Rivers provided speed on the bases and led the team with a .336 average, and Lou Piniella followed with .330. Willie Randolph and Graig Nettles (who actually hit more home runs than Jackson that year with 37) both showed the abilities and leadership that would earn them captain status a few years later.
Roy White, Paul Blair, Chris Chambliss and Bucky Dent could also be counted on in the clutch. Pitchers Dick Tidrow, Ed Figueroa, Don Gullett and a young Ron Guidry all joined Hunter with winning records. Reliever Sparky Lyle won the Cy Young Award for his 26 saves. Dave Kingman, one of the tallest players ever, hit several towering homers after he was traded by the Angels for the stretch run. He'd already played for the Mets and the Padres in 1977, making him the only man in history to suit up in every division in the same year.
Jersey Journal columnist Ed Lucas gets a batting lesson from Reggie Jackson in the 1980s.
5. They've provided artistic inspiration
Countless books have been written about the 1977 Yankees, including some by former players. Two movies, including ESPN's "The Bronx Is Burning" mini-series from 2007, chronicled the tumultuous season and its effect on New York, which also endured a major blackout and the Son of Sam killings that summer. Even a Broadway show, 2014's "Bronx Bombers," chose the chaos surrounding the 1977 team as the starting point for its story. It's unlikely that any team will ever match that sort of media trifecta.
Time has healed the tension, and some, like Hunter and Munson, are no longer with us. But it will definitely be fun to see the '77 Yankees take the field one more time and bask in their well-deserved applause. One thing's for sure, they will never be forgotten.