1976 American League Championship Series

The 1976 American League Championship Series was won by the New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals, 3–2.

Summary

New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals

New York won the series, 3–2.

Game summaries

Game 1

Saturday, October 9, 1976 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

The opener was played on a bright Saturday afternoon at Royals Stadium and pitted Yankee ace Jim "Catfish" Hunter against left-hander and ex-Yankee Larry Gura. The Yankees got off to a quick start, scoring two in the first aided by a pair of George Brett throwing errors. Hunter was in top form and went the distance, not going to a three-ball count the entire game. While the Royals were able to halve that margin going into the ninth, Roy White's two-run double in the top of the frame gave the Yanks two insurance runs that were the final scoring in a tidy 4–1 win.

Game 2

Sunday, October 10, 1976 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Five Yankee errors helped key the Royals series-tying win. Lefty Paul Splittorff was solid with  5 ²⁄₃ innings of work in relief of Brooklyn native Dennis Leonard, while Yankee reliever Dick Tidrow was ineffective and permitted three more KC runs to score in the eighth after relieving starter Ed Figueroa with one out in the sixth. The series, now tied at one, moved to New York and newly remodelled Yankee Stadium for the remaining three games.

Game 3

Tuesday, October 12, 1976 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York

The first Yankee post-season home game since 1964 started ominously for the Bombers, as the Royals tagged righty Dock Ellis for three runs in the first. He settled down immediately after though and went eight solid innings, aided by several double plays and two base runners caught stealing. The Yankees narrowed the margin to one in the fourth on Chris Chambliss two-run homer off Andy Hassler and then tacked on three more in the sixth, as KC manager Whitey Herzog carted in four relievers in that inning alone. Sparky Lyle got the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, as the Bronx Bombers took a two games to one lead.

Game 4

Wednesday, October 13, 1976 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York

Hoping to wrap up the series in four, Yankee manager Billy Martin brought back Catfish Hunter on three days rest while the Royals did the same, bringing back Larry Gura. Neither fared well, as Gura gave up six hits and two runs in two innings, while Hunter lasted three and surrendered five runs on five hits. Though the Yankee bullpen was able to hold KC to only two runs over six innings, winning pitcher Doug Bird only gave up one in  4 ²⁄₃, while lefty Steve Mingori pitched  2 ¹⁄₃ and allowed only one tally, picking up the save. The Yankee offense was highlighted by Graig Nettles' two homers and three RBI. The series was now knotted at two, with a deciding Game 5 to be played the next night.

Game 5

Thursday, October 14, 1976 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York

The deciding game was a fitting ending to a thrilling series, as both teams fought tooth and nail to bring home the AL flag. It culminated in a moment of sheer, unbridled joy for the winners and stunned disbelief for the losers. The Yankees started Ed Figueroa on three days rest, as the Royals did likewise, starting Dennis Leonard. The Royals jumped out on top in the first, as Brett doubled and scored on John Mayberry's two-run homer. The Yankees quickly countered in their half, with Mickey Rivers tripling and scoring on Roy White's infield single. White went to third after Thurman Munson singled. Herzog removed Leonard and brought in Game 2 winner Paul Splittorff, who limited the damage by allowing only Chambliss' sacrifice fly. The Royals countered with one in the second, but the Yanks jumped ahead in the third, as they tacked on two; one on a Munson single and the other on a Chambliss' ground out. The Yanks added on in the sixth, scoring twice; once on a Munson single and a second time on a Brett throwing error. Figueroa held that lead going into the eighth. After Al Cowens led off with a single, Billy Martin brought in lefty Grant Jackson. He allowed a single to pinch hitter Jim Wohlford. Brett then stunned the sell-out crowd of 56,821 by planting Jackson's second pitch just over the short right-field wall, tying the game at six. All this was a prelude to the bottom of the ninth inning, when, at 11:43 pm, Chris Chambliss hit KC reliever Mark Littell's first pitch over the right center field wall. Thousands of fans vaulted over the dugouts and walls and celebrated. Chambliss reached second, then dodged hordes of spectators in trying to reach third. He then proceeded to make a beeline towards the safety of the clubhouse, as the area around home plate and much of the field was covered with celebrating fans. Some time later, Chambliss was escorted back out onto the field to touch home, but the plate had been stolen. He touched the area where the plate had been. He was later informed by the umpires that given the circumstances of the situation, they would have counted the run regardless.^[6]

Composite box

1976 ALCS (3–2): New York Yankees over Kansas City Royals

Aftermath

Chambliss was later cornered in the Yankee locker room by Graig Nettles, who asked him if he had touched home. Chambliss responded that he had not, because there were too many people in the way. Nettles then told him that home plate umpire Art Frantz was waiting for him out on the field for him to touch home so that the home run could be ruled official. Chambliss was then escorted out to the field and touched the area where home had been.

KC manager Whitey Herzog did not attempt to contest the home run, although major league rules state that a player must touch all the bases on any hit or when running the bases. In this case, the mayhem on the field made that task impossible, and the magnitude of the game was such that Herzog would have never tried to have it restarted or protested it due to a technicality.

As a result, MLB amended rule 4.09 calling it "The Chris Chambliss Rule" ^[7] The exception states: Rule 4.09(b) Comment: An exception will be if fans rush onto the field and physically prevent the runner from touching home plate or the batter from touching first base. In such cases, the umpires shall award the runner the base because of the obstruction by the fans.

Brett's home run was the first of nine that he would hit in ALCS competition. Six of those came against the Yankees: one in 1976, three in 1978, and two in 1980. Interestingly, his other three ALCS home runs, which came in the 1985 ALCS, were all against one pitcher, Doyle Alexander of the Blue Jays. Alexander was a Yankee in 1976. He warmed up in the bullpen during Game 5, and started the first game of the World Series for them against the Cincinnati Reds.

The series also contained some interesting side stories. KC pitcher Larry Gura publicly criticized Yankee manager Billy Martin prior to the series, saying that Martin treated him shabbily in the short time Martin was his manager in New York. Gura was on the Yankees roster from spring training till the time he was traded to KC, on May 16. He did not appear in one game for the Yanks in that time. Martin responded by saying that if he had him there with the Yankees at that moment, he'd get rid of him again. George Brett also had harsh words for Martin, as he claimed that Martin had lied to his brother, pitcher Ken Brett, when Ken spent the first two months of 1976 with the Yanks. George's brother appeared in two games for the Yankees over two months, and was then traded to the Chicago White Sox.

This was the first of three consecutive ALCS between the two teams. They would also go head to head in 1977 and 1978, with the Yankees coming out on top again. The Royals, however, exacted a big measure of revenge when they met again in the 1980 ALCS and swept the Bombers in three straight.

References

Further reading

• Catfish: My Life in Baseball. Mcgraw-Hill by Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Armen Keteyian(April 1, 1988) ISBN 0-07-031371-7
• 50 Greatest Yankee Games, Fifty Greatest Yankee Games. John Wiley & Sons Inc by Cecilia Tan (04/01/2005) ISBN 0-471-65938-X
• Dog Days : The New York Yankees' Fall from Grace and Return to Glory, 1964–1976. iUniverse, Incorporated – Paperback October 2000 by Philip Bashe. ISBN 0-595-14122-6
• Yankees Century : 100 Years of New York Yankees Baseball. Houghton Mifflin 09/01/02 by Richard A. Johnson and Glenn Stout ISBN 0-618-08527-0

External links

• 1976 ALCS at Baseball-Reference

Links to related articles
American League Championship Series 1969–1970s 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s–1990s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s–2010s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 AL pennant winners MVPs Broadcasters New York Yankees Formerly the New York Highlanders – Based in The Bronx, New York City, New York Franchise History Seasons Records No-hitters Awards Players Managers Coaches Owners and executives Broadcasters Opening Day starting pitchers Team captains Members of the Hall of Fame First-round picks YES Network Ballparks Hilltop Park Polo Grounds Yankee Stadium (opened 1923) (Events) Shea Stadium Yankee Stadium (opened 2009) Spring training: Whittington Park West End Park Barrs Field Bader Field Al Lang Stadium Fort Lauderdale Stadium George M. Steinbrenner Field Lore Curse of the Bambino Johnny Sylvester Murderers' Row Babe Ruth's called shot Ed Lucas Don Larsen's perfect game M&M Boys Harmonica Incident 1978 AL East tie-breaker game Pine Tar Incident Jeffrey Maier The Yankee Years The Core Four David Wells' perfect game David Cone's perfect game Culture Monument Park New York Yankees Museum New York Yankees appearance policy Old-Timers' Day Bleacher Creatures Yankees Universe Eddie Layton Jim Hall Logos, uniforms and dress code "Holy Cow!" Robert Merrill John Sterling Ronan Tynan "Here Come the Yankees" "New York, New York" "God Bless America" The Pride of the Yankees The Babe Ruth Story Damn Yankees musical film The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant Safe at Home! 61* The Bronx is Burning Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning The Bronx Is Burning The Bronx Zoo The Scout Bronx Bombers The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty Everyone's Hero Gene Monahan Dandy Freddy Sez George Costanza Paul Olden Yankee Stadium Legacy Yankees HOPE Week Rivalries Boston Red Sox New York Mets Los Angeles Dodgers San Francisco Giants Subway Series Monument Park honorees Mel Allen Ed Barrow Yogi Berra Bill Dickey Joe DiMaggio Whitey Ford Lou Gehrig Lefty Gomez Goose Gossage Ron Guidry Elston Howard Miller Huggins Reggie Jackson Mickey Mantle Roger Maris Billy Martin Tino Martinez Don Mattingly Joe McCarthy Thurman Munson Paul O'Neill Andy Pettitte Jorge Posada Willie Randolph Allie Reynolds Phil Rizzuto Red Ruffing Jacob Ruppert Babe Ruth Bob Sheppard George Steinbrenner Casey Stengel Mel Stottlemyre Joe Torre Bernie Williams Key personnel Owners: Yankee Global Enterprises Hal Steinbrenner Hank Steinbrenner General Manager: Brian Cashman Manager: Joe Girardi Championships (27) 1923 1927 1928 1932 1936 1937 1938 1939 1941 1943 1947 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1956 1958 1961 1962 1977 1978 1996 1998 1999 2000 2009 American League Pennants (40) 1921 1922 1923 1926 1927 1928 1932 1936 1937 1938 1939 1941 1942 1943 1947 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1955 1956 1957 1958 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1976 1977 1978 1981 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2009 Division titles (18) 1976 1977 1978 1980 1981 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2009 2011 2012 Wild Card titles (5) 1995 1997 2007 2010 2015 Minors AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders AA Trenton Thunder A Adv. Tampa Yankees A Charleston RiverDogs Short A Staten Island Yankees Rookie Adv. Pulaski Yankees Rookie GCL Yankees West GCL Yankees East DSL Yankees1 DSL Yankees2   Seasons (115) 1900s 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Book:New York Yankees Kansas City Royals Based in Kansas City, Missouri Franchise History Expansion and draft Seasons Current roster Owners and executives Managers Opening Day starting pitchers All-time roster First-round draft picks Records No-hitters Awards and league leaders Broadcasters Kansas City Royals Baseball Academy Fox Sports Kansas City Royals Sports Television Network Ballparks Municipal Stadium Kauffman Stadium Spring training Terry Park Baseball City Stadium Surprise Stadium Culture Sluggerrr Denny Matthews Ryan Lefebvre American Royal "Royals (song)" Lore Pine Tar Incident The Call 2014 AL Wild Card Game Miracle at Minute Maid Hosmer's Mad Dash Rivalries St. Louis Cardinals Team Hall of Fame Steve Busby Amos Otis Dick Howser Cookie Rojas Paul Splittorff Dennis Leonard Hal McRae Joe Burke Larry Gura Freddie Patek Ewing Kauffman George Brett Frank White Muriel Kauffman John Mayberry Dan Quisenberry Whitey Herzog Willie Wilson Jeff Montgomery Denny Matthews Bret Saberhagen Mark Gubicza Art Stewart Kevin Appier Mike Sweeney Minors AAA Omaha Storm Chasers AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals A Adv. Wilmington Blue Rocks A Lexington Legends Rookie Adv. Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals Rookie AZL Royals DSL Royals Key personnel Owner: David Glass General Manager: Dayton Moore Manager: Ned Yost World Series championships (2) 1985 2015 American League pennants (4) 1980 1985 2014 2015 Division titles West 1976 1977 1978 1980 1981 (second half) 1984 1985 Central 2015 Wild Card 2014   Seasons (49) 1960s 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Major League Baseball on ABC Related programs Major League Baseball Game of the Week (1953–1954; 1960; 1965) Monday Night Baseball (1976–1988) Thursday Night Baseball (1989) Baseball Night in America (1994–1995) ESPN Major League Baseball (broadcasters) Non-MLB programs Little League World Series (broadcasters) Wide World of Sports Related articles The Baseball Network World Series television ratings Television contracts List of events on Wide World of Sports 1953 season Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Philadelphia Athletics ABC's owned & operated TV stations WABC 7 (Brooklyn Dodgers, August 17, 1953-October 1, 1953) WLS 7 (Chicago Cubs, 2015-present) KTRK 13 (Houston Astros, 1962-1972) WFIL 6 (later WPVI) (Philadelphia Athletics, 1949-1954; Philadelphia Phillies, 1959-1970) Sponsors Falstaff Brewing Corporation L&M Commentators The Baseball Network All-Star Game ALCS ALDS NLCS NLDS World Series Key figures Gary Bender Jack Buck Ken Coleman Dizzy Dean Bob DeLaney Don Drysdale Curt Gowdy Merle Harmon Keith Jackson George Kell Gene Kirby Jim Lampley Al Michaels Brent Musburger Bob Prince Chris Schenkel Gary Thorne Al Trautwig Jack Whitaker Steve Zabriskie Color commentators Buddy Blattner Lou Brock Norm Cash Howard Cosell Leo Durocher Carl Erskine Tommy Hutton Jim Kaat Reggie Jackson Bob Gibson Tommy Henrich Tim McCarver Joe Morgan Jim Palmer Jackie Robinson Steve Stone Bob Uecker Earl Weaver Bill White Warner Wolf Guest commentators Johnny Bench Rick Dempsey Mark Fidrych Tommy John Tommy Lasorda Billy Martin Ross Porter Tom Seaver Hosts & field reporters Jack Arute Tim Brant Dave Diles Corey McPherrin John Saunders Lesley Visser "Inside Pitch" scouting analysts Tony Gwynn Paul Molitor Steve Sax Mike Schmidt Lore Roger Maris' 61 home run season (1961) "The Bird" (1976) "The Double" (1995) Tiebreaker games 1959 National League playoff series 1978 AL East Playoff 1980 NL West Playoff LCS games Chris Chambliss' Walk-Off Home Run (1976) "Garvey Home Run" (1984) "Gatorade Glove Play" (1984) "You're Looking at One for the Ages Here" (1986) World Series games "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning" (1977) "Mr. October" (1977) "The Call" (1985) 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake World Series 1948 1949 1950 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1994 (cancelled) 1995 (Games 1, 4-5) AL Championship Series 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1995 (Games 1–2) NL Championship Series 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1995 (Games 1–2) AL Division Series 1981 1995 2002 (ABC Family, coverage produced by ESPN) NL Division Series 1995 2002 (ABC Family, coverage produced by ESPN) All-Star Game 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1995 Music "Hello Old Friend" "Lights" Seasons Saturday Game of the Week 1953 1954 1959 (NL tie-breaker series) 1960 1961 (prime time games) 1965 Monday Night Baseball 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 (now on Thursday nights) The Baseball Network 1994 1995 Major League Baseball on CBS Radio Related programs Major League Baseball on CBS (1955–1965; 1990–1993) Major League Baseball Game of the Week (1985–1997) Sunday Night Baseball (1990–1997) Related articles Major League Baseball on the radio 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers season (simulcasts) Commentators All-Star Game ALCS ALDS NLCS NLDS World Series Key figures Marty Brennaman Steve Busby Jack Buck Gary Cohen Jerry Coleman Win Elliot Gene Elston Curt Gowdy Hank Greenwald Ernie Harwell Jim Hunter Harry Kalas Ralph Kiner Denny Matthews Frank Messer Bob Murphy Brent Musburger Ned Martin Lindsey Nelson Ross Porter Ted Robinson John Rooney Herb Score Vin Scully Dick Stockton Bill White Color commentators Sparky Anderson Johnny Bench Rick Cerone Al Downing Steve Garvey Brooks Robinson Duke Snider Jeff Torborg Joe Torre Pre-1976 commentators Mel Allen Red Barber Boake Carter Bob Elson Jack Graney Fred Hoey Ted Husing France Laux Lore 1978 American League East tie-breaker game The Double (Seattle Mariners) World Series games Babe Ruth's called shot (1932) Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning (1977) Michael Sergio (1986) Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake LCS games Francisco Cabrera game (1992) Jeffrey Maier (1996) AL Championship Series 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1995 1996 1997 NL Championship Series 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1995 1996 1997 AL Division Series 1981 1995 1996 1997 NL Division Series 1981 1995 1996 1997 All-Star Game 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 World Series 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 (cancelled) 1995 1996 1997