1976 American League Championship Series

Game 1

Saturday, October 9, 1976 at Royals Stadium

Kauffman Stadium

Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...

in Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

The opener was played on a bright Saturday afternoon at Royals Stadium and pitted Yankee ace Jim “Catfish” Hunter

Catfish Hunter

James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter , was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1965-1979 for both the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees...

against left-hander and ex-Yankee Larry Gura

Larry Gura

Lawrence Cyril Gura is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from to . He went to Arizona State University and spent 16 years in the Major Leagues. He played for the Chicago Cubs of the National League, and the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals , both of the American League...

. The Yankees got off to a quick start scoring two in the first aided by pair of George Brett

George Brett (baseball)

George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th...

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

Roy White

Roy Hilton White is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the New York Yankees between 1965 and 1979....

'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

Kauffman Stadium

in Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Five Yankee errors helped key the Royals series-tying win. Lefty Paul Splittorff

Paul Splittorff

Paul William Splittorff Jr. was a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who spent his entire career with the Kansas City Royals. Listed at 6' 3", Splittorff batted and threw left handed.-Early years:Splittorff was born in Evansville, Indiana...

was solid with 5 2/3 innings of work in relief of Brooklyn native Dennis Leonard

Dennis Leonard

Dennis Patrick Leonard was one of the Kansas City Royals' most dominating pitchers of the late '70s and early '80s, but a promising career cut short due to injuries. In 1975, his first full year he managed to bust out with a 15-7 record...

, while Yankee reliever Dick Tidrow

Dick Tidrow

Richard William Tidrow was a Major League Baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets from 1972 to 1984. He was primarily known as a setup man, or pitcher before the closer; however, on occasion he would also start games...

was ineffective and permitted three more KC runs to score in the eighth after relieving starter Ed Figueroa

Ed Figueroa

Eduardo Figueroa Padilla , is a former Major League Baseball player. He holds the distinction of being the only pitcher from Puerto Rico to win twenty games in a season.-USMC:...

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

Dock Ellis

Dock Phillip Ellis, Jr. was a professional baseball player who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, among other teams in Major League Baseball. His best season was 1971, when he won 19 games for the World Series champion Pirates and was the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star...

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

Chris Chambliss

Carroll Christopher Chambliss is a former Major League Baseball player who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...

two-run homer off Andy Hassler

Andy Hassler

Andrew Earl Hassler was a Major League pitcher for the California Angels , Kansas City Royals , Boston Red Sox , New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates and St...

and then tacked on three more in the sixth as KC manager Whitey Herzog

Whitey Herzog

Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including...

carted in four relievers in that inning alone. Sparky Lyle

Sparky Lyle

Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle is an American former left-handed relief pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball . He was a closer from 1969 to 1977, first for the Boston Red Sox and then the New York Yankees. A three-time All-Star, he won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977...

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

Billy Martin

Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...

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. While the Yankee bullpen was able to hold KC to only two runs over six innings, winning pitcher Doug Bird

Doug Bird

James Douglas Bird was a Major League Baseball pitcher from to . Bird was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 3rd round of the 1969 amateur draft's secondary phase....

only gave up one in 4 2/3 while lefty Steve Mingori

Steve Mingori

Steven Bernard Mingori was an American left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals...

pitched 2 1/3 and allowed only one tally, picking up the save. The Yankee offense was highlighted by Graig Nettles

Graig Nettles

Graig Nettles , nicknamed "Puff", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos .Nettles was one of the best...

' 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

John Mayberry

John Claiborn Mayberry is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees from 1968 to 1982.-High school and minor leagues:...

's two-run homer. The Yankees quickly countered in their half as Mickey Rivers

Mickey Rivers

John Milton "Mickey" Rivers is a former Major League Baseball player from 1970-1984 for the California Angels, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers...

tripled and scored on Roy White's infield single. White went to third after Thurman Munson

Thurman Munson

Thurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...

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

Al Cowens

Alfred Edward Cowens, Jr. was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From through , Cowens played for the Kansas City Royals , California Angels , Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners . He batted and threw right-handed.A native of Los Angeles, California, Cowens was a product of the Kansas...

led off with a single, Billy Martin brought in lefty Grant Jackson. He allowed a single to pinch hitter Jim Wohlford

Jim Wohlford

James Eugene Wohlford is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. In his 15-year MLB career, he played for the Kansas City Royals , the Milwaukee Brewers , San Francisco Giants , and Montreal Expos .- Baseball career :Wohlford was primarily a backup outfielder, used primarily for his good...

. 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 11:13 pm, Chris Chambliss hit KC reliever Mark Littell

Mark Littell

Mark Alan Littell , is a professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1973-1982 for the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals. Littell had a lifetime ERA of 3.32 and saved 56 games from 1976 to 1981...

'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.

Composite box

1976 ALCS (3–2): New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

over Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

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

Art Frantz

Arthur Frank Frantz was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1977...

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.

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

1978 American League Championship Series

-Game 1:Tuesday, October 3, 1978 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriPrior to the start of this game, both teams had to deal with bad news. Ron Guidry, he of the incredible 25–3 Cy Young Award-winning season, would be unavailable to start until Game 4, if played, at least...

, and two in 1980

1980 American League Championship Series

-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1980 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriThe series opener saw the Yankees throw their ace, Ron Guidry, against the Royals' Larry Gura. In the top of the second, the Bronx Bombers jumped out to a 2–0 lead when Rick Cerone and Lou Piniella smacked back-to-back...

. Interestingly, his other three ALCS home runs came in the 1985 ALCS

1985 American League Championship Series

-Game 1:Tuesday, October 8, 1985 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, OntarioThe Toronto Blue Jays entered the series as the favorite to win the series. The first game featured Toronto pitcher Dave Stieb and Kansas City pitcher Charlie Leibrandt at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto...

, and all against one pitcher, Doyle Alexander

Doyle Alexander

Doyle Lafayette Alexander is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers...

of the Blue Jays. That same Alexander was a Yankee in 1976, warmed up in the bullpen during Game 5, and started the first game of the World Series

1976 World Series

The 1976 World Series matched the defending champion Cincinnati Reds of the National League against the New York Yankees of the American League, with the Reds sweeping the Series to repeat. The Reds became the only team to sweep an entire multi-tier postseason. The Reds are also the last National...

for them against the Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....

.

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

Ken Brett

Kenneth Alven Brett was a Major League Baseball pitcher and the second of four Brett brothers who played professional baseball, the most notable being the youngest, George Brett.Ken played for 10 teams in his 14-year MLB career.Born in Brooklyn, Ken Brett grew up in southern California and was an...

, 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

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...

.

This was the first of three consecutive ALCS between the two teams. They would also go head to head in 1977

1977 American League Championship Series

-Game 1:Wednesday, October 5, 1977 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe visiting Royals jumped on the sore-shouldered Don Gullett early and never looked back. Hal McRae hit a two-run homer in the first, Freddie Patek had a two-run double in the second, and John Mayberry a two-run blast in the...

and 1978

1978 American League Championship Series

, 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

1980 American League Championship Series

and swept the Bombers in three straight.

External links

1976 ALCS at Baseball-Reference

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