LOL. I saw an interview, as I'm sure many people watching this video did too, with Garvey on the Rich Eisen show where he said he was with Jackson a couple of years ago in a casino in LA and asked him, in front of a few others, if he did it. Jackson, according to Garvey, smiled and gave a little nod. LOL. Looking at this video it's obvious that he moved towards the ball and most definitely interfered with it. On a side note, HOW did these managers manage to NOT have heart attacks out on the field with their over the top screaming and antics?
I was rooting for the Yankees and my dad was rooting for the Dodgers. My Dad was so pissed that Jackson got away with that play…. I’ll never forget that….
@@dme1016 Actually, both him & Thurman made peace with each other. Reggie said he flew with Thurman several times to talk about things, just him & Thurman.
I heard Reggie talk about it in an interview. I can't say what Thurman's death did to Reggie personally, but others with the Yankees organization said it took a very long time for the team to recover because Thurman was so loved by the team and the fans. Remember, Thurman was the first named Captain of the Yankees since Lou Gehrig.
@@rob3063In 1976. I saw the big red machine at shea stadium, koosman threw a complete game 1-0 shutout against them. to see the Reds get shutout was a rarity to say the least especially their batting lineup was loaded with great players.
@@rob3063 I just looked online only three teams have ever went a full season without being shutout. 1932 New York Yankees, 2000 Cincinnati Reds, 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers even though it was only a 60 game schedule. the game i attended at shea against the Cincinnati Reds was on August 15th,1976.
true, but he still would have had Pinella if Jackson didn't stick his hip into the ball. I honestly think most ss probably would have thrown it to first anyway as he's not expecting the runner to do what he did.
Dallas Brubaker according to Steve Garvey, Reggie Jackson admitted it to him. I think the interview with Garvey is on TH-cam. Go to 8:00 th-cam.com/video/f9T70kZtaFw/w-d-xo.html You can tell by looking at the clip - even the interviewers in this clip are saying it. Jackson had nothing to lose by doing what he did. Either he would get away with it or the umpire would call him out.
No way Jackson was confused on that play. He is a competitor and a smart ball player, he knew by leaning into the ball it would help his team win. He probably also knew that his thigh could absorb the impact of the throw. Yankees were smart to grab him. A's should've ponied up and kept him.
I knew Baltimore was an in between stop from Oakland to NY. I'm saying the A's should've ponied up and paid him enough to permanently stay in Oakland instead of later signing with the Yankees. Attendance got down to 300,000 in 1979. Though it recovered when Billy Martin was the A's Manager. Maybe Martin and Jackson could've gotten along better in Oakland, (though I doubt it) I will say Baltimore also messed up for not offering him enough money.@@jimwerther
The call was blown . . . by the second base umpire. The intentional drop by Russell was way more obvious than the interference by Jackson. Joe Brinkman, the second base umpire, was the Joe West of his day, making lousy calls and getting an attitude about it. He blew the play.
@@sdgakatbk - hew was doing the same thing a dozen CEO's were doing in their job before they got fired in the past 12 months for incompetency....or the seven or eight U.S. Military commanding officers who have been fired across the military so far in 2023 for the same incompetency - incompetents get chosen for jobs all the time due to factors like favoritism or being over-rated when they really are not that good.
That's correct! Therefore, Reggie's "interference" actually saved the refs from making a truly unfair call, which would have been to allow the double play.
I was at the game......LAST GREAT ERA of baseball.Pinella SMOKING a cigarette, Mickey Rivers reading the horse race betting odds, Greg Nettles drilling bb's into his bat.That's baseball!
This is one of many situations where I wish replay wasn't around. Yeah sometimes your favorite team gets screwed but the arguing by managers or players added so much excitement to the games.
- But for the last several years prior to replay, all you heard was "They gotta get the calls RIGHT!" so THAT is why Instant Replay as instituted. But even with replay in the game now, you'll STILL have contentious plays on the field, & a lot of close plays that are too close to call. Replay doesn't ALWAYS get things right no matter how much people want it to conclude that way. Strange things happen in baseball...it's not always perfect. But maybe that's what makes it so unique no matter what the detractors have to say.
Tremendous split second thinking by Reggie Jackson, and the Umpires called it right... Why? Because they only get to see it once in real time, not like us viewers, over and over, with many different angles in slow motion. Anyways...That's what Russell gets for his premeditated intentional play.
- Exactly; these days it's sooooo easy for us "couch potatoes" watching the game at home to say how the plays should've been ruled because we see about 20 different replays the 1st time around. The umpires now though have the benefit of replay to go over just what happened & try & make the correct call. But it isn't always easy regardless of how it turns out.
Similar incident in the BoSox - Yankee 16th inning affair on July 15 2017, Matt Holliday involved in a clear-cut case of objective interference on an attempted dp. He claimed he was just going back to first because he thought the first baseman had already fielded the ball and touched the bag, and the umps upheld his lack of "intent" (which should have been irrelevant to the decision). In any case, interference calls are not subject to video review.
Reggie didn't do anything wrong. He just stood there. Kubek alludes to video replay which will be reality in the 2014 season. Big mistake. Phantom tag will now be outlawed games will take minimum of four hours.
@Matthew Brooks Ron Luciano, in one of his books, said all Jackson did was turn around in place. He didn't know if he safe or out. (BTW, all ballplayers cheat if they can get away with it.)
If you listen to Tom Seaver from 2:29-2:40, the rule is you can't intentionally drop the ball to set up the double play, but Russell did. It's a judgment call by the umpires. What the umpires should have done was call everyone safe after Russell dropped the ball. That would have resulted in the bases loaded with Thurman Munson on third, Reggie on second, and Lou Piniella on first.
He was old that's why and when athletes get old the first thing to go is the hands (contrarily to what people think *Most think legs*) Reggie relied on bat speed (hell he hit for less than average) so he better hit home runs..When you lose bat speed due to the aging process it's all over for a guy like Mr October
The double play could have been Russell stepping on 2nd, which he did, then tag Munson. Look at the 1:00 mark. Munson takes off for 3rd before Russell even steps on 2nd base. So Russell could have either tagged him before he steps on 2nd or step on 2nd and either throw to 3rd to get Munson or get Munson in a rundown.
@classiccarz ...Why would Russell be ejected? Today, Lasorda would have challenged; they'd see that the ball was in Russell's glove which froze the runners; and simply called an intentional drop; batter out, runners safely back to 1st and 2nd...
I was surprised after the magnitude of bullshit that is this call, 26 years later the Yankees actually got a call that went against them. Seriously I remember watching Game 6 of the '04 ALCS, and thinking back to this incident, and expecting that Rodriguez was gonna get away with swatting the ball out of Arroyo's hand. Thank God he didn't.
Russell dropped on purpose and it cost dodgers world series....catch the damn ball....remember watching this with my father...i was 10....my dads in heaven since 2016....my favorite memories are watching sports with my dad....note to all sons and fathers...
brilliant sandlot play by Reggie. I saw it a couple of times growing up playing sandlot ball with the neighborhood kids. For Jackson to be perceptive enough in heat of the moment on the biggest stage to think of, then pull off the play was remarkable.
Shortstops are conditioned by reflex to go second to first on a play with runners on second and first, but they need to be aware of every possible situation. Maybe it didn't cross his mind to tag Munson. If it didn't, then Russell had a severe mental lapse.
Anybody remember what Craig Nettles said about the Dodgers fielding prowess? Jim Gilliam had just died and Davey Lopes said " all of us have Jim's spirit inside of us so it's like trying to beat 18 players" Nettles simply replied ," we'll that's the worst 8 mean infield I've ever seen". How right he was!!
JohnnyTyrone77: Yes. Reggie said, "I got away with one." LOL!! I love Reggie!!!! If I remember correctly, one of his teammates would later say, "Reggie did his job, he helped his team win the game."
After the first replay, I really don't think that was ever in question, no matter what Reggie may have said. But it's not against the rules to stand still. It is against the rules to intentionally drop a ball for the purpose of making a play. In a sense, Reggie's "standing still interference" helped the refs get the get the play right. They clearly would have gotten it wrong and awarded the double play if Reggie hadn't "interfered".
@@Nkosinati You are correct that it is NOT against the rules to stand still and let the ball hit you. But it IS illegal to move INTO the ball which is what Reggie would later admit that he did. Reggie said that his intent was to turn to avoid a crotch shot. But in doing so, he ended up turning into the ball, and he knew it. That is why he said that he was laughing to himself knowing that the umps totally missed what really happened as did Lasorda. But of course the truth was revealed by replay!
@@hehhehhuhhuh7014 ... Well, that situation is SPECIFICALLY why there is a rule against intentional drops. Reggie is only that close to first base because the ball was in Russell's glove before he let it drop out. The FAIR call, before any of the Reggie controversy, is simply batter out, runners back to 1st and 2nd. ALL the discussion and controversy after that initial blown call is actually moot.
@@Nkosinati You are correct about 'illegal drops', and that is EXACTLY what Russell did. Funny how nobody ever talks about that illegal play by Russell which was TOTALLY obvious. And yes, you are also correct about the FAIR call that the umpires SHOULD have made. Despite Russell's illegal drop, Reggie's interference greatly benefited the Yankees because the runner scored from second base. I also agree with you that the only scenario that would have benefited the Dodgers is if Reggie had not interfered. It would have been a double play, and the whole focus would have been on Russell cheating, but also on Russell screwing up by not tagging the runner.
Good call. Jackson had every right to be there, in the base path. Russell should have thrown over or to the right of the base runner, just like on any other double play throw from second base. Pinella was still 25 feet from first base when he made the throw.
No he didn't. He was out, forced at second. Once that happened, whether intentional or not, he was interfering. According to the rules, the batter-runner should have been called out.
Exactly - no one mentions it was a very poor throw. Russell had time and there was room wide of first base (to the right) to throw the ball - especially to Garvey's glove-hand side. The only way Reggie could have interfered with a right-side throw would have been to stick out an elbow or hand, which obviously he wouldn't have done. Russell fielded very poorly in the World Series - youtube has all the 78 WS up, check out game 5 to see Dodger fielding in action that year. I was at that game and it was fun (for a Yankee fan) to watch the bouncers and pop-ups that Russell and Cey couldn't handle in that game.
Everyone always talks about Reggie interfering. You know what nobody talks about? Russell purposely dropped the ball. He wasn't even good at hiding it. I mean, he dropped it directly in front of himself, immediately picked it up, stepped on second and threw to first. The only thing that Reggie was guilty of was cheating better than Russell did.
Reggie always put his body between the ball and the base he was running to , he doesn't get credit for the smart base running he did! He injured himself in 72 Alcs in a successful double steal of home base. I think he's still the only one to steal home in AL championship series. Munson was pretty speedy too for a catcher. Great play
It looks like Russell was so pre-meditated and focused on pulling off his bush-league fake drop & throw to first that he ignored a lead runner whom he could have easily doubled up, either with a sweeping tag, or chasing him down, or getting him in an easy pickle. If he had truly made an error, he would have seen this.
Yes Russell absolutely 110% intentionally dropped that soft generic line drive almost comically forcing the ball down into that no bounce late October New York clay.Hell Russell was an all star playing with an infield lineup who played together for 8 years and this worked to perfection for Russell in this play.He played it perfectly hoping to end the inning.. *One problem though* "A Big Problem" he didn't count on Mr October to perfectly place himself in the line of fire and create a benefit of a doubt for the ump's who incidentally in the back of their minds knew they were officiating a game in a place called the *Bronx Zoo*..Jackson not only could hit home runs but he was savvy long before playing with the Yanks..Hell at this point in his career he already had three rings with the A's and one with the Yanks
i remember watching this as a kid somewhat confused by it...but thinking it was neat-o none theless...it was my second world series that i ever saw, the first one being the REG-GIE REG-GIE REG-GIE one the year before...what a great way to start watching baseball with these two great teams, loaded with now legendary players. plus it was always fun to watch to tommy lasorda get mad. :)
Russell's fault for dropping it on purpose. Dodgers lose by one, it's all Yankees from there on out, and Lasorda was still bitter about it in 2010 at a Dodger game in which he and Jackson were guests of Joe Buck in the announcer's booth. Lasorda refused to shake Jackson's hand but Jackson gave Lasorda a hug saying he wouldn't even be Mr. October without the Dodgers.
What a crazy play! Munson was smart he went back to second on what appeared to be an easy line drive. As soon as the fielder stepped on 2B Jackson was out
Right and once he is out that makes him a non existing runner, so he must get out of the way of any other throws. Pinella should have been called out and it should have been a doule play. Another instance similar to this happen a few years back. Matt Holliday on first, ball hit to the first basemen, Holiday takes off for 2nd and thinks the first basemen had tagged first base getting the batter/runner Elsbury out. Meanwhile the first basemen didnt tag first but instead throws it to second for the force on Holiday. Holiday decides to back track, I suppose thinking that he has to be tagged, because of what he assumed the first basemen had done. But anyway the throw goes to 2nd Holiday is called out but he backtracks and slides back into first at the same time Elsbury and the throw go back to first. The ball hits Elsbury in the leg and flies away. Ultimately after a long discussion I believe they said it was a double play because Holiday was out the same way Reggie is here, and therefore, he interfered with a still ongoing play. So he and the batter/runner are out even if the batter/runner would have beaten the throw by a mile at first base.
Munson is already running back to second expecting Russell to catch the line drive; Russell, who is behind the backtracking Munson, would see this and intentionally drop the ball to jam Munson, and force out Jackson for a double play. Therefore, Piniella should be out, and the runners safe (Dead ball on intentional drop). I can't believe I'm siding with the Yankees on this one (facepalm).
@@josecarranza7555 Yes it is. Infielders cannot intentionally drop a line drive hit at them, which is what Russell did in an attempt to set up a double play.
in real time it was a line shot to Russel, Jackson wasn't immediately sure if he had to stay at first or run. bottom line, it was a bad throw by Russel.
... The real error that Russell made was that instead of his usual flip throw to first (that was usually scooped up out of the dirt by Garvey) he should have wound up and fired the ball directly at Jackson's head. I don't see Reggie being as eager to stand in front of the ball if that were the case. Either way, the Dodgers didn't handle the situation well. I don't know whether the bad call affected their focus; only the Dodger players know that. But, they played terribly from that point on.
Wasnt there already one out? They just needed 2 more: Reggie based out at 2nd and the batter out at first (if reggie doesnt block....but still, why didnt he tag out Munson then base out Reggie. Munson was RIGHT in front of him.
It's a judgement play at that point. Did Jackson stick out his hip, or did he just turn in place and the hip was out? Also depends on the replay view. Ron Luciano, in one of his books (he did not umpire the game) said all Jackson did was turn around in place. Another umpire interviewed on TV a few later said Jackson had already been called out and should have cleared the basepath. If anyone could quote the rule, I'd be obliged.
Absolutely, plus the so-called home run that Jeter hit in game 1 of the 1996 ALCS that made Jeffrey Maier a hero and seeing Richie Garcia giving out autographs the next day for blowing that call was pathetic.
I think everyone knows the call was wrong. He did move his feet to interfere. The rule is based on a runner's action and not intention. Russell practically threw it right at him however and should have caught the ball to begin with.
So obvious. Reggie was guilty of interference and the Dodgers should have won Game 4. I will go to my GRAVE believing the Dodgers should have won the 1978 World Series in five, or at the very least, six games. Curse Reggie Jackson and his cheating.
I feel you bro! I remember this! Made me mad as a kid because Reggie and the Yanks cheated. Always felt this WS was tainted. But today's 2024 WS win against these same Yankees vindicates this. As you may have noticed, That's the last time the Yanks have won against us. We have won two since 1981 and 2024!💙😎👍
Yasmani Grandal of the White Sox just pulled a Reggie Jackson-hip play in a post-season game against the Astros ...... and like Jackson back in October of 1978, Grandal got away with it. Instead of using his hip to intentionally deflect the ball, Grandal used his shoulder. .
Pretty terrible throw by Bill Russell. He threw the ball across the runner (instead of to the side of the runner - right side -- where he had plenty of room). He broke the then-rule by illegally dropping a liner / short pop in the infield, and then compounded it with a poor throw across the runner. He was a mediocre fielder, and this was just one of his many errors and blown plays in that Series.
Russell botched that play , lousy catch ( maybe took his eye off the ball to soon , looking for the force at 2B , the throw to first was just as bad , it was one of those church league plays you don’t see to often. But great for the game , liked that dodger crew , and always admired Reggie
Those of you saying he should have tagged Munson have probably never played SS before. It's 1 out already. Once Russell gets away with (illegally) dropping the ball intentionally, the EASIEST play is to step on 2b and throw to 1b. This is an EASY double play 99% of the time if he didn't end up throwing it right at Jackson. Whenever the SS has an easy inning-ending ground ball double play opportunity, with his momentum moving toward the bag, you NEVER waste time to go reaching to tag R2 (and possibly miss him). Just step on 2b and throw to 1b.
- I don't think any of the World Series games played in 1978 were day games, although I could be mistaken. This was a Saturday night World Series game.
Even if Reggie didn’t stick his hip own they wouldn’t have got the out because the first baseman was behind him. Like at 2:45 - the NFL wanted to have replay in the 70’s.
Tommy John could have been called for a balk too. In retrospect if Russell saw he didn’t have a clean throw to Garvey he should’ve chased Munson down to 3rd.
Reggie was smart enough to know that as a baserunner, he was entitled to be where he was....in the basepath. He just "biggened-up" his right thigh a little bit, but it was totally legal.
Where's Russell going with the throw? Garvey's glove is to his right; he hits Reggie on the left (right) thigh. It was a wide throw to begin with. I'd say that if Russell stays to Garvey's glove side, he gets that call. But since it was a wide throw, and it hits Jackson, Jackson is not obligated to move out of the baseline. The fielder is entitled to a path to field the ball, not a clear throwing path.
He purposely let it hit him... but he was also in the baseline. Should have just called it an out on the line drive. The short stop clearly dropped it on purpose. If Reggie was cheating, then so was the short stop.
Russell should have attempted to tag Munson. But even if he couldn't tag Munson he could have thrown to third to force Munson out and then the third baseman simply throws to second to force Jackson (who was standing 2 feet from first base). Simple double play. In the rules of baseball once a runner is forced out they must make some attempt to get out of the way of the play on the field. This is a terrible call by the umpires. Jackson is required by rule to at least make an attempt to get out of the way. While he may not have moved in to the throw it was certainly obvious he stopped and made no attempt to get out of the way of the throw. Simple interference call.
Corey Burnett: Jackson would admit years later that he 'got away with one'. He was trying to avoid a crotch shot, but instead of moving away from the ball, he sort of turned into the ball. Gotta love Reggie. What excitement he brought to the game for so many years.
Watch @4:03....AL umpire Joe Brinkman CLEARLY sees Reggie turn his right hip into the ball...guaranteed...had that been Steve Garvey or Ron Cey of the Dodgers, he would have thrown up the thumb.....incredible
Yeah, but cheating doesn't pay! Notice, that you guys haven't won any against us since! We've now won two 1981 and 2024! The baseball Gods have spoken!💙😎👍
Jackson deliberately interfered with the throw from Russell on this play! This should've been called a double play and don't blame Lasorda for giving the umps hell.
1:08 "He doesn't know what to do!" Yeah, right. Reggie knew exactly what he was doing. 😆
In his autobiography Reggie called the play a "sacrifice thigh".
Great play by Jackson. Years later, crybaby LaSorda still whined about it.
@@yankee2666 How was Tommy supposed to react?
That is just world class
It's the "Stand Your Ground" rule. Reggie was inside the baselines.
@@lahaina4791 Technically, once he was called out at second, he is supposed to get out of the way of the play.
Russell dropped the ball on purpose and Reggie deflected the ball on purpose! 🤣
Exactly!
Yeah but dropping the ball on purpose is legal
@@TommyD1213 No, it's not.
@@donnybrusca3043 Infield Fly Rule
@@johnconway9882 The infield fly rule does NOT apply to line drives. This was not an infield fly.
LOL. I saw an interview, as I'm sure many people watching this video did too, with Garvey on the Rich Eisen show where he said he was with Jackson a couple of years ago in a casino in LA and asked him, in front of a few others, if he did it. Jackson, according to Garvey, smiled and gave a little nod. LOL. Looking at this video it's obvious that he moved towards the ball and most definitely interfered with it. On a side note, HOW did these managers manage to NOT have heart attacks out on the field with their over the top screaming and antics?
It's called controlled anger, a quality that all old school fathers have
Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek. What a play-by-play duo!
They were the best!!
@@terryjordan5972 Add Curt Gowdy too.
agree. HORRIBLE
@@terryjordan5972 at being HORRID
They were good. Kubek was so knowledgeable. I learned a lot watching him announce Yankee games in the 80s and 90s on MSG network.
I was rooting for the Yankees and my dad was rooting for the Dodgers. My Dad was so pissed that Jackson got away with that play…. I’ll never forget that….
Reggie is my favorite player of all time. I think the game was never the same for him after the death of Thurman.
Even though the Yanks made the World Series in '81, it took them many years for them to get over Thurman's passing.
Are you kidding? Reggie was over that in 48 hours. They were teammates by contract only. They weren't buds....
@@dme1016 Actually, both him & Thurman made peace with each other. Reggie said he flew with Thurman several times to talk about things, just him & Thurman.
@@johnhenryNC I never heard that, but maybe so....
I heard Reggie talk about it in an interview. I can't say what Thurman's death did to Reggie personally, but others with the Yankees organization said it took a very long time for the team to recover because Thurman was so loved by the team and the fans. Remember, Thurman was the first named Captain of the Yankees since Lou Gehrig.
Reggie prevented a bogus double-play attempt by Russell.
its incredible the announcers refused to see Russell dropped the ball deliberately, his body motion was entirely synchronized with his intention.
@@josephcioppa1943 - excellent point about his body motion...it reveals how premeditated Russell's drop was.
@@waldolydecker8118 And then he missed tagging Munson, who stood right there.
Nobody talks about that.
i dont know why he did not just run down munson...he left before russell threw the ball to first.
I grew up a Mets fan and HATED the Yankees in the 70's. But man, they always found ways to win. And how can you not love Reggie
You must not have heard the Yanks got swept by the Reds in the 76 World Series.
@@donluego9448 Yes I do know. But Reggie wasnt there. And of course, I was speaking metaphorically.
Trust me, The Big Red Machine was a dynasty!
@@rob3063In 1976. I saw the big red machine at shea stadium, koosman threw a complete game 1-0 shutout against them. to see the Reds get shutout was a rarity to say the least especially their batting lineup was loaded with great players.
@@duran007fan5 I didnt think the Big Red Machine EVER got shutout! :)
@@rob3063 I just looked online only three teams have ever went a full season without being shutout. 1932 New York Yankees, 2000 Cincinnati Reds, 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers even though it was only a 60 game schedule. the game i attended at shea against the Cincinnati Reds was on August 15th,1976.
Reggie admitted to Garvey a few years ago that he stuck his hip out on purpose. Reggie doing something like that...wow ya don't say.
Russell tried to get cute and it backfired. We’re still talking about this play in 2020 the beauty of baseball.
REG WAS SOOOOOOO OUT
Why didn't he just tag Munson and step on second?
He purposely dropped the ball
Not sure why the shortstop didnt try to tag munson. He was right in front of him
true, but he still would have had Pinella if Jackson didn't stick his hip into the ball. I honestly think most ss probably would have thrown it to first anyway as he's not expecting the runner to do what he did.
warrcc c he could have just tagged Munson, but Jackson didn’t help by sticking his hip into the ball which he has admitted to doing.
@@robertweingartner2055 when did he admit to doing that?
Dallas Brubaker according to Steve Garvey, Reggie Jackson admitted it to him. I think the interview with Garvey is on TH-cam. Go to 8:00 th-cam.com/video/f9T70kZtaFw/w-d-xo.html
You can tell by looking at the clip - even the interviewers in this clip are saying it. Jackson had nothing to lose by doing what he did. Either he would get away with it or the umpire would call him out.
@@robertweingartner2055 well he said Jackson admitted to it.
Lawyers refer to it as hearsay
No way Jackson was confused on that play. He is a competitor and a smart ball player, he knew by leaning into the ball it would help his team win. He probably also knew that his thigh could absorb the impact of the throw. Yankees were smart to grab him. A's should've ponied up and kept him.
Russell deliberately dropped the ball, and Reggie countered
Reggie came from the Orioles after '76, not Oakland.
I knew Baltimore was an in between stop from Oakland to NY. I'm saying the A's should've ponied up and paid him enough to permanently stay in Oakland instead of later signing with the Yankees. Attendance got down to 300,000 in 1979. Though it recovered when Billy Martin was the A's Manager. Maybe Martin and Jackson could've gotten along better in Oakland, (though I doubt it) I will say Baltimore also messed up for not offering him enough money.@@jimwerther
The call was blown . . . by the second base umpire. The intentional drop by Russell was way more obvious than the interference by Jackson. Joe Brinkman, the second base umpire, was the Joe West of his day, making lousy calls and getting an attitude about it. He blew the play.
Then what was he doing in the World Series?
@@sdgakatbk - hew was doing the same thing a dozen CEO's were doing in their job before they got fired in the past 12 months for incompetency....or the seven or eight U.S. Military commanding officers who have been fired across the military so far in 2023 for the same incompetency - incompetents get chosen for jobs all the time due to factors like favoritism or being over-rated when they really are not that good.
@@sdgakatbk
Brinkman was considered one of the best in his day
@@sdgakatbk Ever hear of Angel Hernandez?
Garvey should get credit for Russell's lack of errors and boosting Russell's numbers by his numerous digs of short-hop throws out of the dirt.
Well Garvey was an unusually small target for a 1st baseman. They purposefully kept the ball low as do not go over his head.
The batter should've been out and the ball should've been dead as soon as Russell dropped the line drive. It was clearly an intentional drop.
Exactly.
That's correct! Therefore, Reggie's "interference" actually saved the refs from making a truly unfair call, which would have been to allow the double play.
@@Nkosinati Yes, that is absolutely true. If Reggie does not interfere, the umpires would have allowed the double play.
Heads up play ny Russell, but even more heads up by Jackson. Big pressure Baseball is the best form of reality TV
Estas completely herrated with h of horse bigoton.
Everyone considered Reggie just a slugger, but he was a hard nosed player who knew the game.
I was at the game......LAST GREAT ERA of baseball.Pinella SMOKING a cigarette, Mickey Rivers reading the horse race betting odds, Greg Nettles drilling bb's into his bat.That's baseball!
I was there myself and agree
The last great era? The older generation needs to get over itself.
1:23, Munson is off the base and within Russell’s reach. If he would’ve tag him first and tag the base, there’s the double play
This is one of many situations where I wish replay wasn't around. Yeah sometimes your favorite team gets screwed but the arguing by managers or players added so much excitement to the games.
- But for the last several years prior to replay, all you heard was "They gotta get the calls RIGHT!" so THAT is why Instant Replay as instituted. But even with replay in the game now, you'll STILL have contentious plays on the field, & a lot of close plays that are too close to call. Replay doesn't ALWAYS get things right no matter how much people want it to conclude that way. Strange things happen in baseball...it's not always perfect. But maybe that's what makes it so unique no matter what the detractors have to say.
Yeah when I was a big baseball fan back in those days, arguing with the umpires was definitely one of the entertaining parts of the game.
You don't see any great umpire arguments anymore like the ones Martin and Weaver use to have.
@@df5295 Or Durocher.
Tremendous split second thinking by Reggie Jackson, and the Umpires called it right... Why? Because they only get to see it once in real time, not like us viewers, over and over, with many different angles in slow motion. Anyways...That's what Russell gets for his premeditated intentional play.
- Exactly; these days it's sooooo easy for us "couch potatoes" watching the game at home to say how the plays should've been ruled because we see about 20 different replays the 1st time around. The umpires now though have the benefit of replay to go over just what happened & try & make the correct call. But it isn't always easy regardless of how it turns out.
Similar incident in the BoSox - Yankee 16th inning affair on July 15 2017, Matt Holliday involved in a clear-cut case of objective interference on an attempted dp. He claimed he was just going back to first because he thought the first baseman had already fielded the ball and touched the bag, and the umps upheld his lack of "intent" (which should have been irrelevant to the decision). In any case, interference calls are not subject to video review.
Watched this live. Forgot all about the intentional drop. 😂
Reggie didn't do anything wrong. He just stood there. Kubek alludes to video replay which will be reality in the 2014 season. Big mistake. Phantom tag will now be outlawed games will take minimum of four hours.
@Matthew Brooks Ron Luciano, in one of his books, said all Jackson did was turn around in place. He didn't know if he safe or out. (BTW, all ballplayers cheat if they can get away with it.)
If you listen to Tom Seaver from 2:29-2:40, the rule is you can't intentionally drop the ball to set up the double play, but Russell did. It's a judgment call by the umpires. What the umpires should have done was call everyone safe after Russell dropped the ball. That would have resulted in the bases loaded with Thurman Munson on third, Reggie on second, and Lou Piniella on first.
Not exactly. Piniella would have been ruled out, leaving first and second with two out.
@@howie9751 I see what you're saying, but this was not an infield fly rule.
@@vccstudents No it wasn't. What brought that up?
@@howie9751 It's been brought up before by others.
@@vccstudents I still don't understand what this has to do with an infield fly rule?
Later in life, Reggie Jackson admitted that he cheated on that play by leaning into that ball intended to come to Steve Garvey.
boo hoo cry me a river.
He ain't called "Mr. October" for nothin'!
Derek Armitage Another Yankees Fan I presume?
It's just too bad that "Mr. October" couldn't have provided any of that Magic in Anaheim.
He was old that's why and when athletes get old the first thing to go is the hands (contrarily to what people think *Most think legs*) Reggie relied on bat speed (hell he hit for less than average) so he better hit home runs..When you lose bat speed due to the aging process it's all over for a guy like Mr October
What a heads up play by Reggie, scored a huge run in the process, love those late 70’s Yankee teams!
The double play could have been Russell stepping on 2nd, which he did, then tag Munson. Look at the 1:00 mark. Munson takes off for 3rd before Russell even steps on 2nd base. So Russell could have either tagged him before he steps on 2nd or step on 2nd and either throw to 3rd to get Munson or get Munson in a rundown.
Munson started for third when umpire made the safe call on the dropped line drive, he hade to run or be forced out at third,
This would be a totally different story today...
It certainly was a different story today!
@classiccarz ...Why would Russell be ejected? Today, Lasorda would have challenged; they'd see that the ball was in Russell's glove which froze the runners; and simply called an intentional drop; batter out, runners safely back to 1st and 2nd...
I was surprised after the magnitude of bullshit that is this call, 26 years later the Yankees actually got a call that went against them. Seriously I remember watching Game 6 of the '04 ALCS, and thinking back to this incident, and expecting that Rodriguez was gonna get away with swatting the ball out of Arroyo's hand. Thank God he didn't.
Russell dropped on purpose and it cost dodgers world series....catch the damn ball....remember watching this with my father...i was 10....my dads in heaven since 2016....my favorite memories are watching sports with my dad....note to all sons and fathers...
Reggie leaned into it out of confusion. 🤣😂😎
Must have watched that Kole Calhoun play 🤣🤣
That makes the most sense.
brilliant sandlot play by Reggie. I saw it a couple of times growing up playing sandlot ball with the neighborhood kids. For Jackson to be perceptive enough in heat of the moment on the biggest stage to think of, then pull off the play was remarkable.
I don't understand why Russell didn't tag Munson and then the bag.
Only Bill Russell could answer that question.
Shortstops are conditioned by reflex to go second to first on a play with runners on second and first, but they need to be aware of every possible situation. Maybe it didn't cross his mind to tag Munson. If it didn't, then Russell had a severe mental lapse.
Anybody remember what Craig Nettles said about the Dodgers fielding prowess? Jim Gilliam had just died and Davey Lopes said " all of us have Jim's spirit inside of us so it's like trying to beat 18 players" Nettles simply replied ," we'll that's the worst 8 mean infield I've ever seen". How right he was!!
I've been saying this same thing for 40 years. Easiest DP ever. He blew it throwing to 1st. Reggie had nothing to lose. He was already out.
exactly.
If the SS would’ve just caught the ball, none of this would’ve happened.
This play may have cost the Dodgers the World Series
i bet those kids in the Dodger Dugout, heard some new words today
Reggie admitted years later he intentionally allowed the ball to hit him.
JohnnyTyrone77: Yes. Reggie said, "I got away with one." LOL!! I love Reggie!!!! If I remember correctly, one of his teammates would later say, "Reggie did his job, he helped his team win the game."
After the first replay, I really don't think that was ever in question, no matter what Reggie may have said. But it's not against the rules to stand still. It is against the rules to intentionally drop a ball for the purpose of making a play. In a sense, Reggie's "standing still interference" helped the refs get the get the play right. They clearly would have gotten it wrong and awarded the double play if Reggie hadn't "interfered".
@@Nkosinati You are correct that it is NOT against the rules to stand still and let the ball hit you. But it IS illegal to move INTO the ball which is what Reggie would later admit that he did. Reggie said that his intent was to turn to avoid a crotch shot. But in doing so, he ended up turning into the ball, and he knew it. That is why he said that he was laughing to himself knowing that the umps totally missed what really happened as did Lasorda. But of course the truth was revealed by replay!
@@hehhehhuhhuh7014 ... Well, that situation is SPECIFICALLY why there is a rule against intentional drops. Reggie is only that close to first base because the ball was in Russell's glove before he let it drop out. The FAIR call, before any of the Reggie controversy, is simply batter out, runners back to 1st and 2nd. ALL the discussion and controversy after that initial blown call is actually moot.
@@Nkosinati You are correct about 'illegal drops', and that is EXACTLY what Russell did. Funny how nobody ever talks about that illegal play by Russell which was TOTALLY obvious. And yes, you are also correct about the FAIR call that the umpires SHOULD have made. Despite Russell's illegal drop, Reggie's interference greatly benefited the Yankees because the runner scored from second base. I also agree with you that the only scenario that would have benefited the Dodgers is if Reggie had not interfered. It would have been a double play, and the whole focus would have been on Russell cheating, but also on Russell screwing up by not tagging the runner.
Someone want to explain to me why the shortstop didn't tag Munson?
Pressure of the World Series? We will likely never know in this life.
Good call. Jackson had every right to be there, in the base path. Russell should have thrown over or to the right of the base runner, just like on any other double play throw from second base. Pinella was still 25 feet from first base when he made the throw.
No he didn't. He was out, forced at second. Once that happened, whether intentional or not, he was interfering. According to the rules, the batter-runner should have been called out.
Exactly - no one mentions it was a very poor throw. Russell had time and there was room wide of first base (to the right) to throw the ball - especially to Garvey's glove-hand side. The only way Reggie could have interfered with a right-side throw would have been to stick out an elbow or hand, which obviously he wouldn't have done. Russell fielded very poorly in the World Series - youtube has all the 78 WS up, check out game 5 to see Dodger fielding in action that year. I was at that game and it was fun (for a Yankee fan) to watch the bouncers and pop-ups that Russell and Cey couldn't handle in that game.
Everyone always talks about Reggie interfering. You know what nobody talks about?
Russell purposely dropped the ball. He wasn't even good at hiding it. I mean, he dropped it directly in front of himself, immediately picked it up, stepped on second and threw to first. The only thing that Reggie was guilty of was cheating better than Russell did.
Reggie always put his body between the ball and the base he was running to , he doesn't get credit for the smart base running he did! He injured himself in 72 Alcs in a successful double steal of home base. I think he's still the only one to steal home in AL championship series. Munson was pretty speedy too for a catcher. Great play
*Absolutely*
And who said Reggie didn't hustle?
There’s no way that was intentional. It’s obvious that Reggie lost the ball in the lights, but Russell dropping the ball was intentional.
Lasorda: "HE MADE NO ATTEMPT"!!!
It looks like Russell was so pre-meditated and focused on pulling off his bush-league fake drop & throw to first that he ignored a lead runner whom he could have easily doubled up, either with a sweeping tag, or chasing him down, or getting him in an easy pickle. If he had truly made an error, he would have seen this.
easier to get the 2 lead runners. bad play by the SS
It was smart. It just didn't work out because Reggie was smarter.
@@BobbySacamano ...Agreed! The umps already had already blown the intentional drop call on Russell; Reggie's lean saved his team from that blown call.
I was at this game. I was 18 years old. I said it then and I will say it now, Bill Russell was the dumbest player in the Major Leagues.
How is that?
I will never forget play, which completely changed the momentum, and quite possibly the outcome of the 1978 World Series. Ugh ...
The biggest miracle out of all of this is how tommy didn’t get ejected
Not at all. Different time.
Yes Russell absolutely 110% intentionally dropped that soft generic line drive almost comically forcing the ball down into that no bounce late October New York clay.Hell Russell was an all star playing with an infield lineup who played together for 8 years and this worked to perfection for Russell in this play.He played it perfectly hoping to end the inning..
*One problem though* "A Big Problem" he didn't count on Mr October to perfectly place himself in the line of fire and create a benefit of a doubt for the ump's who incidentally in the back of their minds knew they were officiating a game in a place called the *Bronx Zoo*..Jackson not only could hit home runs but he was savvy long before playing with the Yanks..Hell at this point in his career he already had three rings with the A's and one with the Yanks
No Russell was not a very good fielder...or batter for that matter
Russell should still have made an attempt to first tag Munson the lead runner
i remember watching this as a kid somewhat confused by it...but thinking it was neat-o none theless...it was my second world series that i ever saw, the first one being the REG-GIE REG-GIE REG-GIE one the year before...what a great way to start watching baseball with these two great teams, loaded with now legendary players. plus it was always fun to watch to tommy lasorda get mad. :)
Russell's fault for dropping it on purpose. Dodgers lose by one, it's all Yankees from there on out, and Lasorda was still bitter about it in 2010 at a Dodger game in which he and Jackson were guests of Joe Buck in the announcer's booth. Lasorda refused to shake Jackson's hand but Jackson gave Lasorda a hug saying he wouldn't even be Mr. October without the Dodgers.
What a crazy play! Munson was smart he went back to second on what appeared to be an easy line drive. As soon as the fielder stepped on 2B Jackson was out
Right and once he is out that makes him a non existing runner, so he must get out of the way of any other throws. Pinella should have been called out and it should have been a doule play. Another instance similar to this happen a few years back. Matt Holliday on first, ball hit to the first basemen, Holiday takes off for 2nd and thinks the first basemen had tagged first base getting the batter/runner Elsbury out. Meanwhile the first basemen didnt tag first but instead throws it to second for the force on Holiday. Holiday decides to back track, I suppose thinking that he has to be tagged, because of what he assumed the first basemen had done. But anyway the throw goes to 2nd Holiday is called out but he backtracks and slides back into first at the same time Elsbury and the throw go back to first. The ball hits Elsbury in the leg and flies away. Ultimately after a long discussion I believe they said it was a double play because Holiday was out the same way Reggie is here, and therefore, he interfered with a still ongoing play. So he and the batter/runner are out even if the batter/runner would have beaten the throw by a mile at first base.
anyone else in love with those two uniforms in the world series? That is my favorite version of the classic dodger road uniform.
Well, this suddenly became relevant again in 2019. Look at how the game has changed!
Yeah I showed my dad about the interference.
Munson is already running back to second expecting Russell to catch the line drive; Russell, who is behind the backtracking Munson, would see this and intentionally drop the ball to jam Munson, and force out Jackson for a double play. Therefore, Piniella should be out, and the runners safe (Dead ball on intentional drop).
I can't believe I'm siding with the Yankees on this one (facepalm).
And if Russell was heads up, he would have tagged Munson out, then get the force at second. No throw necessary. Russell blew it all around.
Phil Wood That’s not the rules. It was obstruction from Reggie Jackson.
It gave the yankees momentum.
@@josecarranza7555 Yes it is. Infielders cannot intentionally drop a line drive hit at them, which is what Russell did in an attempt to set up a double play.
@@jstarks123 That’s your opinion if you think he dropped the ball on purpose.
Oh, god, those burgundy jackets that the AL umps wore back then were HIDEOUS !!
It was the late 1970s. Remember(yuck)leisure suits?:(
If Russell tags Munson he’s got the double play he fakes the drop for.
Why didn't he just tag Munson for the second out?
Reggie took one for the team and did exactly the right thing he was out already and Russell dropped the ball on purpose. Karma baby all day long.
Great play, Reggie. Grow up, Lasorda.
Great shot of the play from btwn and and short
hi wow what a play on reggie,
in real time it was a line shot to Russel, Jackson wasn't immediately sure if he had to stay at first or run. bottom line, it was a bad throw by Russel.
As a middle-age man, these men are Gods to me, compared to the past thirty years or so.
'Cept David Friese.
... The real error that Russell made was that instead of his usual flip throw to first (that was usually scooped up out of the dirt by Garvey) he should have wound up and fired the ball directly at Jackson's head. I don't see Reggie being as eager to stand in front of the ball if that were the case.
Either way, the Dodgers didn't handle the situation well. I don't know whether the bad call affected their focus; only the Dodger players know that. But, they played terribly from that point on.
I don't know how many out there were; but that was a tailor made triple play.
One out
Wasnt there already one out? They just needed 2 more: Reggie based out at 2nd and the batter out at first (if reggie doesnt block....but still, why didnt he tag out Munson then base out Reggie. Munson was RIGHT in front of him.
'Quick thinking by Jackson. He answered Russell's cute play with a cute play of his own.
Exactly!
Except what Jackson did was a blatant cheating move. He even admitted to it years later. This is why no one takes baseball seriously
Today there is NO FRICKIN' WAY that Reggie gets away with that move.
The Dodgers got the royal shaft here!!!!:(
It's a judgement play at that point. Did Jackson stick out his hip, or did he just turn in place and the hip was out? Also depends on the replay view. Ron Luciano, in one of his books (he did not umpire the game) said all Jackson did was turn around in place. Another umpire interviewed on TV a few later said Jackson had already been called out and should have cleared the basepath. If anyone could quote the rule, I'd be obliged.
Reggie did the right thing! Stupid play by the Dodgers
Absolutely, plus the so-called home run that Jeter hit in game 1 of the 1996 ALCS that made Jeffrey Maier a hero and seeing Richie Garcia giving out autographs the next day for blowing that call was pathetic.
Michael Conforto sure did
Jackson did nothing wrong. He was always on the base line. He was smart, without breaking the rules.
You are out if you intentionally interfere with a thrown ball, even if you are in the base line.
Baseline?
The throw was directly at him. Was he supposed to step aside?@@drewbryan6739
Was Seaver doing 'color' ??
Yes
I think everyone knows the call was wrong. He did move his feet to interfere. The rule is based on a runner's action and not intention. Russell practically threw it right at him however and should have caught the ball to begin with.
Is that a good call on the umpires? Or bad call? Judgement call.
Bad play on the shortstop.
I remember Jackson got plunk again with a95 heater in his next ab.
So obvious. Reggie was guilty of interference and the Dodgers should have won Game 4.
I will go to my GRAVE believing the Dodgers should have won the 1978 World Series in five, or at the very least, six games.
Curse Reggie Jackson and his cheating.
I feel you bro! I remember this! Made me mad as a kid because Reggie and the Yanks cheated. Always felt this WS was tainted. But today's 2024 WS win against these same Yankees vindicates this. As you may have noticed, That's the last time the Yanks have won against us. We have won two since 1981 and 2024!💙😎👍
Munson was a fast catcher
Yasmani Grandal of the White Sox just pulled a Reggie Jackson-hip play in a post-season game against the Astros ...... and like Jackson back in October of 1978, Grandal got away with it. Instead of using his hip to intentionally deflect the ball, Grandal used his shoulder.
.
Umpire crew:
Ed Vargo NL #20 Crew Chief
John Kibler NL #9
Fank Pulli NL #14
Bill Haller AL
Marty Springstead AL
Joe Brinkman AL
Pretty terrible throw by Bill Russell. He threw the ball across the runner (instead of to the side of the runner - right side -- where he had plenty of room). He broke the then-rule by illegally dropping a liner / short pop in the infield, and then compounded it with a poor throw across the runner. He was a mediocre fielder, and this was just one of his many errors and blown plays in that Series.
MLB really needs to bring back those burgundy blazers and turtlenecks for the umpires. Very sharp
Russell botched that play , lousy catch ( maybe took his eye off the ball to soon , looking for the force at 2B , the throw to first was just as bad , it was one of those church league plays you don’t see to often. But great for the game , liked that dodger crew , and always admired Reggie
Those of you saying he should have tagged Munson have probably never played SS before. It's 1 out already. Once Russell gets away with (illegally) dropping the ball intentionally, the EASIEST play is to step on 2b and throw to 1b. This is an EASY double play 99% of the time if he didn't end up throwing it right at Jackson. Whenever the SS has an easy inning-ending ground ball double play opportunity, with his momentum moving toward the bag, you NEVER waste time to go reaching to tag R2 (and possibly miss him). Just step on 2b and throw to 1b.
Let’s go to replay.... oh yeah.
how is it possible that not one of these expert commentators even mentions the possibillity that russell dropped the ball on purpose?
If I recall correctly, this was a day game
- I don't think any of the World Series games played in 1978 were day games, although I could be mistaken. This was a Saturday night World Series game.
DowntownCanon It was a day game, it started at 4 pm eastern time and I could be wrong here but there might have been a rain delay as well.
Even if Reggie didn’t stick his hip own they wouldn’t have got the out because the first baseman was behind him. Like at 2:45 - the NFL wanted to have replay in the 70’s.
Tommy John could have been called for a balk too. In retrospect if Russell saw he didn’t have a clean throw to Garvey he should’ve chased Munson down to 3rd.
Reggie was smart enough to know that as a baserunner, he was entitled to be where he was....in the basepath. He just "biggened-up" his right thigh a little bit, but it was totally legal.
Where's Russell going with the throw? Garvey's glove is to his right; he hits Reggie on the left (right) thigh. It was a wide throw to begin with. I'd say that if Russell stays to Garvey's glove side, he gets that call. But since it was a wide throw, and it hits Jackson, Jackson is not obligated to move out of the baseline.
The fielder is entitled to a path to field the ball, not a clear throwing path.
i think the rule back then was you can do what you want as long as you stay in the baseline. was in high school during that time. remember that well
He purposely let it hit him... but he was also in the baseline. Should have just called it an out on the line drive. The short stop clearly dropped it on purpose. If Reggie was cheating, then so was the short stop.
"HE GOT IN THE WAY OF THE BALL!!" -- LOL
Frank Pulli was one of the National League's finest umpires, but this call, which was borderline, he got wrong. And I was rooting for the Yankees...
Fair Play!
Yankee magic. Reggie you playa.
Reggie taking one for the team.
Russell should have attempted to tag Munson. But even if he couldn't tag Munson he could have thrown to third to force Munson out and then the third baseman simply throws to second to force Jackson (who was standing 2 feet from first base). Simple double play. In the rules of baseball once a runner is forced out they must make some attempt to get out of the way of the play on the field. This is a terrible call by the umpires. Jackson is required by rule to at least make an attempt to get out of the way. While he may not have moved in to the throw it was certainly obvious he stopped and made no attempt to get out of the way of the throw. Simple interference call.
Corey Burnett: Jackson would admit years later that he 'got away with one'. He was trying to avoid a crotch shot, but instead of moving away from the ball, he sort of turned into the ball. Gotta love Reggie. What excitement he brought to the game for so many years.
Watch @4:03....AL umpire Joe Brinkman CLEARLY sees Reggie turn his right hip into the ball...guaranteed...had that been Steve Garvey or Ron Cey of the Dodgers, he would have thrown up the thumb.....incredible
Wow they were talking about instant replays in 78? Geez only took 30 years to implement that rule
A very heads-up play by Reggie. I remember that play well. thinking Reggie you sly fox, you just saved the Yankees bacon.
Yeah, but cheating doesn't pay! Notice, that you guys haven't won any against us since! We've now won two 1981 and 2024! The baseball Gods have spoken!💙😎👍
Why didn’t Russel tag the runner prior to tagging the base
Jackson deliberately interfered with the throw from Russell on this play! This should've been called a double play and don't blame Lasorda for giving the umps hell.