1977 New York Yankees: Ranking the Best Players in the World Series

The New York Yankees broke their 14-year championship drought when they won the 1977 World Series, and here’s who helped them do it.

Reggie Jackson’s birthday was on May 18, which prompted New York Yankees fans to relive his epic three-home-run game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the Fall Classic to slam the door shut and clinch the title. Mr. October was born and the rest is history.

But who else was instrumental in holding off the Dodgers? Don’t forget LA took the Yankees to extras in Game 1 (despite losing in 12) and then stole Game 2 in New York.

Let’s rank the top performers on the Yankees during the ’77 WS.

5. Chris Chambliss

Chambliss was an All-Star the season prior for the Bombers and followed it up with a very similar campaign. The first baseman was the team’s third-best hitter in this World Series, slashing .292/.292/.500 with four runs scored, one home run and four RBI, with one of those base-knocks bringing home the game-winning run in Game 3 in LA.

4. Ron Guidry

The 1977 campaign was Guidry’s first full season as a Yankee but he certainly didn’t show that in the World Series. He pitched one game, which was a complete game shutout on the road in Los Angeles, to give the Yankees a 3-1 stranglehold over the Dodgers. He gave up just four hits and struck out seven in the 4-2 victory.

3. Thurman Munson

Every time we hear Thurman Munson’s name we tear up, but two years before his untimely death he brought the Yankees back to the top of the MLB. In the ’77 series, he hit .320/.370/.520 with four runs scored, two doubles, a home run and three RBI in addition to catching every game. He was named the team’s first captain since Lou Gehrig brought home a title the year after.

2. Mike Torrez

All it took was a lone season in the Bronx for Torrez to become a hero for the Yankees. He pitched to a 3.82 ERA in 31 starts in the 1977 season and then led the pitching staff with 18 innings pitched — two complete games! — in the World Series. He allowed just five earned runs, good for a 2.50 ERA, and was 2-0 in those contests, including the Game 6 clincher and the Game 3 in LA that shifted the tides to give New York a 2-1 lead. That’s a hell of a Fall Classic.

1. Reggie Jackson

Did he even need an introduction? This was Jackson’s first season in the Bronx and it resulted in a World Series title and a legendary nickname that will never lose its luster. He batted an insane .420/.542/1.250 with 10 runs scored, 5 home runs and 8 RBI across those six games against the Dodgers. More than half of his hits were homers — three of which came in the Game 6 clincher, and he did it in front of the home crowd.