Yankees-Dodgers iconic moments: Bombers win back-to-back World Series with help of controversial play

The New York Yankees' defense of their 1977 World Series title did not get disconnected to a basking start. On July 17 of 1978, they were 47-42 and 14 games backmost of nan Boston Red Sox for nan AL East lead.

But from July 19 on, their tally was 1 to dream of. They went 44-16, not only wholly overcoming their shortage but moreover taking a 3.5-game lead successful nan division connected Sept. 16.

But nan Yanks and Sox were deadlocked done 162 games, forcing a since-defunct Game 163 for nan section crowd. Bucky Dent's three-run location tally successful nan seventh helped nan Yanks to a 5-4 victory.

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Baseball: World Series, New York Yankees victorious winning crippled and bid vs. nan Los Angeles Dodgers successful Los Angeles, California, October 17, 1978, (Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Across nan country, nan Los Angeles Dodgers, looking to get complete nan hump, had their ain comeback to make, arsenic they trailed by six games connected June 27. But moreover they went 27-17 successful their last 44 games to comfortably triumph nan NL West.

The Yankees, again, hit nan Kansas City Royals successful nan ALCS, while nan Dodgers took attraction of business against nan Philadelphia Phillies, prompting a rematch from nan twelvemonth before.

L.A. hosted nan first 2 games, winning them both, but nan Yanks took each 3 games backmost successful nan Bronx, including a 10-inning triumph successful Game 4 that had 1 of nan game's much arguable moments.

In nan bottommost of nan sixth, nan Dodgers tried to move an inning-ending double play, but shortstop Bill Russell's propulsion to first ricocheted disconnected Reggie Jackson (who was retired aft Russell tagged nan second-base bag) and into nan outfield, causing Thurman Munson to people from 2nd to trim their shortage to 3-2. The wide speculation is that Jackson leaned into nan throw, and it judge looks for illustration that was nan case. The play, without a doubt, changed nan complexion of nan game, and nan series.

Catfish Hunter and Don Sutton took nan bump for nan Yanks and Dodgers, respectively, backmost astatine Dodger Stadium successful Game 6, and Los Angeles sewage connected nan committee pinch a leadoff homer by Davey Lopes successful nan first. But Brian Doyle tied nan crippled pinch an RBI azygous successful nan second, and nan adjacent batter successful Dent drove successful a brace pinch a double. 

From there, nan Yankees ne'er looked back.

New York Yankees Bucky Dent (20) successful action, astatine bat vs. Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 6. (Heinz Kluetmeier /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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Hunter would fto up a tally successful nan third, but Doyle and Dent each drove successful a tally pinch singles successful nan sixth, and Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, conscionable arsenic he had done nan twelvemonth before, put nan nail successful nan coffin pinch a two-run changeable successful nan seventh.

Hunter, meanwhile, settled successful by retiring 11 successful a statement astatine a point, and who other but Goose Gossage to grounds nan last six outs? Dent was named nan World Series MVP, arsenic he deed .417 (10-for-24) and sewage astatine slightest 1 deed successful each game. (He had 3 successful some Games 5 and 6.)

The last retired was caught by catcher Thurman Munson down nan plate. It was his last postseason game, arsenic he was killed successful a level clang connected Aug. 2 of nan pursuing year.

Baseball: World Series, New York Yankees Thurman Munson (15) during a crippled vs. nan Los Angeles Dodgers successful Bronx, NY, October 14, 1978.   (Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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It was nan 4th clip since 1966 that nan Dodgers had mislaid nan World Series, continuing their drought. They would yet get their revenge against nan Yanks successful 1981. 

Meanwhile, nan '78 title preceded nan longest title drought successful Yankees history.

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