In a seven hour period during the night of July 19-20, at least twelve inches of rain fell in the mountainous region around Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The emerging flood swept through the area, resulting in the deaths of seventy-seven people and damage in excess of $200 million. Despite the disaster, it paled in comparison to the first major flood that had devastated the area in 1889 killing 2,200 people.
David Berkowitz, also known as the "Son of Sam" terrorized the New York City area for over a year with a series of random shootings. Berkowitz had typically made victims of people in parked cars with a .44-caliber pistol and later explained that he adopted the name "Son of Sam" because of the "demons" in his neighbor Sam Carr's dog that "made him do it." Originally the serial killer pleaded insanity, but was later found competent to stand trial for six murders and seven attempted murders. After being found guilty on all counts, he was sentenced to twenty-five years to life for each of the murders.
The American Agricultural Movement was organized to preserve the family farm system and to seek 100% parity for all agricultural products. The nationwide farmer's strike resulted when their demands were not met by the United States Government by midnight, December 13th, but eventually subsided by March 1978 without the farmers accomplishing their goals.
Baseball's first black manager hired became the first also fired after Frank Robinson was let go by the struggling Cleveland Indians, who were 26-31 and in fourth place in the American League East by June. Jeff Torborg was named as his replacement.
On the Forth of July, the Boston Red Sox set off some "fireworks" of their own as they launched eight home run blasts out of Fenway Park, tying a Major League record and beating the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6. The home run derby ended a nine-game losing streak and featured round-trippers by Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Carl Yastrezemski, George Scott, Butch Hobson and Bernie Carbo.
On October 18th, Reggie Jackson officially became "Mr. October" after hitting three consecutive homeruns and five RBIs during Game 6 of the World Series. The New York Yankees followed his lead and went on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first World Championship title since 1962. Jackson finished the Series with five home runs, eight runs batted in and a .450 average.
During an 8-0 victory (in what be his last game in Shea Stadium as a Met until 1983) New York ace Tom Seaver sat down Dan Driessen, of the Cincinnati Reds, for his 2,397th K, passing Sandy Koufax for the twenty-third spot on the all-time strikeout kings list.
Three Atlanta Braves, Gary Matthews, Biff Pocoraba and Pat Rockett pulled off the impossible after they executed a triple steal over the San Diego Padres en-route to a 7-3 victory on September 11th.
Lou Brock stole the nine-hundredth base of his career and the thirty-fifth of the season during the opening game of a September 30th doubleheader between his St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets. The "Redbirds" went on to win the game 7-2.
Mary Shane became the first female play-by-play announcer in Major League Baseball history after she was signed by the Chicago White Sox to broadcast their games for the 1977 season.
As part of a promotional night to debut the new "Reggie Bar", a candy bar named after Reggie Jackson, fans at Yankee Stadium received free samples. The marketing scheme backfired though as fans threw hundreds of them back onto the field forcing the game to be halted until the ground crew was able to clear them away.
Despite a miserable 54-107 record, the Toronto Blue Jays boasted a home attendance of 1,701,052 during their debut season (by comparison, the Seattle Mariners drew 1,338,511) — the most ever for a Major League expansion team through this season.
Prior to the start of the '77 season, the Toronto Blue Jays had agreed to a trade that would send veteran pitcher Bill Singer to the New York Yankees for the then, little used, left-hander Ron Guidry. All bets were off though after the front office realized that Singer was on the cover of their printed media guide. By the end of the season, Singer had gone 2-8 and retired while Guidry compiled a 16-7 record and an impressive 2.82 ERA.
"We had a certain swagger. These kids will develop that as they learn to win. Then they'll start expecting to." - Dennis Eckersley
1977 American League Player Review |
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Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
Base on Balls | Toby Harrah | Texas | 109 | Top 25 |
Batting Average | Rod Carew | Minnesota | .388 | Top 25 |
Doubles | Hal McRae | Kansas City | 54 | Top 25 |
Hits | Rod Carew | Minnesota | 239 | Top 25 |
Home Runs | Jim Rice | Boston | 39 | Top 25 |
On Base Percentage | Rod Carew | Minnesota | .452 | Top 25 |
RBI | Larry Hisle | Minnesota | 119 | Top 25 |
Runs | Rod Carew | Minnesota | 128 | Top 25 |
Slugging Average | Jim Rice | Boston | .593 | Top 25 |
Stolen Bases | Freddie Patek | Kansas City | 53 | Top 25 |
Total Bases | Jim Rice | Boston | 382 | Top 25 |
Triples | Rod Carew | Minnesota | 16 | Top 25 |
Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
1977 A.L. History | 1977 N.L. History | Year-by-Year History |
1977 American League Pitcher Review |
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Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
Complete Games | Jim Palmer | Baltimore | 22 | Top 25 |
Nolan Ryan | California | |||
ERA | Frank Tanana | California | 2.54 | Top 25 |
Games | Sparky Lyle | New York | 72 | Top 25 |
Saves | Bill Campbell | Boston | 31 | Top 25 |
Shutouts | Frank Tanana | California | 7 | Top 25 |
Strikeouts | Nolan Ryan | California | 341 | Top 25 |
Winning Percentage | Paul Splittorff | Kansas City | .727 | Top 25 |
Wins | Dave Goltz | Minnesota | 20 | Top 25 |
Dennis Leonard | Kansas City | |||
Jim Palmer | Baltimore | |||
Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
1977 A.L. History | 1977 N.L. History | Year-by-Year History |
1977 American League Team Standings1977 All-Star Game | 1977 Team Standings | 1977 World Series |
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East | Team [Click for roster] | Wins | Losses | WP | GB |
New York Yankees | 100 | 62 | .613 | 0 | |
Baltimore Orioles | 97 | 64 | .602 | 2½ | |
Boston Red Sox | 97 | 64 | .602 | 2½ | |
Detroit Tigers | 74 | 88 | .457 | 26 | |
Cleveland Indians | 71 | 90 | .441 | 28½ | |
Milwaukee Brewers | 67 | 95 | .414 | 33 | |
Toronto Blue Jays | 54 | 107 | .335 | 45½ | |
West | Team [Click for roster] | Wins | Losses | WP | GB |
Kansas City Royals | 102 | 60 | .630 | 0 | |
Texas Rangers | 94 | 68 | .580 | 8 | |
Chicago White Sox | 90 | 72 | .556 | 12 | |
Minnesota Twins | 84 | 77 | .522 | 17½ | |
California Angels | 74 | 88 | .457 | 28 | |
Seattle Mariners | 64 | 98 | .395 | 38 | |
Oakland Athletics | 63 | 98 | .391 | 38½ | |
A.L. | Team [Click for roster] | Wins | Losses | WP | GB |
American League Team Standings |
1977 American League Team ReviewHitting Statistics League Leaderboard |
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Statistic | Team | # |
Base on Balls | Texas | 596 |
Batting Average | Minnesota | .282 |
Doubles | Kansas City | 299 |
Hits | Minnesota | 1,588 |
Home Runs | Boston | 213 |
On Base Percentage | Minnesota | .351 |
Runs | Minnesota | 867 |
Slugging Average | Boston | .465 |
Stolen Bases | Oakland | 176 |
Triples | Kansas City | 77 |
1977 American League Team ReviewPitching Statistics League Leaderboard |
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Statistic | Team | # |
Complete Games | Baltimore | 65 |
ERA | Kansas City | 3.52 |
Fewest Hits Allowed | Kansas City | 1,377 |
Fewest Home Runs Allowed | Kansas City | 110 |
Fewest Walks Allowed | Boston | 378 |
Saves | Kansas City | 42 |
Shutouts | Texas | 17 |
Strikeouts | California | 965 |
On April 6, 1977, the Seattle Mariners played their first Major League game as 57,762 fans watched them lose to the California Angels 7-0 at the Kingdome.
On April 7, 1977, the first game was played at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium. The first home run hit by an American League player on Canadian soil went to Richie Zisk of the Chicago White Sox, but the Toronto Blue Jays shot back and won 9-5.
On May 30, 1977, Dennis Eckersley of the Indians no-hit the Angels and won 1-0 in Cleveland. Later during his career Eckerlsey commented about that particular game and the final out, "I was ready, but Gil (Flores) kept on stepping out of the box. I pointed at him, 'Get in there. They're not here to take your picture. You're the last out. Get in there.' I was pretty cocky back then!"