As both New York baseball stadiums prepare to close, The Post looks back at the 25 most memorable moments in the history of Yankee Stadiums. This week, No. 6.
Oct. 18, 1977
A tumultuous season ended for the Yankees with three home runs from Reggie Jackson and an 8-4, Game 6 victory over the Dodgers to give the franchise its first World Series crown in 15 years.
The World Series title returned to The Bronx courtesy of Jackson. The controversial star homered in his final three plate appearances of the game, each time on the first pitch from a different Dodgers pitcher. Going back to Game 5, he hit home runs in his final four swings of the World Series surrounding a four-pitch walk early in Game 6.
Mike Torrez was the pitching star for the Yankees, throwing a complete game with six strikeouts.
Yankees manager Billy Martin delivered owner George Steinbrenner a World Series title after the two feuded for most of the year. During the afternoon before Game 6, Steinbrenner announced he was rewarding Martin “for a fine job.” He gave him a bonus of $35,000, a Lincoln Continental, a subsidy toward his rent and a reassurance that he Martin would keep his job despite the rumors he was going to be fired.
With that as a prelude, Game 6 got underway. Steve Garvey gave Los Angeles the lead with a two-run triple in the first. Chris Chambliss tied the game with a two-run homer in the second inning before the Dodgers reclaimed the lead on a Reggie Smith solo home run.
Then, Jackson stepped in. He hit his first blast in the fourth off starter Burt Hooton, a two-run shot. Lou Piniella added a sacrifice to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead.
In the fifth, Jackson connected again, this time off Elias Sosa to make the score 7-3.
When Jackson walked to the plate in the eighth, the Stadium was filled with chants of “Reg-gie! Reg-gie!” This time, Charlie Hough was the pitching victim, as Jackson launched a knuckleball into the black seats in center field, cementing his legacy as “Mr. October.”