The 1978 major league baseball season began on April 5 while the regular season ended on October 2. The postseason began on October 3. In the 10th iteration of this World Series matchup, the 75th World Series then began on October 10 and concluded on October 17 with the New York Yankees of the American League defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League, four games to two, to win their 22nd title in franchise history, winning back-to-back World Series.
The 49th All-Star Game was held on July 11 at San Diego Stadium, home of the San Diego Padres. The National League won, 7–3, and was the seventh win in what would be a 10-win streak that lasted until .
The Yankees overcame clubhouse turmoil, a mid-season managerial change, and a 14-game mid-July deficit in the American League East en route to the championship. All four teams that made the playoffs in 1977 returned for this postseason; none of the four returned to the postseason in 1979.
Schedule
The 1978 schedule consisted of 162 games for all 14 teams in the American League and 12 teams in the National League. Both leagues saw different schedule formats, as they had since . The American League was split into two seven-team divisions. Each team was scheduled to play 15 games against their six division rivals, totaling 90 games, and 10 games against five opponents and 11 games against two opponents, totaling 72 interdivision games. This format would be used until the following season. Meanwhile, the National League was split into two six-team divisions. Each team was scheduled to play 18 games against their five division rivals, totaling 90 games, and 12 games against six interdivision opponents, totaling 72 games. This continued the format put in place since the and would continue to be the format in use until .
Opening Day took place on April 6, featuring four teams. The final day of the scheduled regular season was on October 1, featuring all 26 teams. Due to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox finishing with the same record of 99–63, a tiebreaker game was scheduled, to be considered an extension of the regular season, on October 2. The American League Championship Series took place between October 3 and October 7, while the National League Championship Series took place between October 4 and October 7. The World Series took place between October 10 and October 17.
Rule changes The 1978 season saw the following rule changes: Rules regarding the designated hitter in interleague play was addressed: The designated hitter would be used for both teams in even-number years of the World Series. All-Star games would feature the designated hitter if both leagues agree. In exhibition games, the designated hitter would be used or not used depending on the home team. To reduce instances of brushback pitches or "head-hunting", their ability to give warnings to each team was expanded, as in addition to the perpetrating pitcher and manager, the manager must now warn the opposing manager as well. For teams with a combative history, teams can be warned about intentional hit by pitches prior to the game.
Teams LeagueDivisionTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerEastBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium52,860Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,513Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium76,713Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganTiger Stadium53,676Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium52,293New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium57,145Toronto Blue JaysToronto, OntarioExhibition Stadium43,737WestCalifornia AngelsAnaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim Stadium43,202Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park44,492Kansas City RoyalsKansas City, MissouriRoyals Stadium40,625Minnesota TwinsBloomington, MinnesotaMetropolitan Stadium45,919Oakland AthleticsOakland, CaliforniaOakland–Alameda County Coliseum49,649Seattle MarinersSeattle, WashingtonKingdome59,059Texas RangersArlington, TexasArlington Stadium41,097EastChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field37,741Montreal ExposMontreal, QuebecOlympic Stadium60,400New York MetsNew York, New YorkShea Stadium55,300Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaVeterans Stadium58,651Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThree Rivers Stadium56,581St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriCivic Center Busch Memorial Stadium50,126WestAtlanta BravesAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium51,556Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioRiverfront Stadium51,786Houston AstrosHouston, TexasHouston Astrodome45,101Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles, CaliforniaDodger Stadium56,000San Diego PadresSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego Stadium48,460San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco, CaliforniaCandlestick Park58,000
Standings
American League
The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox in a regular season one-game playoff to earn the AL East division title.
National League
Postseason
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerReason for leavingNew ManagerNotesAtlanta Braves Dave Bristol Fired Bobby Cox The Braves fired Dave Bristol in October, 1977, following a failed season with a record (of which he missed a win and a loss mid-season). Bristol ended his Braves managerial career with a record.Milwaukee Brewers Alex Grammas George Bamberger The Brewers fired Alex Grammas on November 21, 1977, following a failed season with a record. Grammas ended his Brewers managerial career with a record.San Diego Padres Alvin Dark Roger Craig The Padres fired Alvin Dark on March 21 during spring training, following his only season with the team, a failed 1977 season with a . Because he was on contract for two seasons, he was paid for the 1978 season. He was replaced by Roger Craig.
In-season Team Former Manager Interim Manager Reason for leaving New Manager NotesSt. Louis Cardinals Vern Rapp Jack Krol Fired Ken Boyer On April 25, after a start to the season, the Cardinals fired Vern Rapp. Rapp finished his Cardinals managerial career with a with no postseason appearance. Jack Krol was interim manager for two games before Ken Boyer was named manager.Oakland Athletics Bobby Winkles N/A Resigned Jack McKeon On May 23, after a start to the season, Bobby Winkles resigned as manager. Winkles finished his Athletics managerial career with a record and with no postseason appearance. Previous 1977 manager Jack McKeon was named manager.California Angels Dave Garcia Fired Jim Fregosi On June 1, after a start to the season, the Angels fired Dave Garcia. Garcia finished his Angels managerial career with a record. Jim Fregosi was then named manager.Chicago White Sox Bob Lemon Larry Doby On June 24, after a start to the season, the White Sox fired Bob Lemon. Lemon finished his White Sox career with a record with no postseason appearance. Larry Doby was named manager.New York Yankees Billy Martin Dick Howser Resigned Bob Lemon On Jule 24, after a start to the season, Billy Martin resigned as manager. To this point, Martin finished his Yankees managerial career with a record (though would go on to manage the team on four future separate occasions). Martin saw two postseason appearances, winning the American League pennant in 1976 and World Series in 1977. Dick Howser was interim manager for one game before Bob Lmeon, recently fired by the White Sox, was named manager (who would go on to win the World Series).Texas Rangers Billy Hunter N/A Fired Pat Corrales On October 1, after a record, was fired by the Texas Rangers just prior to the final game of the season. Hunter finished his Rangers career with a record with no postseason appearance. Pat Corrales was named manager.
Awards and honors Major Awards + 1978 Award Winners American League National League Award Player Position Team Player Position Team Most Valuable Player Jim Rice LF BOS Dave Parker RF PIT Cy Young Award Ron Guidry LHP NYY Gaylord Perry RHP SDP Rookie of the Year Lou Whitaker 2B DET Bob Horner 3B ATL Relief Man of the Year Goose Gossage RHP NYY Rollie Fingers RHP SDP
Gold Glove Awards + 1978 Gold Glove Awards American League National League Position Player Team Player Team P Jim Palmer BAL Phil Niekro ATL C Jim Sundberg TEX Bob Boone PHI 1B Chris Chambliss NYY Keith Hernandez STL 2B Frank White KCR Davey Lopes LAD 3B Graig Nettles NYY Mike Schmidt PHI SS Mark Belanger BAL Larry Bowa PHI OF Dwight Evans BOS Garry Maddox PHI OF Fred Lynn BOS Dave Parker PIT OF Rick Miller CAL Ellis Valentine MON
Statistical leaders Statistic American League National League AVG Rod Carew, MIN .333 Dave Parker, PIT .334 HR Jim Rice, BOS 46 George Foster, CIN 40 RBIs Jim Rice, BOS 139 George Foster, CIN 120 SB Ron LeFlore, DET 68 Omar Moreno, PIT 71 Wins Ron Guidry, NYY 25 Gaylord Perry, SD 21 ERA Ron Guidry, NYY 1.74 Craig Swan, NYM 2.34 Ks Nolan Ryan, CAL 260 J. R. Richard, HOU 303 SV Goose Gossage, NYY 27 Rollie Fingers, SD 37
Milestones Batters Cycles
Andre Thornton (CLE): Thornton hit for his first cycle and sixth in franchise history, on April 22 against the Boston Red Sox. Chris Speier (MON): Speier hit for his first cycle and second in franchise history, on July 20 against the Atlanta Braves. Mike Cubbage (MIN): Cubbage hit for his first cycle and ninth in franchise history, on July 27 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Other batting accomplishments Pete Rose (CIN): Became the 13th of the 3,000-hit club with a single in the fifth inning against the Montreal Expos on May 5. Set a modern National League record with a 44-game hitting streak, hitting in every game from June 14 to July 31. Bert Campaneris (TEX): Recorded his 600th career stolen base in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles on May 14. He became the 10th player to reach this mark. Willie McCovey (SF): Became the 12th player in Major League history to hit 500 home runs in game one of a doubleheader on June 30 against the Atlanta Braves.
Lou Brock (STL): Breaks the all-time record for career stolen bases previously set by Billy Hamilton set in , when he steals his 915th base in the third inning against the New York Mets on August 4.
Pitching No-hitters
Bob Forsch (STL): Forsch threw his first career no-hitter and seventh no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 5–0 on April 16. Forsch walked two and struck out three. Tom Seaver (CIN): Seaver threw his first career no-hitter and 13th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4–0 on June 16. Seaver walked three and struck out three. Other pitching accomplishments Ron Guidry (NYY): Tied an American League record for most shutouts in a season by a left-handed pitcher by throwing his ninth shutout on September 24, tying the record set in by Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox. J. R. Richard (HOU): Set a National League record for most strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher in a single season, throwing his 303rd strikeout of the season against the Atlanta Braves on September 28. Gaylord Perry (SD): Recorded his 3,000th career strikeout on October 1 by striking out Joe Simpson of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning. Perry became the third player to reach this mark in Major League history.
Miscellaneous Chicago Cubs / Montreal Expos: In a major league record, 45 players in total play a game on September 5 which saw 21-player Expos defeat the 24-player Cubs 10–8 in a 9-inning game. California Angels: Set a modern (1900–present) major league record for most runs scored in the ninth inning, by scoring 13 runs against the Texas Rangers on September 14. Los Angeles Dodgers: Become the first team in major league history to draw 3 million fans in a season.
Home field attendance