1978 Major League Baseball season

1978 MLB season
LeagueAmerican League (AL)
National League (NL)
SportBaseball
DurationRegular season:
  • April 5 – October 2, 1978 (AL)
  • April 6 – October 1, 1978 (NL)
Postseason:
  • October 3–17, 1973
Games162
Teams26 (14 AL, 12 NL)
TV partner(s)ABC, NBC
Draft
Top draft pickBob Horner
Picked byAtlanta Braves
Regular season
Season MVPAL: Jim Rice (BOS)
NL: Dave Parker (PIT)
Postseason
AL championsNew York Yankees
  AL runners-upKansas City Royals
NL championsLos Angeles Dodgers
  NL runners-upPhiladelphia Phillies
World Series
Venue
ChampionsNew York Yankees
  Runners-upLos Angeles Dodgers
World Series MVPBucky Dent (NYY)
Locations of teams for the 1977–1981 American League seasons
West   East
Locations of teams for the 1977–1992 National League seasons
West   East

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 1983.

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 1977. 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 1969 and would continue to be the format in use until 1993.

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:[1]
    • 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.[2]

Teams

League Division Team City Ballpark Capacity Manager[3]
American League East Baltimore Orioles Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Memorial Stadium 52,860 Earl Weaver
Boston Red Sox Boston, Massachusetts Fenway Park 33,513 Don Zimmer
Cleveland Indians Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Stadium 76,713 Jeff Torborg
Detroit Tigers Detroit, Michigan Tiger Stadium 53,676 Ralph Houk
Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee County Stadium 52,293 George Bamberger
New York Yankees New York, New York Yankee Stadium 57,145 Billy Martin
Dick Howser
Bob Lemon
Toronto Blue Jays Toronto, Ontario Exhibition Stadium 43,737 Roy Hartsfield
West California Angels Anaheim, California Anaheim Stadium 43,202 Dave Garcia
Jim Fregosi
Chicago White Sox Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 44,492 Bob Lemon
Larry Doby
Kansas City Royals Kansas City, Missouri Royals Stadium 40,625 Whitey Herzog
Minnesota Twins Bloomington, Minnesota Metropolitan Stadium 45,919 Gene Mauch
Oakland Athletics Oakland, California Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 49,649 Bobby Winkles
Jack McKeon
Seattle Mariners Seattle, Washington Kingdome 59,059 Darrell Johnson
Texas Rangers Arlington, Texas Arlington Stadium 41,097 Billy Hunter
Pat Corrales
National League East Chicago Cubs Chicago, Illinois Wrigley Field 37,741 Herman Franks
Montreal Expos Montreal, Quebec Olympic Stadium 60,400 Dick Williams
New York Mets New York, New York Shea Stadium 55,300 Joe Torre
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Veterans Stadium 58,651 Danny Ozark
Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Three Rivers Stadium 56,581 Chuck Tanner
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis, Missouri Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium 50,126 Vern Rapp
Jack Krol
Ken Boyer
West Atlanta Braves Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 51,556 Bobby Cox
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati, Ohio Riverfront Stadium 51,786 Sparky Anderson
Houston Astros Houston, Texas Houston Astrodome 45,101 Bill Virdon
Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles, California Dodger Stadium 56,000 Tommy Lasorda
San Diego Padres San Diego, California San Diego Stadium 48,460 Roger Craig
San Francisco Giants San Francisco, California Candlestick Park 58,000 Joe Altobelli

Standings

American League

AL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 10063 .613 — 55‍–‍26 45‍–‍37
Boston Red Sox 9964 .607 1 59‍–‍23 40‍–‍41
Milwaukee Brewers 9369 .574 6½ 54‍–‍27 39‍–‍42
Baltimore Orioles 9071 .559 9 51‍–‍30 39‍–‍41
Detroit Tigers 8676 .531 13½ 47‍–‍34 39‍–‍42
Cleveland Indians 6990 .434 29 42‍–‍36 27‍–‍54
Toronto Blue Jays 59102 .366 40 37‍–‍44 22‍–‍58
AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Kansas City Royals 9270 .568 — 56‍–‍25 36‍–‍45
Texas Rangers 8775 .537 5 52‍–‍30 35‍–‍45
California Angels 8775 .537 5 50‍–‍31 37‍–‍44
Minnesota Twins 7389 .451 19 38‍–‍43 35‍–‍46
Chicago White Sox 7190 .441 20½ 38‍–‍42 33‍–‍48
Oakland Athletics 6993 .426 23 38‍–‍42 31‍–‍51
Seattle Mariners 56104 .350 35 32‍–‍49 24‍–‍55

National League

NL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Philadelphia Phillies 9072 .556 — 54‍–‍28 36‍–‍44
Pittsburgh Pirates 8873 .547 1½ 55‍–‍26 33‍–‍47
Chicago Cubs 7983 .488 11 44‍–‍38 35‍–‍45
Montreal Expos 7686 .469 14 41‍–‍39 35‍–‍47
St. Louis Cardinals 6993 .426 21 37‍–‍44 32‍–‍49
New York Mets 6696 .407 24 33‍–‍47 33‍–‍49
NL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Los Angeles Dodgers 9567 .586 — 54‍–‍27 41‍–‍40
Cincinnati Reds 9269 .571 2½ 49‍–‍31 43‍–‍38
San Francisco Giants 8973 .549 6 50‍–‍31 39‍–‍42
San Diego Padres 8478 .519 11 50‍–‍31 34‍–‍47
Houston Astros 7488 .457 21 50‍–‍31 24‍–‍57
Atlanta Braves 6993 .426 26 39‍–‍42 30‍–‍51

Postseason

Bracket

League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS) 		World Series
      
East NY Yankees 3
West Kansas City 1
AL NY Yankees 4
NL Los Angeles 2
East Philadelphia 1
West Los Angeles 3

Managerial changes

Off-season

Team Former Manager Reason for leaving New Manager Notes
Atlanta Braves Dave Bristol Fired Bobby Cox The Braves fired Dave Bristol in October, 1977, following a failed season with a 61–101 (.377) record (of which he missed a win and a loss mid-season).[4] Bristol ended his Braves managerial career with a 130–192 (.404) record.
Milwaukee Brewers Alex Grammas George Bamberger The Brewers fired Alex Grammas on November 21, 1977, following a failed season with a 67–95 (.414) record.[5] Grammas ended his Brewers managerial career with a 133–190 (.412) 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 48–65 (.425). Because he was on contract for two seasons, he was paid for the 1978 season. He was replaced by George Bamberger.

In-season

Team Former Manager Interim Manager Reason for leaving New Manager Notes
St. Louis Cardinals Vern Rapp Jack Krol Fired Ken Boyer On April 25, after a 6–11 (.353) start to the season, the Cardinals fired Vern Rapp. Rapp finished his Cardinals managerial career with a 89–90 (.497) 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 24–15 (.615) start to the season, Bobby Winkles resigned as manager. Winkles finished his Athletics managerial career with a 61–86 (.415) 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 25–21 (.543) start to the season, the Angels fired Dave Garcia. Garcia finished his Angels managerial career with a 60–67 (.472) record. Jim Fregosi was then named manager.
Chicago White Sox Bob Lemon Larry Doby On June 24, after a 34–40 (.459) start to the season, the White Sox fired Bob Lemon. Lemon finished his White Sox career with a 124–112 (.525) 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 52–42 (.553) start to the season, Billy Martin resigned as manager. To this point, Martin finished his Yankees managerial career with a 279–192 (.592) 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 86–75 (.534) record, was fired by the Texas Rangers just prior to the final game of the season. Hunter finished his Rangers career with a 146–108 (.575) record with no postseason appearance. Pat Corrales was named manager.

Awards and honors

Major Awards

1978 Award Winners
 American LeagueNational League
AwardPlayerPositionTeamPlayerPositionTeam
Most Valuable PlayerJim RiceLFBOSDave ParkerRFPIT
Cy Young AwardRon GuidryLHPNYYGaylord PerryRHPSDP
Rookie of the YearLou Whitaker2BDETBob Horner3BATL
Relief Man of the YearGoose GossageRHPNYYRollie FingersRHPSDP

Gold Glove Awards

1978 Gold Glove Awards
 American LeagueNational League
PositionPlayerTeamPlayerTeam
PJim PalmerBALPhil NiekroATL
CJim SundbergTEXBob BoonePHI
1BChris ChamblissNYYKeith HernandezSTL
2BFrank WhiteKCRDavey LopesLAD
3BGraig NettlesNYYMike SchmidtPHI
SSMark BelangerBALLarry BowaPHI
OFDwight EvansBOSGarry MaddoxPHI
OFFred LynnBOSDave ParkerPIT
OFRick MillerCALEllis ValentineMON

Statistical leaders

Statistic American League National League
AVGRod Carew, MIN.333Dave Parker, PIT.334
HRJim Rice, BOS46George Foster, CIN40
RBIsJim Rice, BOS139George Foster, CIN120
SBRon LeFlore, DET68Omar Moreno, PIT71
WinsRon Guidry, NYY25Gaylord Perry, SD21
ERARon Guidry, NYY1.74Craig Swan, NYM2.34
KsNolan Ryan, CAL260J. R. Richard, HOU303
SVGoose Gossage, NYY27Rollie Fingers, SD37

Milestones

Batters

Cycles

Other batting accomplishments

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.[19]
  • 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.[20]

Other pitching accomplishments

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.[23]
  • 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.[24]
  • Los Angeles Dodgers:
    • Become the first team in major league history to draw 3 million fans in a season.

Home field attendance

Team name Wins %± Home attendance %± Per game
Los Angeles Dodgers[25] 95 −3.1% 3,347,845 13.3% 41,331
Philadelphia Phillies[26] 90 −10.9% 2,583,389 −4.3% 31,505
Cincinnati Reds[27] 92 4.5% 2,532,497 0.5% 31,656
New York Yankees[28] 100 0.0% 2,335,871 11.1% 28,838
Boston Red Sox[29] 99 2.1% 2,320,643 11.9% 28,301
Kansas City Royals[30] 92 −9.8% 2,255,493 21.7% 27,846
California Angels[31] 87 17.6% 1,755,386 22.5% 21,671
San Francisco Giants[32] 89 18.7% 1,740,477 148.6% 21,487
Detroit Tigers[33] 86 16.2% 1,714,893 26.1% 21,172
San Diego Padres[34] 84 21.7% 1,670,107 21.4% 20,619
Milwaukee Brewers[35] 93 38.8% 1,601,406 43.6% 19,770
Toronto Blue Jays[36] 59 9.3% 1,562,585 −8.1% 19,291
Chicago Cubs[37] 79 −2.5% 1,525,311 5.9% 18,601
Chicago White Sox[38] 71 −21.1% 1,491,100 −10.0% 18,639
Texas Rangers[39] 87 −7.4% 1,447,963 15.8% 17,658
Montreal Expos[40] 76 1.3% 1,427,007 −0.5% 17,838
St. Louis Cardinals[41] 69 −16.9% 1,278,215 −23.0% 15,780
Houston Astros[42] 74 −8.6% 1,126,145 1.5% 13,903
Baltimore Orioles[43] 90 −7.2% 1,051,724 −12.0% 12,984
New York Mets[44] 66 3.1% 1,007,328 −5.6% 12,592
Pittsburgh Pirates[45] 88 −8.3% 964,106 −22.1% 11,903
Atlanta Braves[46] 69 13.1% 904,494 3.7% 11,167
Seattle Mariners[47] 56 −12.5% 877,440 −34.4% 10,833
Cleveland Indians[48] 69 −2.8% 800,584 −11.1% 10,264
Minnesota Twins[49] 73 −13.1% 787,878 −32.2% 9,727
Oakland Athletics[50] 69 9.5% 526,999 6.3% 6,587

Media

Television

ABC aired Monday Night Baseball, the All-Star Game, and both League Championship Series. NBC televised the weekend Game of the Week and the World Series.

Retired numbers

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rules History". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  2. ↑ admin. "1977 Winter Meetings: So Much Promise, But Wait Till Next Year". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  3. ↑ "1978 Major League Managers". Baseball Reference. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Atlanta Fires Bristol As Team Starts Rebuilding". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press (AP). October 26, 1977. p. 46. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  5. ↑ Harry Dalton at the SABR Baseball Biography Project, by Dale Voiss. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Cleveland Indians 13, Boston Red Sox 4". Retrosheet. April 22, 1978. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Montreal Expos 7, Atlanta Braves 3". Retrosheet. July 20, 1978. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Minnesota Twins 6, Toronto Blue Jays 3". Retrosheet. July 27, 1978. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Pete Rose Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Bert Campaneris Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More — Bert Campaneris: Standard Batting (1964-1978)". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Bert Campaneris 1978 Batting Game Logs — Bert Campaneris: Batting Stats Career Game 1946-1972". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles vs Texas Rangers Box Score: May 14, 1978". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Willie McCovey Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Willie McCovey Career Home Runs". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Progressive Leaders & Records for Stolen Bases". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Lou Brock Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More — Lou Brock: Standard Batting (1961-1978)". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Lou Brock 1978 Batting Game Logs — Lou Brock: Batting Stats Career Game 2405-2473". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  18. ↑ "New York Mets vs St. Louis Cardinals Box Score: August 4, 1978". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Philadelphia Phillies vs St. Louis Cardinals Box Score: April 16, 1978". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  20. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score: June 16, 1978". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Shutouts". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Every member of the 3,000-strikeout club". MLB.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Montreal Expos vs Chicago Cubs Box Score: September 5, 1978". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  24. ↑ DeRosa, Theo. "The most runs scored in each inning, from the 1st to the 26th(!)". MLB.com. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  28. ↑ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Kansas City Royals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Los Angeles Angels Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  32. ↑ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  34. ↑ "San Diego Padres Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Milwaukee Brewers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Toronto Blue Jays Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  40. ↑ "Washington Nationals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  41. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Houston Astros Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  44. ↑ "New York Mets Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  45. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  46. ↑ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  47. ↑ "Seattle Mariners Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  49. ↑ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  50. ↑ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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