Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani proclaimed today "New York Yankees 1977 and 1978 World Series Champions Day" in New York City on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of their first Series Championship. The Mayor presented proclamations to members of the World Champion Yankees including Goose Gossage, Cliff Johnson, Roy White, Ron Guidry, Graig Nettles, Ed Figueroa, Jay Johnstone, Paul Blair, Rawley Eastwick and Jim Spencer.
"Today begins a two-year celebration for a team that will be remembered as one of the greatest ever assembled," Mayor Giuliani said. "Every morning, as I enter City Hall, I take a look at the 1996 World Series Trophy on display and I can't help but think about the great Yankee teams of years gone by. During the 1977 and 1978 seasons, I went to every single home playoff game and saw first hand how this team played tough, Yankees baseball. From Reggie Jackson's dazzling display in Game Six of the 1977 Series, to the feared pitching of Louisiana Lightning Ron Guidry and Goose Gossage, to the awesome defensive display put on by Graig Nettles, these World Champions share a very special place in Yankee history."
The members of the 1977-1978 New York Yankees are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their first championship season. The Yankees assembled today, in conjunction with Championship Marketing Group, Inc., are also unveiling their own player driven marketing entity called "Return to Glory Enterprises." The organization was established to allow the players to control marketing opportunities presented to them in association with the 20th Anniversary of their first World Series victory.
The New York Yankees, managed by Billy Martin, defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games to win the 1977 World Series. The Series was highlighted by Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson's MVP performance, including his three home runs in Game Six which tied Babe Ruth's Series record. In 1978, the Yankees were led to the Championship by shortstop Bucky Dent, who first hit a dramatic game-winning home run in a one-game playoff against the Boston Red Sox and then took MVP honors in a Series rematch against the Dodgers.