The 1976 American League Championship Series was won by the New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-2. This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 14 - Ted Turner completes the purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves. ... In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series (ALCS), played in October, is a playoff round that determines the winner of the American League pennant. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ...

Managers: Billy Martin, New York; Whitey Herzog, Kansas City Alfred Manuel Billy Martin, (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989), a former Major League Baseball player and manager, was manager of the New York Yankees five different times and won two league championships and one World Series as their manager. ... Whitey Herzog (born November 9, 1931) is a former major league baseball player and manager. ...

Umpires: Joe Brinkman, Larry Barnett, George Maloney, Bill Haller, Art Frantz, Larry McCoy Joe Brinkman (b. ... Lawrence Robert Barnett (born January 3, 1945 in Nitro, West Virginia) is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1999 before becoming the major leagues supervisor of umpires in 2000-2001. ... Larry McCoy was an American League umpire from 1971 to 1999. ...

Television: ABC (Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Reggie Jackson announcing) The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... Keith Jackson (born October 18, 1928) is an American sportscaster, known for his several decades of work with the ABC television network. ... Howard William Cosell, born Howard William Cohen (March 25, 1918 – April 23, 1995) was an American sports journalist on American television. ... Reginald Martinez Reggie Jackson (born May 18, 1946), nicknamed Mr. ...

Game 1

October 9, 1976 at Royals Stadium October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Kauffman Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, that is a part of the Truman Sports Complex that also includes Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. ...

The opener was played on a bright Saturday afternoon at Royals Stadium and pitted Yankee ace Jim “Catfish” Hunter against left-hander and ex-Yankee Larry Gura. The Yankees got off to a quick start scoring 2 in the first aided by pair of George Brett throwing errors. Hunter was in top form and went the distance, not going to a 3-ball count the entire game. While the Royals were able to halve that margin going into the ninth, Roy White's two-run double in the top of the frame gave the Yanks two insurance runs that were the final scoring in a tidy 4-1 win. Kauffman Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, that is a part of the Truman Sports Complex that also includes Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. ... James Augustus Catfish Hunter (April 8, 1946 – September 9, 1999) was a prolific Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher between 1965 and 1979. ... Lawrence Cyril Gura (born November 26, 1947 in Joliet, Illinois) was a left-handed baseball pitcher. ... George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953 in Glen Dale, West Virginia) is a former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. ... Roy Hilton White (born December 27, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, California) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees between 1965 and 1979. ...

James Augustus Catfish Hunter (April 8, 1946 – September 9, 1999) was a prolific Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher between 1965 and 1979. ... Lawrence Cyril Gura (born November 26, 1947 in Joliet, Illinois) was a left-handed baseball pitcher. ...

Game 2

October 10, 1976 at Royals Stadium October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years). ... Kauffman Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, that is a part of the Truman Sports Complex that also includes Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. ...

Five Yankee errors helped key the Royals series-tying win. Lefty Paul Splittorff was solid with 5 2/3 innings of work in relief of Brooklyn native Dennis Leonard, while Yankee reliever Dick Tidrow was ineffective and permitted 3 more KC runs to score in the eighth after relieving starter Ed Figueroa with one out in the sixth. The series, now tied at 1, moved to New York and newly remodelled Yankee Stadium for the remaining three games. Paul William Splittorff Jr. ... Dennis Patrick Leonard (Born May 8th, 1951 in Brooklyn, NY) One of the Kansas City Royals most dominating pitchers of the late 70s and early 80s, but a promising career cut short due to injuries. ... Richard William Tidrow (born May 14, 1947 in San Francisco, California) was a Major League Baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets from 1972 to 1984. ... Eduardo Figueroa Padilla (born October 14, 1948 in Ciales, Puerto Rico), was a Major League Baseball player from 1974-1981 for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Oakland Athletics. ... Yankee Stadium is the home stadium of the New York Yankees, a major league baseball team. ...

Paul William Splittorff Jr. ... Eduardo Figueroa Padilla (born October 14, 1948 in Ciales, Puerto Rico), was a Major League Baseball player from 1974-1981 for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Oakland Athletics. ...

Game 3

October 12, 1976 at Yankee Stadium October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... Yankee Stadium is the home stadium of the New York Yankees, a major league baseball team. ...

The first Yankee post-season home game since 1964 started ominously for the Bombers as the Royals tagged righty Dock Ellis for 3 runs in the first. He settled down immediately after though and went 8 solid innings aided by several double plays and two base runners caught stealing. The Yankees narrowed the margin to one in the fourth on Chris Chambliss two-run homer off Andy Hassler and then tacked on 3 more in the sixth as KC manager Whitey Herzog carted in four relievers in that inning alone. Sparky Lyle got the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning as the Bronx Bombers took a 2 games to 1 lead. Dock Phillip Ellis, Jr. ... Chris Chambliss (born Carroll Christopher Chambliss on December 26, 1948 in Dayton, Ohio) was a Major League Baseball player from 1971-1988 for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. ... Andrew Earl Hassler (born October 18, 1951 in Texas City, Texas) was a Pitcher for the California Angels (1971, 1973-76 and 1980-83), Kansas City Royals (1976-78), Boston Red Sox (1978-79), New York Mets (1979), Pittsburgh Pirates (1980) and St. ... Whitey Herzog (born November 9, 1931) is a former major league baseball player and manager. ... Albert Walter Sparky Lyle (born July 22, 1944) is an American former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. ...

Dock Phillip Ellis, Jr. ... Andrew Earl Hassler (born October 18, 1951 in Texas City, Texas) was a Pitcher for the California Angels (1971, 1973-76 and 1980-83), Kansas City Royals (1976-78), Boston Red Sox (1978-79), New York Mets (1979), Pittsburgh Pirates (1980) and St. ... Albert Walter Sparky Lyle (born July 22, 1944) is an American former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. ... Chris Chambliss (born Carroll Christopher Chambliss on December 26, 1948 in Dayton, Ohio) was a Major League Baseball player from 1971-1988 for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. ...

Game 4

October 13, 1976 at Yankee Stadium October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Yankee Stadium is the home stadium of the New York Yankees, a major league baseball team. ...

Hoping to wrap up the series in four, Yankee manager Billy Martin brought back Catfish Hunter on three days rest while the Royals did the same bringing back Larry Gura. Neither fared well as Gura gave up 6 hits and 2 runs in two innings while Hunter lasted three and surrendered 5 runs on 5 hits. While the Yankee bullpen was able to hold KC to only 2 runs over 6 innings, winning pitcher Doug Bird only gave up 1 in 4 2/3 while lefty Steve Mingori pitched 2 1/3 and allowed only one tally, picking up the save. The Yankee offense was highlighted by Graig Nettles' 2 hrs and 3 RBI. The series was now knotted at 2 with a deciding game 5 to be played the next night. Alfred Manuel Billy Martin, (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989), a former Major League Baseball player and manager, was manager of the New York Yankees five different times and won two league championships and one World Series as their manager. ... James Douglas Bird (born March 5, 1950 in Corona, California) was a Major League Baseball Pitcher from 1973 to 1983. ... Steven Bernard (Steve) Mingori (born February 29, 1944 in Kansas City, Missouri) is a former middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians (1970-1973[start]) and Kansas City Royals (1973[end]-1979). ... Graig Nettles (born August 20, 1944 in San Diego, California) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins (1967-69), Cleveland Indians (1970-72), New York Yankees (1973-83), San Diego Padres (1984-86), Atlanta Braves (1987) and Montreal Expos...

James Douglas Bird (born March 5, 1950 in Corona, California) was a Major League Baseball Pitcher from 1973 to 1983. ... James Augustus Catfish Hunter (April 8, 1946 – September 9, 1999) was a prolific Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher between 1965 and 1979. ... Steven Bernard (Steve) Mingori (born February 29, 1944 in Kansas City, Missouri) is a former middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians (1970-1973[start]) and Kansas City Royals (1973[end]-1979). ... Graig Nettles (born August 20, 1944 in San Diego, California) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins (1967-69), Cleveland Indians (1970-72), New York Yankees (1973-83), San Diego Padres (1984-86), Atlanta Braves (1987) and Montreal Expos...

Game 5

October 14, 1976 at Yankee Stadium October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Yankee Stadium is the home stadium of the New York Yankees, a major league baseball team. ...

The deciding game was a fitting ending to a thrilling series as both teams fought tooth and nail to bring home the AL flag. It culminated in a moment of sheer, unbridled joy for the winners and stunned disbelief for the losers. The Yankees started Ed Figueroa on three days rest, as the Royals did likewise, starting Dennis Leonard. The Royals jumped out on top in the 1st as Brett doubled and scored on John Mayberry's two-run homer. The Yankees quickly countered in their half as Mickey Rivers tripled and scored on Roy White's infield single. White went to third after Thurman Munson singled. Herzog removed Leonard and brought in Game 2 winner Paul Splittorff, who limited the damage by allowing only Chambliss' sacrifice fly. The Royals countered with one in the second but the Yanks jumped ahead in the third as they tacked on two, one on a Munson single and the other on a Chambliss' ground out. The Yanks added on in the sixth scoring twice, once on a Munson single and a second time on a Brett throwing error. Figueroa held that lead going into the eighth. After Al Cowens led off with a single, Billy Martin brought in lefty Grant Jackson. He allowed a single to pinch hitter Jim Wohlford. Brett then stunned the sell-out crowd of 56,821 by planting Jackson's second pitch just over the short right-field wall tying the game at 6. All this was a prelude to the bottom of the ninth inning, when at 11:13 pm, Chris Chambliss hit KC reliever Mark Littell's first pitch over the right center field wall, winning the Bronx Bombers' first pennant in 12 years and touching off bedlam at the stadium. Thousands of fans vaulted over the dugouts and walls and celebrated. Chambliss reached second, then dodged hordes of spectators in trying to reach third, then proceeded to make a beeline towards the safety of the clubhouse as the area around home plate and much of the field was covered by a mass of humanity. Some time later Chambliss was escorted back out onto the field to touch home, or at least the area where it had been. The game and series were over and the Yankees had reached the top of the AL once again while the Royals repaired to their clubhouse, disappointed but proud. John Claiborn Mayberry (born February 18, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan) was a Major League Baseball player from 1968 to 1982 for the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. ... John Milton Mickey Rivers (born October 31, 1948 in Miami, Florida, USA) was a Major League Baseball player from 1970-1984 for the California Angels, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers. ... Thurman Lee Munson (June 7, 1947 – August 2, 1979) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played with the New York Yankees from 1969 to 1979. ... Alfred Edward (Al) Cowens, Jr. ... Grant Dwight Jackson (born September 28, 1942 in Fostoria, Ohio), is a former professional baseball player who was a left-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from 1965-1982. ... James Eugene Wohlford (born February 28, 1951 in Visalia, California) was a major league outfielder in baseball. ...

Richard William Tidrow (born May 14, 1947 in San Francisco, California) was a Major League Baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets from 1972 to 1984. ... John Claiborn Mayberry (born February 18, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan) was a Major League Baseball player from 1968 to 1982 for the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. ... George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953 in Glen Dale, West Virginia) is a former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. ... Chris Chambliss (born Carroll Christopher Chambliss on December 26, 1948 in Dayton, Ohio) was a Major League Baseball player from 1971-1988 for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. ...

Quote of the Series

"Mark Littel, delivers, high drive to deep right center field, it could be, it iiiiiiiiss........GONE!!!"--Keith Jackson (ABC Sports) calling Yankees' Chris Chambliss pennant-winning homerun in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 5.

"Chris Chambliss has won the American League Pennant for the New York Yankees, a thrilling dramatic game, with overtones of that great 6th game of the World Series a year ago and then the 7th game too. What a way for the American League season to end; a spunky young Kansas City team. Look at them mob Chris Chambliss. What a season he has had, what a series he has had".---Howard Cosell (ABC Sports) after Chris Chambliss hit the pennant-winning homerun.

"Please do not litter the field, Please do not throw bottles on the field, and the Yankees request good sportsmanship on the part of all"---Yankee Stadium P.A. Bob Sheppard requesting fans not to litter the Yankee Stadium field before the bottom of the ninth of game 5. Robert Leo Sheppard, (born October 12, 1910 in Richmond Hill, New York) has been the public address announcer for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball since 1951, and was for the New York Giants of the National Football League from 1956 to 2006. ...

After the Series

Chambliss was later cornered in the Yankee locker room by Graig Nettles, who asked him if he had touched home. Chambliss responded that he had not because there were too many people in the way. Nettles then told him that home plate umpire Art Frantz was waiting for him out on the field for him to touch home so that the home run could be ruled official. Chambliss was then escorted out to the field and touched the area where home had been.

KC manager Whitey Herzog did not attempt to contest the home run, although major league rules state that a player must touch all the bases on any hit or when running the bases. In this case the mayhem on the field made that task impossible, and the magnitude of the game was such that Herzog would have never tried to have it restarted or protested it due to a technicality.

Brett's home run was the first of 9 that he would hit in ALCS competition. 6 of those came against the Yankees; 1 in 1976, 3 in 1978, and 2 in 1980. Interestingly, his other three ALCS home runs came in the 1985 ALCS, and all against one pitcher, Doyle Alexander of the Blue Jays. That same Alexander was a Yankee in 1976, warmed up in the bullpen during Game 5, and started the first game of the World Series for them against the Cincinnati Reds. The 1978 American League Championship Series was held between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. ... The 1980 American League Championship Series faced the 97-65 Kansas City Royals against the team that had defeated them three straight years in the ALCS from 1976-1978, the 103-59 New York Yankees. ... The 1985 American League Championship Series was played between the Kansas City Royals and the Toronto Blue Jays from October 8 to October 16, 1985. ... Doyle Lafayette Alexander (born September 4, 1950, Cordova, Alabama) was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers. ... The 1976 World Series matched the defending champion Cincinnati Reds of the National League against the New York Yankees of the American League, with the Reds sweeping the Series to repeat. ... Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 14, 18, 20, 24, 42 Name Cincinnati Reds (1958–present) Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1958) Cincinnati Reds (1882-1953) Cincinnati Red Stockings (1876-1882) Ballpark Great American Ball Park (2003–present) Riverfront...

The series also contained some interesting side stories. KC pitcher Larry Gura publicly criticized Yankee manager Billy Martin prior to the series, saying that Martin treated him shabbily in the short time Martin was his manager in New York. Gura was on the Yankees roster from spring training till the time he was traded to KC on May 16. He did not appear in one game for the Yanks in that time. Martin responded by saying that if he had him there with the Yankees at that moment, he'd get rid of him again. George Brett also had harsh words for Martin, as he claimed that Martin had lied to his brother, pitcher Ken Brett, when Ken spent the first two months of 1976 with the Yanks. George's brother appeared in 2 games for the Yankees over 2 months and was then traded to the Chicago White Sox. May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (137th in leap years). ... Kenneth Alven (Kemer) Brett (September 18, 1948-November 18, 2003) was a Major League Baseball pitcher and the older brother of Hall of Famer George Brett. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 16, 19, 42, 72 Name Chicago White Sox (1904–present) White Stockings (1900-1903) St. ...

This was the first of three consecutive ALCS between the two teams. They would also go head to head in 1977 and 1978, with the Yankees coming out on top again. The Royals, however, exacted a big measure of revenge when they met again in the 1980 ALCS and swept the Bombers in three straight. The 1977 American League Championship Series was a 5-game series played between October 5 and October 9, 1957, at Yankee Stadium (Games 1-2), and Royals Stadium (3-5). ... The 1978 American League Championship Series was held between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. ... The 1980 American League Championship Series faced the 97-65 Kansas City Royals against the team that had defeated them three straight years in the ALCS from 1976-1978, the 103-59 New York Yankees. ...

References

• 1976 ALCS at Baseball-Reference
• Catfish: My Life in Baseball. Mcgraw-Hill by Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Armen Keteyian(April 1, 1988) ISBN 0-07-031371-7
• 50 Greatest Yankee Games, Fifty Greatest Yankee Games. John Wiley & Sons Inc by Cecilia Tan (04/01/2005) ISBN 0-471-65938-X
• Dog Days : The New York Yankees' Fall from Grace and Return to Glory, 1964-1976. iUniverse, Incorporated - Paperback October 2000 by Philip Bashe. ISBN 0-595-14122-6
• Yankees Century : 100 Years of New York Yankees Baseball. Houghton Mifflin 09/01/02 by Richard A. Johnson and Glenn Stout ISBN 0-618-08527-0