Becoming Mr. October (9780385533126) (45 page)

Waving to the fans in the Canyon of Heroes during our ticker-tape parade in 1977. It was terrific—though I couldn’t wait to jump in my new Rolls and head for the Berkeley Hills.
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Explaining myself after the Great Bunt Controversy of 1978. I had knowingly brought things to a head and had sparked a confrontation. As it turned out, this would stop the bleeding on a Yankees team that was falling into chaos and allow us to get back into the race. AP photo/Requena

“We’eeerrre baaaack!” Thurman and I, back in the World Series in 1978. It was our time of year. Lifetime, Thurman hit .373 in the Series; I hit .357. He was a tremendous clutch hitter and someone who played through all sorts of injuries.
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Ron Guidry, “Louisiana Lightning,” in 1978, the year he won the Cy Young Award and should have won the MVP to boot. It was one of the greatest years any pitcher ever had, and he single-handedly kept us afloat for most of the season and then won the playoff game against Boston. Ron was always a real gentleman and one of my best friends on the Yankees. MLB Photos via Getty Images

When he came to the Yankees in 1978, Goose Gossage went through pretty much the same hazing I got from Billy Martin, but he was tough enough to not let it keep him from having a great year, on his way to a Hall of Fame career. Here he is closing out the Dodgers, after he closed out the Red Sox in the playoff. In the World Series that year, he pitched six innings, allowed no runs, one hit, one walk, and struck out four.
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A few more pounds, a little less hair … but look at that smile! Acknowledging the fans at the annual Baseball Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown in 2011. On the left is Dennis Eckersley, who made the Hall in 2004. I made it in 1993. It was one of the proudest days of my life, and both my parents were there, something that put a smile around my heart. Getty Images