2001 was the opposite. We were feeling defeated again (at least very trod upon) and could have used the boost from a WS win. I’m STILL sad about the 2001 defeat in the 9th inning of the 7th game. It still haunts.

But in 1978 no one gave a damn about NYC as the federal govt and the country thought we had dug our own grave. In 2001 the whole country supported us in our grief. Our grief was the country’s grief.

In 78 we stood alone. Our team was such a microcosm of the city, blowing up from the inside out but still pulling up some gritty determination to keep it from going completely to hell.

So I still pick 78. It just represents to me what New York, the Yankees, the rivalry and baseball are all about.

I’ll be interested to read this book and compare it with Roger Kahn’s October Men (which cover’s the 1978 season). Thanks for the review Ben.

I remember rushing home, running through the cafeteria, while some of the football players were gathered around a radio, listening to the game. My brother (who was 9 at the time) and I watched the game alone in the house. I remember hugging him like mad when Bucky hit that ball–that was big since we were at the height of our sibling rivalry back then. We felt so bad for our sister because she was stuck at soccer practice during the game.

I hated the Red Sox back then. Boy, that victory was sweet. I guess if I think about that one and the Aaron Boone game enough, I can forget about the pain of 2004, at least for a little bit.

Thanks for focussing on this book. I know what I’m getting my brother for his next birthday!

The thing that made the Dent game so special was the season that preceded it. Billy fired, Lemon replacing him, and the Yankees coming back from a 14 1/2 game July deficit. (This was also summer of Rose’s 44 game hit streak, which is why that 78 season is for me the best baseball season of my memory).

I got out of school at 2:30, and so had to race home to catch as much of the game as possible. I believe the Yanks were already down 1-0 by the time I got to the tv. At 2-0 in the 7th it hardly seemed possible the Yanks could come back. The Dent homer was magical and remains the best moment of baseball fandom for me, better than the subsequent 5 world championships.

But that 1978 game didn’t resonate so much with me. I was still a Yankee neophyte. For me, Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, and Aaron F***ing Boone, and Matsui scoring the tying run and jumping up and growling at the plate after he slid across it, and Mariano collapsing onto the rubber as the rest of the team went ape-shit at home plate…. By then, I got it. And that game was as thrilling for me to watch as were any of the 2001 World Series games.

However, I will get this book. Thanks for reviewing it. And speaking of reviews, someone just gave me the DiMaggio bio from Richard Ben Cramer, as a 40th birthday gift……. and it stinks, for all kinds of reasons. Read the “Greatest Game” book over Cramer’s waste of wood.

I’m obviously biased about it because I was in the stands, but 2003 Game 7 against Boston is my favorite. Clemens vs Martinez, with the twist that if the Yankees this is the last game of Clemens career (yeah, he changed his mind later, but it was on everyone’s minds all night). The parade of pitchers, starters included, coming in from the bullpen, to save the season. Moose’s first career relief appearance, which couldn’t have been more stressful. And of course the rally against Pedro and the 11th inning walkoff homerun.

And the difference between Game 7 2001 and 78 playoff?

We won.

And it was magical.

My love for the Yankees was sealed that day although had I become anything else my family would have hunted me down and killed me.