1978 AL East Playoff: Yankees @ Red Sox

New York Yankees 5 at Boston Red Sox 4, F — For two bitter rivals, it all came down to this one-game showdown at historic Fenway Park. The winner would earn a trip to the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals; the loser would go home with 99 wins, and nothing to show for them. The Yankees, who had mounted one of the most memorable comebacks in baseball history (trailing the AL East-leading Red Sox by 14 games in mid-July), sent wiry lefty Ron Guidry and his 24-3 record out to the mound against former teammate Mike Torrez. Reggie Jackson homered and an unorthodox, but key, defensive play by Lou Piniella in left field are both often overlooked, as it was the home run by the light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent that provided the unexpected muscle to power the Yankees into the postseason.