The team finished in first place in the American League East with a record of 100–62 (.617), 2½ games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles to successfully defend their division title.
Four Yankees were in the game: Willie Randolph and Reggie Jackson were in the starting lineup at second base and right field, while relief pitcher Sparky Lyle and third baseman Graig Nettles were part of the roster as reserves.
The relationship between Jackson and his new teammates was strained due to an interview with SPORT magazine writer Robert Ward.
During spring training at the Yankees' camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jackson and Ward were having drinks at a nearby bar.
Jackson's version of the story is that he noted that the Yankees had won the pennant the year before, but lost the World Series to the Reds, and suggested that they needed one thing more to win it all, and pointed out the various ingredients in his drink.
The book was adapted for an ESPN miniseries, The Bronx Is Burning The 1977 Yankees season provides a backdrop in the Spike Lee film Summer of Sam.
= Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts October 5: Yankee Stadium, New York City October 6: Yankee Stadium, New York City October 7: Royals Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri October 8: Royals Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri October 9: Royals Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri All-Star Game LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: West Haven, Oneonta[17]