For we Red Sox fans, it’s an instance… an at-bat… a name… a pennant race that will never be forgotten – and for all the wrong reasons. But you need to see SI’s “14 Back.”
Bucky (expletive) Dent. For years, Red Sox fans were cursed with the memories of Dent’s home run in Fenway Park during game 163 of the 1978 season. The Yankees had come back from a 14-game deficit to win the American League East.
The hurtful memories were masked by the 2004 team that came back from three games down in the American League Championship Series – but it’s worth diving back into the 1978 pennant race with Sports Illustrated’s new documentary, “14 Back.”
The new 90-minute film, which is produced by 11-time Emmy winner Jonathan Hock, takes us back to 1978 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the craziest pennant race in MLB history.
It released today (September 20) on SI TV. So head on over there to check it out.
I know what you’re thinking. “Why, as a Red Sox fan, would I want to re-hash that homer? That pennant race?”
Trust me, it’s well worth it. Just to hear Bill Lee and Dennis Eckersley, who both speak passionately.
Really, that’s the most appealing thing about “14 Back.” It doesn’t pull any punches. You can tell that these guys really hated each other back in the day – and some of those feelings clearly have lingered on despite the passage of nearly a half-century.
It’s also fascinating to hear about the chaos that surrounded the 1978 Yankees. Manager Billy Martin’s constant battles with owner George Steinbrenner are baffling and the documentary doesn’t shy away from highlighting that.
I don’t want to spoil anything. But at the very least you need to see what item Lee keeps in his wallet.
So don’t wait. Head on over to SI.tv and pop some pop corn. Besides, the Red Sox had no trouble with New York this season.