European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 11, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Page 21 by Hal Bock Kansas City a Paul Blair and Reggie Jackson Central characters in a bold stroke of managerial courage by Man Ager Billy Martin delivered a pair of clutch hits that rescued the Yankees and delivered new York s 31st american league Pennant with a 5-3 Victory Over the Kansas City royals sunday night. Blair played in place of the controversial Jackson who was benched by Marti because of a l-for-14 playoff slump. And when the showdown game reached its tightest moment both players came through with singles that helped the Yan Kees construct their dramatic unlikely Victory. " Martin looking slightly exhausted after for crying out loud such Joyl by Herschel Nissenson Kansas City a after 162 regu Lar season games and five tense playoff clashes with the Kansas City royals peace love and Harmony finally reigned in the new York Yankee clubhouse sunday night. Manager Billy Martin cried. Thurma Munson Catcher and Captain cried. Reggie Jackson controversial slugger an catalyst but a Bench warmer for seven innings of the most important game of the season cried. They All cried tears of Joy As Munso put it following the last gasp three run rally in the ninth inning that lifted them Toa 5-3 Triumph Over the royals and their second consecutive american league pen Nant. The thrill of Victory had replaced the agony of impending defeat. It was put simply and bluntly by Martin when he walked up the ramp from the dugout to the clubhouse just before the Yankees came to Bat in the ninth inning. Martin s quip passing two Kansas City policemen stationed outside the clubhouse door both visibly rooting for the royals during both halves of the fatal ninth inning Martin grinned and quipped i Don t know which is tougher being a cop and getting shot at or being manager of the new York  Martin did that which he had been longing to do All through this turbulent season. Crouching Low and clutching a bottle of Champagne he sneaked up behind owner George Steinbrenner and dumped the sudsy liquid Over the owner s mod Hairdo. Outraged Steinbrenner Steinbrenner feigned outrage an shouted at his fiery manager if i want to fire you i la fire , the two outspoken men both drenched hugged each other wetly Bot possibly recalling the time Steinbrenner barged into the clubhouse during a mean ingless Spring training game and the continued on Page 23 world series at a glance by the associated press All times to tuesday s game los Angeles at new York 8 15  s game los Angeles at new York 8 15  s game new York at los Angeles 8 is  s game new York at los Angeles 4 is . Sunday s game new York at los Angeles if necessary 4 15 a , oct. 18 los Angeles at new York. If necessary 8 15 .wednesday, oct. 19 los Angeles at new York if necessary b 15 . . 5-3 victim Blair ignites 3-run rally in 9th for 31st . Pennant this latest twist in the Yankees soap opera season was asked if he thought he had managed Well in this fifth and final playoff game with the Pennant at stake. That answered the manager somerall practically Peerless is Why i m drinking Champagne  before the game Jackson had complimented Martin for his courage in making the lineup change which sent the $2.9 Mil lion slugger to the  we win the controversial Star said everything will be Beautiful. If we lose he s going to come in for a lot of  but the Yankees were winners this night thanks to an eighth inning Pinch single by Jackson that Cut a 3-1 royals Lead to a single run and a three run ninth inning touched off by Blair s single Mocenter. I m glad he stayed with me said Blair. Thank god i came through for him. That s the greatest hit i Ever had in  Jackson compared the comeback to the jumping with Joy new York Yankees Relief Pitcher Sparky Lyle jumps High into the air after saving a 5-3 win that gave the yanks the american league Pennant sunday Over the Kansas City royals. The other celebrating Yankees Are Catcher Thurmon Munson reaching up to catch Lyle and second baseman Willie Randolph 30 reaching out to shake Fred Stanley s hand. A style of the old Oakland a s who won three straight world championships when replayed for them. This shows the character of our club he said. This is the Way the old a s did  after Blair started the winning Rall with his single Mickey Rivers singled Home the tying run and a sacrifice Fly by Willie Randolph put the Yankees in front for the first time All night. Then an error by Kansas City third baseman George Brett supplied a wrap up  s hit came against Dennis Leon Ard who had relieved at the Start of the ninth As the royals tried to Nail Down their first Ever american league , it will be the Yankees in the world series against the National league Champion los Angeles dodgers in new York. Leonard appearing in Relief for Only the second time All season then walked Pinch hitter Roy White and royals manager Whitey Herzog brought in Lethander Larry Gura to become the fifth Kansas Cit Pitcher. It was an ironic move because Gura is an sex Yankee who is often maligned by Martin and had been knocked out by new York in the third inning a Day  move backfired when Rivers laced a single to right scoring Blair with the tying run and sending White dashing to third. Herzog went to his bullpen again this time bringing in Mark Littell. It was Littell who fed a Home run pitch to the Yan Kees Chris Chambliss which won the pen Nant for new York in the ninth inning of the fifth playoff game a year  the Yankees victimized him again continued on Page 23 trumpets Blair new York Rivers of Rndolph 2bmunson c Piniella i Johnsn do Jacksn do Nettles 3bchmbls in Blair rodent is White pasta Only is total Kansas City a r h by a r h bi5221 patek is 5000 3111 Mcrae if 42305011 Brett 3b 3111 of 4022 3010 2000 1000 4010 4010 4010 5020 Cowens 2010 Otis cf2011 Wathan in 4000 Lacock ib4000 Rojas do 4110 Porter c 3010 White 2b 01000000 37 5 10 4 total new York 001 000 013 5 Kansas City 201 000 0003ebrett. Do new York 1. Lob new York 9, Kansas City 7. 2bpiniella,Mcrae, Johnson. 3bbrett. So Rivers. Rojas Otis.  h 34 3 10 3 Guidry 2 1-3 6 Torrez 51-33 Lyle w,2-0 1 1-3 1splittorff 7 6 Bird 1-32mingori 2-3 0 Leonard la a 0 1gura 01 Littell 1 0 t3 04. A41,133. R 3 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 Erbb so 3 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 and for k.c., such bitterness Kansas City a Heads were bowed some moist eyes other eyes flooded with  Kansas City royals who had won More games than any other team in the major leagues who had gone into sunday night s final american league playoff game brimming with Confidence wept with unashamed  the second year in a Row the royals had lost the american league Champion ship to the new York Yankees in the ninth inning of the final game. But this time around the Yankees scored three runs in the ninth to take a 5-3 Victory. It Hurt worse. Last year it was one out said second baseman Frank White referring to the dramatic ninth inning Lead off Home run Chris Chambliss clubbed in the 76 play offs. This year it was three  can you say said left fielder Hal Mcrae who banged out three hits and scored two runs. They beat us. Well  Ewing Kauffman royals owner Wen from bowed head to bowed head offering congratulations for a great season. Well get pm next year he said to Paul Splittorff the left handed Pitcher who hurled the first seven innings and gave unjust two runs. Thank you or. Kauffman. But  it s disheartening to lose this Way two years in a Row said manager Whitey Herzog. It was a Tough loss. I m not too Good tonight fellas. It was a Tough one  George Brett with a deep Bruise under his left Eye said Graig Nettles kicked him after Brett Slid into third base with a first inning triple an incident which triggered Anear Brawl. How d you like to be kicked in the Facein front of your teammates your Home town crowd and 200 million people on Tele continued on Page 23