Bunt!

On this date in 1978, Yankee outfielder Reggie Jackson ignored instructions from manager Billy Martin and tried to lay down a bunt in the 10th inning of a tie game against the Royals. Jackson popped out, the Yankees lost 9-7 in 11 innings, and Martin suspended Jackson for five days without pay.

Six days later, Jackson returned to the lineup and Martin was asked about Reggie and George Steinbrenner. "The two deserve each other. One's a born liar; the other's convicted." Martin was forced to resign the following day.

Larry Keith, SI:

When Munson led off the 10th with a single, Martin flashed the bunt sign to third-base coach Dick Howser. Howser duly relayed the message to Jackson. That was fine with Reggie. Never mind that he had not executed a successful sacrifice since 1972 or that he had felt insulted when Martin had asked him to lay one down in the past -- this time he wanted to bunt. ... So, after taking the first pitch for a ball, here was Jackson trying to bunt and failing.

In the dugout, Martin changed his mind. Third baseman George Brett had moved in. Martin to Howser to Jackson: hit away. But Jackson, who later said he misread the sign, tried to bunt again. Foul ball. Howser walked in toward the plate and summoned Jackson to him. "Billy says to hit away," said the coach. "I want to bunt," said Reggie. "Billy says to hit away." "I want to bunt," said Reggie. Al Hrabosky threw his next pitch, Jackson's hand slipped up the bat and he popped a bunt into foul territory for an automatic out.

Martin was furious. "That's the maddest I've ever been in my life," he says. ... After Kansas City won in the 11th inning Martin went into a rage, smashing a soft-drink bottle against his office wall and heaving his clock radio into the hall. ...

Afterward, Jackson pleaded innocent to outright defiance, and after coming off suspension he detailed his reasons for bunting. "I had not been playing regularly and I wasn't swinging the bat very well," he told a mob of reporters in Chicago. "I thought under the circumstances that bunting was the best thing I could do. Even after Howser spoke to me, I didn't realize exactly what the consequences would be. I didn't consider it an act of defiance, and I don't feel I did anything wrong. I would even do it again if I didn't know what the consequences would be."

Other July 17s:

1903 - Rube Waddell of the Philadelphia A's is arrested for assaulting a fan who had criticized his pitching. Manager Connie Mack bails him out of jail.

1914 - The Giants beat the Pirates 3-1 in 21 innings at Forbes Field. Pittsburgh's Babe Adams goes the distance without issuing a walk, the longest non-walk game in history. Giants outfielder Red Murray is knocked unconscious by a bolt of lightning after catching a fly ball for the final out. He is not seriously injured.

1990 - Minnesota turns two triple plays, but Boston wins 1-0 at Fenway Park. Tom Brunansky (fourth inning) and Jody Reed (eighth inning) are the unfortuante batters; both plays go 5-4-3.

1991 - Baltimore's Sam Horn strikes out in six consecutive plate appearances. Browns pitcher Carl Weilman did it on August 25, 1913. After walking in the first inning, Horn strikes out in the second (swinging), fourth (swinging), sixth (looking), eighth (looking), tenth (swinging), and thirteenth (swinging). He doubles in the 15th.

1993 - Spokane (Northwest League) pitcher Glenn Dishman retires the first 26 Yakima batters. The 27th batter hits an easy grounder to the second baseman who tosses to first baseman Jason Thompson. In his rush to celebrate, Thompson pulls his foot off the bag before the out is recorded and is charged with an error. Dishman retires the next batter for a no-hitter. (SI says Thompson "mishandled a throw".)

1996 -

Yankees - 002 000 324 - 11 19  0
Red Sox - 100 143 003 - 12 12  0