Jackson, the Cheltenham High grad who now serves as a special adviser for the Yanks, set the record for homers in a single World Series with five in 1977 against the Dodgers. Utley tied him with his second two-homer game on Monday. The biggest difference between the two accomplishments was that Jackson did it while leading the Yankees to the championship. Utley's Phillies were down in the series when he hit Nos. 4 and 5 on Monday.
"He doesn't really care about it that much," Jackson said before last night's game. "They're down, 3-2, and that's where he's at [mentally], and I admire that. I admire that professionalism."
It is all about winning the World Series, but they've been playing the World Series since 1903 and only two guys have dominated like this offensively. It is notable.
"He reminds me of what you might call old school: 'Records are nice, but we're down, 3-2,' " Jackson said Utley said. "The talk is really about winning. You'd rather hit three home runs and win the World Series than hit seven and not. I'm known for the postseason, not what I did during the [regular] season - and I had a pretty good career."
Where's Willie?
Speaking of tied records, where's Willie Wilson?
Glad you asked.
Ryan Howard's eighth-inning strikeout was his 13th of the series and erased Wilson's dubious record set in 1980.
Howard's trouble with strikeouts is nothing new. He has struck out at least 180 times each of the last 4 years.
Wilson's struggles were puzzling. He wasn't a slugger, he was a leadoff hitter; and 1980 was his best season. Wilson hit .326 for the Royals that year and finished fourth in the AL MVP voting. His World Series misery was confounding and ended only when Tug McGraw struck him out to clinch the Phillies' first title.
Wilson redeemed himself in 1985, when he helped lead the Royals to the franchise's only title. He hit .367 that World Series as Kansas City came back from a 3-1 deficit to stun the Cardinals in seven.
