I liked the team, too. Saw a number of games from seats just behind the first base boxes.

As for Tom, the trade to get him cost the Yankees Chris Chambliss. They got the stupendous duo of Rick Cerone and Ted Wilborne, a player whom I would take over Dave Revering any day of the week.

And, for another Yankee obit, how about Danny McDevitt. He pitched the last game at Ebbett’s Field, a complete game shut out. Didn’t do to well with the 1961 Yankees. How did he make that team?

I just love the 1980 team. Because of what happened in the ALCS, people don’t realize how good and deep that club was. Howser had a good bench and really used it well. On any given day, you had Spencer, Soderholm, Murcer, Piniella.

Just a fun team.

With 1979 being my first “full season” as a Yankees fan [I recall 78 series and was glad they won], I have great fondness for the now seemingly forgotten 103 win 1980 Yankees. Reggie had a great year [one of the best of his career]; Randolph was excellent; Rudy May led the league in ERA; Gossage was fearsome out of the pen; Gamble did his HR/AB thing, Guidry was Guidry, etc. The next to last day of the season was my first Yankees game, at which me and my younger cousin joined 55,000+ of our closest friends to watch the Yankees clinch the division against the Tigers, holding off the 100-win Orioles in the process. Reggie got the big hit with a 3-run HR into the upper deck in RF, not far from where we were seated, and Goose struck out Hebner to end the game.

Alas, in the ALCS, Willie was out at home, Brett took Goose deep, Cerone lined into a DP. And that was that. Oh what might have been.

All that is to say that I too have fond and happy memories of Underwood, with his substantial contribution to one of my all-time favorite teams. Sad to hear that he died so young.

RIP T.U.