The Year of the Gerbil chronicles the events leading up to and including October 2, 1978, the day that will live in Boston infamy as the day that the Red Sox could have had it all but then lost it to the New York Yankees. Detailing the age-old American League East rivalry, the book is populated with all of the baseball personalities that fans of the game are unlikely to soon forget. In the Yankees corner are notorious owner George Steinbrenner, colorful manager Billy Martin and flamboyant player Reggie Jackson, as well as familiar names like Bucky Dent, Lou Piniella, Willie Randolph, and Thurmon Munson. Appearing for the Red Sox are Carl Yastrezemski, pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee, Carlton Fisk, the tenacious Lius Tiant, Mike Torrez, Dennis Eckersley -- the man who has the distinction of holding the league record for most runs allowed -- and manager Don Zimmer, who Lee once not-so-lovingly nicknamed "the gerbil".
