Did Howard Cosell Really Say, "The Bronx Is Burning"?

Author Jonathan Mahler's popular book, "Ladies and Gentleman, The Bronx Is Burning: 1977, Baseball, Politics, and the Battle for the Soul of a City" has been the topic of much discussion among baseball fans over the last few months. It has also spawned the popular ESPN docu-drama, "The Bronx is Burning". The title of the book and mini-series was supposedly named after a famous utterance by famed broadcaster Howard Cosell during Game 2 of the 1977 World Series, after a blazing fire broke out in an abandoned building behind Yankee Stadium.

Recently, I reviewed MLB productions, The New York Yankees: 1977 World Series Collector's Edition DVD Box Set for Yankees.com. In doing so I had a chance to watch all six games from this fabled Series with great attention.  I watched the DVD collection in order, starting with the bonus DVD of Game 5 of the 1977 ALCS between the Yankees and Royals. If you don't remember, that's the deciding game, the game where George Brett and Graig Nettles brawl in the first inning, and the game where the Yankees score three runs in the ninth inning to secure their World Series appearance. After watching Paul Blair's game winning hit in the 12th inning of Game 1 of the World Series, my nostalgic embers were burning and I couldn't wait to watch Game 2, especially since this was the famous game that the aforementioned book and docu-drama were named after.

Howard Cosell was at his dramatic best throughout Game 1, framing even the innocuous cut-aways with extra flavor, "There's the captain, Thurman Munson- the guts and glory of the New York Yankees!". So, as I popped in the Game 2 disc, I was chomping at the bit to hear Howard's famous remark, "Ladies and gentleman, the Bronx is burning".

There was only one problem when the moment arrived in the top of the second and ABC cut away from Ron Cey as he caught a foul pop up. Howard Cosell never says what we've been told he said.

When ABC cuts to the helicopter camera covering the blaze, the first voice we hear is co-hort Keith Jackson. He sounds taken aback and gives the details of what we are seeing. To paraphrase, he says something along the lines of, "Oh my gosh,you are looking at a blazing fire that has broken out in a building behind Yankee Stadium." Howard follows with, "That is exactly the area that President Carter trod on just the day before." That's it!

While they go back to the fire numerous times throughout the game, the famous line that Cosell supposedly uttered is never said. Now, before I go on record and say 100% that author Jonathan Mahler has propagated a myth about what Cosell said, let's look at the other possibility to explain the missing words. The only other explanation is that MLB productions edited out this line. I am currently inquiring to find out if this is indeed the case. My instinct tells me though that it is not.

First, MLB productions would have no reason to do this, especially because of its appeal to fans. Second, if you watch the ABC footage, while they cut away from Ron Cey, the sound track is seamless. Plus, if Howard did say it before Keith Jackson spoke, then Jackson's surprise at pointing out the fire doesn't make sense, since Howard would have already pointed it out.

There is one other possibility, that Howard said it off the air and it was just reported. However, Mahler in his book recalls the famous line as if he heard it live while watching ABC.

My suspicions tell me that either Mahler had seen the popular 1974 documentary, "The Bronx is Burning", which is about the outbreak of fires in the Bronx in the early 70's, and decided to weave a neat story together, or he heard this myth reported in a newspaper and tricked his memory into believing that he had heard it himself.

I promise my readers one thing, I will get to the bottom of this. I am going to attempt to get Keith Jackson or Tom Seaver (who were both in the booth with Cosell) on our radio show, Baseball Talk, to specifically ask them their memory of that night. I am also going to try and find out from the editors of the 1977 DVD collection. And if all else fails, I will attempt to contacy Jonathan Mahler himself to clear this up.

If any of my readers can shed some light on this dubious situation, you can e-mail me at cshimkin@yahoo.com.

One final note, if you are a fan of baseball, you really need to check out this 7 DVD Box set, it is truly one of the great Series in baseball history. It can be purchased at the Yankees.com Shop.