Past Combatants

Infobox Television episode
Title = Past Combatants
Series = The Bronx is Burning
Season = 1
Episode = 7
Airdate = Start date|2007|08|21
Production =
Writer = Gordon Greisman
Director = Jeremiah S. Chechik
Prev = The Game's Not as Easy as It Looks, Fellas
Next = Mr. October

Past Combatants is the seventh episode of the ESPN miniseries The Bronx is Burning. It debuted on August 21, 2007. It was directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and written by Gordon Greisman.

Plot

The Yankees are slated to face the former Brooklyn rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Joe DiMaggio arrives at the ticket booth to get twenty tickets he was promised since he was throwing out the first pitch. However, the ticketman lost his tickets, and DiMaggio angrily storms off. Steinbrenner (Oliver Platt) is discussing what the gameplan for the World Series with Gabe Paul (Kevin Conway) when he gets a call saying DiMaggio left. He tries getting Governor Hugh Carey to throw the first pitch, but baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn rejects it. They end up getting Whitey Ford instead.

The Series is narrated by ABC broadcasters Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver. The Dodgers take an early lead in the first inning, but the Yankees get a run back in the bottom of the inning. They tie the game on a solo home run by Willie Randolph in the sixth inning. After taking a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning, Martin pulls Jackson in favor of Paul Blair. However, the Dodgers tie the game in the ninth off closer Sparky Lyle, and the game goes to extra innings. When Randolph doubles to lead off the twelfth inning, Blair comes up in Jackson's spot in the lineup, and, after twice failing to lay down a sacrifice bunt, singles to left to drive in Randolph and win the game.

The Dodgers come back strong in game two taking a 5-0 lead after three innings. The Yankees score their only run in the fourth when Jackson grounds into a double play. During the game, Jackson and Cosell comment on a huge fire in an abandoned building near the stadium observed by aerial coverage. A smoke bomb thrown onto the field delays the game in the ninth inning, but the Dodgers win 6-1 to tie the series at one game apiece heading to Los Angeles. After the game, Jackson criticizes Martin to a reporter for starting Catfish Hunter after a long layoff.

In Los Angeles, Martin and Jackson continue to argue through the press. They have a sitdown in a hotel room with Gabe Paul. Paul reminds them that he, unlike them, has never won a World Series. Martin assures Paul that Jackson will start game three, and goes on to compliment Jackson on the season he's had. The Yankees get out to an early 3-0 lead, and take game three 5-3 behind a complete game from Mike Torrez. They have similar success in game four, with Lou Piniella robbing Ron Cey of a three-run home run. This time, Ron Guidry throws the complete game in the 4-2 victory, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead. The Dodgers stave off defeat by crushing the Yankees in game five by a score of 10-4, though Jackson hits his second home run of the series in his final at bat of the game. After the game, Steinbrenner decides to give Martin his contract extension, and arranges for a press conference when they get back to New York.