Tuhia he haere tonu mo tenei whitianga - I a ia e mahi ana, i whakamahia a Bird i roto i nga momo mahi tuku, i te nuinga o te wa ka neke mai i te bullpen ki te hurihanga tiimata me te hoki mai. I puta a Bird i roto i nga keemu e ono mai i te 1976 ki te 1978, me nga Royals katoa, a, i ia wa ki te New York Yankees, e whakaatu ana i te 2.35 ERA i roto i te 7.2 innings i tukuna. I muri i te mahi pai i te tau 1976
me te 1977 playoffs, e mohiotia ana a Bird mo te tuku i te tokorua-haere ki a Thurman Munson i te waru o nga waahanga o te Taakaro Tuatoru i te 1978 American League Championship Series.