RALPH HOUK (Manager)
1962 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR (Manager)
"One of the few pilots to hit the jackpot in his freshman season, taking the pennant and the title. This 41-year-old Lawrence (Kansas) leader scrapped the Casey Stengel shake-well system and used a set lineup daily.
Houk was a Yankee substitute catcher from 1949-1954 and never hit a homer. He had prior experience as a field boss at Denver (1955-1957) and also served five years as a Bomber coach, mostly at first base."
-Don Schiffer, The 1962 Major League Baseball Handbook
"Houk was born in Lawrence, Kansas, resides in Saddle River, New Jersey, is married and the father of one daughter and two sons.
Managing the New York Yankees was probably furthest from his mind when, as a 19-year-old, Ralph Houk signed his first contract with the Yankee organization. Now after 23 consecutive years (with four years out for distinguished military service), the same Ralph Houk is the respected, able manager of the World Champions. Though his playing career was undistinguished, there was a mark about this determined man. He gave everything he had to his job; he learned; he developed confidence and leadership.
After serving as a player-coach in 1953-54, Ralph was given an opportunity to manage the Denver club in the American Association, then the Yankees' top farm affiliate. He did a spectacular job of developing future Yankees such as Bobby Richardson, Tony Kubek, John Blanchard, Ralph Terry ... to name only a few. His Denver clubs always were in the race, and he piloted the Bears to the Little World Series triumph in 1957.
His promotion to manager of the champion Yankees was only natural. He became only the third big league manager to win a World Series in his freshman year as pilot, and the first since Eddie Dyer won with the Cardinals in 1946. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the job Ralph did last year was the rebuilding of the pitching staff after the season was underway. The Major made changes when one or two veterans failed; he promoted rookies to regular jobs, won the confidence of the players and won designation of Manager of the Year by THE SPORTING NEWS.
Ralph Houk belongs as manager of the World Champion New York Yankees."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
"Coach, New York Yankees, 1953-54, 1958-60."
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"When Ralph Houk was named manager of the Yankees in October of 1960, succeeding Casey Stengel, he said, "I feel extremely proud to be chosen for this job. I hope I can give New York the kind of team it deserves because the men are there to make it a great team. The Yankees are not dead." And as everyone knows, the powerfully-built native of Lawrence, Kansas, made good on his statement, as he guided the Bronx Bombers to the American League pennant plus a World Championship in his first season as a major league pilot.
Though a veteran of only 91 major league games as a catcher spread over eight seasons with the Bombers, Houk has been regarded over the years as one of baseball's best brains.
Houk, who is 5'10" and scales 190, was discovered by the late Yankee scout Bill Essick and started his career in organized ball in 1939 with Neosho of the Arkansas-Missouri loop. He played with Joplin, Binghamton and Augusta before enlisting in the Army as a private. He came out of the service as a major in the Rangers, receiving a battlefield commission. He was awarded, among other citations, the Silver Star for heroic action in 1944 in Luxembourg.
After the war, he performed with Kansas City and Beaumont before joining the Yankees in 1947. He remained with the parent club through the 1954 campaign, except for short tenures with the K.C. American Association farm in '48 and '49.
Houk piloted Denver for three seasons (1955-56-57), finishing second twice and third once, before coming back to the Stadium as a coach under Stengel in 1958.
The Yankee manager lives in Saddle River, New Jersey, with his wife, Bette, and two of his three children, Dick, 18, and Bobby, 12. Donna, 20, was married last year. Ralph's hobbies are fishing and hunting."
-1962 Jay Publishing Yankees Yearbook
"Pete Runnels, Boston's fine hitter who is battling for the American League hitting title, like many other ballplayers, has tremendous respect for the Yankees' Ralph Houk. 'He's a real leader,' says Pete. 'At the Chicago All-Star Game, he gave us a 15-word pep talk; that was all. He told us what we were there for and who we were. No wonder Mickey Mantle plays for him on a bad leg.'"
-Bob Addie, The Sporting News (August 18, 1962)
FRANKIE CROSETTI (Coach)
"Crosetti was born in San Francisco, California, resides in Stockton, Calif., is married is was the father of two.
This is Cro's 31st consecutive year with the Yankees. He spent 17 as an infielder and has coached under three managers since 1947. Crosetti has been in a record 20 World Series with the Yanks."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
"Has appeared on 20 of the 26 Yankee pennant-winning clubs.
Played or coached in record 104 World Series games.
Coach, New York Yankees, 1947 through 1962."
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"Third Base Coach Frank Crosetti celebrates his 31st straight season with the Yankees in 1962. One of the A.L.'s top shortstops upon coming to the Bombers from the San Francisco Seals in 1932 until the advent of Phil Rizzuto in 1941.
The 50-year-old father of two, a Yankee coach since 1947, has appeared in seven World Series and one All-Star Game. Holder of several major league and Series records."
-1962 Jay Publishing Yankees Yearbook
JOHNNY SAIN (Coach)
"Sain was born in Havana, Arkansas, resides in Walnut Ridge, Ark., is married and is the father of four/
A great pitching star for the old Boston Braves for whom he won 20 games on four occasions, Sain was a Yankee relief ace late in his career. He has proved valuable in the rebuilding of the Yankee pitching staff."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
"Coach, Kansas City Athletics, 1959.
Coach, New York Yankees, 1961-62."
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"Beginning his second year as Yankee pitching mentor is Johnny Sain, Bomber relief ace of 1952-53-54. The 43-year-old, 6'2", 205-lb. former right-hander took a leave of absence from his Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, automobile agency to join his old mates.
Sain, who hurled in the majors from 1942 through 1955 with the Boston Braves, Yankees and Kansas City A's, was a K.C. coach for a brief period in 1959. He's married, with four children.
Besides winning 20 or more games four times, he led the N.L. in complete games in 1946 and '48, teaming with Warren Spahn in the latter year to pitch the Braves to the pennant."
-1962 Jay Publishing Yankees Yearbook
WALLY MOSES (Coach)
"Moses was born in Uvalda, Georgia, resides in Philadelphia, PA, is married and is the father of one.
He has been a major leaguer for 28 seasons. He had a lifetime average of .291 in 2,012 games. A coach since 1952, Moses has been the Yankee batting instructor and first base coach [since 1961]."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
"Coach, Philadelphia Athletics, 1952-54.
Coach, Philadelphia Phillies, 1955-58.
Coach, Cincinnati Reds, 1959-60.
Coach, New York Yankees, 1961-62."
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"A valuable aid to Manager Houk is first base and batting coach Wally Moses, who has been on the major league scene since 1935, when he joined Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics, being purchased from Galveston. The former A.L. ace fly-chaser stands 5'10", weighs 161, is married and has one child. Moses, who was born in Uvalda, Georgia, October 8, 1910, makes his home in Philadelphia.
He led the junior circuit in doubles in 1945 and tied for the lead in triples in 1943.
After retiring as an active player, Wally coached the A's from 1952 through 1954; the Phillies from 1955 through 1958; and the Reds in 1959 and '60 before joining the Bombers in '61."
-1962 Jay Publishing Yankees Yearbook
JIM HEGAN (Coach)
"Hegan was born in Lynn, Mass., resides in Lakewood, Ohio, is married and was the father of three children.
He joined the Yankee coaching staff at mid-season, 1960. After a distinguished career (most of it with Cleveland) as a catcher, Jim turned to coaching and now handles the catchers and bullpen chores for the Yankees. His son, Mike, is a Yankee prospect."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
"Coach, New York Yankees, 1960-62."
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"Boss of the bullpen is rangy Jim Hegan, who came to the Yanks on July 29, 1960, succeeding Bill Dickey, who left because of illness. Hegan, born August 3, 1920 in Lynn, Massachusetts, lives in Lakewood, Ohio, with his wife and is the father of two. He's 6'2", weighs 195.
Rated one of the finest defensive catchers during his active days, Hegan was behind the bat in three no-hit games while with the Cleveland Indians: Don Black's victory over Philadelphia, July 10, 1947; Bob Lemon's triumph over Detroit, June 30, 1948; and Bob Feller's third no-hitter, July 1, 1951 against Detroit."
-1962 Jay Publishing Yankees Yearbook
SPUD MURRAY (Batting Practice Pitcher)
"A man you see pitching batting practice EVERY day, but who never appears in a game, is Spud Murray, the official Yankee batting practice pitcher, the man with the 'rubber' arm. He wears uniform No. 55. His excellent control gives the hitters full opportunity to get their batting practice cuts."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
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