"It can't be too long before Tom Tresh takes over his predesigned role as the Yankee offensive leader. Still lurking in the shadows of his more famous outfield colleagues, he has the power, speed, strength and ability to be the top performer in the Bronx cast.
Son of Mike, a former major league catcher, he's a switch-hitting nifty who started his New York career as a shortstop and transferred to the outfield midway through his rookie season."
-Don Schiffer, Major League Baseball Handbook 1964
"Touted as a sure .300 hitter, left fielder Tom Tresh hopes to reach that plateau in his third season with the Yankees. Selected as the Rookie of the Year in 1962 when he hit .286 and became a World Series hero, he slipped to .269 last year but hit 25 homers and had 71 RBI. A significant statistic : he batted .305 right-handed, .245 left-handed.
The son of former White Sox catcher Mike Tresh, he grew up around big-leaguers before signing with the Yankees in 1958. He attends Western Michigan College in the off-season."
-Dave Anderson, 1964 Major League Baseball Handbook
"Tom Tresh has completed only two major league seasons and he's been a member of the All-Star team in both of them. He made it as a shortstop in his rookie season, when he subbed for Tony Kubek who was in service. He made it last year as a center fielder, subbing for the injured Mickey Mantle. But Tom is not the regular Bomber shortstop, nor the regular center fielder. He was named left fielder by then Manager Ralph Houk in August 1962 and he's become a good one!
After winning the Dawson Award (a Longines watch) as the Yanks' top rookie in spring, '62, Tom went on to become the American League's Rookie of the Year. He did not equal his first-year offensive marks in 1963, falling off 17 points in hitting and dropping 22 RBIs. But the versatile switch-hitter increased his home run output from 20 to 25 and last year was second only to Elston Howard in total bases (253 to Ellie's 257). He also led the club in doubles (28) and in runs scored (91).
Tom has a few goals this season, but no predictions. He wants to help the Yankees and Manager Yogi Berra to a pennant by reaching the 100 RBI figure; he wants to improve his left-handed hitting (he's a natural right-hander) and he wants to improve his hitting against the White Sox in the city where his dad, Mike, caught for so many seasons.
Tom still attends Central Michigan University during the off-season."
-The New York Yankees Official 1964 Yearbook
"One of the finest young players to hit the big leagues in many a moon is Tom Tresh, the Bombers' switch-hitting left fielder.
Son of former major league receiver Mike Tresh, Tom first joined the Yankees at the tail end of the 1961 season as a shortstop. During the 1962 spring training campaign, that infield berth became a battle between Tresh and Phil Linz, with Tom emerging as the victor.
But, in August, when Tony Kubek returned to the club from Army duty, Manager Ralph Houk decided to switch Tresh to left field, a position he had never played before. But Tom took to outfielding like a duck to water, solving what had been a Yankee sore spot for too many seasons.
Tresh finished his freshman campaign with a batting mark of .286, socking 20 home runs and driving in 93 tallies. In the World Series, he batted .321 against the Giants. Tom's biggest moment occurred in the fifth game when he clouted the game-winning homer off Jack Sanford with two men on base.
The American League's Rookie of Year of '62 fell off somewhat last year but was by no means an easy mark.
Tom hit .269 with 25 homers and 71 runs batted in, as he carried the outfield lead with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris being out for long periods.
A determined and talented performer, Tresh has his mind set on being a familiar figure in the big Bronx ballyard for many years to come."
-1964 Jay Publishing New York Yankees Yearbook
Son of former major league catcher Mike Tresh.
Signed by Yankee organization, January 14, 1958.
Named Rookie of the Year in International League, 1961.
Winner of James P. Dawson Award as outstanding Yankee rookie in spring training, 1962.
Named American League Rookie of the Year, 1962.
Led Yankees in runs scored (91), 1963.
Led Yankees in doubles (28), 1963.
Attends Central Michigan University during off-season.
-1964 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
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