1965 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"You can virtually pinpoint the date of the Yankee resurgence to last August 11. That was the day Mel Stottlemyre reported from Richmond, and he commenced to win three in a row, four out of his first five decisions, and wind up with a 9-3 record that all but put the Yankees in the Series. The 22-year-old sinkerball pitcher had a 13-3 record at Richmond and a 1.42 ERA to go with the 2.16 he compiled with the Yankees. He may have been too late to be eligible for Rookie of the Year but he was named Minor League Player of the Year."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1965
"The Yankees were struggling along in third place last August 11 when General Manager Ralph Houk dipped down to the Yankees' top farm club and purchased a tall, lean right-hander by the name of Mel Stottlemyre. Only a few baseball writers close to the scene had even heard of the Mabton, Washington pitcher when he was brought up from Richmond.
But that situation didn't last long. The sinkerball specialist went on to win nine vital Yankee victories against only three losses while posting a 2.06 earned run average in 96 innings. Before advancing to the Yankees, young Stottlemyre had recorded a 13-3 mark with a 1.42 ERA in the International League. Despite the fact that he missed the last month of the International League season, Mel was named the league's most valuable player.
Mel proved so valuable that he earned three starts in the seven-game World Series against the Cardinals, splitting two decisions. But with all these 1964 thrills, Mel probably received his biggest baseball 'kick' from his performance against the Washington Senators last September 26 when he tossed a two-hit, 7-0 shutout. But it wasn't his pitching that fall day that thrilled the right-hander; it was his five hits in five trips to the plate.
Now 23, Mel Stottlemyre should give the Yankees a stronger pitching staff in 1965 ... being available from the start of the season."
-The New York Yankees Official 1965 Yearbook
"One of the biggest reasons the Yankees captured the American League pennant last season was the wonderful performance of Mel Stottlemyre after being called up from Richmond on August 11.
The Bombers' hurling corps was undermanned by various injuries and ailments. The club was in a dogfight with the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox. Young Mr. Stottlemyre then calmly proceeded to hang up a record of nine victories against three losses along with a fine 2.06 earned run average.
Mel hung up an 8-3 triumph in the second game of the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals and was called upon to start the seventh and deciding game of the classic, his third start of the set, a role seldom played by a raw recruit. Though he lost to the Cards, he was far from disgraced.
About a week later, after returning to a hero's welcome at his Mabton, Washington home, Stottlemyre fell while hunting, suffering a severely sprained ankle. At first, a break was feared but X-rays showed this was not the case. When the cast was removed from the ankle, Mel was assured by his physician that he had made a complete recovery and would be as good as ever for 1965.
Another feat accomplished by Stottlemyre during the '64 campaign was his being named the International League's Most Valuable Player by virtue of his outstanding work before reporting to the Yanks. Mel posted a league-leading 1.42 ERA with a 13-3 log, picking up six shutouts in the process.
Stottlemyre joined the Bomber organization in June 1961, being inked by scout Eddie Taylor. Mel attended Mabton High School where he was president of the student body and captain of the basketball team besides being a diamond star. He also attended Yakima Valley College.
Mel, married and the father of one child, performed with Harlan, Kentucky before moving up in the Bomber chain."
-Jay Publishing 1965 New York Yankees Yearbook
"A year ago the Yankees just about had decided to mold Mel Stottlemyre, a tall hurler from Mabton, Washington, into a relief pitcher. Ralph Houk, the third-string catcher turned general manager, overruled that idea. 'He's got too good stuff for that. Let's try him as a starter.'
At the Yankees' Richmond, Virginia farm team, the 23-year-old was 3-3 on the year in relief when Houk noticed his orders hadn't been followed. 'Start him,' he commanded more forcefully and Mel responded with ten straight victories. When the Yankees were staggering in August, up came Stottlemyre. He responded again, this time with nine wins - two of them shutouts - and three losses. His ERA was a brilliant 2.06.
'Without Stott, we would not have made it here,' deposed manager Yogi Berra said simply.
Mel was born in Missouri. 'But I don't remember it,' he explains, 'because my father was a construction worker and we moved. I consider Mabton my home and it was at Yakima Valley College I signed a contract in 1960.'
No bonus was involved, so New York got itself quite a bargain. Mel pitched at Harlan, Kentucky his first year; in Greensboro, North Carolina his second, and was 17-9 with a 2.50 ERA. On he went to Richmond, New York and finally to St. Louis. Stottlemyre won the second game in the World Series, 8-3. He pitched seven good innings in the fifth game and left behind, 2-0, but the Yankees caught up to save him from the loss before they finally bowed, 5-2.
Based on his two-month, nine-win performance, big things are expected of him this season. Mel says he owes his success to a lot of people. 'Del Bethel, an ex-big leaguer, taught me a lot back home and so did Billy Muffett at Richmond. Clete's older brother, Cloyd, was a big help at the minor league camp and so were Ellie Howard and Whitey Ford.' "
-1965 Official Baseball Almanac
"Stottlemyre was called up by a desperate Yankee front office from Richmond in August and promptly thrown into the breach. Equally as promptly he won three straight games, permitting a total of four runs. He lost two of his next three decisions, then won five in a row. He pitched two shutouts and his second will be remembered for a long time by those who witnessed it. He fashioned a 2-hitter against the Senators and in addition, he got five hits himself in a perfect day at the plate- four singles and a double. It is enough to say that without Stottlemyre the Yankees wouldn't have won the pennant just as they would have not won it without the late-season relief help of Pedro Ramos, obtained in a trade with the Indians."
-1965 Baseball Guidebook
Signed by Yankee organization, June 10, 1961.
Led International League in ERA (1.42), 1964.
Led International League pitchers in fielding (1.000), 1964.
Purchased by Yankees from Richmond, August 11, 1964.
Hurled 7-0, 2-hit shutout at Washington, had five hits in five at-bats in the same game, September 26, 1964.
-1965 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
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