"The harmonica rascal of 1964, Phil Linz proved a handy fill-in last year for both a slumping Clete Boyer and an injured Tony Kubek. He got into 112 games and hit a timely, if not overpowering, .250. Few teams have players of his caliber (or musical ability) who can come off the bench and do the job for them. Which is why he is frequently sought after by other clubs in trade talks."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1965
"He dubbed himself the 'supersub,' some writers have called him the Yanks' 'Harmonicat' and others have referred to his bright personality and 'clown' image. But Phil Linz would actually rather be known for his ability as a Yankee infielder. As far as the players and Yankee management are concerned, that's what exactly what Phil is best known for.
A lot has been written about the 25-year-old Baltimorean. The story of his harmonica playing on the bus last August, his humor and modesty - all are well known. But this young infielder is an intense competitor. He gives it all he's got ... and that's quite a bit. A flashy fielder and dangerous hitter, Phil sometimes surprises by showing power at the plate despite his 'choked up' style. He hit two homers in the 1964 World Series ... the second one in the ninth inning of the seventh game in a desperate effort to get the Yanks back in the ball game.
Phil does a competent job all around the infield and he can play the outfield, too, though he's a natural shortstop. On his way up to the Yankees, the bespectacled Linz led the Carolina and Texas Leagues in hitting.
Linz got into 112 games last season, proving he was ready whenever the opportunity was present. He's ready for more of the same this year. Phil served last winter as a special Yankee ticket representative."
-The New York Yankees Official 1965 Yearbook
"The bespectacled, speedy Phil Linz will, in all probability, go down in baseball history as the game's 'Harmonica Rascal,' a result of his famous incident with former manager Yogi Berra last season. At any rate, Phil will find it mighty hard for anyone not to associate him with the playing of a mouth organ instead of his legitimate business of playing baseball.
There are those who maintain the Yankees' successful drive for the pennant in '64 came as a direct result of the incident in which Berra got mad at Linz for his harmonica-playing on a bus after a defeat in Chicago. In fact, it may go down as some sort of diamond legend. It seems the Yankees had suffered four straight losses at the hands of the White Sox at Comiskey Park. On the way to O'Hare Field, Linz was told to desist from his musical chores by the Bomber boss. When Phil tooted an extra toot, Berra rushed toward him, and Linz flipped the harmonica toward Berra, who swiped at it with his hand, causing it to bang into Joe Pepitone's knee.
As a result of the fuss, Linz was fined $200 and the harmonica became the national instrument. The Yanks then went on to win the flag.
Linz finished up the campaign batting .250 in 112 contests, filling in very capably for Tony Kubek at short and at third for Clete Boyer when called upon. In fact, there was one stretch when Phil was one of the hottest Yankee players of them all.
The former batting champion of the Carolina League (1960) and Texas League (1961) has the distinction of making his first major league hit a home run, connecting against the Kansas City A's on May 23, 1962."
-Jay Publishing 1965 New York Yankees Yearbook
Signed by Yankee organization, June 9, 1957.
Leading hitter in Carolina League (.321), 1960.
Leading hitter in Texas League (.349), 1961.
First major league hit was a home run, against Kansas City, May 23, 1962.
-1965 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
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