"The Yankees feel that Al Downing should be more than a 12- or 13-game winner, and Al is the first one to agree. He has one of the best fastballs in the league but his trouble is that he can't always get his curve over. The trim lefty struck out 179 batters last season but he also walked 105, while compiling a 12-14 mark. He led the AL in strikeouts the previous season with 217. He also walked the most - 120 - and turned in a 13-8 record. The feeling is that he works best at a rapid pace and Yankee catchers try to get the ball back to him as quickly as possible."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1966
"Al Downing will be 25 this summer and he has about three full American League seasons behind him. In those years he won 38, lost 28 and posted a commendable 3.24 ERA. In 642 innings pitched up to this season, the Trenton lefty had fanned 580 men, better than an 8.1 per game average.
Impressive statistics? Not really. For everyone expects the swift southpaw to make it 'big' one of these years. The Yankees hope it will be this season. Al is endowed with all the tools, including an intelligent approach to the game. But he has to conquer occasional control problems and put all of his assets together.
When Sandy Koufax was 25, he had won 36 games, lost 40 with the Dodgers. At the same age, Whitey Ford had won 27, lost seven. So when experts say Al Downing's career is ahead of him, you can understand the optimism."
-The New York Yankees Official 1966 Yearbook
Signed by Yankee organization, December 9, 1960.
Pitched no-hit game for Richmond, May 12, 1962, beating Syracuse 4-0.
Recalled from Richmond, June 6, 1963.
Struck out a single-game high (14), July 6, 1963.
Led American League in strikeouts (217), 1964.
Has struck out 10 or more in one game 12 times.
-1966 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
No comments:
Post a Comment