1967 Profile: Al Downing

1967 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"The case of Al Downing continues to perplex the admirers of his fastball and dedication to excel. The trim southpaw, who admittedly has had control problems for the past few seasons, seemed to iron them out in '66 when he walked less than 100 batters for the first time in three years. Yet he posted an indifferent 10-11 record, with an ERA of 3.56 for 200 innings of work. He fanned 151 men and managed to complete one game.
It's possible Al broods too much. He's heard so much about his potential, but the best he's done in four seasons with the Yankees was the 13-8 mark he registered in 1964 when he led the league in strikeouts with 217."

-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1967

"One of these seasons, all the things predicted for Al Downing are going to come true. The fast-throwing lefty just needs to put everything together.
He's been a winner in double figures for the last four seasons and he won't be 26 until mid-summer. In 1966, Al made 30 starts and never worked relief. In 842 innings pitched in his career, Al has fanned 732 batters, nearly an eight-per-game average.
Al made the first big jump to the Yankees at the age of 20. After a little more AAA experience, he came back for good in 1963 to post a brilliant 13-5 record with a 2.56 earned run average. In his second full season as a Yankee, the popular southpaw who hails from Trenton, New Jersey led the American League in strikeouts with 217.
Al works for the Yankees in the off-season, making appearances, selling group tickets and making friends wherever he goes. He's going to make a lot more friends in Yankeeland one of these years when he becomes a big winner."

-The New York Yankees Official 1967 Yearbook

MY GREATEST THRILL
"My most memorable event in baseball was the day I started my first World Series game. It was against the Dodgers on October 3, 1963 at Yankee Stadium. I only went five innings and I was the losing pitcher, but it's a day I'll never forget."

-Al Downing, The New York Yankees Official 1967 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.
Had longest winning streak of any Yankee pitcher in 1966- six games, May 8-June 3.
Has struck out 10 or more in one game 12 times.

-1967 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide