RALPH HOUK (Manager)
"It has been said of Ralph Houk's ability as a leader that his players would probably run through a brick wall if he asked them to. That's ridiculous. They would probably run through two brick walls for him. Such is the man's bigger-than-life image that exaggeration is the only way of putting him in perspective. Whether he is or not, Houk gives the impression that he is tougher and stronger than any of his players, and in athletes, as in other men, this generates a certain loyalty; you know you will obey and follow such a man. Suffice it to say, then, that Houk is a leader.
Never did a ball club need one more than the Yankees did last year. They no more resembled the all-conquering world champions in pinstripes of former years than did a rag-tag team of little leaguers. But the only thing tattered about the 1967 Yankees was their record. Their morale and demeanor showed they still carried their pride. Part of it had to come from that old-time Yankee image, but some of it certainly was the Ralph Houk image.
Ralph Houk helped to carve that image while managing the Yankees to three consecutive pennants between 1961 and '63. He then moved upstairs to the general manager's desk, not a bad promotion for a one-time bullpen catcher. But when storm signals began flickering over The House That Ruth Built, he returned to the dugout during the 1966 season. He didn't find many remnants of the old club around, but he didn't wail about it. He just set his jaw a little firmer. That's part of his image, too."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1968
"The Major earned his nickname the hard way. With the Rangers in World War II, Major Ralph Houk was in the thick of it. During the Battle of the Bulge, he won the Silver Star 'for gallantry and intrepidity in action'. He was a natural leader. When he came back to battle for his job as a catcher, things didn't come easy. He stayed with the club by fighting every inch of the way to win his job against tough competition. He made it with the Yankees as a catcher behind Yogi Berra.
An intelligent student of the game, Ralph's hunger for knowledge was to prove a valuable asset in his later career as Yankee manager. Ralph knows what it's like to fight his way up; he knows the pent-up frustration of a player in a slump; he knows rookie jitters - and the doubts that nag an aging veteran. Because Ralph Houk knows what's going on inside his players, no manager has more respect and loyalty from his men. And there's total confidence.
Pitcher Bill Monbouquette says it his way: 'Since joining the club, I have a new reason for being happy. That would be Ralph Houk, to whom I owe a great deal. I have never played for a manager like him. He lets you know exactly what he wants from you, is 100 percent for his players and never leaves you in doubt. Ralph has restored all my old confidence.'
Lee MacPhail, then as Yankee farm director, recognized Houk's leadership qualities and sent him to the tough Triple-A Denver farm club in 1955 as player-manager. Ralph lived and died with his young players. He caught with them and fought with them through three successful seasons.
Mike Burke says, 'There's no one like him. He's one of a kind and he's the best.'
Ralph succeeded Casey Stengel in 1961 and won three straight pennants and two World Series. Moved up to General Manager, he helped Yogi Berra win the pennant in '64, bringing up Stottlemyre when he was ready, and acquiring Pete Ramos at his peak.
But after two and a half years as General Manager, it was a happy Ralph Houk who got back into uniform in 1966 and took command on the field. After 30 years in baseball, all of them with the Yankee organization, the Major is back in his element - in the thick of it."
-The New York Yankees Official 1968 Yearbook
"Ralph has run the full cycle in baseball. He signed with the Yanks as a catcher in 1939 and has been with them ever since. He was a player until 1954, also serving as bullpen coach in 1953 and '54, then was a minor league manager, first base coach of the Yankees, manager of the Yankees, General Manager of the Yankees and again manager.
He won three pennants and two World Championships in his first three years as pilot of the club.
Houk was a war hero during World War II, advancing to the rank of Major, which has since become his nickname."
-1968 New York Yankees Press-Radio-TV Guide
COACHES
"Yankee heroes from two different generations now grace the coaching staff. The dean of all coaches everywhere, of course, is Frank Crosetti, who played shortstop for Yankee champions before turning to coaching back in 1947. The new-era great is Whitey Ford, who joins the staff this season after retiring in 1967 with 236 lifetime wins as a Yankee pitcher. The other two coaches, who distinguished themselves elsewhere, are Jim Turner, an ace reliever in his day, and Jim Hegan, a top receiver in his."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1968
"The Yankee coaching staff of 1968 is Manager Ralph Houk, pitching coach Jim Turner, first base signalman Whitey Ford, third base coach Frank Crosetti and bullpen and catching coach Jim Hegan. Houk is in his 30th consecutive year in the Yankee organization (with four years out for distinguished military service). 'Cro' has been a Yankee player and coach continuously since 1932. Ford is the newcomer to the staff this year after closing out a brilliant 16-year active career in which the personable southpaw won 236 games, more than any Yankee in history, and set a host of other pitching records."
-The 1968 New York Yankees Scorecard and Official Program
FRANKIE CROSETTI (Coach)
"Frank Crosetti, dean of Yankee coaches, is also dean of all major league coaches by reason of his 37 consecutive years as player and coach. He holds the record for appearing in the most World Series games, 122, as player and coach. He has appeared on 23 of the 29 Yankee pennant-winning clubs. A great fielding shortstop from 1932 through 1948, Cro has been the third base coach since 1949."
-The New York Yankees Official 1968 Yearbook
"Now in his 37th year as a player and coach, Crosetti holds the Yankee record in terms of service with the club. He also holds the record for appearing (as player and coach) in the most World Series games- 122- and has appeared on 23 of the 29 Yankee pennant winning clubs.
Crosetti was [one of the] great fielding shortstop of his era. He played with the club from 1932 to 1948 and has been third base coach ever since."
-1968 New York Yankees Press-Radio-TV Guide
JIM HEGAN (Coach)
"Catching and bullpen coach Jim Hegan was a classic type receiver who played 18 years in the major leagues, most of them with the Cleveland Indians. He was named to the All-Star team in 1950 and 1951. His son, Mike, is on the Yankee roster. Jim has been bullpen coach since 1960."
-The New York Yankees Official 1968 Yearbook
"Hegan was a classic receiver who played 18 years in the major leagues. He was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1950 and 1951.
His son, Mike, is on the Yankee roster. Nicknamed 'Burt' due to his resemblance to movie actor Burt Lancaster, Jim has been bullpen coach with the Yankees since 1960."
-1968 New York Yankees Press-Radio-TV Guide
JIM TURNER (Coach)
"Jim Turner first became pitching coach with the Yankees under Casey Stengel in 1949. Under Jim's tutelage were such Yankee greats as Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi, Whitey Ford and Eddie Lopat - in an era of five consecutive World Championships (1949-1953). Turner went to Cincinnati in 1960 and returned to the Yankees in 1966. As a player, Jim spent 14 years in the minors and didn't make the majors until he was 33. He then had nine years in the big leagues, completing his active career with the Yanks."
-The New York Yankees Official 1968 Yearbook
"Turner first became pitching coach for the Yankees under Casey Stengel in 1949. He stayed until 1959, [his time with the club including] the Yankee era of five consecutive World Championships (1949-53). Under Jim's tutelage were such Yankee pitching greats as Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi, Whitey Ford and Eddie Lopat. He went to Cincinnati in 1961 and returned to the Yankees in 1966.
As a player, Jim spent 14 years in the minor leagues and didn't reach the majors until he was 33. He lasted nine years and concluded his active career with the Yankees.
Jim is nicknamed 'Milkman' due to his off-season occupation in his early years."
-1968 New York Yankees Press-Radio-TV Guide
WHITEY FORD (Coach)
"The greatest pitcher in Yankee history, Whitey Ford becomes first base coach after his retirement last year. Whitey's record of 236 wins - more than any other Yankee hurler - and a winning percentage of .690 put him above all pitchers with 200 or more major league victories.
In the 1960, '61 and '62 World Series, he pitched a record total of 32.2 consecutive scoreless innings. In 1961 he won the Cy Young Award as the major league pitcher of the year. Whitey appeared in 22 World Series games and pitched 146 innings for a Series ERA of 2.71. His lifetime ERA is 2.76."
-The New York Yankees Official 1968 Yearbook
"Whitey returns to Yankee Stadium as first base coach after retiring on May 30, 1967. The winningest pitcher in Yankee history with 236 wins, the other Yankee records he holds include most shutouts (45), strikeouts (1,956), highest winning percentage, season- .862 with a 25-4 mark in 1961, most consecutive wins- 14 in 1961, also held by Jack Chesbro in 1904; most shutouts, season- eight, also held by Russell Ford in 1910; most strikeouts, game- 15 on April 22, 1959, also held by Bob Shawkey on September 27, 1919.
Other awards and records include: the Cy Young Award in 1961; career winning percentage of .690 (236-106), highest ever achieved by a pitcher with 200 or more victories since 1900; most World Series wins (10), starts (22), strikeouts (94) and 33.2 consecutive scoreless innings of pitching in World Series play in 1960, 1961 and 1962.
Whitey served as a special minor league pitching coach and special scout during the last half of the 1967 season."
-1968 New York Yankees Press-Radio-TV Guide
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