RALPH HOUK (Manager)
"It is ironic that Ralph Houk, who has experienced more fruitful seasons in the past, became a prime candidate for Manager of the Year in 1968. (He won the award in 1961, after leading the Yankees to the first of three consecutive pennants.) But last year, working with a lot less than he had in his salad years, Ralph somehow guided the Yankees to a fifth-place finish, four games above .500. At one point, in fact, he got them as high as third place following a ten-game winning streak in September. Still, the strong showing rocked the faith of the fans and experts who had predicted a finish in the lower echelons of the league, where the Yanks had dropped in recent years.
But Houk was every bit the manager last year. He experimented with players of unknown quality, patched his lineup here and there, and got the maximum out of his personnel. He even went so far as to employ Gene Michael and Rocky Colavito as pitchers briefly, and returned Tom Tresh to shortstop.
The Major has been an integral part of the Yankee organization since he joined them as a reserve catcher in 1947, following a distinguished hitch in the Army in World War II. He became successively a coach, manager and general manager before returning to the dugout in 1966. As he proved last year, he does his best work from the seat of his pants on the bench."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1969
"Despite the years in which he won pennants (1961,1962,1963) and two World Championships and was Manager of the Year, Ralph Houk turned in the greatest job of his career in 1968. Most sports writers are in agreement on that. He brought the club from ninth to fifth place, confounded the experts, and confirmed his belief in his players with a 10-game winning streak that put the club in third place in September. How the Yankees could be ahead of Boston and Cleveland was more than baseball writers could understand. The only answer was that the 'resident genius' of Yankee Stadium was working wonders as never before.
If, as Houk claimed, 'they did it all themselves,' there was some truth in that. The resurgence generated a tremendous wave of excitement among fans everywhere and then players began to believe what Ralph had always believed about them. Despite the handicap of having players shuttling back and forth to military service, Houk brought the club to the first division. He had said more than once that this was possible, and the press had considered him an optimist. But Ralph proved once again that he's a hard-core realist. There was no denying that the team ended ahead of Oakland, a club with some great young players.
The Major, as he's called by his close associates, signed with the Yankees in 1939 as a catcher. With the Rangers in World War II, he won the Silver Star for 'gallantry in action' in the Battle of the Bulge and advanced to the rank of Major. As a player until 1954, he learned what makes players tick, what they feel when they're in a slump, and what it takes to bring out the best in them. As a result, he has their complete confidence and loyalty.
Newcomer Lindy McDaniel says it this way: 'Ralph Houk was something new in managers for me. Houk has a way about him.'
Houk's leadership qualities were early recognized by Lee MacPhail, who sent him to the Denver farm club in 1955 as player-manager. Ralph led them to victory in the American Association playoffs and the Little World Series before returning as a coach on Casey Stengel's staff in 1958.
Houk succeeded Stengel in 1961 and after winning three straight pennants and two World Series, moved up to General Manager and helped Yogi Berra win the pennant in '64. But when problems developed in early 1966, Ralph was glad to get back into uniform and take command on the field. That is where the Major is at his best - on the firing line. Ralph Houk has been in baseball 31 years - all of them with the Yankees - and makes his home in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Today, Ralph is managing 'the youngest and fastest Yankee team ever.' It should be mighty interesting."
-The New York Yankees Official 1969 Yearbook
"His managerial qualities were appreciated more in 1968 than at any other time in his career, including his pennant-winning years of 1961, 1962 and 1963. He pulled the Yankees from a ninth-place finish in 1967 to fifth in 1968, and had them as high as 3rd place as late as September 17 despite a club batting average of .214, lowest in the league.
Ralph has run the full cycle [of jobs in baseball]. He signed with the Yanks as a catcher in 1939 and has been with the organization ever since. He was a player until 1954, also serving as bullpen coach in 1953 and '54. He became a manager in the Yankee farm system in 1955, then first base coach of the Yanks in 1958, manager in 1961, general manager in 1964 and manager again in 1966.
He was a war hero during World War II, advancing to the rank of major, hence his nickname."
-1969 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
COACHES
"Perhaps the most newsworthy roster change of the recent off-season was the departure of Frank Crosetti as a Yankee coach. Crow, who had occupied the third base coach's box since 1949 and had spent a total of 37 uninterrupted seasons with the Yankees, has gone to Seattle as a coach. His place is being taken by Dick Howser, the veteran American League infielder who spent the past two seasons with the club.
Across the diamond in the first base box will be Elston Howard, returning to Yankee Stadium after a meritorious playing career which concluded with the Boston Red Sox last season.
Jim Turner is back as pitching coach and Jim Hegan runs the bullpen."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1969
JIM TURNER (Coach)
"Jim Turner, now dean of Yankee coaches, first served under Casey Stengel in 1949, handling such great pitchers as Whitey Ford, Vic Raschi, Allie Reynolds and Eddie Lopat when the Yankees were winning five consecutive World Championships (1949-1953). Jim did not break into the majors until he was 33, but then had nine years in the big leagues and completed his active career with the Yanks. The Yankee pitching staff led the club last year. Ralph Houk believes this was due in no small measure to the efforts of a wise and patient pitching coach."
-The New York Yankees Official 1969 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."
-1969 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
ELSTON HOWARD (Coach)
"This great catcher for over a decade performed for the Yankees. A major contributor to the great teams of the late '50s and early '60's, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player award in 1963. Ellie was a great clutch performer and excelled in many World Series games. He was the kind of player championship teams are made of. This year, he will be returning to the Yankees, but now, at the age of forty, he will be returning as a coach. Good Luck Elston; you were one of the best."
-Robert Kalich, The Baseball Rating Handbook
"Elston Howard returned to the Yankees this year as first base coach. After an outstanding career as a Yankee, he was sent to the Red Sox in '67, making a major contribution when the Sox won the pennant on the last day of the year. The Yankees had told him that when his playing days were over they wanted to discuss his rejoining the organization. In 1969 he will be first base coach and will assist in developing the hitters. His return is warmly welcomed."
-The New York Yankees Official 1969 Yearbook
"Ellie returns home. An outstanding player with the Yankees for 13 seasons, the MVP award winner of 1963 returns to the Yankees from the Red Sox as first base coach. Elston went to the Sox in August 1967 and finished his playing career with them last year.
He was purchased by the Yankees from the Kansas City Monarchs on July 24, 1950. An outfielder, Howard was switched to catching by the Yanks, despite the incumbent Yogi Berra. He reached the parent club in 1955 and played the outfield and first base as well as catching, making the All-Star team nine times. Elston appeared in ten World Series, nine for the Yankees and one for the Red Sox, and won the Babe Ruth Award (top World Series player) in 1958.
A .274 lifetime batter, Elston was regarded as one of the finest receivers around. He led American League catchers in fielding in 1962, 1963 and 1964, the first years he played exclusively as a catcher. Before that he shared the catching duties with Berra, and after that he hurt his arm, injuring it during spring training of 1965.
Elston was the first black player in the Yankee organization and the first black coach in the American League."
-1969 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
DICK HOWSER (Coach)
"This year utility infielder Dick Howser replaces Frank Crosetti on the third base line. After 37 years in a Yankee uniform, Crosetti has joined Seattle on the West Coast so he can closer to his home in Stockton, California. Howser, despite a broken arm, made a big contribution to the team in the '67 and '68 seasons. Named American League Rookie of the Year in 1961, Howser is capable and intelligent. He will handle his new assignment well."
-The New York Yankees Official 1969 Yearbook
"Although he spent just two years with the Yankees as a utility infielder and pinch hitter, Howser impressed manager Ralph Houk enough to be tapped to succeed the Yankees' old standby third base coach, Frank Crosetti.
Howser reached the major leagues as a shortstop in 1961 with the A's and was named the American League's Rookie of the Year. He was also selected to the All-Star team that year."
-1969 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
JIM HEGAN (Coach)
"Jim Hegan has been the bullpen and catching coach since 1960. Behind the plate for 18 years in the major leagues, Jim played in the World Series of '48 and '54 with the Cleveland Indians. In 1950 and 1951 he was named to the All-Star team. Jim makes his contributions quietly and effectively throughout the year."
-The New York Yankees Official 1969 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 Seattle roster. Jim has been bullpen coach with the Yankees since 1960."
-1969 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
No comments:
Post a Comment