1969 Profile: Tom Tresh

"Seven years ago Tom Tresh was the AL's Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star squad at shortstop. Last season, after spending five years in the Yankee outfield and undergoing knee surgery, he was returned to his original infield position. The Yanks had a hole there and needed someone to fill it. Tresh said he'd be happier back at his old post, and probably more productive, too. So Ralph Houk made the rather daring (Was it desperate?) move and Tom acquitted himself satisfactorily.
He batted a consistent and rather meager .195 and led the team in strikeouts with 97, but he did provide the occasional long ball, belting 11 homers and driving in 52 runs. His glove was just adequate, as he committed 31 errors and finished 12th among shortstops, none of which is reminiscent of the young and powerful switch-hitter who batted .279 and socked 26 homers only three years earlier. Some baseball observers feel Tom may be trying for the long ball too much. Others think he's just an old 30."

-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1969

"Tommy Tresh came to the Yankees as a shortstop in 1962 and was American League Rookie of the Year with a .286 batting average, 20 home runs and 93 RBI's. He made the All-Star squad in '62 and '63. Switched to the outfield in 1963, Tom hit three homers in one game in 1965. A switch-hitter, he has hit a homer right-handed and left-handed in the same game three times.
When the team ran into trouble last year, he moved back to shortstop. Although he had not been at the position for six years, he covered it very well and had a fine fielding season. While his offensive play suffered - he had a career low of .195 - Tresh made an outstanding contribution at shortstop.
Tom is a wonderful competitor, always in top physical shape. He worked out all winter at his Mt. Pleasant, Michigan home. Tom is the son of the late White Sox catcher Mike Tresh. He is working toward his degree in education and teaches in the off-season."

-The New York Yankees Official 1969 Yearbook

"Although coming off two rather poor seasons at the plate, Tom, with his versatility and all-around abilities as a ballplayer, is still a definite asset to the Yanks. His recent troubles began in spring training of 1967, when he strained ligaments and cartilage in his right knee in the second game of the exhibition schedule on March 11. He eventually underwent surgery, on September 19, to have the cartilage on the outside of the knee removed. Tom began last season playing left field, but was switched to shortstop on May 17, where he remained for the rest of the year.
He came to the Yankees as a shortstop in 1962 and won the James P. Dawson Award (top rookie in camp), was selected to the All-Star team and also was named the American League's Rookie of the Year. He went to the outfield [on August 7, 1962] when Tony Kubek returned from the service, and made the All-Star squad again in 1963. Tommy also played 64 games at third base in 1966.
A switch-hitter, he has hit a home run right-handed and left-handed in the same game three times, second only to Mantle's 11 times. He also hit three homers in one game on June 6, 1965.
Tom is the son of the late major league catcher Mike Tresh."

-1969 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide