RALPH HOUK (Manager)
"The reason Ralph Houk was honored last year as Manager of the Year in the American League, instead of Earl Weaver of the Orioles, is very clear. Weaver simply led a superior ball club of established stars to its second consecutive pennant. Houk manipulated and experimented less talented personnel to a surprising second-place finish in the AL East. (The Yankees were really the fourth-best team in the majors since they won four more games than Pittsburgh.) Ralph had to contend with many disappointments - Mel Stottlemyre's struggle to pitch .500 ball, Jerry Kenney's and Curt Blefary's complete fizzle at bat, and Bobby Murcer's inconsistent hitting. But by wringing the most out of talented newcomers, wisely handling the Yankee bullpen and rallying the club from a July slump, Ralph shaped a contending ball club. And right on schedule, too.
The Yankees are entering the fifth year of their five-year plan, which set 1971 as the year in which the former Bronx Bombers would be serious contenders. What makes the task possible for Houk is that he has the respect and confidence of his players - plus sound baseball knowledge and long experience, as a player and manager.
Ralph has spent his entire career with the Yankees, first as a reserve catcher, then as a coach and then as manager. He was honored as Manager of the Year in 1961, his first season of managing in the majors, after winning the pennant and World Series. In 1964 Ralph left the playing field to become the Yanks' general manager, a job at which he was less successful, but returned to uniform in 1966 and has been leading the team up the steps ever since."
-Brenda Zanger and Dick Kaplan, Major League Baseball 1971
"One of the most respected managers in the game, the 51-year-old Houk, out of Lawrence, Kansas, starts the sixth year of his second term as Yankee manager.
Boosted to the front office in 1964 after winning three consecutive pennants, Ralph stepped down as general manager in 1966, replacing Johnny Keane as field manager. He was a journeyman catcher who spent most of his playing time with the Yankees in the bullpen warming up the pitchers. Ralph began his managerial career in the Yanks' chain at Denver in 1955.
He has a fiery temper and is a spectacular dirt kicker. Ralph served in he European theatre during World War II and received several commendations for bravery, advancing to the rank of major.
An avid fisherman, he lives in Florida."
-Joe Gergen, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1971 Edition
"Manager of the Year in 1970, the second time in his career, Ralph Houk takes his place among the all-time great Yankee managers: Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel. He received the award in 1961 in his first year as a youthful manager, when the Yankees had one of their greatest teams. But never has Houk's skill been more apparent than last year when he molded a young team, seasoned with a few experienced players from other clubs, into a second place finisher with 93 wins - more victories than any major league club other than Baltimore, Cincinnati and Minnesota. When some players had disappointing years, it took masterful skill in manipulating players and developing newcomers to bring the club home second in the tough A.L. East Division.
Clearly evident last season was Houk's great touch in handling pitchers. The bullpen had a very productive year; Lindy McDaniel had 29 saves, Jack Aker had 16. But the big 'save' was made by Ralph when he built the confidence of two pitchers who had not reached maturity. In mid-August, Ralph inserted Mike Kekich and Steve Kline into the regular rotation and both measured up to the faith the manager had in them. Both turned in several good efforts in a row and as a result, the Yankees started this season much stronger in pitching. The confidence Ralph inspires in men like Bahnsen and Stottlemyre helped them mature rapidly. Last year it helped make Fritz Peterson a 20-game winner.
In this space last year, Ralph predicted that such Yankees as Thurman Munson, John Ellis, Frank Baker and Jim Lyttle would figure prominently in the season ahead. That surprised everyone but the Yankees themselves. Munson walked off with Rookie of the Year honors, Ellis proved himself an explosive hitter, Baker's better bat was added to his acknowledged defensive skills, and Jim Lyttle came off the bench to hit .310. It proved again that the resident manager at Yankee Stadium says a lot in a few words.
Houk signed on with the Yankees in 1939 as a catcher. Awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in the Battle of the Bulge, the Major, as he's called by friends, was sent to the Denver farm club in 1955 as player-manager. He led them to victory in the American Association playoffs and to the Little World Series championship before returning as a coach on Casey Stengel's staff in 1958.
Ralph succeeded Stengel in 1961, won three straight pennants and two World Series, moved up to General Manager and helped Yogi Berra win the pennant in 1964. When the club ran into dark days in 1966, Ralph was eager to get back on the field - where he is most at home.
When Ralph learned that he had been named Manager of the Year, his comment was characteristic of the man: 'If the Yankees deserve it, it belongs to the ballplayers and not to me.'
Since every man on the club says he owes a major part of the progress he's made to his manager, Ralph may be right; there's a lot of him in every Yankee."
-The New York Yankees Official 1971 Yearbook
"Houk was named American League Manager of the Year in 1970 for the second time in his career (also in 1961) ... to take his place among the great Yankee managers- Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel. He led the Yanks to pennants in his first three years of managing in 1961, 1962 and 1963.
Ralph has run the full cycle of jobs in baseball, all with the Yankee organization. He signed with them in 1939 and remained as an active player until 1954. He became a minor league manager at Denver in 1955, then returned to the Yanks as first base coach in 1958.
He was named Yankee manager in 1961, then was elevated to General Manager in 1964; Ralph returned to the field, however, in May 1966.
Ralph was a war hero during World War II in the European Theatre, advancing to the rank of major in the 9th Armored Division. He is an avid fisherman."
-1971 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
COACHES
"The Yankees have a five-man coaching staff since last year's return to uniform of Mickey Mantle. Mantle, who retired as a player in 1969, found he missed the game (and the money?) and became a first base coach, alternating with Elston Howard, another former Yankee star. Peppery Dick Howser returns as third base coach for the third consecutive year. The bullpen is run again by former catcher Jim Hegan, who has held the job since 1960, and the pitching coach is Jim Turner, who is in his second tour of duty as a Yankee coach. He was with the team from 1949 to 1959 and returned in 1966 after five years with the Reds."
-Brenda Zanger and Dick Kaplan, Major League Baseball 1971
"Manager Ralph Houk meets daily, going over plans and details, with his coaching staff: pitching coach Jim Turner, third base signalman and infield coach Dick Howser, bullpen and catching coach Jim Hegan and Elston Howard, the first base coach and batting instructor. Turner has been a Yankee coach since 1966 and served in a similar capacity from 1949 through 1959. Hegan has served continuously since 1960, and Howard and Howser have been Yankee coaches since 1969, following the close of their playing careers."
-1971 New York Yankees Scorecard and Official Program
JIM TURNER (Coach)
"Pitching coach Jim Turner's close association with Ralph Houk dates from 1946 when Turner was manager of the Beaumont, Texas club and Houk was catching for Beaumont following his return from World War II. As a coach, Turner has remarkable staying power. The dean of the staff is in his seventeenth year as a Yankee and has brought along such great pitchers as Whitey Ford, Vic Raschi, Allie Reynolds, Eddie Lopat, Mel Stottlemyre, Fritz Peterson and Stan Bahnsen.
Jim broke into the majors as a 'senior citizen' of 33 and had nine years in the big leagues before he wound up his active career as a Yankee. At 67, the man who handled the pitchers when the Yankees won five consecutive World Championships (between 1949 and 1953) can still work wonders. For the last two years, Yankee pitching has been second only to Baltimore in the A.L. East."
-The New York Yankees Official 1971 Yearbook
"Turner first became pitching coach for the Yankees under Casey Stengel in 1949 and stayed until 1959, 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 ... and lately, Fritz Peterson. Jim went to Cincinnati in 1961 and returned as Yankee pitching coach in 1966.
As a player, he spent 14 years in the minor leagues and didn't reach the majors until he was 33. Jim lasted nine years and concluded his active career with the Yankees. Players refer to him as 'The Colonel.'"
-1971 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
JIM HEGAN (Coach)
"Jim Hegan, in his twelfth year as bullpen and catching coach, came to the Yankees after 18 years behind the plate. He played in the World Series of 1948 and 1954 with the Cleveland Indians and was named to the All-Star team in 1950 and 1951. His son, Mike, a long-time Yankee prospect is now a first baseman-outfielder with the Milwaukee Brewers."
-The New York Yankees Official 1971 Yearbook
"Entering his 12th season as a Yankee coach, making him dean of the staff, Hegan was a classic receiver who played 18 years in the major leagues. He made the American League All-Star team twice, in 1950 and 1951 with Cleveland.
His son, Mike, plays for the Milwaukee Brewers."
-1971 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
ELSTON HOWARD (Coach)
"Elston Howard, whose distinguished career with the Yankees included winning the American League's Most Valuable Player award in 1963, followed Yogi Berra in the long line of great Yankee catchers. Early in his career, Ellie played some outfield to utilize his strong bat while Yogi was still at the top of his game. Ellie went on to become an American League All-Star 10 times. He closed his active career helping the Red Sox to the 1967 pennant.
Now in his third year as a Yankee coach, Ellie also works for WLIB as a sports commentator."
-The New York Yankees Official 1971 Yearbook
"An outstanding player with the Yankee for 13 seasons, Howard was MVP of the American League in 1963. Originally signed as an outfielder, he was converted to a catcher where he spent most of his time, although he played the outfield as well as first base.
Elston made the All-Star team nine times and played in ten World Series, nine with the Yankees and one with the Red Sox. He won the Babe Ruth Award (top World Series player) in 1958. A .274 lifetime hitter, Elston was regarded as one of the top receivers around and led American League catchers in fielding in 1962, 1963 and 1964. The Red Sox acquired him for their pennant drive of 1967.
Elston became the first black player on the Yankees and the first black coach in the American League."
-1971 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
DICK HOWSER (Coach)
"Dick Howser retired as a Yankee utility infielder - and a very good one - three years ago. He was American League Rookie of the Year in 1961 with Kansas City and joined the Yankees in 1967. Tough breaks, including a broken arm, handicapped him but he was a brainy player and the ideal choice for the third base coaching job.
As the signal-caller at third, Dick flashes Ralph Houk's signs and the players read him on and off the field because he's a youthful 33."
-The New York Yankees Official 1971 Yearbook
"Entering his third year as third base coach, Howser was selected by Houk to join his staff for the 1969 season after spending two seasons with the Yanks as a utility infielder and pinch hitter.
Dick reached the major leagues as a shortstop with Kansas City in 1961 and was named Rookie of the Year as well as being selected to the All-Star team. He was an outstanding baserunner."
-1971 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
MICKEY MANTLE (Special Instructor)
"The Magnificent Yankee returned to the playing field as a special coach for the Yanks on August 30, 1970 ... he had been retired since the close of the 1968 season. He remains the most popular figure in the game today, receiving applause whenever and wherever he is introduced.
His 18 years with the Yankees produced one of the greatest careers in baseball history. He has taken his place among Yankee immortals Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio. This became official when the Mick's famous number 7 was retired on Mickey Mantle Day- June 8, 1969.
He ranks high among all-time Yankees in many offensive categories: third in runs scored (1,677), third in hits (2,415), fourth in doubles (344), second in home runs (536) and fourth in RBIs (1,509). Mickey played in more games (2,401) and had more at-bats (8,102) than any Yankee ever. The most powerful switch-hitter the game has ever produced, he hit home runs from both sides of the plate in one game ten times, a major league record, and hit 18 home runs in World Series play, another record.
Mickey was MVP in the American League in 1956, 1957 and 1962, and winner of the Hickok Belt as the Top Professional Athlete of 1956. He's acclaimed by fans and players as one of the most courageous and competitive players ever to set foot on the diamond as he accomplished these feats despite being plagued by injuries throughout his entire career."
-1971 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
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