1971 Profile: Jake Gibbs

"Enjoying the best year of his career in 1970, Jake Gibbs' career took a strange turn when he became the backup catcher to Rookie of the Year Thurman Munson.
It was a year ago that Jake made his decision to stay in baseball. The Yankees assured him he had a future with the club despite the emergence of the young receiver from Ohio. Although he could have remained at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi, as a full-time coach in football, Jake remained with the Yankees ... and both he and the club are happy with that decision. Last year he hit a career high .301. Although he played only 49 games, Jake drove in the winning run seven times. He hit a career high of eight homers, two in one game. With Munson hitting .302, no other club in baseball can boast two receivers both batting over .300.
Gibbs calls a good game, is a fine defensive catcher and is always in shape and ready to play. In the off-season, Jake keeps his hand in football as coach of the quarterbacks at Ole Miss, and his outstanding protege, Archie Manning, is considered a top pro prospect. Jake himself was an All-American at Mississippi in both football (as a quarterback) and in baseball (as a third baseman), both in 1960 and again in baseball in '61.
A fine team man of exceptional intelligence, Jake hopes to continue his fine contributions to Yankee fortunes in 1971 and in the years ahead."

-The New York Yankees Official 1971 Yearbook

"Jake enjoyed the finest year of his baseball career serving as the Yankees' backup catcher behind Rookie of the Year Thurman Munson. He is widely rated as the best reserve catcher in the major leagues. Jake hit .301, his highest mark since entering organized baseball in 1961 and despite appearing in only 49 games, set a career high for himself in homers (8); he had two round-trippers in one game on August 11. Jake's hits came at opportune moments as he knocked in the deciding run seven times. The only players who had more of these decisive hits were Danny Cater and Roy White.
Originally signed as a third baseman off the University of Mississippi campus in 1961, he was converted to a catcher in 1963. Jake was an All-American in two sports at Ole Miss- baseball in 1960 and 1961 and football in 1960. He was a quarterback and drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
Jake still keeps his hand in football, as he serves as an assistant coach during the off-season at his alma mater where he aided All-American Archie Manning."

-1971 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide