MICHAEL BURKE (President)
"As these young Yankees gain experience, backed by your good support, we move nearer our goal."
-Michael Burke, The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"Totally involved with the Yankees he serves as President, Mike Burke gives leadership to the organization. He has a single ambition: to involve the Yankees in a World Series."
-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"Michael Burke has been President of the Yankees since September 19, 1966. Prior to that date, he served as Vice-President of Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. and was directly involved in negotiations to purchase the club in 1964 when CBS acquired the Yankees.
Born in Enfield, Connecticut, Burke spent his early years in Ireland and received his secondary schooling in Hartford, Connecticut. He's a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he was an outstanding halfback on the Penn grid squad. Burke was offered a pro contract by Bert Bell of the Eagles but stayed with the club for only a short time.
Commissioned an Ensign in the Navy, he was assigned to duty with General Wild Bill Donovan's Office of Strategic Services. Burke's first clandestine mission was to subvert the Italian fleet, and he was awarded the Silver Star 'for gallantry.' Then in 1944 he joined the French resistance movement and was awarded the Navy Cross 'for heroism.'
In the early '50s, he served as an advisor to the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany, John J. McCloy. Burke was later General Manager of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, then joined CBS in 1956. He was President of CBS Europe with headquarters in London, returning to New York in 1962 as Vice-President in charge of developing new areas of business for the broadcasting company.
His full time since September 1966 has been spent with the Yankees. Burke also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center. He resides in Manhattan."
-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
LEE MACPHAIL (Executive Vice-President and General Manager)
"As Executive Vice-President and General Manager, Lee MacPhail assumes the responsibility of developing the Yankees to pennant contention. He helped build the Yankee champions of the 40s and 50s, went to Baltimore to build that organization and returned here to rebuild Yankee fortunes."
-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"MacPhail is in his second tour of duty with the Yankees, the first occurring in 1948-58 when he served as Co-Farm Director, then Director of Player Personnel.
He went to Baltimore for the 1959 season as General Manager and spent seven years there, serving primarily as club President. Lee helped develop the Oriole World Championship winner of 1966, which was basically the team that also won pennants in 1969, '70 and '71. His trade for Frank Robinson ranks as one of baseball's best. He served as Baseball Administrator in the Commissioner's Office in 1966, the year he was named Executive of the Year by the Sporting News. Returning to the Yankees in 1967, Lee has teamed with Michael Burke and Ralph Houk to restore a last-place club into one of pennant contention.
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, he's the son of former Yankee and Dodger President Larry MacPhail. A graduate of Swarthmore College, Lee began his baseball career as Business Manager of the Reading club in 1941 and also served as General Manager of Toronto, Business Manager of the Kansas City Blues, General Manager at Kansas City and the Yankees Midwest Farm Director.
He served as a Lieutenant in the Navy during World War II and currently resides in Hartsdale, New York."
-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
RALPH HOUK (Manager)
"The players think Ralph Houk is the greatest manager in the world, and no wonder. He doesn't easily lose faith in their ability, seldom criticizes them in public and if he has something to say, he will call them into his private office for a dressing down.
However, what is considered Houk's strength, according to his charges, could also be his weakness. At times he goes a little too long with a player. A prime example was his handling of reliever Lindy McDaniel in '71. McDaniel was way off his form from the beginning of the season, but Houk still continued to use him and it proved costly as the fireman couldn't do the job. Always the optimist, Houk said of the Yankees' ultimate fourth-place finish, 'I think our club came a lot further - as far as individual performances - than we did the previous year when we finished second.'
Since the Yankees were expected to be fighting for second again last year, only Houk could see the year as a success. But that must come from having been a member of the Yankee organization for his entire career. He started off as a catcher, became a coach, managed in the minors, and in 1961 replaced Casey Stengel as Yankee manager. That year the team won the World Series and Houk was named Manager of the Year. He stayed on as field manager until 1964 when he moved upstairs and became an unsuccessful general manager. In 1966 Ralph put on his uniform again and ever since has been seeking the formula which will make the Yankees a championship team."
-Brenda Zanger, Major League Baseball 1972
"The Major - he held that rank during World War II and was a hero in the European Theater. Houk has tremendous devotion from his players; it's been said they'd run through walls for him if he asked them.
Starting his seventh year in his second stretch as Yankee manager, Ralph won three straight American League championships and two World Series from 1961-63 before moving into the front office as general manager. He returned to the field as skipper in 1966 after the dynasty had fallen apart and has presided over the rebuilding job along with GM Lee MacPhail and President Michael Burke. Burke is totally committed to him and calls him the best manager in baseball.
Born in Lawrence, Kansas, Ralph was a third-string catcher as a player and got into only 91 games in seven seasons with the Yankees. He has a fiery temper and is one of the best dirt-kickers in the majors."
-Hal Bock, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1972 Edition
"The Major moves into his tenth season as Yankee manager. The first nine produced three pennants, two world championships, two Manager of the Year Awards and, needless to say, the respect and admiration of everyone in baseball.
But Ralph Houk is not content to sit back on his laurels. The last few years have been disappointing to him, but they have not diminished his skill in handling his young players, nor dimmed the optimism so characteristic of him. Each year, as the team fills out with young talent, Ralph moves closer to his immediate goal: another Yankee pennant.
Houk's been a Yankee since 1939, with time out for gallant combat service in World War II. Few men have roots so deep in the organization. Yankee pride and a sense of Yankee history have become part of his chemistry.
He communicates that pride to the young men who play for him - and swear by him."
-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"Recognized as one of the top skippers in the major leagues, Ralph has been named Manager of the Year twice, in 1970 and 1961. He has spent his entire career in the Yankee organization dating back to 1939, when he spurned a college football scholarship to Kansas U. and signed a Class D contract with Neosha of the Arkansas-Missouri League.
Ralph ended his playing career at the end of the 1954 season and began his managing career in '55 as pilot of the Yankees' Denver club. He returned to the parent club in 1958 as a first base coach where he remained until he was named Casey Stengel's successor in 1961 and promptly won the pennant and World Series. He repeated this feat in 1962, and won the AL flag for the third straight time in 1963. 1964 found him in the 'swivel chair' job of general manager. He returned to the field again in May 1966.
Ralph, known as a great leader of men, advanced to the rank of Major during World War II while a Ranger in the 9th Armored Division in the European Theatre, gaining a field commission. His avocation outside of baseball is fishing."
-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
COACHES
"The Yankees will go again this year with the same coaching staff. Jim Turner is entering is 18th season as Yankee pitching coach. He's tutored some of the best like Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi and Whitey Ford. Jim Hegan returns as bullpen coach and Dick Howser and Elston Howard will be back on the basepaths."
-Brenda Zanger, Major League Baseball 1972
JIM TURNER (Coach)
"Yankee pitching coach Jim Turner celebrates an unprecedented feat in 1972. Jim is the first man in pro baseball history to wear a uniform for 50 consecutive seasons.
Jim has been Yankee pitching coach in two stages - 1949-1959 and 1966 to the present, developing such stars as Reynolds, Raschi, Lopat, Ford, Stottlemyre and Peterson."
-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"Jim is entering his 50th consecutive year in uniform. No one in the history of the game can match this feat. Others have been in baseball for 50 consecutive years, but not in uniform.
He first became pitching coach for the Yankees under Casey Stengel in 1949 and remained 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 and Mel Stottlemyre. Jim went to Cincinnati in 1961 and returned as Yankee pitching coach in 1966.
He spent 14 years in the minor leagues as a player and was 33 by the time he finally reached the major leagues with the Boston Braves. He won 20 games his rookie season, however, and lasted nine years overall as a player, concluding his career with the Yankees in 1945. The players refer to the seasoned veteran as the 'Colonel.' "
-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
"Yankee pitching coach Jim Turner celebrates his 50th consecutive year in a professional baseball uniform this season. He is believed to be the first man ever to be uniformed in baseball for 50 straight years.
Connie Mack and Casey Stengel are among those who have spent more than a half-century each in baseball, but neither was in uniform all of those seasons.
The Yankee pitching mentor broke in as a pitcher in 1923, finally reaching the majors with the old Boston Braves at the age of 33. He has been Yankee pitching coach from 1949 through '59 and again since 1966. He completed his major league pitching career in Yankee pinstripes in 1945. The Colonel has been a major league pitching coach or a minor league manager since retiring as an active hurler."
-1972 New York Yankees Scorecard and Official Program
DICK HOWSER (Coach)
"One of baseball's youngest (and most able) coaches is Yankee third base coach Dick Howser, a former Athletic, Indian and Yankee infielder and the American League Rookie of the Year in 1961. Dick has been calling the signals for Yankee batters since 1969, and his duties make him one of the first arrivals at the ballpark every day, as well as one of the hardest workers in uniform."
-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"Dick enters his fourth year as third-base coach. He was selected by Ralph Houk to join his staff for the 1969 season after spending two seasons with the Yanks as a utility infielder and pinch hitter. He reached the major leagues with Kansas City in 1961 as a shortstop and was named Rookie of the Year as well as being selected to the All-Star team."
-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
JIM HEGAN (Coach)
"That number 44 fans see with his back to the field in the Yankee bullpen is coach Jim Hegan, now in his 13th season with the Yanks. In his great career with Cleveland, Jim caught more 20-game winners than any catcher in history and imparts his knowledge daily to the Yankees. Jim's son mark, a former Yank, is now with Oakland."
-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"Jim enters his 13th season as a Yankee coach, making him dean of the staff. A classic receiver who played 18 years in the major leagues, he handled one of the greatest pitching staffs ever assembled- Feller, Lemon, Garcia and Wynn while at Cleveland in the late '40s and early '50s- valuable experience for his present assignment of bullpen coach. Early Wynn, newly elected Hall of Famer who pitched in the major leagues for 23 years, named Hegan as his finest receiver.
An All-Star twice, in 1950 and 1951 with the Cleveland Indians, Jim has a son, Mike, who signed with the Yankees and is currently playing with the Oakland A's."
-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
ELSTON HOWARD (Coach)
"One of the all-time great Yankees still wears his famous number 32 as first base and batting coach of the Yankees. During his career, Ellie won the Most Valuable Player award and the Babe Ruth Award and played in ten World Series and nine All-Star Games. A year-round resident of the New York area for many years, Ellie has become one of the most popular players to ever wear the Yankee pinstripes."
-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"Although he hasn't played for four years, first base coach Elston Howard is still one of the most recognized and popular Yankees among baseball fans all over the league. An outstanding Yankee for 13 seasons, he was AL MVP in 1963 and won the Babe Ruth Award in 1958 (top World Series player).
Originally an outfielder when the Yankees acquired him from the Kansas City Monarchs, Ellie was converted into a catcher and led that position in fielding in 1962, 1963 and 1964. An All-Star nine times, Ellie played on ten World Series clubs- nine times with the Yankees and once with the Red Sox, who acquired him in August 1967. He was the first black player with the Yankees and the first black coach in the American League."
-1972 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 one of the most popular figures 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."
-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
WHITEY FORD (Special Instructor)
"Whitey is the winningest pitcher in Yankee history with 236, and his winning percentage of .690 is topped only by ex-Yankee Spud Chandler on the all-time list. His 1,956 strikeouts is also a Yankee record, and Whitey holds World Series records for total Series, games pitched, innings, victories, strikeouts and consecutive shutout innings (33 2/3). Winner of the Cy Young Award in 1961 and American League Pitcher of the Year in 1955, 1961 and 1963, he hurled two consecutive 1-hitters in 1955. Whitey was always considered one of the top pitchers in clutch situations in baseball.
Since elbow problems halted his career in 1967, Whitey has served the Yankees as a minor league instructor, spring training instructor, major league coach and broadcaster, in addition to private business ventures. His son Eddie plays infield for coach Bobby Richardson at the University of South Carolina. Whitey will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 1973, and would become the 20th Yankee enshrined if elected."
-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
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