1972 Profile: Jack Aker

"Only three pitchers have appeared in more games than Jack Aker without ever getting a starting assignment. That's not a sign of no confidence. It is a sign of total confidence in the man's ability to come into a game under intense pressure and save it.

In his own quiet way, Jack is making a place among the great relief pitchers of his era. The Fireman of the Year winner in 1966 with Kansas City, Jack recalls his major league debut, a game in which he arrived at the park in the sixth inning, entered the game in the ninth, and with the bases loaded and no one out, retired Harmon Killebrew on a short pop and Bob Allison on a double play. Jack thought there was nothing to this game of baseball.

Aker had a 2.57 ERA last year - a very respectable ERA, but a case of figures not telling the whole story. The season was not up to the past heroics of the Chief, and he intends to come back with a big year and restore faith in the Yankee bullpen.

The sidearming right-hander has added another duty to his files in 1972 - he is the American League player representative, in addition to being the Yankee player rep. A busy man on the field, Jack will be busy off as well this year, but the veteran is highly capable of the dual task."

-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook

"Jack had the best year of any Yankee bullpenner last season, compiling the lowest ERA (2.57) and tied with Lindy McDaniel for the most saves (4), in addition to having four wins. He's one of the veteran relievers in the game, having never started during his seven-year career, covering 355 games.

He began his professional career as an outfielder but quickly switched to pitching, and then relief pitching and was named the Fireman of the Year in the American League in 1966 while with KC. He's had three straight productive years since coming to the Yankees in 1969 (8-4 with 11 saves that year, 4-2 while picking up 16 saves in 1970), and had the lowest ERA on the club last year, allowing an earned run in just 13 of his 41 appearances.

Jack, one of the most popular players on the club, is of Indian extraction, his mother being of the Pottawotimic tribe ... hence his nickname 'Chief.' His ambition after his playing days are over is to become a manager. He is both Yankee and American League player representative."

-1972 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide