"The Yankees searched long and hard for a left-handed relief pitcher since the close of last season, and they sought no one more than Boston's young veteran, Al 'Sparky' Lyle. And so it was with great pleasure that the Yankees managed to get Sparky in the closing week of spring training in a trade for the versatile Danny Cater.
Sparky has won 22 and saved 63 in just four and one-half major league seasons, used strictly in relief. The mod twenty-seven-year-old, born in Dubois, Pennsylvania, was originally signed by the Orioles but drafted by Boston in 1964, and arrived on the major league scene in time for the Red Sox' 1967 pennant. Since then he's been a bullpen mainstay, and the Yankees plan to make good use of his talents in 1972."
-The New York Yankees Official 1972 Yearbook
"Great Yankee teams of the past have boasted relief stars such as Wilcy Moore, Johnny Murphy, Joe Page, Ryne Duren and Luis Arroyo, to mention the stalwarts of the Yankee bullpen. Now meet Albert W. 'Sparky' Lyle.
The 27-year-old southpaw from Danvers, Massachusetts was directly involved in 13 of the Yankees' first 19 victories this season. Of that total, he won two, saved eleven. All last season, the Yankee bullpen produced only a dozen saves. On the morning of June 4, Sparky had a wondrous earned run average of 0.95. By that date he had pitched 28.1 innings of relief in 15 appearances for the Yankees.
Acquired late in spring training from the Red Sox in exchange for Danny Cater, Lyle became bullpen chief immediately and Manager Houk was able to protect leads provided by his competent starting staff. The fans don't pick the All-Star pitchers, but Manager Earl Weaver will have to give a long look in Sparky Lyle's direction."
-1972 New York Yankees Scorecard and Official Program
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