"Medich was probably the best rookie pitcher in the league last year. He came out of the Eastern League to be the Yanks' top starter at 14-9, 2.95. After losing 1-0 to Boston's young Rogelio Moret on July 4, pitching coach Jim Turner said, 'I wouldn't trade Medich for six Morets.'
George came up the year before in September but had to leave in the middle of a pennant race because he had to go back to medical school. He's nicknamed 'Doc' because he is at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School studying to be an orthopedic surgeon. He was the team doctor at West Haven in 1972, where he operated in fine style - 11-3, 1.44."
-Peter Gammons, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1974 Edition
"George 'Doc' Medich arrived on the Yankee scene last spring and won a job during spring training. He wound up winning 14 games, posting the fifth-best earned run average in the American League, and earning high consideration for the Rookie Pitcher of the Year award.
Quite a first-year achievement. But only surprising in the fact that Big George did it by jumping from Double-A ball in one season, following an 11-3 record at West Haven in 1972 with a 1.44 ERA.
George is in the University of Pittsburgh graduate school of medicine during the winters, working his way towards a medical degree while baseball finances his studies. This is a great arrangement for all concerned - George, the Yankees, and the medical profession, for he's a serious young man who's certain to attain great heights in anything he puts his mind to.
Perhaps the most remarkable factor in his rookie season was his improvement as the year progressed. As he developed his confidence and gained knowledge of opposing hitters, Doc's record improved and the league did not catch up with him."
-The New York Yankees Official 1974 Yearbook
"One of the bright spots of the 1973 Yankee season was the performance of George 'Doc' Medich. An especially pleasing aspect of Doc's season was that as the season became longer, Doc became stronger. He compiled a sterling won-loss mark of 14-9, being 7-3 the last two months of the season, highlighted by a 5-hit, 3-0 shutout over Detroit in his last start on September 29. Doc was a top candidate for Rookie of the Year honors in the American League, finishing second in the voting. He finished fifth among the ERA leaders with a 2.87 mark.
An amazing young man with the ability to combine two top competitive careers, medicine and baseball, Doc plans to be an orthopedic surgeon when his playing days are over. An inspiration to him in these endeavors has been Dr. Bobby Brown, the former Yankee star who is currently a heart specialist in Fort Worth, Texas.
Medich is an all-around athlete, having lettered in baseball, football and basketball in high school, and baseball and football in college."
-1974 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
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