1975 Profile: Chris Chambliss

"Hitting is Chris Chambliss' game, and he proved it in the heat of the pennant race in his first Yankee season by putting together an 18-game hitting streak, longest on the Yankees in 14 seasons.
The American League's Rookie of the Year in 1971, Chris reached the majors after only one minor league season, following a brilliant career at UCLA. He led the American Association in hitting in 1970, and was believed to be the first rookie to ever win a Triple-A batting crown.
As far as the Yankees were concerned, he was the key man involved in the seven-player deal between the Yanks and the Indians in April 1974. Chris didn't get off to a fast start, but as is the case with all 'professional hitters,' given the opportunity, he finally came around. The Yankees continue to expect big news from Chris' bat.
Chambliss, 26, is the son of a Navy chaplain. He was born in Dayton, Ohio and moved around quite a bit as a boy, but hopes to settle down in New York as a member of the Yankees."

-The New York Yankees Official 1975 Yearbook

"Noted as a strong finisher, Chris came on strong at the end of the 1974 season to provide a big bat in the pennant drive. His 18-game hitting streak from August 30 to September 21 was the longest by a Yankee since Tony Kubek's 19 in 1961.
In one year at UCLA, Chris hit .340 with 15 homers and 45 RBIs, the latter two figures both school records. He was the Most Valuable Player in the National Baseball Congress tournament in 1969 with a .583 average. He went right to Triple-A ball upon signing with the Indians and led the American Association in hitting - he was believed to be the first rookie to lead a Triple-A circuit in hitting. Chris was the American League's Rookie of the Year in 1971, knocking Ken Harrelson out of the first base job in Cleveland after only 118 minor league games. In his first major league game, he hit a 2-run single to beat the White Sox 2-1.
The son of a Navy chaplain, Chris played Little League ball at Camp Pendleton, California. He played football, basketball and baseball at Oceanside High School in California. He spent some of his youth in St. Louis, and Arlene Henley, now Mrs. Elston Howard, was his babysitter. Chris' wife wrote a sports column for a Cleveland newspaper prior to the trade to New York."

-1975 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide