1976 Profile: Mickey Rivers

1976 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Robber Baron. He's the leader of the gang, with speed to burn.
'I feel I can steal 100 bases if I stay healthy,' he says. Mickey was obtained from the Angels in the Bobby Bonds deal. He made a big splash in '74 with a .285 average with 30 steals and hit .284 last year. He calls Rod Carew for batting tips.
'The Mick will win a batting title within the next five years,' says Whitey Herzog. Mickey does everything with a flair. Asked how many bases he expected to steal last year, he replied, 'I'm going to double my limit.'
Mickey circles the bases in 13.4 seconds, and is 3.1 going from home to first."

-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1976 Edition

"Time to dig out the old Yankee record books, folks, for here comes Mickey Rivers. One of the longest standing records, most stolen bases in one season, is now in danger. Fritz Maisel of the 1914 Yankees stole 74. Mickey Rivers of the 1975 Angels stole 70; and now, he's a Yankee, and also in danger are the season records of Ty Cobb and Lou Brock.
A key man in the big trade that sent Bobby Bonds to California, Mickey will run like no Yankee has run in memory. And Rivers is not just a speedster, but also a .284 hitter with fine defensive ability in the outfield; in short, a player who can really make things happen on the Yankees, and he's mighty glad to have the opportunity.
So if you enjoy keeping score, learn how to record a stolen base, for this man's about to set some sparks flying in Yankee Stadium. Welcome to New York, Mick."

-The New York Yankees Official 1976 Yearbook

"Mickey might be the fastest man in all of baseball. His 70 stolen bases last season were 30 better than runner-up Claudell Washington, and he was caught only 16 times. He helped the Angels to a record 220 steals last season. Mickey poses a real threat to one of the oldest Yankee records - 74 stolen bases in one season (Fritz Maisel, 1914), and is also considered by some a threat to Ty Cobb's American League record of 96.
As a left-hand hitter, he beats out scores of ground balls each year. Mickey hit over .300 in all five of his minor league seasons.
Rivers grew up in Miami as a great Yankee fan, rooting for Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris - he's called Mickey because of that loyalty. He attended Northwestern High in Miami, lettering in baseball, football, basketball and track. He attended Miami-Dade Community College North and signed with the Braves in 1969.
Mickey has led the league in triples in each of the last two years, although he missed the last five weeks of the 1974 season with a broken wrist."

-1976 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide

"Perhaps the fastest man in baseball, Rivers led the American League in stolen bases last year with 70 and has led the league in triples two years in a row. He led the Angels to 220 steals last year, the highest total by any club in 59 years.
Mickey beats out many high choppers. Despite his speed, he has a funny, slow, bent-over walk.
Nicknamed 'Mickey' due to his childhood love of the Yankees and Mickey Mantle, this is his first All-Star Game."

-1976 All-Star Game official program