1976 Profile: Sparky Lyle

1976 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Memories are built on the dramatic career of Sparky Lyle. When fans voted for the Most Memorable Yankee Moments last year, Sparky's relief heroics received more than a couple of votes. Fans who remember all of his triumphs, with all the pageantry accompanying them, yearn for those olden days.
Those days may be ready to return. Sparky, who admitted to a real inner thrill pitching in Yankee Stadium, is home again. He thrives on the challenge presented to a relief pitcher, and as one of the best specialists in the business (Sparky has never started a game), there's no reason to feel he won't return to that heroic form.
A Lyle entry into a game can be a thing of beauty, but naturally, the result is the key. And Lyle has had so many favorable and exciting results go his way in four Yankee seasons, he's ready to conquer new worlds in a new Stadium with the old flair."

-The New York Yankees Official 1976 Yearbook

"One of the top relievers in baseball history, the Baseball Encyclopedia gives him 152 career saves. Sparky has won or saved 111 games for the Yankees in four seasons. He set an American League record in 1972 with 35 saves, broken a year later by John Hiller. He has a brilliant 2.52 career ERA and has twice been under 2.00 as a Yankee. His trade to the Yankees in spring training of 1972 was one of the best deals the Yankees ever made.
Sparky is the master of the hard slider, and is a great intimidator on the mound, with psychology an important part of his game. He is a picture of confidence, with a flair for the dramatic.
Lyle was first signed by Baltimore in 1964 after they saw him strike out 31 batters in a 17-inning sandlot game after never having played high school ball. The Red Sox drafted him a year later and he made the majors in 1967, contributing to a Red Sox pennant in his first year; an injury kept him out of the '67 World Series, however.
Named Fireman of the Year in 1972 by the Sporting News and Most Cooperative by New York press photographers in 1973, Sparky finished third in the league in the MVP voting in '72 and was a member of the '73 All-Star team. He holds Yankee records for most games (66) and most games finished (59), both set in 1974.
Sparky made his fewest appearances since 1968 last year, and it was reflected by a rather disappointing year for Lyle, although his arm remained sound. Although he picked up only 11 relief points, he still tied for the club lead.
Sparky enjoys photography and is a free spirit who will attempt almost anything. He takes his pitching quite seriously, however, and all his efforts in 1976 will be pointed towards a comeback. He has admitted a genuine thrill pitching in Yankee Stadium, and will seek to recapture that magic of the 'Pomp and Circumstance' days when the organist's tune accompanied his regal entrances from the bullpen."

-1976 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide

"One of the best relievers ever, Lyle entered the season seventh on the all-time save list (with 152, most since the new rule went into effect in 1969). He holds the American League record for consecutive relief appearances without a start.
Sparky was Fireman of the Year for New York in 1972 and set Yankee records with 66 games and 59 games finished in 1974. Even though last year was an off-year, he was still the hardest pitcher in the A.L. to hit a home run off (one in 89 innings). Sparky was A.L. Player of the Week June 14-20, 1976 when he appeared in all six of the Yankees' games (all road wins), saved four and allowed no runs or walks in 10.2 innings.
This is Sparky's second All-Star Game."

-1976 All-Star Game official program