1977 New York Yankees Manager and Coaches Profiles

BILLY MARTIN (Manager)
1977 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR (Manager)
"In his first full season, Billy returned the Yankees to the glorious heights he knew as a player for them. He was rewarded with a three-year contract, through 1979, although he never lasted three full seasons in three previous jobs.
'I'm a one-year manager when the front office interferes,' he says. 'When they don't interfere, I'm a 20-year manager.'
'He's the best manager in the game,' says his boss George Steinbrenner.
'He borders on genius,' says his other boss, Gretchen Martin. Billy was not surprised to be the AP's Manager of the Year.
'I did the best job,' he said."

-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1977 Edition

"The manager of the Yankees, Billy Martin, delivered on his promise to make things happen in 1976. He was just that type of player as a Yankee second baseman under Casey Stengel in the '50's, when he was considered to be a player who got the most out of his ability.
A great admirer of Stengel's, Martin dedicated the season to his memory and did not let the Ol' Professor down, as he led the Yankees to their first pennant in 12 years. And lead he did! A master of the rules, the fiery skipper runs each game the way he wants to and sets the tempo much more than most managers.
Billy's not only a great tactician, but you get the impression that he would like to be there playing his heart out in the late innings of a tie game. With that kind of enthusiasm and knowledge, Billy Martin brings out the best in each player."

-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook

"Billy joined Huggins, McCarthy, Harris, Stengel, Houk and Berra as pennant-winning Yankee managers in 1976. For his efforts, coming in his first full season at the Yankee helm, he was named Manager of the Year by the Associated Press, an honor he also captured in 1974 while with Texas. The heir to the great tradition of Yankee managers, Billy wore a black armband last year in memory of Casey Stengel, his Yankee manager from 1950-1957, when Billy was the spark plug of the Yankee infield and a member of six pennant winners.
Always considered a player who got the most of his ability and one who symbolized the magic of the Yankee uniform, Billy used to come alive at World Series time, as his lifetime .333 average proves. He made a famous catch of a short pop hit by Jackie Robinson to save the 1952 Series and batted .500 in the '53 Classic to win the Babe Ruth Award. Billy was a member of the 1956 All-Star team.
Martin graduated from Berkley High School in 1946 and signed with Oakland of the Pacific Coast League. He played for Stengel there in 1947 and 1948, the Oaks winning two pennants. In 1950 he played for Kansas City (American Association), and along with Jackie Jensen, was purchased by the Yankees later that year. A utility man in 1950 and '51, Billy was a regular until he was traded in 1957, with time out for military service (all of 1954 and most of 1955). He was a close friend of Mickey Mantle throughout his career and is today.
After his playing career ended, Billy scouted for Minnesota (1962-1964) and coached for the Twins (1965-1967). He began managing in 1968 in the minors and has found success with each of the four American League teams he's managed. The Yankees signed him on August 2, 1975.
Considered a master of the rules and a fiery, exciting leader, Billy runs the game and sets the tempo of a team more than most managers. He enjoys American history, with a special interest in the Civil War."

-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide

"The manager of the Yankees, Billy Martin, delivered on his promise to make things happen in 1976. He was just that type of player as a Yankee second baseman under Casey Stengel in the '50s, when he was considered to be a player who got the most out of his ability.
A great admirer of Stengel's, Martin dedicated the season to his memory and did not let the Ol' Perfessor down, as he led the Yanks to their first pennant in 12 years. And lead he did! A master of the rules, the fiery skipper runs each game the way he wants to and sets the tempo much more than most managers.
Billy's not only a great tactician, but you get the impression that he would like to be there playing his heart out in the late innings of a tie game. With that kind of enthusiasm and knowledge, Billy Martin brings out the best in each player."

-1977 New York Yankees Scorebook & Official Magazine

"A colorful and aggressive manager, Martin piloted the Yankees to their 30th pennant last fall. He was named AP Manager of the Year, an honor he also won with Texas in 1974.
A Casey Stengel protege, Billy also played on six championship clubs under the beloved pilot. He had a lifetime .333 average for World Series play and won the Babe Ruth Award as the star of the 1953 Series when he hit .500. Billy made a famous catch of a Jackie Robinson popup in the 1952 Classic.
Billy was a 1956 All-Star. He managed the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers before joining the Yankees on August 2, 1975."

-1977 All-Star Game Official Program

MARTIN WINS 700TH
"Billy Martin recorded his 700th career victory as a manager during the September pennant drive. Billy has piloted four division winners and two World Series teams in his eight major league seasons."

-1977 World Series Official Program


ELSTON HOWARD (Coach)
"When Thurman Munson won the MVP award last year, he became the first Yankee to do so since Ellie won it in 1963. One of the most popular players ever to wear a Yankee uniform, Ellie enters his ninth season as a Yankee coach.
A nine-time American League All-Star, Ellie won the Babe Ruth Award in the 1958 World Series for his great play in the outfield, but he is really remembered as a link in the Yankees' great catching chain of Dickey-Berra-Howard-Munson."

-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook

"Popular Elston Howard is now in his ninth year as Yankee first base and batting coach. The assignment immediately followed a distinguished career in which he played for nine pennant-winning Yankee teams and one in Boston.
Nine times he was an American League All-Star, and he won the Most Valuable Player award in 1963. He batted .348 in 1961 when he was one of six Yankees who hit 20 or more home runs. Elston won the Babe Ruth Award in 1958 for his outfield heroics in the World Series. He won two Gold Glove awards as a catcher and made only one error in 1964.
Elston was the first black player on the Yankees and the first black coach in the American League."

-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide

FATHER OF THE YEAR ELSTON HOWARD
"Yankee coach Elston Howard was presented with a plaque as the New Jersey Father of the Year. Ellie and his wife Arlene are the parents of Elston Jr. (21), Cheryl (18) and Karen (17). The presentation was made to Ellie by the New Jersey Men's Wear Retailers Association."

-1977 New York Yankees Scorebook & Official Magazine


DICK HOWSER (Coach)
"The Yanks' signalman at third base for the last eight years, since he succeeded the legendary Frank Crosetti as Yankee third base coach in 1969, Dick is constantly involved in keeping the Yanks' jack-rabbit runners moving along the base paths.
The 1961 Rookie of the Year with the A's, when he stole 37 bases, Dick also saw action with the Indians and Yankees."

-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook

"Dick succeeded the legendary Frank Crosetti as Yankee third base coach in 1969, after an eight-year career as an infielder.
He was named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1961 when he stole 37 bases for the A's and made the All-Star team. The Yankees obtained him from Cleveland on December 20, 1966 for minor league pitcher Gil Downs, and Howser spent two years as a utility infielder until an injury sidelined him.
A close of friend of movie star Burt Reynolds, with whom he attended both high school and college, Dick managed the Yankees Instructional League team in Florida for two years."

-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide


YOGI BERRA (Coach)
"When the Yankees last won a pennant in 1964, Yogi Berra was their manager. His return to the Yankees 12 years later coincided with another Yankee pennant last season, not surprising to those who know that good fortune follows this Hall of Famer around.
Yogi participated in his 18th World Series last year, and the greatest home run hitting catcher in baseball history holds a host of World Series records. One of the most recognizable people in America, the Yankees are certainly glad that this three-time MVP returned to them last year."

-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook

"One of America's most beloved and recognized celebrities, his return to the Yankees after 12 years coincided with a Yankee pennant, not surprising to those who know that good fortune follows this Hall of Famer around. It marked his 18th World Series, a record 14 as a player, two as a Yankee coach, one as a Met coach, one as Yankee manager, and one as Met manager.
Yogi holds Series records for games, at-bats, hits, singles and consecutive errorless games (30). A three-time Most Valuable Player (1951,1954,1955) and 15 times an All-Star, his 313 homers are the most ever hit by a catcher. His 30 homers in one season (twice) is also a record for catchers. Yogi handled a record 950 consecutive chances without an error (1957-1959).
The Yankees retired his (and Bill Dickey's) uniform number 8 in 1972 but brought it back for his return last season. His son Dale is an infielder in the Pirate organization, and his sons Larry Jr. and Tim played pro baseball and pro football briefly."

-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide


BOBBY COX (Coach)
"Bobby Cox moves up to the Yankee coaching staff this year after managing in the Yankee farm system the last six years.
Last year Bobby guided the Syracuse Chiefs to the Governor's Cup as International League champions. The Yanks' regular third baseman in 1968, Bobby was also named to the Topps Rookie All-Star team that year."

-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook

"Bobby moves up to the Yankee coaching staff this season after managing in the Yankee farm system for the last six years. The last four of them were at Syracuse, a team he led to the Governor's Cup as International League champions in 1976.
He's a former third baseman who was a regular on the 1968 Yankees, losing his job the following year when his roommate, Bobby Murcer, opened the season at third.
First signed by the Dodgers in 1960, Bobby led the Pioneer League with a .337 average in 1963. The Yankees got him from the Braves in November 1967 in a trade for Bob Tillman and Dale Roberts. Bobby beat Mike Ferraro out of the third base job in '68 after Ferraro had won the Dawson Award in spring training, and made the Topps Rookie All-Star team that year.
He's no relation to ex-Dodger Billy Cox."

-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide


CLOYD BOYER (Coach)
"Cloyd Boyer, who spent part of the 1975 season as the Yankees' acting pitching coach, takes over on his own this season. In the Yankee organization since 1962, Cloyd has served as a scout, minor league manager, and minor league pitching coach. Last year he was the pitching coach for the International League champ Syracuse Chiefs.
Cloyd is the oldest of the seven baseball playing Boyer brothers, the most famous of whom were the Cardinals' Ken and the Yankees' Clete."

-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook

"Cloyd Boyer joins the Yankees as pitching coach for 1977, replacing Bob Lemon, who became manager of the White Sox.
Boyer held the position in an 'acting' assignment for half the 1975 season after Whitey Ford became ill. He's been in the Yankee organization since 1962 as a scout, minor league manager, roving minor league pitching coach, and most recently, Syracuse pitching coach as the Yankees switched to full-time coaches on each level; Syracuse won the International League playoffs last year.
Known as 'C.B.' long before CB radios became popular, Cloyd is the oldest of seven Boyer brothers who played pro ball, the most famous of whom were Ken of the Cardinals and Clete of the Yankees.
Cloyd broke into pro ball in 1945 and reached the majors with the Cardinals in 1949. He won two strikeout titles in the minor leagues and is a Navy veteran (1945-1946). After concluding his big league career with Kansas City in 1955, Cloyd hurled in the minors until 1961, his last five years with Indianapolis."

-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide