1977 Profile: Dick Tidrow

"Just hand Dick Tidrow the ball and watch him do a job for you. Want a short relief man? Dick tied Sparky Lyle for relief points in 1975, his first year as a relief pitcher. Want a long relief man? How about his 10 2/3 innings of shutout relief against the Twins last August. Want a starter? Dick was the Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1972 and was brilliant in his two starts for the Yankees last summer.
Playfully known as 'Dirt' by his teammates, the gruff-looking right-hander is all business on the mound. The Yankees obtained him from Cleveland in April of 1974, and he's been an important cog in the pitching staff ever since.
Dick is 6'4", weighs 230 pounds, and is a native of San Francisco, currently residing in Kansas City. He had the distinction of being the winning pitcher in the first game played in the 'new' Yankee Stadium last year - a sign of the good things to come for both Dick and the Yankees."

-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook

"Dick Tidrow was a key man in the Yankee pennant drive of 1976. He remained a dependable reliever, but also had success in his two starts. He beat Milwaukee on June 27, hurling seven innings, allowing two runs, eight hits and one walk, with seven strikeouts; he had a no-decision against Kansas City on July 6, allowing two runs, seven hits and one walk, with five strikeouts in 7.2 innings. His season highlight, however, was a relief stint against Minnesota on August 25, which wound up being a 10.2 inning outing, in which he allowed no runs, four hits with no walks, and four strikeouts. His standing ovation as he departed saw his ERA drop from 2.81 to 2.41 that evening. Dick was also the winning pitcher (in relief) in the first game at the 'new' Yankee Stadium.
The Indians drafted him in January of 1967, but military duty limited his progress for two years. He was the Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1972 while with Cleveland. Dick won 28 games for the Indians in his first two years. The Yankees obtained him in a big trade with the Indians in April of 1974, a trade considered very controversial at the time and quite one-sided today.
He was a starter until 1975, when Catfish Hunter joined the Yankees and Dick found himself in the bullpen. He tied Sparky Lyle for the club lead in relief points in 1975.
Dick's teammates playfully call him 'Dirt' for his rather gruff appearance."

-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide