"Mick the Quick. He changed the Yankee offense with his speed and set the tone of the team early, and led the Yanks at bat with .312, seventh best in the league. Mickey stole 43 bases in 50 attempts, then stopped running because of leg hurts.
'I feel I can steal 100 bases if I stay healthy,' he says. Born in Miami, Mickey became a Yankee in a trade for Bobby Bonds that was roundly criticized. But his speed and defensive skills silenced the critics.
A flashy dresser and a clubhouse comic, his high-pitched voice is easily distinguished.
'I like to keep the guys feeling good,' he says. 'I don't know what it is, I can be sitting there with 1,000 guys around, and they'll always pick me out.'"
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1977 Edition
"A leadoff hitter should be the man who gets things started. In Mickey Rivers, the Yankees feel they have the best in the game. Mickey is one of the most exciting players in baseball and ignited numerous rallies with his potent bat and blazing speed.
Rivers led the team in hitting in his first Yankee season, and every time he hit a single it seemed like he ended up on second base. That could be because of his lightning speed on the base paths which enabled him to gather numerous infield hits and lead the club in stolen bases. Mick the Quick's daring baserunning has upset scores of pitchers and catchers and paved the way for many big innings.
Rivers finished the season in the top ten in eight offensive categories, but his speed is also an asset in roaming center field, where he has perhaps more range than any other outfielder in the majors.
If his Yankee debut season is any indication of the future, look for Mickey Rivers to run the opposition into the ground."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
"Mickey Rivers made his impact felt on the Yankees in his first season with the club. He became the man who ignited things, swinging a potent bat, and running with daring on the bases.
His 43 stolen bases were the most by any Yankee since George Stirnweiss stole 55 in 1944, and he was caught only seven times. He was the league's base stealing champion in 1975, stealing 70 in 86 attempts.
Mickey hit over .300 in each of his five minor league seasons, and topped it for the first time in his big league career last season, leading the Yanks in hitting. Not only did he beat out scores of infield hits, but he delivered 47 extra-base hits and was 10th in the league in total bases. He was also 7th in hitting, 3rd in runs, 5th in hits, 9th in doubles, 6th in triples, 7th in stolen bases and had a career high of eight home runs. Yet he's a free swinger who walked only 12 times in 1976.
Mickey is a product of 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, then was dealt to the Angels in a deal which Hoyt Wilhelm to the Braves.
Rivers has won two triples titles in the American League, including 1974 when he missed five weeks with a broken wrist. For his career, Mick the Quick has stolen 169 bases in 212 attempts, a .797 percentage of success.
His great debut season with the Yanks earned Mick a third place finish in the MVP voting. Considered a good bet to break Fritz Maisel's all-time Yankee record of 74 steals in one season, Mickey's 20-game hitting streak last season was the longest by a Yankee since 1942."
-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
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