"Long recognized as one of baseball's finest defensive outfielders, Paul Blair enters his second season in Yankee pinstripes. Paul continued his brilliant fielding for the Yanks, and his spectacular circus catches and strong throwing arm brought the Stadium faithful to their feet many times during the season. That kind of fielding has earned Paul eight Gold Glove awards.
But Blair also contributed many clutch hits to the Yankee cause. It was his ninth-inning single that beat the Red Sox in an important game at the Stadium in June. In addition, his 12th inning single drove in the winning run in the opening game of the 1977 World Series. Paul also had a key late-inning hit in the rally that beat the Royals for the American League pennant.
Paul is no stranger to postseason play, as he has now played on six division winners, five pennant winners and three World Championship teams. The Yanks hope 1978 finds Paul Blair adding to those totals."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Long recognized as one of baseball's finest defensive outfielders, Paul is in his second year as a Yankee after spending 14 seasons with the Orioles. He played on five division winners, four pennant winners and two World Championship clubs with the Orioles, and then felt right at home as a member of the World Champion Yankees in his first year with them.
Paul did a brilliant job filling in as an outfielder for the Yanks, and also proved to be a clutch batter, coming up with six game-winning hits in 1977, including a dramatic ninth inning single to beat the Red Sox in an important game at the Stadium in June. He started the fifth game of the ALCS against the Royals, and his 12th inning single gave the Yanks victory in the opening game of the World Series.
A member of two All-Star teams and winner of eight Gold Glove awards (1967, 1969-75), Paul was originally signed by the Mets out of Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. The Orioles drafted him on November 26, 1962, one of the best drafts ever made at the winter meetings.
By 1964 he had made his big league debut, and by 1966 was a key man in the Orioles' first World Series, as the Birds swept the Dodgers. Paul won Game Three of that Series 1-0 with a home run, and the next day made a great catch in the eighth inning to preserve another 1-0 win for the Series sweep. He led the Orioles in hitting in the 1970 World Series and tied the record for most hits in a five-game Series (9).
Blair won the first ALCS game ever with a 12th inning bunt as the Orioles bested the Twins in 1969. He had a record setting five hits in the final of game 3 of the series with five RBIs.
Paul suffered a serious beaning in May 1970 when he was struck by a pitch by California's Ken Tatum, causing eye and facial injuries. He tried to bat left-handed in 1971 but abandoned the idea, and in 1973 had a therapeutic hypnotic session in Baltimore. He had good years at bat in 1973 and 1974 and shared the Most Valuable Oriole award with Mike Cuellar in 1974.
Blair has good speed and has hit as many as 26 homers in a single season (1969), and hit three homers in one game (1970). He's also a good basketball player.
Paul is an accomplished public speaker, and after making his home in the New York area this past winter did many banquets and clinics."
-1978 New York Yankees Media Guide
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