"Rawly Eastwick hopes his latest change in scenery turns out better than the last. In two and a half seasons with Cincinnati, Rawly fashioned 18 wins, 55 saves and an ERA below 2.50. Then came a mid-1977 trade to St. Louis, and a falling off from previous form.
The Yankees are looking for the 6-3, 180-pound South Jersey native to regain the touch that enabled him to win the National League's Fireman of the Year award in 1976 and tie for the league lead in saves in 1975. That hope is based on Rawly's competitive nature and ability to perform well in the clutch, as evidenced by his perfect 4-0 record in Championship and World Series competition.
Only 27, the personable right-hander should have a lot of good seasons to look forward to. And the fans at Yankee Stadium can look forward to another ace in an already formidable bullpen."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"The 1976 Fireman of the Year in the National League with the Cincinnati Reds, Eastwick spent last year with Cincinnati and St. Louis and came up with 11 saves, although troubled most of the year with contract problems.
While winning the Fireman award in '76, Rawly appeared in 71 games, coming up with 26 saves to go along with an 11-5 record and a 2.08 ERA. He finished strong that season - in his last 35 appearances, covering 49 innings, he gave up only seven earned runs and had a 6-2 record, with 17 saves and a 1.29 ERA. He yielded only three home runs in 108 innings pitched that year and was named to UPI's National League All-Star team.
Used primarily as a relief specialist throughout his professional career, which started back in 1969 at Bradenton, Florida, Rawly started his first major league game last year with St. Louis. In 1972 at Three Rivers, he led the Eastern League in games (66) and saves (20).
Eastwick made his major league debut in 1974, appearing in eight games for the Reds with two saves. In 1975 he tied for the National League lead in saves with 22, the same year his new bullpen partner Rich Gossage led the American League in saves with 26. He has a combined 4-0 mark in Championship and World Series competition.
Rawly was a high school star at Haddonfield (New Jersey) Memorial High School, where he was All-State and second-team All-American in baseball in 1969. He recorded 27 high school career wins, including six 1-hitters and twelve 2-hitters, while striking out 245 batters in 148 innings pitched. Rawly was also a wrestling district champion (1968-1969) and runner-up the regional champ in 1969."
-1978 New York Yankees Media Guide
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