"He's the first relief pitcher in American League history (and second in the majors) to win the Cy Young Award. Mr. Cool on the mound.
'I'm thrilled with this award not only for myself but for all relief pitchers. Maybe they will get more recognition from now on.' With a record 621 major league appearances without a start, Sparky has 201 career saves, 160 in six seasons with the Yankees.
Born in Dubois, Pennsylvania, he's a notorious practical joker and a super flake. Sparky was married during the season and rode from the church to the reception in a fire engine.
'I've only had a sore arm once in my life and it was in my right arm.'"
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1978 Edition
"Sparky Lyle has long been regarded as one of baseball's all-time top relief pitchers. The 1977 season only confirmed that feeling.
The hard-working left-hander accomplished in 1977 what no other American League relief pitcher had done before - he captured the coveted Cy Young Award, symbolic of the best pitcher in the league. And what a year he had! Sparky led the league in games (72), won 13 games with a 2.17 ERA, and contributed 26 saves. He set personal highs in games, innings and wins. He also got the win in the final two playoff games with K.C. and in the World Series opener.
Sparky's not only a successful pitcher; he's a successful man. His fans have stayed with him through good times and bad, and they still love him in Boston, where he broke in during 1967. It's rare when a player captures the hearts of his fans so well, but then it's rare to find a player with Sparky's personality and flair for life.
Lyle has a lifetime ERA of 2.44, one of the best in baseball history. In this age of specialization, he has done it all in relief. Having never started a game, Sparky's 621 consecutive games without a start have made him the all-time pure relief specialist in baseball history. That, more than anything else, is a tribute to the man who has been the leader of the Yankee bullpen for six years, and who may well be the best ever at what he does."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
1977 MOST VALUABLE YANKEE (6th in American League MVP voting)
"Who could question Sparky's contributions to the Yankees' pennant drive. Certainly not the baseball writers who voted him the Cy Young Award as the American League's outstanding pitcher - the first time a reliever was ever cited for the honor in the AL.
Winning the Cy Young probably cut into his support for the MVP award as well, but Sparky was indeed the outstanding relief pitcher in baseball, leading the league in appearances (72). In addition to his 2.17 earned run average, he saved 26 and won 13 to personally account for 39 of the Yankees' 100 wins."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
APRIL 1977 YANKEE OF THE MONTH
"At a time when the Yankees were trying to get untracked and their pitching staff was upset by the injury to Catfish Hunter and the lack of consistency from the other starters, it was Lyle who kept things from getting out of hand. The easy-going tobacco-chewing southpaw saved five games in the month of April and won two others, thus accounting directly toward seven of the Yanks' first 10 wins."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Sparky Lyle is one of baseball's premier relief pitchers of all time. He received his crowning glory last year by being named the American League's Cy Young Award winner, becoming the first relief pitcher in the American League ever to win the award.
Sparky has pitched in 621 games without ever making a start, making him the all-time pure relief specialist in baseball. He picked up his 200th career save on September 25 against Toronto, and now has 201, more than any other active relief pitcher in baseball. Since 1969, when the new save rule was instituted, Sparky has picked up 185 and has picked up 132 saves in his six years with the Yankees. Lyle is now in the all-time top ten of games pitched by a Yankee (seventh with 361). His career ERA of 2.44 is one of baseball's best.
Sparky led the American League in appearances (72) and had a 2.17 ERA last year, and was consistent from start to finish. He recorded saves in five straight appearances from June 2 to June 11 and had a stretch of seven saves and four wins in 13 appearances from August 17 to September 11. His ERA remained below 2.00 for most of the year, and he did not allow a home run from August 6 to the end of the season, a total of 25 games. Lyle's longest outing of the year was 6.2 innings on May 17 at Oakland, getting credit for the Yanks' 5-2, 15-inning win. He set personal highs for wins (13), innings pitched (137) and appearances, and was part of four combined Yankee shutouts last year. His 72 appearances last year also extended his own record, and he also has the Yankee mark for games finished with 60, also last year.
Sparky won two games in the playoffs, including the decisive fifth game, and won Game One of the World Series. His three straight postseason wins fell one short of the record held by Catfish Hunter.
Sparky joined the Yankees in 1972 and had a magnificent year, coming up with a record 35 saves, along with nine wins and a 1.92 ERA. He was named the American League Fireman of the Year and finished third in the MVP voting. He entered games regally to the tune Pomp and Circumstance and was given the bullpen car at the end of the season. Lyle was named Most Cooperative by New York Press Photographers in 1973. He also led the league in saves in 1976 with 23 and has been a member of three All-Star teams, including 1977.
Sparky was named the relief pitcher on the All-Time Yankee team in a special poll of sportswriters last year. In addition to the Cy Young Award, he was named the American League Pitcher of the Year by Baseball Bulletin, was the relief pitcher on the UPI American League All-Star team, and was named the New Jersey Pro Athlete of the Year by the New Jersey Sportswriters Association. Lyle also finished sixth in the MVP voting, highest among pitchers.
Sparky's main pitch is a slider, and he will always challenge a hitter. A free spirit with a love of life, well liked by all who know him, he's a student of photography, and one of Sparky's pictures was used on the cover of the Yankee program last year. He also has an interest in antique cars."
-1978 New York Yankees Media Guide
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