ELROD HENDRICKS
"Ellie Hendricks is a veteran of 17 professional seasons and is best remembered as the Baltimore catcher during their championship years. Upon joining the Yankees in mid-1976 (as part of a 10-man deal with the Orioles), he helped provide valuable depth at the catching position and as a pinch hitter.
The oldest of all the Yankees, Hendricks is a veteran of five American League Championship Series and four World Series. In addition, Ellie has become the second leading home run hitter in Puerto Rican League history while keeping in shape in the winter months. Ticketed for spot duty similar to that performed last year, Ellie Hendricks is always ready when called upon."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
"Ellie Hendricks is the popular veteran of 17 major league seasons, best remembered as the catcher on four division champion Baltimore teams. He has a swing well tailored to Yankee Stadium, and his three home runs in 26 games for the Yankees last year were timely contributions. His pinch-hit in the '76 Championship Series brought his lifetime average in ALCS play to .333.
This native of the Virgin Islands went to the Orioles from the Angels in the major league draft of 1967 and was with the Cubs briefly in 1972. Ellie hit .400 on the Orioles' tour of Japan in 1971. He plays winter ball in Puerto Rico each year and is the second leading home run hitter in Puerto Rican League history.
Ellie was involved in the famous home plate argument in the 1970 World Series with Bernie Carbo and umpire Ken Burkhart."
-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
JIMMY WYNN
"The Toy Cannon was loaded with blanks last season. Jimmy suffered through a brutal season at bat after being acquired from Los Angeles in a major winter deal. He still led the Braves with 17 homers and had a respectable 66 RBI, and also had 16 stolen bases, not bad for a senior citizen.
Born in Cincinnati, Jimmy played in Houston and Los Angeles before coming to the Braves.
"I don't care what Jimmy's hitting,' said Braves' manager Dave Bristol. 'He's a plus. He won't allow anyone to let up. He busts his tail at all times and makes others do the same.'
Jimmy was once one of baseball's most feared hitters."
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1977 Edition
"In Jimmy Wynn, the Yankees have added one of the most powerful men in the game. Although small in stature, the Toy Cannon has hit more career home runs than Reggie Jackson, including a one-season high of 37 in 1967. He also led the National League twice in walks, including last season, and was voted the Comeback Player of the Year in 1974, when he helped the Dodgers win the pennant.
A three-time All-Star, Wynn now changes leagues after 14 seasons of harassing National League pitchers. They're as happy as the Yankees that Jimmy Wynn has migrated to the American League."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
"Jimmy Wynn, the Toy Cannon, has been a powerhouse in the National League for the past 14 seasons. Despite his height, he's hit 290 home runs, which puts him in baseball's all-time 40 - it's more than Reggie Jackson has hit. His career high was 37 in 1967 while with Houston.
Although his batting average fell off last year, he still led the National League in walks for the second time and was 10th in the N.L. in on-base percentage (.377). He's a good baserunner, too.
The National League Comeback Player of the Year in 1974 when he helped the Dodgers to a pennant, Jimmy holds many Houston records and even a couple of Los Angeles marks (most homers and most walks in a season).
Jimmy was originally signed by his hometown Cincinnati Reds, but drafted by the expansion Colt 45s in 1962. He missed two months in 1966 after crashing into a wall and had an elbow injury that bothered him in 1974 and 1975. He tied for the N.L. lead with 20 assists in 1968. Three times an All-Star, he homered off Vida Blue in the 1975 All-Star Game.
Jimmy's a good golfer."
-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
"Gene Locklear joined the Yankee organization last July. After hitting .300 at Syracuse, he was promoted to the big club in August for the stretch drive.
Gene is a full-blooded Lumbee Indian from North Carolina and came up through the Cincinnati farm system after signing as a free agent in a tryout camp. He distinguished himself by twice winning minor league batting titles. After being traded to San Diego, Gene continued his hitting ways be pounding out a .321 average in 1975.
Also an accomplished artist, Locklear has a painting hanging in the White House. The Yankees like his artistry with the bat."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
"Gene is a two-time minor league batting champion who distinguished himself by hitting .321 for San Diego in 1975. The Yankees were able to purchase him last July, and after he hit .300 at Syracuse, he was brought up in August. Gene was replaced on the World Series eligible list to make room for Elliott Maddox.
Locklear originally came up in the Cincinnati farm system, winning batting titles at Three Rivers in 1971 and Indianapolis in 1972, after signing as a free agent in a tryout camp.
Gene is a full-blooded Lumbee Indian. He's also an accomplished artist, and has a painting hanging in the White House."
-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
CARLOS MAY
"Upon joining the Yankees in May of 1976, Carlos May immediately became the club's top designated hitter. Always consistent with the bat, May delivered timely blows all summer long and was an important man in the stretch drive.
The soft-spoken part-time outfielder and first baseman lost his right thumb while on Marine Reserve duty in his rookie season of 1969, but has made a courageous comeback. The Yankees are looking forward to having his powerful bat in the lineup for a full season."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
"Carlos May joined the Yankees in May 1976 and immediately became the club's top designated hitter in its championship season. He maintained his reputation as a solid, consistent hitter, batting .300 for the Yankees as late as August 23 before tailing off at the end. Carlos delivered a lot of key runs during the summer. He played left field twice and first base once, but otherwise was strictly a DH.
Carlos had exactly 1,000 hits during his White Sox career, which began in 1969 with a Rookie of the Year selection by the Sporting News. It was not a pleasant year, however, as he lost his right thumb in a mortar accident while on Marine reserve duty. Carlos made a courageous comeback, learning how to throw and hold the bat all over again, and by 1972 was a .300 hitter, and by 1973 hit 20 homers and drove in 96 runs. He's tied with Dick Allen for fifth place on the all-time White Sox home run list with 85.
The brother of Lee May, the American League's RBI champ for 1976, Carlos is a graduate of Parker High in Birmingham. He's soft-spoken and well liked."
-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
RON BLOMBERG
"1977 is an important year for Ron Blomberg. One of the most popular of all the Yankees, Blomberg suffered a serious shoulder injury in 1975 that sidelined him for virtually all of last season.
He is an excellent hitter with a quick bat and powerful swing that has kept his career average above the .300 mark. Fittingly, Boomer was the first designated hitter in the major leagues and, although that's his primary job, he can also play first base and right field. Ron is so good an athlete that he turned down numerous basketball scholarship offers following high school in his native Atlanta to become baseball's (and the Yankees') first choice in the 1967 draft.
Now residing in New York, Ronnie is determined to prove to all that he has recovered fully and is ready to make an important contribution to the Yankee cause."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
"Ron Blomberg has been virtually out of action since June 17, 1975, when his damaged shoulder incapacitated him. Although he participated in spring training in 1976, he hadn't yet recovered and had surgery on April 16 after finally being diagnosed with chronic biceps tendinitis in the right shoulder. His only 1976 appearance was on September 8 against Milwaukee in Yankee Stadium, when he went 0-for-2. His future is certainly questionable.
At his peak physical condition, Ron was a .302 lifetime hitter, seeing action almost exclusively against right-hand pitching. He was a hard-hitting pull hitter, a good RBI man and a power hitter who seldom struck out.
He signed as the nation's number one draft pick in 1967 as a first baseman and passed up scores of basketball scholarships to do so. He was converted to an outfielder, then back to first, now back to the outfield, but is considered mainly a designated hitter. His best year was 1973 when he maintained a .400 batting average until July 4th.
Always a very popular player in New York and a year-round resident, Ron became a father for the first time last November."
-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
DAVE KINGMAN
"The biggest bargain purchase in the Mets' history, both physically and financially, when San Francisco unloaded him in a straight cash deal. Kingman finished with 37 home runs, one short of major league leader Mike Schmidt, and would have won the crown if he hadn't missed several weeks after damaging a thumb diving for a ball. If he doesn't connect for a homer, chances are he'll strike out.
Dave was born in Pendleton, Oregon. Despite his size, he is adept at laying down the bunt and beating it out with deceptive speed. He isn't the most graceful outfielder but is learning quickly how to do the job."
-Hal Bock and Bruce Lowitt, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1977 Edition
"The Yankees made some late-season moves to strengthen the club for the September stretch drive and they certainly paid off. Slugger Dave Kingman was acquired from California and proceeded to hit three home runs in his first three games."
-1977 World Series Official Program
DR. MAURICE COWEN (Team Physician)
"Dr. Maurice Cowen joins the Yankees this year as team physician. Dr. Cowen, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital the past seven years, will oversee the Yankee medical needs this season."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
GENE MONAHAN (Trainer)
"Gene Monahan enters his fifth season as the Yankee trainer, following service through the Yankee farm system, beginning as a batboy at Ft. Lauderdale in 1962."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
BOB SHEPPARD (Public Address Announcer)
"Bob Sheppard once again will be the familiar voice greeting fans over the PA at Yankee stadium. The country's best known public address announcer is as much a part of the Stadium atmosphere as the Stadium facade."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
TOBY WRIGHT (Stadium Organist)
"Toby Wright, Yankee organist, entertains Yankee fans prior to and during all home games at Yankee Stadium. Toby can also be heard at many Madison Square Garden events."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
MICHAEL GROSSBARDT (Official Photographer)
"Michael Grossbardt, the Yankees official photographer since 1969, is responsible for most of the shots featured in the Yankee Yearbook and scorecard, as well as many of the photos featured in and around Yankee Stadium."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
PETE SHEEHY (Clubhouse Man and Equipment Manager)
"Pete Sheehy has been running the Yankee clubhouse since 1927. Pete was one of the four honored guests at the opening of the 'new' Stadium last year. The Yanks' equipment manager now works in a clubhouse renamed last year - The Pete Sheehy Clubhouse."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
JIM ESPOSITO (Head Groundskeeper)
"Jim Esposito started maintaining fields back at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Jim then moved to the Bronx where he now is the head of the Yankee ground crew."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
JIM OGLE (Yankee Alumni Association)
"A baseball writer for 40 years, Jim spent the last 20 covering the Yankees for the Newark Star Ledger. He now heads the Yankee Alumni Association and serves as President of the Yanks' Fort Lauderdale farm club."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
HERMAN SCHNIEDER (Assistant Trainer)
"Herman Schnieder has joined the Yankees and will serve as the club's assistant trainer this year. Scheider, who was the head trainer at the Yanks' AAA club at Syracuse since 1974, will work with the Yankees' head trainer Gene Monahan.
Schneider, born in Amsterdam, Holland, now resides in Rochester, New York. He started his baseball career in 1965 as the assistant clubhouse boy in Rochester. In 1970, he became the trainer for the Baltimore Orioles' Instructional League club and then moved to the Yankee organization as the Fort Lauderdale trainer in 1971. Herman moved to the Yanks' AA West Haven club in 1973 before joining the Syracuse Chiefs in 1974.
Schneider has spent his last five winters working in the Puerto Rican winter league as the trainer for the Ponce Lions."
-1977 New York Yankees Scorebook & Official Magazine
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