"Alston came up last year and performed well as a pinch hitter. He missed out on a chance to take part in the playoffs and World Series when the Yankees were disallowed a replacement for the departed Carlos May. Dell will get a full shot as the lefty DH this year.
Born in White Plains, New York, a stone's throw away from Yankee Stadium, he was raised in Yonkers, where he was an all-county player. Dell has great speed and was a lifetime .300 hitter in the minors.
He works in the PR department of a college in the off-season."
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1978 Edition
"Dell Alston split the 1977 season between the Yankees and their top farm club in Syracuse. The left-handed hitting outfielder and designated hitter showed an excellent bat and good speed with both clubs.
Dell hit .298 with Syracuse and stole 24 bases in 63 games. When called up to the Yankees, he responded with a 15th inning pinch-hit double (his first major league hit) and scored the winning run against the A's. He continued to swing the bat well and became one of the Yankees' leading pinch hitters, and batted .360 in the designated hitter role.
Alston is a local product, coming out of Yonkers High School and Concordia College. It's good to know that the Metropolitan Area is still producing fine young players in the Yankee tradition."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Dell split the 1977 season between the Yankees and Syracuse. He showed a good bat in his stint in New York, hitting .325 in 22 games. Dell was one of the Yankees' leading pinch hitters (3-for-8, .375) with all three pinch hits being doubles. His first major league hit was a pinch-hit double against the A's, which led to the winning run in a 5-2 Yankee win. Dell hit his first major league homer in his seventh big league game against the Brewers' Jim Slaton. He also batted .360 (9-for-25) as a Yankee designated hitter.
A local product coming out of Yonkers High School and Concordia College, Dell was All-City and All-County in Yonkers. He was a member of the Eastern League All-Star team in 1975.
Possessing good speed and a good eye, this is Dell's second year on the Yankee roster."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
MICKEY KLUTTS
"Mickey suffered a tough break when he fractured his hand in spring training while competing for the regular shortstop job. He returned to Syracuse and was shifted to third base. He's now considered the heir apparent to Nettles' third base job.
Born in Montebello, California, Mickey almost quit after the '75 season, but blossomed in '76 with 24 homers and 80 RBIs, and shared the International League's MVP award."
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1978 Edition
"Mickey Klutts entered the Yankees' 1977 spring training season with high hopes of securing the number one job at shortstop. Early on, he suffered what may have been the most fortunate injury of his career, a broken hand. It forced him to start again at Syracuse, but at a new position: third base. His .288 batting average with 14 home runs and 66 RBIs at the Yankees' top farm affiliate proved that a comeback was in the cards.
When Graig Nettles suffered a late-season injury, the Yankees decided to call up the 22-year-old Klutts. He filled in well and drew rave notices with his excellent fielding ability.
Mickey also proved he could swing the bat when, on the last day of the season, he powered his first major league home run to help the Yankees gain the 100th victory of their World Championship season.
Back in '75, Mickey thought about leaving the game, but the Yankees are certainly glad that he decided to continue playing ball."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"An early spring training injury kept Mickey from making the club at shortstop. He went to Syracuse and learned third base. Mickey was called up in August after a fine triple-A year and played very well, filling in for Nettles when he was injured. He got his first major league hit on August 12 off the Angels' Ken Brett, and his first major league homer on October 2 off the Tigers' Vern Ruhle.
Mickey was a co-winner of the MVP award in the International League in 1976, a year in which he almost quit baseball before the start of the season. He decided to give it another try and wound up as the best shortstop in the league, belting 24 home runs and driving in 80, as well as hitting .319.
Valuable now as a utility infielder, both at third and shortstop, Mickey has a promising future."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
JIM LYSGAARD
"Jim Lysgaard started 1977 at Fort Lauderdale and was promoted to West Haven where he won 12 of 18 decisions and tied for the ERA title at 2.80 with teammate Roger Slagle. The 23-year-old right-hander is in his third year of pro ball after being signed by Tom Greenwade, the Yankee scout who signed Mickey Mantle."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Jim started the 1977 season at Fort Lauderdale and then was promoted to West Haven, where he had a good season, winning 12 of 18 decisions for the Eastern League champions. It was his third year in pro ball.
Jim was scouted and signed by Yankee scout Tom Greenwade, who signed Mickey Mantle, after he impressed scouts with his performance in the 1975 NBC tournament in Wichita, Kansas. Jim lettered in both baseball and basketball in high school and was signed after his sophomore year at Arizona State.
A carpenter in the off-season, Jim lists Catfish Hunter as his baseball hero."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
LARRY MCCALL
"His second year in the Yankee organization was a huge success. His 16 wins for Syracuse were tops in the International League and he was named to the All-Star team. The 25-year-old right-hander was with the Yankees in September.
Larry is 28-19 in two years in the organization."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Larry's second year in the Yankee organization was a huge success. His 16 wins for Syracuse were tops in the International League, and he was named to the International League All-Star team. He came up to the Yankees in September and made his major league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 10. He lost a decision to the Tigers, but in one game scored a run as a pinch runner.
Larry began his career in the Baltimore organization at Bluefield in 1971, but was released after the 1975 season and signed with the Yankees. He won 11 games at West Haven in 1976 when they were the Eastern League champs.
He was voted the outstanding player at Enka High School in 1970 and was the winning pitcher in the state championship that year.
Larry enjoys hunting."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
DAMASO GARCIA
"Damaso Garcia made his first appearance in a Yankee training camp this year. A highly rated infield prospect, he was originally a shortstop but now plays second base.
The 21-year-old native of the Dominican Republic made the jump to AA ball last year and led the Eastern League in assists."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Damaso made his first appearance in a Yankee training camp this spring. A highly rated infield prospect, he was originally a shortstop but was changed to second base by Yankee scout Epy Guerrero. He made the jump to AA ball at West Haven last year, and he led the Eastern League with 392 assists.
Damaso lists Rod Carew as his baseball hero."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
DARRYL JONES
"Darryl Jones overcame a mid-season injury last year to lead Syracuse in batting with a .330 average. A right-handed hitting outfielder with good speed, he was named International League Player of the Month for June and made the league's All-Star team.
Darryl resides in Harmonsburg, Pennsylvania."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Darryl makes his first appearance in the Yankees' spring training camp this year. He overcame a mid-season injury to become the most consistent hitter on the Yanks' Syracuse team last year. He led the Chiefs in batting the entire year, finishing at .330, and also had 10 home runs and 54 RBIs. Darryl was named the International League Player of the Month for June and was also named to the International League All-Star team at the end of the year.
Darryl made the jump to AAA at Syracuse last season after spending three years at the Yanks' AA West Haven club. He hit .300 his first year in pro ball in 1972 at Oneonta and followed that up with a .324 season at Fort Lauderdale in 1973.
He has good speed."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
DOMINGO RAMOS
"This 20-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic led West Haven and the entire Eastern League in fielding percentage last year. Domingo is one of the top-rated shortstops in baseball and is coveted by many clubs. He formed a great double play combination at West Haven with Damaso Garcia."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Only 20 years old, Domingo enters his fourth year in the Yankee organization and makes his first appearance on the Yanks' 40-man spring training roster.
He has played peerlessly at shortstop and led his West Haven club and the entire Eastern League in fielding percentage last year. A singles hitter, Domingo batted a healthy .429 during the Eastern League Championship Series last season. He spent some time in 1976 at the Yanks' AAA club at Syracuse, batting .256 in 11 games.
Domingo was born and still makes his home in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He formed a great young double-play combination at West Haven last year with 21-year-old Damaso Garcia, also a Dominican native."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
DENNIS IRWIN
"This is Dennis' seventh pro season, even though he is only 24. He spent 1977 as the regular catcher at Syracuse.
Dennis is a good handler of pitchers who is also very durable. He's a right-handed hitter and a native of Hanford, California."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"This is Irwin's fifth year in the Yankees' spring training camp, but his first appearance on the Yanks' 40-man roster. The regular catcher at Syracuse last year, he's a good handler of pitchers who has caught over 100 games in each of the last four seasons.
Dennis was a football, basketball and baseball star at Hanford Union High School. He also played the outfield in high school.
A college and high school basketball referee in the off-season, his hobbies are tennis, racquetball and golf."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
DAVE RAJSICH
"A tall left-hander who is primarily a relief pitcher, Dave split 1977 between West Haven and Syracuse, and was exceptional at West Haven with an 8-2 record and a 2.84 ERA.
Dave was born in Youngstown, Ohio but now resides in Phoenix, Arizona."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Dave spent some time in the Yankees' 1977 training camp as a batting practice pitcher, but this is his first appearance on the Yanks' 40-man spring training roster.
Dave has seen action as both a starter and a reliever, but has been primarily a relief pitcher in his last two years in the Yankee organization. The tall, slender left-hander has a good fastball and also throws a curve and a forkball.
Dave was a baseball and basketball star at Central High School in Phoenix, and at Phoenix Junior College and the University of Arizona. He holds an Associate in Arts degree from Phoenix J.C. and a B.S. in biology from the University of Arizona.
Dave's hobbies are hunting, fishing, archery and golf. He lays carpeting in the winter."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
DOUG HEINOLD
"Doug Heinold was slowed by a sore shoulder last year but still posted a 2.29 ERA in AAA ball. This followed a 7-3, 1.34 ERA year at West Haven. The big right-hander was the Yanks' number one pick in the June 1973 draft.
Doug hails from Victoria, Texas and is 23 years old."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Doug is a former number one draft pick of the Yankees who is considered a fine pitching prospect.
He was bothered last year by a sore shoulder and spent some time on the disabled list at Syracuse. Doug showed a fine fastball when he did pitch, compiling a 2.29 ERA in nine games. He started the 1976 season slowly at Syracuse, but upon returning to West Haven pitched brilliantly, posting a 1.34 ERA in 11 starts.
A graduate of Stroman High in Texas, where he was All-State in 1973, Doug enjoys hunting and fishing, and works on construction in the off-season. He's nicknamed 'Tex.'"
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
STEVE TAYLOR
"The Yankees' number one draft pick in June 1977, Steve started in Ft. Lauderdale and was moved up quickly to West Haven where he finished 4-1 with a 2.94 ERA.
Steve is a tall right-hander, only 22 years old, and is a native of Newark, Delaware."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
JERRY NARRON
"Jerry blossomed into a power hitter last year at West Haven. He hit 28 home runs with 93 RBIs and a .299 average and was named to the Eastern League All-Star team.
The 22-year-old left-handed hitting catcher was the sixth draft choice in June 1974."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Jerry blossomed into a home run hitter this past year at West Haven, banging out 28 for the Eastern League champs. He added 93 RBIs and a .299 batting average and was named to the Eastern League's All-Star team. Jerry was Topps Eastern League Player of the Month for August.
Narron hit .301 his first year of organized ball in 1974 at Johnson City. He's making his second appearance in the Yanks' training camp and his first on the major league roster.
Jerry was an All-State baseball player at Goldsboro High School where he also played football. He attends East Carolina University in the off-season.
He lists Mickey Mantle as his baseball hero."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
BOBBY BROWN
"'A sure-fire major leaguer' ... 'he has all the tools' ... these are some of the statements made about Bobby Brown, who was obtained from the Phillies' organization in the Jay Johnstone deal.
Bobby has already shown he can hit as evidenced by his Carolina League leading average of .349 in 1976, and he followed that with a .314 at Oklahoma City in 1977. Also possessing good speed, Bobby stole 42 bases in 1976 at Peninsula."
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
REX HUDLER
#1 YANKEE DRAFT PICK
"Rex Hudler, the Yankees' number one pick in this June's Free Agent Draft, stopped by to survey Yankee Stadium on his way from his home in Fresno, California to Oneonta, New York, where he joined the Yanks' A club in the New York-Penn League. Rex hit .500 his senior year at Bullard High School in Fresno and stole 11 bases in 12 attempts.
A 6-1, 175-pound shortstop, Rex is off to a good start at Oneonta and hopes to one day come out of that dugout in a full Yankee uniform."
-New York Yankees 1978 Scorebook and Official Magazine
DANIEL LEDDUKE
ALBANY NATIVE SIGNS WITH YANKS
"Daniel Ledduke, the Yankees' 10th round pick and a local boy from Albany, New York, stopped by the Stadium to shake hands with Yankee President Al Rosen and sign his new contract. Ledduke, a right-handed pitcher, attended Florida International University, where he won eight games and saved three others this year. He now makes his home in Miami, Florida."
-New York Yankees 1978 Scorebook and Official Magazine
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