"The quiet Yankee. Hampered by a hand injury that forced him to the bench during the World Series, Chris is still one of the keys to the club's hopes in '79. Owner George Steinbrenner calls his two-run homer that tied the sixth World Series game in '77 'perhaps the biggest hit of the year for us.'
Born in Dayton, Ohio, Chris was obtained from Cleveland in 1974.
He's a consistent hitter in clutch situations."
-Phil Pepe and Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1979 Edition
"If you are wondering what shines so brightly down the first base line, take a better look and notice Chris Chambliss' Gold Glove. Critics have finally stopped to take notice of his fine defensive ability: only four errors all year for a .997 fielding percentage, a mark which tied the Yankee club record and was tops for all major league first basemen in 1978. Remarkable as the next statement seems, Chris is still one of the steady, underrated stars on the ballclub.
In understanding his value to the Yankees, one has to look beyond his fielding prowess. An excellent clutch hitter, C.C. ranked among the league leaders in games (2nd with 162), at-bats (5th with 625), hits (7th with 171) and RBIs (listed 13th with his third straight 90-plus season). In addition, his powerful stroke accounted for 12 home runs last season. But when a Yankee fan reaches back for home run memories, one can only think of that tense ninth inning of October 1976 during the American League playoffs. It was easily one of the most dramatic moments in sports history.
In his seven seasons in pro ball, Chris has exerted nothing but positive influences on everyone he comes in contact with. As the son of a Navy chaplain, C.C. delivers and earns the rare respect that so many young Americans look up to, performing not only on the field but also off the field with his concern for today's youngsters and their problems."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Chris had his fourth straight impressive year with the Yankees in 1978 and was probably the most consistent Yankee throughout the season. Chris was among the league leaders in games (second with 162), at-bats (fifth with 625), hits (seventh with 171) and RBIs (13th with 90); he had four RBIs in a game three times last year. Twice he teamed with Nettles for back-to-back homers last year, and hit his third career grand slam on June 23 against Detroit.
Chris won the Gold Glove at first, committing just four errors in 1,481 total chances, a .997 percentage which tied him with Joe Pepitone for the all-time Yankee first baseman single-season mark. He was also used as a designated hitter in seven games last year, going 7-for-25 (.280) in that role.
Hitting streaks have been a part of Chris's career. Starting in 1971 he's had yearly streaks of 15,15,19,18, 13,19,15 and last year had streaks of ten and eight games.
Few will forget his home run to beat the Royals in the ninth inning of the final game of the 1976 ALCS. Chris continued his homer heroics in 1977, winning four games with late-inning homers. He had a 12th inning home run last year to beat the Rangers 3-2 on May 7. Although his injured right hand forced him to miss three games of the '78 World Series, he hit .400 in last year's ALCS against the Royals. Chris holds six ALCS records for a five-game Series: batting average (.524), slugging percentage (.952), hits (11), total bases (20), home runs (2, a tie) and RBIs (8), all set in the 1976 ALCS.
Chris finished fifth in the MVP voting in 1976, probably his best year with the Yankees, when he reached career highs in nearly every department. He was the American League's Rookie of the Year in 1971, after just one season in the minors, and had a two-run single to beat the White Sox in his first major league start.
When Chris was obtained by the Yankees in 1974 the deal was met with much skepticism- not so now. He has hit 128 doubles in the last four years and was credited with two steals of home in 1977. Chris has had 72, 96, 90 and 90 RBIs over the last four seasons, and is one of the Yanks' best clutch hitters, with 11 game-winning RBIs last year following 12 in 1977.
Chris batted .342 in his first season in the minors at Wichita, making him the first rookie ever to win a triple-A batting title. This followed just one season at UCLA, where he set school records with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs.
Chris is the son of a Navy chaplain and traveled for much of his youth. Arlene Henley, now Mrs. Elston Howard, was a babysitter for the Chambliss family in St. Louis. Chris played football, basketball and baseball at Oceanside High School in California. He played football and baseball in junior college and baseball for one year at UCLA. Chris was a member of the Air National Guard.
He is a cousin of basketball star Jo Jo White."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
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