DAMASO GARCIA
"A highly regarded infield prospect. The problem will be finding a place for him to play. Damaso was called up in 1978 when Willie Randolph was injured. He can also play short.
Born in Moca, Dominican Republic, Rod Carew was his baseball idol."
-Phil Pepe and Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1979 Edition
"Damaso Garcia has steadily progressed in the Yankee farm system, moving up one level each year, finally reaching the major leagues in '78 when he played in 18 games for the Yankees.
Garcia made an auspicious debut on June 24, going two-for-four with three runs scored at Detroit. He handles the bat and has shown excellent range in the field at both second base and shortstop, as evidenced by his Eastern League leading assist total in 1977.
Only 22, Damaso Garcia has a bright future in baseball."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"This 22-year-old shortstop spent time with both Tacoma and the New York Yankees in 1978. At Tacoma, he hit .268 with 53 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. His tenure with the Yankees impressed many as he saw action in 18 games."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Damaso has steadily progressed in the Yankee organization, moving up one level each year, finally reaching the major leagues last year when he spent some time with the Yankees. He spent most of the year at Tacoma. Called up to the Yanks on June 24, he made the most of his first major league start the next day at Detroit, and went 2-for-4 with three runs scored in his major league debut.
A highly rated infield prospect, Damaso was originally a shortstop but was changed to a second baseman by Epy Guerrero. He led the Eastern League with 392 assists in 1977.
One of six children, Rod Carew is his baseball hero."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
PAUL MIRABELLA
"He received a total of 18 runs in winning his first two major league starts. He has the potential to be outstanding.
Born in Belleville, New Jersey, Paul attended Montclair State. He began his pro career at Asheville (NC) in 1976, where he struck out 136 batters in 149 innings.
Paul came to the Yankees in the Sparky Lyle deal."
-Phil Pepe and Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1979 Edition
"Paul Mirabella, a left-handed pitcher acquired from Texas in the off-season, proved once and for all that you can come home again. Born and bred in New Jersey, this 25-year-old product of Montclair State is back in the Metropolitan Area hoping to make his mark as a relief pitcher.
Racing from the bullpen to clean up someone else's mess wasn't always Paul's forte. In the Ranger minor league organization, he was hurling exclusively in the starting rotation. Paul's promotion to Texas in late 1978 saw him start four games and see relief action in six others. In his very first Texas appearance, he struck out eight batters.
So Paul Mirabella returns home looking for a spot on the Yankee roster. There is no doubt that his experience as both a starter and a reliever should aid him greatly. Welcome home, Paul!"
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Joining the Yankees became a homecoming for Mirabella, who was born in Belleville, New Jersey, attended Montclair State, and now lives in nearby Boonton Manor, New Jersey.
Paul broke in with the Ranger organization in 1976 at Asheville and won 10 games while leading the league with 136 strikeouts. He was promoted to Tulsa (AA) in 1977 and led the league in games started with 26 and shutouts with four while compiling a 12-7 mark. He was at Tucson last year, winning nine games before seeing action with the Rangers at the end of the year and coming up with three wins. A starter his whole minor league career, Paul was used both as a starter and a reliever with the Rangers.
Mirabella played Little League and Babe Ruth ball in Parsipanny, New Jersey and attended Parsipanny High, where he played football, basketball, baseball and fencing. He's 31 credits short of his BS in Business from Montclair State. Paul will marry Diane Polizzi in November.
He struck out eight batters while winning his first major league game."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
BRUCE ROBINSON
"A promising young catcher. He batted .250 during his brief trial with the A's in 1978.
Bruce was the A's number one draft pick in June 1975 and has steadily improved in the minors. He holds a degree in economics from Stanford.
Born in La Jolla, California, Bruce played on national championship semi-pro teams in Alaska for three years."
-Phil Pepe and Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1979 Edition
"Young Bruce Robinson was purchased from the Oakland A's just prior to spring training this year. Robinson batted a healthy .299 with the A's triple-A club in Vancouver last year and drove in 73 runs. After being promoted late in the season, the left-hand hitting catcher appeared in 28 games and showed great promise.
A graduate of Stanford University, the 25-year-old Robinson was a number one draft pick following a senior year in which he set a school record for home runs and was named to the All-American team. Since then, the 6-2, 195-pounder has steadily progressed through the minors. Now he finds himself wearing the proud Yankee uniform, and all concerned are certainly glad he is."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
TOMMY CRUZ
"Tommy batted .319 at Tacoma last season after coming in '77 from the White Sox. The left-hand hitting outfielder hit 17 home runs and drove in 83 runs at Tacoma last year.
He has two brothers in the majors, Jose with the Astros and Hector with the Cardinals."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Tommy was impressive his first year in the Yankee organization, hitting .319 with 17 home runs and 81 RBIs for Tacoma, after coming over from the White Sox' Des Moines club in the winter of 1977. The deal for Cruz was related to the Yanks' acquisition of Jim Spencer from the White Sox.
This will be Tommy's 11th season in pro ball. He got up for three games with the Cardinals in 1973 and four with the White Sox in 1977. He's one of three Cruz brothers in baseball; his older brother Jose is with the Astros, and his younger brother Hector is with the Cardinals. He's also one of seven Cruzes on the rosters of major league teams.
Cruz played baseball and ran track in high school. He credits his brother Jose for helping his career the most.
Tommy enjoys boxing."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
MIKE GRIFFIN
"Just 21, this is Mike's fourth year in professional ball. He came to the Yankees in the 10-player trade with Texas. 1977 was the best year so far for the 6-5, 210-pound right-hander as he won 17 and struck out 201 in 209 innings.
A native of Northern California, Mike has been primarily a starter."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Mike was part of the Yankees' 10-player deal with the Rangers last winter. Just 21 years old, this is his fourth year in professional baseball. Mike signed with the Rangers after graduating from Woodland (CA) High School, where he learned three letters in baseball. He was the team's MVP his senior year, along with being named All-Northern California and All-Sacramento Valley.
Mike broke in with Asheville of the Western Carolinas League in 1976. He had a super year in 1977 at Asheville in which he led the league with 17 wins, 19 complete games, 209 innings pitched, 201 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA. Mike was Topps Minor League Player of the Month in both June and July of 1977. He was promoted to Tulsa (AA) in 1978.
Mike was a Red Sox fan as a youngster and his favorite player was Carl Yastrzemski.
Mike is of German, Scottish and Irish descent."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
GREG JEMISON
"A former Seton Hall star who came from Texas in the off-season, Greg is a left-hand hitting outfielder with tremendous speed. Last year he stole 65 bases and the year before, 84. He also has a good batting eye, both at drawing walks and getting the base hit."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Greg came to the Yankees in the big 10-player trade with the Rangers over the winter. A speedster, he spent last winter at Tulsa where he batted .263 and stole 65 bases. At Asheville in 1977, Greg led the Western Carolinas League with 82 steals. He has stolen 181 bases in his first three years of pro ball, an average of 60.3 steals a year. He also has a good on-base percentage; last year at Tulsa, he walked 154 times.
Greg attended nearby Seton Hall in South Orange, New Jersey where he received his BA in sociology. He played baseball and basketball there while also competing in both indoor and outdoor track. He works as a substitute teacher in the off-season.
Greg's nickname is 'Magic.'"
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
JIM LYSGAARD
"Jim posted a 3.61 ERA (7th best in the PCL) to go with a 10-8 record last year at Tacoma. The year before he tied teammate Roger Slagle for the ERA title in the Eastern League at 2.80.
He's a 24-year-old right-hander who lists Catfish Hunter as his idol."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Jim has been advancing steadily through the Yankee organization. He spent a full year at triple-A at Tacoma last year, his third year in pro ball, and had a 10-8 mark. He was part of Tacoma's Pacific Coast leading pitching staff. His 3.61 ERA ranked him seventh in the PCL.
Lysgaard broke in with Fort Lauderdale in 1976 and started the 1977 season at Fort Lauderdale before being promoted to West Haven, where he had a good season winning 12 of 18 decisions for the Eastern League champs. Jim was scouted and signed by Yankee scout Tom Greenwade, who signed Mickey Mantle, after he impressed Yankee scouts with his performance in the 1975 NBC Tournament in Wichita, Kansas.
Lysgaard lettered in both baseball and basketball in high school and signed after his sophomore year at Arizona State. He's a carpenter in the off-season.
Jim lists Catfish Hunter as his baseball hero."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
JIM MCDONALD
"Jim has spent only four years in the Yankee system but is only 21. He is a left-hand hitting first baseman who led the Eastern League in fielding percentage while batting .281 with 18 homers and 82 RBIs last year at West Haven.
He's big and strong at 6-2, 200 pounds."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Jim makes his first appearances in the Yankees' training camp this spring. A number one pick in 1975, he was at West Haven last year where he batted .281 and was sixth in the league with 82 RBIs. He was the league's top fielding first baseman, making just nine errors in 927 chances for a .990 percentage.
Jim was MVP in baseball at Verdun Del High School where he was also a second-team All-League football player. One of nine children, he played Little League and Connie Mack ball in Compton, California.
Jim enjoys fishing and shooting pool."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
DENNIS SHERRILL
"Dennis had his best minor league season last year, batting .292 with 14 homers and 61 RBIs at West Haven. Only 23, he's been in the Yankee system for five years.
To go along with his fine righty swing, Dennis is also a fine defensive infielder, primarily a shortstop."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Dennis put together his first real good season last year at West Haven. After not hitting more than .221 in any of his first four years in the Yankee organization, he hit .292 at West Haven with 14 homers and 60 RBIs. He even made a late-season appearance with the Yankees, playing in two games.
Injuries have slowed his progress since he first broke in with the Yanks in 1974 at Fort Lauderdale. Dennis was their number one draft choice that year. He was All-City, All-County and a member of the South Florida All-Star team while starring in Miami. The Yankees flew Dennis and his family into New York for a press conference after he was drafted."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
ROGER SLAGLE
"The 6-3, 190-pound right-hander has won 29 and lost only 12 in three seasons in the minors. Roger tied for the Eastern League ERA title in 1977 (2.80) and finished second in the Pacific Coast League last year (3.07). He has excellent control and walked only 36 in 179 innings last year."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Roger started the 1978 season at West Haven and then was quickly promoted to Tacoma after pitching a complete game 6-hit shutout. He showed why he was ready for triple-A by winning 13 games and finishing with the second best ERA in the Pacific Coast League, 3.07. A good control pitcher, Roger walked only 36 batters in 179 innings at Tacoma.
Now in his fourth year in pro ball, Roger has been a winner in 71% of his decisions (29-12). He began at Fort Lauderdale in 1976, after being the Yanks' number one pick that year, and was 10-9 at West Haven in 1977.
An all-around athlete in high school, he participated in baseball, football, track, golf and cross country. He played baseball and basketball at the University of Kansas, where he was first-team All-Big 8 in baseball. He graduated from Kansas in 1976 with a BS in psychology.
Roger was brought up by the Yankees to pitch in the 1977 Mayor's Trophy Game against the Mets."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
GARRY SMITH
"He's an impressive right-hand hitting outfielder with power and speed. Last year at Tacoma, Garry his .325 with 13 homers, 73 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. The year before at West Haven, he hit .274 with 22 homers and 76 RBIs.
He's 23 years old and a native of Portland, Maine."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Garry makes his first appearance on the Yankees' 40-man roster this year. He was a non-roster player in the Yanks' 1978 spring training camp.
He spent the '78 season at Tacoma, where he impressed with a .325 average, knocking in 73 runs, yet suffered a broken left wrist at the end of the season. Now in his fourth year in pro ball, Garry played at Oneonta (hitting .391), Fort Lauderdale (hitting .404) and West Haven (hitting .429), all in 1976. He hit 22 home runs for the 1977 West Haven Yankees.
Garry played Little League and American Legion ball in Portland, Maine. An All-State baseball player at Deering High School in Portland, he also played golf and basketball. Garry was a Red Sox fan as a youngster.
He enjoys fishing, hunting and golf."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
STEVE TAYLOR
"A 23-year-old right-hander who was the Yanks' No. 1 draft choice in June 1977 off the U. of Delaware campus, Steve finished at 5-4 last year in Tacoma, and the year before was 4-1 with a 2.94 ERA at West Haven following his signing."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
CHRIS WELSH
"Chris spent 1978 at West Haven where he was 11-9. The year before at Oneonta, his first in pro ball, the left-hander was 8-5 with a 2.49 ERA and led the league in complete games, innings and strikeouts.
He is a resident of Cincinnati."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
DAVE RIGHETTI
"A 20-year-old left-hander also acquired from Texas, Dave went 16-8 in his first two years of pro ball and has struck out 228 in 198 innings.
He is long and lean (6-3, 175 pounds) and many scouts consider him one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
PAUL SEMALL
"An Ohio State graduate who had an excellent year at West Haven in 1978, Paul was 17-8 with a league-leading 3.06 ERA and 19 complete games. The year before, his first in pro ball, the 23-year-old right-hander was 8-4 with a 2.46 ERA at Oneonta."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
DARRYL JONES
"When you first look at Darryl Jones, his physique reminds you of a bodybuilder, perhaps an aspirant for Mr. Universe. But no, Darryl Jones does not pump iron for show, D.J. works himself into shape so that he can pump line drives off the outfield walls. And seven years of minor league ball have given him enough confidence to do just that!
Darryl's younger brother, Lynn, is a member of the Detroit Tigers and you can bet that these Jones brothers keep up with each other. Each day the box scores will be read, the names checked and the stats recorded. Soon, Darryl hopes, we'll all be checking the name D. Jones in the Yankee box scores."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
BOBBY BROWN
"Acquired by the Yankees during the '78 season, the 6'1", 198-pound switch-hitting outfielder hit an impressive .310 while playing for Tacoma. His intense speed (a team leading 24 stolen bases) and power (10 homers) in 66 games spoke for itself."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
BROWN HONORED FOR JUNE
"Bobby Brown was voted the Topps International Player of the Month for June. The switch-hitting outfielder batted .364 for the month with six doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBIs. He also scored 18 runs and stole 12 bases for Gene Michael's Columbus Clippers."
-New York Yankees 1979 Scorebook & Official Magazine
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