DICK HOWSER (Manager)
"Named to replace Billy Martin last October when the fiery former Yankee manager was fired after allegedly becoming involved in a barroom fight, Howser was in the dugout, coaching Florida State University's baseball team, when George Steinbrenner called to offer him the job. Dick admits he was 'shaken and little shocked' at the time.
'I'm honored to be the manager of the Yankees. It's the only place I want to be at the big league level.' Born in Miami, Howser spent 10 years with the Yankees as third base coach after playing for them for two years. He left after the '78 season to coach at Florida State, his alma mater. Howser was 43-16 his first year at the collegiate level.
'He'll be a good manager,' predicts Bucky Dent. He's described by Yankees who know him as 'a mild-mannered, easy-going guy'- in sharp contrast to Martin. As a coach he befriended the players and kept them loose with his sense of humor. Howser is a close friend and college classmate of movie star Burt Reynolds."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1980 Edition
"Dick Howser has prepared for 1980 for a long time. As a player he was known as a heady, gutsy, good student of the game. He was the Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1961 when he stole 37 bases and made the All-Star team as a member of the Kansas City Athletics. He went from the A's to the Indians in 1963 and came to the Yankees in 1967.
The second step in Dick's preparation started with his retirement as an active player following the 1968 season. He moved right into the Yankee third base coaching box in 1969, replacing the legendary Frank Crosetti. He manned that position for the next 10 years.
Step three took place last year when he left the Yankees to become the head baseball coach at his alma mater, Florida State. Dick took the Seminoles to the NCAA regionals with a fine 43-16 record and it looked like he'd be a Seminole for a long time.
But on October 28th of 1979, Dick accepted the job as manager of the New York Yankees. It was the only job, Dick said, that could tear him away from Florida State. Tallahassee's loss is New York's gain as Dick attempts to emulate the success of one of his high school and college chums, Burt Reynolds."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Howser became the Yankee manager on October 28, 1979, returning to the Yankee organization after spending a year away as the head baseball coach at Florida State University. Dick was the Yanks' third base coach from 1969-78, then went to FSU in '79 where he led the Seminoles to the NCAA Eastern Regional finals with a 43-16 record in his first year of college coaching.
Dick succeeded the legendary Frank Crosetti as Yankee third base coach in 1969, after an eight-year career as an infielder. He was named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1961 when he stole 37 bases and made the All-Star team for the A's. The Yankees obtained him from Cleveland in 1966, and Howser spent two years in New York as a utility infielder. He batted .248 during his eight-year career.
Dick managed the Yankees' Instructional League team in Florida for two years. He managed the Yankees for one game on July 24, 1978, after Billy Martin had resigned, a 5-2 loss to the Royals in Kansas City.
Howser and new Yankee GM Gene Michael formed the Yankees' double-play combination for part of the 1968 season. The two men were both Yankee coaches in 1978, Howser at third and Stick at first.
A friend of Burt Reynolds, with whom he went to high school and college, Dick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Florida State."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
YOGI BERRA (Coach)
"If history repeats itself, the Yankees are in for some kind of season. Yogi returns for his fifth consecutive season and sixth overall as a Yankee coach. Nobody in history has been in more World Series than his Hall of Famer. He played in 14, coached in five and managed in two. Last year, Yogi was on the coaching lines at first base and this year he returns to the dugout."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"One of America's most beloved and recognized celebrities, his return to the Yankees after 12 years coincided with a Yankee pennant in 1976, and they followed with back-to-back World Championships in 1977 and '78. Not surprising to those who know that good fortune follows this Hall of Famer around. He's now been in 20 World Series, a record 14 as a player, three as a Yankee coach, one as a Mets coach, one as Yankee manager and one as Mets manager.
Yogi holds World Series records for games, at-bats, hits, singles and consecutive errorless games (30). A three-time Most Valuable Player (1951, 1954, 1955) and 15 times an All-Star, his 313 homers are the most ever by a catcher. His 30 homers in one season (twice) is a record for catchers, and he handled a record 950 consecutive chances without an error (1957-59). The Yankees retired his (and Bill Dickey's) uniform number 8 in 1972 but brought it back for his return in 1976.
His son Dale is an infielder with the Pirates, and his sons Larry Jr. and Tim played pro baseball and football briefly. Yogi and his sons run a racquetball club in New Jersey."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
CHARLEY LAU (Coach)
"His reputation as a batting instructor extraordinaire preceded Charley Lau to the Yankees. He has been teaching the art of hitting for 11 years now and everywhere he's been the Lau trademark has been recognized. Most of Charley's teaching career had been in Kansas City where he helped develop successful hitters like George Brett and Hal McRae.
Last year, his work was evidenced by the success of Jim Spencer and Reggie Jackson. Now in his second year, Charley looks for more improvement from Yankee hitters."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Lau joined the Yankee coaching staff in 1979 after spending eight years with the Kansas City Royals as their hitting instructor. He's regarded as one of the top hitting instructors in the game, and he was given much of the credit for the Royals' success at the plate and for the development of such hitters as George Brett and Hal McRae. Lau is a firm believer in hitting to all fields and teaches batters to 'go with the pitches.'
Charley joined the Royals in 1971 and became a full-time coach the following year. He had an 11-year major league playing career, highlighted by his catching of Warren Spahn's second no-hitter in 1961, collecting four doubles in a game in 1962, and getting two hits in one inning as a pinch hitter in 1964, the latter two feats tying major league records.
Lau finished his big league career in 1967, and was a coach with the Orioles in 1969 and with the A's in 1970 before joining the Royals."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
JIM HEGAN (Coach)
"Jim Hegan is spending his 16th year as a Yankee coach, but only his second straight due to a five-year stint with Detroit.
As a player, Jim caught Feller, Wynn, Lemon and Garcia, one of the finest pitching staffs in baseball history. Jim brings a wealth of experience, including 17 years behind the plate, five All-Star Game selections, and having been on the receiving end of three no-hitters, to the Yankee bullpen and the pinstriped catching corps."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Jim, who coached 14 seasons for the Yankees (1960-73), returned to them in 1978 after spending five years as the bullpen coach of the Detroit Tigers.
A classic receiver, who played 18 seasons in the major leagues (1941-1960), he handled one of the greatest pitching staffs ever assembled, Feller, Lemon, Garcia and Wynn, while at Cleveland in the late 40s and early 50s. He caught three no-hitters and played in three World Series. Jim also played with the Tigers, Phillies, Giants and Cubs. His son Mike, a former big league ballplayer, is now a broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers.
A petty officer first class in the Coast Guard, Jim caught Bob Feller, in a win, and hit a home run in his first major league game."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
STAN WILLIAMS (Coach)
"Stan Williams enters his first year as the Yankee pitching coach, but he's no stranger to the New York scene or the young Yankee pitching corps. Stan pitched for the Yankees in 1963 and 1964, the middle of a 14-year major league career, and last season he was the pitching coach of the Columbus Clippers.
Stan is known as an excellent teacher and should prove extremely helpful to the Yankee pitching staff."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Stan becomes the newest member of the Yankee coaching staff this year, joining them after serving a year as the pitching coach for the Yanks' International League champion Columbus Clippers. He joined the Yankee organization last year after serving as Bob Lemon's pitching coach with the White Sox in 1977 and '78. Stan previously served as the pitching coach of the Boston Red Sox in 1975 and '76.
He pitched for 21 years, finishing as player-manager at Bristol in 1974. Stan came up to the majors with the Dodgers in 1958 and made a relief appearance against the White Sox in the 1959 World Series. He spent five years with the Dodgers, winning 57 games, and then was traded to the Yankees for Bill Skowron on November 26, 1962. Stan then went to the Indians and was later traded to the Twins in 1969, along with Luis Tiant, for Dean Chance, Bob Miller, Ted Uhlaender and Graig Nettles.
Stan appeared in 68 games for the Twins in 1970, going 10-1 with a 1.99 ERA, and finished his major league career with the Red Sox in 1972."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
MIKE FERRARO (Coach)
"Mike Ferraro begins his second season on the Yankee third base coaching lines, but his first under the man he replaced. This native of Kingston, N.Y. joined the Yankees' coaching staff when Dick Howser left for Florida State last season.
Before the 1979 season, Mike spent five successful years managing in the Yankee farm system. He won three championships and compiled a .600 winning percentage over those seasons."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Ferraro became the Yankees' third base coach, taking over for Dick Howser, who served 10 years at third. Mike had managed in the Yankee farm system since 1974.
At Tacoma in 1978, he took the Yanks' AAA affiliate to the Pacific Coast League championship. Mike started at Oneonta in 1974 and '75, finishing first in 1974. He then managed at Fort Lauderdale in 1976, and then took the Yanks' West Haven (AA) club to the Eastern League championship in 1977. Mike compiled a 331-221 minor league managing record, a .600 winning percentage.
Ferraro spent four years in the major leagues. He was with the Yankees in 1966 and 1968, was a member of the expansion Seattle Pilots in 1969 and finished his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1972, his best year in the big leagues; he hit .255 with the Brewers, appearing in 124 games.
Mike played baseball, basketball and football at Kingston High School, and his hometown folks honored him with a day at Yankee Stadium in 1972 when he came in with the Brewers. He had rooted for the Yankees and Mickey Mantle as a youngster in Kingston.
Mike holds the major league record (tied) for most assists in a game (nine innings) by a third baseman (11), achieved on September 14, 1968."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
JEFF TORBORG (Coach)
"Coaching for the Yankees is a homecoming of sorts for Jeff Torborg. He resides in Mountainside, New Jersey and played his college ball at Rutgers University. At Rutgers, Jeff earned a B.S. in Education and at Montclair State, he received a Masters Degree in Athletic Administration.
An experienced baseball man who caught three no-hitters in his 10-year career, Jeff is considered an excellent teacher, especially with young catchers."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Torborg joined the Yankee coaching staff last August following his dismissal as manager of the Indians on July 23. He had managed the Tribe since 1977.
Jeff played 10 years in the major leagues, seven with Dodgers and three with the Angels. He played on the World Champion Dodgers in 1965 and their National League champion team in 1966. Jeff caught two no-hitters while with the Dodgers, by Sandy Koufax in 1965 and by Bill Singer in 1970, and one by the Angels' Nolan Ryan in 1973; the major league record is four by Ray Schalk. Torborg was also behind the plate when Don Drysdale threw his fifth consecutive shutout in 1968, and he caught Koufax and Ryan when they set single-season strikeout records.
A local resident, Jeff earned a B.S. degree in Education at Rutgers and has a Masters Degree in Athletic Administration from Montclair State. He wrote his thesis on the effects of platooning in baseball. In his senior year at Rutgers, Jeff was the NCAA batting champion, hitting .537 and setting a record that still stands.
Torborg was one of Billy Martin's All-Star coaches in 1977 and 1978, and was a coach with the Indians from 1975 until he was named manager, replacing Frank Robinson on June 19, 1977."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
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