GENE MICHAEL (Manager)
"The seventh Yankee manager in the last eight years. Gene stepped into George Steinbrenner's hot seat when Dick Howser 'resigned' last November. His only previous managerial experience came in 1979 when he guided the Yankee farm club at Columbus to the International League championship. He was the Yankee general manager last year.
Gene broke into the majors with Pittsburgh in 1966 and spent the majority of his ten-year career with the Yanks. He was born in Kent, Ohio.
Stick once said that he felt his future was in the front office rather than in uniform as a manager, but Steinbrenner persuaded him to sign a three-year contract to manage. If he fulfills the pact, he'll set a longevity record for a Steinbrenner manager.
'I'm no yes man,' he said when he was named, but that attitude may change when the phone calls from on high start coming in April."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1981 Edition
"That long, lean figure with the pleasant smile won't be slapping singles through the infield and his steady defensive play is history, but his enthusiasm and love for baseball are as alive as ever. Gene Michael is back in pinstripes as the Yankee field general of '81 and he's looking to go for the gold! You can be sure he won't be taking any prisoners in his quest for a World Championship.
Gene's long baseball career began with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1966. Stick then moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1967 and was traded to the Yankees where he played shortstop from 1968 to 1974. While clad in pinstripes, Stick mastered the hidden ball trick and won over legions of Yankee fans with his adept defensive ability and agile play. It was also here that stick came after he played with the Tigers in 1975 and the Red Sox in 1976.
Following his retirement from active play, the Yankees hired this Kent State alumnus as a Yankee coach for the latter part of the '76 season. He then worked as an Administrative Assistant in '77, the Yankees first base coach in '78, the manager of the Yankees' Triple-A farm team in '79 and the Yankee General Manager in '80. Different experiences in and around the greatest game in sports paved the way for his managerial duties this season ... and, hopefully, a chance to raise the championship flag high atop Yankee Stadium."
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"Gene Michael became the 25th manager of the Yankees on November 21, 1980. He had been General Manager, having been named to the post on November 21, 1979 after serving as the field manager of the Columbus Clippers for the 1979 season. He guided the Clippers to the regular season and postseason International League titles after starting the season with 10 straight wins. The Clippers finished 85-54 under Stick.
Michael coached first base for the Yankees in 1978 after he had been a front office administrative assistant in 1977. Upon his retirement as a player, he was hired as a Yankee coach on June 14, 1976.
Gene began his playing career in 1959 and broke into the majors with Pittsburgh in 1966. He was traded along with Bob Bailey in December 1966 to the Dodgers for Maury Wills and sold to the Yankees on November 30, 1967. Stick played seven seasons for the Yankees before being released in January 1975. He signed with the Tigers and played one year before being released, then was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox in the spring of 1976 but was released on May 8 before he appeared in any games. He then retired to become a Yankee coach.
Stick was one of the most popular Yankees during his playing career and was the regular shortstop from 1969-73. He mastered the hidden ball trick, pulling it off five times with the Yanks. He pitched 19 games in the minors and one with the Yankees in 1968. Gene was a close friend and roommate of the late Thurman Munson.
Gene graduated from Kent State with a B.S. in education. He also played basketball at Kent and was pursued by the Knicks."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
JOE ALTOBELLI (Coach)
"Joe is the latest addition to the Yankee coaching staff as he mans the third base coaching lines for the 1981 season. This Rochester, New York native followed in Gene Michael's footsteps in 1980 when he won both regular season and playoff titles as manager of the International League Champion Columbus Clippers. With a fine 83-57 record at the Triple-A level, it seems that it's high time Joe brings his winning ways to the Bronx.
Joe previously spent 10 years managing in the minors and three years managing the San Francisco Giants (1977-79) where he won the National League Manager of the Year award in 1978. Welcome to the Big Apple, Joe!"
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"Altobelli joins the Yankee staff as the third base coach. He spent 1980 as the manager of the AAA Columbus Clippers. He followed in Gene Michael's footsteps, winning both the regular season and playoff titles in the International League. The Clippers were 83-57 under Joe.
His playing career spanned 20 years (1951-70) as a first baseman/outfielder. Joe played 166 games in the majors with Cleveland ('55 and '57) and Minnesota ('61).
Altobelli began his managerial career in 1966 at Bluefield, Virginia in the Appalachian League. He spent the next 10 years managing in the minors, and from 1971 through 1976 at Rochester established one of the finest records in triple-A history, winning four pennants and finishing second once, averaging 84 wins.
Joe was named Giants manager in 1977 and finished fourth. He was named National League Manager of the Year in 1978, finishing third with an 89-73 record. Dismissed on September 6, 1979, he was then hired to replace Gene Michael at Columbus following the season."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
YOGI BERRA (Coach)
"Of all the Yankee greats who've worn the pinstripes, there's none more recognizable than good ole' number eight, Yogi Berra. For the old-timers, he's remembered in the famous 'Who's better, Campanella or Berra?' feuds. For current baseball fans, he's known as our dugout strategist, the man who realigns the Yankee outfield to pit a certain defensive alignment against a particular batter. For the younger generation, he's popular because of soft drink preference.
But for whatever reason you love good ole' number eight, you'll be glad to know that Yogi is entering his sixth consecutive season as a Yankee coach and his seventh overall. With 20 World Series appearances, it wouldn't hurt if he could shoot for 21 in '81!"
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"One of America's most beloved and recognized celebrities, Berra returned to the Yankees for the 1976 season after 12 years, coinciding with a pennant that was followed by back-to-back World Championships. 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 Yankees coach, one as a Mets coach, and one each managing the Yanks and the Mets.
Yogi holds World Series playing records for games, at-bats, hits, singles, consecutive errorless games (30), and he hit a grand slam homer (1956). A three-time A.L. MVP (1951, 1954, 1955) and 15 times an All-Star, his 313 homers are the second most ever by a catcher, behind Johnny Bench who passed Yogi in 1980. His 30 homers in a season in two different years is an American League record for catchers. He also handled 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, his son Larry Jr. played in the Mets organization, and his son Tim was a wide receiver for the football Giants and the Colts. Yogi and his sons run a racquetball club in New Jersey."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
MIKE FERRARO (Coach)
"After Dick Howser decided to call it a career as the Yankees third base coach, Mike Ferraro was promoted to that spot for the 1979 and 1980 seasons. This season, you'll spot Mike in the first base coaching box, replacing Jeff Torborg who has moved to the bullpen.
Mike, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident, had five successful seasons managing in the Yankees' farm system. During that time, he won three championships and compiled a .600 winning percentage.
As a player, Mike spent four years in the major leagues: 1966 and 1968 with the Yankees, 1969 as a member of the expansion Seattle Pilots, and 1972 with the Milwaukee Brewers."
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"Ferraro moves to first base after two years as the Yankees third base coach. He replaced Dick Howser at third for 1979 after he had served as a manager in the Yankee system since 1974.
Mike took the AAA Tacoma Yankees to the Pacific Coast League title in 1978. He began managing at Oneonta in 1974 and 1975 and won a title in '74. Mike moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1976 and to West Haven in 1977, where he won the Eastern League Championship. He compiled a 331-221 minor league managing record, a .600 percentage.
Ferraro played four years in the majors. He was with the Yankees in 1966 and 1968, was a member of the expansion Seattle Pilots in 1969 and moved with them to Milwaukee, where he finished his career with the Brewers in 1972, his best year in the majors, hitting .255 in 124 games.
Mike played baseball, basketball and football at Kingston High School. His hometown folks honored him with a day at Yankee Stadium when he came in with the Brewers in 1972. Mike rooted for the Yankees and Mickey Mantle as a youngster growing up in Kingston.
He holds the major league record (tied) for most assists in a game (nine innings) by a third baseman when he had 11 on September 14, 1968."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
CHARLEY LAU (Coach)
"Ever wonder why some members of the visiting team huddle around the Yankee batting cage hours before a game? One look at number 40 and the lesson he is giving and you're sure to find your answer. Charley Lau, the premier batting instructor in all baseball, is in the process of teaching Yankee hitters patience at the plate, proper extension of the arms after the swing and other fine points of batting.
Reggie Jackson, Bucky Dent, Rick Cerone and a host of others join together and give praise to Charley for the fine work he's done with the offensive half of their game."
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"Lau enters his third year on the Yankee coaching staff after spending eight years with the Royals as their special hitting instructor.
He's regarded as one of the top hitting instructors in the game. In 1980 the Yankee hitters were second in the league in home runs and runs scored under his tutelage. Charley is given much of the credit for the Royals' success at the plate and the development of such hitters as George Brett and Hal McRae. He's the author of 'The Art of Hitting .300,' published by Dutton in 1980.
Charley had an 11-year major league career, highlighted by his catching 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 tied major league records.
Lau finished his big league career in 1967, playing for Baltimore and Atlanta. He coached with the Orioles in 1969, and the A's in 1970 before joining the Royals in 1971."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
JEFF TORBORG (Coach)
"After managing the Cleveland Indians for three seasons, Jeff Torborg joined the Yankee coaching staff of August of 1979 and came home. New Jersey-born and bred, Jeff is a graduate of Rutgers, where he starred in baseball, and Montclair State, where he earned his Master's degree in athletic administration. This season, Jeff will turn his talents toward the Yankee bullpen and work with the catching corps.
During his playing days, Jeff saw duty with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the California Angels. In over 10 active summers, Jeff had the pleasure of catching three no-hitters off some very impressive names: Sandy Koufax ('65), Bill Singer ('70) and Nolan Ryan ('73)."
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"Torborg joined the Yankee coaching staff on August 1, 1979 after his dismissal as manager of the Indians on July 23. He had managed the Tribe since June 19, 1977. Prior to that, he was a coach for the Indians beginning with the 1975 season, serving under Frank Robinson.
Jeff played ten years in the majors, seven with the Dodgers and three with the Angels, and played for the World Champion Dodgers in 1965 and their National League pennant winner in 1966. He caught two no-hitters with the Dodgers, by Sandy Koufax in 1965 and Bill Singer in 1970, and also caught a Nolan Ryan no-hitter with the Angels in 1973; the major league record is four by Ray Schalk. Jeff also was behind the plate when Don Drysdale threw his fifth consecutive shutout in 1968, and caught Koufax and Ryan when they set single-season strikeout records. He retired after the '73 season.
A native of northern Jersey, Torborg earned a B.S. in education from Rutgers, and has a Masters's degree in athletic administration from Montclair State; his thesis was on the effect of platooning in baseball. In his senior year at Rutgers, Jeff hit .537 to lead the NCAA in batting, setting a record that still stands. This is Jeff's last season as a Yankee coach, as he will become the head baseball coach at Princeton University in 1982."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
STAN WILLIAMS (Coach)
"When Stan Williams was the pitching coach in Boston in 1975, the Red Sox won a pennant. When he coached for the White Sox in 1977, they challenged for the A.L. West title for the first time in years. When he served Gene Michael as the pitching coach at Columbus in 1979, the Clippers ran off with the International League title.
The next odd year in that sequence is 1981, and Stan finds himself tutoring a pitching staff that finished second in the A.L. in ERA, and first in shutouts, saves and fewest home runs allowed just a year ago. Who knows what 1981 will bring for the Yankees and their moundsmen?"
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"Williams enters his second season as the Yankee pitching coach. In 1980, the Yankees were second in the A.L. in ERA and led the league in shutouts, saves and fewest home runs allowed. This is his third year in the Yankee organization, as he served as Gene Michael's pitching coach for the International League Champion Columbus Clippers in 1979. Prior to that he was Bob Lemon's pitching coach with the White Sox in 1977 and '78. He previously served as the Red Sox pitching coach in their pennant winning 1975 season, and in 1976.
Stan pitched for 21 years, finishing as player-manager at Bristol in 1974. He came up to the majors with the Dodgers in 1958 and pitched a 2-hit, 1-0 shutout in Wrigley Field in his debut. He made a relief appearance against the White Sox in the 1959 World Series. Stan spent five years with the Dodgers, winning 57 games, and then was traded to the Yankees for Bill Skowron on November 26, 1962.
Williams pitched two years with the Yankees and then was traded to the Indians where he remained from 1965 through 1969. He went to the Twins after '69 along with Luis Tiant in exchange for Dean Chance, Bob Miller, Ted Uhlander and Graig Nettles. Stan appeared in 68 games for the Twins in 1970, going 10-1 with a 1.99 ERA. He finished up with the Red Sox in 1972.
Stan managed Ponce in the Puerto Rican Winter League this past year and had Dennis Werth, Joe Lefebvre, Mike Griffin, Tim Lollar, Chris Welsh and Pat Tabler playing for him."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
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