"Cerone incurred the wrath of owner George Steinbrenner by winning a $440,000 salary arbitration after the 1980 season, and never heard the end of it as his average took a tumble last year. Nevertheless, trade rumors must be discounted since he gave the Yanks excellent defense behind the plate. His bat needs another look in a season not interrupted by a strike. Cerone was also sidelined for a month from April to May with a broken thumb. He wants to be in there every day.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Cerone was the Indians' No. 1 draft pick in 1974. The Yanks got him in a steal of a deal with Toronto, who got Chris Chambliss, then traded him away.
Cerone took more heat from Steinbrenner during the World Series, but afterward, the Yankee boss said, 'I know Rick Cerone never failed to give me his all.'"
-Bill Madden, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1982 Edition
"You don't have to be Italian to love this 5'11", 185-pound backstop who wears the Yankee pinstripes on his heart as well as on his back. You don't even have to be from New Jersey, where he was born and raised, to admit that Rick Cerone is your favorite Yankee. All you have to do is admire his hustle on the basepaths, a fierce amount of desire and determination at the plate, and one of the most handsome smiles ever to crease the face of someone in a Yankee uniform.
Rick has impressed the hometown fans ever since his first year in pinstripes during the 1980 season. That year, under intense pressure, Rick hit .278 with 10 game-winning RBIs and 85 total runs batted in. With a broken thumb last season, Rick struggled somewhat at the plate, but his popularity increased with his fine defensive play and his outstanding .333 average against the Brewers in the AL Eastern Division playoffs.
This season you might not notice the little things Rick does to keep a pitcher's concentration in check or how when batting he turns his wrists to help ice another Yankee victory, but you can be sure opposing managers will be paying very close attention."
-The New York Yankees Official 1982 Yearbook
"Cerone's production was off slightly in 1981 from the 1980 season, mainly because he broke his right thumb on a foul tip in Texas on April 18 and missed 32 games because of the injury. He was reactivated on May 24 and the next day started on a 12-game hitting game hitting streak, the second longest of the season by a Yankee.
Rick broke up Bob Ojeda's no-hitter with a pinch-hit leadoff double in the ninth inning against the Red Sox at the Stadium on September 12. He hit two home runs in '81, both at Yankee Stadium, and topped the Yankees with five RBIs in the Division Series against Milwaukee.
Called up to the majors on August 15, 1975 after just 46 games in the minors, Rick's first big league hit came off Paul Splittorff on August 22. In 1976, he was the International League All-Star catcher.
Rick was the Blue Jays Opening Day catcher in 1977, but broke his thumb five days into the season. He worked himself back into shape at Charleston and celebrated his return to the big leagues with a home run off Nellie Briles. Rick ended Mitchell Page's consecutive base stealing streak at 26, and in 1978 ended Ron LeFlore's streak at 27. In 1979 he was voted the most improved player by the Toronto BBWAA.
In 1980 Rick responded to a pressure-filled first Yankee season by being named to the UPI and Sporting News AL All-Star teams, and finished seventh in the MVP voting. On May 26 he drove in six runs, including his first career grand slam. All six RBIs came after the man in front of him was intentionally walked.
A local product, he grew up in Newark and had an outstanding career at Seton Hall, where he was a two-time All-American. He played in the College World Series in 1974 and 1975 and hit .410 his senior year ('75) with school records of 15 homers, 64 RBIs and 125 total bases. Rick was an Academic All-American in '75, had a .362 career batting average at Seton Hall and also was on the fencing team. He holds a B.S. in physical education.
Rick played baseball, football and fenced at Essex Catholic High. As a quarterback he threw 13 touchdown passes for a 6-0-2 team.
He enjoys golf, racquetball and photography. Rick was nicknamed the 'Italian Stallion' by broadcaster Phil Rizzuto."
-1982 New York Yankees Media Guide
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