"Erickson slumped a bit after a 'comeback' season in 1980 and had only one complete game. In '80, he had seven complete games but lost five of them. He underwent elbow surgery after the 1979 season, but Twins catcher Butch Wynegar reported in '80 that Erickson had lost none of the zip on his fastball. As his ERA indicated again last year, he is still the victim of little support from his light-hitting teammates.
Born in Springfield, Illinois, he made the big jump from Class AA ball to the Twins in 1978 after just one season in the minor leagues."
-Bill Madden, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1982 Edition
"The trade that brought Roger Erickson to the Yankees on May 12 could be a turning point in his career. Last year with the Minnesota Twins, Roger injured his hand on August 18 trying to field a line drive off the bat of Kirk Gibson with his bare throwing hand, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
The 6'3", 183-pound Erickson was drafted by the Twins in the 3rd round of the June 1977 draft, and one year later was promoted to the big leagues. That year, 1978, he was tied for most wins as a rookie in the major leagues with 14.
Hopefully, the 25-year-old Illinois native will bring to New York what he gave to Minnesota during the past three and half seasons- experience and consistency."
-The New York Yankees Official 1982 Yearbook
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