1982 Profile: Dave Righetti

"Righetti was named AL Rookie of the Year for '81 but fell just shy of enough innings to qualify for the ERA crown. He was the last pitcher cut in spring training, but was called up on May 21 after compiling a 5-0 record and 1.00 ERA for the Clippers. Righetti credits Columbus pitching coach Sammy Ellis for his development. 'He taught me to grow up.'
Born in San Jose, California, his father, Pinky Righetti, was a minor league shortstop in the Braves organization. The Yankees acquired Dave from Texas in the deal that sent Sparky Lyle to the Rangers. He had been scouted by the Yankees' Jerry Walker, who told then-Yankee president Al Rosen, 'This kid can be another Ron Guidry and if you ever have the chance to get him, do it.'"

-Bill Madden, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1982 Edition

"The warm weather on the West Coast is advantageous to the athlete lucky enough to call California home. As a youngster growing up in San Jose, this 6'3", 198-pounder used that advantage to its fullest. He was able to practice through the winter months, day after day, perfecting his technique in the sunshine whenever necessary.
As the first-round selection in the January 1977 Free Agent Draft, Dave was out to show Texas that practice makes perfect. At Asheville he went 11-3 with over 100 strikeouts. The next season, at Tulsa, he was 5-5 with 127 strikeouts. In the big Sparky Lyle deal between the Yankees and Texas, the name Dave Righetti seemed to be a throw-in. Little did the Rangers know, but Dave was the one man the Yankees were insistent on getting in that off-season deal in the winter of '78.
Finally, last season, after a 5-0 start with the Clippers, Dave came on to earn an 8-4 record in New York and win the American League's Rookie of the Year award. He also went on to beat Milwaukee twice in the divisional playoffs and defeat Oakland in the ALCS.
Look for the 23-year-old, sandy-haired left-hander to come on like gangbusters in 1982. Like the song says, 'If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere.' Welcome to New York, New York Dave!"

-The New York Yankees Official 1982 Yearbook

"Righetti was named American League Rookie of the Year in 1981. After a disappointing 1980 season at AAA, he solved his control problems. He was 5-0 with a 1.00 ERA at Columbus when recalled by the Yankees on May 21 and won his first major league game with an impressive performance against Cleveland on May 23. Dave also won at Cleveland and Kansas City for a 3-0 first-half record with a 1.50 ERA.
The Yankees scored a total of only six runs in his four losses. Dave had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of better than 2:1 and opposing hitters had only a combined average of .196 against him (lowest in the AL). He struck out a career high of 11 Boston batters on September 11. Dave narrowly missed winning the AL ERA crown with a 2.06 ERA- he fell just 1.2 innings short of qualifying. In 15 starts, he only once failed to make it through the sixth inning.
In the postseason, Dave started Game 2 of the Eastern Division Series at Milwaukee and combined with Ron Davis and Goose Gossage for a 3-0 shutout. He came in to relieve Guidry in Game 5 of the Division Series in New York and was the winner. Dave also won the clinching game of the ALCS, Game 3 at Oakland, but started and got a no-decision in Game 3 of the World Series.
Righetti made his major league on September 16, 1979 against Detroit at Yankee Stadium on Catfish Hunter Day with no decision. He was named to the Topps National Association Class AA All-Star team in 1979. On July 16, 1978 for Tulsa, he struck out 21 batters at Midland, striking out the side four times and having a stretch of seven straight K's.
Dave grew up in San Jose where he was All-League in baseball at Pioneer High School, and also played basketball. A Giants and A's fan growing up, he played against Red Sox third baseman Carney Lansford in American Legion ball. He attended San Jose City College where he was a teammate of Blue Jay pitcher Dave Stieb and won JC Player of the Year honors in 1977. His brother Steve is in the Texas organization and his father is a former minor league shortstop, and the first time he saw Dave pitch professionally was in the clinching game of the ALCS in Oakland."

-1982 New York Yankees Media Guide