"A key acquisition by the Yankees in late spring, he provided them a steady .300 bat and much-needed speed on the basepaths. Mumphrey led the club in hitting and stolen bases, but despite his great speed, he had his problems defensively in Yankee Stadium's spacious center field and seemed uncertain at times. The Yanks gave up Ruppert Jones, their previous center fielder, plus three prospects- Joe Lefebvre, Tim Lollar and Chris Welsh- to get him and John Pacella.
Mumphrey signed a six-year, $3.9-million contract, passing up the 1981 free agent draft. He was felled by an ankle injury late in the season, but it wasn't serious.
Jerry was born in Tyler, Texas."
-Bill Madden, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1982 Edition
"After five seasons in the National League (four with the St. Louis Cardinals and one with the San Diego Padres), Jerry Mumphrey found himself in the honored pinstripes for the 1981 season. Playing the pivotal position in the Yankee outfield, Jerry responded as his predecessors in center field would have liked to have seen him respond: a .307 batting average and a swiftness in the outfield Yankee fans haven't enjoyed since the departure of Mickey Rivers.
The 30-year-old speedster from Tyler, Texas was one of only four National League outfielders who handled over 400 chances in 1980. His .298 average with 59 RBIs and 52 stolen bases proved how well he could play once given the full reign over center field as he was in San Diego.
Adjusting his defense to the vast expanse of Yankee Stadium's center field wasn't a difficult task for Jerry, who enters his second Yankee season. Flagging down those long fly balls, driving in key baserunners and stealing those all-important bases, Jerry hopes the Bronx Bombers roll right through October for another crack at the World Championship."
-The New York Yankees Official 1982 Yearbook
"Acquired just before the start of the 1981 season and inserted into center field next to his former San Diego teammate Winfield, Mumphrey led the team in batting average, .307, and had the longest hitting streak of the season by a Yankee, 14 games (April 19-May 5). He led the team with a .322 average in the first half and had two four-hit games, June 5 against Chicago and a 4-for-4 game against Milwaukee on September 9. Jerry led Yankee outfielders with five assists.
Jerry would have had a better season but was slowed by two injuries. Starting May 10, he missed 13 games with a pulled left thigh muscle and on September 14 sprained his left ankle, an injury that kept him out of action until the final weekend of the season. Jerry played well in the ALCS, batting .500.
He was named to the Gulf Coast League All-Star team in 1971. In 1980 with San Diego, he finally became a regular center fielder and established a Padre record with 27 consecutive stolen bases from June 3 until caught by Bob Boone in Philadelphia on August 21. Jerry finished that season with 52 steals in 57 tries, joining Gene Richards (61) and Ozzie Smith (57) as the first trio from one team in National League history to steal over 50 bases in one season. He has a lifetime stolen base percentage of .701 (131-for-187) and lifetime is a .293 hitter left-handed and .271 right-handed. 12 of his 18 major league homers have been hit left-handed.
Mumphrey earned 12 letters at Chapel High in Tyler, Texas. He was named all-district in baseball, football and basketball and was also on the track team. His hobbies are hunting and fishing."
-1982 New York Yankees Media Guide
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