BILLY MARTIN (Manager)
"One more time.
'We've had the experience twice,' said George Steinbrenner. 'That's a plus, not a negative. I'd rather take my chances with someone I've been down the road with before rather than someone new.' So fiery, combative Billy, hired for the first time as Yank manager in 1975 and second time in 1979, starts anew on a five-year contract after being fired at Oakland, where he piloted the A's into the playoffs in 1981.
On the field, Martin has been a winner everywhere, going back to his playing days on seven Yankee World Series teams. He won division titles with the Twins in 1969 and Tigers in 1972 before winning AL pennants with the Yankees in '76 and '77. His '77 club won the World Series over the Dodgers.
Billy batted .257 lifetime for his 12-year career as an infielder, but had a .333 mark in the World Series."
-Ken Nigro, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1983 Edition
"Brash, irrepressible, unpredictable ... a winner!
Long one of the most popular Yankees to wear the pinstripes, Billy has returned for 1983 with one goal in mind ...
'We will be happy with nothing less than a World Championship,' says Billy, who promises to bring the best out of the Yankees this season. 'It will take a lot of hard work, but we'll make a good showing. The fans of New York deserve another championship.'
The legacy of Billy Martin's career with the Yankees spans generations, dating back to the '50s when Martin played his heart out at second base, 1950-53, and later on, 1955-57. But it's his World Series play that lives forever in the minds of Yankee fans everywhere. Remember his famous desperation catch of Jackie Robinson's infield pop-up that clinched the '52 World Series? And how about Billy's .333 batting average in five World Series as a Yankee? And, of course, Billy led the Yankees to two World Series, with a World Championship in 1977.
After three years at the Oakland helm, Billy returns home, thanks to a long-term agreement with the Yankees. Always a winner, always a crowd pleaser ... and a Yankee through and through.
Welcome home, Billy! It's great to have you back again!"
-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook
"Known for his fiery and exciting managerial style, Martin is considered a master of baseball strategy and, more than most managers, is able to dictate the tempo of his team and the game. He's a four-time Manager of the Year award winner (1974, '76, '80 and '81) and one of the few active major league managers with a winning record, .544 (1,031-863).
Billy is a former Yankee player and one of 25 men to have managed the Yankees, but one of only seven to have led the Yankees to a World Championship (1977), joining Huggins, McCarthy, Harris, Stengel, Houk and Lemon. He's the first to have managed the Yankees on three different occasions.
He first joined the Yankees as manager in mid-1975, and the next season led the team to their first AL pennant in 12 years. Martin guided the Yankees to a another pennant in 1977 and a World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first Yankee World Championship since 1962. He began his second term as Yankee skipper in June 1979, replacing Bob Lemon. Martin has managed five different American League clubs, taking four of them to postseason play (1969 Twins, 1972 Tigers, 1976 and '77 Yankees, 1981 A's) and the other club to a second place finish (1974 Rangers).
Billy was an outstanding major player and a member of six Yankee pennant winners (1950-53, 1955-56) playing for Casey Stengel. He was a favorite of Casey, with whom he had a father-son type of relationship. Billy had a .333 lifetime World Series batting average, made a famous catch in the 1952 Series off Jackie Robinson and batted .500 in the 1953 Series, winning the Babe Ruth Award. He was named to the 1956 AL All-Star team and during his 12-year major league career also played for the A's, Tigers, Indians, Reds, Braves and Twins.
Born and raised in Berkeley, California, Billy graduated from Berkeley High School in 1946 and maintains his permanent residence in Blackhawk, California."
-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide
YOGI BERRA (Coach)
"There isn't a baseball fan alive who doesn't recognize the name 'Yogi Berra.' He's long been a living Yankee legend- first, as one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, then later as a coach and manager.
For those interested in Yogi's accomplishments as a player, try these: he caught in more than 2,000 games, collected more than 2,000 base hits, blasted more than 350 home runs and participated in more World Series (21) than anyone who's ever played the game. Plus, of course, he was named Most Valuable Player three times, played in 15 All-Star Games and is rightfully a member of baseball's Hall of Fame.
From the more personal view, Yogi is, well, Yogi ... a much respected, loyal Yankee employee who has countless friends in and out of the game. Sure, the many 'Yogi-isms' he's supposed to have uttered add a certain luster to his public image, but there's more to Lawrence Peter Berra, much more- and Yankee fans love him for all he's done for their favorite team."
-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook
"One of baseball's most beloved and recognized celebrities, Yogi 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 21 Series, a record 14 as a player, four as a Yankee coach, one as a Mets coach and one each managing the Yankees and Mets. Yogi holds Series playing records for games, at-bats, hits, singles, consecutive errorless games (30) and he hit a grand slam (1956). A three-time AL 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 was an American League record, being surpassed only last season by Detroit's Lance Parrish. Yogi 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, Larry Jr. played in the Mets organization, and Tim was a wide receiver for the football Giants and Colts. Yogi and his sons run a racquetball club in New Jersey."
-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide
DON ZIMMER (Coach)
"Remember the Yankees' pulsating playoff victory over the Red Sox back in 1978? Don Zimmer certainly does, and not at all fondly because he happened to be managing the Red Sox at the time.
Still, he's willing to let bygones be bygones- enough so that he willingly accepted the Yankees' offer to serve as coach starting this season.
'If you can't beat'em, join'em,' Zimmer joked as he accepted the post, which followed a managerial stint with the Texas Rangers.
Zimmer brings considerable coaching and managing experience to the Bronx. In addition to managing the Padres, Red Sox and Rangers, he's also served as a coach for the Expos, the Padres and the Red Sox, plus several seasons of managing in the minors.
A shortstop during his playing career, Zimmer spent 12 years in the majors, mostly with the Brooklyn-Los Angeles Dodgers."
-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook
"Zimmer joins the Yankee coaching staff, replacing Joe Altobelli, and has nine years of major league managing experience. He managed the Red Sox and narrowly missed winning the 1978 AL East, losing the famous play-off game at Fenway to the Yankees.
Don played in the major leagues for 12 seasons, mainly as a shortstop, and during his professional career has played every position on the field. Two serious injuries hampered his career, being hit in the head by a pitch while playing for St. Paul in 1953, and being struck in the face by a pitch while playing for Brooklyn in 1956. Both times Don was hitting .300 at the time of the injury and was forced out of action for the remainder of the season.
Zim married his high school sweetheart at home plate in Elmira, New York on August 16, 1951."
-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide
JEFF TORBORG (Coach)
"You'll always see a smile on the face of this handsome, well-spoken Yankee coach, who is a former major league catcher and manager.
Now serving as bullpen coach, Torborg enters his fifth season on the Yankee staff. In addition to his baseball acumen, he's also the holder of a BA degree in education from Rutgers University and a Master's degree from Montclair State.
During his Dodger playing career, Torborg caught no-hitters tossed by Bill Singer and Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. Later he caught a no-hitter thrown by Nolan Ryan (with the Angels). Torborg spent 10 seasons in the majors and was always highly regarded for his backstop abilities.
A native of northern New Jersey, Torborg once hit .537 for Rutgers, setting an NCAA record that still stands. Now 41 years old, Torborg still keeps himself in prime shape and takes his coaching role seriously.
In all ways, Jeff Torborg is an asset to the Yankee coaching staff."
-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook
"Torborg joined the Yankee 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 and prior to that was a coach for the Indians beginning with the 1975 season, serving under Frank Robinson.
Jeff played 10 years in the majors, seven with the Dodgers and three with the Angels. He played on the World Champion Dodgers in 1965 and on their NL 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 was also 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, Jeff earned a B.S. in education from Rutgers and has a Masters degree in athletic administration from Montclair State. His thesis was on the effects of platooning in baseball. In his senior year at Rutgers, Jeff hit .537 to lead the NCAA in batting and set a record that still stands."
-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide
ROY WHITE (Coach)
"As much as anyone who's ever worn the pinstripes, Roy White bridges several distinct eras of Yankees history. First, he was scouted and signed in 1961, the height of the dynasty. He then played left field in his smooth, distinguished style for the Yankees from 1965 through the championship years of the late '70s.
And now, of course, he's back- this time as a coach- and the likable silken-voiced gentleman who wore jersey No. 6 for so long couldn't be happier.
'Just as I felt 1979 was the right time to leave the Yankees, I feel this is the right time to be coming back,' he says. For the past three seasons, he had continued his playing career with the Yorimuri Giants of Tokyo, where he became one of the most popular Americans in Japanese pro baseball. 'I'm looking forward to wearing those pinstripes again,' says Roy.
And all Yankee fans- dating back to White's years as a coolly efficient performer- welcome him back."
-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook
"One of the all-time Yankee favorites, White returns to the Yankees as coach after a three-year 'second career' in Japan. He ranks among the all-time top 20 Yankees in stolen bases (2nd with 233), games played (6th with 1,881), runs scored (8th with 964), hits (8th with 1,803), doubles (10th with 300), RBIs (11th with 758) and home runs (16th with 160).
Roy's career spans several distinct eras of Yankee history. He was scouted and signed by the Yankee organization in 1961 at the height of the Yankee dynasty. After several impressive minor league seasons, Roy received his first taste of the major leagues in 1965, the beginning of the 'lean years' for the Yankees. His career matured and blossomed as the Yankees were rebuilding and developing into the AL pennant winners of '76, '77 and '78 and World Series champions of '77 and '78. Roy then played three years with the Yorimuri Giants of Japan's Central League.
The only Yankee outfielder ever to field 1.000 for a season, Roy was originally signed as an infielder, but Bobby Richardson's presence brought about the switch. He switch-hit home runs in a game five times and also switch-hit triples in a game once.
Roy was raised in Compton, California with such future big leaguers as Reggie Smith, Dock Ellis, Dave Nelson, Don Wilson and Bobby Tolan."
-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide
ART FOWLER (Coach)
"Billy Martin has said, 'you couldn't pay Art Fowler enough to leave me.' That's how much the Yankee manager respects and appreciates Fowler's loyalty. Art has worked for Martin in Minnesota, Detroit, Texas, New York and Oakland before returning to the Yankees for a second time. It is interesting to note that Ron Guidry enjoyed his three best seasons while Fowler was the Yankees pitching coach in 1977-79.
Art pitched until he was 48 years old and saw service with 12 different minor league teams, winning 205 games in his minor league career. Fowler also pitched in 57 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 1963 at the age of 41. He started his pro career in 1944 with Bristol (Tennessee) of the Appalachian League."
-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook
"Fowler joins the Yankees as pitching coach for the second time. He has worked under Martin in Minnesota, Detroit, Texas, New York and Oakland.
His professional playing career spanned 25 years, starting in 1944 in Bristol of the Appalachian League, and he won 54 games in his nine major league seasons. At the age of 41 in 1963, Art pitched in 57 games for the Angels for a 5-3 record and 2.43 ERA, being used in relief.
Art joined forces with Billy Martin for the first time in 1968 when Billy was sent to manage Denver for the Twins, and coached at Minnesota for Billy in 1969. He then went back to Denver as a player-coach in 1970 and was still pitching at age 48. Art then joined Billy as pitching coach at Detroit in 1971-73, went to Texas with Billy in 1974-75, New York in 1977-79 and Oakland in 1980-82.
Art won 205 games in his minor league career."
-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide
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