1983 Profile: Roger Erickson

"For Roger Erickson, 1983 will be his first full season in Pinstripes. Prior to his being traded to the Yankees on May 12, 1982 with catcher Butch Wynegar, all Roger's experience had been with the Minnesota Twins organization.
After coming to the Yankees, he compiled a record of 4-5 with one save- that save was the first of his major league career. Add the 4-3 record he brought from the Twins, and Roger had his first .500 season since his rookie year in 1978. '82 was cut short for Roger when on August 6 he was put on the disabled list where he stayed for the remainder of the season.
Roger Farrell Erickson is ready to make his career the success the Yankees expect it to be. Good control and consistency are what he brought east, and these qualities are always welcome in the Bronx. An injury free 1983 should be Mr. Erickson's most successful of his major league career."

-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook

"Erickson began the 1982 season with Minnesota compiling a 4-3 record in seven appearances. He was traded to the Yankees on May 12 with Butch Wynegar in exchange for Larry Milbourne, John Pacella and Pete Filson. Roger was winless in his first nine appearances as a Yankee, then from July 2-22, his next five appearances, won four starts and earned his first major league save. Roger pitched and lost in a doubleheader on August 3 against Chicago and three days later was placed on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder. He did not pitch for the rest of the season.
Before his trade to the Yankees he had spent his entire career in the Twins organization. Erickson spent a full season with the Twins in just his second professional season (1978) and tied for the distinction of being the big leagues' winningest rookie that year with Kansas City's Rich Gale and Pittsburgh's Don Robinson. He was named the Twin City's Baseball Writers' Rookie of the Year. In August 1981 Roger tried to stop one of Kirk Gibson's line drives with his bare throwing hand and broke his right index finger.
Roger played baseball at Springfield (IL) Junior College and at the University of New Orleans where he earned second-team All-South recognition."

-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide