YOGI BERRA (Manager)
"Back for a second consecutive year at the Yankee helm, which must be some kind of record in the George Steinbrenner regime. The owner cast an uncharacteristic vote for stability when he decided to retain him during the off-season.
The Hall of Fame catcher and master of malapropisms was hired for a second stint as Yankee manager prior to the 1984 season. He led the club to the best second half record in the majors last season, saving his job- for the moment.
Yogi managed the Yankees to the AL pennant in his other season at the helm, 1964, but was replaced by Johnny Keane, whose Cardinals handed the Yankees a seven-game World Series defeat that season. Yogi managed the Mets from 1972 until August 1975, guiding them to a National League pennant in 1973.
He was selected AL MVP three times and chosen as an All-Star 15 times during his playing career as a Yankee catcher and outfielder. Yogi has been involved in 21 Series, 14 as a player, and holds Series records for games (75), at-bats (259) and hits (71).
Yogi coached with the Yanks in 1963 and from 1976-83, and with the Mets from 1965-71. He manages his son Dale for the first time in 1985.
Born in St. Louis, his composite major league managerial record is 478-434. Yogi is patient with Yankee youngsters and popular with New York fans. His real name is Lawrence.
Yogi is one of a kind."
-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1985 Edition
"'There is no place I'd rather be than with the New York Yankees,' says manager Yogi Berra. Good thing, because 1985 marks Berra's 29th year of service in the Yankee organization. As a player, the Hall of Fame catcher set numerous records and played on 10 World Championship teams, and he is only one of five managers to have represented both leagues in the World Series. Managing a World Champion is the only thing missing from Berra's resume.
After a slow start kept Yogi and the Yankees out of the pennant race in 1984, Berra initiated the New Era in Yankees baseball by mixing his lineup with veterans and young players. The chemistry and the team turned in the best record in baseball (51-30) after the All-Star break.
'Yogi did a very credible job of blending young talent,' says Principal Owner George Steinbrenner. 'We are hoping we get off to a fast start in '85, something we did not do in '84.'
Nothing would please Yogi more. Referring to the Detroit Tigers' major league record-setting start in 1984, Yogi says, 'Gimme 35-5, then you catch me!'
Yogi had a busy off-season. He and his wife, Carmen, were guests of President and Mrs. Reagan at a special White House dinner. Berra also acquired his son, Dale, from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a December trade. Now he and his players are ready for business in 1985.
'The fans have been good to me and so has everybody connected with the organization,' Yogi adds. 'My main goal is to give George Steinbrenner and all Yankee fans a winner in 1985.'
With an outstanding lineup, a fine stable of pitchers, an experienced coaching staff and Yogi at the helm, no one will be disappointed."
-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook
"One of baseball's most beloved and recognized celebrities, Yogi was named Yankee manager on December 16, 1983, his second time as Yankee manager. In his first stint, 1964, he guided the Yankees to the AL pennant, losing the World Series in seven games to St. Louis. Yogi was a coach and a manager with the Mets from 1965 to 1975 and 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 in 1982 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 now plays for Yogi on the Yankees, the first real father/son combination in major league history (Earl Mack played a total of five games over three years under his famous father, manager Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A's). Yogi's son Larry Jr. played in the Mets organization and his son Tim was a wide receiver with the football Giants and Colts. Yogi and his sons run a racquetball club in New Jersey."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
MEET THE MANAGER: YOGI BERRA
"One would be hard-pressed to discuss baseball without talking about the New York Yankees, a team whose history is loaded with sports legends and winning seasons. The Yankee manager in 1985, Lawrence Peter Berra, is in all respects a baseball legend and has always been a symbol of the fine Yankee winning tradition.
Yogi Berra is a winner, in every sense of the word. It would be impossible to list every one of Yogi's numerous on-the-field accomplishments and his many records, but let it be stated that he is without question one of the game's all-time greats. As a player, coach and manager with the Yankees, he gave new meaning to the words winning and tradition.
A member of the Yankees organization for 29 years, Berra so far has been a part of 18 pennant winning teams and 12 World Championship clubs. Berra joined the team as a player in 1946, and from 1947 (his first full season) to 1963 (his last full season), he was the backbone of the Yankees. These Berra-led teams were in the pennant race every one of those seasons.
During his 18-year playing career with the Yankees, Berra set several major league records. He was selected to the American League All-Star team 15 consecutive years, from 1948-62, and holds several All-Star Game records. He played in 14 World Series, more than any other player in history. And not only did he make it to the World Series, but made his presence known with many clutch postseason performances. He has played in more Series games than any other player, is first in World Series at-bats, hits and doubles and is among the leaders in many other categories. He hit the first pinch-hit home run in World Series history in Game 3 of the 1947 Series, and he caught Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956, the only perfect game in World Series competition.
After demonstrating his ability on the field, Berra became a player/coach for the Yankees in 1963. The following season, 1964, he took over the reins as the team manager. Yogi captured the AL pennant in '64 but was released by the management after the Yankees lost the World Series in seven games to the Cardinals. The decision to fire Berra was made at mid-season while the team was slumping. The decision, as it turned out, was a costly one.
The Yankees lost Berra's services for 11 seasons, 1965-75. Berra became a player/coach with the Mets in 1965, playing in four Met games that year. From 1966-71 he served only as a coach, and was the Mets manager from 1972-75. During that period, while Yogi managed the Mets to the National League pennant in 1973, the Yankees went dry, not making one postseason appearance in those 11 years.
Yogi rejoined the team as a coach in 1976 and, sure enough, the Yankees responded by winning the AL pennant. The following two seasons, the Bronx Bombers won back-to-back World Championships. The won the AL East in 1980 and captured the pennant in 1981.
Coincidence? Maybe, but don't put anything past a man who has so far been in a total of 21 World Series. In 1984, 20 years after he last managed the team, Yogi was again named to manage the Yankees. After a slow start hurt their pennant hopes, Berra rallied his troops to the best record in baseball after the All-Star break.
The Yankees rebounded to that second-half mark only after they turned their future over to their younger players. Yogi went with the youngsters, he stuck with them, and in the end his decision paid off big. If the Yankees continue to depend on young players, they couldn't have a better person to lead them than Yogi Berra. No man could better demonstrate what winning is all about.
Besides his 21 World Series appearances, Yogi is one of only five managers to have ever won pennants in both leagues. He was named AL Most Valuable Player three times and was recognized as one of the greatest catchers of all time. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972, and the Yankees retired his uniform number 8 (also worn by [and retired for] Bill Dickey) in 1972.
Before the 1985 season even began, Yogi had set yet another record. When the Yankees gave Yogi an early Christmas present by acquiring his son Dale in a trade with Pittsburgh, the Berras became baseball's first bona fide father/son tandem. (Earl Mack played a total of five games over three years with the Philadelphia A's under his father/manager Connie Mack, but never appeared in more than two games in a season.)
After the trade Yogi said of managing his son, 'If he can play, he plays. If he don't do the job, he sits.' This is just one of many notable quotes attributed to Yogi. He is without question one of the most popular people to ever wear a baseball uniform, and his off-the-field manner and many quotes, often called 'Yogi-isms,' have made him a national celebrity for over 35 years. During the '84 off-season Yogi and his wife Carmen were guests of President and Mrs. Reagan.
Yogi has certainly given Yankee fans a wealth of memories. Perhaps Yogi's most famous phrase was, 'It ain't over 'til it's over,' and before this new era in Yankee baseball is over, let's hope Yogi can lead the Yanks all the way to the top."
-Charles J. Alfaro, New York Yankees 1985 Scorebook and Souvenir Program
MEET THE COACHES
"A youth movement has begun in Yankee baseball, as the Yankees have turned to a group of talented young ballplayers to lead them in 1985. An experienced coaching staff will play an important role in making these youngsters into a strong team of contenders.
Manager Yogi Berra, in his second consecutive year at the helm of the Yankees, is pleased to know that four out of five members from last year's coaching staff have returned to lead the team again in 1985. The veterans on the staff include Mark Connor, Gene Michael, Lou Piniella and Jeff Torborg, while Carl 'Stump' Merrill is in his first year.
These five staff members represent not only experience between the lines but demonstrate a complete knowledge of the game of baseball. Between them, the coaches boast former players, coaches, managers and a former general manager.
Gene Michael, the former general manager, will bring a wealth of experience in the team system with him as he flashes the signs as Yogi's third base coach again this year. Besides his stint in the front office, the 'Stick' served the Yankees as a player for seven years, has been a coach, and has managed both in New York and in Columbus.
Jeff Torborg, who also has experience as a major league manager, joins Mark Connor as a co-pitching coach again this year. The 1985 pitching staff is a diverse unit ranging from Phil Niekro, the oldest active player in the majors, to Ron Guidry, a nine-year veteran, to youngsters Joe Cowley and Dennis Rasmussen. It will be up to Connor and Torborg to gel this group into a winning staff. They will also be keeping Dave Righetti, in his second year out of the bullpen, up to the star form he showed in '84. These two fine coaches are up to those challenges.
Jeff Torborg knows all about handling pitchers, having been a major league catcher for 10 seasons. During this time, Jeff caught three no-hit games by pitchers Sandy Koufax, Bill Singer and Nolan Ryan, and was part of the Dodger World Championship team of 1965. After his three-year managerial stay with the Cleveland Indians, Torborg came to New York in 1979 and has been a coach with the club ever since.
Mark Connor will be returning to the staff in 1985 for his first full season after joining the club in June of last year. Mark also knows something about pitching, being a former hurler himself. After a brief two-year career in the Minnesota farm system during the early '70s, Connor joined the Yankees as a minor league pitching instructor in 1980. He worked with the Greensboro club for three years and a season and a half with Columbus before joining the Yankees last season.
With the pitching staff in good hands, the Yankees are depending on hitting instructor Lou Piniella, also in his first full year as a full-time coach, to keep the bats tuned and the hits coming. Lou began his role as the Yanks batting instructor in 1981 while still an active player, and directed his efforts solely to coaching after he officially retired on June 17 of last season. His .295 lifetime average with the team, placing him in the top ten of all-time Yankee hitters, and his .291 career average made Lou one of the toughest and most respected hitters in the game. While fans will miss Lou's bat at the plate, the Yankees are counting on this clutch performer to continue working with our hitters and to keep 1984's top American League batters Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield in stride. 'Sweet Lou,' always popular with the fans, was honored on Lou Piniella Day at the Stadium on August 5, 1984.
Joining the staff this year will be newcomer Carl 'Stump' Merrill. Through Merrill is a rookie with the big club, he is certainly not new to Yankee baseball. He first came to the organization as a minor league pitching coach at West Haven in 1977. Merrill made all the stops on the Yankee ladder as he managed in West Haven for two seasons (1978-79), Nashville the next two seasons, for two more years in Ft. Lauderdale, followed by a year at Columbus. After his teams finished first place an impressive five out of his seven years as a manager, compiling a total record of 584 wins against only 382 losses, Stump was asked to join the Yankees as first base coach in 1985.
The Yankees turned to many young players in 1984, and the result was the winningest record in baseball after the All-Star break. If this new era in Yankee baseball is to continue, a lot will depend on the coaches, and they have to the credentials to meet the challenge."
-Charles J. Alfaro, New York Yankees 1985 Scorebook and Souvenir Program
STUMP MERRILL (Coach)
"The Columbus Clippers (Triple-A) knew what type of man they were losing when their manager, Carl 'Stump' Merrill, was appointed Yankees first base coach for 1985. Upon learning he would have to replace Merrill, Columbus general manager George Sisler, Jr. said his new manager would be, '... following up a fantastic job by Stump Merrill this past (1984) season.'
Fantastic is the only fitting description of the job Merrill has done in the Yankees' farm system. He's been a winner wherever he's been. Since 1978, Merrill has managed at Columbus, Nashville, Ft. Lauderdale and West Haven, finishing in first place five of those seven years, and second the other two seasons. With a managerial record of 584-382 (a .602 winning percentage), it's no wonder manager Yogi Berra asked Merrill to join the Yankees."
-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook
"After spending his entire six-year playing career as a catcher in the Phillies farm system, Merrill joined the Yankees organization in 1977 as pitching coach at West Haven. Prior to the beginning of his professional coaching and managing career, he spent time at his college alma mater (University of Maine, Orono) as assistant baseball coach under the late Jack Butterfield.
Stump joined the managerial ranks in 1978 at West Haven and has led his clubs to the playoffs or to outright championships in five of the last seven years. He guided his 1978 and 1982 teams to league championships and was named manager of the Eastern League All-Star team in 1978. In 1980 Stump was Southern League Manager of the Year and All-Star Manager and led Nashville to a league record 97 wins.
He spends the fall and winter months as offensive backfield coach for the Bowdoin College football team in Brunswick and also enjoys officiating high school basketball."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
GENE MICHAEL (Coach)
"This is Gene Michael's second consecutive season coaching at third base, and he's back there again in 1985 because he proved he had quick intelligence and savvy in the job last year.
Michael's deep knowledge of the game comes from being a Yankee player (the regular shortstop from 1969-73), scout, manager (twice), administrative assistant, general manager and minor league manager. The man knows his baseball, and when the game's on the line and one of your players is heading for third on a single to center field, you want Gene Michael at third base telling him whether to hold up or go home.
You know he'll make the right decision."
-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook
"Stick will be Yogi's third base coach again this year. He has been the field manager twice.
Gene was originally named Yankee manager on November 21, 1980. In 1981, the Yankees were 34-22 and leading the AL Eastern Division by two games on June 12 when the players' strike occurred. The Yankees were eventually declared first-half winners, qualifying for the Division Series in October. Gene was replaced by Bob Lemon as manager on September 6, 1981, yet was named manager of the Yankees for a second time on April 25, 1982, replacing Lemon; under Gene the team was 44-42 when Clyde King was named manager on August 3 of that year.
Stick had previously been Yankees General Manager, being named to that post on November 1, 1979 after serving as the field manager of the AAA Columbus Clippers in 1979. He guided the Clippers to regular season and postseason International League titles after starting the season with 10 straight wins. The Clippers finished 85-54.
Upon his retirement as a player in 1976, Gene was hired as a Yankee coach. He coached first base for the Yankees in 1978 after he had been a front office Administrative Assistant in 1977.
One of the most popular Yankees during his playing career, Gene was the club's regular shortstop from 1969-1973. He mastered the hidden ball trick, pulling it off five times with the Yankees. Gene was a close friend and roommate of the late Thurman Munson.
Gene graduated with a B.S. in education from Kent State where he played basketball. He was pursued by the New York Knicks to play pro basketball."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
MARK CONNOR (Coach)
"Mark Connor is credited with the fast development of Yankees pitchers Dennis Rasmussen, Clay Christiansen and Joe Cowley, and with the impressive transition of Dave Righetti from a starter to the Yankee stopper. He works hard with these bright, young players, and Connor gets annoyed when skeptics question their ability. 'Talk to me in October,' Connor says. 'I've got a lot of confidence in these guys and they've got a lot of confidence in themselves.'
This is Connor's first full season as a major league coach. He was promoted to the Yankees in June of '84 after spending over four years in the team's farm system. Now Connor and co-pitching coach Jeff Torborg plan to show critics of the Yankees pitching staff how wrong they were."
-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook
"Connor was named pitching coach of the Yankees on June 18, 1984. He began the 1984 season in his second year as pitching coach for the Yankees' AAA Columbus farm club.
Mark graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York in 1967 and attended Manhattan College and Belmont Abbey College. He played most of his collegiate baseball at Manhattan and received the Topps Award as a college All-Star in 1970. Mark struck out 20 Columbia University batters in a 1971 game.
He spent two seasons in the Twins' minor league system. Mark joined the Yankees organization as a pitching coach at Greensboro in 1980; prior to that he coached at the high school and college level."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
JEFF TORBORG (Coach)
"It is evident that people are realizing the talent of Jeff Torborg. The Yankees' highly regarded pitching coach was believed to be the leading candidate for the manager job in Seattle, but when it seemed the Yanks might lose Torborg to the Mariners, Principal Owner George Steinbrenner stepped in. Feeling they had enough time to speak with Torborg, Steinbrenner withdrew permission given two weeks earlier for the Mariners to talk with him. And with that, Steinbrenner solidified the Yankees coaching staff for '85 by keeping one its biggest assets in New York.
Torborg, who like manager Yogi Berra has won a World Series as a player, would now like to win one as a coach with the Yankees. 'I'm an organization man,' says Torborg, who is in his seventh season as a Yankees coach. 'I appreciate my position with the Yankees.'
And if Steinbrenner's actions are any indication, the Yankees appreciate Jeff Torborg."
-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook
"Torborg joined the Yankee coaching 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 for no-hitters caught 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. Jeff 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."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
LOU PINIELLA (Coach)
"When the Yankees turned their fortunes over to their young players in 1984, they were lucky to have veteran Lou Piniella around. Mike Pagliarulo, Bobby Meacham and Vic Mata are among those who credit batting coach Piniella for helping them develop into successful major league hitters.
Piniella, one of baseball's toughest and most respected hitters while a player, was immediately moved into the coaching ranks upon his retirement in June of 1984. With Piniella as the full-time hitting instructor, the Yankees boasted the top two AL hitters- Don Mattingly (.343) and Dave Winfield (.340). If last year's batting race was any indication of what he can do in only half a season as a coach, there's no telling what Sweet Lou Piniella can accomplish with Yankee hitters in a full season in 1985."
-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook
"Piniella retired officially on June 17 last season and was named a Yankee coach. He was honored with Lou Piniella Day on August 5.
A consistent player, Lou was recognized as one of baseball's most professional hitters and was always tough for the Yankees in the clutch. His .295 lifetime batting average with the Yankees ranks him in the Yankee all-time top 10.
He was originally signed by Cleveland scout and former Yankee Spud Chandler. He missed most of 1975 with an inner ear problem that required mid-season surgery. Lou returned to regular duty in 1976 and was runner-up to teammate Dock Ellis for Comeback Player of the Year.
Lou was always an excellent postseason performer. In 1977 he hit safely in all five ALCS games and in 1978 hit safely in all six World Series games. Lou hit safely in the first three games of the 1981 World Series to extend his personal World Series hitting streak to nine games; he led all Yankee hitters with a .438 average in the '81 World Series.
In 1981, he led all American League designated hitters (50 or more games as a DH) in batting average (.344) and was second in the league as a pinch hitter (25 or more at-bats) with a .360 average. On August 24 Lou was asked to help the Yankee coaching staff as a batting instructor, working with his teammates on the fine art of hitting.
Lou was always one of the Yankees' most exciting players and fans welcomed each of his at-bats with chants of 'Lou, Lou.' He's a lifetime native of the Tampa, Florida area and is of Spanish ancestry. He enjoys the stock market and has opened two restaurants in the New York metropolitan area."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
DOUG HOLMQUIST (Coach)
"Doug played four years in the Houston Colt .45 and Detroit Tiger organizations from 1962 through 1965. He joined the Yankees organization as manager at Ft. Lauderdale in 1978 and piloted three first-place clubs there. In 1980, Holmquist's club won the Florida State League championship.
At Greensboro in 1982, he managed the Hornets to first and second half titles and the South Atlantic League championship. Holmquist managed the Nashville Sounds to the second half Southern League title in '83 before leaving to become a coach for Buffalo (Cleveland organization) of the Eastern League in 1984.
Doug was named first base coach of the Yankees in June 1984. He will manage the Columbus Clippers in 1985."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
BILL MONBOUQUETTE (Coach)
"Bill set an American League record with 17 strikeouts in a night game on May 12, 1961, a mark later broken in 1974 by Nolan Ryan. He pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on August 1, 1962. He was named to the American League All-Star team in 1960, 1962 and 1963. In 1963, Bill won 20 games for the Red Sox.
He scouted for the Yankees in 1969-74. After scouting and doing instructional work for the Yankees in 1984, Monbo becomes the pitching coach at Ft. Lauderdale in 1985."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
No comments:
Post a Comment