1985 Profile: Dennis Rasmussen

"Dennis Rasmussen could be the missing link in the Yankees starting rotation. The strapping southpaw got his first good taste of big league ball last season after being called up from Columbus (Triple-A) in May. His 9-6 record showed he may well be the young, tireless arm the team is in search of.
But whether or not Rasmussen owns a starting role right away, he knows he has the tools to eventually force his way into a job. His imposing size (6'7", 225 lbs.) and dancing fastball can intimidate batters. Being the largest Yankees player, Dennis may be the brunt of some good-natured kidding in the clubhouse, but you can bet they'll be no laughing in the batter's box when he's on the mound."

-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook

"Rasmussen went to spring training in 1984 with San Diego, but was traded to the Yankees organization a second time on March 30 in exchange for third baseman Graig Nettles. He began the season at Columbus and was called up to the Yankees on May 20.
He made his first Yankee start on May 23 at Seattle, pitching eight innings of 2-hit shutout ball to gain his first major league win. He won six straight decisions from July 7 to August 9. Dennis was often unhittable through the first four-six innings of a game, only to be hurt in later innings by home runs. He allowed three grand slams during the season.
Dennis struck out nine batters on August 9 against Chicago, nine more in his next start against Seattle, and a career high 10 in his May 23 start. He was suspended for three days (September 19-22) for his involvement in an incident against Toronto on September 11 in which he was ejected for throwing a pitch too close to Willie Upshaw.
He's known as a fastball pitcher, but gets many of his strikeouts with a big breaking curve ball. In 1982 Dennis finished second in the Pacific Coast League with 162 strikeouts for Spokane, and in 1983 was the ace of the Columbus [Yankees' AAA] staff, leading the International League in strikeouts and tying for the league lead in wins and starts. He struck out 14 batters in a game at Charleston. Professionally, Dennis has 690 strikeouts in 790 innings.
Dennis grew up in Lakewood, Colorado where he was a baseball and basketball star at Bear Creek High School. He played college baseball and basketball at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He played with Kevin McKenna (Indiana Pacers '83-'84) and against Larry Bird and Dave Corzine. Dennis is a grandson of Bill Brubaker, an infielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Braves, 1932-40 and 1943."

-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide