1985 Profile: Ed Whitson

"Last fall, Ed Whitson was a wanted man. He was the top priority of the Yankees in the free agent re-entry draft and sure enough, the 29-year-old right-handed pitcher landed in pinstripes.
As a regular in the starting rotation, Whitson helps to solidify what at first appeared to be a shaky staff. He has begun to master the palm ball, a sort of come-what-may off-speed pitch which he learned out of necessity after a finger injury in 1983. The new pitch served him well last season as he went 14-8 for the Padres with a 3.24 ERA, his best year ever.
Like Phil Niekro in 1984, Whitson has the advantage of throwing a very puzzling pitch at American League batters. And we all know what kind of season Niekro had."

-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook

"Whitson set several new personal highs in 1984 with 14 wins and 103 strikeouts, with a career best 2.45:1 strikeout to walk ratio. He pitched in two postseason games, starting against the Cubs for a win in the NLCS and against the Tigers in the World Series with a no-decision.
Much of his '84 success was due to the development of his new palm ball pitch, necessitated by a cut finger on his pitching hand during the 1983 season. Ed was the Yankees' number one selection in the November 1984 free agent re-entry draft.
Ed suffered an injury plagued 1983 season. He had a muscle pull late in spring training and then in late April injured his left knee, requiring arthroscopic surgery. He struggled, then won his final three decisions of '83, giving indications of a strong '84.
He originally made it to the big leagues with the Pirates in 1977, defeating Montreal in his first big league start on September 17. Ed had his best season for the Giants in 1980, winning 11 with a 3.10 ERA and being named to the National League All-Star team, and in 1981 was the NL's Pitcher of the Month for August. In 1982, he was used mainly in relief by the Indians in his only American League season.
Whitson graduated from Unicoi County High School (Erwin, Tennessee) in 1974 where he played baseball, basketball and football. He was second team All-State in baseball and all-conference in baseball and basketball. One of nine children, he also played Little League and Babe Ruth ball as a youngster.
Ed enjoys hunting, fishing and Willie Nelson music."

-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide