1986 New York Yankees Player Development

Vice-President, Baseball Administration - Woody Woodward
Director of Player Development - Bobby Hofman
Assistant Player Development Director - Peter Jameson
Assistant Scouting Director - Roy Krasik
Computer Statistics Director - Mark Batchko
Video Coordination Director - Mike Barnett

YANKEES NAMED 1985 ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
"Building through your farm system has again become good business sense for major league clubs, especially the Yankees. And as a result of keeping its minor league system strong, the Yankees were recently named 1985 Baseball Organization of the Year by Topps Chewing Gum, Inc.
The Yankees, who edged the second place New York Mets, now have won the award a record five times. The trophy has been presented annually since 1966 to a major league team based upon the number of players in the organization who have received Topps awards during the past season. A specific number of points is given for each award.
In winning the award, the Yankees had one player, reliever Brian Fisher, on the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team, three Minor League Players of the Month, five players selected for the Topps Minor League All-Star teams, and two players (Columbus' Dan Pasqua and Sarasota's Rob Lambert) as Players of the Year in their leagues. Other Yankee minor league standouts included Albany-Colonie pitcher Brad Arnsberg, Fort Lauderdale outfielder Jay Buhner and Sarasota outfielder Ted Higgins.
'The Yankees are very proud to receive this award,' said Woody Woodward, Vice-President of Baseball Operations. 'This award is recognized in the baseball world as a way of acknowledging what an organization does not only at the major league level, but at the scouting and player development levels. It means you're doing a good job throughout your system.'
The Yankees' minor league system enjoyed a tremendous season by recording a collective winning percentage of .596, the highest in baseball. The Yankees were also the only organization in baseball to have all five of their affiliates qualify for postseason play.
Woodward congratulated Director of Player Development Bobby Hofman and said: 'Our biggest thanks should go to Mr. Steinbrenner, who has totally supported a strong scouting and player development system. Without his total backing, the Yankees would not have been able to receive this award five times.'
The Yankees scouting department made pitching its main priority in last June's free agent draft and their selections played a major role in leading Oneonta (Class-A) to the New York-Penn League Championship. The staff finished with a miraculous 1.87 ERA and struck out 691 batters in 668 1/3 innings. Number two pick Troy Evers, a right-hander, went 11-1 in 13 starts and finished with a 1.35 ERA behind 97 strikeouts.
Mike Christopher, another right-hander, selected in the seventh round, compiled a 6-1 record (1.35 ERA) and struck out 68. After losing his first two decisions, number one pick Rick Balabon went on to win his next five games. The hard-throwing righty fanned 68 and recorded a 1.74 ERA.
The organization featured several no-hitters in 1985. Fort Lauderdale's Bill Fulton pitched a seven-inning no-hitter (minor league doubleheaders are seven-inning games) in the first game of a twin bill against Lakeland. Fulton struck out seven and walked only one in his July 2 masterpiece.
Teammate Steve George came back to pitch a no-hitter in the second game of an August 14 doubleheader with Miami. The game lasted only five innings before being rained out, but the no-hitter stood. In those five innings George struck out six and walked none. The only Miami baserunner reached on an error.
Evers pitched the organization's only postseason no-hitter. He threw his nine-inning gem in a one-game sudden death playoff win over Geneva.
Offensively, the organization featured two batting champions. Columbus' Juan Bonilla won the title in the International League (Triple-A) with a .330 batting average. Rob Lambert paced the Sarasota Yankees of the Rookie Gulf Coast League by winning the league batting title with a .350 mark.
Performances like this have the entire organization excited about its farm system once again.
Columbus was the only affiliate that did not win its regular season title. But the Clippers made up for it by reaching the finals of the International League playoffs. After finishing in a tie for third, the Clippers knocked out league champion Syracuse in the first round, but fell to Tidewater in the finals.
'Columbus ended up in a tie for third, but they had a lot of injuries and a lot of their players were taken away by the big club,' explains Bobby Hofman. 'They came on strong in the playoffs and showed that they could play winning baseball.'
The Clippers qualified for the playoffs on the last day of the season when Bob Tewksbury pitched a shutout over Toledo. Tewksbury was promoted to the Clippers from Double-A Albany on August 6, and in his six starts with Columbus went 3-0 with a 1.02 ERA. Alfonso Pulido led the team with 11 wins, and Clay Christiansen added 10.
In their first year of affiliation with the Yankees, the Albany-Colonie Yankees broke a 46-year-old Eastern League attendance record. The old mark of 317,249 set by Scranton way back in 1939 was erased when the 1985 Yankees drew 324,003. Despite being upset in the first round of the playoffs, the record-breaking crowds got their money's worth as the Yankees won the regular season title by seven games, racing to an 82-57 record under first-year manager Barry Foote.
The key for the Yankees was pitcher Brad Arnsberg, who posted a 14-2 record with a 1.59 ERA. Arnsberg won his first nine decisions before he dropped a 2-1 game on July 27. Doug Drabek led the league in strikeouts with 151, en route to a 13-7 record and a 2.99 ERA. Drabek had nine complete games and won his last seven decisions to help pace the Yankees.
'The pitching that the Yankees need on the major league level is on the way in the next few years,' says Hofman. In light of the pitching success throughout the organization he added, 'We believe that the kids who had surprisingly excellent first years will carry their success over to next year, and that they will be able to help the big club in a few years time.'
Switch-hitting Orestes Destrade provided Albany with power at the plate, hitting 23 homers and driving in 71 runs. Keith Hughes was second on the team in homers with 10 and was also second with 22 doubles. Hughes had seven RBI in one game in May against Waterbury.
Bucky Dent, in his first year as a manager, led the Class-A Fort Lauderdale Yankees to a 77-63 mark and a first place finish in the Southern Division of the Florida State League. After winning the opening round of the playoffs, the Yanks lost in the F.S.L. finals.
Steve George led the team with 13 wins, led the league in complete games (12) and shutouts (5), and was second in strikeouts with 141. Bill Fulton was second on the team with 11 wins and led Lauderdale with a 1.61 ERA.
The Fort Lauderdale offense was led by its outfield corps of Darren Reed, Roberto Kelly and Jay Buhner. Reed's .317 batting average was second in the league. The second-year pro from California also had 21 doubles, four triples, 10 homers and 61 RBI.
Left fielder Kelly led the F.S.L. in triples (13) and was third in runs (86) and stolen bases (49). In his first year in the Yankee system, Buhner led the team in both home runs (11) and RBI (76). The center fielder batted .296 with 18 doubles and 10 triples.
'We'll be keeping an eye on that unit in the years to come,' says Peter Jameson, the Yankees' Assistant Player Development Director. 'They all appear to be excellent prospects.'
Led by their lethal pitching staff, Oneonta set a new record for wins in the New York-Penn League. Their 55 victories clipped the old mark of 53, also set by the Oneonta Yankees back in 1974. After winning the regular season title with a 55-23 record, the Yankees, behind first-year manager Buck Showalter, captured the league title by sweeping through three straight playoff games. Oneonta won 42 of its last 50 games and led the league in hitting (.256).
Eleventh-round pick Scott Shaw posted impressive offensive numbers in his first year of pro ball. The third baseman from High Bridge, New Jersey led the club with a .293 batting average and was second with 37 RBI. Jason Maas, a left-handed hitting outfielder, was second with a .286 average.
Another Yankee club finished with an outstanding season in Florida [last] summer. Sarasota of the Rookie Gulf Coast League won 37 of its last 47 games to capture the league championship with a 43-18 record.
Sarasota used a talented mix of hitting and pitching to capture their crown. The team's .275 average was best in the G.C.L. and featured five .300 hitters: Rob Lambert (.350), Darren Mandel (.317), Art Calvert (.316), Yanko Hauradou (.309) and Ted Higgins (.306).
Ric Sisler paced the pitching staff with seven wins. Brent Blum was 6-0 with a 1.38 ERA and was promoted to Fort Lauderdale on August 12. Jeff Hellman went 4-0 with an ERA of only 0.87 in 41 innings. Mike McClear was the stopper, posting a 6-3 record with two saves coming out of the pen. McClear also fanned 48 batters in 40 innings."

-Charles J. Alfaro New York Yankees 1986 Scorebook and Souvenir Program


YANKEE FARM CLUBS
AAA
Columbus, Ohio
International League
Manager - Barry Foote
Coach - Dave LaRoche

AA
Albany-Colonie, New York
Eastern League
Manager - Jim Saul
Coaches - John Kennedy, Bill Monboquette

A
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Florida State League
Manager - Bucky Dent
Coaches - Jerry McNertney, Hoyt Wilhelm

A
Oneonta, New York
New York-Penn League
Manager - Buck Showalter
Coaches - Jack Gillis, Russ Meyer

Rookie
Sarasota, Florida
Gulf Coast League
Manager - Fred Ferreira
Coaches - Brian Butterfield, Carlos Lezcano, Carlos Tosca


SCOUTING
Major League Scouts:
Hank Bauer
Al Cuccinello
Bob Lemon
Eddie Lopat
Charlie Silvera
Mickey Vernon
Stan Williams
Free Agent Scouts:
National Crosschecker - Bill Livesey
Latin American Supervisor & Special Assignment - Fred Ferreira
East Coast Crosschecker - Jack Gillis
West Coast Crosschecker - Don Lindeberg
Luis Arroyo (Puerto Rico)
Joe DiCarlo (New York, New Jersey, Delaware)
Orrin Freeman (Southern California, New Mexico)
Jack Gillis (Mississippi, Alabama)
Ray Goodman (Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC)
Dick Groch (Michigan, Indiana, Ohio)
Jim Gruzdis (North Carolina, South Carolina)
Don Lindeberg (Southern California, New Mexico, Arizona)
Russ Meyer (Northern Illinois)
Jim Naples (Upstate New York)
Ramon Naranjo (Dominican Republic)
Dick Newberg (Connecticut, Rhode Island)
Greg Orr (Northern California, Nevada)
Meade Palmer (Pennsylvania)
Roberto Rivera (Puerto Rico)
Joe Robison (designated Texas areas, Louisiana)
Lou Saban (North Carolina)
Brian Sabean (Florida, Georgia)
Stan Saleski (Texas, Oklahoma)
Rudy Santin (Miami area)
Tommy Thompson (Kentucky, Tennessee)
Dick Tidrow (Iowa, Missouri, Southern Illinois)
Jerry Zimmerman (Washington, Oregon)

1986 Yankee Spring Training Scout Signings
JOE BEGANI: Greg Iavarone (1985), Robbie Robinson (1984), Jon Shane (1985)
WILLIE CALVINO: Vic Mata (1978)
VINCE CAPECE: Chris Lombardozzi (1985)
HOP CASSADY: Jeff Hellman (1985)
MURRAY COOK: Bill Fulton (1983)
AL CUCCINELLO: Tim Byron (1982), Dan Pasqua (1982)
WHITEY DEHART: Mitch Lyden (1983), Corey Viltz (1984)
JOE DICARLO: Maurice Guercio (1984), Matthew Harrison (1984), Al Leiter (1984)
ATLEY DONALD: Ron Guidry (1971)
SAMMY ELLIS: Ric Sisler (1985)
FRED FERREIRA: Oscar Azocar (1983), Casanova Brito (1985), Dennis Brow (1985), Ozzie Canseco (1983), Doug Carpenter (1983), Amalio Carreno (1983), Mo Ching (1982), Roberto Cuadrado (1984), Orestes Destrade (1981), Ray Didder (1985), Reynaldo Fernandez (1985), Fernando Figueroa (1985), Steve George (1982), Ysidro Giron (1985), Andres Gonzalez (1983), Fredi Gonzalez (1982), Jose Guzman (1985), Rafael Guzman (1985), Yanko Haurado (1985), William Hernandez (1985), Roberto Kelly (1982), Jose Laboy (1983), Duane Lawhon (1985), Harvey Lee (1984), Bill Lindsey (1981), Darren Mandel (1984), Ramon Manon (1985), Carlos Martinez (1983), Ricardo Martinez (1985), Hensley Meulens (1985), Edgar Morales (1985), Roberto Morales (1985), Mike Pagliarulo (1981), Julio Ramon (1985), Tim Reker (1985), Manny Rivas (1983), Gabriel Rodriguez (1984), Ricky Torres (1984), Hector Vargas (1985), Bernie Williams (1985)
ORRIN FREEMAN: Art Calvert (1984), Rob Lambert (1985), Jason Maas (1985), Darren Reed (1984)
JACK GILLIS: Gary Cathcart (1984), Bob Tewksbury (1981)
ROY GOODMAN: Ed Stanko (1985)
DICK GROCH: Mark Manering (1986), Michael McClear (1984)
JIM GRUZDIS: Scott Bradley (1981), Neal Cargile (1985), Mike Christopher (1985), Bob Davidson (1984), Scott Gay (1985)
EPY GUERRERO: Juan Espino (1975)
GARY HUGHES: Brad Arnsberg (1983), Mark Blaser (1981), Pete Dalena (1982), Randy Graham (1982)
JOHN KENNEDY: Tim Doyle (1985), Todd Ezold (1985), Dick Scott (1981)
DON LINDEBERG: Tom Barrett (1982), Phil Lombardi (1981), Joey Mackay (1982), Derwin McNealy (1985), Jeffrey Pries (1984), Mark Silva (1981), Keith Smith (1979), Shane Turner (1985)
BILL LIVESEY: Chris Carroll (1985), Jim Leyritz (1985)
GREG ORR: David Clark (1985), Ted Higgins (1985), Dino Johnson (1985), Tod Marston (1984)
MEADE PALMER: Rick Balabon (1985), Bill Englehart (1983), Steve Frey (1983)
GUST POULOS: Dennis Chastain (1984), Johnny Hawkins (1981), Don Mattingly (1979), Tony Russell (1982), Kelly Scott (1980)
JAX ROBERTSON: Don Mattingly (1979)
BRIAN SABEAN: Rick Bernaldo (1985), Bob Green (1985), Darryl Horton (1985), Matt Mainini (1985), Johnny Pleicones (1985), Scott Shaw (1985)
STAN SALESKI: Ken Patterson (1985)
STAN SANDERS: Jim Riggs (1982)
RUSS SEHON: Clay Christiansen (1980)
CHARLIE SILVERA: Brent Blum (1985)
CEDRIC TALLIS: Brad Winkler (1983)
TOMMY THOMPSON: David Banks (1985)
DICK TIDROW: Troy Evers (1985)
CARLOS TOSCA: Mitch Seone (1983)
DICK WILSON: Kevin Trudeau (1984)
JERRY ZIMMERMAN: Logan Easley (1981)


1986 YANKEES YEARBOOK "ON THE WAY UP"
Brad Arnsberg (RHP)
Rick Balabon (RHP)
Jay Buhner (OF)
Orestes Destrade (1B)
Doug Drabek (RHP)
Bill Fulton (RHP)
Steve George (LHP)
Phil Lombardi (C)
Mitch Lyden (C)
Carlos Martinez (SS)
Darren Reed (OF)
Miguel Sosa (2B)
Bob Tewksbury (RHP)

ALBANY-COLONIE GRADS MAKING MARK
"Throw out the wins and losses. Disregard the playoff finishes. The name of the game in minor league baseball is to develop talent for the major leagues.
To that end, Albany-Colonie has served its two masters well. A number of former Albany-Colonie A's are now key members of the Oakland A's, including catchers Mickey Tettleton and Charlie O'Brien, and pitcher Steve Ontiveros. By the end of the 1986 season, two members of the 1985 Albany-Colonie Yankees could be pitching in Yankee Stadium.
Tettleton, the Eastern League's All-Star catcher in 1984, first made the jump to the American League during that season. He was sent back to Double-A in '84, but stuck with Oakland for the entire 1985 season. Now, with Mike Heath traded away, Tettleton inherits the regular starting job.
'His job is to catch and handle the pitching staff,' says Oakland manager Jackie Moore. 'He is very gifted along those lines. Obviously we feel he can fill the role or we wouldn't have made the deal we made, sending Heath to St. Louis for Joaquin Andujar.'
The Oklahoma native hit .211 in 78 games last year, including three home runs. Oakland also expects his batting average to improve with regular duty.
Tettleton's backup in Oakland will be another former Albany-Colonie player, Charlie O'Brien. O'Brien spent time at all four levels of the Oakland organization last year as he recovered from a back injury. He hit .273 in 16 games with the parent club.
Left-hander Jeff Kaiser got into 15 games with Oakland last year and was 4-2, 1.75 in 27 games for Keith Lieppman's Tacoma Tigers. Fireballing right-hander Tim Belcher was 11-10 in Double-A, and if he keeps improving, he should be ready for the big leagues soon.
Infielder Steve Kiefer is a valuable backup for Oakland, spelling shortstop Alfredo Griffin and third baseman Carney Lansford. Kiefer hit .197 in 40 games with Oakland last year.
Three former Albany-Colonie standouts will be performing with three different teams this season. Right-hander Mike Warren, who threw a [major league] no-hitter at the end of the 1983 season, was released by Oakland and signed by Kansas City. Outfielder Tom Romano went to Montreal and Phil Stephenson to the Chicago Cubs in off-season minor league transactions.
Two more players will be trying to remain on the roster of the San Francisco Giants. Infielders Mike Woodard and Luis Quinones, the first player to go from Albany to the major leagues, are both fighting for spots with the National League team. Woodard was eighth in batting in the Pacific Coast League last year and hit .244 in 24 games with the NL team. Quinones came over to the Giants after from Oakland to Cleveland.
On the East Coast, two of last year's outstanding pitchers for Barry Foote's A-C Yankees could be in major league pinstripes by season's end. Bob Tewksbury (6-5, 3.54 at Albany, 3-0, 1.62 in six games with Columbus) was given every opportunity to make the roster of the American League team during spring training. Fellow righty Doug Drabek (13-7, 2.99 and 153 strikeouts) also got a long look in spring training. Even if he failed to stick with the Bronx Bombers before the season, he could be back by the end of the year.
Catcher Phil Lombardi, who is coming off a knee injury, and first baseman Orestes Destrade were also on the Yanks' 40-man roster. Destrade turned in a solid season in the Domincan League after leading Albany-Colonie with 23 home runs and 72 RBIs.
Tettleton and O'Brien will handling a pitching staff that could have as many as six former A-C players by season's end. Reliever Steve Ontiveros was the most pleasant surprise on the Oakland staff last season. Ontiveros, another original 1983 Albany-Colonie player, put together another outstanding rookie season with a 1-3 record, eight saves and a 1.93 ERA in 39 appearances in short and long relief.
Stan Kyles, Tom Dozier and Tim Lambert, all members of the regular season championship team, were protected by the A's over the winter. Dozier was 0-0 with a 4.24 ERA with Tacoma at the end of the season, after spending much of the season at Huntsville. Kyles posted 11 saves in 43 games with Tacoma, while Lambert was 10-10 with Tacoma and pitched well in the winter leagues.
In just four years, Albany-Colonie fans have seen a number of future major leaguers display their talents at Heritage Park. Who will be next? No one can say. But watch carefully!"

-1986 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook