"He dropped 30 pounds before the season, then took a lot of weight off the Yankee bullpen. Tim Stoddard didn't have a defined role last year, but by the end of 1987 the big right-hander established himself as one of the more vital members of the Yankees pitching staff.
Stoddard, maybe the team's most underrated player in 1987, became the Yankees' number one right-handed reliever. Not only did he serve as a setup man, but he was also used as a stopper. It was just like old times for Stoddard, who registered 26 saves as the Orioles' closer in 1980. Since 1984 he had been used primarily as a middle man. His eight saves last season were eight more than he had in 1986, and the most since he registered nine saves for the Orioles in 1983. He had one blown save all year while preventing 42 of the 54 runners he inherited from scoring.
'As long as I get to pitch, that's all I want to do,' Stoddard says. 'All I want to do is get the ball.' Whether as a closer or as a setup man, the 6'7" Stoddard has become a big part of the Yankee bullpen."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Tim appeared in 57 games in 1987, all in relief, the third most appearances he's made in a season in his career. His 57 appearances tied for 13th in the American League and was second on the Yankee staff, behind Dave Righetti's 60 appearances. Tim posted a record of 4-3 and eight saves, a 3.50 ERA, 30 walks and 78 strikeouts in 92.2 innings pitched [along with a 1.22 WHIP].
The eight saves were eight more than he had in all of 1986, seven more than he had in 1985 and 1986 combined, and equal his total of 1984, 1985 and 1986 combined. They were the most saves he has registered in a single season since he recorded nine saves in 1983 while with the Baltimore Orioles and represent his fourth highest single season save total. His eight saves tied for 18th in the AL and were second on the Yankees behind Righetti's 31 saves. His 78 strikeouts were the third highest single season total of his career ranked fifth on the Yankees; his ratio of 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings led the Yankees. Tim had a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 1:2.6.
He was placed on the disabled list on April 2 (retroactive to March 28) with bursitis in his right shoulder and began the season on the DL, where he remained until he was activated on April 15. He made his first appearance of the year on April 22 against Detroit. His longest outing of the year came on May 8 against Minnesota, going 5.1 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits, including home runs by Tom Brunansky and Mark Davidson, the only time all season he gave up two home runs in a game. Tim picked up his first two saves of the season in back-to-back appearances, on May 18 at Oakland and on May 25 at California.
In his first 16 appearances, through June 17, Tim was 0-1 with two saves and a 4.05 ERA. In his next 14 appearances, however, from June 18 through July 16, he gave up just one earned run (on June 29 at Toronto) in 15 innings pitched (0.60 ERA), going 1-0 with a save in that span and lowering his ERA from 4.05 to 2.98.
In three consecutive appearances, from August 5-11, Tim gave up a solo home runs in each of those outings, allowing five earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. He followed that by pitching 11 scoreless innings (his longest scoreless streak of the season) in five appearances from August 14-23, giving up just five hits with two walks and 13 strikeouts [0.64 WHIP], going 1-0 with two saves in that span. In the final game of that streak, August 23 at Oakland, Tim struck out a season high of six batters (one shy of his career high) while pitching four scoreless innings and gaining a save.
The beginning of that scoreless streak, August 14 at Cleveland, also started a span covering his last 17 outings of the season when he allowed just nine earned runs in 29 innings pitched, a 2.79 ERA, with seven walks and 22 strikeouts, going 1-1 with four saves. He had one 'blown save,' coming on September 16 against Milwaukee, and was charged with the Yankees' 5-4 loss.
With runners on base Tim retired the first batter in 24 of 33 appearances, and overall retired the first batter he faced in 42 of his 57 appearances. For the season he prevented 42 of the 54 runners he inherited from scoring, including 26 of the first 27 runners he inherited (covering his first 30 outings through July 16). He had a batting average against of .235 (83-for-353), including .207 (43-for-208) against right-handers and .276 (40-for-145) against left-handers. At home he was 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA and four saves in 30 games, while on the road he was 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA and four saves in 27 games. All of Tim's 443 career major league appearances have been in relief.
Tim began the 1986 season with the San Diego Padres, but was traded to the Yankees on July 9 in exchange for Ed Whitson. He appeared in 30 games with the Padres and compiled a record of 1-3 with no saves and a 3.77 ERA. In his first 10 outings, through May 4, Tim gave up just two earned runs in 13.1 innings (1.35 ERA). In his remaining 20 outings for San Diego, covering 32 innings, he gave up 17 earned runs (4.78 ERA). Following his trade to New York, he made 24 appearances and compiled a record of 4-1 with no saves (in one save opportunity), a 3.83 ERA and a .232 batting average against (41-for-177) [along with a 1.297 WHIP].
He made his Yankee debut on July 10 at Minnesota, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings in the Yanks' 11-1 win. Tim picked up his first win as a Yankee on August 12 against Cleveland, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings of 2-hit ball in relief of Joe Niekro, and received credit for the Yanks' 6-4 victory after Dave Righetti saved the win. In the seven games bracketed by his first and third Yankee wins (August 12-29), he went 3-0 with a 0.52 ERA to lower his overall ERA as a Yankee to 2.95. Included in that span was a scoreless streak of nine innings, covering five outings from August 13-20.
In his remaining eight appearances from that point, from August 25 through the end of the season, he went 1-1 with a 7.45 ERA to raise his final Yankee ERA to 3.83. Tim's lone loss as a Yankee came on September 3 at Oakland, giving up the winning run in the Yankees' 5-3 loss.
[As a Yankee] Tim retired the first batter he faced 18 of 24 times, including 14-for-17 with runners on base, and prevented 23 of the 30 runners he inherited from scoring. At Yankee Stadium he was 3-0 with a 4.18 ERA and a .255 batting average against, and on the road he was 1-1 with a 3.39 ERA and a .197 batting average against. In his 54 games overall with the Padres and the Yankees in '86, he was 5-4 with no saves and a 3.80 ERA.
Tim made his major league debut on September 7, 1975 in his only appearance with the White Sox, a one inning stint against Minnesota, after spending most of the season at AA Knoxville, where he posted a 3-4 record and a 4.23 ERA. He played in the White Sox' farm system in 1976, posting a 9-8 record and a 2.89 ERA at Knoxville and an 0-2 record and 5.59 ERA at AAA Iowa. He became an Oriole prior to the 1977 season after being released by the White Sox during spring training. Tim spent the entire year at AA Charlotte, winning ten games and saving five. He shared time between Baltimore and AAA Rochester in 1978, and the last time he was used a starter came in Rochester when he made two starts that year.
In 1979, his first full season in the major leagues, he went 3-1 in 29 outings with a career-low ERA of 1.71. He also made four appearances in the 1979 World Series against Pittsburgh and was the winning pitcher in Game Four at Three Rivers Stadium. In that game Tim had an RBI single in his first major league at-bat, the last time a pitcher would hit safely in World Series competition until 1986, when the Mets' Dwight Gooden and Jesse Orosco had base hits against Boston.
Tim had his best year as a professional in 1980, appearing in 64 games and setting a Baltimore record with 26 saves (fourth best in the AL). In the second half of the season, he went 5-0 with 14 saves and a 2.01 ERA in 30 appearances. Tim capped the year by earning the American League Pitcher of the Month honors for September.
In 1981 he went 4-2 with a 3.89 ERA in 31 games and added seven saves. Tim had an injury plagued year in 1982, missing the first and last months of the season. Due to shoulder stiffness, he opened the '82 campaign with five appearances at Rochester, but did finish second on the Baltimore staff in appearances (50) and saves (12).
Tim finished second on the Orioles in saves (9) during the World Championship year of 1983, with eight of those saves coming after the All-Star break. He did not, however, appear in either the ALCS against the White Sox or the World Series against the Phillies. He had been a member of the Orioles organization for six years before his trade to the Oakland A's. Tim joined Oakland in December 1983 in exchange for Wayne Gross, but was a member of the A's only in the off-season before he was dealt to the Cubs.
He spent the entire 1984 season with the Cubs, joining them from Oakland in March in exchange for Stan Kyles and Stan Broderick. He won the most games in his career (10) and added seven saves to help the Cubs to their first Eastern Division title.
Tim allowed only three earned runs in his first 21.1 innings pitched (1.27 ERA) covering 14 appearances. From June 28-July 3 he fanned 12 batters, pitching 9.2 shutout innings covering three appearances while earning a save in each game. Tim won his first three decisions of the year and by July 12 was 7-1 with six saves. He pitched two innings over two games in the NLCS and was not involved in a decision while posting a 4.50 ERA.
He was signed by the Padres as a free agent in January of 1985. After struggling through the first two months of the year, he got untracked from June 2-22 when he worked 10 innings in seven games and allowed two earned runs for a 1.80 ERA. He picked up his only save as a Padre on June 22 against the Giants in San Diego, working a perfect inning to preserve a 2-1 win for Eric Show on a combined 2-hitter, the staff's lowest-hit game of '85. Tim's only win of the year came on July 8 at Wrigley Field, pitching 3.2 innings of 1-hit ball against the Cubs in the Padres' 8-4 victory; that began a stretch of five straight appearances without allowing a run covering 8.2 innings.
Tim attended Washington High School (East Chicago, IN), where he played football, basketball and baseball and led his basketball team to the 1971 Indiana state championship. He attended North Carolina State, where he starred in both baseball and basketball. On the mound, he led the Wolfpack to three consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference titles (1973-75), either winning or saving the title game in all three ACC tournaments.
As a starting forward on the basketball squad, Tim was a member of the 1974 National Championship team that, led by David Thompson, defeated John Wooden's UCLA Bruins in the NCAA Tournament. In the two-year period that he played basketball, NC State compiled a 57-1 record.
Tim's favorite spectator sports are basketball and hockey. His greatest career influence is Frank Robinson."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Sunday, July 24, 2016
1988 Profile: Don Slaught
"There were a few holes in the otherwise strong Yankee team last year, holes that had to be filled for the club to win in 1988. One of those trouble spots was remedied when an off-season trade with the Rangers brought six-year veteran catcher Don Slaught to New York.
Coming off a devastating injury in 1986, Slaught suffered through a bad start with Texas last year. The club felt it was due to his injury and therefore limited his playing time. Don finished with his worst season in the big leagues.
Many still remember the incident in May 1986 when Slaught was drilled in the face with an Oil Can Boyd fastball, breaking his nose and left cheekbone. At the time the catcher was having an excellent season and went on to set a career high in RBI with 46, as well as setting a Texas record for catchers with 13 home runs.
When the Rangers gave up on him the Yankees were only too happy to take him, hoping that he will return to his 1986 form. Despite his poor showing last year Slaught is still a career .270 hitter.
'I'm very happy about coming to the Yankees,' he says. 'It's a good opportunity for me, and I'm looking forward to getting more playing time.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Slaught was acquired from the Texas Rangers on November 2, 1987 in exchange for a player to be named later. Pitcher Brad Arnsberg was sent to Texas on November 10 to complete the trade. In his third and final season with the Rangers in '87 Slaught batted .224 (53-for-237) in 95 games with 15 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 16 runs batted in.
He was batting .268 (15-for-56) through 19 games in April including a six-game hitting streak from April 23-29, his longest of the season, hitting .400 (6-for-15) in that streak with a double and a home run. Don was thrown out at the plate twice on April 26 against Boston, on an attempted squeeze in the 10th inning and on an attempted sacrifice fly in the 12th. He hit just .185 (12-for-65) in May to lower his average to .223, including a season low of .205 on May 6. Don had his only game-winning RBI of the year on May 13 against the Yankees at New York. He tied a Texas team record with four strikeouts at Kansas City on May 31.
Don abandoned the face guard on his helmet on July 24 for the first time in 1987. He sprained his left knee running the bases during batting practice on August 2 and did not make a plate appearance after that until August 9. On September 15 against the Oakland A's in Arlington he hit two solo home runs off Curt Young, the first two-home run game of his career and the first ever by a Ranger catcher. Don batted .286 (12-for-42) in September to raise his average from .212 at the beginning of the month to .226 at the end of the month.
He had 11 multi-hit games and batted .237 (32-for-135) against left-handed pitching and .206 (21-for-102) against right-handed pitching. He tied a Texas Ranger club record with four passed balls on May 6; for the season he had 20 passed balls (of which 17 occurred when Charlie Hough was pitching) and was part of the Texas Rangers catching staff that set a single season major league record of 73 passed balls, mainly due to Hough. Slaught threw out 16 of 80 runners attempting to steal (20%) and had a fielding percentage of .985 (seven errors in 475 total chances).
Slaught began his professional career by batting .261 with Ft. Myers in 1980. He started the 1981 season at Jacksonville before earning a promotion to Omaha in July. He was lost for the season with a broken leg on August 15. He started the 1982 season in Omaha and was disabled from April 21 until May 15 with a strained left knee. Don joined Kansas City on July 6 after John Wathan broke his ankle, and started the next 11 and 28 of the next 31 before Wathan returned. He recorded singles in his first two major league at-bats off Boston's John Tudor. He was sidelined for the season on September 21 after tearing a tendon in his left thumb in a home plate collision with California's Ricky Adams.
In 1983 Don split the Royals' catching chores with Wathan. He was disabled from May 15-30 after he split the skin under the middle finger of his right hand, and also missed nine games from June 28-July 12 with a deep right thigh bruise. Don hit .342 (26-for-76) in 22 games in September, including a career high 12-game hitting streak. He was Kansas City's regular catcher in 1984 and led the club with 27 doubles. He hit .346 in a two-month stretch from June 18-August 18, and in the ALCS against Detroit led Kansas City regulars with a .364 (4-for-11) average.
Don was acquired by Texas from Kansas City in January of 1985 in a four-team trade with the Mets and Milwaukee. His .280 batting average was third best among all AL catchers who appeared in 100 games. He appeared in just one game from July 6 through August 25 because of a pulled hamstring muscle; upon his return he batted .322 in his last 34 games.
Despite being plagued by injuries much of 1986, he set a Ranger club record for homers by a catcher with 13 (the previous club mark was 10 by Jim Sundberg in 1980 and 1982). His 13 homers were also a career high, as were his 46 RBIs. Don had a .996 fielding percentage in 91 games, the third best percentage of any AL catcher who appeared in 90 games.
He had a .368 average (21-for-57) in his first 18 games with six homers and 18 RBIs and drove in a career high five runs on May 15 at Detroit. Don sustained a broken nose and left cheekbone when he was hit by Boston's Oil Can Boyd in the fourth inning on May 17 at Fenway Park. At that point, he was hitting .293 (27-for-92) with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 30 games.
Don did not experience any vision problems. He underwent reconstructive surgery to fix the fractures on May 26 at Arlington Memorial Hospital. After nearly a month of therapy, he was assigned to Oklahoma City on medical rehabilitation on July 1; he played in three games for the 89ers, going 4-for-12 with a RBI. After missing a total of 44 games, Don was reactivated by Texas on July 4th and caught that night.
Upon his return, he wore a plexiglass facemask while batting and continued to wear the mask through games of August 26 before discarding it. He hit .252 (56-for-222) with six homers and 23 RBIs in 65 games after his return to the lineup, including a .280 mark (26-for-93) in his first 25 games back.
Slaught was selected by Kansas City in the seventh round of the June 1980 free agent draft after an outstanding four-year career at UCLA. He was UCLA's captain and an All-PAC 10 selection in both his junior and senior years. He was selected to the second team All-America squad by the Sporting News in 1980 and was an Academic All-American in 1979. Don graduated from UCLA with a B.S. degree in economics. His teammates at UCLA included Dave Schmidt, Matt Young, Tim Leary and Mike Gallego.
He lettered three times in baseball and twice as a quarterback in football at Rolling Hills High School in Palos Verdes, California where he graduated in 1976. Don's hobbies are golf and tennis and his favorite spectator sport is football. His favorite team growing up was the Los Angeles Dodgers, his favorite player was Johnny Bench and his favorite ballpark is Royals Stadium."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Coming off a devastating injury in 1986, Slaught suffered through a bad start with Texas last year. The club felt it was due to his injury and therefore limited his playing time. Don finished with his worst season in the big leagues.
Many still remember the incident in May 1986 when Slaught was drilled in the face with an Oil Can Boyd fastball, breaking his nose and left cheekbone. At the time the catcher was having an excellent season and went on to set a career high in RBI with 46, as well as setting a Texas record for catchers with 13 home runs.
When the Rangers gave up on him the Yankees were only too happy to take him, hoping that he will return to his 1986 form. Despite his poor showing last year Slaught is still a career .270 hitter.
'I'm very happy about coming to the Yankees,' he says. 'It's a good opportunity for me, and I'm looking forward to getting more playing time.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Slaught was acquired from the Texas Rangers on November 2, 1987 in exchange for a player to be named later. Pitcher Brad Arnsberg was sent to Texas on November 10 to complete the trade. In his third and final season with the Rangers in '87 Slaught batted .224 (53-for-237) in 95 games with 15 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 16 runs batted in.
He was batting .268 (15-for-56) through 19 games in April including a six-game hitting streak from April 23-29, his longest of the season, hitting .400 (6-for-15) in that streak with a double and a home run. Don was thrown out at the plate twice on April 26 against Boston, on an attempted squeeze in the 10th inning and on an attempted sacrifice fly in the 12th. He hit just .185 (12-for-65) in May to lower his average to .223, including a season low of .205 on May 6. Don had his only game-winning RBI of the year on May 13 against the Yankees at New York. He tied a Texas team record with four strikeouts at Kansas City on May 31.
Don abandoned the face guard on his helmet on July 24 for the first time in 1987. He sprained his left knee running the bases during batting practice on August 2 and did not make a plate appearance after that until August 9. On September 15 against the Oakland A's in Arlington he hit two solo home runs off Curt Young, the first two-home run game of his career and the first ever by a Ranger catcher. Don batted .286 (12-for-42) in September to raise his average from .212 at the beginning of the month to .226 at the end of the month.
He had 11 multi-hit games and batted .237 (32-for-135) against left-handed pitching and .206 (21-for-102) against right-handed pitching. He tied a Texas Ranger club record with four passed balls on May 6; for the season he had 20 passed balls (of which 17 occurred when Charlie Hough was pitching) and was part of the Texas Rangers catching staff that set a single season major league record of 73 passed balls, mainly due to Hough. Slaught threw out 16 of 80 runners attempting to steal (20%) and had a fielding percentage of .985 (seven errors in 475 total chances).
Slaught began his professional career by batting .261 with Ft. Myers in 1980. He started the 1981 season at Jacksonville before earning a promotion to Omaha in July. He was lost for the season with a broken leg on August 15. He started the 1982 season in Omaha and was disabled from April 21 until May 15 with a strained left knee. Don joined Kansas City on July 6 after John Wathan broke his ankle, and started the next 11 and 28 of the next 31 before Wathan returned. He recorded singles in his first two major league at-bats off Boston's John Tudor. He was sidelined for the season on September 21 after tearing a tendon in his left thumb in a home plate collision with California's Ricky Adams.
In 1983 Don split the Royals' catching chores with Wathan. He was disabled from May 15-30 after he split the skin under the middle finger of his right hand, and also missed nine games from June 28-July 12 with a deep right thigh bruise. Don hit .342 (26-for-76) in 22 games in September, including a career high 12-game hitting streak. He was Kansas City's regular catcher in 1984 and led the club with 27 doubles. He hit .346 in a two-month stretch from June 18-August 18, and in the ALCS against Detroit led Kansas City regulars with a .364 (4-for-11) average.
Don was acquired by Texas from Kansas City in January of 1985 in a four-team trade with the Mets and Milwaukee. His .280 batting average was third best among all AL catchers who appeared in 100 games. He appeared in just one game from July 6 through August 25 because of a pulled hamstring muscle; upon his return he batted .322 in his last 34 games.
Despite being plagued by injuries much of 1986, he set a Ranger club record for homers by a catcher with 13 (the previous club mark was 10 by Jim Sundberg in 1980 and 1982). His 13 homers were also a career high, as were his 46 RBIs. Don had a .996 fielding percentage in 91 games, the third best percentage of any AL catcher who appeared in 90 games.
He had a .368 average (21-for-57) in his first 18 games with six homers and 18 RBIs and drove in a career high five runs on May 15 at Detroit. Don sustained a broken nose and left cheekbone when he was hit by Boston's Oil Can Boyd in the fourth inning on May 17 at Fenway Park. At that point, he was hitting .293 (27-for-92) with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 30 games.
Don did not experience any vision problems. He underwent reconstructive surgery to fix the fractures on May 26 at Arlington Memorial Hospital. After nearly a month of therapy, he was assigned to Oklahoma City on medical rehabilitation on July 1; he played in three games for the 89ers, going 4-for-12 with a RBI. After missing a total of 44 games, Don was reactivated by Texas on July 4th and caught that night.
Upon his return, he wore a plexiglass facemask while batting and continued to wear the mask through games of August 26 before discarding it. He hit .252 (56-for-222) with six homers and 23 RBIs in 65 games after his return to the lineup, including a .280 mark (26-for-93) in his first 25 games back.
Slaught was selected by Kansas City in the seventh round of the June 1980 free agent draft after an outstanding four-year career at UCLA. He was UCLA's captain and an All-PAC 10 selection in both his junior and senior years. He was selected to the second team All-America squad by the Sporting News in 1980 and was an Academic All-American in 1979. Don graduated from UCLA with a B.S. degree in economics. His teammates at UCLA included Dave Schmidt, Matt Young, Tim Leary and Mike Gallego.
He lettered three times in baseball and twice as a quarterback in football at Rolling Hills High School in Palos Verdes, California where he graduated in 1976. Don's hobbies are golf and tennis and his favorite spectator sport is football. His favorite team growing up was the Los Angeles Dodgers, his favorite player was Johnny Bench and his favorite ballpark is Royals Stadium."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
1988 Profile: Don Mattingly
1988 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Mattingly enhanced his reputation as the best player in baseball by achieving two significant home run records: he tied a major league mark set by Pittsburgh's Dale Long in 1956 by homering in eight consecutive games from July 8-18, and after going without a grand slam in his first four major league seasons, he slugged six of them in 1987. His sixth, which came on September 29 against Boston, broke the single-season major league record shared by Ernie Banks (1955) and Jim Gentile (1961).
Injuries limited Mattingly to 186 hits, marking the first time he has failed to reach 200. He was disabled from June 9-24 with two injured discs in his lower back. A sprained right wrist caused him to miss two games and continued to bother him.
His defensive prowess at first base is matched only by the Mets' Keith Hernandez. Mattingly's only weakness is a lack of speed.
Born in Evansville, Indiana, Mattingly was selected by the Yankees in the 19th round of the June 1979 draft. He captured the batting title in his first full major league season with a .343 average in 1984. He was AL MVP in 1985, when his 145 RBI were the most by a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio's 155 in 1948."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"'We're gonna win the East. I guarantee it,' declared the normally softspoken Don Mattingly last winter. By normal standards it would be a bold statement, except when you consider what the Indiana native has already accomplished in just over four seasons.
What more can be said about Mattingly, a superstar at age 26? Last year he took his customary spot among the league leaders in nearly every offensive category. With the bat he set a new major league record with six grand slams in a season. He broke the AL record of hitting home runs in six straight games, and went on to tie the major league record by stroking a dinger in eight consecutive games. With the glove he tied another major league record for first basemen with 22 putouts in a nine inning game. In fact he made only five errors all year!
In his career he's already got a batting title and the MVP award to his name. So what's next? Just ask him.
'We've got the best club out there, and this year we're going to win.'
Bragging? Not for Don Mattingly, arguably the best player in the game today, and a player who has the ability to back up what he says."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Another superb year in 1987- his fourth straight.
Mattingly began the season slowly, hitting .175 on April 15 after nine games. His April batting average was his career low for that month (interestingly, Mattingly had exactly 22 hits in each April from 1984-87). He had his first career three-strikeout game on April 13 against Cleveland.
His batting average was as low as .239 (27-for-113) on May 9, after 29 games. Don then went 37-for-93 (.398) from May 10 through June 4, including a 15-game hitting streak (May 19-June 4) to raise his season stats to .311 (64-for-206) on June 4 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in 53 games.
Before the June 4 game at Milwaukee, Don's back was injured when he was wrestled in the clubhouse by Bob Shirley. He tried to play, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, before the pain became too severe to continue. His innings missed in that game were his first since August 7, 1986 (he missed only six innings all of '86), and that game was the last of a string of 335 consecutive games played (final 120 of 1985, 162 in '86 and the first 53 of '87), Don last sitting out on May 27, 1985. Tests later taken at NYU Medical Center revealed a disc problem in his back, forcing him to be placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 9. Activated from the disabled list on June 24, the Yankees were 11-7 during Mattingly's absence (June 5-23).
Upon his return, he hit in 18 of the next 22 games (June 14-July 19), hitting .411 (39-for-95) with 25 runs, eight doubles, 12 homers and 33 RBIs, raising his overall batting average to .342- his season high. Mattingly went 4-for-6 on June 26 against Boston.
From July 8 to July 18 he hit at least one home run in eight straight games, tying the major league record previously set by Pirate Dale Long in 1956. During the same streak Mattingly smashed the American League record of homering in six straight games, previously done six times (last by Reggie Jackson with Baltimore in 1976; also done by Lou Gehrig in 1931 and Roger Maris in 1961). Over the eight game homer streak, Mattingly hit .459 (17-for-37) with 10 homers and 21 RBIs.
Mattingly had seven RBIs on July 16 at Texas, his single game career high and the most by a Yankee in '87. He had at least one extra base hit in ten consecutive games, July 7 through July 19, breaking the AL record of nine set by Babe Ruth in 1921. Don was twice named AL Player of the Week- for the weeks ending on July 12 and July 19. He was also named AL Player of the Month for July, going 37-for-99 (.374 BA) with 21 runs, 10 homers and 24 RBIs for the month.
On July 20 Don tied the major league record of 22 putouts by a first baseman in a nine-inning game, also held by Tommy Jones (St. Louis Browns, May 11, 1906), Hal Chase (New York Highlanders, September 21, 1906) and Ernie Banks (Chicago Cubs, May 9, 1963). He missed the games of July 21-22 at Minnesota with a slightly sprained right wrist suffered on July 18 after hitting his record tying homer. Coming back from that injury, he was used as a pinch hitter on July 24 at Chicago, his first pinch-hitting appearance since April 6, 1984. Upon completion of the eight consecutive game home run streak on July 18, Mattingly went without a homer from July 19 through August 7 (16 games) and hit just one homer over 21 games (July 19-August 12). He had 11 extra base hits including five homers with 11 RBIs in 12 games from August 8 through August 21, and seven extra base hits including four homers with nine RBIs in seven games from August 14 through August 21.
Mattingly had his second and final four-hit game on September 2 against Oakland, going 4-for-5. He had an 11-game hitting streak, August 30 through September 11; he hit in 17 of 18, August 30 through September 18; 26 of 28, August 30 through September 29; and in 28 of his last 32 games, August 30 through October 4, going 45-for-136 (.331 BA) with seven homers and 31 RBIs. On September 22 at Milwaukee (second game) he made his first appearance as a designated hitter since July 6, 1986 at Chicago. Suffering from flu-like symptoms, Don was pinch-hit for by Orestes Destrade on October 1 against Boston, the first time he had been pinch-hit for since Vic Mata batted for him on August 3, 1984 against Cleveland (first game).
He had a pair of two-homer games, July 8 against Minnesota and July 16 at Texas. He hit .311 with runners in scoring position and averaged one strikeout per every 15.0 at-bats. Don's .331 career batting average remains third on the all-time Yankee list for players with 500 games, trailing only Babe Ruth (.349) and Lou Gehrig (.340).
Don blasted six grand slams in 1987, setting a new major league record (No. 6 came September 29 at Yankee Stadium off Boston's Bruce Hurst) and breaking the record of five set by Cub Ernie Banks in 1955 and tied by Oriole Jim Gentile in 1961. The Yankee record for grand slams in a season was four set by Lou Gehrig in 1934 and tied by Tommy Henrich in 1948.
With the bases loaded Don was 9-for-19 (.474 BA) in 21 plate appearances, and in addition to his six grand slams had two singles, a double, a pair of sacrifice flies and 33 RBIs. Prior to 1987, he was just 12-for-47 (.255 BA) with just one extra base hit in career bases loaded situations. In fact, prior to his first '87 grand slam, his career numbers with the bases loaded fell to 13-for-52 (.250) in 70 plate appearances with two extra base hits (having gone 1-for-5 with a double, sac fly and four RBIs in '87), and beginning with the first grand slam he went 8-for-14 (.571 BA) with six slams and 29 RBIs.
Mattingly's .996 fielding percentage (five errors in 1,335 total chances) was best in the American League for the fourth straight year, tying the AL's first baseman's record for most consecutive years leading the league in fielding (100 or more games played) set by Charles Gandil of the Indians and White Sox from 1916 to 1919 (the major league record is five consecutive years set by the Reds' Ted Kluszewski from 1951 to 1955). He tied with Kent Hrbek for fewest errors (5) by a first baseman for 1,000 or more total chances.
In 1987 Don became the first player in the seven-year history of the Elias Sports Bureau's report for the MLBPA to compile a perfect 1.000 score, ranking first in each category used to measure production of first basemen: plate appearances, batting average, on-base percentage, home runs and runs batted in. He was selected to his fourth consecutive AL All-Star team and was selected to the AP, UPI and Sporting News All-Star and Silver Slugger teams, each for the third straight year. He also captured his third straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award for AL first basemen.
Don had his fourth straight 100+ RBI season and was the first Yankee since Mickey Mantle (1955-62) and Roger Maris (1960-62) to hit 30+ homers in three straight seasons. He became the first ever Yankee to lead the club in batting average, hits, doubles and RBIs four consecutive seasons; breaking down the individual categories, the last Yankees to lead the club at least four straight seasons were: batting average- Mantle 1955-58; hits- Bobby Murcer 1971-74; doubles- none until Mattingly; RBI - Reggie Jackson- 1977-80. Prior to Mattingly, the last Yankee to have at least four straight 100+ RBI seasons was Joe DiMaggio, 1937-42.
Ranked in the AL in '87, Mattingly's 38 doubles were tied for third; his .327 batting average and 115 RBIs were fifth; his .559 slugging percentage was seventh; and his 186 hits were eighth. Over the last five years among all major leaguers, his 921 hits are tied for fourth with Cal Ripken (behind Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn and Tim Raines); his 515 RBIs are sixth (trailing Mike Schmidt, Dave Winfield, Jim Rice, Dale Murphy and Eddie Murray); and his .331 batting average is third (behind Boggs and Gwynn).
In 1979 Don was drafted late as teams expected him to accept a college scholarship. He was signed by Yankee scouts Jax Robertson and Gust Poulos.
He was named South Atlantic League MVP in 1980. In 1981, Mattingly was named Yankee Minor League Player of the Year, led the Southern League in doubles and was named to the Topps and Southern League [Class AA] All-Star teams as an outfielder. He was named an International League All-Star as an outfielder in 1982 and his outstanding season earned him a promotion to the Yankees in September.
Don had a terrific rookie season in 1983. He won the James P. Dawson Award as the top Yankee rookie in spring training and was in the starting lineup for the Yankee home opener. Optioned to Columbus on April 14, he hit eight home runs with 37 RBIs and a .340 batting average with the Clippers before his recall on June 20 when Bobby Murcer retired. Don hit his first major league homer off John Tudor on June 24 at Fenway Park. He hit in 24 of 25 games, July 13- August 11, going hitless (0-for-2) in both ends of the 'Pine Tar Game' (July 24 and August 18). He played one-third of an inning at second base in the August 18 conclusion of that game. He played first base on July 4th when Dave Righetti no-hit the Red Sox.
In 1984, Mattingly became the first Yankee to win the AL batting championship since Mickey Mantle in 1956, battling teammate Dave Winfield to the last day of the season, winning .343 to .340. He was named to his first AL All-Star team in his first full season in the majors. He led the AL with 207 hits, 44 doubles and 59 multiple-hit games, was second with a .537 slugging percentage and was the first Yankee left-handed batter to hit .340 since Lou Gehrig hit .351 in 1937. Don was the top road hitter in the AL at .364 and led AL first basemen with a .996 fielding percentage, making only five errors in 1,236 total chances.
In a phenomenal 1985 season, displaying prowess with bat and glove, Mattingly led the majors with 145 RBIs, 48 doubles and 15 sacrifice flies and led the American League with 370 total bases, 21 game winning RBIs and 86 extra-base hits. He was second in the AL with 211 hits, a .567 slugging percentage and 66 multiple hit games, third with a .324 batting average, fourth with 35 home runs and tied for sixth with 107 runs. He also led AL first basemen with a .995 fielding percentage.
His 145 RBIs were the most by a Yankee since DiMaggio had 155 in 1948, and he was the first Yankee to lead the AL in RBIs since Roger Maris in 1961; he reached the 100 RBI plateau on August 20- the earliest by a Yankee since Maris and Mantle recorded their 100th on August 4 and August 6, respectively, in 1961. His 211 hits were the most by a Yankee since Red Rolfe's 213 in 1939 and is the seventh highest total in Yankee history (including his own 238 in '86), and Mattingly was the first Yankee to collect 200+ hits in consecutive seasons since DiMaggio in 1936-37. He was the first AL player to lead the majors in doubles in consecutive seasons since Tris Speaker in 1920-23, and was the first player to lead the AL in doubles in consecutive seasons since Tony Oliva in 1969-70. His 652 at-bats is the eighth highest total in Yankee history [including his own 677 in '86] and he was the first Yankee to have 600+ at-bats in consecutive seasons since Chris Chambliss in 1976-78. Don's 159 games led the team and are the second highest total by a Yankee at first base (he played 160 in '86).
Don suffered a minor tear of the medial meniscus cartilage in his right knee in February while working out with weights at his Evansville, Indiana home. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage on February 22 and his rehabilitation caused him to miss the first 18 spring training games. Upon his return, Don homered in his first at-bat on March 26.
He didn't hit his first [regular season] home run until May 5, off Kansas City's Bud Black. Mattingly's batting average tailed off to .285 on June 8 following an 0-for-19 streak (his longest 0-for of '85), yet he had a 20-game hitting streak, June 22-July 12, the longest of '85 by a Yankee and then longest of his career: over the streak he went 32-for-81 (.395 BA) with 11 runs, nine doubles, three homers and 21 RBIs. He committed his first error on July 7 against Minnesota, breaking a streak of 153 games (1,371 total chances), dating back to June 22, 1984, of not committing an error at first base. Don also had a 19-game hitting streak from August 1-21, going 35-for-79 (.443 BA) with 25 runs, seven doubles, 10 homers and 21 RBIs. He drove in at least one run in 10 straight games, September 20-30, for a total of 16 RBIs.
Don had five two-homer games; the first of his career was on August 2 (both homers hit off Chicago's Britt Burns). He drove in four runs in a game four times and drove in Rickey Henderson with 56 of his 145 RBIs. Don was the first player to lead the majors in RBIs and strike out as few as 41 times since Ted Kluszewski led the bigs with 141 RBIs in 1954 while striking out 35 times.
Batting second in 58 games, he was 85-for-242 (.351 BA) and batting third in 99 games he was 124-for-404 (.307 BA). He batted fourth twice, going 2-for-6.
The two games Mattingly missed came on May 26-27 at Oakland when he was suffering from a groin pull. He underwent minor surgery on November 12 to correct a catch in the extensor tendon of his right hand's little finger- little to no rehabilitation was required.
The 1985 American League MVP and runner-up in the '86 MVP voting behind Roger Clemens had another remarkable season in 1986, supporting a mid-season New York Times poll of 417 major league players that named Mattingly the best player in the game. He led the majors with 238 hits, a .573 slugging percentage, 388 total bases (leading the majors for the second consecutive year), 86 extra-base hits (also leading the majors for the second consecutive year) and 53 doubles (leading the majors for the third consecutive year- the first player to lead the American League or the major leagues three straight years since Tris Speaker from 1920-23).
His 238 hits broke the former Yankee record of 231 set in 1927 by Earle Combs; his 232nd hit, which broke the record, came in the seventh inning on October 2 at Fenway Park off Sammy Stewart. His 388 total bases were the most by a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio posted 418 in 1937 and the most in the AL since Jim Rice's 406 in 1978, and equaled the fourth highest total in the majors since 1939; Mattingly became the 10th player to lead the majors in total bases two consecutive years, the first since Mike Schmidt in 1980-81, and the only Yankee besides Babe Ruth in 1923-24. His 53 doubles broke the Yankee mark of 52 set in 1927 by Lou Gehrig; his 53rd came in the fourth inning of New York's final game on October 5 at Fenway off Jeff Sellers.
His final batting average of .352 was second in the majors, his 117 runs was third in the majors and third in the AL, his 15 game winning RBI tied for third in the majors and tied for first in the AL, his 113 RBIs was fifth in the majors and third in the AL, his .394 on-base percentage was seventh in the majors and fifth in the AL, and his 31 home runs tied for seventh in the majors and tied for sixth in the AL.
He went into the final series of the season trailing Boston's Wade Boggs .357 to .350 in the American League batting race. While Boggs sat out the four-game set with a sore right hamstring, Don went 8-for-19 (.421 BA) with five runs, two doubles, two homers and four RBIs. Given the number of at-bats for Mattingly in that series (19), he would have needed 12 hits to overtake Boggs (the averages would have been .3574 for Mattingly and .3568 for Boggs).
Mattingly was the first Yankee to hit .350 or better since Mickey Mantle hit .365 in 1957, and the first Yankee left-handed hitter to hit .350 or better since Lou Gehrig hit .351 in 1937. His .352 BA was the highest by a Yankee left-handed hitter since Gehrig hit .354 and Bill Dickey hit .362 in 1936. Mattingly became only the eighth Yankee to ever hit at least .352, [joining] Babe Ruth (eight times), Gehrig (5), Joe DiMaggio (3), Mantle (2), Earle Combs, Tony Lazzeri and Bill Dickey- all but Lazzeri are Hall of Famers.
He became the 11th player in major league history, and the first in 27 years (Hank Aaron in 1959), to finish with at least 200 hits, a .350 BA, 30 homers and 100 RBIs- the others were Lou Gehrig (five times), Babe Ruth and Rogers Hornsby (three each), Chuck Klein, Jimmie Foxx and Stan Musial (twice each), Lefty O'Doul, Hack Wilson and Joe Medwick. He became the first AL player to record 230 hits, 100 RBIs and 30 homers (accomplished by six National Leaguers, most recently by Musial in 1948). His 53 doubles were the most in the majors since Hal McRae had 54 for Kansas City in 1977. He was the first Yankee to record 200+ hits three consecutive years since Lou Gehrig in 1930-32.
Don became the fifth Yankee to play in 162 games in a single season, joining Bobby Richardson (1962), Roy White (1970 and 1973) and Chris Chambliss (1978). He missed just six innings of play in '86: four innings on June 28 against Toronto (due to a bruised left index finger) and two innings on August 7 against Milwaukee.
His .996 fielding percentage led AL first basemen for the third consecutive year and he's the only Yankee to ever lead the league in fielding percentage three straight years at any position. He led AL first basemen with 160 games and 1,483 total chances, and won his second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Don hit .305 (50-for-164) with runners in scoring position, and his four-hit games came on May 6 at Chicago, May 17 at Seattle, June 19 at Toronto and June 20 at Toronto. He had two three-double games (April 21 at Kansas City and July 11 at Minnesota) and two two-homer games (May 28 at Seattle and June 9 at Detroit), and his 79 multi-hit games led the club. He averaged just one strikeout for every 19.3 at-bats.
He was slowed in spring training of 1986 by a bone bruise of the left thumb, playing only 16 of 28 exhibition games, hitting .300 with no home runs and six RBIs. Don recorded his 500th career hit with his first hit on Opening Day on April 8 against Kansas City, and notched his first career five-RBI game on April 21 at Kansas City. He did not hit his first home run until his 81st at-bat on April 30 against Minnesota off Bert Blyleven. Don tied the major league record with three sacrifice flies on May 3 against Texas and hit in 14 straight games, May 4-18, going 28-for-61 (.459 BA) with 11 runs, 11 doubles, three homers and eight RBIs, raising his batting average from .261 to .340.
A sac fly in the ninth inning on June 24 at Boston broke a streak of 57 at-bats without an RBI that began with his last at-bat on June 12 (he went 11 games between recording RBIs 52 and 53). Don hit in 13 of 14 games, June 19-July 3, going 30-for-60 (.500 BA) with 14 runs, seven doubles, a homer and five RBIs, raising his batting average from .310 to .344; after June 24 his batting average never dipped below .334.
He made his first start and first appearance as a designated hitter on July 6 at Chicago, breaking a string of 201 consecutive starts at first base. With Mike Pagliarulo bothered by a sore hamstring, Mattingly made three appearances at third base, the first coming on August 29 at Seattle. He became the first left-handed third baseman since Mike Squires played 13 games at third for the White Sox in 1984, and the first such Yankee third baseman since Hal Chase played one game there in 1908. Among the three appearances at third were two starts: the second games of doubleheaders on August 30 and on August 31, both at Seattle.
Don had a career high 24 game hitting streak extending from August 30 (second game) through September 26. It was the longest streak of Don's career, and the seventh longest hitting streak in Yankee history as well as being the longest in the AL in 1986. He hit safely in 44 of the last 49 games, going 77-for-149 (.387 BA) with 40 runs, 16 doubles, a triple, 11 homers and 34 RBIs. He hit safely in 81 of 97 games from June 18 on, going 153-for-403 and hitting .380.
40 of the 113 runs driven in by Mattingly were scored by Rickey Henderson. His season final batting average of .352 was the highest point reached by Mattingly throughout the year. His 677 at-bats in '86 is the fourth highest total in Yankee history, trailing only Horace Clarke's total of 686 in 1970, and Bobby Richardson's totals of 679 in 1964 and Yankee record of 692 in 1962.
Don attended Evansville (IN) Memorial High where he played baseball, basketball and football. He played Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion ball in Evansville. His older brother Randy played pro football.
Don enjoys racquetball and maintains homes in both Evansville and Tenafly, New Jersey. In August of 1987 he opened a restaurant in Evansville called 'MATTINGLY'S 23.' During the 1988 season, he and his wife Kim are donating $100 for each home run to singer Paul Simon's project to purchase mobile medical units that will service underprivileged children in New York City."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
"Mattingly enhanced his reputation as the best player in baseball by achieving two significant home run records: he tied a major league mark set by Pittsburgh's Dale Long in 1956 by homering in eight consecutive games from July 8-18, and after going without a grand slam in his first four major league seasons, he slugged six of them in 1987. His sixth, which came on September 29 against Boston, broke the single-season major league record shared by Ernie Banks (1955) and Jim Gentile (1961).
Injuries limited Mattingly to 186 hits, marking the first time he has failed to reach 200. He was disabled from June 9-24 with two injured discs in his lower back. A sprained right wrist caused him to miss two games and continued to bother him.
His defensive prowess at first base is matched only by the Mets' Keith Hernandez. Mattingly's only weakness is a lack of speed.
Born in Evansville, Indiana, Mattingly was selected by the Yankees in the 19th round of the June 1979 draft. He captured the batting title in his first full major league season with a .343 average in 1984. He was AL MVP in 1985, when his 145 RBI were the most by a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio's 155 in 1948."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"'We're gonna win the East. I guarantee it,' declared the normally softspoken Don Mattingly last winter. By normal standards it would be a bold statement, except when you consider what the Indiana native has already accomplished in just over four seasons.
What more can be said about Mattingly, a superstar at age 26? Last year he took his customary spot among the league leaders in nearly every offensive category. With the bat he set a new major league record with six grand slams in a season. He broke the AL record of hitting home runs in six straight games, and went on to tie the major league record by stroking a dinger in eight consecutive games. With the glove he tied another major league record for first basemen with 22 putouts in a nine inning game. In fact he made only five errors all year!
In his career he's already got a batting title and the MVP award to his name. So what's next? Just ask him.
'We've got the best club out there, and this year we're going to win.'
Bragging? Not for Don Mattingly, arguably the best player in the game today, and a player who has the ability to back up what he says."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Another superb year in 1987- his fourth straight.
Mattingly began the season slowly, hitting .175 on April 15 after nine games. His April batting average was his career low for that month (interestingly, Mattingly had exactly 22 hits in each April from 1984-87). He had his first career three-strikeout game on April 13 against Cleveland.
His batting average was as low as .239 (27-for-113) on May 9, after 29 games. Don then went 37-for-93 (.398) from May 10 through June 4, including a 15-game hitting streak (May 19-June 4) to raise his season stats to .311 (64-for-206) on June 4 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in 53 games.
Before the June 4 game at Milwaukee, Don's back was injured when he was wrestled in the clubhouse by Bob Shirley. He tried to play, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, before the pain became too severe to continue. His innings missed in that game were his first since August 7, 1986 (he missed only six innings all of '86), and that game was the last of a string of 335 consecutive games played (final 120 of 1985, 162 in '86 and the first 53 of '87), Don last sitting out on May 27, 1985. Tests later taken at NYU Medical Center revealed a disc problem in his back, forcing him to be placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 9. Activated from the disabled list on June 24, the Yankees were 11-7 during Mattingly's absence (June 5-23).
Upon his return, he hit in 18 of the next 22 games (June 14-July 19), hitting .411 (39-for-95) with 25 runs, eight doubles, 12 homers and 33 RBIs, raising his overall batting average to .342- his season high. Mattingly went 4-for-6 on June 26 against Boston.
From July 8 to July 18 he hit at least one home run in eight straight games, tying the major league record previously set by Pirate Dale Long in 1956. During the same streak Mattingly smashed the American League record of homering in six straight games, previously done six times (last by Reggie Jackson with Baltimore in 1976; also done by Lou Gehrig in 1931 and Roger Maris in 1961). Over the eight game homer streak, Mattingly hit .459 (17-for-37) with 10 homers and 21 RBIs.
Mattingly had seven RBIs on July 16 at Texas, his single game career high and the most by a Yankee in '87. He had at least one extra base hit in ten consecutive games, July 7 through July 19, breaking the AL record of nine set by Babe Ruth in 1921. Don was twice named AL Player of the Week- for the weeks ending on July 12 and July 19. He was also named AL Player of the Month for July, going 37-for-99 (.374 BA) with 21 runs, 10 homers and 24 RBIs for the month.
On July 20 Don tied the major league record of 22 putouts by a first baseman in a nine-inning game, also held by Tommy Jones (St. Louis Browns, May 11, 1906), Hal Chase (New York Highlanders, September 21, 1906) and Ernie Banks (Chicago Cubs, May 9, 1963). He missed the games of July 21-22 at Minnesota with a slightly sprained right wrist suffered on July 18 after hitting his record tying homer. Coming back from that injury, he was used as a pinch hitter on July 24 at Chicago, his first pinch-hitting appearance since April 6, 1984. Upon completion of the eight consecutive game home run streak on July 18, Mattingly went without a homer from July 19 through August 7 (16 games) and hit just one homer over 21 games (July 19-August 12). He had 11 extra base hits including five homers with 11 RBIs in 12 games from August 8 through August 21, and seven extra base hits including four homers with nine RBIs in seven games from August 14 through August 21.
Mattingly had his second and final four-hit game on September 2 against Oakland, going 4-for-5. He had an 11-game hitting streak, August 30 through September 11; he hit in 17 of 18, August 30 through September 18; 26 of 28, August 30 through September 29; and in 28 of his last 32 games, August 30 through October 4, going 45-for-136 (.331 BA) with seven homers and 31 RBIs. On September 22 at Milwaukee (second game) he made his first appearance as a designated hitter since July 6, 1986 at Chicago. Suffering from flu-like symptoms, Don was pinch-hit for by Orestes Destrade on October 1 against Boston, the first time he had been pinch-hit for since Vic Mata batted for him on August 3, 1984 against Cleveland (first game).
He had a pair of two-homer games, July 8 against Minnesota and July 16 at Texas. He hit .311 with runners in scoring position and averaged one strikeout per every 15.0 at-bats. Don's .331 career batting average remains third on the all-time Yankee list for players with 500 games, trailing only Babe Ruth (.349) and Lou Gehrig (.340).
Don blasted six grand slams in 1987, setting a new major league record (No. 6 came September 29 at Yankee Stadium off Boston's Bruce Hurst) and breaking the record of five set by Cub Ernie Banks in 1955 and tied by Oriole Jim Gentile in 1961. The Yankee record for grand slams in a season was four set by Lou Gehrig in 1934 and tied by Tommy Henrich in 1948.
With the bases loaded Don was 9-for-19 (.474 BA) in 21 plate appearances, and in addition to his six grand slams had two singles, a double, a pair of sacrifice flies and 33 RBIs. Prior to 1987, he was just 12-for-47 (.255 BA) with just one extra base hit in career bases loaded situations. In fact, prior to his first '87 grand slam, his career numbers with the bases loaded fell to 13-for-52 (.250) in 70 plate appearances with two extra base hits (having gone 1-for-5 with a double, sac fly and four RBIs in '87), and beginning with the first grand slam he went 8-for-14 (.571 BA) with six slams and 29 RBIs.
Mattingly's .996 fielding percentage (five errors in 1,335 total chances) was best in the American League for the fourth straight year, tying the AL's first baseman's record for most consecutive years leading the league in fielding (100 or more games played) set by Charles Gandil of the Indians and White Sox from 1916 to 1919 (the major league record is five consecutive years set by the Reds' Ted Kluszewski from 1951 to 1955). He tied with Kent Hrbek for fewest errors (5) by a first baseman for 1,000 or more total chances.
In 1987 Don became the first player in the seven-year history of the Elias Sports Bureau's report for the MLBPA to compile a perfect 1.000 score, ranking first in each category used to measure production of first basemen: plate appearances, batting average, on-base percentage, home runs and runs batted in. He was selected to his fourth consecutive AL All-Star team and was selected to the AP, UPI and Sporting News All-Star and Silver Slugger teams, each for the third straight year. He also captured his third straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award for AL first basemen.
Don had his fourth straight 100+ RBI season and was the first Yankee since Mickey Mantle (1955-62) and Roger Maris (1960-62) to hit 30+ homers in three straight seasons. He became the first ever Yankee to lead the club in batting average, hits, doubles and RBIs four consecutive seasons; breaking down the individual categories, the last Yankees to lead the club at least four straight seasons were: batting average- Mantle 1955-58; hits- Bobby Murcer 1971-74; doubles- none until Mattingly; RBI - Reggie Jackson- 1977-80. Prior to Mattingly, the last Yankee to have at least four straight 100+ RBI seasons was Joe DiMaggio, 1937-42.
Ranked in the AL in '87, Mattingly's 38 doubles were tied for third; his .327 batting average and 115 RBIs were fifth; his .559 slugging percentage was seventh; and his 186 hits were eighth. Over the last five years among all major leaguers, his 921 hits are tied for fourth with Cal Ripken (behind Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn and Tim Raines); his 515 RBIs are sixth (trailing Mike Schmidt, Dave Winfield, Jim Rice, Dale Murphy and Eddie Murray); and his .331 batting average is third (behind Boggs and Gwynn).
In 1979 Don was drafted late as teams expected him to accept a college scholarship. He was signed by Yankee scouts Jax Robertson and Gust Poulos.
He was named South Atlantic League MVP in 1980. In 1981, Mattingly was named Yankee Minor League Player of the Year, led the Southern League in doubles and was named to the Topps and Southern League [Class AA] All-Star teams as an outfielder. He was named an International League All-Star as an outfielder in 1982 and his outstanding season earned him a promotion to the Yankees in September.
Don had a terrific rookie season in 1983. He won the James P. Dawson Award as the top Yankee rookie in spring training and was in the starting lineup for the Yankee home opener. Optioned to Columbus on April 14, he hit eight home runs with 37 RBIs and a .340 batting average with the Clippers before his recall on June 20 when Bobby Murcer retired. Don hit his first major league homer off John Tudor on June 24 at Fenway Park. He hit in 24 of 25 games, July 13- August 11, going hitless (0-for-2) in both ends of the 'Pine Tar Game' (July 24 and August 18). He played one-third of an inning at second base in the August 18 conclusion of that game. He played first base on July 4th when Dave Righetti no-hit the Red Sox.
In 1984, Mattingly became the first Yankee to win the AL batting championship since Mickey Mantle in 1956, battling teammate Dave Winfield to the last day of the season, winning .343 to .340. He was named to his first AL All-Star team in his first full season in the majors. He led the AL with 207 hits, 44 doubles and 59 multiple-hit games, was second with a .537 slugging percentage and was the first Yankee left-handed batter to hit .340 since Lou Gehrig hit .351 in 1937. Don was the top road hitter in the AL at .364 and led AL first basemen with a .996 fielding percentage, making only five errors in 1,236 total chances.
In a phenomenal 1985 season, displaying prowess with bat and glove, Mattingly led the majors with 145 RBIs, 48 doubles and 15 sacrifice flies and led the American League with 370 total bases, 21 game winning RBIs and 86 extra-base hits. He was second in the AL with 211 hits, a .567 slugging percentage and 66 multiple hit games, third with a .324 batting average, fourth with 35 home runs and tied for sixth with 107 runs. He also led AL first basemen with a .995 fielding percentage.
His 145 RBIs were the most by a Yankee since DiMaggio had 155 in 1948, and he was the first Yankee to lead the AL in RBIs since Roger Maris in 1961; he reached the 100 RBI plateau on August 20- the earliest by a Yankee since Maris and Mantle recorded their 100th on August 4 and August 6, respectively, in 1961. His 211 hits were the most by a Yankee since Red Rolfe's 213 in 1939 and is the seventh highest total in Yankee history (including his own 238 in '86), and Mattingly was the first Yankee to collect 200+ hits in consecutive seasons since DiMaggio in 1936-37. He was the first AL player to lead the majors in doubles in consecutive seasons since Tris Speaker in 1920-23, and was the first player to lead the AL in doubles in consecutive seasons since Tony Oliva in 1969-70. His 652 at-bats is the eighth highest total in Yankee history [including his own 677 in '86] and he was the first Yankee to have 600+ at-bats in consecutive seasons since Chris Chambliss in 1976-78. Don's 159 games led the team and are the second highest total by a Yankee at first base (he played 160 in '86).
Don suffered a minor tear of the medial meniscus cartilage in his right knee in February while working out with weights at his Evansville, Indiana home. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage on February 22 and his rehabilitation caused him to miss the first 18 spring training games. Upon his return, Don homered in his first at-bat on March 26.
He didn't hit his first [regular season] home run until May 5, off Kansas City's Bud Black. Mattingly's batting average tailed off to .285 on June 8 following an 0-for-19 streak (his longest 0-for of '85), yet he had a 20-game hitting streak, June 22-July 12, the longest of '85 by a Yankee and then longest of his career: over the streak he went 32-for-81 (.395 BA) with 11 runs, nine doubles, three homers and 21 RBIs. He committed his first error on July 7 against Minnesota, breaking a streak of 153 games (1,371 total chances), dating back to June 22, 1984, of not committing an error at first base. Don also had a 19-game hitting streak from August 1-21, going 35-for-79 (.443 BA) with 25 runs, seven doubles, 10 homers and 21 RBIs. He drove in at least one run in 10 straight games, September 20-30, for a total of 16 RBIs.
Don had five two-homer games; the first of his career was on August 2 (both homers hit off Chicago's Britt Burns). He drove in four runs in a game four times and drove in Rickey Henderson with 56 of his 145 RBIs. Don was the first player to lead the majors in RBIs and strike out as few as 41 times since Ted Kluszewski led the bigs with 141 RBIs in 1954 while striking out 35 times.
Batting second in 58 games, he was 85-for-242 (.351 BA) and batting third in 99 games he was 124-for-404 (.307 BA). He batted fourth twice, going 2-for-6.
The two games Mattingly missed came on May 26-27 at Oakland when he was suffering from a groin pull. He underwent minor surgery on November 12 to correct a catch in the extensor tendon of his right hand's little finger- little to no rehabilitation was required.
The 1985 American League MVP and runner-up in the '86 MVP voting behind Roger Clemens had another remarkable season in 1986, supporting a mid-season New York Times poll of 417 major league players that named Mattingly the best player in the game. He led the majors with 238 hits, a .573 slugging percentage, 388 total bases (leading the majors for the second consecutive year), 86 extra-base hits (also leading the majors for the second consecutive year) and 53 doubles (leading the majors for the third consecutive year- the first player to lead the American League or the major leagues three straight years since Tris Speaker from 1920-23).
His 238 hits broke the former Yankee record of 231 set in 1927 by Earle Combs; his 232nd hit, which broke the record, came in the seventh inning on October 2 at Fenway Park off Sammy Stewart. His 388 total bases were the most by a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio posted 418 in 1937 and the most in the AL since Jim Rice's 406 in 1978, and equaled the fourth highest total in the majors since 1939; Mattingly became the 10th player to lead the majors in total bases two consecutive years, the first since Mike Schmidt in 1980-81, and the only Yankee besides Babe Ruth in 1923-24. His 53 doubles broke the Yankee mark of 52 set in 1927 by Lou Gehrig; his 53rd came in the fourth inning of New York's final game on October 5 at Fenway off Jeff Sellers.
His final batting average of .352 was second in the majors, his 117 runs was third in the majors and third in the AL, his 15 game winning RBI tied for third in the majors and tied for first in the AL, his 113 RBIs was fifth in the majors and third in the AL, his .394 on-base percentage was seventh in the majors and fifth in the AL, and his 31 home runs tied for seventh in the majors and tied for sixth in the AL.
He went into the final series of the season trailing Boston's Wade Boggs .357 to .350 in the American League batting race. While Boggs sat out the four-game set with a sore right hamstring, Don went 8-for-19 (.421 BA) with five runs, two doubles, two homers and four RBIs. Given the number of at-bats for Mattingly in that series (19), he would have needed 12 hits to overtake Boggs (the averages would have been .3574 for Mattingly and .3568 for Boggs).
Mattingly was the first Yankee to hit .350 or better since Mickey Mantle hit .365 in 1957, and the first Yankee left-handed hitter to hit .350 or better since Lou Gehrig hit .351 in 1937. His .352 BA was the highest by a Yankee left-handed hitter since Gehrig hit .354 and Bill Dickey hit .362 in 1936. Mattingly became only the eighth Yankee to ever hit at least .352, [joining] Babe Ruth (eight times), Gehrig (5), Joe DiMaggio (3), Mantle (2), Earle Combs, Tony Lazzeri and Bill Dickey- all but Lazzeri are Hall of Famers.
He became the 11th player in major league history, and the first in 27 years (Hank Aaron in 1959), to finish with at least 200 hits, a .350 BA, 30 homers and 100 RBIs- the others were Lou Gehrig (five times), Babe Ruth and Rogers Hornsby (three each), Chuck Klein, Jimmie Foxx and Stan Musial (twice each), Lefty O'Doul, Hack Wilson and Joe Medwick. He became the first AL player to record 230 hits, 100 RBIs and 30 homers (accomplished by six National Leaguers, most recently by Musial in 1948). His 53 doubles were the most in the majors since Hal McRae had 54 for Kansas City in 1977. He was the first Yankee to record 200+ hits three consecutive years since Lou Gehrig in 1930-32.
Don became the fifth Yankee to play in 162 games in a single season, joining Bobby Richardson (1962), Roy White (1970 and 1973) and Chris Chambliss (1978). He missed just six innings of play in '86: four innings on June 28 against Toronto (due to a bruised left index finger) and two innings on August 7 against Milwaukee.
His .996 fielding percentage led AL first basemen for the third consecutive year and he's the only Yankee to ever lead the league in fielding percentage three straight years at any position. He led AL first basemen with 160 games and 1,483 total chances, and won his second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Don hit .305 (50-for-164) with runners in scoring position, and his four-hit games came on May 6 at Chicago, May 17 at Seattle, June 19 at Toronto and June 20 at Toronto. He had two three-double games (April 21 at Kansas City and July 11 at Minnesota) and two two-homer games (May 28 at Seattle and June 9 at Detroit), and his 79 multi-hit games led the club. He averaged just one strikeout for every 19.3 at-bats.
He was slowed in spring training of 1986 by a bone bruise of the left thumb, playing only 16 of 28 exhibition games, hitting .300 with no home runs and six RBIs. Don recorded his 500th career hit with his first hit on Opening Day on April 8 against Kansas City, and notched his first career five-RBI game on April 21 at Kansas City. He did not hit his first home run until his 81st at-bat on April 30 against Minnesota off Bert Blyleven. Don tied the major league record with three sacrifice flies on May 3 against Texas and hit in 14 straight games, May 4-18, going 28-for-61 (.459 BA) with 11 runs, 11 doubles, three homers and eight RBIs, raising his batting average from .261 to .340.
A sac fly in the ninth inning on June 24 at Boston broke a streak of 57 at-bats without an RBI that began with his last at-bat on June 12 (he went 11 games between recording RBIs 52 and 53). Don hit in 13 of 14 games, June 19-July 3, going 30-for-60 (.500 BA) with 14 runs, seven doubles, a homer and five RBIs, raising his batting average from .310 to .344; after June 24 his batting average never dipped below .334.
He made his first start and first appearance as a designated hitter on July 6 at Chicago, breaking a string of 201 consecutive starts at first base. With Mike Pagliarulo bothered by a sore hamstring, Mattingly made three appearances at third base, the first coming on August 29 at Seattle. He became the first left-handed third baseman since Mike Squires played 13 games at third for the White Sox in 1984, and the first such Yankee third baseman since Hal Chase played one game there in 1908. Among the three appearances at third were two starts: the second games of doubleheaders on August 30 and on August 31, both at Seattle.
Don had a career high 24 game hitting streak extending from August 30 (second game) through September 26. It was the longest streak of Don's career, and the seventh longest hitting streak in Yankee history as well as being the longest in the AL in 1986. He hit safely in 44 of the last 49 games, going 77-for-149 (.387 BA) with 40 runs, 16 doubles, a triple, 11 homers and 34 RBIs. He hit safely in 81 of 97 games from June 18 on, going 153-for-403 and hitting .380.
40 of the 113 runs driven in by Mattingly were scored by Rickey Henderson. His season final batting average of .352 was the highest point reached by Mattingly throughout the year. His 677 at-bats in '86 is the fourth highest total in Yankee history, trailing only Horace Clarke's total of 686 in 1970, and Bobby Richardson's totals of 679 in 1964 and Yankee record of 692 in 1962.
Don attended Evansville (IN) Memorial High where he played baseball, basketball and football. He played Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion ball in Evansville. His older brother Randy played pro football.
Don enjoys racquetball and maintains homes in both Evansville and Tenafly, New Jersey. In August of 1987 he opened a restaurant in Evansville called 'MATTINGLY'S 23.' During the 1988 season, he and his wife Kim are donating $100 for each home run to singer Paul Simon's project to purchase mobile medical units that will service underprivileged children in New York City."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Saturday, July 16, 2016
1988 Profile: Rafael Santana
"Baseball fundamentalists never underestimate the importance for any team with playoff aspirations of being strong up the middle. The last time the Yankees made it to postseason play was in 1981, and it is no coincidence that they have had shortstop problems ever since.
For the first time in [six years] the position seems to be secured. The first-ever trade of major league players between New York's two baseball teams brought former Met Rafael Santana to the Bronx. A solid defender, Santana was a vital force in the Mets' 1986 drive to the World Championship. Yet, after three seasons as a starter, the native of the Dominican Republic fell victim to a youth movement in Queens. Still young at age 30, he will try to solidify a hole that the Yankees have been unable to fill since the departure of Bucky Dent.
Santana is steady in the field and is an improving hitter, finishing last year at .255. The arrival of Santana came without much fanfare, but he could prove to be the Yankees' most beneficial acquisition.
'I'm very happy to be with the Yankees,' Rafael says. 'I don't have to move out of New York, and I'm still playing for a team capable of winning.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Santana was acquired by the Yankees with minor league pitcher Victor Garcia from the New York Mets on December 11, 1987 (the final day of the Dallas winter meetings) in exchange for catcher Phil Lombardi, outfielder Darren Reed and pitcher Steve Frey. It was the first ever trade involving major league players between the two New York teams. Santana originally began his professional career in the Yankee organization.
He was the Mets' starting shortstop each of the last three seasons and in 1987 he played 139 games while hitting .255 (112-for-439) with 41 runs scored, 21 doubles, five home runs and 44 RBIs. His home run, RBI and runs scored totals all represented new career highs. His 44 RBIs fell five shy of the Mets club record for RBIs by a shortstop in a season (49 by Ed Bressoud in 1966) and his five home runs were two more than he hit in his first four major league seasons combined.
Rafael started the year 0-for-16. His first hit didn't come until his 17th at-bat, a single against Charlie Puleo in the eighth inning of a 12-4 loss to the Braves on April 12 at Shea Stadium. Then he began to pick up the pace: in an eight-game period from April 12-21, he went 10-for-29 (.345) to go from .000 to .238. He paced the Mets to a 9-6 victory over Pittsburgh on April 21 with a three-run homer in the fourth inning off Bob Kipper; it was the first three-RBI game of his career. Rafael batted safely in six of seven games from May 12-17, going 11-for-27 (.407) in that stretch to boost his average from .190 on April 27 to .259 on May 17. That span included four multi-hit games (three two-hit games and one three-hit game).
He slumped to .238 on May 23. A three-hit game at San Francisco on May 25, however, began a sustained hot streak. Starting with that contest, he hit in 14 of 21 games, going 20-for-63 (.317) to increase his average to .268 on June 14, and had 10 RBIs in those games. Rafael tied his career high with three RBIs in a 13-2 victory over the Cubs on June 10.
From June 25 to July 10 Rafael hit at a .392 pace (20-for-51) to raise his batting average from .259 to .290 on July 10, his best mark of the year. He helped spark a doubleheader sweep in Atlanta on July 7 as he came through with the game-winning RBI in both contests. His two-run single led the 6-2 first game win, while his RBI double sparked a 5-1 second game victory.
Santana had a solid two-month period (covering 49 games) from June 25-August 23. He went 49-for-116 (.301) in that span to lift his batting average to .279 on August 23 and 12 multi-hit games in that span. The 49-game streak ended when he hit safely in 14 of 17 games (August 5-23), batting .339 (19-for-56) in those 17 games to lift his average from .267 to .279. He hit safely in the last seven games of that span (August 15-23), his longest hitting streak of the year. In 34 games from August 24 through the end of the season, however, Rafael hit only .179 (19-for-106) to finish with his final .255 batting average.
He had 28 multi-hit games in '87, including four three-hit games. He played 138 games at shortstop and had a fielding percentage of .973, committing 17 errors in 626 total chances.
Santana was signed by scout Epy Guerrero of the Yankees as a free agent on August 31, 1976, and in 1977 hit .261 at Oneonta of the Class A New York-Penn League in his pro debut year. In 1978, while playing for Ft. Lauderdale, he was the shortstop on the Florida State League's All-Star team and participated in two triple plays. Santana was named to the Florida State League All-Star team for the second straight year in 1979 and led the league's shortstops with a .982 fielding percentage.
He split the 1980 season between Ft. Lauderdale and Nashville of the Class AA Southern League. Rafael was on the Yankees' 40-man roster when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later in February 1981; the Cards sent pitcher George Frazier to the Yanks to complete the deal on June 7.
With Arkansas in 1981 Rafael led Texas League shortstops in fielding average (.955) and tied for the lead in double plays. In his first full season of AAA ball in 1982, he appeared in 41 games at second base, 73 games at third and 17 at shortstop for the Louisville Redbirds and stole 16 bases, the second- highest total on the team.
Rafael batted .214 in 30 games with the Cardinals in 1983 in his first major league experience, and also batted .281 in 77 games with Louisville. He was released by the Cardinals in January of 1984 and signed by Tidewater [Mets' AAA International League affiliate] later that month.
He hit .278 at Tidewater in 77 games and played every position in the infield (two games at first, six at second, 65 at shortstop and nine at third). Santana was purchased by the Mets from Tidewater on July 9, joined the Mets in Atlanta on July 12 and was utilized as a reserve in his first week with New York. On July 19 Ron Gardenhire injured his hamstring at Cincinnati and Santana took over for him the next day.
He did not relinquish his job until he was placed on the disabled list on August 25 with a lacerated right thumb. Rafael had his only National League four-hit game on August 11 against Pittsburgh at Shea Stadium. He sustained the injury to his thumb in the second game of a twinight doubleheader against the Giants at Shea on August 24 while sliding into second base trying to steal, colliding with Giants' shortstop Fran Mullins. He was placed on the disabled list on August 25 and activated on September 9. Rafael hit his first major league home run off Jerry Koosman of the Phillies on September 26 at Shea.
Rafael appeared in 153 games at shortstop in 1985, the most for a Met since Frank Taveras played 153 in 1979. He hit his only homer of the season, a two-run shot, in Pittsburgh off Cecilio Guante. He had two eight-game hitting streaks, and in the second of those, from June 9-16, hit .464 (13-for-28) to boost his average from .214 to .251. In a 66-game period from June 21 to September 6, Rafael hit .280 (66-for-236) to raise his average from .241 to .262. He led National League shortstops in putouts with 301.
He had two three-hit games during the 1986 season and struck out only 6.60 times per 100 plate appearances with men on base, the eighth best mark in the National League. On May 13 of that year, he played second base for the first time as a Met; he had played nine games at second for the Cardinals in 1983.
Rafael steadily increased his average over the final two months of the season. He was hitting only .176 at the end of July but batted .280 (28-for-100) in his final 33 games to raise his average to his final .218 mark. He posted a career-high nine-game hitting streak from August 24 to September 2, batting .424 (14-for-33) in that span with five two-hit games. Rafael hit his only home run of the year on August 26 in San Diego off Dave Dravecky.
He started each of the Mets' 13 postseason games, batting .176 (3-for-17) in the League Championship against the Astros and .250 (5-for-20) in the World Series. Against Houston, he established an NLCS record for most putouts (13), assists (18) and chances accepted (31) by a shortstop in a six-game series.
Rafael hit safely in four of the seven World Series games. He had a pair of hits off Roger Clemens in Game 2 of the World Series at Shea Stadium. His RBI single in the seventh inning of Game 7 off Calvin Schiraldi knocked in the second run of the three-run rally that put the Mets ahead to stay in their eventual 8-5 win."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
For the first time in [six years] the position seems to be secured. The first-ever trade of major league players between New York's two baseball teams brought former Met Rafael Santana to the Bronx. A solid defender, Santana was a vital force in the Mets' 1986 drive to the World Championship. Yet, after three seasons as a starter, the native of the Dominican Republic fell victim to a youth movement in Queens. Still young at age 30, he will try to solidify a hole that the Yankees have been unable to fill since the departure of Bucky Dent.
Santana is steady in the field and is an improving hitter, finishing last year at .255. The arrival of Santana came without much fanfare, but he could prove to be the Yankees' most beneficial acquisition.
'I'm very happy to be with the Yankees,' Rafael says. 'I don't have to move out of New York, and I'm still playing for a team capable of winning.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Santana was acquired by the Yankees with minor league pitcher Victor Garcia from the New York Mets on December 11, 1987 (the final day of the Dallas winter meetings) in exchange for catcher Phil Lombardi, outfielder Darren Reed and pitcher Steve Frey. It was the first ever trade involving major league players between the two New York teams. Santana originally began his professional career in the Yankee organization.
He was the Mets' starting shortstop each of the last three seasons and in 1987 he played 139 games while hitting .255 (112-for-439) with 41 runs scored, 21 doubles, five home runs and 44 RBIs. His home run, RBI and runs scored totals all represented new career highs. His 44 RBIs fell five shy of the Mets club record for RBIs by a shortstop in a season (49 by Ed Bressoud in 1966) and his five home runs were two more than he hit in his first four major league seasons combined.
Rafael started the year 0-for-16. His first hit didn't come until his 17th at-bat, a single against Charlie Puleo in the eighth inning of a 12-4 loss to the Braves on April 12 at Shea Stadium. Then he began to pick up the pace: in an eight-game period from April 12-21, he went 10-for-29 (.345) to go from .000 to .238. He paced the Mets to a 9-6 victory over Pittsburgh on April 21 with a three-run homer in the fourth inning off Bob Kipper; it was the first three-RBI game of his career. Rafael batted safely in six of seven games from May 12-17, going 11-for-27 (.407) in that stretch to boost his average from .190 on April 27 to .259 on May 17. That span included four multi-hit games (three two-hit games and one three-hit game).
He slumped to .238 on May 23. A three-hit game at San Francisco on May 25, however, began a sustained hot streak. Starting with that contest, he hit in 14 of 21 games, going 20-for-63 (.317) to increase his average to .268 on June 14, and had 10 RBIs in those games. Rafael tied his career high with three RBIs in a 13-2 victory over the Cubs on June 10.
From June 25 to July 10 Rafael hit at a .392 pace (20-for-51) to raise his batting average from .259 to .290 on July 10, his best mark of the year. He helped spark a doubleheader sweep in Atlanta on July 7 as he came through with the game-winning RBI in both contests. His two-run single led the 6-2 first game win, while his RBI double sparked a 5-1 second game victory.
Santana had a solid two-month period (covering 49 games) from June 25-August 23. He went 49-for-116 (.301) in that span to lift his batting average to .279 on August 23 and 12 multi-hit games in that span. The 49-game streak ended when he hit safely in 14 of 17 games (August 5-23), batting .339 (19-for-56) in those 17 games to lift his average from .267 to .279. He hit safely in the last seven games of that span (August 15-23), his longest hitting streak of the year. In 34 games from August 24 through the end of the season, however, Rafael hit only .179 (19-for-106) to finish with his final .255 batting average.
He had 28 multi-hit games in '87, including four three-hit games. He played 138 games at shortstop and had a fielding percentage of .973, committing 17 errors in 626 total chances.
Santana was signed by scout Epy Guerrero of the Yankees as a free agent on August 31, 1976, and in 1977 hit .261 at Oneonta of the Class A New York-Penn League in his pro debut year. In 1978, while playing for Ft. Lauderdale, he was the shortstop on the Florida State League's All-Star team and participated in two triple plays. Santana was named to the Florida State League All-Star team for the second straight year in 1979 and led the league's shortstops with a .982 fielding percentage.
He split the 1980 season between Ft. Lauderdale and Nashville of the Class AA Southern League. Rafael was on the Yankees' 40-man roster when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later in February 1981; the Cards sent pitcher George Frazier to the Yanks to complete the deal on June 7.
With Arkansas in 1981 Rafael led Texas League shortstops in fielding average (.955) and tied for the lead in double plays. In his first full season of AAA ball in 1982, he appeared in 41 games at second base, 73 games at third and 17 at shortstop for the Louisville Redbirds and stole 16 bases, the second- highest total on the team.
Rafael batted .214 in 30 games with the Cardinals in 1983 in his first major league experience, and also batted .281 in 77 games with Louisville. He was released by the Cardinals in January of 1984 and signed by Tidewater [Mets' AAA International League affiliate] later that month.
He hit .278 at Tidewater in 77 games and played every position in the infield (two games at first, six at second, 65 at shortstop and nine at third). Santana was purchased by the Mets from Tidewater on July 9, joined the Mets in Atlanta on July 12 and was utilized as a reserve in his first week with New York. On July 19 Ron Gardenhire injured his hamstring at Cincinnati and Santana took over for him the next day.
He did not relinquish his job until he was placed on the disabled list on August 25 with a lacerated right thumb. Rafael had his only National League four-hit game on August 11 against Pittsburgh at Shea Stadium. He sustained the injury to his thumb in the second game of a twinight doubleheader against the Giants at Shea on August 24 while sliding into second base trying to steal, colliding with Giants' shortstop Fran Mullins. He was placed on the disabled list on August 25 and activated on September 9. Rafael hit his first major league home run off Jerry Koosman of the Phillies on September 26 at Shea.
Rafael appeared in 153 games at shortstop in 1985, the most for a Met since Frank Taveras played 153 in 1979. He hit his only homer of the season, a two-run shot, in Pittsburgh off Cecilio Guante. He had two eight-game hitting streaks, and in the second of those, from June 9-16, hit .464 (13-for-28) to boost his average from .214 to .251. In a 66-game period from June 21 to September 6, Rafael hit .280 (66-for-236) to raise his average from .241 to .262. He led National League shortstops in putouts with 301.
He had two three-hit games during the 1986 season and struck out only 6.60 times per 100 plate appearances with men on base, the eighth best mark in the National League. On May 13 of that year, he played second base for the first time as a Met; he had played nine games at second for the Cardinals in 1983.
Rafael steadily increased his average over the final two months of the season. He was hitting only .176 at the end of July but batted .280 (28-for-100) in his final 33 games to raise his average to his final .218 mark. He posted a career-high nine-game hitting streak from August 24 to September 2, batting .424 (14-for-33) in that span with five two-hit games. Rafael hit his only home run of the year on August 26 in San Diego off Dave Dravecky.
He started each of the Mets' 13 postseason games, batting .176 (3-for-17) in the League Championship against the Astros and .250 (5-for-20) in the World Series. Against Houston, he established an NLCS record for most putouts (13), assists (18) and chances accepted (31) by a shortstop in a six-game series.
Rafael hit safely in four of the seven World Series games. He had a pair of hits off Roger Clemens in Game 2 of the World Series at Shea Stadium. His RBI single in the seventh inning of Game 7 off Calvin Schiraldi knocked in the second run of the three-run rally that put the Mets ahead to stay in their eventual 8-5 win."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
1988 Profile: Roberto Kelly
"What a difference a year makes. At this time last year not many Yankee fans could have told you who Roberto Kelly was. Now everybody's talking about the exciting young outfielder. The Yankees spent the off-season telling a host of interested clubs that the Panama native was untouchable. Kelly now has a better than average chance of becoming the starting center fielder.
Roberto joined the organization in 1982, and patiently made his way through the system. He made two trips to New York in 1987 and, with the injuries to Rickey Henderson, saw action in 23 games. He made the most of his opportunities, looking impressive in his first shot with the big club. Kelly showed great speed, both in the field and on the bases, while showing promise at the plate.
At 23, his time may have come. Roberto Kelly could find himself roving in Death Valley this season."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Roberto spent the first part of the 1987 season with the Columbus Clippers before being recalled to New York on July 29. At that point, he was hitting .300 (121-for-403) in 102 games with the Clippers, with 10 home runs, 54 RBIs, 48 stolen bases and six times caught stealing.
He made his major league debut with the Yankees on July 29 against Kansas City at Yankee Stadium, going 0-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. His first major league hit came on July 30 off the Royals' Bud Black, a first inning double. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI (his first major league RBI) on August 1 against Detroit. Roberto's first and only major league home run came on August 6 at Detroit, a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Willie Hernandez; his three RBIs in that game is his single game high.
Roberto was optioned to Columbus on August 14 after playing 10 games with the Yankees, hitting .300 (6-for-20) with a homer, five RBIs and three stolen bases. He remained with the Clippers until the conclusion of their season, finishing with a .278 batting average (131-for-471) with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs, and was 51 of 61 in stolen base attempts. His 51 stolen bases led the International League, and he was named as the designated hitter on the postseason International League all-star team.
He was recalled to the Yankees on September 10 and had his first big league three-hit game on September 22 at Milwaukee (second game) when he also recorded his first major league game-winning RBI. In his two stints with the Yankees Roberto combined to play in 23 games, batting .269 (14-for-52) with a home run and seven RBIs, stealing nine bases in 12 attempts and scoring 12 runs in those 23 games. He also had five walks and 15 strikeouts and had four multi-hit games. Used mainly as a center fielder, Roberto has outstanding speed.
Roberto was signed as a free agent by the Yankees (scout Fred Ferreira) on February 21, 1982. In his first pro season he hit .198 at Bradenton in 31 games, and in 1983 batted .265 in 20 games at Greensboro and .216 in 48 games in Oneonta. In 111 games with Greensboro in 1984, Roberto hit .238 (86-for-361) with 68 runs and 32 stolen bases. He batted .247 (103-for-417) in 1985 in 114 games at Ft. Lauderdale of the 'A' Florida State League, had 86 runs along with 49 stolen bases and led that circuit with 13 triples.
In 1986 Roberto batted .291 (87-for-299) in 86 games with the Albany-Colonie Yankees (AA Eastern League) with 11 doubles, two homers, 43 RBIs, 42 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. He was placed on the disabled list on July 10 due to the presence of bone chips in his right ankle and was not activated until August 23. Roberto was named to the Eastern League All-Star team but was unable to play due to his injury.
Roberto played Little League and in 1982 graduated from Instituto Jose Delores Moscote, a high school in Panama City, where he played baseball, basketball and volleyball."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Roberto joined the organization in 1982, and patiently made his way through the system. He made two trips to New York in 1987 and, with the injuries to Rickey Henderson, saw action in 23 games. He made the most of his opportunities, looking impressive in his first shot with the big club. Kelly showed great speed, both in the field and on the bases, while showing promise at the plate.
At 23, his time may have come. Roberto Kelly could find himself roving in Death Valley this season."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Roberto spent the first part of the 1987 season with the Columbus Clippers before being recalled to New York on July 29. At that point, he was hitting .300 (121-for-403) in 102 games with the Clippers, with 10 home runs, 54 RBIs, 48 stolen bases and six times caught stealing.
He made his major league debut with the Yankees on July 29 against Kansas City at Yankee Stadium, going 0-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. His first major league hit came on July 30 off the Royals' Bud Black, a first inning double. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI (his first major league RBI) on August 1 against Detroit. Roberto's first and only major league home run came on August 6 at Detroit, a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Willie Hernandez; his three RBIs in that game is his single game high.
Roberto was optioned to Columbus on August 14 after playing 10 games with the Yankees, hitting .300 (6-for-20) with a homer, five RBIs and three stolen bases. He remained with the Clippers until the conclusion of their season, finishing with a .278 batting average (131-for-471) with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs, and was 51 of 61 in stolen base attempts. His 51 stolen bases led the International League, and he was named as the designated hitter on the postseason International League all-star team.
He was recalled to the Yankees on September 10 and had his first big league three-hit game on September 22 at Milwaukee (second game) when he also recorded his first major league game-winning RBI. In his two stints with the Yankees Roberto combined to play in 23 games, batting .269 (14-for-52) with a home run and seven RBIs, stealing nine bases in 12 attempts and scoring 12 runs in those 23 games. He also had five walks and 15 strikeouts and had four multi-hit games. Used mainly as a center fielder, Roberto has outstanding speed.
Roberto was signed as a free agent by the Yankees (scout Fred Ferreira) on February 21, 1982. In his first pro season he hit .198 at Bradenton in 31 games, and in 1983 batted .265 in 20 games at Greensboro and .216 in 48 games in Oneonta. In 111 games with Greensboro in 1984, Roberto hit .238 (86-for-361) with 68 runs and 32 stolen bases. He batted .247 (103-for-417) in 1985 in 114 games at Ft. Lauderdale of the 'A' Florida State League, had 86 runs along with 49 stolen bases and led that circuit with 13 triples.
In 1986 Roberto batted .291 (87-for-299) in 86 games with the Albany-Colonie Yankees (AA Eastern League) with 11 doubles, two homers, 43 RBIs, 42 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. He was placed on the disabled list on July 10 due to the presence of bone chips in his right ankle and was not activated until August 23. Roberto was named to the Eastern League All-Star team but was unable to play due to his injury.
Roberto played Little League and in 1982 graduated from Instituto Jose Delores Moscote, a high school in Panama City, where he played baseball, basketball and volleyball."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Saturday, July 9, 2016
1988 Profile: Lee Guetterman
"Not much was made of the winter trade that brought Lee Guetterman from Seattle to New York. What can you say? A 29-year-old lefty who has bounced the Mariners organization since 1981, and has less than two years experience in the majors is no headliner, not yet at least. What is impressive is that he's improving and could play a major role with the Yankees [in] 1988.
Guetterman started last year in Triple-A and joined the Mariners on May 21 without a major league win to his name (0-4). He got his first win in relief and his next four over five starts. His winning percentage (.733) was tied for first in the majors among pitchers with 15 or more decisions. He also had the Mariners' lowest ERA (3.81) and third best record (11-4).
And that's why he's a Yankee. Guetterman, who works as a starter and out of the pen, is one name that will become more familiar in 1988."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Guetterman was acquired by the Yankees in December 1987 from the Seattle Mariners along with Clay Parker and Wade Taylor in exchange for Steve Trout and Henry Cotto. He was the third leading winner on the Mariner staff in '87 with a record of 11-4 in 25 games (17 starts) [1.34 WHIP] and posted a 3.81 earned run average, the best ERA among the club's starters. His winning percentage of .733 tied for first in the major leagues (among pitchers with 15 or more decisions) with Toronto's John Cerutti and Montreal's Dennis Martinez, who also were 11-4.
He was not on the Mariners' 40-man winter roster and did not attend major league spring training in 1987, and opened the season at Calgary, Seattle's AAA affiliate. He was purchased by the Mariners on May 21 when Edwin Nunez was placed on the 15-day disabled list. At that point Lee was 5-1 at Calgary with a save in 16 appearances (two starts) with a 2.86 ERA.
Lee won his first appearance after his recall to Seattle, a relief outing on May 27 against the Yankees in New York, pitching two hitless innings and giving up one run, and was credited with Seattle's 6-5 victory. He was moved into the rotation after that, and in his first five starts, from May 31 to June 21, he went 4-0 with a 2.55 ERA. Lee began that streak on May 31 at Baltimore, going 7.1 innings and giving up nine hits and five earned runs to gain credit for Seattle's 8-5 win. He concluded that streak on June 21 at Cleveland, pitching a 3-hit shutout against the Indians with one walk and two strikeouts in the Mariners' 5-0 victory; it was his first major league shutout and his second big league complete game.
At that point his overall record was 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA in six appearances (five starts), and his five-game winning streak was the longest by a Mariner in '87. He had his streak stopped in his next outing, in Kansas City on June 27, as Bret Saberhagen pitched a 3-hitter and Guetterman was charged with Seattle's 6-0 loss. He bounced back from that in his next start to pitch his second complete game of the season on July 2 against Detroit, giving up two earned runs on five hits with two walks and a season-high five strikeouts in Seattle's 5-2 victory. That started a three-game winning streak in three consecutive starts to raise his first half record to 8-1 in 10 games (nine starts) with a 3.36 ERA (64.1 IP, 64 H, 24 ER, 17 BB, 24 K) through the All-Star break.
In his first six starts after the All-Star break through August 15, however, Lee went 1-3 with a 6.29 ERA (24.1 IP, 17 ER) and was moved back to the bullpen. He made seven appearances in relief after that without a decision or a save with a 1.69 ERA (10.2 IP, 2 ER).
Lee was moved back into the rotation and finished the season by making two starts and winning both, including his final outing of the season on October 3 at Texas when he pitched eight innings and gave up four earned runs on six hits (including three home runs) and matched his season high with five strikeouts to gain credit for the Mariners' 6-4 victory. Overall in 17 games started he was 10-3 with a 4.05 ERA (45 ER, 100 IP).
He originally was selected by the Mariners in the fourth round (second selection) of the June 1981 free agent draft (with a choice from California as compensation for the signing of Juan Beniquez). In his first professional season in 1981 Guetterman ranked fifth in the [short-season A] Northwest League with a 2.68 ERA at Bellingham and posted a record of 6-4. In his first season at Bakersfield (Class-A California League) in 1982, he was 7-11 in 26 starts with a 4.44 ERA. His 3.22 ERA at Bakersfield in 1983 ranked him 10th in the league (and second among left-handers) and he finished with a 12-6 record in 25 starts.
Lee spent the 1984 season at AA Chattanooga, where he went 11-7 with a 3.38 ERA. He was recalled to Seattle after the minor league season on September 7 and made his major league debut on September 12 in relief against Texas in the Mariners' 8-1 loss, receiving a no-decision. He made two more relief outings for the Mariners that month.
He was assigned to Calgary from spring training in 1985 and spent the entire season there. He recorded a 5-8 record with a 5.79 ERA. 18 of his 20 appearances were starts and he tossed two complete games. Lee spent most of the 1986 season with the Mariners, going 0-4 with a 7.34 ERA in 41 games (four starts). He made his first major league start on June 7 (second game) against Texas, going the distance in the Mariners' 3-2 loss.
Lee graduated from Oceanside (California) High School in 1977, where he earned All-County honors as a first baseman. He graduated from Liberty Baptist College in Lynchburg, Virginia where one of his teammates was Sid Bream of the Pirates, and also pitched for La Romana (Dominican Republic) in winter ball.
His favorite team growing up was the San Diego Padres, his favorite ballpark is Texas Stadium and his most memorable moment in sports was 'throwing a 3-hit shutout against Cleveland on Father's Day last year.' His favorite entertainer is Bill Cosby."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Guetterman started last year in Triple-A and joined the Mariners on May 21 without a major league win to his name (0-4). He got his first win in relief and his next four over five starts. His winning percentage (.733) was tied for first in the majors among pitchers with 15 or more decisions. He also had the Mariners' lowest ERA (3.81) and third best record (11-4).
And that's why he's a Yankee. Guetterman, who works as a starter and out of the pen, is one name that will become more familiar in 1988."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Guetterman was acquired by the Yankees in December 1987 from the Seattle Mariners along with Clay Parker and Wade Taylor in exchange for Steve Trout and Henry Cotto. He was the third leading winner on the Mariner staff in '87 with a record of 11-4 in 25 games (17 starts) [1.34 WHIP] and posted a 3.81 earned run average, the best ERA among the club's starters. His winning percentage of .733 tied for first in the major leagues (among pitchers with 15 or more decisions) with Toronto's John Cerutti and Montreal's Dennis Martinez, who also were 11-4.
He was not on the Mariners' 40-man winter roster and did not attend major league spring training in 1987, and opened the season at Calgary, Seattle's AAA affiliate. He was purchased by the Mariners on May 21 when Edwin Nunez was placed on the 15-day disabled list. At that point Lee was 5-1 at Calgary with a save in 16 appearances (two starts) with a 2.86 ERA.
Lee won his first appearance after his recall to Seattle, a relief outing on May 27 against the Yankees in New York, pitching two hitless innings and giving up one run, and was credited with Seattle's 6-5 victory. He was moved into the rotation after that, and in his first five starts, from May 31 to June 21, he went 4-0 with a 2.55 ERA. Lee began that streak on May 31 at Baltimore, going 7.1 innings and giving up nine hits and five earned runs to gain credit for Seattle's 8-5 win. He concluded that streak on June 21 at Cleveland, pitching a 3-hit shutout against the Indians with one walk and two strikeouts in the Mariners' 5-0 victory; it was his first major league shutout and his second big league complete game.
At that point his overall record was 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA in six appearances (five starts), and his five-game winning streak was the longest by a Mariner in '87. He had his streak stopped in his next outing, in Kansas City on June 27, as Bret Saberhagen pitched a 3-hitter and Guetterman was charged with Seattle's 6-0 loss. He bounced back from that in his next start to pitch his second complete game of the season on July 2 against Detroit, giving up two earned runs on five hits with two walks and a season-high five strikeouts in Seattle's 5-2 victory. That started a three-game winning streak in three consecutive starts to raise his first half record to 8-1 in 10 games (nine starts) with a 3.36 ERA (64.1 IP, 64 H, 24 ER, 17 BB, 24 K) through the All-Star break.
In his first six starts after the All-Star break through August 15, however, Lee went 1-3 with a 6.29 ERA (24.1 IP, 17 ER) and was moved back to the bullpen. He made seven appearances in relief after that without a decision or a save with a 1.69 ERA (10.2 IP, 2 ER).
Lee was moved back into the rotation and finished the season by making two starts and winning both, including his final outing of the season on October 3 at Texas when he pitched eight innings and gave up four earned runs on six hits (including three home runs) and matched his season high with five strikeouts to gain credit for the Mariners' 6-4 victory. Overall in 17 games started he was 10-3 with a 4.05 ERA (45 ER, 100 IP).
He originally was selected by the Mariners in the fourth round (second selection) of the June 1981 free agent draft (with a choice from California as compensation for the signing of Juan Beniquez). In his first professional season in 1981 Guetterman ranked fifth in the [short-season A] Northwest League with a 2.68 ERA at Bellingham and posted a record of 6-4. In his first season at Bakersfield (Class-A California League) in 1982, he was 7-11 in 26 starts with a 4.44 ERA. His 3.22 ERA at Bakersfield in 1983 ranked him 10th in the league (and second among left-handers) and he finished with a 12-6 record in 25 starts.
Lee spent the 1984 season at AA Chattanooga, where he went 11-7 with a 3.38 ERA. He was recalled to Seattle after the minor league season on September 7 and made his major league debut on September 12 in relief against Texas in the Mariners' 8-1 loss, receiving a no-decision. He made two more relief outings for the Mariners that month.
He was assigned to Calgary from spring training in 1985 and spent the entire season there. He recorded a 5-8 record with a 5.79 ERA. 18 of his 20 appearances were starts and he tossed two complete games. Lee spent most of the 1986 season with the Mariners, going 0-4 with a 7.34 ERA in 41 games (four starts). He made his first major league start on June 7 (second game) against Texas, going the distance in the Mariners' 3-2 loss.
Lee graduated from Oceanside (California) High School in 1977, where he earned All-County honors as a first baseman. He graduated from Liberty Baptist College in Lynchburg, Virginia where one of his teammates was Sid Bream of the Pirates, and also pitched for La Romana (Dominican Republic) in winter ball.
His favorite team growing up was the San Diego Padres, his favorite ballpark is Texas Stadium and his most memorable moment in sports was 'throwing a 3-hit shutout against Cleveland on Father's Day last year.' His favorite entertainer is Bill Cosby."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
1988 Profile: Willie Randolph
"The co-captain made adjustments at the plate that allowed him to bat above .300 for the first time and establish a career high with 67 RBI. A No. 2 hitter who was known for going to the opposite field, he began pulling the ball more in 1987.
Randolph made a large contribution despite being disabled from July 15 until August 14. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage from his left knee on July 17. He was voted to the All-Star team and played three innings despite the injury. Randolph stands five shy of Hal Chase's Yankee record of 248 stolen bases.
The second baseman is the best around at turning the double play. He shows no signs that his skills are fading.
Born in Holly Hill, South Carolina, Randolph grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. He was obtained from the Pirates with Ken Brett and Dock Ellis for Doc Medich in December 1975."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"You hear all about the Mattinglys, Winfields and Hendersons, but the straw that has been stirring this drink for over a decade is Co-Captain Willie Randolph. Because of his quiet demeanor Randolph may not make headlines, but the people around him fully understand his value. 'I would rate him at the top of the second basemen in all of baseball,' boasted GM Lou Piniella.
Consider that 1987 may have been the best season in Randolph's 12-year career. He adopted a more aggressive style at the plate and began the year at a torrid pace, finishing over .300 (.305) for the first time in his career. He had a career-high 67 RBI and equalled his previous high in homers with seven, and he stole 10 bases (he has 10 or more in each of his 12 full major league seasons) to move within six of the all-time Yankee mark.
Randolph, despite the new power, maintained his good eye. He finished fourth in the league in on-base percentage, was ninth in walks, and was the starting second baseman in the All-Star Game.
Randolph's only improving with age."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Willie had perhaps his best major league season in 1987, even with a month-long mid-season knee injury.
He had four hits and five RBIs on April 13 against Cleveland, tying career highs set in each category. He had two home runs in eight at-bats from May 31 to June 2. Willie hit safely in 18 of 19 games, May 19-June 8, going 25-for-73 (.342 BA) with 16 runs and 18 RBIs, raising his overall batting average from .299 to .314.
Willie appeared as a designated hitter on June 19 at Boston (third career game at DH) and had four hits, again matching his career high in that category. He was hitting .309 in 84 games at the All-Star break and was the American League's starting second baseman in the July 14 mid-summer classic. On July 15, however, Willie was placed on the 21-day disabled list with torn cartilage in his left knee, an injury that occurred over a gradual period of time.
He underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage on July 17 and was activated from the disabled list on August 14, missing 26 games (the Yankees were 11-15 during that period). Although activated from the DL, recovery of the knee progressed slowly, and he appeared in just three games between August 14 and August 29.
Beginning on August 29, Randolph appeared in 33 of New York's last 35 games. His post-DL numbers were 39-for-132 (.295 BA) with 26 runs, three homers and 20 RBIs. He walked at least once in 13 straight games, September 16-29, and his RBI on September 27 at Baltimore was number 62 of the season, surpassing his previous career high of 61 set in 1979.
Willie had two 11-game hitting streaks (May 29-June 8 and September 4-15), his longest hitting streaks since opening the '86 season hitting in 15 straight. Beginning on June 3, and with the exception of September 2-4, his average was at .300 or above. He hit .316 (36-for-114) with runners in scoring position.
He set career highs with a .305 batting average and 67 RBIs; this was the first season he hit .300 or better. He also tied a career high with seven home runs. Randolph's .411 on-base percentage was fourth in the American League, and his 82 walks ranked ninth. He scored 96 runs in 120 games, his third best total and best since scoring 99 runs in 1980. In his previous 10 full seasons with the Yankees (excluding the 1981 strike season) Randolph averaged 137.1 games played- had he reached that number of games played in '87, his runs scored total would factor out to 110 and would have been a new career high.
On the all-time Yankee lists, Randolph moved from 14th to 11th with 1,584 games; 14th to 10th with 5,899 at-bats; 13th to eighth with 984 runs; 15th to 10th with 1,638 hits; 17th to tied for 15th (with Phil Rizzuto) with 239 doubles; and 20th to 19th with 57 triples. Should Randolph record 500 at-bats in '88, the only Yankees to have more at-bats would be Mantle (8,102), Gehrig (8,001), Berra (7,546), Ruth (7,217), DiMaggio (6,821) and Roy White (6,550). His stolen base on May 8 against Minnesota moved him into second place on the all-time Yankee list, and with 242 Randolph is six behind the Yankee record of 248 set by Hal Chase.
Willie improved his fielding percentage from .972 in '86 to .981 in '87 (12 errors in 636 total chances) and led all Yankee infielders with 338 assists. He played in 119 games at second base, increasing his all-time Yankee leading total to 1,579 games played at that position. Willie has played with the 29 shortstops listed below during his tenure with the Yankees:
Sandy Alomar
Dale Berra
Paul Blair
Ivan DeJesus
Bucky Dent
Brian Doyle
Barry Evans
Mike Fischlin
Tim Foli
Damaso Garcia
Rex Hudler
Mickey Klutts
Jim Mason
Bobby Meacham
Larry Milbourne
Graig Nettles
Mike Pagliarulo
Domingo Ramos
Andre Robertson
Rodney Scott
Dennis Sherrill
Roy Smalley
Keith Smith
Fred Stanley
Wayne Tolleson
Randy Velarde
Dennis Werth
George Zeber
Paul Zuvella
One of the most sought after infield prospects of the mid-70s, Willie is able to swing a good bat, draw walks and steal bases. He impressed the Yankees during spring training of 1975 when the Yankees and Pirates played six games. He was leading the International league in hitting when recalled by the Pirates in July 1975. He saw little action with Pittsburgh as Rennie Stennett was having a fine year, but played winter ball in Venezuela.
In 1976 Willie was named to the Topps Rookie All-Star team and the AL All-Star team (although replaced due to injury), and was the first rookie ever listed on an All-Star ballot. He won the James P. Dawson Award as the outstanding Yankee rookie in spring training. His 37 stolen bases were just four shy of the Yankee record for a rookie set by Bert Daniels in 1910. Willie had minor surgery after that season due to an injury to his right knee, first suffered on July 6, and was also bothered by a sore right shoulder.
Willie was voted to the American League All-Star team in 1977, playing all nine innings, and set the record for most assists by a second baseman with six. He was also voted to the 1977 AP, UPI and Sporting News postseason All-Star teams. Willie was second in the league in putouts, chances and double plays and third in assists for a second baseman. He tied for sixth in the AL with 11 triples and hit .305 with runners on base. Willie had two nine-game hitting streaks that year. His best effort came on May 19 against Baltimore, going 4-for-4 and scoring four runs. He missed a few games with a bruised right thumb and a sore right knee.
Bothered by injuries in 1978, mainly a bruised right knee and a pulled left hamstring, Willie finished fifth in the AL with a .385 on-base percentage and led the Yankees with 82 walks. He went 8-for-16 with six runs during New York's four-game sweep of Boston in September, including a five-RBI game on September 7. He went 4-for-4 at Cleveland on September 23. He pulled his left hamstring beating out an infield single on September 29 against the Indians, ending his '78 season and keeping him out of the playoffs and World Series. He hit .320 with runners on base that year and made both the AP and UPI postseason all-star teams.
1979 was an injury-free year for Willie. He led the club in games, at-bats, runs, triples, walks and stolen bases while tying for the club lead in hits, and had three four-hit games. He tied for third in the AL with 13 triples, the most by a Yankee since Tommy Henrich hit 14 in 1948, was fourth in the AL with 95 walks, 10th with 32 stolen bases, 13th with 98 runs and 15th with a .376 on-base percentage. Willie also had three four-hit games. He led AL second basemen with 355 putouts, 478 assists, 846 total chances and 128 double plays.
Willie led the American League with 119 walks in 1980, the most by a Yankee since Mickey Mantle's 122 in 1962, and his .429 on-base percentage was second in the AL. He led the Yankees, and was eighth in the league, with 30 stolen bases. He started slowly that year, hitting .128 on April 19, but hit .300 the rest of the way. Willie had a 13-game hitting streak, May 14-28, matching Reggie Jackson for the longest by a Yankee, and had two four-hit games. He stole three bases on June 11 at California, and finished the season by walking in his last 15 games. He hit .385 in the ALCS, second to Bob Watson, and was named to the UPI and Sporting News All-Star teams and won the Sporting News Silver Bat award for AL second basemen.
Willie's 59 runs in 1981 were eighth in the AL, his 57 walks were ninth and his 14 stolen bases were 15th. He was voted to his fourth AL All-Star team. He missed eight games in late August and additional games in September with a groin pull. His solo home run in the third game of the ALCS was the game winner, clinching the American League pennant.
He had a good start in 1982, hitting in his first nine games and ending April with a .348 batting average. He kept his average over .300 through June 9 and ended the season strongly, hitting .398 in his last 23 games. Willie led the Yankees in games, at-bats, runs, hits and walks.
Hampered by injuries in 1983, Willie played in his lowest number of games since joining the Yankees (excluding the 1981 strike season). He was on the disabled list from June 27 to July 12 with a pulled hamstring and reinjured himself, going back on the DL from July 13 to August 5. Willie had his 1,000th hit as a Yankee on August 5 against Detroit and had a 16-game hitting streak from September 6 to September 23, the longest of the year by a Yankee.
Willie hit a two-run homer in the 1984 Yankee Stadium opener. He had a pair of nine-game hitting streaks, May 9-19 and June 13-21, and flirted with a .300 batting average all season. Consistent, he kept his average between .290 and .310 from June 11 to September 25. Willie stole the 200th base of his Yankee career on July 16 at Texas. He tied for sixth with Rickey Henderson in the AL with 86 walks and had an impressive .377 on-base percentage.
Among AL second basemen in 1985, Willie was second with 739 total chances and 104 double plays and third with 425 assists. He had a 10-game hitting streak, June 30-July 11. He scored four runs on July 27 at Texas, had three doubles on July 30 at Cleveland and had his first career two-home run game on September 5 at Oakland, going 4-for-4. He had his 5,000th career at-bat on September 29 against Baltimore and hit his 200th career double on October 3 off Milwaukee's Tim Leary. His .382 on-base percentage was sixth in the AL, 14th in the majors, and his 85 walks tied for seventh in the AL, 13th in the majors. Willie received the Good Guy Award from the New York Press Photographers Association.
1986 was a typical Randolph season in some regards, atypical in others. Typical in that he was third in the American League with 94 walks and 313 putouts (among second basemen) and sixth with a .393 on-base percentage; atypical in that he had a career high 20 errors.
Willie was named co-captain with Ron Guidry on March 4. He opened the '86 season by hitting safely in his first 15 games (20-for-61, .328 batting average) and reached base safely in his first 28 games, a string broken on May 11 at Texas. He recorded his 5,000th at-bat as a Yankee on April 20 at Milwaukee and ended April hitting .319. Willie had an eight-game hitting streak May 18-26 (13-for-29, .448 BA), raising his overall batting average from .296 to .325, and ended May hitting .310.
He hit his first home run on June 22 at Toronto off Jimmy Key. He slumped at the plate in June, going 21-for-99 (.212 BA), lowering his overall average to .273 by month's end. He went 20 games, June 29-July 21, without an extra-base hit, yet had his third career four-walk game on July 3 against Detroit.
Willie's mid-season slide continued into July (19-for-87, .218 BA), with his overall average at .260 on July 31. His season average bottomed out on July 20, having dropped to .256. From July 21 through the end of the season, Willie hit .317 (52-for-164), raising his overall average to .276. He hit one home run in his first 108 games, then hit four in his last 33. On September 13 Willie played in his 1,447th game at second base for the Yankees, breaking Tony Lazzeri's record of 1,446. He recorded his 1,500th career hit on September 22 at Baltimore, homering off Scott McGregor.
Willie had one at-bat as a designated hitter, on September 1 at Oakland, and was 1-for-2 with a triple as a pinch hitter. He led all Yankee infielders with 381 assists. He hit .259 with runners in scoring position, his nine game winning RBI were a career high, and his 50 RBI were the most since his career high of 61 in 1979.
Although born in South Carolina, Willie's family moved to the Brownsville section of Brooklyn when he was an infant. He played stickball in the streets and fields of Canarsie and baseball at Tilden High School. The oldest of five children, Willie has three brothers and a sister. His brother Terry was Green Bay Packers' 11th round draft choice in 1977, and also played for the Jets."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Randolph made a large contribution despite being disabled from July 15 until August 14. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage from his left knee on July 17. He was voted to the All-Star team and played three innings despite the injury. Randolph stands five shy of Hal Chase's Yankee record of 248 stolen bases.
The second baseman is the best around at turning the double play. He shows no signs that his skills are fading.
Born in Holly Hill, South Carolina, Randolph grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. He was obtained from the Pirates with Ken Brett and Dock Ellis for Doc Medich in December 1975."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"You hear all about the Mattinglys, Winfields and Hendersons, but the straw that has been stirring this drink for over a decade is Co-Captain Willie Randolph. Because of his quiet demeanor Randolph may not make headlines, but the people around him fully understand his value. 'I would rate him at the top of the second basemen in all of baseball,' boasted GM Lou Piniella.
Consider that 1987 may have been the best season in Randolph's 12-year career. He adopted a more aggressive style at the plate and began the year at a torrid pace, finishing over .300 (.305) for the first time in his career. He had a career-high 67 RBI and equalled his previous high in homers with seven, and he stole 10 bases (he has 10 or more in each of his 12 full major league seasons) to move within six of the all-time Yankee mark.
Randolph, despite the new power, maintained his good eye. He finished fourth in the league in on-base percentage, was ninth in walks, and was the starting second baseman in the All-Star Game.
Randolph's only improving with age."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Willie had perhaps his best major league season in 1987, even with a month-long mid-season knee injury.
He had four hits and five RBIs on April 13 against Cleveland, tying career highs set in each category. He had two home runs in eight at-bats from May 31 to June 2. Willie hit safely in 18 of 19 games, May 19-June 8, going 25-for-73 (.342 BA) with 16 runs and 18 RBIs, raising his overall batting average from .299 to .314.
Willie appeared as a designated hitter on June 19 at Boston (third career game at DH) and had four hits, again matching his career high in that category. He was hitting .309 in 84 games at the All-Star break and was the American League's starting second baseman in the July 14 mid-summer classic. On July 15, however, Willie was placed on the 21-day disabled list with torn cartilage in his left knee, an injury that occurred over a gradual period of time.
He underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage on July 17 and was activated from the disabled list on August 14, missing 26 games (the Yankees were 11-15 during that period). Although activated from the DL, recovery of the knee progressed slowly, and he appeared in just three games between August 14 and August 29.
Beginning on August 29, Randolph appeared in 33 of New York's last 35 games. His post-DL numbers were 39-for-132 (.295 BA) with 26 runs, three homers and 20 RBIs. He walked at least once in 13 straight games, September 16-29, and his RBI on September 27 at Baltimore was number 62 of the season, surpassing his previous career high of 61 set in 1979.
Willie had two 11-game hitting streaks (May 29-June 8 and September 4-15), his longest hitting streaks since opening the '86 season hitting in 15 straight. Beginning on June 3, and with the exception of September 2-4, his average was at .300 or above. He hit .316 (36-for-114) with runners in scoring position.
He set career highs with a .305 batting average and 67 RBIs; this was the first season he hit .300 or better. He also tied a career high with seven home runs. Randolph's .411 on-base percentage was fourth in the American League, and his 82 walks ranked ninth. He scored 96 runs in 120 games, his third best total and best since scoring 99 runs in 1980. In his previous 10 full seasons with the Yankees (excluding the 1981 strike season) Randolph averaged 137.1 games played- had he reached that number of games played in '87, his runs scored total would factor out to 110 and would have been a new career high.
On the all-time Yankee lists, Randolph moved from 14th to 11th with 1,584 games; 14th to 10th with 5,899 at-bats; 13th to eighth with 984 runs; 15th to 10th with 1,638 hits; 17th to tied for 15th (with Phil Rizzuto) with 239 doubles; and 20th to 19th with 57 triples. Should Randolph record 500 at-bats in '88, the only Yankees to have more at-bats would be Mantle (8,102), Gehrig (8,001), Berra (7,546), Ruth (7,217), DiMaggio (6,821) and Roy White (6,550). His stolen base on May 8 against Minnesota moved him into second place on the all-time Yankee list, and with 242 Randolph is six behind the Yankee record of 248 set by Hal Chase.
Willie improved his fielding percentage from .972 in '86 to .981 in '87 (12 errors in 636 total chances) and led all Yankee infielders with 338 assists. He played in 119 games at second base, increasing his all-time Yankee leading total to 1,579 games played at that position. Willie has played with the 29 shortstops listed below during his tenure with the Yankees:
Sandy Alomar
Dale Berra
Paul Blair
Ivan DeJesus
Bucky Dent
Brian Doyle
Barry Evans
Mike Fischlin
Tim Foli
Damaso Garcia
Rex Hudler
Mickey Klutts
Jim Mason
Bobby Meacham
Larry Milbourne
Graig Nettles
Mike Pagliarulo
Domingo Ramos
Andre Robertson
Rodney Scott
Dennis Sherrill
Roy Smalley
Keith Smith
Fred Stanley
Wayne Tolleson
Randy Velarde
Dennis Werth
George Zeber
Paul Zuvella
One of the most sought after infield prospects of the mid-70s, Willie is able to swing a good bat, draw walks and steal bases. He impressed the Yankees during spring training of 1975 when the Yankees and Pirates played six games. He was leading the International league in hitting when recalled by the Pirates in July 1975. He saw little action with Pittsburgh as Rennie Stennett was having a fine year, but played winter ball in Venezuela.
In 1976 Willie was named to the Topps Rookie All-Star team and the AL All-Star team (although replaced due to injury), and was the first rookie ever listed on an All-Star ballot. He won the James P. Dawson Award as the outstanding Yankee rookie in spring training. His 37 stolen bases were just four shy of the Yankee record for a rookie set by Bert Daniels in 1910. Willie had minor surgery after that season due to an injury to his right knee, first suffered on July 6, and was also bothered by a sore right shoulder.
Willie was voted to the American League All-Star team in 1977, playing all nine innings, and set the record for most assists by a second baseman with six. He was also voted to the 1977 AP, UPI and Sporting News postseason All-Star teams. Willie was second in the league in putouts, chances and double plays and third in assists for a second baseman. He tied for sixth in the AL with 11 triples and hit .305 with runners on base. Willie had two nine-game hitting streaks that year. His best effort came on May 19 against Baltimore, going 4-for-4 and scoring four runs. He missed a few games with a bruised right thumb and a sore right knee.
Bothered by injuries in 1978, mainly a bruised right knee and a pulled left hamstring, Willie finished fifth in the AL with a .385 on-base percentage and led the Yankees with 82 walks. He went 8-for-16 with six runs during New York's four-game sweep of Boston in September, including a five-RBI game on September 7. He went 4-for-4 at Cleveland on September 23. He pulled his left hamstring beating out an infield single on September 29 against the Indians, ending his '78 season and keeping him out of the playoffs and World Series. He hit .320 with runners on base that year and made both the AP and UPI postseason all-star teams.
1979 was an injury-free year for Willie. He led the club in games, at-bats, runs, triples, walks and stolen bases while tying for the club lead in hits, and had three four-hit games. He tied for third in the AL with 13 triples, the most by a Yankee since Tommy Henrich hit 14 in 1948, was fourth in the AL with 95 walks, 10th with 32 stolen bases, 13th with 98 runs and 15th with a .376 on-base percentage. Willie also had three four-hit games. He led AL second basemen with 355 putouts, 478 assists, 846 total chances and 128 double plays.
Willie led the American League with 119 walks in 1980, the most by a Yankee since Mickey Mantle's 122 in 1962, and his .429 on-base percentage was second in the AL. He led the Yankees, and was eighth in the league, with 30 stolen bases. He started slowly that year, hitting .128 on April 19, but hit .300 the rest of the way. Willie had a 13-game hitting streak, May 14-28, matching Reggie Jackson for the longest by a Yankee, and had two four-hit games. He stole three bases on June 11 at California, and finished the season by walking in his last 15 games. He hit .385 in the ALCS, second to Bob Watson, and was named to the UPI and Sporting News All-Star teams and won the Sporting News Silver Bat award for AL second basemen.
Willie's 59 runs in 1981 were eighth in the AL, his 57 walks were ninth and his 14 stolen bases were 15th. He was voted to his fourth AL All-Star team. He missed eight games in late August and additional games in September with a groin pull. His solo home run in the third game of the ALCS was the game winner, clinching the American League pennant.
He had a good start in 1982, hitting in his first nine games and ending April with a .348 batting average. He kept his average over .300 through June 9 and ended the season strongly, hitting .398 in his last 23 games. Willie led the Yankees in games, at-bats, runs, hits and walks.
Hampered by injuries in 1983, Willie played in his lowest number of games since joining the Yankees (excluding the 1981 strike season). He was on the disabled list from June 27 to July 12 with a pulled hamstring and reinjured himself, going back on the DL from July 13 to August 5. Willie had his 1,000th hit as a Yankee on August 5 against Detroit and had a 16-game hitting streak from September 6 to September 23, the longest of the year by a Yankee.
Willie hit a two-run homer in the 1984 Yankee Stadium opener. He had a pair of nine-game hitting streaks, May 9-19 and June 13-21, and flirted with a .300 batting average all season. Consistent, he kept his average between .290 and .310 from June 11 to September 25. Willie stole the 200th base of his Yankee career on July 16 at Texas. He tied for sixth with Rickey Henderson in the AL with 86 walks and had an impressive .377 on-base percentage.
Among AL second basemen in 1985, Willie was second with 739 total chances and 104 double plays and third with 425 assists. He had a 10-game hitting streak, June 30-July 11. He scored four runs on July 27 at Texas, had three doubles on July 30 at Cleveland and had his first career two-home run game on September 5 at Oakland, going 4-for-4. He had his 5,000th career at-bat on September 29 against Baltimore and hit his 200th career double on October 3 off Milwaukee's Tim Leary. His .382 on-base percentage was sixth in the AL, 14th in the majors, and his 85 walks tied for seventh in the AL, 13th in the majors. Willie received the Good Guy Award from the New York Press Photographers Association.
1986 was a typical Randolph season in some regards, atypical in others. Typical in that he was third in the American League with 94 walks and 313 putouts (among second basemen) and sixth with a .393 on-base percentage; atypical in that he had a career high 20 errors.
Willie was named co-captain with Ron Guidry on March 4. He opened the '86 season by hitting safely in his first 15 games (20-for-61, .328 batting average) and reached base safely in his first 28 games, a string broken on May 11 at Texas. He recorded his 5,000th at-bat as a Yankee on April 20 at Milwaukee and ended April hitting .319. Willie had an eight-game hitting streak May 18-26 (13-for-29, .448 BA), raising his overall batting average from .296 to .325, and ended May hitting .310.
He hit his first home run on June 22 at Toronto off Jimmy Key. He slumped at the plate in June, going 21-for-99 (.212 BA), lowering his overall average to .273 by month's end. He went 20 games, June 29-July 21, without an extra-base hit, yet had his third career four-walk game on July 3 against Detroit.
Willie's mid-season slide continued into July (19-for-87, .218 BA), with his overall average at .260 on July 31. His season average bottomed out on July 20, having dropped to .256. From July 21 through the end of the season, Willie hit .317 (52-for-164), raising his overall average to .276. He hit one home run in his first 108 games, then hit four in his last 33. On September 13 Willie played in his 1,447th game at second base for the Yankees, breaking Tony Lazzeri's record of 1,446. He recorded his 1,500th career hit on September 22 at Baltimore, homering off Scott McGregor.
Willie had one at-bat as a designated hitter, on September 1 at Oakland, and was 1-for-2 with a triple as a pinch hitter. He led all Yankee infielders with 381 assists. He hit .259 with runners in scoring position, his nine game winning RBI were a career high, and his 50 RBI were the most since his career high of 61 in 1979.
Although born in South Carolina, Willie's family moved to the Brownsville section of Brooklyn when he was an infant. He played stickball in the streets and fields of Canarsie and baseball at Tilden High School. The oldest of five children, Willie has three brothers and a sister. His brother Terry was Green Bay Packers' 11th round draft choice in 1977, and also played for the Jets."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
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