Saturday, August 27, 2016

1988 Profile: Rick Cerone

"Last year was the second time in his career that Rick Cerone was asked to step up and take over as starting catcher of the Yankees. In 1980 he had the unenviable task of replacing legend Thurman Munson, and responded well enough to finish seventh in the AL MVP voting that year.
The circumstances were different for Cerone in 1987. He made the club in spring training as a backup catcher, and by June he got the call as a starter. The veteran proved to be an adequate replacement, appearing in 113 games with 85 starts behind the plate, his highest total since 1980. He also led all American League catchers in fielding percentage.
Cerone showed some versatility by making his first and only career appearance at first base, as a defensive replacement, and also made his first two career appearances as a relief pitcher. Working the other end of the battery for one inning in each of two Yankee blowouts, he retired six of seven batters he faced, allowing no runs or hits, with a walk and a strikeout!"

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Cerone was signed by the Yankees as a free agent on February 13, 1987. He played in 113 games in 1987 (including 85 starts at catcher), the third highest total of his career.
He had two game-winning RBIs, on May 22 at California and on June 15 against Baltimore. At the All-Star break, Cerone was hitting .213 (30-for-141) in 56 games but hit .266 (38-for-143) in 57 games the rest of the way. His home run off Kansas City's Bob Stoddard on July 30 at Yankee Stadium was his first homer at the Stadium since July 18, 1982. He had an eight-game hitting streak from August 5-12 (10-for-32, .313) and reached a high point with a .252 batting average on August 23.
On September 7 at Boston, Rick went 3-for-4 with a home run, his only three-hit game of the season, and on October 3 against Baltimore hit his first triple since September 25, 1981, also against the Orioles. He finished the season with a total of 15 multi-hit games while hitting .243 (69-for-284) with four home runs and 23 RBIs
Rick caught 23 of 74 runners attempting to steal (31%) and committed only one error all season (July 4th against Texas) in 577 chances to lead American League catchers in fielding. He finished the season by starting 23 of New York's last 29 games behind the plate. He made his first and only career appearance at first base on July 3 against Texas (first game) as a defensive replacement for Don Mattingly.
Rick made his first career pitching appearance on July 19 at Texas in a game the Yankees lost 20-3. He pitched one inning in that game, giving up no runs and no hits and retiring all three batters he faced, including a strikeout of pinch hitter Bobby Witt, a Texas pitcher. He made the second appearance on the mound in New York's 15-4 loss at Detroit on August 9, pitching the final inning, allowing one walk and retiring the other batters he faced. In his total of 2.0 innings pitched he allowed no runs, no hits, a walk and a strikeout and retired six of the seven batters he faced. Cerone was the first Yankee [position player] to pitch in a game since Gene Michael on August 26, 1968 (second game) against California in a 10-2 Yankee defeat, with Stick allowing five earned runs in three innings pitched, giving up five hits and recording three strikeouts. In the first game on the previous day (August 25, 1968) Rocky Colavito, normally an outfielder, had picked up a win against Detroit while pitching in relief.
In 1974 Cerone was Cleveland's number one selection in the June free agent draft. In 1975, in his first year of professional ball, he was called up to the majors on August 15 after just 46 games with Oklahoma City. Rick appeared in seven games for the Indians, getting his first big league hit off Kansas City's Paul Splittorff on August 22. He started the 1976 season at Toledo, was called up to the Indians after an injury to Alan Ashby and appeared in seven games. He was the International League's All-Star catcher while with Toledo.
Traded to the Blue Jays in December 1976, Rick was the starting catcher in Toronto's first game but broke his thumb five days into the season. He was optioned to Charleston to get back into shape, and upon his return to Toronto homered off Nellie Briles. He threw out Mitchell Page to end his consecutive stolen base streak at 26. 1978 was Rick's first full season in the majors: he hit .302 in August and threw out Ron LeFlore to end his consecutive stolen base streak at 27.
In 1979 he was hitting just .219 at the All-Star break, but hit .261 after the break to finish at .239. He had a 10-game hitting streak from August 14-27. Cerone tied for second on the club with six game-winning RBIs, was third with 27 doubles and four triples, and his 61 RBIs were fourth on the club.
In 1980, Cerone responded to a pressure-filled first year as a Yankee by having the best season of his career and being named to the UPI and Sporting News AL All-Star teams. He finished seventh in the voting for AL MVP and led the Yankees in games played with 147, all as a catcher and all but one starting. Defensively, Cerone started the first 54 games before resting and easily led the league by throwing out 52% of potential base stealers.
He finished second on the club to Reggie Jackson with 85 RBI and hit .315 with runners in scoring position. Cerone had six RBIs on May 26 of that year, including his first career grand slam; all six RBIs came after the batter in front of him was intentionally walked. For the season he was 6-for-11 with 14 RBIs after the batter in front of him was intentionally walked.
Rick's 1981 production was off slightly from his 1980 season, mainly because of injury. He broke his right thumb on a foul tip in Texas on April 18, missing 32 games. Rick was activated from the DL on May 24, and the next day began a 12-game hitting streak, the second longest of the season by a Yankee. On September 12 at the Stadium he broke up Boston pitcher Bob Ojeda's bid for a no-hitter with a pinch-hit leadoff double in the ninth inning. In the Division Series against Milwaukee he topped the Yankees with five RBIs.
In 1982, for a second consecutive season, Rick suffered a major injury, breaking his left thumb on a tag play at home plate in California on May 11. He spent two months on the disabled list, missing 53 games, and his production at the plate was off due to his injury, but he hit .319 (19-for-47) with two homers and eight RBIs in his last 13 games. Cerone appeared in almost half the Yankees' games in 1983. His three-run homer was the difference in the Yankees' 8-7 win at Minnesota on May 7. Platooned most of the year with Butch Wynegar, he had an eight-game hitting streak from July 29 to August 14.
Between injuries and platooning in 1984, Rick played in his fewest games since 1977. His first hit of the year was a three-run home run against Kansas City on April 5. He spent time on the DL from May 7 through July 5 with a strained right elbow and was assigned to Columbus on June 29 under the MLB Rehabilitation Program. After rejoining the Yankees he suffered an abrasion on his right hand during a fight in California on September 2, and a stiff neck later the same month.
Rick hit .341 in his last 11 spring training games for Atlanta in 1985, clinching the job as the starting catcher. He was hitting .438 on April 22, but had dropped to .297 on May 7. He hit two homers in his first 30 at-bats with the Braves; he had only two homers in his last 236 at-bats for the Yankees in '83 and '84. Rick had the second four-hit game of his career against the Reds on April 15.
He started 76 games at catcher compared to Bruce Benedict's 78. He strained the posterior deltoid muscle in his right shoulder while batting on June 5. Despite his shoulder injury, Rick threw out 18 of 48 runners attempting to steal.
He reported to Atlanta's spring facility in West Palm Beach in 1986 but was traded to the Brewers along with two minor leaguers for veteran catcher Ted Simmons on March 5. Cerone played in just 68 games for Milwaukee, used mainly as a backup to catchers Charlie Moore and Bill Schroeder. Although appearing in his second fewest games since reaching the major leagues to stay, his .259 batting average was second only to his career best of .277 in 1980. One of five catchers who threw out Rickey Henderson attempting to steal, 1986 was the first season since 1983 that he did not spend any time on the disabled list. Cerone homered in back-to-back games on May 16 and 18 against Minnesota, had three RBIs against Kansas City on August 23 and had his longest hitting streak of the year in the five games he played from September 1 to September 23.
Cerone is a 1976 graduate of Seton Hall University where he made Academic All-American in baseball in 1974 and 1975 and was also on the fencing team. He twice helped the Pirates to a berth in the College World Series, hit .410 in his senior year and set school records in homers, RBIs and total bases. Rick played on the Pan-American team in 1974 and the USA World Team in 1973.
He graduated from Essex Catholic High School (NJ) in 1972 where he was an All-State athlete in baseball, football and fencing. Rick enjoys golf, racquetball and photography."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide

Monday, August 22, 2016

1988 Profile: Gary Ward

"In his first season with the Yankees, Gary Ward began the year doing exactly what he was hired to do. When he was signed as a free agent his job was to provide New York's lineup with some badly needed punch from the right side.
Ward got off to a fast start, hitting .301 with seven homers and 37 RBIs at the end of May. From then on his numbers soured as he struggled to get back on track. It never happened. Ward was down to .266 at the All-Star break. After hitting a dismal .218 in the second half, he finished the year with a disappointing .248.
The cool veteran hitter did, however, continue to show that he could hit under pressure. Ward finished second on the club with 11 game-winning RBI, a new career high, and went 8-for-12 with five RBI as a pinch hitter."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Ward got off to a fast start in 1987 and was hitting .301 (52-for-173) with seven home runs and 37 RBIs as late as May 30, his 46th game. At the All-Star break, covering 85 games played, he was hitting .266 (86-for-233) with 10 home runs and 61 RBIs, but after the break in his remaining 61 games he hit only .218 (45-for-206) with six home runs and 17 RBIs. Ward hit just two homers in his final 41 games, covering his last 140 at-bats, with just nine RBIs in that span.
For the month of April he batted .308 (24-for-78) in 21 games with a homer and 17 RBIs. On May 8 against Minnesota, Gary hit a three-run homer and a solo homer off the Twins' Mark Portugal, the only time in 1987 and the fourth time in his career he hit two home runs in the same game. His four RBIs in that game was his '87 single game high in that category; he also had five three-RBI games. He hit safely in 10 of 12 games from May 6-19 (including a seven-game hitting streak in the last seven contests in that span), batting .320 (16-for-50) with three doubles, five homers and 13 RBIs (including two game-winners) in that stretch.
He went 43 at-bats from July 9-26 without an RBI. On July 31 at Yankee Stadium he hit a two-run homer off Detroit's Mike Henneman with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Yankees a dramatic come-from-behind 6-5 win.
For the season he finished with an average of .248 (131-for-529) in 146 games with 16 home runs and 78 RBIs. His homers ranked sixth best on the Yankees and his RBIs ranked fourth, and those homer and RBI figures were the fourth best single season totals in his career. Gary also ranked third on the Yankees in games (146) and at-bats (529), fourth in hits (131) and sixth in runs (65). He finished second on the club with 11 game-winning RBIs, a new career high (surpassing his previous high of nine in both 1982 and 1984). With 101 strikeouts Gary was one of two Yankees with 100 or more strikeouts in 1987 (Mike Pagliarulo led the team with 111).
Gary had 32 multiple hit games, including ten three-hit games, and three seven-game hitting streaks. Against right-handers he batted .226 (75-for-332) with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs, while against lefties he hit .284 (56-for-197) with four home runs and 34 RBIs. In 36 games as a designated hitter, Gary batted .287 (39-for-136) with eight home runs and 23 RBIs, ranking second among Yankee designated hitters in homers and RBIs. He was the leading pinch hitter on the Yankees, batting .667 (8-for-12) with two doubles and five RBIs (including a game-winner).
Of his 16 homers, 10 were solo blasts, five were two-run circuit clouts and one was a three-run shot. Gary batted .290 (38-for-131) with runners in scoring position. He was successful in five out of six stolen base attempts.
He played 94 games in the outfield and committed three errors in 205 total chances for a .985 fielding percentage. He also played 15 games at first base (including 13 starts), handling 126 total chances without an error, with all but one of those appearances at first coming during Don Mattingly's absence from June 5-23 with a back injury.
Ward spent eight seasons in the Twins' farm system. Named to the Southern League All-Star team at Orlando in 1975, he led that league's outfielders in assists (16) in 1976 after having tied for the top spot in that category in the Midwest League in 1974 (18). He hit .263 with Toledo in 1979 and joined the Twins in September, where he hit .286 (4-for-14) in 10 games.
He also spent September of 1980 with the Twins and batted .463 (19-for-41) in 13 games after spending the bulk of that season in Toledo, where he hit .282. Gary hit for the cycle on September 18 at Milwaukee, the last major league rookie to accomplish that feat until Oddibe McDowell in 1985.
Gary was named AL Rookie of the Year by Baseball Digest in 1981 and was selected to their major league all-rookie team. He hit just .231 in the first half but .292 after the strike, and led the Twins with 42 runs scored.
He was selected as the Twins Player of the Year and as Most Improved Player in 1982, topping the club in games (152), at-bats (570), runs (85), hits (165), doubles (33), triples (7), homers (28) and stolen bases (13). Gary hit just .226 through June 16 before going on a .326 tear with 22 homers and 74 RBIs in his last 96 games. He was named AL Player of the Week twice, for the week of June 28-July 4 and for the week of September 6-12.
In 1983, his final season with the Twins, Gary led Minnesota in at-bats (623), hits (173) and RBIs (88) and was second in home runs (19) and doubles (34). He had three four-hit games. He topped major league outfielders with 24 assists, the most in the AL since Stan Spence had 25 for the 1944 Washington Senators. Gary appeared in the 1983 All-Star Game at Chicago's Comiskey Park and was 0-for-1 in a pinch-hitting role.
He was acquired by Texas in December 1983 in exchange for pitchers John Butcher and Mike Smithson and catcher Sam Sorce (assigned from Burlington to Orlando). In his first season with Texas he led the team with seven triples, tying the club record, and 97 runs, the third highest total in Ranger history, and was tenth in the AL in both categories. He was second on the Rangers in homers (21) and walks (55).
Gary hit just .219 with eight homers and 32 RBIs in the first 93 games of '84 through July 23 before exploding with a .373 average (95-for-255), 13 home runs and 47 RBIs over the final 62 contests to finish at .284. He was American League Player of the Month in August with a .391 average, seven homers and 24 RBIs in 28 games, and was also selected as the league's Player of the Week for August 20-26 (.480, 3 HR, 13 RBI). Gary had the fourth highest average in the American League after the All-Star Break (.343).
In 1985 he led Rangers' qualifiers with a .287 batting average, the third best mark of his career and the 21st highest figure in the AL in '85, and also led the Rangers in at-bats (593), runs (77), hits (170), triples (7) and stolen bases (26). He set a career high in steals while finishing 13th in the AL, and was tied for 11th in triples while matching the Texas team record for the second straight year. After hitting just .225 in his first 38 games, Gary batted .308 over his final 116 contests. He led Texas with 51 multiple-hit games and hit safely in 106 of his 154 games.
Gary was selected as AL Player of the Week for May 20-26 when he hit .444 (12-for-27) with two homers and eight RBIs in seven games. He hit his second career grand slam off Boston's Bruce Hurst on May 23 in Texas, the only Ranger slam in '85, and had four RBIs in a game twice. He tied the club record with three doubles on June 15 against Minnesota and matched another club record with three stolen bases on June 29 at Oakland; he was also successful on four of five steal attempts of third base. Gary was selected to play in his second All-Star Game- he lined out as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning at the Metrodome in Minnesota in a game won by the National League 6-1.
With the Rangers in 1986 he batted a career high .316, seventh best among all American League players with 250 or more at-bats. He tied for second on the club in steals (12) and was sixth in RBIs (51) despite appearing in only 105 games.
Ward began the '86 season by hitting .310 (18-for-58) over his first 16 games through April 29, then batted just .203 (15-for-74) over his next 20 contests, bringing his average down to a season low .250 on May 24. He had a nine-game hitting streak, his longest of the season, from June 3-13, batting .368 (14-for-38) with nine RBIs in that span to raise his average from .263 to .284.
Beginning on June 20, Gary batted .366 (63-for-172) in his final 49 games, including a .423 performance (41-for-97) in the first 27 games of that stretch. On August 7 at Baltimore he tied his career high with four hits (in five at-bats), including a two-run homer off Scott McGregor, and had a season high five RBIs (one shy of his single game career high), only the third time in his career he drove in five or more runs in a game.
Gary hit safely in 76 of the 103 games in which he batted officially. He had a four-hit game and nine three-hit games and had six straight hits in the games of June 21-22. Gary hit .357 (25-for-70) in July.
He notched the Rangers' second inside-the-park home run ever hit in Arlington Stadium on June 20 against Oakland. He stole home in the eight inning of the June 22 game against Chicago, the 14th steal of home in Ranger history.
Gary batted .315 (82-for-260) against right-handed pitching and and .317 (38-for-120) against left-handed pitching. In addition to his five-RBI game, he drove in four runs twice- April 22 at Toronto and June 22 against Oakland. He was successful in 12 of 20 stolen base attempts (60.0%); it was the second year in a row and third time in his career that he reached double figures in stolen bases. Gary played one game as a designated hitter, on June 11 at Minnesota, going 3-for-6.
He missed a total of 18 contests in '86, including six games from June 24-29 and nine games from July 26-August 4, because of family emergencies that forced him to leave the team on four separate occasions. He was sidelined for the season on September 5 after undergoing surgery to remove a blockage from the area of his abdomen. He was signed by the Yankees as a free agent on December 24.
Gary pitched and played shortstop at Compton High School in Los Angeles, graduating in 1972. He was signed by Twins scout Jesse Flores Jr. after being bypassed in the June 1972 free agent draft."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

1988 Profile: Dave Righetti

"Righetti fell far short of matching his major league record 46 saves of 1986, but still emerged as one of the game's top relievers. He enjoyed a typically strong second half, converting 14 of 18 save opportunities, and cashed 31 of 44 save chances overall. Righetti ranks 13th on the all-time save list with 138 and stands three saves shy of tying Sparky Lyle for second on the Yankees list.
He was AL Rookie of the Year as a starter in 1981 and could return to that role under new/old manager Billy Martin in 1988. He fired a 4-0 no-hitter against Boston on July 4, 1983.
Born in San Jose, California, Righetti was obtained from Texas with Mike Griffin, Paul Mirabella, Juan Beniquez and Greg Jemison for Sparky Lyle, Larry McCall, Dave Rajsich, Mike Heath, Domingo Ramos and cash in November 1978. His father Leo was a shortstop in the Yankees' system."

-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition

"Nobody's perfect, not even Dave Righetti. The Yankee stopper took some heat of his own, unjustly, when he got off to a slow start last year. In 1986 he was nearly flawless in posting a major league record 46 saves. Pitching in the shadows of that record, Rags came under heavy scrutiny.
No, he didn't have the same type of year in 1987 but that's why they call them records- they are rare achievements. Take away the enigma of the record and you'll see that Righetti once again showed why he is considered one of the top relievers in the game. He won his second consecutive Rolaids Relief Man Award, finishing tied for second in the league with 31 saves. His 31 saves equals his 1984 total for the fourth best on the Yankee single-season list. Combined with his eight wins, Righetti had a hand in 39 of the team's 89 wins (43.8 percent).
And it was an off year? Since moving to the bullpen in 1984 he has averaged over 34 saves a season, and his 138 saves in only four years places him 13th on the all-time list. With four saves in 1988 he will pass Sparky Lyle to move into second place on the all-time Yankee list.
As Righetti says, 'Everybody has his good days and his bad days. The reason I am a good pitcher is because I don't have many bad days."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"With 31 saves in 1987 he tied Jeff Reardon for second in the AL behind Tom Henke's league leading 34, and his 60 appearances placed him ninth in the league. The Yankees were 45-15 in the games Dave pitched in, and with 31 saves and eight wins he contributed to 43.8% of New York's 89 wins.
Rags was 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and six saves (in seven save situations) from Opening Day through April 23, his first nine appearances. From April 24 through June 19 he went 2-3 with eight saves (in 15 save situations), allowing 20 earned runs in 30.1 innings pitched for a 5.93 ERA. Beginning with his next appearance on June 23, Righetti appeared in 33 games through the remainder of '87, allowing earned runs in just eight of those games, going 4-3 with 17 saves, a 2.28 ERA (13 ER, 51.1 IP) and just four failed save situations. Had he not allowed six earned runs in his 58th and 60th (final) appearances, his stats over those 33 games would have been 4-1 with 17 saves, a 1.35 ERA (7 ER, 46.2 IP) and just two failed save situations.
At the All-Star break Righetti was 5-3 with 17 saves in 34 games, a 3.86 ERA (24 ER, 56 IP) and nine failed save situations. After the All-Star break, he was 3-3 with 14 saves in 26 games, a 3.00 ERA (13 ER, 39 IP) and four failed save situations. Of Dave's 31 saves, eight saved wins for starter Rick Rhoden.
Dave had a season high six strikeouts (in 2.1 IP) on May 2 at Minnesota, and threw 4.1 innings on August 20 at Seattle, his longest relief outing of '87. He allowed four runs (three earned) in 2.1 innings in his last outing of '87, on October 1 at Boston, the most earned runs he had allowed in one outing since June 20, 1986 at Toronto.
With runners on base, Rags retired his first batter 18 of 27 times, and overall retired his first batter in 42 of his 60 appearances. He prevented 29 of 38 inherited runners from scoring and held [hitters] to a .262 batting average against.
Dave was successful in 31 of 44 save situations in 1987, a 70% success rate. Since being assigned to the bullpen prior to the 1984 season, he has accumulated 137 saves in 183 save situations, a 75% success rate. Over that period of time, of the 46 save situations in which Dave was not able to record the save, the Yankees went 21-25, meaning that the Yankees have won 158 of the 183 games he entered in a save situation- an .860 winning percentage.
His total of 137 saves since being assigned to the bullpen in '84 is the highest among all pitchers over the same period of time. Those that follow are Lee Smith, 133; Jeff Reardon, 130; and Dan Quisenberry, 101. Righetti currently ranks 13th on the all-time save list with 138. He is three saves shy of tying Sparky Lyle (141) for second on the all-time Yankee save list, and is 12 short of tying Rich Gossage (150) for first.
Last year Righetti was selected to and played on his second consecutive American League All-Star team. He won his second consecutive Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, compiling 72 points to edge out Minnesota's Jeff Reardon, and tied with Reardon for his second straight Sporting News Fireman of the Year Award.
In 1986, just his third season out of the bullpen, Dave established a new major league single season save record of 46, breaking the record of 45, previously set by Dan Quisenberry in 1983 and later matched by Bruce Sutter in 1984. In addition to Righetti, Quisenberry (who also had 44 in '84) and Sutter, the only other relievers to record 40+ saves are Jeff Reardon (41 in 1985) and Steve Bedrosian (40 in '87).
Righetti's 36th save, notched on September 9 at Toronto, broke the Yankee save record of 35 set in 1972 by Sparky Lyle. His 39th save, recorded on September 14 against Boston, broke John Hiller's major league record of 38 saves by a left-hander, set in 1973. He saved both ends of a doubleheader in Boston on October 4, notching saves 45 and 46 and setting the new all-time mark. Dave matched his own Yankee record for games in a single season, appearing in 74 for the second consecutive year. He failed to finish just six of those 74 appearances.
He was successful in 46 of 56 save opportunities. Eight of his 'blown saves' came in his first 32 outings (24 save opportunities), and nine came in his first 36 games (26 save opportunities). Dave failed in three of five save situations from April 19 through April 27 (five games), then failed in four of six save situations from May 24 through June 9 (seven games). After a June 20 appearances at Toronto (0.2 IP, three hits, four earned runs including a George Bell ninth inning grand slam), he did not allow more than one run in any of his remaining 43 games (67.0 IP, 10 ER, 1.34 ERA with New York 37-6).
In nine games from May 2 through May 22 he was 1-0 with five saves, allowing just four hits and no runs in 11.2 innings, with the five saves coming in consecutive outings, May 5-13. He recorded saves in four consecutive appearances, June 10-14, with just two hits and no runs in 4.2 innings pitched. In 15 games from June 21 through August 1, he was 3-0 with eight saves (22.1 IP, 2 ER, 0.81 ERA).
Dave lost back-to-back games (neither a save situation) on August 2 at Cleveland and August 8 against Milwaukee, allowing one run in each contest, then notched saves in six consecutive outings, August 8-22, allowing no runs in 10.2 innings pitched. He was also awarded saves in 10 straight appearances, August 28-September 15, allowing just one earned run in 15.1 innings pitched (0.59 ERA). Dave closed out '86 with saves in his final four games, September 30-October 4, allowing no runs in 4.2 innings pitched.
Between July 1, the date of his ninth blown save, and September 23, the date of his tenth and final blown save, he recorded saves in 24 consecutive save opportunities. He saved 21 and won one of New York's final 28 wins. Rags had a .226 batting average-against in '86.
His 46 saves were a major factor in the Yankees tying the American League record of 58 team saves, first set by the Minnesota Twins in 1970. With 46 saves he secured 51 percent of the Yankees' 90 wins; add to the 46 saves his eight wins and he directly contributed to 54 of those 90 wins, or 60 percent. Overall, the Yankees were 60-14 in games Righetti pitched, an .811 winning percentage.
Righetti finished fourth in the BBWAA voting for the Cy Young Award, finishing behind Roger Clemens, Ted Higuera and Mike Witt, with Righetti receiving five second place and five third place votes. He finished 10th in the BBWAA voting for AL MVP, tallying 71 votes, and won the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award. Rags was named to the AP All-Star team and selected AL Fireman of the Year by the Sporting News.
Righetti struck out 21 batters for Tulsa on July 16, 1978 at Midland, striking out the side four times and having a stretch of seven straight strikeouts. Named to the Topps National Association Class AAA All-Star team in 1979, he made his major league debut on September 16 against Detroit at Yankee Stadium on Catfish Hunter Day, getting a no-decision.
He had a disappointing season at Columbus in 1980, hampered by control problems, but did strike out 139 in 142 innings pitched. He was 3-0, 1.80 in the instructional league.
Dave was named American League Rookie of the Year in 1981 and narrowly missed winning the AL ERA crown with a 2.06 ERA- he fell just 1.2 innings short [of qualifying]. In the '81 postseason he started and won Game 2 of the Division Series against Milwaukee and relieved in Game 5, earning the deciding win. Rags also won the clinching game 3 of the ALCS at Oakland, but started and and got a no-decision in Game 3 of the World Series.
In 1982 Dave suffered a slight sophomore jinx but still led the Yankee staff with 163 strikeouts, third in the AL. In 1983, he beat Boston at Yankee Stadium, 4-0, on July 4th with a no-hitter (nine innings pitched, no runs, no hits, four walks, nine strikeouts with Righetti throwing 132 pitches). It was sunny and hot, with the temperature in the 90s. Only four Red Sox reached base, all via walks, including one removed by a double play (Jim Rice) and one picked off first by Righetti (Reid Nichols). It was the first no-hitter by a Yankee since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, the first regular season no-hitter by a Yankee since Allie Reynolds no-hit Boston on September 28, 1951 at Yankee Stadium, and the first no-hitter by a Yankee southpaw since George Mogridge no-hit Boston at Fenway Park on April 24, 1917.
Dave was 10-3 in the first half of the '83 season and ended the year 7-3 against the American League East. He pitched career highs in starts, complete games, innings pitched, wins and strikeouts. He hurled back-to-back shutouts, June 29 against Baltimore (his first major league shutout) followed by the no-hitter. Dave struck out 11 White Sox on August 15, and struck out seven or more on 12 occasions.
He moved to the bullpen in 1984 and registered saves in 31 of 40 save situations. At the time, only Sparky Lyle (35 in 1972) and Rich Gossage (33 in 1980) had more saves in a season as Yankees. Dave got his 500th career strikeout against the Angels' Brian Downing on September 1 at California.
His 74 appearances in 1985 set a new Yankee record, breaking Lyle's mark of 72, set in 1977. Dave began that season impressively, not allowing any runs in his first seven outings, going 1-0 with four saves in 8.1 innings. He had a rough stint from May 25 though June 20, going 1-4 with just two saves (17.1 IP, 14 ER, 7.27 ERA). Beginning with his next appearance, he went 8-1 with 18 saves through the season's end (60.1 IP, 14 ER, 2.09 ERA), lowering his ERA from 3.66 to 2.78. From July 29 through September 29, he went 5-0 with 10 saves. Dave was named AL Player of the Month in August (4-0 with five saves and a 1.17 ERA, 23 IP, 14 H, 3 ER and 22 K's). He recorded saves in each of his last four games of the season.
He allowed just five home runs in 107 innings pitched in 1985. Dave finished 60 of his 74 appearances (81%) and was 9-1 with a 2.24 ERA at Yankee Stadium. Opposing batters combined for a .231 average against him. He struck out a season high four batters three times: May 30 against California, June 30 against Milwaukee and September 5 against Oakland.
Dave grew up in San Jose where he was All-League in baseball at Pioneer High School, and also played basketball. An A's and Giants fan growing up with Willie McCovey his favorite player, he played against A's third baseman Carney Lansford in American Legion ball. He attended San Jose City College where he was a teammate of Blue Jays pitcher Dave Stieb, and won Junior College Player of the Year honors in 1977. His brother, Steve, played in the Texas organization from 1977-79. His father, Leo, is a former Yankee minor league shortstop, and first saw Dave pitch professionally in the clinching game of the ALCS at Oakland in 1981.
During the '86-'87 off-season, Dave posed with Magic Johnson for the anti-drug poster 'Anyone can be a pro. It takes a special person to say no.'"

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide

Friday, August 12, 2016

Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez, a hard working ballplayer who played the game the way it was meant to be played.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

1988 Profile: Joel Skinner

"I don't feel good at all about last season, I didn't do anything to contribute,' lamented Joel Skinner. It was a harsh reality for the young man, considered the catcher of the future after coming to the Yankees in a July 1986 trade with the White Sox.
Skinner is a highly regarded defensive catcher, who has a strong arm and calls a good game. His shortcoming has proven to be his bat. He was never expected to tear the cover off the ball, but his slow start in 1987 fell below acceptable standards. After showing promise at the plate after coming over from Chicago, Skinner became the Yankees' starting catcher last year and even hit his first grand slam in April, only to be outrighted to Columbus in June with a .137 batting average.
'I haven't taken advantage of the opportunities I have had,' Skinner says. 'You have to play well to be in the lineup.' In 1988 he'll get another shot."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"In 1987 Joel hit the first grand slam of his career, off Steve Carlton on April 14 against Cleveland, and his four RBIs in that game matched his single game career high. He also had the game-winning RBI in that contest, one of his two game-winning RBIs of the season (the other came on August 15 against Cleveland). Joel hit two other home runs in 1987: a solo homer off Scott Bankhead on May 16 at Seattle and another solo shot off Urbano Lugo on May 24 at California.
Joel got off to a slow start in '87. After his first 15 games, on April 25, he was hitting only .098 (4-for-41) with four RBIs, all coming on the grand slam off Carlton. He had a four-game hitting streak from May 1-4, hitting .333 (5-for-15) with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. He was optioned to the Clippers on June 10; he was hitting .137 (14-for-102) with three home runs and 10 RBIs to go along with 33 strikeouts in 39 games with New York. In 49 games with the Clippers he batted .242 six home runs and 27 RBIs.
The Yankees purchased his contract on August 10 and he hit .135 (5-for-37) with four RBIs and 13 strikeouts in 22 games from that point to the end of the season. Joel finished the year with an overall batting average of .137 with the Yankees (19-for-139) in 64 games, with three homers, 14 RBIs and 46 strikeouts, yet batted .208 with runners in scoring position. He was ejected from one game, April 13 against Cleveland (the home opener at Yankee Stadium) after bumping first base umpire John Hirschbeck in the second inning. He was 0-for-1 in his only pinch-hitting appearance on August 28 against Seattle.
Defensively, Joel committed four errors in 254 total chances for a .984 fielding percentage and had just one passed ball. He caught 12 of 46 runners attempting to steal (26%) and on April 20 against Detroit was 2-for-2 throwing out runners attempting to steal (Pat Sheridan and Darrell Evans).
Joel began 1986 with the Chicago White Sox, but was acquired by the Yankees along with Ron Kittle and Wayne Tolleson on July 29 in exchange for Ron Hassey, Carlos Martinez and a player to be named later (Bill Lindsey was traded to Chicago in December of 1986 to complete the deal). At the time of the trade he was hitting .201 (30-for-149) in 60 games with the Sox with four homers and 20 RBIs (including a game winning RBI). He hit two of those four home runs off the Yankees: a three-run homer on July 18 at Yankee Stadium off Joe Niekro, and a two-run homer on July 19 at Yankee Stadium off Scott Nielsen. He also had two other hits in that July 19 contest, his first career three-hit game.
His one stolen base in '86 came on April 16 against Detroit. Joel set a new career high with a five-game hitting game streak from May 25 through June 5. In four games from July 13-19 he was 5-for-13 (.385) with three home runs and eight RBIs.
After joining the Yankees, he played in 54 of the club's remaining 61 games (including 52 as the starting catcher) and batted .259 (42-for-166) with a homer and 17 RBIs. His one home run as a Yankee came on August 15 at Kansas City, a solo shot off Scott Bankhead.
Joel started slowly with the Yankees, hitting .133 (6-for-45) through August 19 after 15 games with the club, then matched his career high with a five-game hitting streak from August 20-25, going 8-for-16 (.500) in those games to lift his average to .230. After going 0-for-13 in his next five games to drop his average to .189 on September 1, he hit .315 (29-for-92) with 13 RBIs in his last 29 games, including another five-game hitting streak from September 24-29 to raise his average to his final .259 mark as a Yankee.
He set a personal single game career high on September 9 at California with four RBIs. Joel had 10 multiple-hit games with the Yankees, including three games of three hits (September 16 against Baltimore, September 28 against Detroit and September 29 against Toronto), matching his single game career high. Overall for the season he batted .232 with five homers and 37 RBIs.
With the White Sox he was successful throwing out 10 of 34 runners (29.4%) attempting to steal. With the Yankees he caught 11 of 31 attempted steals (35.5%), giving him a total of 21 runners caught stealing in 65 attempts (32.2% for the year). Joel was 2-for-2 (Ken Gerhart, John Shelby) throwing out runners attempting to steal on September 17 against Baltimore.
He had a combined fielding average of .984 with four passed balls; in his 54 games with the Yankees it was .980 with three passed balls. Joel caught a combined total of 114 games, the sixth highest total in the American League.
The son of former major league manager and player Bob Skinner, Joel was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 36th round of the free agent draft on June 5, 1979. In 1980 Joel hit seven home runs with 27 RBIs in 100 games with 'A' Shelby, and in 1981 was the All-Star catcher with Greenwood in the South Atlantic League.
He originally joined the White Sox organization in February 1982 when Chicago selected him over some 2,000 other professional players in the first compensation draft. The draft choice came from the Phillies' signing of Chicago free agent reliever Ed Farmer in January 1982. Farmer was a type 'A' free agent, giving Chicago the chance to pick the promising catcher from the Pittsburgh organization. That year Joel was chosen the top major league prospect in the Eastern League while playing for 'AA' Glens Falls and was also the Eastern League All-Star catcher.
His contract was purchased by the White Sox on June 12, 1983 when Carlton Fisk suffered a sore shoulder. Joel made his major league debut the same day and went 2-for-4 at the plate. He was returned to 'AAA' Denver on June 15 and [recalled by] Chicago in mid-September, appearing in six games altogether with the Sox. He was voted the top major league prospect in the American Association and hit .260 for the A.A. champion Bears.
Joel appeared in 43 games for the Sox in 1984 during three separate stints with the parent club, traveling between Chicago and Denver. His Chicago tours were May 23-June 10, June 13-July 19 and September 5 through the end of the season. Shortly after his final return to Denver, Joel suffered a fractured wrist diving back to first base that healed in time for him to play with the Sox in September.
He hit .284 at Denver in '84, his best batting average to date as a professional, along with 10 home runs. Joel was named to the American Association All-Star team, his third all-star selection in a row, and was also voted the A.A.'s best defensive catcher and the catcher with the best throwing arm.
Joel made a pair of stops in Chicago in 1985 but spent most of the season at 'AAA' Buffalo of the American Association. First recalled on July 27 when Sox backup catcher Marc Hill was hurting with a bad hip, Joel appeared in three games in that stay and hit safely in all three (4-for-8, .500, two doubles, two RBIs). Returned to Buffalo on August 4, he was recalled again on September 1 and finished the season with the Sox. He hit safely in eight of the 14 games in which he recorded an official at-bat and finished with a .341 average with a homer and five RBIs. The homer, the first of his major league career, came on September 18 in Chicago off California's Don Sutton. Joel batted .240 in 115 games at Buffalo, with 12 homers matching his professional single season career high.
Joel played baseball at Mission Bay (CA) High School. His favorite team growing up was the Cincinnati Reds and his favorite player was Johnny Bench. Joel's favorite stadium is Anaheim Stadium his favorite spectator sport is hockey and golf is his hobby. His favorite entertainers are John Wayne, Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide

Thursday, August 4, 2016

1988 Profile: Jack Clark

"Ex-Card first baseman now ticked for DH role after converting his free agent status into a two-year $3 million-dollar Yankee contract. Clark was on his way to the National League MVP trophy when he suffered torn ligaments in his right ankle on September 9 against the Expos. He was lost for the rest of the year, except for a few pinch-hitting attempts, had only one at-bat in the NLCS and was not on the World Series roster. Clark also missed eight games after a July 29 collision with the Mets' Mookie Wilson.
Until then, he was one of the National League's most dominant players. With all the injuries, he still had a career high 35 homers and had 106 RBI. Clark was frequently pitched around as evidenced by his league leading 136 walks."

-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition

"He'll still be a beast in the east, only now Jack Clark will be housed in the Bronx. In a move that made all New York baseball fans happy, the Yankees went out and signed one of the most feared right-handed sluggers in the game.
'In the past we've signed free agents Goose Gossage, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield, and now we put Clark in that tradition,' praised GM Lou Piniella. 'He's the type of player we want in New York.'
No question about it. Clark will provide some much needed muscle from the right side, while adding power to a team already regarded as one of the most explosive in baseball. Consider that Clark almost single-handedly carried the Cardinals to the NL pennant last year. The Cards averaged 5.3 runs per game with Clark and only 3.6 without him, with eight of his 15 game-winning RBI coming on home runs. Imagine what he can do in the heart of the Yankee lineup. Not to mention how he'll protect the other hitters. And if Clark can stay healthy, he could prove to be an adequate replacement in the outfield and at first base.
'I'm excited and thrilled to be in New York,' he says, 'and now I'm looking forward to a championship season.'"

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Jack supplied St. Louis with enough offensive punch in 1987 to lead the Cards to their second National League pennant out of his three years there. He got off to a fast start, hitting safely in 36 of his first 44 games through May 29, hitting .344 (53-for-154) with 34 runs, 15 home runs, 48 RBIs and five game-winning RBIs. He hit his 200th career homer on April 28 against San Diego off Andy Hawkins and surpassed his 1986 homer total with his 10th dinger on May 10 against Cincinnati. Jack hit in 10 straight games from May 13 to May 24, batting .412 (14-for-34) with 17 RBIs, raising his overall batting average to a season high of .345. He was named National League Player of the Week for May 18-24, going 9-for-19 (.474) with two homers, 12 RBIs and 10 walks. He had nine homers and 35 RBIs in May.
His average dipped to .301 after he hit .264 (29-for-110) in 31 games from June 1 to July 5, with nine homers and 31 RBIs. The first time his average dipped below .300 since April 21 was on July 26, falling to .298. Jack missed eight games after suffering a contusion on his right arm and shoulder in a collision with the Mets' Mookie Wilson on July 29. After the collision he hit .242 with six homers and 15 RBIs in his final 33 games of '87.
Jack suffered a ligament tear in his right ankle trying to avoid a tag while running to first base on September 9 at Montreal, forcing him to miss 24 games. The injury was first thought to be a sprained ankle. He made a pinch-hit appearance on September 25 at Chicago but removed himself after falling down while attempting to swing. Jack also made pinch-hit appearances on October 3 and October 4, going 0-for-2. The injury limited him to one at-bat in the NLCS and sidelined him for the entire World Series.
In '87 Jack led the National League with a .597 slugging percentage and a .459 on-base percentage. His 106 RBIs ranked fourth in the league, while his 15 game-winning RBIs ranked fifth and his 35 home runs tied for sixth. He established career highs in homers, RBIs, walks (136) and strikeouts (139).
His 35 homers were the most by a Cardinal since Stan Musial hit 35 in 1954, and the last Cardinal to hit more than 35 was Musial in 1949 (36). His six multiple-home run games were the most by a Cardinal since Johnny Mize had six in 1940, and he established a new record for homers hit at Busch Stadium with 17. Jack homered in each National League park except Cincinnati and San Francisco, and his 15 game winning RBIs (eight of which came on homers) led the club.
From July 8 through August 10 Jack walked in 16 straight games (28 walks total), setting a new NL record for consecutive games with a walk; he equalled the NL record with six walks in a doubleheader on July 8 at Los Angeles on his way to a major league high 41 walks in July. He set a Cardinal record with 136 walks [surpassing Miller Huggins' 116 in 1910], and his total of 139 strikeouts is a new Cardinal record, breaking Lou Brock's mark of 134 in 1966. The Cards averaged 5.31 runs in games Jack started and 3.60 runs runs in games he did not start.
He batted .500 (6-for-12) with three homers and seven RBIs in extra innings. His two-home run games came on April 22 against Chicago, May 10 at Los Angeles, May 28 against Atlanta, June 18 against Pittsburgh, July 19 at San Diego and August 16 against Philadelphia. His four-RBI games came on May 24 at Houston, June 18 against Pittsburgh and July 3 at Atlanta.
In 1985 St. Louis built a speedy starting lineup around their newly acquired power hitter. Jack homered off Dwight Gooden in his first Cardinal at-bat on April 9 at New York. Named to the National League All-Star team for the third time, and first time since 1979, he started the first 106 games of '85 before sitting out the second game of a doubleheader on August 10 at Philadelphia.
Jack was living up to expectations with 21 home runs (fifth in the NL), 84 RBIs (third in the NL), 26 doubles (sixth in the NL) and a .281 batting average when he went down with strained muscles near his lower rib cage while swinging on August 23 at Atlanta. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 24 and remained there until September 8 and did not return to the starting lineup until September 19.
He reached base safely in all six National League Championship Series games. Jack's dramatic ninth-inning, two-out, three-run homer off Tom Niedenfuer rallied the Cardinals to a 7-5 comeback victory at Los Angeles in the sixth game of the NLCS, sending St. Louis to the World Series. In the World Series, he hit in six of seven games.
Jack homered in every NL park in '85 except Philadelphia and Cincinnati. 51 of his 124 hits (41%) went for extra bases and his .393 on-base percentage was fourth best in the NL. He named first baseman on the Sporting News Silver Slugger team.
The Cardinals experienced a tremendous loss of power in their lineup in 1986 when Jack tore ligaments of the first metacarpal in his right hand sliding into third base in the fifth inning of a June 24 game against Pittsburgh. He was placed on the 21-day disabled list on June 25 and had corrective surgery on June 28. He was transferred to the emergency 60-day disabled list on June 30 to allow his hand to remain immobile for the necessary six weeks, and remained on the DL for the rest of the season.
At the time of his injury, Jack was leading the NL with 45 walks and was on pace for a then career high 108. He was leading the team with 34 runs and nine homers and had reached safely in 54 of 65 games. He recorded his 500th career walk on April 23 against Chicago and had an eight-game hitting streak from May 2-13, hitting .424 (14-for-33). 42% (23 of 55) of Jack's hits were for extra bases and he committed just three errors in 661 total chances (.995 fielding percentage) at first base.
In 1973 Jack was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 13th round of the June free agent draft as a pitcher. He pitched in five games, compiling an 0-2 mark with a 6.00 ERA, but was converted from pitching to the outfield in order to utilize his obvious hitting potential. In 1974, Jack led the California League with 117 RBIs and 254 total bases while placing second with a .315 batting average.
After tying for the 1975 Texas League home run title with 23 and leading the league's third basemen with 102 putouts, 278 assists and 29 double plays, Jack made his major league debut with San Francisco that September. Named Topps Pacific Coast League Player of the Year in 1976, he was called up to the Giants in September and hit his first major league home run on September 11 against Cincinnati off Jack Billingham.
In 1977 Jack spent his first full season in the majors and was named to Baseball Digest's Rookie All-Star team. He put together a fine all-around season in 1978, earning a place on the Sporting News and AP All-Star teams and tying for the National League outfielders lead with five double plays. After driving in 25 runs in June of 1979, Jack was named to his second consecutive All-Star Game, and for the second straight year tied for the league lead among outfielders with seven double plays.
Jack led the NL with 18 game-winning RBIs in 1980 despite being disabled for over a month after his hand was broken by a Mark Bomback pitch at New York on August 20. He collected his 100th career home run on September 3, 1981 off Bill Caudill, and that year tied for the NL with 14 assists and four double plays. In 1982, Jack posted then-career highs and led the Giants with 27 homers and 90 runs, and shared the league lead with 21 game-winning RBIs.
He hit his fifth career grand slam in 1983 at Philadelphia on May 18, went 5-for-5 at Pittsburgh on July 22 and hit his 150th career homer at Philadelphia off Willie Hernandez on September 4. That year he was second among outfielders with 17 assists. Jack was named San Francisco's team captain in 1984 and registered his 1,000th career hit in St. Louis off Bob Forsch on May 5. He was off to his best start ever when a cartilage tear in his right knee put him out for the season on June 26.
Jack played baseball and basketball at Gladstone High School in Azusa, California. As a senior in '73 he was 11-3 with a 1.25 ERA and batted .517 in leading his team to the Hacienda League title. Signed by Giants' scout George Geneovese, Lou Brock and Roberto Clemente were his boyhood idols.
Jack was named the right fielder on the San Francisco Giants 'All-Dream Team' in 1982, commemorating the top players in the Giant's first 25 years in San Francisco. He enjoys fresh and salt water fishing, exotic aquariums, contemporary music and sports cars."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


Monday, August 1, 2016

1988 Profile: Rich Dotson

"Acquired from the White Sox with Scott Nielsen for Dan Pasqua, Mark Salas and Steve Rosenberg in November, he is being counted on to stabilize the Yankee rotation. The Yanks were the opponent on July 26 of last season when he threw a perfect game for seven and one-third innings and it became a loss, typifying his streaky season. A clean single by Mike Pagliarulo ended the bid and was followed by three home runs in a 5-2 defeat.
Dotson recorded two shutouts, five-hitting Texas 5-0 on May 15 and zipping Toronto 1-0 on six hits on August 15. He won six of seven from May 15 to July 16 but suffered two four-game losing streaks, from April 11 to May 10 and August 20 to September 4.
Born in Cincinnati, Dotson was originally drafted seventh overall by the Angels in 1977."

-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition

"It was a long time coming, with talks going back to last summer, but a November trade finally made Rich Dotson a Yankee. It was a move that not only helped ease the team's pitching woes but at the same time moved the Yankees that much closer to a pennant. Dotson is just what the Yankees need to complement their potent offense.
The eight-year veteran is a proven quality starter who provides the staff with much needed consistency. In 1987 he reached the double figure mark in wins (11-12) for the sixth time in his seven full seasons. You can add 100 or more strikeouts in each of those six years.
Dotson underwent surgery for what was considered a career threatening circulatory problem near the right shoulder in 1985. He returned in 1986 and was the only Chisox pitcher not to miss a start. Not the hard thrower he was in 1983 when his 22-7 record helped lead the Sox to the AL West title, the experienced right-hander has made the needed adjustments. His strikeouts and innings pitched last year were the third highest single-season totals of his career.
Dotson will be looked upon to continue his consistency as he will no doubt play a major role in the Yankees' 1988 pennant drive."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Dotson was acquired from the White Sox along with pitcher Scott Nielsen in November 1987 in exchange for outfielder Dan Pasqua, catcher Mark Salas and left-handed pitcher Steve Rosenberg.
Dotson finished with an 11-12 record in 31 games (all starts) with the White Sox in 1987, marking the sixth time he reached double figures in wins in his seven full seasons with the Sox (excluding his injury-plagued 1985 campaign). He posted a 4.17 ERA with 86 walks and 114 strikeouts [and a 1.358 WHIP] in 211.1 innings pitched (the third highest IP total of his career). His 114 strikeouts was the third highest single-season total of his career and he now has recorded 100 or more strikeouts in six of his seven full seasons. He finished tied for second on the White Sox in wins, second in innings pitched and third in strikeouts. Rich had seven complete games, including two shutouts: a 5-hit 5-0 win against Texas on May 15 and a 6-hit 1-0 victory at Toronto on August 15. He missed three starts after suffering a sore right shoulder on September 9, but did make one start after that before the end of the season; they were the only three starts he's missed since his recovery from major surgery in July 1985.
He was Chicago's Opening Day pitcher in '87, defeating the Kansas City Royals, but then lost his next four decisions (the first of two four-game losing streaks he suffered in 1987) covering six starts from April 11 through May 10. He rebounded, however, to win six of his next seven decisions, covering 11 starts from May 15 through June 13, his longest winning streak of the year, to give him a 7-5 record in 18 starts with a 3.98 ERA (57 ER, 129 IP) at the All-Star break.
Rich then went 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA (41 ER, 82.1 IP) in 13 starts after the break. On July 26 he made a bid to pitch the first perfect game in Comiskey Park history, retiring the first 22 Yankees he faced before Mike Pagliarulo ended the no-hitter with a sharp single to right with one out in the eighth inning. After Mike Easler followed with a double, Dan Pasqua hit a three-run pinch-hit home run to lead the Yankees to an eventual 5-2 win, with Dotson getting the tough loss.
He had his second four-game losing streak from August 20 through September 4, covering four consecutive starts. In his next outing, on September 9 at Minnesota, he was forced to leave the game after one inning pitched because of stiffness in his right shoulder. After missing three starts Dotson came back to make one more start, on September 30 against California, pitching five innings and gaining credit for the White Sox' 5-2 victory.
He had a season high eight strikeouts on May 6 at California and had a season high six walks on July 9 at New York. At Comiskey Park he was 6-8 with a 4.35 ERA, while on the road he was 5-4 with a 3.99 ERA. Dotson had an overall batting average against of .249 (201-for-807), including .248 (93-for-375) against righties and .250 (108-for-432) against lefties. He allowed 24 home runs, matching his career high total of both 1984 and 1986.
Dotson was originally selected in the first round (the seventh player in the nation) by the California Angels in the June 1977 free agent draft and went 4-5 with Idaho Falls in his first professional season, with 83 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched. He was traded by the Angels along with outfielders Bobby Bonds and Thad Bosley to the White Sox in December 1977 in exchange for catcher Brian Downing and pitchers Chris Knapp and Dave Frost. In 1978 he was 11-10 with AA Knoxville with 152 strikeouts in 145 innings pitched. Rich spent only two full seasons in the minors and never pitched higher than AA before his call-up; he had 368 strikeouts in 326 minor league innings.
He made his major league debut on September 4, 1979 against California and recorded his first major league shutout in his second major league start on September 9, blanking Oakland 7-0 on six hits. The only right-hander in the Sox' 'kiddie corps' of young starters in 1980, his first complete season in the big leagues, Dotson was second on the staff to Britt Burns in wins (12), strikeouts (109) and complete games (6) and tied for second with 32 starts.
The Chisox' most effective starter in his sophomore big league season in 1981, Dotson enjoyed a string of 21 consecutive scoreless innings (May 3-15) with a pair of 4-hit shutouts. He finished tied for the American League lead with four shutouts, all during the season's first half, led the Sox staff with 24 starts and tied for the lead in complete games (5). After a dismal 3-10 first half in 1982, Rich won eight in a row in the second half to climb to 11-11 on September 8 with a win over California. He was named American Pitcher of the Month for August 1982 after going 6-0 with a 1.68 ERA in 48.1 innings.
In 1983 Dotson joined Cy Young Award-winning teammate Lamar Hoyt in posting a 20-win season and leading the White Sox to their AL West Division Championship. His 22-7 record led the American League in winning percentage (.759) and he was second in the league to Hoyt (24-10) in wins. Dotson and Hoyt became only the third Chisox pitching duo in 63 years to win 20 or more games in the same season and the first to turn the trick since Jim Katt (21-13) and Wilbur Wood (20-19) in 1974. They were also the first White Sox twosome to win at least 46 games in one year since 1919 when Ed Cicotte (29-7) and Lefty Williams (23-11) won 52. At age 24, Dotson was the youngest Sox pitcher to record a 20-win season since Reb Russell won 21 in 1913 (Russell was just four months younger). The Chisox were 27-8 in games Dot started and he was 12-3 at Comiskey Park.
On May 18, he pitched the first 1-hitter of his career at Baltimore, only to lose 1-0 on an eighth inning home run by Dan Ford just inside the right field foul pole. Dot won his last eight decisions and 16 of his last 18. From July 15 [through the American League Championship Series], he lost only twice- once in the regular season and once in the ALCS (both times to Baltimore). He joined Hoyt and Floyd Bannister to form the 'Big Three' and fashion a 42-5 won-lost record during the second half [of the season] with a collective ERA of 2.55 in 385 innings. Rich was the American League Pitcher of the Month for September when he was 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 51.1 innings.
Between the 1983 and the 1984 All-Star Games (he participated in the latter), Rich posted a composite 25-6 record with a 2.45 ERA in 272.1 innings. The White Sox' lone representative on the American League All-Star team in '84, he led Sox starters that year with a 3.59 ERA, 245.2 innings pitched and 14 complete games and tied for second on the staff with 14 victories. His 14 complete games ranked third in the AL and were just three shy of league leader Charlie Hough of Texas.
He registered two 3-hitters and three 4-hitters in '84 and established a personal single-game strikeout high with 10 against Texas on May 26 en route to a 4-hit 5-1 victory. His best effort came on June 13 in a 2-1 win at California when he 3-hit the Angels and was deprived of a shutout on an unearned run with two outs in the ninth; he also recorded his 500th career strikeout (Rob Wilfong) in that game. Rich was 11-4 and a 2.64 ERA prior to the All-Star break but lost four consecutive games after the break. 1985 circulatory surgery in his right shoulder probably explains his sub-par second half.
Rich made only a pair of game appearances in spring training of 1985 due to right arm tenderness later diagnosed as a circulatory problem in his upper chest near his right shoulder- the problem was considered career threatening. He opened the season on the 15-day supplementary disabled list and his season came to an end in early June. He underwent surgery which corrected the problem in late July. Considered the ace of the Sox mound staff entering the season, his absence was a severe blow to Pale Hose title hopes. Rich managed just nine starts between April 22 and June 7 and fashioned a 3-4 record. He fired no complete games but lasted a full seven innings on three occasions.
He returned from his July 1985 surgery to pitch the entire 1986 season and was the only Sox starter not to miss a turn in the rotation, leading the club with 197 innings.. He finished with a 10-17 mark and a 5.48 ERA, the most losses and highest ERA of his big league career, and allowed a team-high 24 homers. Rich managed just three complete games, two in the season's final month when his arm strength improved.
His only shutout was his 10th and last win of the season on September 5 against the Blue Jays at Comiskey Park; he limited the Blue Jays to just four hits in that outing. His first complete game was July 4th over the Yankees at Chicago, a 2-1 success. Rich suffered a five-game losing streak after the Independence Day win and did not earn another victory until winning 3-1 at Boston on August 5, and also endured a five-game losing streak at the end of the season. His longest winning streak was a three-gamer, capped by his July 4th win, that temporarily evened his record at 7-7. Rich twice matched his career single-game strikeout best with 10 whiffs at Milwaukee on August 10 (6.1 innings) and 10 against Texas on August 31 (7.1 innings).
Rich had a stellar prep career at Anderson High School in Cincinnati and signed a letter of intent to attend Miami University (Ohio) after graduating, but instead elected to turn professional after the 1977 draft. He met his wife, a Sarasota (FL) native, during spring training.
He served as Chicago's player representative the last three years. His hobbies are hunting and fishing, his favorite spectator sport is football, and his favorite team growing up was the Cincinnati Reds."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide