1988 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Age is starting to show in this 11-time All-Star. His streak of seasons with at least 100 RBI ended at five, the longest stretch since Joe DiMaggio had seven in a row from 1936-42.
Winfield appeared to tire in the second after batting .295 with 20 home runs and 68 RBI before the All-Star break. He delivered just seven homers in his last 71 games and went from June 29 to September 15 without a game-winning RBI.
His playing time should be decreased. Winfield has lost a step on the bases and in the outfield, but is still above average defensively with a very strong arm.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Winfield signed a 10-year contract as a free agent in December of 1980."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"When the tough get hurt, the others have to keep it going. Such is life in a 162-game schedule. With superstars Don Mattingly and Rickey Henderson out at the same time for 23 games, the fate of the Yankees became the responsibility of another superstar, Dave Winfield.
At 6-6 and 220 pounds, Winfield carried the team on his shoulders by hitting .352 with seven homers and 25 RBI over that stretch. Day in and day out, the Yankees looked to Dave and he appeared in all but six games- his most in Pinstripes. The pace took its toll, and even this thoroughbred tired. He fell just three RBI short of the 100-plateau for the first time in six years, and his .295 average at the All-Star break dropped to .275 for the season. Just another Winfield type of year.
Each year he does it all: hit, throw and run. And seemingly it goes unnoticed, as great things have come to be expected from a man with such athletic ability. The consistency has added up for Dave Winfield over the years, and in 1988 look for him to break the top 15 on the Yankees all-time RBI list and move into the 10th spot on the all-time Yankee leader board for home runs."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Although streaky in 1987, Winfield had an above average first half but a below average second half. It was the first full season since 1980 that he did not record 100 RBIs.
Winfield opened the season hitting safely in 12 of his first 14 games though April 21, going 20-for-50 (.400). In 12 games from April 22 through May 5, he went 8-for-42 (.190) with his overall average falling to .304. Dave had the first of two season-long 12-game hitting streaks from May 6 through May 19, going 15-for-48 (.313) with three doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs. Following the streak he fell into a 16-for-80 (.200) skein, May 20-June 14, with his overall average falling from .307 to a season low of .268.
He was scalding hot the month prior to the All-Star break (June 15-July 12), going 35-for-99 (.354), including his second 12-game hitting streak from June 15 to June 27, hitting safely in 22 of 25 games with five doubles, eight homers and 26 RBIs. On June 29 in Toronto off Tom Henke, Dave hit his seventh career grand slam and drove in six runs to match his career high.
At the All-Star break he was hitting .295 in 85 games with 20 homers and 68 RBIs. Winfield was voted to start the All-Star Game for the American League- his seventh All-Star start (including the last five years) and his 11th straight All-Star Game appearance- and played all 13 innings of that game.
Through the remainder of '87 his overall batting average fluctuated in the .275-.285 range, and he went 64-for-256 (.250) in 71 games after the All-Star break with just seven homers and 29 RBIs. Dave's longest 0-for of '87 came from August 15 (last at-bat) through August 22 (first at-bat). He went 16 games without a home run from August 5 through August 23. His sacrifice bunt on August 30 at Seattle was his first since September 12, 1982 and only the 12th of his career. He had four hits on September 7 at Boston.
Dave had four two-home run games: April 23 at Cleveland, May 18 at Oakland, June 16 against Baltimore and June 29 at Toronto. In 23 games with both Henderson and Mattingly out, he went 31-for-88 (.352) with seven homers and 25 RBIs. He was 2-for-4 with three RBIs as a pinch hitter but went 6-for-28 (.214) with no homers and four RBIs as a designated hitter. He hit .351 (53-for-151) with runners in scoring position. Dave had a .989 fielding percentage.
He played in 156 games in 1987, his highest total since appearing in 162 games for San Diego in 1980, and his 27 home runs were his fourth best season total. His .275 batting average was up from .262 in 1986 but below his .286 career and .288 Yankee averages coming into '87. With 97 RBIs, Winfield fell just three short of becoming the first Yankee since Joe DiMaggio to drive in 100 or more runs for the sixth straight season (DiMaggio had 100+ RBIs for seven straight years, 1936-42).
Winfield finished 1987 with 332 lifetime homers, tied with Bobby Bonds for 43rd on the all-time home run list; Joe Adcock holds 42nd place with 336. He began '87 in 19th place on the all-time Yankee home run list with 151, but his 27 homers moved him up to 11th- he needs just five homers to break into the Yankee top 10, which would tie him with Tommy Henrich. In his six full years with New York (excluding the '81 strike season), Winfield has averaged 28 home runs per season; should he reach that sum in 1988 he will total 206 Yankee homers, becoming one of only nine Yankees to break the 200-home run barrier, and will move up to seventh on the Yankee list.
With 705 RBIs as a Yankee, Winfield passed Thurman Munson (701) and moved into 15th place on that all-time Yankee list; he should move up to 11th place by the end of '88. In 1987 he won his fifth Rawlings Gold Glove Award in the last six years, and his seventh overall.
In 1986 he had good numbers for most major leaguers, but slightly below Dave Winfield standards. He became the first Yankee to reach the 100 RBI mark for five consecutive seasons since Joe DiMaggio. RBI No. 100 came on September 29 at Yankee Stadium against Toronto; his 104 RBIs in '86 ranked ninth in the American League.
His at-bat in the sixth inning on July 5 at Chicago was career at-bat No. 7,000. His RBI triple in the fifth inning on July 7 at Texas off Mickey Mahler was career hit No. 2,000. His two-run home run on August 20, a second-inning blast off Seattle's Mike Moore, was career home run No. 300, with Winfield becoming only the 54th player in history to reach that peak.
Winfield got off to a slow start, hitting just .228 (13-for-57) with one homer and eight RBIs after his first 15 games, with 10 walks and 12 strikeouts. He went 11-for-30 (.367) over his next nine games, raising his overall batting average to .276 on May 4. That hot streak was followed by another cold spell- a 10-game stretch from May 5-15, going 4-for-36 (.111). He had just three homers through his first 35 games.
He came around to hit in seven straight, May 16-24 (his longest hitting streak until September), going 10-for-29 (.345) with three homers and 10 RBIs, raising his batting average to .257. That streak included a 3-for-5, six-RBI performance against Seattle on May 17, with two runs, a double and his sixth career grand slam (New York's lone grand slam of '86). The six RBIs matched his career high, now accomplished four times, and were the team high for '86. From May 25-July 5 Dave went 23-for-127 (.181) in 36 games with four doubles, one triple, six homers, 19 RBIs, 20 walks and 30 strikeouts, with his overall batting average falling from .257 to .222, his lowest point of '86. He went 17 games between homers No. 12 and 13, June 14-July 6, and hit just one homer in 28 games between June 15 and July 21.
From July 6-30, 18 games, Dave went 25-for-65 (.385) with 18 RBIs, raising his overall average from .222 to .253. He had just 13 RBIs in 28 August games, going 30-for-104 (.288) and ending the month at .261. Dave had just two hits in September's first seven games (2-for-23, .087 BA) with his average falling to .253, but from September 11 to season's end went 29-for-94 (.309) with four homers and 21 RBIs to end at .262.
His .262 batting average was the lowest of his professional career, and his total of 148 hits was his fewest in a full season since getting 139 in 1976. His 77 walks were the most since receiving 79 passes in 1980, yet he broke the 100 strikeout mark for the first time in his career- his previous high had been 96 in 1974 and 1985. Dave went hitless in five straight games on two occasions: May 25-30 (0-for-13) and September 3-9 (0-for-17, his longest 0-fer of '86).
Dave hit second in the batting order for the first time in his career on June 27 against Toronto. He appeared as a designated hitter in six games, going 2-for-18 (.111), and was 1-for-7 with a walk in eight pinch-hitting appearances (.143). Dave was 48-for-161 (.298) with runners in scoring position.
He led Yankee outfielders with nine assists. He went 104 games between his second and third errors of '86- he had two errors in his first nine games of the season, three in his last 42 games and none in between. Dave made his first career appearance at third base on July 2 against Detroit in the ninth inning- and had no fielding chances.
Dave hit a pair of homers on June 4 at California and scored four runs (matching the '86 team high) on June 23 at Boston. He appeared in his 10th straight All-Star Game.
He went right to the majors off the University of Minnesota campus in 1973, hit safely in his first six major league games and never played in the minors. Dave hit .284 in his eight-year career in San Diego and in 1976 led NL outfielders with 15 assists. He had his best season in the National League in 1979, leading the National League with 118 RBIs and 333 total bases and finishing third with 34 homers. Winfield won his first Gold Glove in '79 in addition to placing third in the BBWAA MVP voting behind co-winners Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell.
In 1981, his first season as a Yankee, Dave led the team in games, at-bats, hits, total bases, doubles, RBI, game-winning RBI and sacrifice flies. He hit his first home run as a Yankee on April 29 in Detroit off Jack Morris, and his first Yankee Stadium homer on May 23 off Rick Waits. Dave made his first appearance in postseason competition.
In 1982 he finished second in the AL with a .560 slugging percentage and third with 37 homers. He also led the Yankees with 106 RBI and his 37 home runs were a career high. Joe DiMaggio is the only right-handed Yankee batter to hit more homers in a season (46 in 1937, 39 in 1948). Winfield became the ninth player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season in both leagues. He was named AL Player of the Month for September (.294 BA, 11 HR, 22 RBI, .661 slugging percentage).
Winfield led the Yankees in 1983 in games, at-bats, runs, hits, triples, homers, RBI, game-winning RBI and walks. He finished second in the AL with 21 game-winning RBI, third with 116 RBI, fifth with 307 total bases, tied for fifth with 32 homers, tied for fifth with eight triples, seventh with a .513 slugging percentage and tied for eighth with 99 runs scored. Named to his seventh consecutive All-Star team, Dave contributed three hits in a rare American League win. He was selected as AL Player of the Week [for each of] the first two weeks of August. On August 4 at Toronto, he fatally beaned a seagull during between-innings warm-ups and was charged by Toronto Police with cruelty to animals- the charges were dropped the next day.
In 1984 Winfield finished second to Don Mattingly for the American League batting championship with a career high .340, fourth in the AL with 193 hits, fourth with a .393 on-base percentage, and sixth with 106 runs. He had a career high 20-game hitting streak from August 17-September 8. Dave had three five-hit games in June, tying a record held by Ty Cobb [for five-hit games in one month]. He won his fourth straight Sporting News Silver Bat Award and was named to the American League, Sporting News and UPI All-Star teams.
He had an outstanding year in 1985 at the plate, with the glove and on the basepaths. He was second in the American League with 19 game-winning RBI, third with 114 RBI, tied for seventh with 66 extra base hits, ninth with 105 runs and 10th with 298 total bases. Dave recorded 100+ RBI for the fourth straight year, the first Yankee [to do this] since Yogi Berra (1953-56), was the first Yankee to score 100+ runs in consecutive seasons since Mickey Mantle (1960-61), and the first Yankee to record 100+ runs and 100 RBIs since Joe DiMaggio (1941-42). He scored his 1,000th career run on July 26 at Texas.
Winfield lost 17 spring training days, March 17 through April 2, with an infected left elbow which required a six-day hospital stay. He began the '85 regular season struggling at the plate, hitting .257 through April and dropping to a season low of .234 on May 18. At this point he began a season-high 13-game hitting streak which lasted through June 1, raising his batting average 23 points (he also had a 10-game hitting streak from July 9-22). He had only five homers through June 6, yet went 36-for-105 (.343) in June, driving his average up to .289; it peaked at .300 on July 22, then from July 23 to August 18 he went 18-for-96 (.188), his overall average dropping to .280.
His 19 stolen bases were his most since 1980, and he stole home on September 7 against Oakland. He won his fourth straight AL Gold Glove (sixth overall) and appeared in his ninth consecutive All-Star Game.
Prior to college, Winfield attended St. Paul Central High School. At the University of Minnesota, he was 13-1 on the mound in his senior year while batting over .400 [as an outfielder]. He was the Gophers team captain, named a first team All-American and was MVP of the 1973 College World Series. He also played basketball for Minnesota and was drafted in three different sports: Padres in baseball, Vikings in football, and Utah (ABA) and Atlanta (NBA) in basketball.
He established the David M. Winfield Foundation, receiving much acclaim for its work with youth groups and further contributions to the community. Winfield was named 1979 winner of the YMCA Brian Piccolo Award for humanitarian services. He opened a restaurant in Manhattan called 'Border Cafe' in November of '86."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Friday, September 30, 2016
Friday, September 23, 2016
1988 Profile: John Candelaria
"Who can be a starter? The Candy Man can, and that's why John Candelaria will be pitching in the Bronx this year. After being traded to the Mets from California last September, Candelaria couldn't come to terms on a new contract with his former employer. Despite his badly wanting to stay and pitch in New York, the Mets wanted to use the big left-hander in long relief while he maintained that he can still be an effective starter. The Yankees agreed and signed Candelaria as a free agent. The signing was part of the continued effort to bolster the team's pitching corps.
Candelaria has been a consistent winner throughout his 12-plus years in the majors. Last season alone he was 10-6. Since 1976 he has reached the double figure mark in wins in 10 of his 11 full seasons (he was on the DL for most of the 1981 season), and finished with nine victories the other year.
In 1986 he underwent surgery on his left elbow, and was named AL Comeback Player of the Year as he posted a record of 10-2. Last season he was 8-6 with California and 2-0 with the Mets.
'I feel I have some quality years as a starter, and here I'll have that opportunity,' Candelaria explains. 'If I fail, it's my fault.' The Yankees don't expect failure. They're counting only on sweet things from the Candy Man."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"John began 1987 by winning his first four decisions with California. In his next start on May 13 at Detroit, his eighth start and appearance, he lasted just 2.2 innings and allowed seven runs (earned) on five hits in a 10-7 loss; he suffered his first loss of '87 and his ERA ballooned from 2.82 to 3.99. On May 15 John was placed on the 15-day disabled list for personal reasons, enabling him to undergo rehabilitation for alcohol dependency.
He was re-activated from the DL on May 29 and returned to the mound on May 31, but lost his second straight decision. In June he went 1-1 in three starts, combining to allow 13 earned runs in 17.2 innings pitched (6.62 ERA). On June 19 John was again placed on the 15-day disabled list for personal reasons, but this time remained on the DL until August 5. He again checked himself into St. Joseph's Hospital (Orange County, CA) to undergo rehabilitation for alcohol dependency.
Upon his latest return, John went 2-2 with a 4.10 ERA in six starts in August. Included was a 6-hit, eight inning performance against the Yankees in Anaheim on August 25 which he won 5-1. Prior to his trade to the Mets he made two September starts for California, going 1-1.
John was dealt to the Mets on September 15 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jeff Richardson and left-handed pitcher Shane Young. His first start for New York came on September 18 at Pittsburgh, lasting just 1.1 inning and allowing five runs on eight hits, but he got a no-decision in a 10-9 Mets loss. John went 2-0 in his final two starts down the stretch, however, combining to allow three runs in 11 innings (2.45 ERA).
In 1975 John started Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, going 7.2 innings (no decision) and allowing three hits while striking out 14 including seven of the first ten batters he faced. In 1976 he tossed a no-hitter on August 9 against Los Angeles.
John went 20-5 in 1977 and became the first Pirate to win 20 games since Vernon Law in 1960, and the first Pirate lefty to win 20 since Wilbur Cooper in 1924. He led the National League with an .800 winning percentage and a 2.25 ERA and was the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax in 1965 to record 20 wins and lead the league in win-loss percentage and ERA. His 231 innings pitched ranked first among Pirate pitchers. Three times he knocked in the game winning run. John went 10-3 in the first half of '77 and was named to his only All-Star team (the game was played at Yankee Stadium), but did not appear [in the game].
Hampered by lower back pains in 1978 which contributed to his 12-11 record, John was also bothered by a nagging left forearm which extended his rest between starts. He got the Bucs off to a fine start with a 1-0 shutout win over the Cubs on Opening Day and strung together five straight wins from May 27-June 21. In ten of his losses the Pirates scored three runs or less.
John led the 1979 Pirates in wins, complete games and in fewest walks, while his ERA was 12th in the league. Between June 19 and September 11, he won nine 11 starts including back-to-back complete games on July 14 and July 20 and on August 28 and September 2; in those nine wins he had a 1.60 ERA and six complete games. John was 1-1 in the World Series against Baltimore, losing Game 3 but winning Game 6 as he teamed with Kent Tekulve to shut out the Orioles 4-0.
He led the Pirates in starts, complete games and fewest walks in 1980. In 1981, he suffered torn bicep muscle on May 10 at St. Louis and was disabled for the rest of the season. He underwent rehabilitation under the guidance of Dr. Paul Bauer, a San Diego orthopedist.
John's 2.94 ERA in 1982 was sixth best in the league, and he was second on the club in wins and strikeouts. He went 5-0 in July and was tabbed National League Pitcher of the Month and was NL Player of the Week for the week ending July 25. In 1983 he finished sixth in the NL with 15 wins and 157 strikeouts. He won his 100th career game against Philadelphia on June 17 of that year, becoming the 15th pitcher in Pirate history to reach that plateau. John was 12-2 in his last 14 decisions, from June 7 through August 3, and was 12-1 against the East.
His 2.72 ERA in 1984 was fifth in the NL, and in his 12 wins he allowed just 12 earned runs in 80.1 innings pitched for a 1.57 ERA; his ERA was 4.20 in his 11 losses (31 ER, 66.1 IP), and in his 10 no-decisions his ERA was 2.56 (11 ER, 38.2 IP). He walked two or fewer batters in 24 of his 28 starts and allowed just 22 walks in his final 26 appearances (21 starts, 141.1 IP).
John struck out 11 on April 13 at St. Louis, recorded his 1,000th career strikeout on May 11 at Atlanta and fanned 12 Reds on May 23, his most strikeouts since he struck out 12 Mets on June 1, 1976. He threw a 4-hit shutout on July 3 at Los Angeles and homered off Tim Lollar on July 19 in Pittsburgh, the first home run of his professional career. John underwent successful surgery following the season for the removal of a bone spur in his left elbow.
He made 37 appearances with the Pirates in 1985, all in relief. His longest outing as a Pirate was three innings. On August 2 John was traded to the California Angels with pitcher Al Holland and outfielder George Hendrick for pitcher Pat Clements, outfielder Mike Brown and a player to be named later (pitcher Bob Kipper).
John made his California debut as a starter on August 4 against Minnesota, posted his first win as an Angel on August 11 at Minnesota and captured six of his first seven decisions. He threw a complete game shutout against the White Sox on September 19- it was his first complete game since July 19, 1984 against San Diego and his first complete game shutout since his 4-hitter against Los Angeles on July 3 of that year. John was 5-2 with a 2.88 ERA against the West.
He enjoyed a successful but painful season in 1986. Despite some discomfort in his left elbow he made four spring training starts, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (2 ER, 14 IP). He made his first start on April 9 at Seattle and lasted just two innings before leaving with further discomfort. John was placed on the 15-day disabled list with cracked calcification of the left elbow on April 15 (retroactive to April 11) and underwent surgery by Dr. Lewis Yocum at Centinela Hospital on April 16 to remove a bone spur in the elbow.
John was sent to California's Class-A affiliate in Palm Springs for rehabilitation, appearing in two games and combining for two earned runs in seven innings with two walks and eight strikeouts. He was reactivated from the DL on July 8 and made his first start that night, allowing no runs in five innings pitched, and in his first 15.2 innings pitched struck out 14 with only two earned runs.
He won his first three decisions after his return, and six of his first seven. John's first loss of the season was an 8-1 setback to Roger Clemens on July 25 in Anaheim, and his other loss came on August 20 at Detroit, losing 3-0 to a Walt Terrell 1-hitter.
John threw his second shutout as an Angel, and the 11th of his career on August 9 against Seattle, tossing a 3-hitter and winning 3-0 on the 10-year anniversary of his no-hitter against Los Angeles. He struck out a season high 10 in that game. John pitched his 2,000th career inning on September 21 and was the pitcher of record in California's 8-3 win against Texas on September 26 to clinch the division title.
The Angels finished 13-3 in games John pitched. He walked two batters or less in 12 [of 16] starts and retired the first batter he faced in an inning in 69 of 95 opportunities. He allowed just four homers in 91.2 innings pitched and had .208 batting average against.
John played high school basketball at New York's LaSalle Academy where he was All-City in 1971 and '72, and also made All-American in '72. He was one of the most sought after high school players in the nation during his senior year. He did not play high school baseball during his junior and senior years due to a lack of facilities. John was invited to a tryout for the 1972 Puerto Rican Olympic basketball team (his parents are natives of Puerto Rico), but elected to sign a baseball contract with the Pirates.
John enjoys travel."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Candelaria has been a consistent winner throughout his 12-plus years in the majors. Last season alone he was 10-6. Since 1976 he has reached the double figure mark in wins in 10 of his 11 full seasons (he was on the DL for most of the 1981 season), and finished with nine victories the other year.
In 1986 he underwent surgery on his left elbow, and was named AL Comeback Player of the Year as he posted a record of 10-2. Last season he was 8-6 with California and 2-0 with the Mets.
'I feel I have some quality years as a starter, and here I'll have that opportunity,' Candelaria explains. 'If I fail, it's my fault.' The Yankees don't expect failure. They're counting only on sweet things from the Candy Man."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"John began 1987 by winning his first four decisions with California. In his next start on May 13 at Detroit, his eighth start and appearance, he lasted just 2.2 innings and allowed seven runs (earned) on five hits in a 10-7 loss; he suffered his first loss of '87 and his ERA ballooned from 2.82 to 3.99. On May 15 John was placed on the 15-day disabled list for personal reasons, enabling him to undergo rehabilitation for alcohol dependency.
He was re-activated from the DL on May 29 and returned to the mound on May 31, but lost his second straight decision. In June he went 1-1 in three starts, combining to allow 13 earned runs in 17.2 innings pitched (6.62 ERA). On June 19 John was again placed on the 15-day disabled list for personal reasons, but this time remained on the DL until August 5. He again checked himself into St. Joseph's Hospital (Orange County, CA) to undergo rehabilitation for alcohol dependency.
Upon his latest return, John went 2-2 with a 4.10 ERA in six starts in August. Included was a 6-hit, eight inning performance against the Yankees in Anaheim on August 25 which he won 5-1. Prior to his trade to the Mets he made two September starts for California, going 1-1.
John was dealt to the Mets on September 15 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jeff Richardson and left-handed pitcher Shane Young. His first start for New York came on September 18 at Pittsburgh, lasting just 1.1 inning and allowing five runs on eight hits, but he got a no-decision in a 10-9 Mets loss. John went 2-0 in his final two starts down the stretch, however, combining to allow three runs in 11 innings (2.45 ERA).
In 1975 John started Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, going 7.2 innings (no decision) and allowing three hits while striking out 14 including seven of the first ten batters he faced. In 1976 he tossed a no-hitter on August 9 against Los Angeles.
John went 20-5 in 1977 and became the first Pirate to win 20 games since Vernon Law in 1960, and the first Pirate lefty to win 20 since Wilbur Cooper in 1924. He led the National League with an .800 winning percentage and a 2.25 ERA and was the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax in 1965 to record 20 wins and lead the league in win-loss percentage and ERA. His 231 innings pitched ranked first among Pirate pitchers. Three times he knocked in the game winning run. John went 10-3 in the first half of '77 and was named to his only All-Star team (the game was played at Yankee Stadium), but did not appear [in the game].
Hampered by lower back pains in 1978 which contributed to his 12-11 record, John was also bothered by a nagging left forearm which extended his rest between starts. He got the Bucs off to a fine start with a 1-0 shutout win over the Cubs on Opening Day and strung together five straight wins from May 27-June 21. In ten of his losses the Pirates scored three runs or less.
John led the 1979 Pirates in wins, complete games and in fewest walks, while his ERA was 12th in the league. Between June 19 and September 11, he won nine 11 starts including back-to-back complete games on July 14 and July 20 and on August 28 and September 2; in those nine wins he had a 1.60 ERA and six complete games. John was 1-1 in the World Series against Baltimore, losing Game 3 but winning Game 6 as he teamed with Kent Tekulve to shut out the Orioles 4-0.
He led the Pirates in starts, complete games and fewest walks in 1980. In 1981, he suffered torn bicep muscle on May 10 at St. Louis and was disabled for the rest of the season. He underwent rehabilitation under the guidance of Dr. Paul Bauer, a San Diego orthopedist.
John's 2.94 ERA in 1982 was sixth best in the league, and he was second on the club in wins and strikeouts. He went 5-0 in July and was tabbed National League Pitcher of the Month and was NL Player of the Week for the week ending July 25. In 1983 he finished sixth in the NL with 15 wins and 157 strikeouts. He won his 100th career game against Philadelphia on June 17 of that year, becoming the 15th pitcher in Pirate history to reach that plateau. John was 12-2 in his last 14 decisions, from June 7 through August 3, and was 12-1 against the East.
His 2.72 ERA in 1984 was fifth in the NL, and in his 12 wins he allowed just 12 earned runs in 80.1 innings pitched for a 1.57 ERA; his ERA was 4.20 in his 11 losses (31 ER, 66.1 IP), and in his 10 no-decisions his ERA was 2.56 (11 ER, 38.2 IP). He walked two or fewer batters in 24 of his 28 starts and allowed just 22 walks in his final 26 appearances (21 starts, 141.1 IP).
John struck out 11 on April 13 at St. Louis, recorded his 1,000th career strikeout on May 11 at Atlanta and fanned 12 Reds on May 23, his most strikeouts since he struck out 12 Mets on June 1, 1976. He threw a 4-hit shutout on July 3 at Los Angeles and homered off Tim Lollar on July 19 in Pittsburgh, the first home run of his professional career. John underwent successful surgery following the season for the removal of a bone spur in his left elbow.
He made 37 appearances with the Pirates in 1985, all in relief. His longest outing as a Pirate was three innings. On August 2 John was traded to the California Angels with pitcher Al Holland and outfielder George Hendrick for pitcher Pat Clements, outfielder Mike Brown and a player to be named later (pitcher Bob Kipper).
John made his California debut as a starter on August 4 against Minnesota, posted his first win as an Angel on August 11 at Minnesota and captured six of his first seven decisions. He threw a complete game shutout against the White Sox on September 19- it was his first complete game since July 19, 1984 against San Diego and his first complete game shutout since his 4-hitter against Los Angeles on July 3 of that year. John was 5-2 with a 2.88 ERA against the West.
He enjoyed a successful but painful season in 1986. Despite some discomfort in his left elbow he made four spring training starts, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (2 ER, 14 IP). He made his first start on April 9 at Seattle and lasted just two innings before leaving with further discomfort. John was placed on the 15-day disabled list with cracked calcification of the left elbow on April 15 (retroactive to April 11) and underwent surgery by Dr. Lewis Yocum at Centinela Hospital on April 16 to remove a bone spur in the elbow.
John was sent to California's Class-A affiliate in Palm Springs for rehabilitation, appearing in two games and combining for two earned runs in seven innings with two walks and eight strikeouts. He was reactivated from the DL on July 8 and made his first start that night, allowing no runs in five innings pitched, and in his first 15.2 innings pitched struck out 14 with only two earned runs.
He won his first three decisions after his return, and six of his first seven. John's first loss of the season was an 8-1 setback to Roger Clemens on July 25 in Anaheim, and his other loss came on August 20 at Detroit, losing 3-0 to a Walt Terrell 1-hitter.
John threw his second shutout as an Angel, and the 11th of his career on August 9 against Seattle, tossing a 3-hitter and winning 3-0 on the 10-year anniversary of his no-hitter against Los Angeles. He struck out a season high 10 in that game. John pitched his 2,000th career inning on September 21 and was the pitcher of record in California's 8-3 win against Texas on September 26 to clinch the division title.
The Angels finished 13-3 in games John pitched. He walked two batters or less in 12 [of 16] starts and retired the first batter he faced in an inning in 69 of 95 opportunities. He allowed just four homers in 91.2 innings pitched and had .208 batting average against.
John played high school basketball at New York's LaSalle Academy where he was All-City in 1971 and '72, and also made All-American in '72. He was one of the most sought after high school players in the nation during his senior year. He did not play high school baseball during his junior and senior years due to a lack of facilities. John was invited to a tryout for the 1972 Puerto Rican Olympic basketball team (his parents are natives of Puerto Rico), but elected to sign a baseball contract with the Pirates.
John enjoys travel."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Thursday, September 15, 2016
1988 Profile: Claudell Washington
"Just as it was for many of his Yankee teammates, 1987 proved to be a year of 'what ifs' for Claudell Washington. After getting off to a tremendous start, Washington spent the better part of the year fighting off nagging injuries.
He came to the Yankees in June 1986 as a backup outfielder, and played that role to perfection. Last year he was hitting an incredible .348 and had made several acrobatic catches in Death Valley before going on the disabled list on May 18 after pulling a left groin muscle. That was the beginning of the end for Washington. No sooner did he return from that injury when, on June 10, he left a game with a pulled left hamstring and was out for ten more days. On September 22 he left a game with a sore right hamstring, and this time was out for the season. Washington still finished the year hitting a solid .279.
If he can stay healthy this versatile veteran of 14 major league seasons figures to be an important figure on the 1988 Yankee team."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Nagging injuries bothered him all season in 1987. Claudell started off quickly and put together a five-game hitting streak (tied for his longest of the season) from May 13-17, batting .522 (12-for-23) with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs. His two homers came in consecutive games, on May 13 (a two-run homer off Jose Guzman) and May 14 (a solo homer off Edwin Correa) against Texas (the only time all season he homered in consecutive games), and he had three RBIs in each of those two games. Included in that streak were two three-hit games and a four-hit game, going 4-for-6 on May 17 at Seattle (his only four-hit game of the year), but he suffered a pulled left groin muscle in his last at-bat. Claudell was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day due to that injury. At the time he had played in 27 games and was hitting .348 (24-for-69) with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
He was activated from the DL on June 2, and on June 10 against Toronto went 3-for-3 but was forced to leave the game with a pulled left hamstring and did not appear again until June 20. On June 22 at Baltimore Claudell left the game with a sore right lower leg, which limited him to designated and pinch-hitting duties for his next seven games, through June 30. At that point he was hitting .228 (13-for-57) in his 19 games since returning from the DL, with just one homer and eight RBIs, lowering his overall average from.348 to .294.
Claudell had four RBIs, his high as a Yankee, on July 7 against Minnesota, including a three-run homer off Juan Berenguer. At the All-Star break he was hitting .284 (48-for-169) with five homers and 30 RBIs in 57 games, but hit .273 (39-for-143) with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 45 games after the break.
In his first game after the break, on July 16 at Texas, Claudell scored four runs. On July 18 at Texas he went 1-for-3 with a solo home run off Jose Guzman to lift his average to .302, the last time during the season it would be at or over .300. That game began a string of nine games (through July 31) in which four of his eight hits were for extra bases (three home runs and a double).
In the 24 games he played from August 2 through September 6, Claudell batted just .214 (18-for-84) with no home runs and three RBI (all coming on August 23 at Oakland), lowering his overall average from .287 to .266. Included in that stretch, though, was his second five-game hitting streak of the year (August 22-28).
On August 30 against Seattle, Claudell registered the 1,600th hit of his career, finishing the season with a total of 1,611. He connected on a pinch-hit three-run home run (his final homer of the season) on September 8 at Boston. On September 22 at Milwaukee (second game) he left the game with a sore right hamstring and did not the play the rest of the season. Claudell finished with an average of .279 (87-for-312) in 102 games with nine home runs and 44 RBIs.
Claudell had 27 multi-hit games, including his four-hit game and five three-hit games, and had a four-RBI game and four three-RBI games. He batted .259 (65-for-251) against right-handers with eight home runs and 41 RBIs, and .361 against left-handers with one homer and three RBIs. Claudell led the Yankees with a .362 average (25-for-69) with runners in scoring position. Of his nine homers, four were solo home runs, three were two-run shots and two were three-run blasts.
As a pinch hitter he batted .190 (4-for-21) with a homer and four RBIs, and his 21 pinch-hit at-bats were second on the Yankees behind Dan Pasqua's 22. Claudell batted .297 (11-for-37) in 13 games as a designated hitter with a home run and six RBIs. He finished with 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts (including two steals on July 20 at Minnesota), marking the ninth consecutive season he has reached double figures in stolen bases, and the 12th time in his 14 big league seasons.
Claudell had a fielding average of .988 in 72 games in the outfield, committing just one error in 171 total chances. He was used mainly as a center fielder, playing two games in left field and one in right.
One of 34 players to perform for both the Mets and the Yankees, Claudell was acquired by the Yankees along with Paul Zuvella on June 29, 1986 from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Ken Griffey. At the time of the trade, he was hitting .270 (37-for-137) with the Braves in 32 games with 17 runs, 11 doubles, five home runs and 14 RBIs and was 4-for-11 in stolen base attempts. With the Yankees, he played 54 games and batted .237 (32-for-135) with 19 runs, five doubles, six home runs and 16 RBIs and was 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts. Overall with both clubs in '86 he hit .254 (69-for-272) in 86 games with 36 runs, 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 30 RBIs while stealing 10 bases in 17 attempts.
He started the season slowly, hitting just .211 (15-for-71) in 20 games through May 5 with two homers and four RBIs. In that span he missed four games after suffering a pulled groin muscle against Los Angeles on April 19. In nine games from May 6-17, he batted .333 (10-for-30) with three home runs and seven RBIs to raise his average to .248; Claudell went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs on May 9 against Philadelphia, then went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs (including the game winner) on May 13 at New York. After complaining of neck stiffness, however, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 19 (retroactive to May 18) and missed almost a month of action.
Claudell was activated before the game against Cincinnati on June 16. He played 11 games with the Braves following his activation until his trade, and in those 11 contests he hit .333 (12-for-36). Included in those outings was a 3-for-5 performance on June 18 against Los Angeles and a 4-for-5 outing (his four hits representing his season high) on June 23 at Los Angeles.
He made his Yankee debut on June 30 against Detroit, going 1-for-4, then went 3-for-5 against Detroit on July 3 including his first home run as a Yankee, a solo shot off Eric King. Claudell had another three-hit game on July 5 at Chicago, going 3-for-5 with his second Yankee home run, a solo blast off Gene Nelson.
After 11 games with the Yankees through July 12, he was batting .343 (12-for-35) with eight runs, three home runs and six RBIs (including two game winning RBIs). He hit .333 (6-for-18) over a five-game stretch from June 21-27 with three runs, two homers and five RBIs. At this point, after 20 games with the Yankees, he was hitting .281 (18-for-64) with 11 runs, five homers and 11 RBIs.
In his remaining 34 games through the end of the season, Claudell hit .197 (14-for-71) with eight runs, a homer and five RBIs. He entered 11 of his final 12 games in a pinch-hitting capacity.
Claudell started 29 games after joining the Yankees. As a pinch hitter with the Yanks, he batted .227 (5-for-22) with a home run (a solo homer off Walt Terrell on September 26 against Detroit) and two RBIs. Against lefties he hit .214 (3-for-14) with no homers or RBIs, and against righties he hit .240 (29-for-121) with six homers and 16 RBIs.
In 1974 at age 19, Claudell was called up to the majors with Oakland and was named to the Major League Rookie team in just his third pro season. He tied a World Series record for most positions played when he played all three outfield positions in the '74 World Series. He batted .571 (4-for-7) against the Dodgers in that Series.
In 1975 he hit a career high .308 with the A's in 148 games, with a career high 182 base hits. His 77 RBIs that year is the second best single season total of his career, and he also had a career high 40 stolen bases. In 1976 Claudell hit .257 in his final season in Oakland. He was selected to the 1976 American League All-Star team and singled in his only at-bat.
Claudell was traded from Oakland to Texas for pitcher Jim Umbarger, infielder Rodney Scott and cash estimated at $100,000 in March 1977 and hit .284 with the Rangers in 129 games with 12 home runs and 68 RBIs. He began the 1978 season with the Rangers, but was traded along with outfielder Rusty Torres and cash to the White Sox for outfielder Bobby Bonds in May. In 1979, his only full season with the White Sox, he hit .280 in 131 games with 79 runs, 13 homers and 66 RBIs. Claudell hit three home runs against Detroit on July 14.
He was acquired by the Mets from the White Sox on June 7, 1980 in exchange for pitcher Jesse Anderson and tied three New York records: he hit three home runs in one game (at Los Angeles on June 21), three doubles in one game (against Atlanta on July 30) and had RBIs in seven consecutive games in July. The only others to hit three homers in a game in both leagues are Babe Ruth and Johnny Mize. Claudell was granted free agency on October 31, 1980 and signed with the Braves in November.
In his first at-bat in an Atlanta uniform, he doubled as the leadoff hitter on Opening Night of 1981, later scoring. He led the Braves with a .291 average [that year]. Claudell had three game winning RBIs during the 13-game winning streak that began the Braves' 1982 season, including a two-run ninth inning single which won game No. 13. He helped lead the Braves to the National League West title, being named National League Player of the Month for September because of his play down the stretch. Claudell provided incentive to his teammates on a West Coast trip, inviting them to his home to view his World Series trophy, telling his fellow Braves 'this is what we're playing for.' He topped the Braves in stolen bases (33) and triples (6), and tied Dale Murphy for club leadership in game winning RBIs and finished second in runs scored (94). He tied an Atlanta record with three stolen bases in a September 28 game against San Francisco.
Claudell had a disappointing 1983 season, although he did hit .278, and had just nine home runs and 44 RBIs in 134 games. He hit a career high 17 home runs in 1984 and batted over .300 most of the season before a succession of minor injuries limited his play to only two appearances after August. During the early part of the season he had 12 doubles, 11 homers and a .324 average at the All-Star break, earning him a spot on the National League All-Star team. Of his 17 homers, four were hit off Cincinnati's Mario Soto, including two in the same game on April 18. Claudell hit a first inning leadoff home run on five occasions. He led the Braves in stolen bases with 21, was second on the club in batting (.286), home runs, runs scored (62), RBIs (61) and total bases (195) and finished third in hits (119) and at-bats (416).
In 1985 Claudell started 90 games in right field but was platooned at that position in the latter part of the season. He hit .290 against righties and .206 in his limited action against lefties, and hit 14 of his 15 home runs off right-handers. He led the Braves with 14 stolen bases and six triples.
Claudell stole three bases in one game that year (April 25 at Houston) for the fourth time in his career. He hit three home runs in three games, June 1-4, and reached the 5,000 at-bat mark in his major league career with a home run on June 13 against Cincinnati. He batted .357 (15-for-42) with three doubles, two triples and a home run in a 12-game stretch from July 10-27.
Claudell graduated from Berkeley (CA) High School in 1972 and was a member of the track team, but did not play baseball in high school. He was scouted while playing Connie Mack ball and was signed following graduation by Oakland off the Berkeley sandlots during Charlie Finley's regime."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
He came to the Yankees in June 1986 as a backup outfielder, and played that role to perfection. Last year he was hitting an incredible .348 and had made several acrobatic catches in Death Valley before going on the disabled list on May 18 after pulling a left groin muscle. That was the beginning of the end for Washington. No sooner did he return from that injury when, on June 10, he left a game with a pulled left hamstring and was out for ten more days. On September 22 he left a game with a sore right hamstring, and this time was out for the season. Washington still finished the year hitting a solid .279.
If he can stay healthy this versatile veteran of 14 major league seasons figures to be an important figure on the 1988 Yankee team."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Nagging injuries bothered him all season in 1987. Claudell started off quickly and put together a five-game hitting streak (tied for his longest of the season) from May 13-17, batting .522 (12-for-23) with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs. His two homers came in consecutive games, on May 13 (a two-run homer off Jose Guzman) and May 14 (a solo homer off Edwin Correa) against Texas (the only time all season he homered in consecutive games), and he had three RBIs in each of those two games. Included in that streak were two three-hit games and a four-hit game, going 4-for-6 on May 17 at Seattle (his only four-hit game of the year), but he suffered a pulled left groin muscle in his last at-bat. Claudell was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day due to that injury. At the time he had played in 27 games and was hitting .348 (24-for-69) with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
He was activated from the DL on June 2, and on June 10 against Toronto went 3-for-3 but was forced to leave the game with a pulled left hamstring and did not appear again until June 20. On June 22 at Baltimore Claudell left the game with a sore right lower leg, which limited him to designated and pinch-hitting duties for his next seven games, through June 30. At that point he was hitting .228 (13-for-57) in his 19 games since returning from the DL, with just one homer and eight RBIs, lowering his overall average from.348 to .294.
Claudell had four RBIs, his high as a Yankee, on July 7 against Minnesota, including a three-run homer off Juan Berenguer. At the All-Star break he was hitting .284 (48-for-169) with five homers and 30 RBIs in 57 games, but hit .273 (39-for-143) with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 45 games after the break.
In his first game after the break, on July 16 at Texas, Claudell scored four runs. On July 18 at Texas he went 1-for-3 with a solo home run off Jose Guzman to lift his average to .302, the last time during the season it would be at or over .300. That game began a string of nine games (through July 31) in which four of his eight hits were for extra bases (three home runs and a double).
In the 24 games he played from August 2 through September 6, Claudell batted just .214 (18-for-84) with no home runs and three RBI (all coming on August 23 at Oakland), lowering his overall average from .287 to .266. Included in that stretch, though, was his second five-game hitting streak of the year (August 22-28).
On August 30 against Seattle, Claudell registered the 1,600th hit of his career, finishing the season with a total of 1,611. He connected on a pinch-hit three-run home run (his final homer of the season) on September 8 at Boston. On September 22 at Milwaukee (second game) he left the game with a sore right hamstring and did not the play the rest of the season. Claudell finished with an average of .279 (87-for-312) in 102 games with nine home runs and 44 RBIs.
Claudell had 27 multi-hit games, including his four-hit game and five three-hit games, and had a four-RBI game and four three-RBI games. He batted .259 (65-for-251) against right-handers with eight home runs and 41 RBIs, and .361 against left-handers with one homer and three RBIs. Claudell led the Yankees with a .362 average (25-for-69) with runners in scoring position. Of his nine homers, four were solo home runs, three were two-run shots and two were three-run blasts.
As a pinch hitter he batted .190 (4-for-21) with a homer and four RBIs, and his 21 pinch-hit at-bats were second on the Yankees behind Dan Pasqua's 22. Claudell batted .297 (11-for-37) in 13 games as a designated hitter with a home run and six RBIs. He finished with 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts (including two steals on July 20 at Minnesota), marking the ninth consecutive season he has reached double figures in stolen bases, and the 12th time in his 14 big league seasons.
Claudell had a fielding average of .988 in 72 games in the outfield, committing just one error in 171 total chances. He was used mainly as a center fielder, playing two games in left field and one in right.
One of 34 players to perform for both the Mets and the Yankees, Claudell was acquired by the Yankees along with Paul Zuvella on June 29, 1986 from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Ken Griffey. At the time of the trade, he was hitting .270 (37-for-137) with the Braves in 32 games with 17 runs, 11 doubles, five home runs and 14 RBIs and was 4-for-11 in stolen base attempts. With the Yankees, he played 54 games and batted .237 (32-for-135) with 19 runs, five doubles, six home runs and 16 RBIs and was 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts. Overall with both clubs in '86 he hit .254 (69-for-272) in 86 games with 36 runs, 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 30 RBIs while stealing 10 bases in 17 attempts.
He started the season slowly, hitting just .211 (15-for-71) in 20 games through May 5 with two homers and four RBIs. In that span he missed four games after suffering a pulled groin muscle against Los Angeles on April 19. In nine games from May 6-17, he batted .333 (10-for-30) with three home runs and seven RBIs to raise his average to .248; Claudell went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs on May 9 against Philadelphia, then went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs (including the game winner) on May 13 at New York. After complaining of neck stiffness, however, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 19 (retroactive to May 18) and missed almost a month of action.
Claudell was activated before the game against Cincinnati on June 16. He played 11 games with the Braves following his activation until his trade, and in those 11 contests he hit .333 (12-for-36). Included in those outings was a 3-for-5 performance on June 18 against Los Angeles and a 4-for-5 outing (his four hits representing his season high) on June 23 at Los Angeles.
He made his Yankee debut on June 30 against Detroit, going 1-for-4, then went 3-for-5 against Detroit on July 3 including his first home run as a Yankee, a solo shot off Eric King. Claudell had another three-hit game on July 5 at Chicago, going 3-for-5 with his second Yankee home run, a solo blast off Gene Nelson.
After 11 games with the Yankees through July 12, he was batting .343 (12-for-35) with eight runs, three home runs and six RBIs (including two game winning RBIs). He hit .333 (6-for-18) over a five-game stretch from June 21-27 with three runs, two homers and five RBIs. At this point, after 20 games with the Yankees, he was hitting .281 (18-for-64) with 11 runs, five homers and 11 RBIs.
In his remaining 34 games through the end of the season, Claudell hit .197 (14-for-71) with eight runs, a homer and five RBIs. He entered 11 of his final 12 games in a pinch-hitting capacity.
Claudell started 29 games after joining the Yankees. As a pinch hitter with the Yanks, he batted .227 (5-for-22) with a home run (a solo homer off Walt Terrell on September 26 against Detroit) and two RBIs. Against lefties he hit .214 (3-for-14) with no homers or RBIs, and against righties he hit .240 (29-for-121) with six homers and 16 RBIs.
In 1974 at age 19, Claudell was called up to the majors with Oakland and was named to the Major League Rookie team in just his third pro season. He tied a World Series record for most positions played when he played all three outfield positions in the '74 World Series. He batted .571 (4-for-7) against the Dodgers in that Series.
In 1975 he hit a career high .308 with the A's in 148 games, with a career high 182 base hits. His 77 RBIs that year is the second best single season total of his career, and he also had a career high 40 stolen bases. In 1976 Claudell hit .257 in his final season in Oakland. He was selected to the 1976 American League All-Star team and singled in his only at-bat.
Claudell was traded from Oakland to Texas for pitcher Jim Umbarger, infielder Rodney Scott and cash estimated at $100,000 in March 1977 and hit .284 with the Rangers in 129 games with 12 home runs and 68 RBIs. He began the 1978 season with the Rangers, but was traded along with outfielder Rusty Torres and cash to the White Sox for outfielder Bobby Bonds in May. In 1979, his only full season with the White Sox, he hit .280 in 131 games with 79 runs, 13 homers and 66 RBIs. Claudell hit three home runs against Detroit on July 14.
He was acquired by the Mets from the White Sox on June 7, 1980 in exchange for pitcher Jesse Anderson and tied three New York records: he hit three home runs in one game (at Los Angeles on June 21), three doubles in one game (against Atlanta on July 30) and had RBIs in seven consecutive games in July. The only others to hit three homers in a game in both leagues are Babe Ruth and Johnny Mize. Claudell was granted free agency on October 31, 1980 and signed with the Braves in November.
In his first at-bat in an Atlanta uniform, he doubled as the leadoff hitter on Opening Night of 1981, later scoring. He led the Braves with a .291 average [that year]. Claudell had three game winning RBIs during the 13-game winning streak that began the Braves' 1982 season, including a two-run ninth inning single which won game No. 13. He helped lead the Braves to the National League West title, being named National League Player of the Month for September because of his play down the stretch. Claudell provided incentive to his teammates on a West Coast trip, inviting them to his home to view his World Series trophy, telling his fellow Braves 'this is what we're playing for.' He topped the Braves in stolen bases (33) and triples (6), and tied Dale Murphy for club leadership in game winning RBIs and finished second in runs scored (94). He tied an Atlanta record with three stolen bases in a September 28 game against San Francisco.
Claudell had a disappointing 1983 season, although he did hit .278, and had just nine home runs and 44 RBIs in 134 games. He hit a career high 17 home runs in 1984 and batted over .300 most of the season before a succession of minor injuries limited his play to only two appearances after August. During the early part of the season he had 12 doubles, 11 homers and a .324 average at the All-Star break, earning him a spot on the National League All-Star team. Of his 17 homers, four were hit off Cincinnati's Mario Soto, including two in the same game on April 18. Claudell hit a first inning leadoff home run on five occasions. He led the Braves in stolen bases with 21, was second on the club in batting (.286), home runs, runs scored (62), RBIs (61) and total bases (195) and finished third in hits (119) and at-bats (416).
In 1985 Claudell started 90 games in right field but was platooned at that position in the latter part of the season. He hit .290 against righties and .206 in his limited action against lefties, and hit 14 of his 15 home runs off right-handers. He led the Braves with 14 stolen bases and six triples.
Claudell stole three bases in one game that year (April 25 at Houston) for the fourth time in his career. He hit three home runs in three games, June 1-4, and reached the 5,000 at-bat mark in his major league career with a home run on June 13 against Cincinnati. He batted .357 (15-for-42) with three doubles, two triples and a home run in a 12-game stretch from July 10-27.
Claudell graduated from Berkeley (CA) High School in 1972 and was a member of the track team, but did not play baseball in high school. He was scouted while playing Connie Mack ball and was signed following graduation by Oakland off the Berkeley sandlots during Charlie Finley's regime."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Saturday, September 10, 2016
1988 Profile: Ron Guidry
"A contract squabble and poor offensive support contributed to the veteran's second straight losing year. Guidry was not re-signed as a free agent until May 1. He pitched in the minors and was used in relief five times before he finally returned to the rotation on June 9.
Guidry fanned 14 batters in 6 2/3 innings against the White Sox in July, the most by a Yankee pitcher since he set the club record with 18 strikeouts against the Angels on June 17, 1978. He allowed just seven earned runs in his five no-decisions as a starter.
Born in Lafayette, Lousiana, Guidry was selected by the Yankees in the third round of the June 1971 draft. With 1,746 strikeouts, he ranks second to Whitey Ford (1,956) on the club list."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"Something was missing in April 1987. For the first time in over a decade, the Yankees were without their pitching ace, Ron Guidry. Gator re-signed as a free agent on May 1 and started the year with two appearances in Florida and one in Columbus before joining the Yankees on May 24. This early struggle would be indicative of Guidry's season.
His first five outings with New York were out of the bullpen and he didn't make his first start until June 9. Just when he looked to be the Guidry of old he battled a combination of little offensive support, terrible first innings and a tender left elbow that ended his season on September 5.
There were signs, however, that Louisiana Lightning was back, despite his second straight sub-.500 season (5-8). He allowed two runs or less in 11 of his 17 starts, had five no-decisions where he pitched well enough to win and had a 14-strikeout game. After off-season elbow surgery Guidry, who ranks in the top 10 in most of the team's all-time pitching categories, is ready to assume his position as Co-Captain and team leader.
'I pitched some good games that my record didn't show, in what was more or less a salvaged year,' Gator says. 'Now I'm looking forward to this year.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Failing to sign by the midnight January 8, 1987 deadline, Guidry was unable to sign with the Yankees until May 1. Signing a two-year contract, he reported to the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (Class-A Florida State League) on May 5 and appeared in two games, throwing six innings, allowing four hits, no runs, walking one and striking out seven. He remained in Florida until May 18, when he was assigned to the Columbus Clippers, making his only start for the Clippers on that date, going five innings and allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), two walks, striking out three and being credited for the 6-2 victory over the Richmond Braves. Guidry had his Columbus contract purchased by the Yankees on May 23.
His first five outings for the Yankees in 1987 were in relief (0-1, 2.45 ERA, 7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K [1.23 WHIP]). His five relief appearances were the most he's had in a season since making eight in 1980. Ron made his first start on June 9 against Toronto, losing the 7-2 decision.
In his next two starts he combined to allow just two earned runs in 11 innings but did not figure in either decision. After he allowed a season high three home runs on June 24 at Baltimore as the Yankees were shutout 4-0, his record was now 0-3. He notched his first win of '87 on June 30 at Toronto, allowing no runs in 7.2 innings pitched as New York won 4-0.
From June 30 through July 31 Gator made seven starts, allowing 11 earned runs (six coming on solo homers) in 50 innings, going 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA. Of his three no-decision during that span, New York lost two while scoring a combined three runs in the losses. Ron's most impressive outing came on July 11 at Chicago when he struck out 14 in 6.2 innings, the second highest single-game total of his career and most by a Yankee since he set the Yankee record with 18 strikeouts on June 17, 1978 against California. In that game of July 11, 14 of the 20 outs he recorded were by strikeout.
From August 6 through August 21 Guidry lost four straight starts, allowing 20 earned runs in 25.1 innings (7.11 ERA). He won his final two games of the year, with the start on August 31 (10 K in 7.1 IP) against Oakland snapping that losing streak. Due to a tender left shoulder, his final start of the year came on September 5 in a 7-6 win against California. Guidry's final 17 outings of the year were all starts. He threw complete games on July 6 against Minnesota, losing 2-0, and on August 21 at Oakland, losing 6-4.
His career total of 1,746 strikeouts ranks second only to Whitey Ford's 1,956 on the all-time Yankee list, his 168 wins ties Bob Shawkey for fourth, and his 2,337 innings ranks sixth. Guidry is tied with Spud Chandler for sixth on the shutout list with 26, ranks ninth with 356 games and ranks 16th with 95 complete games. Since 1977, his first full year in the majors, his total of 168 wins is the most of any major league pitcher over the same period of time; Jack Morris is next with 162.
Ron underwent surgery on December 8 to repair a partial tear in a muscle that overlays the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. The operation, considered a complete success, was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama.
With Billy Martin as his manager, Ron has a career 84-22 record, a .792 winning percentage, with a 3.06 ERA. Under all his other major league managers combined, he is 84-66, a .560 winning percentage, with a 3.42 ERA.
In 1986 Ron had the second sub-.500 season of his career, going 9-12 [with a 1.25 WHIP], the first time since 1976 he failed to win in double figures, yet his 140 strikeouts led the club for the sixth time in ten years. He was named co-captain along with teammate Willie Randolph on March 4.
Gator began the season 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his first four games, with three walks and 19 strikeouts. In his next 13 games, from April 29 to July 2, he compiled a 1-8 record with a 5.03 ERA, allowing 44 earned runs and 11 homers in 78.2 innings pitched; in that span New York won three of four games in which he got no decision, and he threw two complete game one-run losses (May 20 against Oakland, 2-1, and May 31 at Oakland, 4-3). Guidry did not pitch more than six innings in six of those 13 starts.
In his May 10 start at Texas, he struck out 11 Rangers in seven innings, winning 4-3- the most strikeouts by Guidry since 1984. Beginning with his next start on May 15 through July 2, he lost seven straight decisions (10 G, 58.2 IP, 33 ER, 5.06 ERA)- by far the longest losing streak of his career. Guidry had lost three in one season straight six times, and his longest previous losing streak was four games, September 10, 1982 to April 12, 1983.
Guidry's two inning performance on June 16 against Boston was his shortest since going two innings on July 10, 1982, having made 118 starts in between. On July 2 at Yankee Stadium against Detroit, he was cut between the index and middle fingers of his left hand while attempting to spear a line drive off the bat of Lance Parrish. The gash required five stitches and Guidry was placed on the 21-day disabled list on July 3- the second stint of his career on the DL (at the time he was 4-8, 4.05 ERA, 48 ER, 106.2 IP).
While on the DL, Gator was assigned to Albany-Colonie (AA Eastern League) for rehabilitation, starting there before a huge crowd on July 23 against the Nashua Pirates. He threw three innings, allowing one hit, one earned run, two walks and striking out three. Ron was activated from the DL on July 27, starting and winning that night in Minnesota (his first win since May 10).
Ron pitched the shortest starting assignment of his career on August 29 at Seattle, going 1.1 inning (5 H, 5 ER)- his two previous shortest outings were each 1.2 innings. He was 5-4 with a 3.89 ERA (37 ER, 85.2 IP) after coming off the DL through the end of the season. He was 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in his last five starts (12 ER, 38 IP), losing the last two by scores of 3-2 to Detroit and 3-0 to Toronto- each a complete game effort.
Overall in '86, five of Ron's losses came in one-run games, while the Yankees were shut out in two others. He won his fifth straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Ron was first brought up to the Yankees from Syracuse on July 27, 1975 and made his major league debut that day at Shea against the Red Sox. He made nine relief appearances prior to his first major league start on September 22, also against Boston, in which he suffered his first major league loss. He pitched in just seven games in 1976, all in relief.
1977 was his first full year with the Yankees. Guidry was used in relief in six of his first seven appearances, then ended the year with 24 straight starts. He notched his first major league win on April 13 at Kansas City in a relief role, and his first career save was recorded on April 24 at Cleveland. His first win as a starter came on April 29 in New York against Seattle.
From August 10 to September 25 Guidry went 8-0, raising his record to 16-6. He was 1-0 in two ALCS starts and threw a 4-2 complete game 4-hitter against Los Angeles in the World Series. 1977 was just a sign of things to come.
Guidry had a dream season for any pitcher in 1978. He was the unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award (the only other unanimous winner was Denny McLain in 1968), finished second in the MVP voting to Jim Rice and set numerous records. He set the Yankee record for most consecutive wins to start a season, winning his first 13 and breaking the record of Atley Donald, the scout who signed Guidry. His nine shutouts tied Babe Ruth's AL record for most by a lefty, set in 1916. The Yankees won 30 of the 35 games he started, scoring only seven runs in the five losses, and opposing hitters hit just .193 against him.
He struck out 10 or more in a game eight times, including a club record 18 against California on June 17, breaking Bob Shawkey's record of 15 set in 1919. His 248 strikeouts for the season is a club record and his 1.74 ERA was the lowest by a major league lefty since Sandy Koufax's 1.73 in 1966. 15 of his 25 wins followed a Yankee loss.
Ron was also named Sporting News Man of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and Baseball Quarterly Performer of the Year. He was named to the United Press International, Associated Press and Sporting News and All-Star teams.
He won his second straight ERA title in 1979 and was named to the UPI All-Star team. He played an inning in center field against Toronto on September 29 of that year. He reached his 100th career decision in 1980 (72-28), matching Sal Maglie, Vic Raschi, Spud Chandler and Ed Reulbach behind Whitey Ford's 74-26 for the second best record ever through a pitcher's first 100 career decisions. In 1981 Ron was AL Pitcher of the Month of August (4-0 and a 0.37 ERA); he broke the little finger on his right hand on a come-backer on August 23, but played with a splint, not missing any starts. He jumped off to a fast start in 1982, posting an 8-1 record by June 14, and notched his 100th major league win on August 31 at Minnesota.
In 1983, Guidry led the AL with 21 complete games- a career high- was third with 21 wins, tied for fourth with three shutouts, tied for fifth with a .700 won-lost percentage, was sixth with 156 strikeouts, seventh with 250.1 innings pitched and 12th with a 3.42 ERA. He was named to his fourth AL All-Star team but did not play due to a lower back strain. He played center field for a third of an inning on August 18 during the conclusion of the 'Pine Tar' game, then won six straight starts from August 19 to September 14. Guidry won his second consecutive Gold Glove award for AL pitchers with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and was also named to the 1983 Sporting News All-Star team.
His best 1984 performance came on August 7 when he blanked the White Sox 7-0 on four hits, striking out a season high 13 (also the team high for '84, later tied by Joe Cowley). Ron ended the game by striking out the side on nine pitches, tying a major league record. He was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on August 16.
Guidry began the 1985 season with a 6-3 win at Cleveland on April 13, New York's first win of '85. He lost his next three starts, but on May 4 against Kansas City pitched a complete game 5-2 win, starting him on a 12-game winning streak that upped his record to 13-3 on July 20; over the streak he gave up 30 earned runs 123.2 innings for a 2.18 ERA. The streak ended with a 6-5 loss at Cleveland on July 31. Ron made one relief appearance on May 17 at California, retiring Reggie Jackson.
He threw back-to-back shutouts on June 17 at Baltimore and on June 22 at Detroit, the 25th and 26th shutouts of his career. He would have been selected to the All-Star team but declined, knowing he could not pitch if needed.
Ron allowed five home runs on September 17 at Detroit, his career high, yet pitched his 2,000th career inning in the third inning of that game. He won his 20th game on September 22 at Baltimore, becoming only the seventh Yankee to win 20 games three times. He won nine of his last 11 decisions and six of his last seven, including his last three.
He struck out Baltimore's Lee Lacy in the seventh inning on September 28 for career strikeout No. 1,500 and struck out a season high 10 on October 3 against Baltimore. Overall in '85, Guidry struck out 100+ batters for the ninth straight year.
In high school at Northside High, where they had no baseball team, Guidry was named Outstanding Track Man for two years. At Southwestern Louisiana, where he majored in architecture, he hurled a no-hitter and was named to the Gulf States All-Stars.
Ron was named the 1984 Roberto Clemente Award winner as the player who 'best exemplifies the game of baseball both on and off the field.' He points to his service to humanity as being the best work of his life.
Ron enjoys hunting and chess and could play the drums professionally. He grew up as a fan of the Yankees and Whitey Ford and his biggest thrill was his 18-strikeout game. Ron spent six years in the National Guard. He is of French ancestry."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Guidry fanned 14 batters in 6 2/3 innings against the White Sox in July, the most by a Yankee pitcher since he set the club record with 18 strikeouts against the Angels on June 17, 1978. He allowed just seven earned runs in his five no-decisions as a starter.
Born in Lafayette, Lousiana, Guidry was selected by the Yankees in the third round of the June 1971 draft. With 1,746 strikeouts, he ranks second to Whitey Ford (1,956) on the club list."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"Something was missing in April 1987. For the first time in over a decade, the Yankees were without their pitching ace, Ron Guidry. Gator re-signed as a free agent on May 1 and started the year with two appearances in Florida and one in Columbus before joining the Yankees on May 24. This early struggle would be indicative of Guidry's season.
His first five outings with New York were out of the bullpen and he didn't make his first start until June 9. Just when he looked to be the Guidry of old he battled a combination of little offensive support, terrible first innings and a tender left elbow that ended his season on September 5.
There were signs, however, that Louisiana Lightning was back, despite his second straight sub-.500 season (5-8). He allowed two runs or less in 11 of his 17 starts, had five no-decisions where he pitched well enough to win and had a 14-strikeout game. After off-season elbow surgery Guidry, who ranks in the top 10 in most of the team's all-time pitching categories, is ready to assume his position as Co-Captain and team leader.
'I pitched some good games that my record didn't show, in what was more or less a salvaged year,' Gator says. 'Now I'm looking forward to this year.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Failing to sign by the midnight January 8, 1987 deadline, Guidry was unable to sign with the Yankees until May 1. Signing a two-year contract, he reported to the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (Class-A Florida State League) on May 5 and appeared in two games, throwing six innings, allowing four hits, no runs, walking one and striking out seven. He remained in Florida until May 18, when he was assigned to the Columbus Clippers, making his only start for the Clippers on that date, going five innings and allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), two walks, striking out three and being credited for the 6-2 victory over the Richmond Braves. Guidry had his Columbus contract purchased by the Yankees on May 23.
His first five outings for the Yankees in 1987 were in relief (0-1, 2.45 ERA, 7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K [1.23 WHIP]). His five relief appearances were the most he's had in a season since making eight in 1980. Ron made his first start on June 9 against Toronto, losing the 7-2 decision.
In his next two starts he combined to allow just two earned runs in 11 innings but did not figure in either decision. After he allowed a season high three home runs on June 24 at Baltimore as the Yankees were shutout 4-0, his record was now 0-3. He notched his first win of '87 on June 30 at Toronto, allowing no runs in 7.2 innings pitched as New York won 4-0.
From June 30 through July 31 Gator made seven starts, allowing 11 earned runs (six coming on solo homers) in 50 innings, going 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA. Of his three no-decision during that span, New York lost two while scoring a combined three runs in the losses. Ron's most impressive outing came on July 11 at Chicago when he struck out 14 in 6.2 innings, the second highest single-game total of his career and most by a Yankee since he set the Yankee record with 18 strikeouts on June 17, 1978 against California. In that game of July 11, 14 of the 20 outs he recorded were by strikeout.
From August 6 through August 21 Guidry lost four straight starts, allowing 20 earned runs in 25.1 innings (7.11 ERA). He won his final two games of the year, with the start on August 31 (10 K in 7.1 IP) against Oakland snapping that losing streak. Due to a tender left shoulder, his final start of the year came on September 5 in a 7-6 win against California. Guidry's final 17 outings of the year were all starts. He threw complete games on July 6 against Minnesota, losing 2-0, and on August 21 at Oakland, losing 6-4.
His career total of 1,746 strikeouts ranks second only to Whitey Ford's 1,956 on the all-time Yankee list, his 168 wins ties Bob Shawkey for fourth, and his 2,337 innings ranks sixth. Guidry is tied with Spud Chandler for sixth on the shutout list with 26, ranks ninth with 356 games and ranks 16th with 95 complete games. Since 1977, his first full year in the majors, his total of 168 wins is the most of any major league pitcher over the same period of time; Jack Morris is next with 162.
Ron underwent surgery on December 8 to repair a partial tear in a muscle that overlays the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. The operation, considered a complete success, was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama.
With Billy Martin as his manager, Ron has a career 84-22 record, a .792 winning percentage, with a 3.06 ERA. Under all his other major league managers combined, he is 84-66, a .560 winning percentage, with a 3.42 ERA.
In 1986 Ron had the second sub-.500 season of his career, going 9-12 [with a 1.25 WHIP], the first time since 1976 he failed to win in double figures, yet his 140 strikeouts led the club for the sixth time in ten years. He was named co-captain along with teammate Willie Randolph on March 4.
Gator began the season 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his first four games, with three walks and 19 strikeouts. In his next 13 games, from April 29 to July 2, he compiled a 1-8 record with a 5.03 ERA, allowing 44 earned runs and 11 homers in 78.2 innings pitched; in that span New York won three of four games in which he got no decision, and he threw two complete game one-run losses (May 20 against Oakland, 2-1, and May 31 at Oakland, 4-3). Guidry did not pitch more than six innings in six of those 13 starts.
In his May 10 start at Texas, he struck out 11 Rangers in seven innings, winning 4-3- the most strikeouts by Guidry since 1984. Beginning with his next start on May 15 through July 2, he lost seven straight decisions (10 G, 58.2 IP, 33 ER, 5.06 ERA)- by far the longest losing streak of his career. Guidry had lost three in one season straight six times, and his longest previous losing streak was four games, September 10, 1982 to April 12, 1983.
Guidry's two inning performance on June 16 against Boston was his shortest since going two innings on July 10, 1982, having made 118 starts in between. On July 2 at Yankee Stadium against Detroit, he was cut between the index and middle fingers of his left hand while attempting to spear a line drive off the bat of Lance Parrish. The gash required five stitches and Guidry was placed on the 21-day disabled list on July 3- the second stint of his career on the DL (at the time he was 4-8, 4.05 ERA, 48 ER, 106.2 IP).
While on the DL, Gator was assigned to Albany-Colonie (AA Eastern League) for rehabilitation, starting there before a huge crowd on July 23 against the Nashua Pirates. He threw three innings, allowing one hit, one earned run, two walks and striking out three. Ron was activated from the DL on July 27, starting and winning that night in Minnesota (his first win since May 10).
Ron pitched the shortest starting assignment of his career on August 29 at Seattle, going 1.1 inning (5 H, 5 ER)- his two previous shortest outings were each 1.2 innings. He was 5-4 with a 3.89 ERA (37 ER, 85.2 IP) after coming off the DL through the end of the season. He was 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in his last five starts (12 ER, 38 IP), losing the last two by scores of 3-2 to Detroit and 3-0 to Toronto- each a complete game effort.
Overall in '86, five of Ron's losses came in one-run games, while the Yankees were shut out in two others. He won his fifth straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Ron was first brought up to the Yankees from Syracuse on July 27, 1975 and made his major league debut that day at Shea against the Red Sox. He made nine relief appearances prior to his first major league start on September 22, also against Boston, in which he suffered his first major league loss. He pitched in just seven games in 1976, all in relief.
1977 was his first full year with the Yankees. Guidry was used in relief in six of his first seven appearances, then ended the year with 24 straight starts. He notched his first major league win on April 13 at Kansas City in a relief role, and his first career save was recorded on April 24 at Cleveland. His first win as a starter came on April 29 in New York against Seattle.
From August 10 to September 25 Guidry went 8-0, raising his record to 16-6. He was 1-0 in two ALCS starts and threw a 4-2 complete game 4-hitter against Los Angeles in the World Series. 1977 was just a sign of things to come.
Guidry had a dream season for any pitcher in 1978. He was the unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award (the only other unanimous winner was Denny McLain in 1968), finished second in the MVP voting to Jim Rice and set numerous records. He set the Yankee record for most consecutive wins to start a season, winning his first 13 and breaking the record of Atley Donald, the scout who signed Guidry. His nine shutouts tied Babe Ruth's AL record for most by a lefty, set in 1916. The Yankees won 30 of the 35 games he started, scoring only seven runs in the five losses, and opposing hitters hit just .193 against him.
He struck out 10 or more in a game eight times, including a club record 18 against California on June 17, breaking Bob Shawkey's record of 15 set in 1919. His 248 strikeouts for the season is a club record and his 1.74 ERA was the lowest by a major league lefty since Sandy Koufax's 1.73 in 1966. 15 of his 25 wins followed a Yankee loss.
Ron was also named Sporting News Man of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and Baseball Quarterly Performer of the Year. He was named to the United Press International, Associated Press and Sporting News and All-Star teams.
He won his second straight ERA title in 1979 and was named to the UPI All-Star team. He played an inning in center field against Toronto on September 29 of that year. He reached his 100th career decision in 1980 (72-28), matching Sal Maglie, Vic Raschi, Spud Chandler and Ed Reulbach behind Whitey Ford's 74-26 for the second best record ever through a pitcher's first 100 career decisions. In 1981 Ron was AL Pitcher of the Month of August (4-0 and a 0.37 ERA); he broke the little finger on his right hand on a come-backer on August 23, but played with a splint, not missing any starts. He jumped off to a fast start in 1982, posting an 8-1 record by June 14, and notched his 100th major league win on August 31 at Minnesota.
In 1983, Guidry led the AL with 21 complete games- a career high- was third with 21 wins, tied for fourth with three shutouts, tied for fifth with a .700 won-lost percentage, was sixth with 156 strikeouts, seventh with 250.1 innings pitched and 12th with a 3.42 ERA. He was named to his fourth AL All-Star team but did not play due to a lower back strain. He played center field for a third of an inning on August 18 during the conclusion of the 'Pine Tar' game, then won six straight starts from August 19 to September 14. Guidry won his second consecutive Gold Glove award for AL pitchers with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and was also named to the 1983 Sporting News All-Star team.
His best 1984 performance came on August 7 when he blanked the White Sox 7-0 on four hits, striking out a season high 13 (also the team high for '84, later tied by Joe Cowley). Ron ended the game by striking out the side on nine pitches, tying a major league record. He was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on August 16.
Guidry began the 1985 season with a 6-3 win at Cleveland on April 13, New York's first win of '85. He lost his next three starts, but on May 4 against Kansas City pitched a complete game 5-2 win, starting him on a 12-game winning streak that upped his record to 13-3 on July 20; over the streak he gave up 30 earned runs 123.2 innings for a 2.18 ERA. The streak ended with a 6-5 loss at Cleveland on July 31. Ron made one relief appearance on May 17 at California, retiring Reggie Jackson.
He threw back-to-back shutouts on June 17 at Baltimore and on June 22 at Detroit, the 25th and 26th shutouts of his career. He would have been selected to the All-Star team but declined, knowing he could not pitch if needed.
Ron allowed five home runs on September 17 at Detroit, his career high, yet pitched his 2,000th career inning in the third inning of that game. He won his 20th game on September 22 at Baltimore, becoming only the seventh Yankee to win 20 games three times. He won nine of his last 11 decisions and six of his last seven, including his last three.
He struck out Baltimore's Lee Lacy in the seventh inning on September 28 for career strikeout No. 1,500 and struck out a season high 10 on October 3 against Baltimore. Overall in '85, Guidry struck out 100+ batters for the ninth straight year.
In high school at Northside High, where they had no baseball team, Guidry was named Outstanding Track Man for two years. At Southwestern Louisiana, where he majored in architecture, he hurled a no-hitter and was named to the Gulf States All-Stars.
Ron was named the 1984 Roberto Clemente Award winner as the player who 'best exemplifies the game of baseball both on and off the field.' He points to his service to humanity as being the best work of his life.
Ron enjoys hunting and chess and could play the drums professionally. He grew up as a fan of the Yankees and Whitey Ford and his biggest thrill was his 18-strikeout game. Ron spent six years in the National Guard. He is of French ancestry."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
Thursday, September 1, 2016
1988 Profile: Rickey Henderson
1988 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"His injured right hamstring prevented him from being the force he usually is and he failed to lead the league in stolen bases for the first time in the last eight years. Henderson was disabled from June 5-29 with a hamstring injury and sat out July 26 to September 1 with the same problem.
He reached safely in 85 of the 95 games he played. With six leadoff home runs in 1987, Henderson broke the American League career record for leadoff homers; with 34, he needs two more to break Bobby Bonds' major league mark. With 701 career steals, he is the youngest to reach that level. Rickey shattered Lou Brock's single-season stolen base record with 130 in 1982.
Rickey has thrived under Billy Martin in the past. Born in Chicago, he was obtained from Oakland with pitcher Bert Bradley for Jay Howell, Jose Rijo, Tim Birtsas, Eric Plunk and Stan Javier in December 1984."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"Disappointment. That's the word that best describes Rickey Henderson's third year in Pinstripes. What started out as an MVP kind of season will be remembered as the year of the 'hammy.' As Henderson goes so go the Yankees, and when a bad wheel slowed down the speedster so too went the club's hopes for a division title.
The Man of Steal got off to the best start of his career, pacing the Yankees to their best start since 1976. Before leaving the game on June 4 with a pulled right hamstring, he was hitting .324 with 10 homers, 18 RBI and 23 stolen bases. He was an early MVP favorite, but it wasn't to be. The pulled hamstring, the first major injury of his career, put him on the DL twice and forced him to miss 55 games. Not only did the Yankees go 29-26 during those games, but Henderson lost the stolen base crown for the first time in his career after owning the title for seven straight years.
On the positive side, Henderson broke the AL record of 28 career leadoff homers and is one shy of the major league record of 35. In 1987 he also became the youngest player ever to steal 700 bases. Rickey's 1988 'comeback' should ignite the Yankees once again."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Rickey suffered through an injury-plagued 1987 season, appearing in just 95 games- his fewest since playing 89 in his rookie season on 1979.
He got off to a great start, going 32-for-79 (.405) with 25 runs, six homers and 12 RBIs from April 6 through May 3, hitting safely in 18 of 21 games. Rickey hit six homers from April 14 through April 26 (29 at-bats, nine games) and five homers from April 22 through April 26 (14 at-bats, five games), and had his only two-homer game of the season on April 24 at Cleveland. While unable to maintain a .400 clip, he began a season long 11-game hitting streak on May 6, lasting through May 18, going 15-for-45 (.333) with 16 runs. From that point though June 4, he went for 8-for-38 (.211), his overall average falling from .356 to .324.
He suffered his first injury of the year on June 4 at Milwaukee, leaving the game with a pulled right hamstring. Rickey was hitting .324 with 10 home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games and had been successful in 23 of 26 stolen base attempts. The hamstring pull was severe enough to land him on the 15-day disabled list, where he remained from June 5 until June 29, missing 22 games (with the Yankees going 13-9). Rickey was again placed on the 15-day DL on August 1 (retroactive to July 26) with an injured right hamstring, hitting .250 (22-for-88) in 22 games between disabled list stints, his average falling to .298.
Rickey was reinstated from the DL a second time on September 1, having missed 33 games (the Yankees going 16-17). Overall in his two DL stays, New York went 29-26 in the 55 games he missed. Following his second return he went 25-for-99 (.253) with six home runs, 12 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in his final 27 games.
Rickey played in 50 games total after suffering his first hamstring injury on June 4, going 47-for-188 (.250) with 35 runs, seven doubles, a triple, seven homers, 19 RBIs and and 18 stolen bases. The Yankees, at the point of the first injury, were in first place at 33-20, a .623 winning percentage, and went 56-53, a .514 winning percentage, through the remainder of '87, finishing fourth in the AL East.
He appeared as a designated hitter in 24 games, going 25-for-98 (.255) with 18 runs, five homers and nine RBIs, and was 0-for-2 as a pinch hitter. Of his 17 home runs, 13 were solo and four were two-run shots.
Rickey hit six leadoff home runs in '87, and now has 34 career leadoff home runs, just one shy of Bobby Bonds' major league record. His first leadoff homer of the year on April 14 against Cleveland broke the AL record of 28 set by Eddie Yost. Henderson came to the Yankees from Oakland with 12 leadoff home runs, and with the Yankees added seven in 1985, nine in 1986 and six in 1987. The nine leadoff homers he hit in '86 are an American League record.
With 701 stolen bases Henderson is currently the leader among active players, followed by Willie Wilson with 529 and Tim Raines with 511. He was successful in 41 of 49 stolen base attempts (84%) in 1987 and was 9-for-9 stealing third, but had his string of leading the AL in stolen bases snapped at seven straight years by Seattle's Harold Reynolds.
Henderson had three games of at least three stolen bases, including four stolen bases on May 3 at Minnesota, tying the Yankee single game record and matching his personal single game high, now having stolen four bases in a game on 11 occasions. He recorded his 700th stolen base on September 29 against Boston, becoming the youngest player (28) to reach that plateau (Billy Hamilton was the youngest to reach 700 prior to Henderson- he was 30 in 1896).
His 701 stolen bases rank ninth on the all-time list (Honus Wagner is eighth with 720). Since 1980 (his first full season) and excluding the 1981 strike season, Rickey has averaged 87 stolen bases per season; should he reach that level in 1988 he would move up to fifth place on the all-time list. His AL record of consecutive seasons with 50+ stolen bases ended at seven years, yet he ranks fourth on the all-time Yankee stolen base list with 208 (Roy White is third with 233, Willie Randolph is second with 242, and Hal Chase is first with 248).
Rickey was successful in his first 23 stolen base attempts of '87; coupled with his final eight attempts of '86 he had 31 consecutive attempts without being caught, just one shy of the AL record of 32 (previously set by Kansas City's Willie Wilson in 1980 and Seattle's Julio Cruz in 1980-81). The string was broken on May 18 at Oakland by pitcher Curt Young. Rickey was caught stealing six times by catchers in '87: Boston's John Marzano (twice); Oakland's Terry Steinbach; Seattle's Scott Bradley; Toronto's Charlie Moore; and Milwaukee's B.J. Surhoff.
He did not steal a base for 18 straight games, May 18 through July 4, the longest such stretch of his career; his previous long was 11 games, April 8-22, 1987; his longest before '87 was 10 straight games from September 4-24, 1982. Rickey maintained his career stolen base success rate of 80%. He currently has 174 career caught stealing.
His overall offensive production in 1986 was down slightly from his first season as a Yankee, yet he set personal career highs with 28 home runs, 31 doubles, 608 at-bats and 74 RBIs. His total of 130 runs led the majors for the second consecutive year, the third time in his career. He was the first player to lead the American League in runs scored in consecutive seasons since Mickey Mantle in 1960-61 (Mantle and Roger Maris tied with 132 runs in 1961). He was the first player to lead the majors in runs scored in consecutive seasons since Pete Rose from 1974-76. His 89 walks placed seventh in the AL, while he tied for seventh with 64 extra-base hits. He led Yankee outfielders with a .986 fielding percentage, as well as in games, 146; putouts, 426; errors, six; and total chances, 436.
Off to a slow start, Rickey had just one hit (1-for-19 in his first six games), then hit in 10 straight from April 15-25, going 16-for-45 (.356), raising his overall average to .266. He ended April hitting .263. Rickey scored a team high four runs against Texas on May 3. He hit in 11 straight, May 16-28, going 15-for-41 (.366) with three home runs and seven RBIs (all homers lead off a game for the Yankees).
Rickey failed to hit safely in just six of 28 games played in June, going 38-for-116 (.328), raising his overall average from .265 to .288. On June 11 at Detroit he started the first game of his career in which he did not bat leadoff (he batted third). He recorded four RBIs on June 27 against Toronto, reaching his career high for the fifth time. His batting average peaked at .289 on June 28.
He went 20-for-86 (.233) in July, lowering his overall average to .276. He was ejected from a game on July 30 at Milwaukee in the eighth inning for arguing a called third strike. Rickey failed to hit in 16 of 28 games in August, going 22-for-110 (.200), lowering his overall average to .260.
On August 11 Rickey recorded his 20th home run, achieving 20+ homers and 50+ stolen bases for a second straight year. On August 28, he tied the AL record he set in 1985 by hitting his seventh leadoff home run, and on August 29 he homered off Seattle's Mark Langston for his third career two-homer game- all with the Yankees. Rickey broke his personal single season home run mark hitting his 25th on September 11 at Toronto off John Cerutti, and broke his own AL leadoff homer record hitting his eighth on September 20 at Detroit off Frank Tanana- Rickey finished with nine (the major league record is 11, set by Bobby Bonds in 1973). He went 28-for-100 (.280) in September and October, raising his overall batting average to .263.
He appeared as a designated hitter in five games, going 2-for-18 (.111), and was 0-for-3 as a pinch hitter. 40 of the 113 runs driven in by Don Mattingly were scored by Rickey Henderson.
He led the American League in stolen bases for the seventh consecutive season- only Luis Aparicio led the AL more years (nine), both total and consecutively (1956-64). Henderson was 87-for-105 in stolen base attempts in '86. He set a new Yankees single season stolen base record with 87, breaking the club mark of 80 he set in 1985; he stole his 81st base on September 15 against Baltimore in New York.
Henderson swiped his 600th career base on May 18 against Seattle, becoming the youngest of the 15 players to reach that plateau. During '86 Henderson moved form 19th to 11th on the all-time stolen base list and is the current active leader. He improved his career stolen base success rate to 80%. Rickey swiped a club high three bases on May 6 at Chicago, also matching the league high for '86. He was successful in 14 of his 18 attempts stealing third. His longest streak without stealing a base was six games, June 24-30.
Of his 18 times caught stealing in '86, only six were by catchers. Five of his first eight times caught stealing on the year on the year were by catchers (through June 13), meaning that after June 13 he was caught stealing 10 times but just once by a catcher (August 30 at Seattle by Scott Bradley). Rickey broke his own AL record for most consecutive years with 50+ stolen bases, with seven.
He began the 1985 season on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle suffered in an exhibition game against Boston on March 17; he was activated on April 22, missing 10 games. His .314 batting average was fourth in the AL, and he led the AL with 146 runs scored - the most runs by a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio scored 151 in 1937. His 99 walks were fourth in the AL and most by a Yankee since Willie Randolph led the league with 119 in 1980, and his .419 on-base percentage, also fourth in the AL, was a career high. His .516 slugging percentage, seventh in the AL, was also a career high. Rickey was the first player in AL history to hit 20+ homers and steal 50+ bases in the same season. He scored at least one run in 101 of the 143 games he played.
Rickey had his first career five-hit game on June 17 at Baltimore (he matched the league high) and scored four runs in a game for the second and third times in his career: July 10 against Kansas City and September 25 against Detroit (also equaling the league high). He had two 11-game hitting streaks: April 29-May 12, going 18-for-44 (.409), and August 5-21, going 17-for-46 (.370). He also had a 10-game hit streak from September 18-29, going 14-for-38 (.368).
He was American League Player of the Month for June: in 27 games he went 47-for-113 (.416 BA) with 31 runs, four doubles, two triples, six homers, 17 RBIs and 22 stolen bases- he failed to get a hit in just four of the 27 games. His season batting average peaked at .361 on July 10. He was hitting .357 at the All-Star break (July 13) with 77 runs, 11 homers, 37 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. After the All-Star break, Rickey hit .270 with 69 runs, 13 homers, 35 RBIs and 39 stolen bases.
Rickey's 80 stolen bases in '85 led the AL for the sixth straight season. He broke Fritz Maisel's Yankee record of 74 stolen bases set in 1914, stealing his 75th base on September 25 against Detroit. He stole his 500th career base on May 10 at Kansas City, becoming the youngest player to reach that goal. Rickey moved from 31st place to 19th place on the all-time stolen base list. He passed Cesar Cedeno on the all-time stolen base list, and with the retirement of Joe Morgan became the current active stolen base leader.
He stole four bases on June 26 against Baltimore. Henderson was caught stealing only three times by catchers in 1985 (Bob Boone, Carlton Fisk and Rich Gedman) out of a total of 10 times caught stealing that season. He was also successful on 14 of 16 attempts stealing third base. Henderson set the AL record with his sixth consecutive seasons with 50+ stolen bases.
Henderson reported to Boise after the 1976 June draft, hitting .336 with 29 steals in 36 attempts. At Modesto in 1977, he led the California League with a then record 95 steals, was third with a .345 batting average and 104 walks and led the league's outfielders in total chances (313). Rickey was named to the league All-Star team and was Modesto's MVP. He became the fourth player in professional baseball to steal seven bases in one game on May 26 at Fresno.
In 1978 with Jersey City he led the Eastern League with 81 steals, led league outfielders in double plays (4) and assists (15), and was named to the Eastern League All-Star team. In 1979, Rickey stole 44 bases in only 71 Pacific Coast League games with Ogden, finishing fourth. He immediately stepped into Oakland's starting lineup when called up on June 23 and led the A's with 33 steals.
Rickey broke Ty Cobb's American League mark of 96 stolen bases in 1980 (100 steals) and became the first AL player and third big leaguer to steal 100 bases in a season. He was second in the league with 117 walks, third in on-base percentage (.422) and fourth in runs scored (111).
In 1981 he was named to the Sporting News All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove. He led the AL in hits (135), runs (89) and steals (56), and finished third in on-base percentage (.411) and fourth in the AL batting race (.319). He hit .364 against the Yankees in the League Championship Series.
In 1982 Henderson broke Lou Brock's remarkable record of 118 stolen bases on August 27 at Milwaukee- and went on to steal a season total of 130 bases. He also led the AL in walks (116), walking five times against the Angels on April 8 (a career high), was third in on-base percentage (.399).
He went over the 100 steal mark (108) for the third time in his career in 1983- Vince Coleman is the only player ever to do it more than once. He stole 66 bases in 77 attempts after the All-Star break, winning his fourth consecutive title. Rickey also hit .327 after the break to wind up at .292. His .415 on-base percentage was second in the AL to Wade Boggs and his 105 runs ranked fourth. On July 3-4 at Texas, he tied the AL mark by stealing seven bases in two straight games, and on August 21 at Milwaukee became the youngest player to steal 400 career bases. In 1984, his 66 stolen bases led the American League for the fifth straight year; he was second in the AL with 113 runs and third with a .399 on-base percentage.
Henderson graduated form Oakland's Technical High School in 1976. He played baseball, basketball and football and was All-Oakland Athletic League for three years in baseball. As a senior he hit .465 and stole 30 bases; that year he played for the North team in California's annual high school all-star game at Anaheim Stadium. In football, Rickey rushed for 1,100 yards in his senior year and received a reported two dozen college scholarship offers to play football.
An Oakland resident, his favorite spectator sports are baseball and football. His favorite team growing up was the Oakland A's and his favorite players were Willie Mays and Reggie Jackson, and he wears 24 because of Mays. Rickey lists as his greatest influences as 'my mother and Tom Trebelhorn,' current Milwaukee Brewers manager who was Rickey's manager in his first two years of pro ball.
Rickey's favorite entertainer is Luther Vandross."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
"His injured right hamstring prevented him from being the force he usually is and he failed to lead the league in stolen bases for the first time in the last eight years. Henderson was disabled from June 5-29 with a hamstring injury and sat out July 26 to September 1 with the same problem.
He reached safely in 85 of the 95 games he played. With six leadoff home runs in 1987, Henderson broke the American League career record for leadoff homers; with 34, he needs two more to break Bobby Bonds' major league mark. With 701 career steals, he is the youngest to reach that level. Rickey shattered Lou Brock's single-season stolen base record with 130 in 1982.
Rickey has thrived under Billy Martin in the past. Born in Chicago, he was obtained from Oakland with pitcher Bert Bradley for Jay Howell, Jose Rijo, Tim Birtsas, Eric Plunk and Stan Javier in December 1984."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"Disappointment. That's the word that best describes Rickey Henderson's third year in Pinstripes. What started out as an MVP kind of season will be remembered as the year of the 'hammy.' As Henderson goes so go the Yankees, and when a bad wheel slowed down the speedster so too went the club's hopes for a division title.
The Man of Steal got off to the best start of his career, pacing the Yankees to their best start since 1976. Before leaving the game on June 4 with a pulled right hamstring, he was hitting .324 with 10 homers, 18 RBI and 23 stolen bases. He was an early MVP favorite, but it wasn't to be. The pulled hamstring, the first major injury of his career, put him on the DL twice and forced him to miss 55 games. Not only did the Yankees go 29-26 during those games, but Henderson lost the stolen base crown for the first time in his career after owning the title for seven straight years.
On the positive side, Henderson broke the AL record of 28 career leadoff homers and is one shy of the major league record of 35. In 1987 he also became the youngest player ever to steal 700 bases. Rickey's 1988 'comeback' should ignite the Yankees once again."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Rickey suffered through an injury-plagued 1987 season, appearing in just 95 games- his fewest since playing 89 in his rookie season on 1979.
He got off to a great start, going 32-for-79 (.405) with 25 runs, six homers and 12 RBIs from April 6 through May 3, hitting safely in 18 of 21 games. Rickey hit six homers from April 14 through April 26 (29 at-bats, nine games) and five homers from April 22 through April 26 (14 at-bats, five games), and had his only two-homer game of the season on April 24 at Cleveland. While unable to maintain a .400 clip, he began a season long 11-game hitting streak on May 6, lasting through May 18, going 15-for-45 (.333) with 16 runs. From that point though June 4, he went for 8-for-38 (.211), his overall average falling from .356 to .324.
He suffered his first injury of the year on June 4 at Milwaukee, leaving the game with a pulled right hamstring. Rickey was hitting .324 with 10 home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games and had been successful in 23 of 26 stolen base attempts. The hamstring pull was severe enough to land him on the 15-day disabled list, where he remained from June 5 until June 29, missing 22 games (with the Yankees going 13-9). Rickey was again placed on the 15-day DL on August 1 (retroactive to July 26) with an injured right hamstring, hitting .250 (22-for-88) in 22 games between disabled list stints, his average falling to .298.
Rickey was reinstated from the DL a second time on September 1, having missed 33 games (the Yankees going 16-17). Overall in his two DL stays, New York went 29-26 in the 55 games he missed. Following his second return he went 25-for-99 (.253) with six home runs, 12 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in his final 27 games.
Rickey played in 50 games total after suffering his first hamstring injury on June 4, going 47-for-188 (.250) with 35 runs, seven doubles, a triple, seven homers, 19 RBIs and and 18 stolen bases. The Yankees, at the point of the first injury, were in first place at 33-20, a .623 winning percentage, and went 56-53, a .514 winning percentage, through the remainder of '87, finishing fourth in the AL East.
He appeared as a designated hitter in 24 games, going 25-for-98 (.255) with 18 runs, five homers and nine RBIs, and was 0-for-2 as a pinch hitter. Of his 17 home runs, 13 were solo and four were two-run shots.
Rickey hit six leadoff home runs in '87, and now has 34 career leadoff home runs, just one shy of Bobby Bonds' major league record. His first leadoff homer of the year on April 14 against Cleveland broke the AL record of 28 set by Eddie Yost. Henderson came to the Yankees from Oakland with 12 leadoff home runs, and with the Yankees added seven in 1985, nine in 1986 and six in 1987. The nine leadoff homers he hit in '86 are an American League record.
With 701 stolen bases Henderson is currently the leader among active players, followed by Willie Wilson with 529 and Tim Raines with 511. He was successful in 41 of 49 stolen base attempts (84%) in 1987 and was 9-for-9 stealing third, but had his string of leading the AL in stolen bases snapped at seven straight years by Seattle's Harold Reynolds.
Henderson had three games of at least three stolen bases, including four stolen bases on May 3 at Minnesota, tying the Yankee single game record and matching his personal single game high, now having stolen four bases in a game on 11 occasions. He recorded his 700th stolen base on September 29 against Boston, becoming the youngest player (28) to reach that plateau (Billy Hamilton was the youngest to reach 700 prior to Henderson- he was 30 in 1896).
His 701 stolen bases rank ninth on the all-time list (Honus Wagner is eighth with 720). Since 1980 (his first full season) and excluding the 1981 strike season, Rickey has averaged 87 stolen bases per season; should he reach that level in 1988 he would move up to fifth place on the all-time list. His AL record of consecutive seasons with 50+ stolen bases ended at seven years, yet he ranks fourth on the all-time Yankee stolen base list with 208 (Roy White is third with 233, Willie Randolph is second with 242, and Hal Chase is first with 248).
Rickey was successful in his first 23 stolen base attempts of '87; coupled with his final eight attempts of '86 he had 31 consecutive attempts without being caught, just one shy of the AL record of 32 (previously set by Kansas City's Willie Wilson in 1980 and Seattle's Julio Cruz in 1980-81). The string was broken on May 18 at Oakland by pitcher Curt Young. Rickey was caught stealing six times by catchers in '87: Boston's John Marzano (twice); Oakland's Terry Steinbach; Seattle's Scott Bradley; Toronto's Charlie Moore; and Milwaukee's B.J. Surhoff.
He did not steal a base for 18 straight games, May 18 through July 4, the longest such stretch of his career; his previous long was 11 games, April 8-22, 1987; his longest before '87 was 10 straight games from September 4-24, 1982. Rickey maintained his career stolen base success rate of 80%. He currently has 174 career caught stealing.
His overall offensive production in 1986 was down slightly from his first season as a Yankee, yet he set personal career highs with 28 home runs, 31 doubles, 608 at-bats and 74 RBIs. His total of 130 runs led the majors for the second consecutive year, the third time in his career. He was the first player to lead the American League in runs scored in consecutive seasons since Mickey Mantle in 1960-61 (Mantle and Roger Maris tied with 132 runs in 1961). He was the first player to lead the majors in runs scored in consecutive seasons since Pete Rose from 1974-76. His 89 walks placed seventh in the AL, while he tied for seventh with 64 extra-base hits. He led Yankee outfielders with a .986 fielding percentage, as well as in games, 146; putouts, 426; errors, six; and total chances, 436.
Off to a slow start, Rickey had just one hit (1-for-19 in his first six games), then hit in 10 straight from April 15-25, going 16-for-45 (.356), raising his overall average to .266. He ended April hitting .263. Rickey scored a team high four runs against Texas on May 3. He hit in 11 straight, May 16-28, going 15-for-41 (.366) with three home runs and seven RBIs (all homers lead off a game for the Yankees).
Rickey failed to hit safely in just six of 28 games played in June, going 38-for-116 (.328), raising his overall average from .265 to .288. On June 11 at Detroit he started the first game of his career in which he did not bat leadoff (he batted third). He recorded four RBIs on June 27 against Toronto, reaching his career high for the fifth time. His batting average peaked at .289 on June 28.
He went 20-for-86 (.233) in July, lowering his overall average to .276. He was ejected from a game on July 30 at Milwaukee in the eighth inning for arguing a called third strike. Rickey failed to hit in 16 of 28 games in August, going 22-for-110 (.200), lowering his overall average to .260.
On August 11 Rickey recorded his 20th home run, achieving 20+ homers and 50+ stolen bases for a second straight year. On August 28, he tied the AL record he set in 1985 by hitting his seventh leadoff home run, and on August 29 he homered off Seattle's Mark Langston for his third career two-homer game- all with the Yankees. Rickey broke his personal single season home run mark hitting his 25th on September 11 at Toronto off John Cerutti, and broke his own AL leadoff homer record hitting his eighth on September 20 at Detroit off Frank Tanana- Rickey finished with nine (the major league record is 11, set by Bobby Bonds in 1973). He went 28-for-100 (.280) in September and October, raising his overall batting average to .263.
He appeared as a designated hitter in five games, going 2-for-18 (.111), and was 0-for-3 as a pinch hitter. 40 of the 113 runs driven in by Don Mattingly were scored by Rickey Henderson.
He led the American League in stolen bases for the seventh consecutive season- only Luis Aparicio led the AL more years (nine), both total and consecutively (1956-64). Henderson was 87-for-105 in stolen base attempts in '86. He set a new Yankees single season stolen base record with 87, breaking the club mark of 80 he set in 1985; he stole his 81st base on September 15 against Baltimore in New York.
Henderson swiped his 600th career base on May 18 against Seattle, becoming the youngest of the 15 players to reach that plateau. During '86 Henderson moved form 19th to 11th on the all-time stolen base list and is the current active leader. He improved his career stolen base success rate to 80%. Rickey swiped a club high three bases on May 6 at Chicago, also matching the league high for '86. He was successful in 14 of his 18 attempts stealing third. His longest streak without stealing a base was six games, June 24-30.
Of his 18 times caught stealing in '86, only six were by catchers. Five of his first eight times caught stealing on the year on the year were by catchers (through June 13), meaning that after June 13 he was caught stealing 10 times but just once by a catcher (August 30 at Seattle by Scott Bradley). Rickey broke his own AL record for most consecutive years with 50+ stolen bases, with seven.
He began the 1985 season on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle suffered in an exhibition game against Boston on March 17; he was activated on April 22, missing 10 games. His .314 batting average was fourth in the AL, and he led the AL with 146 runs scored - the most runs by a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio scored 151 in 1937. His 99 walks were fourth in the AL and most by a Yankee since Willie Randolph led the league with 119 in 1980, and his .419 on-base percentage, also fourth in the AL, was a career high. His .516 slugging percentage, seventh in the AL, was also a career high. Rickey was the first player in AL history to hit 20+ homers and steal 50+ bases in the same season. He scored at least one run in 101 of the 143 games he played.
Rickey had his first career five-hit game on June 17 at Baltimore (he matched the league high) and scored four runs in a game for the second and third times in his career: July 10 against Kansas City and September 25 against Detroit (also equaling the league high). He had two 11-game hitting streaks: April 29-May 12, going 18-for-44 (.409), and August 5-21, going 17-for-46 (.370). He also had a 10-game hit streak from September 18-29, going 14-for-38 (.368).
He was American League Player of the Month for June: in 27 games he went 47-for-113 (.416 BA) with 31 runs, four doubles, two triples, six homers, 17 RBIs and 22 stolen bases- he failed to get a hit in just four of the 27 games. His season batting average peaked at .361 on July 10. He was hitting .357 at the All-Star break (July 13) with 77 runs, 11 homers, 37 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. After the All-Star break, Rickey hit .270 with 69 runs, 13 homers, 35 RBIs and 39 stolen bases.
Rickey's 80 stolen bases in '85 led the AL for the sixth straight season. He broke Fritz Maisel's Yankee record of 74 stolen bases set in 1914, stealing his 75th base on September 25 against Detroit. He stole his 500th career base on May 10 at Kansas City, becoming the youngest player to reach that goal. Rickey moved from 31st place to 19th place on the all-time stolen base list. He passed Cesar Cedeno on the all-time stolen base list, and with the retirement of Joe Morgan became the current active stolen base leader.
He stole four bases on June 26 against Baltimore. Henderson was caught stealing only three times by catchers in 1985 (Bob Boone, Carlton Fisk and Rich Gedman) out of a total of 10 times caught stealing that season. He was also successful on 14 of 16 attempts stealing third base. Henderson set the AL record with his sixth consecutive seasons with 50+ stolen bases.
Henderson reported to Boise after the 1976 June draft, hitting .336 with 29 steals in 36 attempts. At Modesto in 1977, he led the California League with a then record 95 steals, was third with a .345 batting average and 104 walks and led the league's outfielders in total chances (313). Rickey was named to the league All-Star team and was Modesto's MVP. He became the fourth player in professional baseball to steal seven bases in one game on May 26 at Fresno.
In 1978 with Jersey City he led the Eastern League with 81 steals, led league outfielders in double plays (4) and assists (15), and was named to the Eastern League All-Star team. In 1979, Rickey stole 44 bases in only 71 Pacific Coast League games with Ogden, finishing fourth. He immediately stepped into Oakland's starting lineup when called up on June 23 and led the A's with 33 steals.
Rickey broke Ty Cobb's American League mark of 96 stolen bases in 1980 (100 steals) and became the first AL player and third big leaguer to steal 100 bases in a season. He was second in the league with 117 walks, third in on-base percentage (.422) and fourth in runs scored (111).
In 1981 he was named to the Sporting News All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove. He led the AL in hits (135), runs (89) and steals (56), and finished third in on-base percentage (.411) and fourth in the AL batting race (.319). He hit .364 against the Yankees in the League Championship Series.
In 1982 Henderson broke Lou Brock's remarkable record of 118 stolen bases on August 27 at Milwaukee- and went on to steal a season total of 130 bases. He also led the AL in walks (116), walking five times against the Angels on April 8 (a career high), was third in on-base percentage (.399).
He went over the 100 steal mark (108) for the third time in his career in 1983- Vince Coleman is the only player ever to do it more than once. He stole 66 bases in 77 attempts after the All-Star break, winning his fourth consecutive title. Rickey also hit .327 after the break to wind up at .292. His .415 on-base percentage was second in the AL to Wade Boggs and his 105 runs ranked fourth. On July 3-4 at Texas, he tied the AL mark by stealing seven bases in two straight games, and on August 21 at Milwaukee became the youngest player to steal 400 career bases. In 1984, his 66 stolen bases led the American League for the fifth straight year; he was second in the AL with 113 runs and third with a .399 on-base percentage.
Henderson graduated form Oakland's Technical High School in 1976. He played baseball, basketball and football and was All-Oakland Athletic League for three years in baseball. As a senior he hit .465 and stole 30 bases; that year he played for the North team in California's annual high school all-star game at Anaheim Stadium. In football, Rickey rushed for 1,100 yards in his senior year and received a reported two dozen college scholarship offers to play football.
An Oakland resident, his favorite spectator sports are baseball and football. His favorite team growing up was the Oakland A's and his favorite players were Willie Mays and Reggie Jackson, and he wears 24 because of Mays. Rickey lists as his greatest influences as 'my mother and Tom Trebelhorn,' current Milwaukee Brewers manager who was Rickey's manager in his first two years of pro ball.
Rickey's favorite entertainer is Luther Vandross."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
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