R.I.P. Lindy McDaniel

Other 1992 Yankee Profiles: Pitchers

PASCUAL PEREZ

"Perez is looking to give the Yankees his first full season in the final year of a three-year, $5.7-million contract he signed with them as a free agent prior to 1990. He did not pitch after April in 1990 and underwent rotator cuff surgery on August 9 of that year.

He rejoined the Yankees last season on May 14 after extended spring training but made only four starts before being disabled with shoulder stiffness. He was activated again on August 16 and remained in the rotation until the end of the season.

Perez pitched consistently well during his second stint despite poor support. He ended a string of 11 consecutive winless starts with a 3-0 combined shutout in Cleveland on September 27. 

Born in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Perez began his career as an undrafted free agent in the Pirates organization in 1976. He still has good velocity, but must concentrate on changing speeds more. Perez revels in eccentricities."

-Tony DeMarco and Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1992 Edition

"Perez was limited to only 14 starts in 1991 while he continued to rehabilitate his surgically repaired right shoulder but did not miss a turn over the final seven weeks of the season (10 starts). Overall he was 2-4 with a 3.15 ERA.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 1 (one week before Opening Day) to continue his shoulder rebab. He pitched in extended spring training and had a 2.73 ERA (26.1 IP, 8 ER, 35 K). He missed the first 28 games of the season (after the final 150 games of 1990) before being activated on May 14.

Pascual made his season debut on May 14 against California, earning the victory in a 7-1 Yankee win (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R). He went the first 4.2 innings without allowing a hit. It was Pascual's first win since his Yankee debut on April 13, 1990.

He gave another strong performance in his second start on May 19 against Seattle, a no-decision in a 3-2 Yankee victory (5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R). The only hit he allowed was a Ken Griffey, Jr. first-inning single. In his third start on May 25 at Baltimore, he had his scoreless string snapped at 12.2 innings when Cal Ripken Jr. homered in the third inning, his first home run allowed in Pinstripes.

Pascual had to leave his fourth start, May 31 against Milwaukee, after facing just one batter (five pitches). He had stiffness in the back of his right shoulder and was placed on the 15-day DL the next day.

He pitched in numerous simulated games before making two starts at Albany on a rehab assignment (August 4, August 10), pitching a total of 5.1 innings and allowing one earned run. He was activated from the DL on August 16 after missing 69 more games.

Pascual returned on August 16 against Chicago and received a no-decision. He lost consecutive starts (August 21 at Kansas City and September 27 against Texas). He threw 102 pitches on September 1 against Toronto, his highest pitch total of the season. On September 7 against Minnesota, Pascual went through the rotation the fifth time, marking his longest continuous stint as a Yankee.

He made 10 starts after his return from the DL and was 1-4 with a 3.70 ERA. His second victory came on September 27 at Cleveland (8.0 IP, 0 R) in a 3-0 blanking of the Indians. Pascual had gone 11 starts between wins; it was his longest outing since September 5, 1989. He ended the season on a positive note on October 2 at Baltimore receiving a no-decision (5.0 IP, 2 ER) in a 4-3 Yankee victory.

Perez averaged 5.1 innings in his 14 starts. Opponents hit .250 against him; right-handers hit .200, left-handers hit .279. He posted a 1-3 record with a 3.53 ERA at home and a 1-1 record with a 2.67 ERA on the road.

He made his last 10 consecutive starts through the rotation, his most as a Yankee. He had ended the 1989 season making his last 15 starts in rotation. Perez allowed more than three runs in only two of his starts and has not allowed more than four runs in a game as a member of the Yankees. 13 of the 26 runs he allowed came via the home run. He averaged five strikeouts per nine innings.

In 11 career starts at the Stadium he is 2-4 with a 3.33 ERA and in six American League road starts is 1-2 with a 2.23 ERA. He missed 247 games over the 1990 and 1991 season due to injuries.

He was signed by the Yankees as a free agent to a three-year contract in November of 1989. The contract extends through the 1992 season.

1990 was a season marred by injury for the right-hander. After making three strong April starts, Pascual spent the remainder of the season on the disabled list.

He was the winning pitcher in his Yankee and American League debut on April 13 at Texas. He pitched five full innings and allowed just a second-inning single to Ruben Sierra, walking two and fanning five batters in a 3-0 victory. In his next start on April 19 at Cleveland, he was the tough-luck losing pitcher in a 1-0 Yankee defeat. Tom Brookens scored the only run on a passed ball.

Perez made his final start on April 25 against Seattle. He allowed his first earned run of the season (after 13.0 innings pitched) on a third-inning double by Mike Brumley. He left the game with muscle spasms in his right shoulder after allowing a fourth-inning leadoff single by Alvin Davis. Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 26 with a muscle strain in his right shoulder.

On June 1 he was transferred to the 21-day DL and on June 22 decided to defer surgery after conferring with doctors. June 22 commenced a six-week rest and rehabilitation program monitored by Yankee team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon. Perez was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 16 and on August 9 underwent successful right shoulder surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews of Healthsouth Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. The surgery was to repair a partially torn labrum, remove a bone spur from the back of his shoulder and shave down a partially torn rotator cuff.

Overall, Pascual missed 150 games in 1990. When his brother Melido no-hit the Yankees on July 12, Pascual and Melido became the second set of brothers to each throw a no-hitter. They joined Bob Forsch (1978 and 1983 with St. Louis) and Ken Forsch (1979 with Houston).

He was 9-13 with a 3.31 ERA with the Expos in 1989. The season did not start out as planned for Pascual, as he was 0-7, 4.87 through his first 11 appearances through May 27. Prior to 1989 he had not lost consecutive decisions since 1985. He went 9-6 with a 2.86 ERA (141.0 IP) after his 0-7 start.

Pascual made four straight relief appearances to end May and notched his first win on May 29 at Los Angeles, pitching two hitless innings in relief. The win came in the club's 50th game of the season. 

From June on Perez became a consistent pitcher. He made five June appearances and was 3-1 in four starts with a 2.03 ERA, lowering his overall ERA from 5.10 to 4.05, and walked only five batters in 31 innings pitched during the month. He notched his first win as a starter on June 6 against St. Louis. He made his last relief appearance on June 21, and on June 26 Pascual threw his first complete game of the season, beating the Mets with a 5-hitter and a season best 11 strikeouts. 

Pascual was 1-2 with a 3.25 ERA for July in five starts and threw six-plus innings in all nine of his June and July starts. He pitched 8.0 innings of shutout ball on August 2 at Pittsburgh and pitched his second complete game of the season on August 18 against San Diego for his two wins in August. He was 2-2 for the month and lowered his season ERA to 3.43.

He again pitched well in September, going 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA. Pascual was impressive in his final seven starts, compiling a 3-1 record with a 1.95 ERA; he averaged 7.2 innings per start in that span and did not allow more than three earned runs in any one game. He pitched the final two games of the season against the Mets, winning on September 16 at home (7.0 IP, 1 ER) and getting a no-decision on September 22 at Shea (6.0 IP, 2 ER).

He really turned it on after the break, going 5-4 with a 2.19 ERA in 13 starts as compared to 4-9 with a 4.33 ERA before the break. For the season he averaged just under 7.0 innings per start. He ranked sixth in the National League for fewest walks per nine innings (2.0) and averaged 3.4 strikeouts for every walk. Of the 30 NL pitchers with at least 190.0 innings pitched in 1989, Perez had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio. He had a .237 batting average against, second among Expo starters. As a batter, he hit .204 (11-for-54) with a staff best three doubles and eight RBIs.

Perez was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a free agent in January 1976. In 1980, he was 12-10 with a 4.05 ERA in 24 starts at AAA Portland. He made his major league debut with a start against the Dodgers on May 7. Overall, Pascual was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts for the Pirates.

He started the 1981 season at Portland (1-2 with a 4.94 ERA in five starts) yet spent a majority of the season with the Pirates. He appeared in 17 games (13 starts) for Pittsburgh, compiling a 2-7 record with a 3.98 ERA over 86 innings. Pascual notched his first major league win on May 22 pitching a complete game against Philadelphia.

Pascual began 1982 at Portland but was traded with a player to named later (shortstop Carlos Rios) to the Braves at the end of June for pitcher Larry McWilliams. He won all five of his starts at AAA Richmond before being promoted to the Braves for the drive to the divisional title, which they eventually won. Perez helped solidify the Atlanta staff in the second half of the '82 season.

A large part of the Perez mystique revolves around an incident on the day of a game against the Expos on August 19, 1982. The Braves, losers of 19 of 21, had scheduled him to start in Atlanta that day. Pascual, fresh from passing his driver exam that morning, attempted the drive to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium by himself for the first time. He became lost and circled Atlanta on Interstate-285, which runs around the city, three times before running out of gas. By the time Pascual entered the ballpark, Phil Niekro, the substitute starter, was well on his way to beating the Expos and snapping the Braves' slump.

In 1983 Pascual was 15-8 and tied for the club lead in wins and was second in the league in winning percentage (.652) behind John Denny. He established personal highs in wins, starts (33), complete games (7) and innings pitched (215.1) and was named to the All-Star Game. In 1984, he led the Braves in wins despite missing the first month of the schedule and had a career high 145 strikeouts.

Pascual was 1-13 in 1985, a season that saw him on the disabled list three times as well as on the restricted list once, for missing a team flight to Montreal on July 21. Prior to his injury-plagued 1985 season, he was 33-20 in three seasons with the Braves for a .623 winning percentage.

He was released by the Braves in the April 1, 1986 purge which also saw the release of veterans Len Barker, Rick Camp and Terry Forster. Perez did not pitch during the 1986 season but reported to Dominican Republic winter baseball where he posted a 4-3 record in 11 starts for Aguilas with a 3.36 ERA.

Perez was signed to a minor league contract by the Expos in February 1987 while at the Caribbean World Series in Mexico. He arrived on May 1 due to visa problems, reported to AAA Indianapolis on May 12 and then reported to the Expos on August 19.

At Indianapolis, Perez was twice named American Association Player of the Week: June 8-14 (2-0, 1.00 ERA) and June 22-28 (2-0, 1.50 ERA). His June stats at Indy were an impressive 6-0, 1.40 ERA, with five complete games and two shutouts. He won Indy's Player of the Month award as well as the AA's, along with the Expos organization Pitcher of the Month honors. Perez earned the nod as the American Association's Pitcher of the Year.

Perez was 7-0 with a 2.30 ERA in 10 starts following his recall to Montreal. Counting two contests in which he pinch-ran, the Expos were 11-1 in games in which he appeared. He reeled off a 7-0 mark with a 2.28 ERA in September, establishing a club record along the way. He was named National League Pitcher of the Month for September and Expos Player of the Month.

A stopper in all definitions of the word, Perez posted six of his seven wins following an Expos loss. On September 2 at San Francisco he won his first game in the majors since July 14, 1985; he tossed consecutive complete games on September 12 and 17- the first, against the Cubs, was his first such effort since September 12, 1984. Pascual struck out 11 Cubs in that game for a career high.

In 1988 Pascual was 12-8 with a 2.44 ERA in 27 starts surrounding 44 days on the disabled list with a broken middle fingertip. He had career bests in ERA and shutouts and was sixth in the NL in ERA. 

Pascual threw a 2-hitter in a 1-0 win against the Reds on April 27. He was attempting bunt a Nolan Ryan fastball on May 7 when the injury occurred, causing him to miss eight starts. Pascual was sent to Indianapolis on rehab option on June 13, pitching twice with no decisions before returning to the ranks of the active on June 21.

He had a streak of 22 scoreless innings from May 7 to July 1- six before and 16 after his injury. Before his injury, Pascual was 3-3 with a 1.87 ERA. Immediately upon his return, he was 3-0, 1.77 in his first five starts back. After the game of July 14, Perez led the league with a 1.58 ERA. 

He made the Pascual Pitch (a version of the Eephus) part of his repertoire. Throwing it an average of two or three times per start, Pascual allowed just one extra-base hit- a towering blast by former slo-pitch softball player Glenn Davis of the Astros on July 19 at Olympic Stadium.

Pascual was ejected from the August 28 game against the Giants for one of his 10 balk calls for the season. The sixth-inning balk had broken a 1-1 tie. He went 361 days and 51 at-bats between hits, collecting a line-drive single to right against Don Robinson of the Giants on September 3. His previous hit had been on September 7, 1987 against Danny Cox of the Cardinals.

He pitched a rain-shortened 1-0 no-hitter on September 24. It was the first no-hitter in Philadelphia since Bill Stoneman turned the trick in 1969. Pascual walked one and struck out eight of the last 11 batters he faced. He followed with a combined 2-hitter with Andy McGaffigan on September 30 in a 2-1 loss to the Cubs.

With 133 hits, 44 walks [0.94 WHIP] and seven hit batters, he allowed 184 baserunners in 188 innings, the best runners per nine innings pitched ratio in the NL. Perez was the only pitcher to allow fewer runners than innings pitched; second and third in this category were Mike Scott of the Astros and Bob Ojeda of the Mets. Opponents managed just a .196 average against Perez, second to Sid Fernandez of the Mets (.191) and ahead of Scott (.204).

In games where the Expos scored four or more runs, Perez was 10-1 with three no-decisions. In eight starts with zero or one run, he was an amazing 2-3 with two no-decisions. In two of his starts, he pitched eight shutout innings and got a no-decision. The Expos scored a total of 13 runs in his eight losses. He did not lose more than one straight game in 1988. 

His younger brother Melido, now a Yankee teammate, pitched for the White Sox in 1988. Pascual (12) and Melido (12) combined for more wins than any brothers in the majors."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

Led Western Carolinas League in balks (2), 1977.

Tied for American Association lead in shutouts (2), 1987.

Named American Association Pitcher of the Year, 1987.

Tied for National League lead in balks (10), 1988.

Pitched five-inning, 1-0 no-hit victory against Philadelphia, September 24, 1988.

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

TIM LEARY

"Tim Leary isn't one to wear his emotions on his sleeve. Inside he is a fiery competitor. Outside he is quiet and soft-spoken. He had the same expression when he was named the '91 Opening Day pitcher as he did when he was shifted from the starting rotation to the bullpen later in the year. And he remained a gentleman, answering questions about what had to be a frustrating year. 'I pitched terribly and fell into a slump,' explains the right-hander. 'Now I have to break out of it.'
The Yankees are counting on this crafty veteran to do just that. Re-armed with a more consistent split-fingered fastball, a key pitch which failed him a year ago, Leary has the makings of a big year. After all, it wasn't that long ago when the third-year Yankee was a 17-game winner. And in the last two years he has shown signs of becoming that kind of pitcher again."

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"1991 was a disappointing season for the veteran right-hander.
Tim was the Yankees Opening Day pitcher on April 8 at Detroit, not getting a decision in a 6-4 Yankee defeat. He left with the score knotted at 4-4. Tim won his next two decisions, both against the Royals. Perhaps his finest outing of the season came in his third start on April 19 against Kansas City- he pitched a complete game 3-hitter in a 3-1 win. He tied a career high with 12 strikeouts.
He was 2-0 with a 4.67 ERA through April, then went 1-4 with a 5.00 ERA in six May starts. He was supported by eight runs in his four losses. Leary took a tough 1-0 loss on May 17 against Seattle. He allowed three hits (all singles) over 8.2 innings. His lone win in May came in his next outing on May 22 at Cleveland (7.0 IP, 1 ER) in an 8-1 Yankee win, snapping a string of five winless starts.
June and July proved to be Tim's toughest months. He was 1-3 with an 8.90 ERA over six June starts. His lone win came on June 25 at Boston, Tim pitching five innings in a 6-4 Yankee victory. The win snapped a string of five winless starts and would be his final win in 1991.
Tim took a loss on July 5 against Baltimore, and at the break was 4-8 with a 6.30 ERA over 17 starts. He started the second half in the bullpen, a capacity he remained in for virtually the remainder of the season.
He was 0-1 with a 12.54 ERA in July (9.1 IP), starting one game before the break and relieving in four games after the break. Tim's first relief appearance came on July 14 at California, his first time out of the bullpen since July 17, 1989. He had made 62 straight starts between relief appearances.
Leary made his final 1991 start on August 11 (game 2) against Detroit and left the game with New York leading 5-2, not getting a decision in a 10-8 Yankee win. He had made six relief appearances between starts (12.1 IP).
He posted a 5.09 ERA over five games in August and appeared in just one game in September, on September 2 at Texas. He relieved Wade Taylor after a rain delay and took the loss. After the break, Leary pitched in 11 games (one start) and was 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA (25.0 IP).
For the season he was 4-8 with a 6.24 ERA (101.0 IP) as over 18 starts, averaging 5.2 innings per start. Out of the bullpen, he was 0-2 with a 7.78 ERA (19.2 IP) in 10 relief outings, retiring the first hitter five of ten times and stranding four of five inherited runners. He had a 5.75 ERA at home and a 7.13 ERA on the road.
Tim was supported with 21 runs in his eight losses (2.6 runs per game) as a starter. Since coming to the Yankees he has been supported with 59 runs in his 27 losses (2.2 runs per game) and over the 1986-91 seasons was supported with 76 runs in 40 losses as a starter (1.9 runs per game).
He signed a three-year contract in November of 1990. The contract runs through the 1993 season.
In 1990 Tim led Yankee starters in virtually every category despite posting a 9-19 record. He was a victim of minimal run support in many of his losses.
He made his return to the American League a winning one, posting a victory in his first Yankee start on April 17 at Detroit in a 4-1 win. In April and was 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA.
In May, Leary continued to pitch well, compiling a 2-4 record with a 2.44 ERA and four complete games in six starts. He won on May 12 at Seattle 4-1 but lost the shutout with two outs in the ninth inning on a Griffey Jr. home run. Leary then beat the Twins on May 23 at the Metrodome throwing a complete game 4-hit shutout in a 12-0 win. At the break was 3-12 with a 3.85 ERA in 17 starts.
On July 19 at Minnesota, Tim snapped a 10-game winless streak with a 2-1 win (7.1 IP, 8 H, 1 ER). August was his winningest month (3-3) during which he posted a 3.43 ERA. Tim's final 1990 win came on September 14 at Detroit (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER) in a 5-2 Yankee victory.  After the break he was 6-7 with a 4.44 ERA.
In his nine wins Leary had a 1.19 ERA (68.1 IP, 9 ER), throwing two complete games and a shutout and was supported with 42 runs (4.7 runs per game). In his 19 losses, he had a 5.40 ERA (125.0 IP), threw four complete games and was supported 38 runs (2 runs per game). In the losses, Leary got individual game support of no runs (four times), one run (6), two runs (2), three runs (3), four runs (2), and five and six runs (once each). Overall he was supported with 98 runs (3.2 per game) and allowed 105 runs.
Leary reached 200+ innings for the fourth straight season. He recorded 138 strikeouts, second only to a career best 180 in 1988. His walk (77) and loss totals were career highs.
He led the majors in throwing 23 wild pitches which also set a Yankee record, breaking the old mark of 14 set by Al Downing in 1964, and were the second most in American League history to Jack Morris' 24 in 1987. Leary allowed 11 home runs in his first seven starts (50.2 innings) and then had a string of 14 starts and 90.2 innings without allowing a home run. Overall he allowed seven homers in his final 157.1 innings pitched, an average of one every 22.2 innings pitched.
He pitched six-plus innings in 23 of 31 (74%) starts and allowed the opposition three earned runs or less in 16 of 31 of his starts. He held opposing hitters to a .230 batting average (40-for-174) with men in scoring position. He was 1-9 with a 4.73 ERA at home, 8-10 and .3.69 on the road.
Leary started the 1989 season with Los Angeles with a win on April 6 at Cincinnati, tossing a complete game 5-hitter in a 4-1 Dodger win while notching a season best seven strikeouts. For April he was 2-2 in five starts with a 3.82 ERA in 33 innings pitched. Tim was 1-2 in five May starts with a 2.55 ERA as the Dodgers scored eight runs in his four non-wins. He was 3-4 with a 3.16 ERA in 68.1 innings through May.
After a loss at Houston on June 3, Tim put together back-to-back wins on June 5 at Atlanta and on June 11 against Cincinnati. The win at Atlanta was one of his two relief outings of the season. Tim was 3-1 with two no-decisions in June with a 3.03 ERA.
He was the winning pitcher in a 1-0 win against Pittsburgh on July 1, tossing eight scoreless innings. Leary was 6-6 at the break, allowing nine home runs in 116 innings. He made a relief appearance on July 17 at Chicago and was 6-7 with a 3.38 ERA, including 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA against the Reds in '89 when he was traded along with infielder Mariano Duncan to Cincinnati on July 18 in exchange for outfielder Kal Daniels and infielder Lenny Harris.
Leary made his first start as a Red just four days later on July 21 losing his debut at Montreal, 3-1. On August 11, he earned his final win of the season, pitching 7.1 innings (1 ER) in a 6-1 win at Houston.
September/October was a month of frustration for Tim. He pitched six times, going 0-2 with four no-decisions. In his final five outings, Tim was 0-2 with a 1.88 ERA in 34 innings in three two-run games and two one-run games.
Overall Tim finished 8-14 with a 3.52 ERA. In his 13 losses as a starter, the Dodgers and Reds combined to score 17 runs. He averaged just short of 6.2 innings per start and pitched six-plus innings in 21 of his 31 starts. Leary had his second straight 200-plus inning season. As a batter, he was 7-for-59 (.119) with four RBIs.
He was obtained by the Yankees from Cincinnati with outfielder Van Snider in exchange for first baseman Hal Morris and pitcher Rodney Imes.
Leary had his finest season as a major league pitcher in 1988, posting a 17-11 record in 35 games. He was named UPI National League Comeback Player of the Year, The Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year, and NL Silver Slugger. Leary had career highs in starts (34), ERA (2.91), complete games (9), shutouts (6), innings pitched (228.2) and strikeouts (180). He finished sixth in the NL in wins, sixth in strikeouts, fifth in complete games and second in shutouts.
He struck out 11 Padres on April 18 while picking up his second win of the year. He pitched a 1-hitter on May 25 at Philadelphia, one of 11 thrown by National League pitchers.
From July 2-August 2, Tim was 5-2 with a 0.51 ERA (55.2 IP, 5 ER, 11 BB, 40 K). He was voted National Player of the Week for July 18-24 when he went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA with two complete games, a shutout, two walks and 13 strikeouts. For the month of July he was 4-2 with a 0.96 ERA, four complete games and 37 strikeouts. Leary pitched four straight complete games, over St. Louis (July 18), Pittsburgh (July 23), San Francisco (July 27) and Cincinnati (August 2), improving his record to 11-7 with a 2.24 ERA.
He would go on to post a 5-1 record for August, winning his last four decisions of the month and improving to 15-8 with a 2.44 ERA. He had a game-winning pinch-hit single against the Giants off Joe Price in the 11th inning on August 13, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 win. Tim struck out a career high 12 batters on August 21 against Montreal; he recorded four 10-or-more strikeout games on the year. He won his 17th game on September 12 against Atlanta, winning 4-3 in Los Angeles.
For the season, Leary allowed two or fewer runs in 20 of 34 starts and in his 17 wins compiled a 1.68 ERA. Opponents batted .234 against him and his strikeout-to-walk ratio was better than three to one. He allowed just 11 home runs in 177 innings before giving up four in one game to the Mets on September 2 at New York. He defeated every team in the NL except the Mets (0-2 against New York).
Overall Tim hit .269 to lead the Dodger pitching staff and had nine RBIs, three of which were game-winners. He had 13 sacrifice bunts, fifth in the NL.
10 of Leary's 17 wins were in the second half. He was 0-1 in two games in the NLCS but was effective in his two appearances the World Series, allowing just one run with four strikeouts in 6.2 innings, all in relief.
Leary was selected by the New York Mets in the first round (second player taken) of the June 1979 free agent draft and was signed by scout Roger Jongewaard. 1980 was his first year with the Mets organization. Tim was 15-8 with a 2.76 ERA in 26 starts. He led the Texas League with six shutouts and completed 11 games, pitched 173.0 innings and struck out 138, and was named the Texas League MVP.
He started the 1981 season with the Mets, making the big leagues after one season in the minors, but strained a muscle in his right elbow in his major league debut at Chicago and was sidelined until August 1. Tim finished the season at Tidewater, going 1-3 for the Tides while experiencing shoulder problems. In 1982 He did not pitch after irritating a nerve in his right shoulder.
In 1983, recovered from a year off due to arm problems, he was a disappointing 8-16 with a 4.38 ERA for Tidewater, working 160.1 innings in 27 starts with eight complete games and one shutout. In his rookie season with the Mets, Leary went 1-1 in two starts, pitching 10.2 innings. His first major league win came on October 2 against Montreal, winning 5-4 in a complete-game victory.
Leary started the 1984 season with the Mets and was 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 20 games, starting seven. He appeared in 10 games for Tidewater, all as a starter, and was 4-4 with a 4.05 ERA in 53 innings.
Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in January 1985 as part of a six-player, four-team deal, Tim joined the Brewers on September 11 from Vancouver. He defeated Boston, 6-3, in his American League debut at Fenway Park, then lost his next four decision as the Brewers scored just four runs. He was 1-4 on the season with a 4.05 ERA.
In 1986 Tim was 12-12 with a 4.21 ERA in 33 games, 30 as a starter. He won six of his last eight decisions and was 6-3 with a 3.14 ERA after the All-Star Game. His longest winning streak was three games. He had no record and a 0.90 ERA in three relief appearances and allowed 20 home runs.
Traded to Los Angeles with pitcher Tim Crews for first baseman Greg Brock in December 1986,  Leary was 3-11 overall for the Dodgers in 1987: he was 2-8 with a 5.04 ERA in 12 starts and was 1-3 with a save and a 4.36 ERA in 27 relief outings.
His first win as a Dodger came in his second start, defeating the Braves, 5-3, on June 9 in Atlanta. His best outing was on August 12 against Cincinnati, pitching 7.1 innings and allowing just five hits in a 1-0 win. Tim then posted a 9-0 winter league record for Tijuana, establishing a new record for most wins, and had a 1.24 ERA.
Tim graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in economics, earning Academic All-American honors. He lettered three years on the Bruin baseball team, compiling a career record of 21-8 with a 3.34 ERA. Tim still holds the school record for complete games (16).
He was an All-Pac 10 performer while leading the Bruins to a conference title. He was also All-District Eight and was a right-handed pitcher on the Sporting News All-America baseball team. In June of 1991, Leary was elected to the UCLA Sports Hall of Fame, joining American League President Bobby Brown and Jackie Robinson as the only baseball players inducted.
He graduated in 1976 from Santa Monica High School, where he earned all-league and all-star honors in baseball. Tim likes water sports, golf and fishing."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide


WADE TAYLOR
"It will be a lot of fun watching Wade Taylor pitch this season. Taylor, along with Jeff Johnson and Scott Kamieniecki, was one of three rookie starters who pitched on the major league level last year. A lot was expected of the trio, the first three rookies to joint the rotation since 1986, and they responded.
'Taylor, like the other two rookies, was inconsistent at times and at other times showed flashes of brilliance,' says Yankees pitching coach Mark Connor. 'In just a short period of time, people have seen what Wade Taylor is capable of doing.'
Taylor did show great potential, winning seven games a year ago, including wins in his first two starts. And what is interesting about Taylor's performance is that he was hampered much of the year by a blister on his pitching hand. A healthy right hand and a year of experience under his belt is why Wade Taylor will be a lot of fun to watch in 1992."

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"Taylor showed great potential in gaining his first experience at the major league level in 1991. He split time between Columbus and New York. After beginning the season with the Clippers, Taylor was recalled to New York on May 31. With Columbus, he was 4-1 with a 3.54 ERA in nine starts.
He immediately joined the rotation and made four June starts, compiling a 3-2 recond and a 6.39 ERA. He made his June 2 major league debut against Milwaukee a success, notching the win in a 7-4 Yankee victory (5.1 IP, 4 ER). He earned his second straight victory in his next start on June 8 against Texas (5.0 IP, 4 ER). After losing his next two decisions, Wade finished the month strong by hurling seven scoreless in an 8-0 shutout at Boston on June 27.
Wade won his next start on July 2 against Cleveland (6.0 IP, 2 ER) and entered the All-Star break with a 4-3 record and a 5.94 ERA. On July 20 at Oakland, he defeated the Athletics in his longest outing as a Yankee (8.0 IP, 1 ER).
He made the first and only relief appearance of his career on August 6 at Chicago (0.1 IP, 6 ER) as his ERA ballooned to 7.43. He came back with a strong effort while taking the loss on August 10 against Detroit (7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER) as the Yankees were blanked 4-0. Wade earned a victory in his next start on August 17 against Chicago (6.0 IP, 2 ER); he had gone five starts between wins as his ERA rose from 5.63 to 6.81.
Wade earned his seventh and final victory of the season on August 28 against Texas (6.0 IP, 1 ER). He then struck out a career best seven men in a losing effort on September 11 at Baltimore. Wade lost his final five starts to finish the season. His final start came on September 26 at Milwaukee- he missed his final turn with a sprained ankle.
Along with Scott Kamieniecki, he became one of the first two Yankee rookies to win their first major league starts in the same season since Scott Nielsen and Doug Drabek in 1986. Taylor was the 17th rookie since 1980 to win his starting debut. With Jeff Johnson, he was also part of the first rookie trio to join the Yankee rotation since June 1986 (Drabek, Bob Tewksbury, Alfonso Pulido). Taylor became the first Yankee rookie to notch wins on consecutive days since at least 1946 (Yankee research materials begin in 1947).
His seven wins were third on the team behind Scott Sanderson and Greg Cadaret, as were his 22 starts. Taylor averaged 5.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Opposing batters hit .314 against him; right-handers hit .304, left-handers hit .325. Wade was 5-6 at home with a 5.34 ERA, 2-6 with a 7.33 ERA on the road.
Wade did not have a win in his last six starts, but the team only scored runs, two per game. He picked off two runners and caught two runners stealing.
He pitched a 5-hit shutout in his first start for Columbus (April 11 against Richmond). He completed three of nine starts for the Clippers, lasted into the sixth inning in eight of his nine starts and at least five innings in all nine of his starts.
Wade is only the second Taylor to play for the Yankees, along with James Wren 'Zack' Taylor who played for the club in 1934.
He signed a contract for the 1992 season.

Wade split time between AA Albany and AAA Columbus in 1990. Overall, he was 12-8 with five complete games, three shutouts and a 2.51 ERA over 26 starts. He allowed 162 hits and 48 walks while fanning 101 batters over 183.0 innings and averaged 2.4 walks per nine innings. He had played winter ball in for Magallanes in the Venezuelan League where he was 1-3 with a 2.25 ERA over five starts.

Named to the Eastern League All-Star team, Taylor began the season with Albany, and over 12 starts was 6-4 with a 2.88 ERA. He allowed 18 walks over 84.1 innings, an average of 1.92 per nine innings.

Taylor was promoted to Columbus in June and continued his strong pitching. Over 14 starts he posted a 6-4 record with a 2.19 ERA. In August he started six games and was 3-1 with two complete-game shutouts and a 1.07 ERA. Taylor started a game in the playoffs for the Clippers and did not get a decision.

Taylor was drafted by the Blue Jays and Dodgers in 1986 but signed with the Mariners as a free agent on June 30, 1987. He was 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA with Bellingham, and in December was traded with pitchers Lee Guetterman and Clay Parker to the Yankees in exchange for pitcher Steve Trout and outfielder Henry Cotto. In 1988 Taylor was 4-11 with a 3.45 ERA over 24 games (17 GS) for Class-A Ft. Lauderdale Yankees.

In 1989, he was 9-8 with a 3.34 ERA for Prince William and posted career highs in virtually every statistical category. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team.

Wade has an Associate degree in business from Jefferson Davis State Junior College in Brentwood, Alabama. He was an All-State shortstop (1985) and pitcher (1986) at Jefferson Davis. He played Little League ball in Houston, TX and Mobile, AL and Babe Ruth ball in Mobile.

Wade enjoys fishing and reading non-fiction and is a fan of Clint Eastwood and Chevy Chase."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

ALLAN ANDERSON

"Anderson started the 1991 season on a positive note, starting and winning the second game of the season, April 10 at Oakland (7.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER). After 14 starts he was 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA.

He made a relief appearance on July 18 at Boston, his first since June 5, 1987 (112 starts between relief outings). He lost four straight decisions and was optioned to Portland of the Pacific Coast League on July 24. At Portland he was 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA in five starts.

Anderson was recalled on August 21 and pitched twice (one start). He was optioned to Kenosha on August 31 to create room on the 40-man roster but did not pitch. He was recalled on September 4 and made six appearances (three starts). For the season, Allan held left-handed hitters to a .225 batting average and allowed only two home runs.

He signed to a minor league contract with the Yankees in January 1992.

Anderson was a second round draft choice of Minnesota in the June 1983 free agent draft. He was signed by scout Floyd Baker. He split time in 1983 between Wisconsin Rapids and Elizabethton. In 1984 he pitched for Visalia in the California League and led the circuit in shutouts with five. He had an outstanding season finishing at 12-7 and a 2.86 ERA.

He spent the entire 1985 season with Toledo and posted a 7-11 record with a 3.43 ERA. In 1986, he split time between Toledo and Minnesota. With Toledo he was 2-5 with a 4.57 ERA. He was International League Pitcher of the Week, April 21-27.

He made his major league debut on June 11 against Texas, pitching 10.0 innings (2 ER) in a no-decision. His first major league win came in his third start on June 24 at Chicago, a complete game, nine strikeout performance in a 2-1 win. With the Twins in 1986 he was 3-6 with a 5.55 ERA.

Allan was on the Twins' roster from May 13-June 7, 1987. He pitched in four games (two starts) and had a 1-0 record with a 10.95 ERA. With Portland of the PCL he posted a record o f 4-8 and a 5.60 ERA.

He began the 1988 season with Portland where he was 1-1 with a 1.26 ERA. He was recalled to Minnesota on April 25, started on April 28 and remained in the rotation for the rest of the season.

Anderson was 16-9 for the Twins with a 2.45 ERA. His earned run average broke the Twins record and he became the first Twin ever to lead the league in ERA. He and Frank Viola combined for 40 victories, tying the club record for victories by two pitchers (Jim Perry and Dave Boswell in 1969). Anderson led the American League with a low of 1.6 walks per nine innings.

He won six straight from July 24-August 22. He hurled his first career shutout on September 27 against Oakland, allowing only three hits. After the season he received the Charles O. Johnson Award as the Most Improved Twin.

In 1989, his first full season in the majors was an outstanding one. Allan finished with a 17-10 record and a 3.86 ERA. He tied for sixth in the league in victories and was winningest left-hander in the American League over the 1988 and 1989 seasons. He led the club in starts (33), innings pitched (196.2) and winning percentage (.630). He struck out as a pinch-hitter for Gary Wayne against Seattle on June 13, yet pitched a shutout on August 9 at Baltimore. Allan won the Joseph W. Haynes Award as Twins Pitcher of the Year.

Allan had a sub-par season in 1990 after two outstanding ones. He lost eight straight decisions from May 19-July 11.

He pitched nine shutout innings in receiving a no-decision on July 6 at Yankee Stadium. He hurled a 4-hit shutout on August 27 against Chicago. After a slow start, Andy rebounded to go 5-6, 3.25 over his last 12 starts.

He finished third in fielding among American League pitchers, handling 44 chances without an error. He led Minnesota pitchers in starts (31), complete games (5) and innings pitched (188.2).

Allan is a graduate of Lancaster High School where he starred in baseball and played against Charlie Kerfeld. He was all-state and a second-team All-American in 1982. He pitched four no-hitters, including back-to-back to end his high school career."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

ALAN MILLS

"Alan split time between Columbus and New York in 1991, with two separate stints with each club. Overall for the Yankees he was 1-1 with a 4.41 ERA in six games (two starts).

He started the season with the Clippers and was recalled on May 17 when Mike Blowers was traded to Seattle. At the time of his recall Alan had pitched in 13 games (all in relief) and was 0-2 with six saves (tied for the International League lead). 

He pitched in consecutive games against the Mariners (May 17-18). He retired the only batter he faced on May 17 in a 1-0 loss and on May 18 pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in a 4-1 loss. He was optioned back to Columbus on May 19.

With the Clippers, Alan was converted to a starter. Over 25 appearances (15 starts) he was 7-3 with two saves and a 5.00 ERA. He was recalled on September 16 following the AAA playoffs. He appeared in four games (two starts) in September/October and was 1-1 with a 5.27 ERA.

His first appearance after his recall came on September 21 at Boston (2.2 IP, 1 ER) and his first win of the season came in his next appearance, September 25 at Milwaukee, in an 8-6 extra-inning Yankee win (2.0 IP 1 ER). Alan made his major league starting debut on September 29 at Cleveland, taking the loss in a 5-2 defeat (3.1 IP, 5 ER). He made a strong effort in his second start, October 4 against Cleveland, a no-decision in a 3-2 Yankee loss  (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1ER).

As a starter with the Yankees in 1991 Alan was 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA (9.0 IP, 6 ER) and in relief he was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. He retired the first hitter he faced three of four times and prevented three of five inherited runners from scoring. Opponents batted .254 (16-for-63) against him, with righties hitting .200 (2-for-20). He had a 1.08 ERA in three appearances at home.

With the Clippers, Alan went 0-5 with six saves in 22 games as a reliever. He became a starter on June 15 and was 7-0 with a 4.80 ERA. His seven consecutive wins are two shy of the team record. Prior to 1991 he had not started since 1988 when he made five starts. Alan's last full season as a starter came in 1986 with Salem.

The Clippers averaged 7.4 runs per game in his 15 starts and were 12-3 in those games. Overall they were 26-12 in his 38 appearances.

Alan signed a contract for the 1992 season.

One of the few players to jump from 'A' ball to the majors, Alan had an excellent [sic] spring training (1-1, 1 SV, 2.57 ERA, 7.0 IP 2 ER), earning the James P. Dawson Award, given annually by the Yankee beat writers to the outstanding Yankee rookie in spring training.

Alan made the club out of spring training and made his major league debut on April 14 against Texas, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings. He made a total of five April appearances and posted a 2.00 ERA (9.0 IP, 8 H. 2 ER). Alan prevented five of five inherited runners from scoring.

He appeared in four games in May and had a 2.25 ERA (4.0 IP). In a one-month period from April 18-May 18, he lowered his ERA from 4.91 to 2.08. Optioned to Columbus on May 21 upon the recall of Deion Sanders, Alan was recalled from Columbus on June 8 and at the time of his promotion was 1-0 with six saves in seven games (11.2 IP, 5 H, O R, 15 K). 

Alan earned his first major league win on June 21 at Toronto (2.0 IP, 2 H,1 ER) in his 15th major league appearance. He allowed a solo home run to John Olerud in that game after not yielding a homer in his first 20.2 innings pitched in the majors.

June was by far his strongest month as he posted a 1-2 record with a 1.69 ERA (10.2 IP). Through Alan's first three months he stranded 10 of 15 runners and had a 1.90 ERA. At the break he was 1-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 22 games. 

Alan allowed two earned runs on July 22 at Minnesota (0.1 IP), then did not allow a run over his final five July appearances. He was optioned to Columbus on August 3 and was recalled from Columbus on September 9 for his third stint in New York. 

In his final five games of the season in September/October, he had a 6.75 ERA. He pitched winter ball in the Venezuelan League and was 2-1 with five saves and a 1.73 ERA over 18 games for Magallanes. Alan had to leave a few days early from winter ball when he fractured the fifth metacarpal of his right hand in a dugout accident.

Alan opened the 1989 season with the Class-A Ft. Lauderdale Yankees of the Florida State League, appearing in 22 games, all in relief. He was 1-4 with six saves and a 3.77 ERA over 31.0 innings, finished 15 of his 22 games and earned six saves. Alan did not allow a home run and fanned 25 batters.

He was quickly promoted to the Class-A Prince William Yankees of the Carolina League on June 22 and compiled a 0.91 ERA, second lowest on the club. Alan fanned an impressive 44 batters over 39.2 innings (9.98 K/9 IP), giving him the second-best strikeouts per inning ratio among Carolina League relievers. Living up to the definition of a stopper, he finished all 26 games in which he appeared. He had a .164 (22-for-134) opponents batting average against and finished third among the league's relievers for fewest baserunners per nine innings (9.07).

Alan was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in the secondary phase of the June 1986 free agent draft. He was 6-6 with Salem in his first year of professional baseball. He was acquired by the Yankees organization on June 22, 1987, completing the trade in which California sent right-handed pitcher Ron Romanick and a player to be named later to the Yankees for catcher Butch Wynegar in December 1986. Alan spent the year with the Prince William Yankees. He was 2-11 with a save and a 6.09 ERA over 85.2 innings.

He spent the entire 1988 season with Prince William, pitching 93.2 innings and fanning 59 batters. He appeared in 42 games (5 GS) and was 3-8 with four saves and a 4.13 ERA.

Alan attended Tuskegee University following his graduation from Kathleen (FL) High School and played one year at Tuskegee (1985). He attended Polk Community College for one year and threw a 1-hitter against Palm Beach.

A fan of Bob Gibson, Alan was an infielder before being converted to a pitcher as a high school junior. He enjoys fishing."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

MIKE WITT

"1991 was his second consecutive season marred by injury. Witt nursed a sore right elbow from the beginning of spring training, resulting in mid-season surgery after numerous attempts at non-surgical rehabilitation. 

Witt did not pitch for the club in spring training and on March 29 was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right elbow. He pitched five times for the Yankees' extended spring training club in Tampa and posted a 1.23 ERA (22.0 P, 13 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 17 BB, 18 K). Activated on June 7, he made just two starts and was 0-1 with a 10.03 ERA (5.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR).

His first start came on June 7 at Texas, getting a no-decision in a 5-4 Yankee win. Mike allowed three hits through four innings but then allowed a Brian Downing grand slam in the fifth (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER). He threw 76 pitches.

Mike's other start was on June 13 at Minnesota. He faced only four batters, throwing a total of 19 pitches before leaving with stiffness in his right elbow. Mike took the loss in a 10-3 defeat (0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER).

He was placed on the 15-day DL the following day and remained there for the rest of the season. Mike had surgery on July 25. He had reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow- a tendon was used from his leg to replace the one in his elbow. The surgery was performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood, CA. The surgery was similar to that of ex-Yankee pitcher Tommy John. Mike was outrighted to Columbus on November 1.

He signed a three-year contract in January 1991. The contract extends through the 1993 season.

Witt was acquired by the Yankees in 1990 on May 11 in exchange for outfielder Dave Winfield. Prior to the trade, he appeared in 10 games for the Angels, all in relief, ending a string of 208 consecutive starts dating back to 1983. He was 0-3 with a save and a 1.77 ERA (20.1 IP) and opposing hitters hit .250 against him. His only save came in the Angels' opener against Seattle in California as he pitched two perfect innings (2 K) to combine with Mark Langston on the first no-hitter of 1990. It was the second no-hitter Witt was involved with along with his perfect game in 1984.

With the Yankees he was used exclusively as a starter, going 5-6 with a 4.47 ERA over 16 starts. He made his Yankee debut on May 19 against Kansas City and did not get a decision in a 5-4 New York win. Mike, in fact, did not get a decision in any of his first three starts. For the month of May he posted a 3.79 ERA.

Mike's first decision came on June 3 against Baltimore- he took the loss in a 4-3 defeat. He made his next start on June 8 at Baltimore and had to leave after 1.2 innings when he heard a pop in his right elbow while pitching to Greg Walker (and left the game with a 2-2 count). He was placed on the 15-day disabled list the next day (and was subsequently moved to the 21-day DL on July 16) with a sore elbow requiring rest. It marked the first time in his 10-year career that Mike spent any time on the DL. At the time of the injury he was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA (28.0 IP) through five starts. 

Activated on August 6, after missing 55 games, Mike did not miss any of his 11 starts the rest of the way. His first start after the injury was on August 7 at Seattle, resulting in his first 1990 win, a 3-1 Yankee victory. Mike's first Yankee Stadium win as a Yankee came on August 18 against Seattle when he threw a 2-hit shutout, allowing two singles in a 6-0 triumph. 

His fifth and final win was on September 23 against Boston. He was 5-5 with a 4.72 ERA (68.2 IP) over 11 starts after his injury.

In his five Yankee wins he had a 2.08 ERA (39.0 IP) and was supported with 32 runs (6.4 runs/game). In his six Yankee losses, he had a 9.00 ERA (29.0 IP) and was supported with 10 runs (1.7 runs/game). In his five no-decisions, he had a 3.14 ERA (28.2 IP) and was supported with 19 runs (3.8 runs/game).

Witt was better against right-handed hitters (.207 batting average against) than against left-handed hitters (.270 batting against); overall, opponents hit .240 against him. He went six-plus innings in 12 of 16 starts and averaged 6.0 innings per start overall. He held the opposition to three runs or less in eight of his 16 starts.

Selected in the fourth round of the June 1978 draft, Witt was originally signed by Larry Himes. In 1981, he was promoted from AA El Paso to the Angels with less than 70 games of professional experience. He made his major league debut at Seattle on April 11, and on April 26 at Minnesota recorded his first victory and first complete game in a 7-1 decision. On September 28 against Chicago, Witt pitched his first shutout. In 1982 he registered five wins in the first four months of the season before winning three in August.

Mike set a personal best for most appearances (43) in 1983, splitting time between starting and relief. In relief he pitched 24 games, finishing with a 3-3 record, five saves and a 3.48 ERA (41.1 IP, 16 ER).

In 1984, Mike pitched a perfect game on September 30 when he defeated Texas 1-0 at Arlington in the season finale. He threw 94 pitches, 70 for strikes, going to a 3-ball count only twice, both times to Wayne Tolleson. Mike's last no-hitter had come as a member of the Fullerton (CA) Little League.

With 35 starts, 250.0 innings pitched and 180 strikeouts in 1985, he won 13 of his last 17 decisions after June 1. He worked into the 7th inning or later 28 times.

Witt compiled an 18-10 record and a 2.84 ERA in 1986, finishing among the league leaders in several categories including wins, ERA, complete games (14), shutouts (3) and innings pitched (269.0). His opponents batting average against was .221.

He dominated the month of August when he was named American League Pitcher of the Month: Mike posted a 5-0 record and a 0.21 ERA (43.1 IP, 1 ER), fanning 28 and allowing 17 hits for a .110 batting average against. He won a career high seven straight from August 5-September 18.

Mike finished with a 16-14 record in 1987, marking his fourth straight season with 15 or more wins. He was honored as the AL Player of the Week for June 1-7 with a 2-0 record in two starts while posting a 0.95 ERA (19.0 IP, 2 ER) and fanning 19 batters while walking only three and limiting opposing hitters to a .176 batting average (12 H). Mike's 10 complete games were half the team's total, he pitched into the 7th inning or later 28 times and allowed three earned runs or less in 21 starts.

Leading the Angels with 13 victories in 1988, Mike recorded a 5-0 shutout of Baltimore on May 28, his first shutout since August 26, 1986, when he blanked the Yankees 2-0 at Yankee Stadium. He was selected AL Player of the Week for June 13-19, going 2-0 with a 0.51 ERA (17.2 IP, 12 H, 1 ER). He registered his 100th career win on September 8 at Texas but did not strike out a batter in that win, the first time he failed to do so since April 30, 1982, a span of 209 starts. Mike allowed only 14 home runs during the season. Of his 12 complete games, six were in losing efforts.

In 1989, he pitched 200-plus innings for the sixth consecutive season. After surrendering 87 walks in 1988, he allowed only 48 walks in '89. Mike pitched into the seventh inning or later in 21 of 33 games, allowed three earned runs or less in 18 of 33 games and walked two batters or less in 28 of 33 games.

Mike graduated from Servite High School (CA) in 1978, posting a 14-0 record in a California Interscholastic Federation 4-A championship season. In high school he was a teammate of Steve Buechele and played against Mike Gallego and Bobby Meacham. He was also a standout basketball player. He played in the Babe Ruth League (West Anaheim) and in Little League (Buena Park).

Mike enjoys playing golf. His most dramatic moment was pitching his 1984 perfect game and his favorite entertainer is  Billy Joel."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

Tied for American League lead in hit batsmen (11), 1981.

Pitched 1-0 perfect game against Texas Rangers, September 30, 1984.

Pitched two innings in combination with Mark Langston in a 1-0 no-hit victory against the Seattle Mariners, April 11, 1990."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

Other 1992 Yankee Profiles: Position Players

HENSLEY MEULENS
"There's no doubt that Hensley Meulens has the physical tools needed to be a major league player. What he needs now is the mental toughness it takes to succeed at this level. Meulens came to the Yankees with all the right credentials. He was the International League Player of the Year in 1990 and, with a nickname like 'Bam-Bam,' seemed well-suited for the New York stage.
But a funny thing happened on the way to left field. Meulens was named the starting left-fielder, only to have Mel Hall respond with an outstanding year to take the position away from the rookie. Accustomed to playing every day, Meulens had difficulty adjusting to the role of a part-time player. The 24-year-old, a gifted and talented athlete, must step up to the next level and show he has what it takes to get the job done. Determination? They don't call him Bam-Bam for nothing?"

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"1991 was Meulens' first full season on the major league level. He had just 111 major league at-bats prior to 1991.
He was the Opening Day left fielder in Detroit, going 2-for-4, his only multi-hit game in April. Overall he started 11 of the club's first 17 games, all in left field, hitting .205 (9-for-44) with four RBIs. Meulens struck out 16 times, batting .321 (9-for-28) when putting the ball in play.
He started 16 of the club's 27 May games, hitting .220 with three homers and six RBIs for the month. His first home run came on May 3 at Seattle off Brian Holman in his 49th at-bat of the season. On May 16 against California, Hensley notched his first career three-hit game, raising his season batting average from .205 to .237. On May 27 against Boston, he made his major league debut at first base, replacing an injured Don Mattingly. He followed that the following day with his first major league start at DH, also against Boston.
Hensley hit for his best monthly average in June- .282 (11-for-39), with six RBIs over ten starts ( LF-9, DH-1). He went 2-for-3 with two RBIs on his birthday (June 23). Over his final six starts in June he went 8-for-23 with four RBIs, raising his batting average from .215 to .233. Meulens was hitting .225 with three home runs and 16 RBIs at the break.
From July 14-24, he hit in a season best five straight games (5-for-15); he capped the streak with a pinch-hit two-run homer on July 24 against Seattle off Rob Murphy. Meulens hit .220 with eight RBIs in August, starting 14 of the club's 31 games as a DH (7), in left (5), in right (1) and at first (1). He hit .224 with a home run and two RBIs in September/October, starting 14 games. He hit .219 (30-for-137) with three homers and 13 RBIs after the break.
Hensley started at four positions in 1991: left field (51), designated hitter (13), right field (11) and first base (1). He hit .239 (16-for-67) with runners in scoring position and was 3-for-9 with five RBIs with the bases loaded. He hit .236 against left-handed pitchers, .200 against right-handers, and .342 (13-for-38) on artificial turf.
He signed a contract for the 1992 season. He played Winter League ball in the Dominican Republic and hit .306 with two home runs and 16 RBIs over 21 games, playing the outfield.
Meulens had a tremendous season with the Columbus Clippers in 1990, hitting .285 with 20 doubles, 26 home runs and 96 RBIs over 136 games. He was named International League Player of the Year, leading the league in total bases (245) and finishing second in home runs and RBIs. Meulens led the Yankee organization in home runs and total bases. With the Clippers he played the outfield (88 games), first base (32 games) and third base (15 games).
He also achieved International League Player of the Week honors for June 17-23 (.409, 4 HR, 9 RBI) and was Player of the Month for June (.309, 7 HR, 25 RBI). He was also named Topps International League Player of the Month for both June and July. Hensley was rated the No. 3 prospect in the International League in the Baseball America post-season rankings.
He had his contract purchased by the Yankees on September 9 and remained with the club through the end of the season. Upon promotion, Hensley played in 23 games of which 22 were starts (all in left field). 
He started out hot, getting five hits in his first 10 at-bats. He had a big game against Texas on September 12, going 2-for-4 with his first major league home run (off Charlie Hough) and an assist on a play at the plate in the seventh inning.
Hensley went 1-for-20 from September 13-18, including an 0-for-16 skid. He broke out of the slump on September 19 at Toronto, going 2-for-4 with a home run off Jimmy Key.
From September 22-29, Hensley hit in a season-best seven straight games, going 10-for-29 (.345) with a homer and four RBIs to raise his season average 50 points to .275. He had his big game on September 25 against Baltimore, going 2-for-5 with a home run (off Mike Smith) and four RBIs.
He hit .319 (15-for-47) at home, .139 (5-for-36) on the road, .290 (9-for-31) against left-handers, .212 (11-for-52) against right-handers. After the season he played winter ball in the Dominican Republic and led the circuit in hitting with a .338 (44-for-130) batting average with three home runs and 20 RBIs over 36 games.
Meulens began the 1989 season with the AA Albany-Colonie Yankees. He hit .257 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs in 104 games. He was promoted to AAA Columbus on August 9 but still managed to finish tied for second on the Albany club in home runs (11) and lead the Eastern League in hit by pitches (9). With Columbus, Meulens appeared in 14 games and hit .289 with four doubles, a home run and three RBIs. He played 113 games in the minors in 1989, all at third base.
He was recalled by the Yankees on August 23 and spent the remainder of the season with them. He made eight consecutive starts (August 23-29) and then did not see action again.
On August 23, Hensley made his major league debut, going 1-for-3 against the Red Sox and getting his first major league hit, a 7th inning single off Mike Boddicker. His only RBI came on August 25 against Baltimore, a 9th inning single off Jeff Ballard driving in the lone Yankee run in a 3-1 loss. His only multi-hit game came on August 28, a two-hit effort against Oakland.
Meulens began the 1988 season at Albany-Colonie of the AA Eastern League and batted .245 in 79 games with nine doubles, 13 home runs and 40 RBIs along with 96 strikeouts. He was named as the starter at third base in the Eastern League All-Star Game. He started all 79 games at third base and committed 23 errors but did tie for the Eastern League lead in double plays by a third baseman (18).
He was promoted to AAA Columbus on July 5 and played 55 games with the Clippers, batting .230 with nine doubles, six home runs and 22 RBIs. Hensley played 54 games at third for the Clippers and committed 14 errors. He was added to the Yankees 40-man roster in November.
Meulens was signed by the Yankees as a free agent on October 31, 1985 by Yankee scout Fred Ferreira and was recommended by Yankee scout Dick Groch. He played 59 games in 1986, his first professional season, at 'A' Sarasota and batted .233 in 59 games with four home runs and 31 RBIs. He led the Gulf Coast League in strikeouts (66) while leading the league's third basemen in games (59), total chances (178), putouts (40) and assists (118). Meulens was named as the third baseman on the Gulf Coast League All-Star team.
He began the 1987 season at 'A' Prince William where he played 116 games and batted .300 with 76 runs, 23 doubles, 28 home runs, 103 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 124 strikeouts. He led the Carolina League in home runs and led the league's third basemen in errors (37). Hensley was named to the 1987 Carolina League All-Star team as a utility infielder. He finished the season by playing 17 games at 'A' Ft. Lauderdale where he hit .172.
Hensley is a native of Curacao (part of the Netherlands Antilles, located in the Caribbean Sea) and still resides there. He speaks four languages: English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide


JESSE BARFIELD
"Out of sight, out of mind? That was the case for Jesse Barfield near the end of last season. The talk around the Yankee outfield was about rookies Bernie Williams and Hensley Meulens, the elevated play of Mel Hall and the steady performance of Roberto Kelly. Lost in the hoopla was Barfield, whose 1991 season was cut short in July by a foot injury.
Before the '91 season started, Yankee GM Gene Michael stated, 'We have the best right fielder in baseball in Jesse Barfield.' How soon we forget. Before his injury on July 29, Barfield displayed his typical power, leading the team both homers and RBI. He also showed how a cannon for an arm can change the complexion of a game, leading the team with 10 outfield assists.
The Yankees are in a transition and nowhere is that more evident than in the crowded outfield. But let's remember, at age 32, a healthy Jesse Barfield is still one of the best in the game."

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"Jesse displayed typical Barfield-like power in 1991 until his season was cut short due to a foot injury. He was placed on the disabled list on July 29, and at the time was leading the club in home runs (17) and RBIs (48).
He had an uncharacteristic April, as he hit .291 (3 HR, 9 RBI); he had hit .238 for his career in April entering the season. His three homers led the club for the month and he started 16 of 17 games.
He had a seven-game hitting streak from April 17-24 (10-for-24), raising his batting average from .217 to .319. His first home run came on April 19 against Kansas City, off Mike Boddicker, in his 27th at-bat of the season.
Jesse's average dipped in May (.205) but his power increased (5 2B, 7 HR, 15 RBI). He tied Kevin Maas and Mell Hall for the Yankee lead homers during the month while starting all of the club's 27 games. Barfield hit a 9th inning pinch-hit on May 18 off Russ Swan against Seattle, breaking a Yankee scoreless drought of 32 consecutive innings, their longest since 1968. He had two two-run homers against Boston, both off Danny Darwin, on May 27 to help the Yankees overcome a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5. He won the May 31 game against Milwaukee with a 9th inning two-out homer off Chuck Crim.
From May 29-June 8, Barfield hit in a season long nine straight games (10-for-36), raising his average 12 points to .249. On June 19 at Toronto he hit a two-run homer off Jimmy Key in a 3-0 Yankee win.
He hit .210 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in June, with both his homer and RBI totals leading the club, and started all of the club's 27 games that month. In July, Barfield played in just 14 games (13 starts) while getting 41 at-bats. He had two home runs and four RBIs.
Barfield left the July 13 game with a sore right hamstring and did not play again until July 18. He missed another four games before pinch-hitting on July 23. He tried to start on both July 24 and July 28 before being diagnosed with a season-ending injury. The injury was a straight fracture of the navicular bone in his left foot. Jesse's last start was July 28, his last at-bat was on July 24 and his last hit on July 18. Not one to break down easily prior to 1991, Jesse had spent just two 15-day stints on the disabled list (1980, 1988) over an 11-year period.
He hit homers in consecutive games three times, including twice in May. He hit cleanup on May 17 after being fifth, sixth or seventh in the batting order in the first 30 games, but hit best when batting fifth (21-for-70, .300, 20 RBIs).
Jesse hit .253 (19-for-75) with four homers and 24 RBIs with runners in scoring position but oddly enough was much better in these situations with two out (13-for-36, .361) than with less than two out (6-for-54, .154). Jesse drove in seven of 14 runners from third with less than two outs and was 3-for-5 with six RBIs with the bases loaded. He had 14 multi-hit games and 21 of his RBIs came with less than two out. He hit .314 (34-for-108) with nine home runs and 24 RBIs against left-handed pitchers.
Despite playing in just 81 games, Jesse contributed a club best 10 outfield assists and now has 46 over the past three seasons, 42 in Pinstripes. He contributed the Yankee outfield first six assists of '91 and 10 of the club's first 12. Jesse anchored an outfield that tallied 36 assists while leading Yankee right fielders with 76 starts.
His first assist came on Opening Day in  Detroit, getting Cecil Fielder at home in the 7th inning. Barfield's 1991 breakdown was as follows: April (2), May  (5), June (3).
He has 159 career outfield assists, ranking him second on the active list, and has led the American League in assists five times, two years shy of the record (7) held by Carl Yastrzemski. Over the 1990-91 his assists came at first (3), second (8), third (7) and home plate (8); by inning they came 1st-3rd  (9), 4th-6th (6) and 7th - end of the game (11). 16 of his 26 assists in '90-91 came at Yankee Stadium.
He signed a three-year contract on October 12, 1989. The contract extends through the 1992 season.
Jesse hit .246 with 25 home runs and 78 RBIs in 1990 and led the club in homers, RBIs, walks (82) and strikeouts (150).

His first home run came on April 24 against Seattle off Matt Young. Two days later, also against Seattle, Jesse hit of pair of homers off  Randy Johnson and was robbed of a third when Ken Griffey Jr. reached over the center field fence to make a spectacular catch.
He had three five-game hitting streaks in May but wound up hitting .259 for the month. He hit five home runs, all on the road, including circuit clouts in consecutive games at Chicago on May 28-29 (off Eric King and Jack McDowell).
He made 27 starts in June and did not commit an error after committing three through the month of May. Jesse hit .271 in June, his best average for any month of 1990, with four home runs and 13 RBIs.
Jesse hit homers in consecutive games, June 2-3, against Baltimore (Dave Johnson and Bob Milacki) and another off Milacki on June 8 at Baltimore. He enjoyed a season best nine-game hitting streak from June 18-27 (10-for-37, .270) and reached base safely in the final 13 games of the month. He went into the break hitting .262 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs.
He went 0-for-17 before getting a pinch-hit single on July 22. On July 27 in the first game of a doubleheader at Cleveland, Barfield recorded 10 putouts, two shy of the major league record for putouts by a right fielder.
August turned out to be his weakest month average wise (.193) but he hit six home runs and drove in 16 runs. Included were home runs in three straight games, August 26-28, off Dan Plesac, against Milwaukee, and Ben McDonald and Jose Mesa at Baltimore. The one off Plesac was an 8th inning two-run shot tying the game at 3-3 with Barfield scoring the winning run in the 11th inning on a Steve Sax single.
Barfield hit .281 (25-for-89) in September/October with six home runs and 16 RBIs while drawing 21 walks, his most for any month of 1990. In three games, September 15-17, he reached base safely in 10 of 13 plate appearances (4-for-7, 6 BB), getting on base five times in five at-bats on September 17. Jesse's final home run of the season came on September 28 at Milwaukee off Ted Higuera. A strikeout by Randy Nosek of Detroit on October 2 at the Stadium gave Jesse 150 for the season.
For the second consecutive season, Jesse led the majors with 16 outfield assists after notching 20 in '89. He registered his first assist of 1990 on Opening Day (April 12), in New York, getting Brook Jacoby attempting to stretch a single into a double. He had four assists in a 31-game period from April 29-June 2 and then seven more in a 24-game stretch from August 17-September 11. He also had a two-assist game on September 6 against California, getting Jack Howell twice.
Barfield's games (153), batting average (.246), homers (25) and RBIs (78) were all his best since 1987. He ranked ninth in the American League in home runs, seventh in home runs per at-bat (1:19), tied for fifth in RBIs per at-bat (1:6.1), 12th in slugging (.456) and fourth in strikeouts (150). His strikeout total equaled his career high in 1989 and set the Yankee record for most in one season, yet Jesse hit .359 when putting the ball in play. He had 20+ doubles for the sixth straight season, had 20+ homers for the sixth time and played 150+ games for the fifth time in six seasons. Jesse led the club with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs in night games. He shared the team lead (Hall and Sax) with seven game-tying RBIs. He had a club high 53 RBIs against right-handers and a club high 28 two-out RBIs. He hit .218 at home but had 12 home runs and a club high 35 RBIs; he hit .274 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs, all club highs, on the road. He hit .264 (29-for-110) with men in scoring position as opposed to .194 in 1989 and was 4-for-10 with three doubles and 12 RBIs with the bases loaded.
On April 26 against Seattle, his seventh-inning home run (second of the game) was career home run No. 200. On May 17 against Minnesota, his third at-bat of the game was No. 4,000 of his career. His August 4 fourth-inning double against Cleveland off Bud Black was No. 200 of his career. Barfield was named to the American All-Star team which toured Japan after the 1990 season, the second time he was selected (1986).
Barfield was acquired by the Yankees from the Toronto Blue Jays on April 30, 1989 in exchange for pitcher Al Leiter. At the time of the trade, he was hitting .200 (16-for-80) with nine of those hits being for extra bases (4 2B, 5 HR). He also had 11 RBIs and four assists as a Blue Jay.
He played in Pinstripes for the first time on May 2 against the Royals, singling in four at-bats off Mark Gubicza. Following that game, he went 0-for-19 over a seven-game stretch, then hit in three straight with two home runs. On May 9, Jesse hit his first home run as a Yankee, off Texas' Charlie Hough. He missed four games when he suffered a mild concussion running into the fence at Oakland on May 17.
Jesse hit in a season best seven straight games from June 11 (second game) through June 17, going 10-for-26 and raising his average from .210 to .246. For the month of June, he hit .300. He started out July hitting in six straight (7-for-22) and 13 of 15 games (16-for-48), raising his average from .239 to a season best .261 on July 19. On July 9 at Boston, Jesse had his 17th career two-homer game and drove in all five runs. At the break he was hitting .247 with nine homers and 29 RBIs as a Yankee. On July 14 against the Royals in game 2 of a twin bill, with the Yankees trailing 7-6 entering the last of the ninth, Jesse hit a three-run homer off Steve Farr for a 9-6 win.
From July 16-20, he reached base nine straight times (2 1B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 2 IBB). In July, Barfield hit .291 with six home runs and 15 RBIs. After the break, he hit .235 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs.
Jesse led the majors in outfield assists with 20 in 1989. It was his third 20+ assist season. His 16 assists as a Yankee were the most since Dave Winfield's 17 in 1982.
He did not register an assist as a Yankee until his 32nd game with the club, and that came from center field on June 13 at Baltimore. He then reeled off an assist in four straight games, against Texas (June 17-18) and Chicago (June 20-21). Jesse had eight assists overall in June, all in a span of 17 games.12 of his assists came at Yankee Stadium and four on the road, with the four road assists all being at home with the Yankees ahead or behind by two runs or less.
With 87 walks for the season, his career best, Jesse ranked eighth in the American League and tied for 12th in the majors. He played 150+ games for the fourth time in five years. His .234 batting average was his lowest as a regular, yet his 23 doubles were his fifth straight season of 20+ and his 23 homers were also a fifth straight 20+ season. Of his 18 homers as a Yankee, six were hit at the Stadium. Jesse is still the Blue Jays' all-time home run leader with 179.
Selected in the 9th round of the June 1977 draft, Barfield spent the season with Utica [Class-A New York-Penn League], helping the club to a second place finish. In 1978 he spent the season at Dunedin [Class-A Florida State League] where he slumped noticeably, batting only .206. He had his best minor league season in 1979 with Kinston [Class-A Carolina League], batting .264 with 71 RBIs, more than in his two previous seasons combined.
In 1980, Barfield led Knoxville [AA Southern League] in home runs (14) and RBIs (61). He spent his second season with Knoxville in 1981 before joining the parent club in September. In his major league debut on September 3, Jesse responded with a hit, an RBI and a stolen base. He hit his first major league home run on September 6 off Chicago's Britt Burns. Jesse hit safely through his first eight games, setting a club mark for the start of a career. In total, he hit safely in 12 of his first 13 major league games.
In 1982, Jesse was Labatt's Blue Player of the Month for April while becoming the first Blue Jay to hit a pinch-hit grand slam, on April 24. He captured Toronto's BBWAA Rookie of the Year award while setting club rookie marks in home runs (18), bases on balls (42) and slugging percentage  (.426).
Jesse tied for the club lead in home runs (27) in 1983, setting the club mark for home runs at Exhibition Stadium (22). He led the team in two-homer games (4) and set then-career highs in homers, runs (58), triples (3) and RBIs (68). Jesse also led the club in outfield assists (16) with errorless streaks of 55 and 50 games.
He was the American League Player of the Week for the week ending September 4 on the basis of a .421 average, seven homers and 13 RBIs. Jesse raised his average 53 points over his last 53 games, including four home runs in eight at-bats, September 1-2.
He was platooned in right field in 1984, seeing action against left-handed pitchers. Jesse set then personal highs in doubles (14) and stolen bases (8) while leading the club with three four-hit games. He clouted five home runs in three games, July 1-6.
In 1985, Jesse set a personal high with a 16-game hitting streak from May 8-26. Among his six home runs in 10 games from May 10-21, he tied the then club mark with home runs in three consecutive games from May 19-21.
Jesse reached base safely in 24  consecutive games from August 3-27 and was named Labatt's Blue Player of the Month for August (.365, 2 HR, 17 RBI). He had seven consecutive hits and reached base nine straight times, August 8-9. Jesse set the American League record with extra-base hits in 11 consecutive games.
For the 1985 season, he was third in the American League in slugging percentage (.536), ninth in doubles (34) and 12th in game-winning RBIs (12). Jesse set then club marks in extra-hits (70) and strikeouts (143) as well as then personal highs in at-bats (539), RBIs (84), hits (156), doubles (34) and home runs (27). He was the first Blue Jay to have 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same season. Jesse led AL with 22 outfield assists to set the club mark. He hit safely in six of seven ALCS games.
Jesse was voted as Labatt's Blue Player of the Year and Blue Jays Player of the Year by Toronto's BBWAA.
In 1986, Jesse set a personal high with six RBIs on May 17 against Cleveland. He was Labatt's Blue Player of the Month for May (.276, 9 HR, 23 RBI), then became the first Blue Jay player to reach 100-homer mark, on June 1 off Bob James of Chicago.
Jesse's 10th career two-homer game came on July 3 against Boston, followed by his first All-Star Game appearance, going 0-for-2. He was Labatt's Blue Player of the Month for September/October (.266, 10 HR).
He led American League in home runs (40) and was among the league leaders in slugging percentage (.559, 2nd), extra-base hits (77, 2nd), total bases (329, 5th), runs (107, tied for 5th), game-winning RBIs (13, tied for 7th) and doubles (35, tied for 10th). He led the club in RBIs (108, tied with George Bell), homers, strikeouts (146) and slugging, and hit six ninth-inning home runs
Barfield led all American League outfielders with 20 assists while capturing Gold Glove honors. He won the Silver Slugger Award, was voted Blue Jays Player of the Year by Toronto's BBWAA and voted to the AP Major League All-Star team. Jesse was named to the American League All-Star team which toured Japan after the 1986 season.
Moved around in the batting order for much of 1987, Jesse's average dropped from .319 to .248 from June 10-August 26. His seventh career four-hit game came on June 16 against Detroit, followed by his eighth career four-hit game on July 16 against Milwaukee. Barfield's home run against Texas on July 23 ended a drought of 22 games, and his sacrifice hit on August 14 was his first since June 24, 1984. He delivered a pinch hit against New York on September 12, his first since September 29, 1984. His third and fourth four-hit games of the year came on September 14 against Baltimore and September 26 against Detroit. He hit no home runs in his last 21 games.
Jesse placed fifth in the AL in games (159) and at-bats (590), and tied Ruben Sierra for the league lead in assists and won his second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award for defensive excellence. He underwent surgery on his left knee and left wrist during the off-season.
In 1988 he hit his second career grand slam on April 19 off Kansas City's Bret Saberhagen. He left the May 14 game at Chicago with a swelling of the left wrist and was on the disabled list from May 16 and returned on June 1.
His solo homer off Walt Terrell of Detroit on June 18 snapped a drought of 17 homerless games and he had a season high four RBIs at Detroit on June 19. His third career grand slam came off Oakland's Rick Honeycutt on July 3. He tied a personal high with homers in three consecutive games from August 21-23.
Jesse played his 1,000th major league game on September 19, becoming the fourth player to reach the 1,000-game plateau in a Blue Jays uniform. His third grand slam of the season came on September 21 off Detroit's Paul Gibson. He tied a personal high with two stolen bases on October 1 against Baltimore.
His longest hit streak was five games, five times, and he homered in at least two consecutive games on three occasions. He hit .340 (16-for-47) with five homers and 12 RBIs against Detroit and .375 (15-for-40) with two homers and 10 RBIs against Kansas City. Jesse hit .209 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs through the break compared to .278 with 11 homers and 30 RBIs after the break. He led the team with 13 outfield assists.
Jesse attended Joliet Central High School (outside of Chicago) where former major leaguers Bill Gullickson, Larry Gura and Jack Perconte attended high school. His uncle played Negro league baseball.
He enjoys basketball and ping-pong. His favorite team growing up was the Cubs and his favorite player was Ernie Banks.
Jesse works extensively with underprivileged children. He has a winter business making coffee tables and lamp replicas of major league ballparks and other professional sports playing surfaces. He was voted the 1990 Good Guy Award by the New York Press Photographers Association."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

Led American League outfielders in assists (22), 1985.
Led American League outfielders in double plays (8), 1985.
[Led American League in home runs (40), 1986.]
Led American League outfielders in assists (20), 1986.
Led American League outfielders in double plays (8), 1986.
Named an outfielder on The Sporting News American League Silver Slugger team, 1986.
Named an outfielder on The Sporting News American League All-Star Fielding Team, 1986.
Tied for lead among American League outfielders in assists (17), 1987.
Named an outfielder on The Sporting News American League All-Star Fielding Team, 1987.
Led major league outfielders in assists (20), 1989.
Led major league outfielders in assists (16), 1990.

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

ALVARO ESPINOZA

"Alvaro hit .256 with 23 doubles, five home runs and 33 RBIs.

He had a blistering April, hitting .367 while appearing in all 17 of the club's games. He started the season with six hits in his first 11 at-bats, and over a six-game stretch he hit.476 (10-for-21).

He followed April with a quiet May, hitting .193 with just two RBIs. He appeared in 24 of the club's 27 games in May, starting 23 times. Alvaro's average dropped to .258 through May and was last above .300 (.304) on May 13.

Alvaro hit .268 with two home runs and six RBIs in June, bringing his season average up to .262, and started 22 of the club's 27 games. He had a season-best eight-game hitting streak from June 7-15 (11-for-32, .344), raising his average from .253 to .270. He hit the first of his five home runs on June 22, against Minnesota off Kevin Tapani.

He went 1-for-3 on July 6 to bring his average to .264 at the break, with 13 doubles, two homers and 16 RBIs. He hit .333 (9-for-27) over the final eight games of the month. He hit .273 in July, making 19 starts and playing in 20 of the club's 26 games, and made just two errors during the month.

Espy made his pitching debut on August 6 at Chicago. He came into a game with the Yankees trailing 14-5 and pitched to two batters in the eighth inning with two runners on base, getting Tim Raines to fly out and Robin Ventura to ground out (0.2 IP, 0 H).

It marked the first appearance by a Yankee position player on the mound since Rick Cerone did so twice in 1987; on July 19 at Texas (1.0 IP, 0 R) and on August 9 at Detroit (1.0 IP, 0 R). Prior to Cerone, the last Yankees was Gene Michael on August 26, 1968 (second game) against California (3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 3 K).

Espinoza hit .266 with two home runs and eight RBIs in August. His fifth and final homer of the year came on August 24 at Toronto off Duane Ward. Again, he made just two errors in one month.

He had a tough September, hitting .211 (20-for-95) with six RBIs, dropping his average ten points to .254, yet made only three errors. He hit .300 (6-for-20) over six games in October, raising his final batting average to .256.

He appeared in 149 games at shortstop last year and over the past three seasons has played in 444 games at shortstop for New York. This total is the most in a three-year period by a Yankee shortstop since Phil Rizzuto played in 451 games from 1950-52. Espinoza's total ranks him 10th on the club's all-time list for shortstops, behind Everett Scott (477 games).

He also started two games at third in 1991 (6/21, 6/22), his first two in the majors. Overall he started 138 games (SS-136, 3B-2), tied for third most on the team. Alvaro ranked eighth in fielding among American League shortstops, was second in double plays (113 to Cal Ripken's 114), and third in total chances (681) and assists (437). His 21 errors were tied for second in the AL (with Ozzie Guillen) behind Luis Rivera (24).

With nine sacrifice hits, Alvaro led the team in that category for the third consecutive season, amassing 43 in that time frame. He hit four of his five home runs off right-handed pitchers and all five in a span of 50 games and 147 at-bats from June 22-August 24. The homer was his major league-best and tied his professional best set in 1982 with Wisconsin Rapids. Espy walked twice in his final 227 plate appearances.

Espy hit 17 points higher on the road (.265) than at home (.248). He hit .273 in day games and .248 at night. He had 31 multi-hit games after 22 in 1990 and his 23 stolen bases tied a career high (1989).

He hit .276 (32-for-116) batting ninth. With Frank Howard as his hitting coach, Alvaro has been much more productive than without as indicated by the numbers: with Howard, .270 (228-for-843), 35 doubles, two triples, five homers, 62 RBIs; without Howard, .234 (159-for-680), 26 doubles, three triples, two homers, 42 RBIs.

He signed a one-year contract in February 1992 avoiding arbitration.

1990 was a solid season defensively for the Yankee shortstop. An ironman of sorts, Espy missed just 12 games while playing in 150, including 142 starts.

Alvaro did not miss a game in April, starting all 17. On May 6, he notched the first of 11 sacrifice hits. He started the club's first 24 games through May 7 before missing a game in Oakland.

On June 5 in Boston hit his first career home run off John Dopson in the 2nd inning, over the Green Monster in left field. The blast broke a string of 745 at-bats without a homer. 

Through the first six games of July, Espinoza went 7-for-20 (.350) to bring his All-Star break numbers to .227 with a home run and nine RBIs. He made 12 errors prior to the break while appearing in 74 of the club's 80 games.

He hit his second home run on July 21 at Minnesota off Mark Guthrie- the homer was an inside-the-parker to right field. Over his final four starts in July and his first start in August, Espinoza went 8-for-19 to raise his average to a season best .232 on August 1.

On August 20 against Toronto he contributed an 11th inning game-winning RBI single.On August 22 against Toronto had his second career triple (the other was in 1989). 

September/October was a strong period for Espy both with the bat and the glove as indicated by a .268 average and just two errors. He had five multi-hit games in the month after getting 17 through the first five months and had a season best five-game hitting streak from September 5-9 (7-for-16). On September 28 at Milwaukee, Alvaro went 2-for-3 off Ted Higuera bringing his career numbers to 10-for-14 against the left-hander.

Espinoza finished the seasons with 11 sacrifice hits, tied for ninth in the American League, and his 34 over the 1989-90 seasons were the most by a Yankee in consecutive seasons since Bobby Meacham had 37 in 1984-85. 

Espy made 12 errors before the break and five after the break, including none in the final 24 games, two in the final 53 and three over the final 73. He ranked sixth in the AL in fielding (.997), second in putouts (267), tied for second in double plays (100), third in assists (447) and total chances (731) and fourth in games (150). Alvaro teamed with Steve Sax to rank second in the AL in double plays (202) among keystone combos to Chicago's Ozzie Guillen and Scott Fletcher (215).

He struck out 54 times with 16 walks, a 3.4 strikeout/walks ratio, down from his 4:1 ratio of 1989. He hit .309 (21-for-68) and made one error in 22 games on AstroTurf. Alvaro hit 2-for-6 with four RBIs with the bases loaded.

1989 was an outstanding season for the Yankee shortstop. Entering the year he had played in 73 career games over a four-year span and hit .235 (24-for-102) with three doubles and 10 RBIs. In 1989, Espinoza played in 146 games and hit .282 with 23 doubles and 41 RBIs.

He ended April with a .286 average and played solid defense, committing only two errors in the month. Alvaro played in 45 of the club's 50 games through May and also had seven sacrifice hits through the end of May. He had a season best 10-game hitting streak from May 27-June 8, going 13-for-38 (.342) and raising his average from .248 to .270.

In June, Alvaro hit in 17 of 24 games and committed five errors. He went hitless in consecutive games only once during the month. He scored runs in four consecutive games from June 24-29 (five total)  For the month of July he hit .300 and made three errors while playing in 25 of the club's 27 games.

August was another productive month for Espy as he hit .347. He did not go hitless in consecutive games in August and did not commit an error while playing in 30 of 31 games.

Espy went 1-for-4 on September 1, bringing his average to a season high .296. He hit .297 after the All-Star break and ended the season by hitting in three consecutive games, going 7-for-13 with four doubles and bringing his average to a season-ending .282.

During the season he batted in four positions in the order: second, seventh, eighth and ninth. Alvaro batted second in 35 games, hitting safely in 29, and posted a .336 average. He batted six times in the No. 7 slot, hitting .273, and seven times in the No. 9 slot, hitting .154. Espy most frequently batted in the No. 8 spot, batting there 98 times while hitting .269.

Espinoza finished second in the majors in sacrifice hits with 23 (Felix Fermin had 32), the most by a Yankee since Bobby Meacham in 1985 and Phil Rizzuto in 1952, who each also had 23; the last Yankee with more was Rizzuto with 25 in 1951. In club rankings, he was third in hits (142) and doubles (23), fourth in games (146) and at-bats (503). His 39 multi-hit games were third most on the club. 

Alvaro hit a team high .383 against left-handed pitching and hit .235 against right-handers; hit .299 at home and .267 on the road and hit .333 with men in scoring position. He walked once every 38.3 plate appearances.

Defensively among American League shortstops, Espy ranked seventh in fielding percentage (.970), second in double plays (119), fourth in games (146), fifth in putouts (237), assists (471) and total chances (730).

Espinoza was signed as a free agent by the Houston Astros on October 30, 1978, and hit .219 for Sarasota in 1979. In 1980, he hit .215 for Sarasota and led Gulf Coast League shortstops in assists (217), double plays (33) and total chances (356). He was released by Houston in September 1980 and was out of baseball in 1981.

In March 1982  Alvaro was scouted and signed by Hank Izquierdo of the Minnesota Twins organization as a free agent and that year hit .266 at Wisconsin Rapids. He had a career best .319 batting average in 1983  over 130 games with Visalia. He led California League shortstops in total chances (630).

At Toledo in 1984, Alvaro walked three times in 368 plate appearances, a ratio of once every 122.7 plate appearances. He tied for the International League in sacrifice hits with 16.

Playing 82 games at Toledo in 1985, Alvaro also played 32 games with the Twins, getting his first major league hit on August 13 against Oakland, a single off Tommy John. In 1986, he hit .214 in 37 games with the Twins and .281 at Toledo. He led International League shortstops with 159 putouts.

Alvaro played a full season at AAA Portland in 1987 and hit .275 over 91 games. He was granted free agency in October. Recommended by Yankee scout Don Lindeberg and signed by Yankee scout Fred Ferreira, Alvaro was signed by the Yankees as a six-year minor league free agent in November 1987. He hit .246 at Columbus in 1988, appearing in 119 games. He spent eight days with the Yankees (August 3-11) when Willie Randolph pulled a rib cage muscle and went 0-for-3 in three games.

He went to high school in Valencia, Venezuela where he played baseball and basketball. He played Little League in Valencia.

Alvaro is involved in many off-season charity events, along with speaking engagements at schools and hospitals in the tri-state area."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

TOREY LOVULLO

"In 1991 during spring training, Lovullo was acquired by the Yankees from the Detroit Tigers on March 19 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter. At the time of his acquisition he had appeared in 11 spring training games for the Tigers and had hit .185 (5-for-27) with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs. In seven games at third base, he did not make an error. He had three stints with the Yankees and two with the Columbus Clippers during the year.

Lovullo started the season with New York and played in five games (0-for-11) including four starts at third before being optioned to Columbus on April 14. With the Clippers he played in 22 games and hit .271 with a homer and 17 RBIs before being recalled on May 17. His second stint with the Yankees was for 18 games though he played in only two (1-for-4), both starts at third base. Torey's first hit of the season on May 19 against Seattle, off Brian Holman, snapped a 0-for-13 hitless streak to start the season.

Optioned to Columbus on June 7, his second time on the farm was for the remainder of their season. Over 84 games Torey hit .271 with 18 doubles, nine homers and 58 RBIs. Over the season, he led Columbus in RBIs (75) and was fourth in the International League in RBIs and runs (74). Torey stole home twice.

In his third time with the Yankees he played in 14 games, including nine starts at third base, and hit .222 (8-for-36). Overall in New York, he hit .176 with two RBIs over 22 games, with 15 starts at third. Outrighted to Columbus on October 31, he is unsigned for the 1992 season.

Lovullo was a fifth-round selection by the Detroit Tigers in the 1987 June draft. After finishing a brilliant career at UCLA, he split the 1987 season between Lakeland and Fayetteville. Torey combined for nine home runs and 48 RBIs in only 251 at-bats over 79 games played. He spent the majority of the season playing third base.

He started the 1988 season at AA Glens Falls before a mid-season callup to AAA Toledo. He had his contract purchased from Toledo by Detroit as a replacement for the injured Lou Whitaker. Torey hit .381 over 12 games including four starts at second base.

Torey singled off Rick Rhoden in his first major league at-bat on September 10 at New York. His first major league home run came in his first major league start, September 25 at Baltimore, off Jose Bautista in a 7-4 Detroit victory. In his first Tiger Stadium start, September 30 against the  Yankees, Torey collected three hits in a 6-2 Tiger win.

He began the 1989 season with the Tigers after an outstanding spring training in which he hit .318. He was hitless in his first 20 at-bats before ending the drought with a single off Jamie Moyer of Texas. He played both second base and first base for Detroit and hit .115 in 29 games.

Torey was optioned to Toledo on May 15 and hit .230 with 10 homers and 52 RBIs. He tied for the International League lead with 10 intentional walks.

He spent the entire 1990 season at Toledo and hit .270 over 141 games. He led the IL in doubles (38) and finished fifth in total bases (213). Torey led the Mud Hens in nearly every offensive category including hits (131), doubles, home runs (14) and RBIs (58).

Torey graduated from UCLA in 1989 with a degree in psychology. A four-year starter on the baseball team (1984-87), he hit .311 in his college career and still holds school records for career hits (266), runs (211), RBIs (188), home runs (51) and at-bats (856). Torey was named to All-Pac 10 teams in 1986 and '87 and selected as the second baseman on the Sporting News College Baseball All-America team in 1987. At UCLA he played alongside Shane Mack and Todd Zeile.

Torey played Little League and Pony League in Encino. His father, Sam, is the producer of television's Hee Haw."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

DAVE SAX

"Sax returned for his third season in Columbus in 1991. He had one of his best seasons, hitting .285 with 19 doubles, eight home runs and 54 RBIs in 99 games. His .459 slugging percentage ranked fifth on the squad. In the field, Dave played at first base (35 games) and caught (31 games).

He underwent postseason surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder on October 1. The surgery was performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles. 

He was signed by the Yankees as a six-year minor league free agent in December 1988.

Sax spent the entire 1990 season at Columbus as a catcher. After playing a combined 52 games in 1988 and 1989, he appeared in 73 games in '90, including 52 behind the plate. Overall he batted .249 with four home runs and 19 RBIs. When catching he hit .259 compared to .206 as a designated hitter; he hit .248 at home and .250 on the road.  A good pinch hitter, Dave was 3-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs. July was his best month offensively as he hit .306 (15-for-49) in 17 games.

Sax started the 1989 season with Columbus as a non-active coach. He assisted in the bullpen and worked closely with the young catchers until he was activated as a player-coach on August 9. He remained on the active roster through the remainder of the season. Although he appeared in only 21 games, Dave helped the team by hitting .313 (20-for-64) with three doubles and five RBIs.

Sax was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in June 1978 and batted .269 at Lethbridge in his first professional season. He batted .270 with Clinton in 1979 and was named to the Midwest League All-Star team. He split the 1980 season between Lodi, where he batted .171, and Vero Beach, where he hit .352.

In 1981, Sax was converted to catching after playing as an infielder and outfielder in his first three professional seasons. He earned All-Star honors in the Texas League with San Antonio. He set career highs in 1982 at Albuquerque in most offensive categories, batting .317 with 12 home runs and 75 RBIs in 117 games. He hit in 15 straight games from April 30-May 13 and made his major league debut with the Dodgers in September.

Dave was the catcher and designated hitter at Albuquerque in 1983 and spent two brief stints with the Dodgers that year. In 1984, he saw action at first and second base, at catcher and in the outfield for Albuquerque, where he batted .259 in 106 games with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs. Sax signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in January 1985 after seven years in the Dodger organization.

He started the 1985 season with Boston and played once with Boston before going to Pawtucket on April 28. He was recalled by the Red Sox on June 2, [remaining] for the rest of the year and making 11 starts behind the plate. Dave began the 1986 season with the Red Sox but was sent to Pawtucket on May 16 without appearing in any games. He finished third on the PawSox in RBIs (49) and fourth in home runs (9). He was recalled by Boston on September 2 and hit his first major league home run on September 21 at Toronto off Jimmy Key.

Sax started the season in Boston for the third straight year in 1987. He appeared in just two games for the Red Sox, going 0-for-3 before being outrighted to Pawtucket on April 27, where he finished the season.

He played 45 games at third base, 17 as a catcher and five at first base for the PawSox. He hit .240 in 85 games with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs, batting .273 in 18 games as a designated hitter. Beginning on August 7, Dave hit .378 with a home run and nine RBIs in his final 16 games.

Sax spent the entire 1988 season with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Association, the AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had been signed by the Texas Rangers as a free agent on October 31, 1987, and assigned to Oklahoma City. Dave was assigned to Buffalo when he was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from the Rangers organization on April 6 in exchange for first baseman Bill Merrifield.

He batted .233 in 38 games with seven runs, three doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs. He threw out seven of 56 runners attempting to steal.

Dave had a five-game hitting streak from June 15-July 2, going 5-for-16 (.313) with three RBIs in that span. His one game-winning RBI of the season came on July 31 against Louisville.

Dave played two seasons at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, CA. He was Sacramento area College Player of the Year in 1978. He participated in baseball and basketball at Sacramento's James Marshall High School where he graduated in 1976. Dave also played Little League, Babe Ruth League and American Legion ball. 

Dave enjoys hunting and fishing. He is the brother of White Sox second baseman Steve Sax."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide