1992 Profile: Mike Gallego

"The A's free agent signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract with the Yankees in January. Gallego slammed 12 homers, one more than his career total prior to 1991, and also drove in a career high 49 runs. He set career highs in games (159) at-bats (482), runs (67), hits (119), doubles (15) and walks (67).
Gallego became a regular player for the first time when shortstop Walt Weiss tore ligaments in his ankle. He played his usual sparkling defense at second base, where he committed only seven errors in 129 games. He made five more errors in 52 games at shortstop.
Born in Whittier, California, the A's drafted Gallego in the second round in 1981."

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

"As an Oakland Athletic, Mike Gallego rarely found the spotlight thrust upon him. That wasn't his style. But invariably, when names were linked to the A's recent success, the utility infielder was near the top of the list. Proven winners have a way of doing that.
The 31-year-old enjoyed his finest season as a major-leaguer in 1991 by setting career-highs in nine categories including home runs (12) and RBI (49). The Yankee free agent is anxious to make '92 his finest.
'I feel I can contribute to the Yankees in a lot of ways,' Gallego says. 'I'm recognized as a good defensive player, but my offense can give my game another dimension.'
Whether he's playing second, shortstop or an occasional third, the California native will contribute in ways that don't show up in the boxscore.
'Mike is the kind of player you need to win ballgames,' says Yankee manager Buck Showalter. 'He gives us versatility in the infield and he brings a winning attitude.' "

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"Gallego had his best season as a pro in 1991, putting up offensive numbers to match his spectacular defensive play. He had career highs in games (159), at-bats (482), runs (67), hits (119), doubles (15), triples (4), homers (12), RBI (49) and walks (67). Entering the 1991 season, he had totaled only 11 home runs in 1,162 career at-bats; his walk total for the season was 32 more than his previous best.

A consistent hitter, Gallego hit .248 before the break, .246 after. May was his top month of the season when he hit .286 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. He had a career-high 10-game hitting streak from May 21-31. In the final four games of the streak he was 7-for-12 with two homers and 10 RBIs. He capped the streak with his first career grand slam, at Chicago off Ramon Garcia.

Mike received the first intentional walk of his career on June 9 against Boston- he wound up with three intentional passes on the season. He had the first four-hit game of his career on July 16 against Cleveland; he pounded Indians' pitching at a .351 clip for the year with five extra-base hits and seven RBI in 10 games.

He lived up to his reputation of having good hands- he started 126 games at second base in '91, making just seven errors in 619 total chances, good for a .989 fielding percentage (3rd in the league behind Steve Sax and Lou Whitaker). Mike also started 26 games at shortstop but did not make an appearance at third base for the first time in his career.

Mike hit .444 (4-for-9) with the bases loaded with a home run and 12 RBI. He hit .270 at home with six homers and 20 RBI. He hit .311 against left-handed pitching with five homers and 13 RBI.

He was signed by the Yankees to a three-year contract in January 1992. The contract runs through the 1994 season.

In 1988, his first full major league season, Gallego appeared in all four American League Championship Series games against Boston. He caught the final out in Game 4 to complete the A's sweep. He played in one of the World Series games without an at-bat.

Expected to split time at second base with Tony Phillips in 1989, Gallego was thrust into a starting role at shortstop when Walt Weiss went down with an injury in mid-May. He started 59 of the 65 games that Weiss missed. He hit .277 in the final two months of the season.

Mike started four of the five games of the ALCS against Toronto (two at second, two at short), hitting .273 with an RBI. He contributed a key suicide squeeze bunt in the pennant-clinching Game 5. In the World Series, he made two defensive appearances and pinch-hit once, but did not start.

Mike put together a fine season in 1990 both in the field and as a clutch hitter. For the year he played 83 games at second base, 38 at shortstop and 27 at third, playing in 140 games, a career-best at the time.

He started on Opening Day for the first time, at second base. He was Oakland's regular second baseman until the Athletics signed Willie Randolph on May 12. Gallego still found plenty of playing time, filling at second base, shortstop and third base. 

His error on May 19 at Milwaukee was his first after 57 consecutive games at third without an error. Only Bobby Wine has played more games at third (67) without an error. Gallego also had a streak of 70 consecutive games on artificial turf without an error before making two on June 2 at Kansas City. He played errorless ball in his final 13 games at shortstop. He made the first outfield appearance of his career on September 24 at Kansas City, handling one chance flawlessly.

He led the club with 17 sacrifice hits, the best Oakland total since Dwayne Murphy had an A's record 22 in 1980.

Mike was the A's second-round selection in the June 1981 free-agent draft. He hit .272 in 62 games for Modesto of the California League. In 1982, he played 54 games for West Haven where he hit .180 and 44 games for Tacoma where he hit .221.

After two games with Tacoma in 1983 Mike was sent to Albany of the Eastern League. In 90 games at Albany, he hit .223. He spent the entire 1984 season with Tacoma and hit .243 while playing in 101 games.

Mike made the Oakland Opening Day roster in 1985 with a fine spring training but was optioned to Modesto on April 24. He played just six games before returning to the A's for the remainder of the season on May 3. He picked up his first major league hit, a single off Detroit's Bill Scherrer, on August 22 in Oakland. He hit his first major league home run on September 22 at Chicago off Joel Davis.

He was a valuable player for Tacoma during the 1986 season. In 132 games he hit .275 with 122 hits and 46 RBI. Mike was called up to Oakland on September 2 shortly after Tony Phillips was injured. In 20 games with the A's, he hit .270 (10-for-37) with four RBI. He committed only one error in 76 chances.

Mike opened 1987 on the disabled list with a pulled groin suffered in spring training. After 10 games at Tacoma on a rehab assignment, he returned to Oakland on April 20. He belted his second career home run on May 13 off Ted Higuera of Milwaukee.

A collision with Stan Javier at Texas on June 12 caused Mike to miss six more weeks of the season. When healthy he was the A's utility infielder filling in at second, short and third. His third career homer came on August 6 at Minnesota off Frank Viola. For the season, Mike hit .300 (18-for-60) off left-handed pitchers.

Mike graduated from St. Paul High School (Santa Fe Springs, CA) in 1978. He attended UCLA for three years before being drafted by the A's, majoring in sociology. His UCLA teammates included Matt Young, Tim Leary and Don Slaught.

In Oakland, Mike has been involved with both the Children's Cancer Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

Led Pacific Coast League in being hit by pitches (8), 1986.

Tied for American League in sacrifice hits (17), 1990.

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

1992 Profile: Charlie Hayes

"So now, who is on third? The Yankees are giving Charlie Hayes that opportunity in 1992. Hayes brings a lot to the table, which is why the Yankees acquired him from the Phillies this past winter.
The hot corner has plagued the Yankees the past two seasons. In 1991, eight different players took a shot at third. But the inconsistent defense and a combined six home runs and 38 RBI from the position last season forced the Yankees to look elsewhere. New York needs Hayes to remedy that problem in the field and at the plate.
In the past two years, the infielder has ranked third and fourth respectively in fielding percentage among National League third basemen. Over that same period he hit .247 with 30 homers and 153 RBI. With those numbers, the starting third base position is within the 26-year-old's grasp. If Charlie Hayes provides some offensive and defensive consistency, then the Yankees may have solved a major problem."

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"1991 was a tale of two seasons for the third baseman. Hayes started slowly, hitting .205 over the first half of the season. He was hitting .219 through the first 19 games of the season before embarking on a career-best 12-game hitting streak from May 3-15, raising his average to .246.
Hayes had a strong second half of the season, hitting .262. He homered in three straight games (August 24-26) for the third year in a row. His first career grand slam came on August 28 at Houston as he set a career high with five RBIs.
He finished with a flurry, hitting .302 with six home runs and 20 RBIs over his last 34 games. Charlie tied a career best with four hits on September 20 at Pittsburgh.
Charlie set career highs in doubles (23) and home runs (12). He hit .500 (4-for-8) as a pinch hitter.
He was the player-to-named-later in the January 1992 deal which sent pitcher Darrin Chapin to the Phillies. He signed a contract for the 1992 season.
In 1990, Charlie played in a team-leading 152 games in his first full season in the majors. He finished third among National League third basemen in fielding (.957). He made 20 errors in 146 games after making 22 errors in 89 games in 1989. He tied all major league third basemen in assists (324) and tied for the lead in total chances (465). He made starts at third, second and first base.
From May 27-July 5 Charlie did not make an error, a span of 34 games. He snared Gary Carter's line drive for the final out of Terry Mulholland's no-hitter on August 15 at San Francisco.
Hayes had a career-best four-hit game on July 17 at Atlanta. He homered in three straight games, July 26-28 at Pittsburgh. He batted .295 against left-handed pitching.
A fourth-round draft choice of the San Francisco Giants in the June 1983 free agent draft, Hayes was sent to Great Falls where he hit .261 in 34 games. He played 116 games at Class-A Clinton, hitting .245.
In 1985, Charlie hit .283 while appearing in 131 games for Class-A Fresno. He led California League third basemen in fielding (.949) and putouts (100). Charlie was voted Most Popular Player by Fresno fans.
He spent the entire 1986 season at AA Shreveport of the Texas League and hit .247 with five home runs and 45 RBIs in 121 games. He had an outstanding season at Shreveport in 1987 hitting .304 in 128 games, with 14 homers and 75 RBIs. Charlie led the league's third basemen in fielding (.934), games and total chances (334). He led the club in games, at-bats (487), runs (66), hits (148), home runs and RBIs.
In 1988 Hayes played the majority of the season at AAA Phoenix of the Pacific Coast League, hitting .307 with seven home runs and 71 RBIs in 131 games. A September call-up to the Giants, his major league debut came on September 11 against Houston with a start in left field. His first major league hit came on September 17 at Houston off Jim Deshaies. Hayes appeared in seven games for the Giants and hit .091.

He began the 1989 season with Phoenix, was recalled to San Francisco at the beginning of May and played three games, once as a starter and twice as a pinch hitter. He started on May 5 against St. Louis and went 0-for-3. Charlie's first hit of the season came on May 6 against the Cardinals, a pinch-hit single. In 61 games at Phoenix, he hit .284 with seven homers and 27 RBIs.

Charlie was traded to Philadelphia on June 18 along with pitchers Dennis Cook and Terry Mulholland for pitcher Steve Bedrosian and a player to be named later (infielder Rick Parker). He was immediately sent to Scranton where hit .407 in seven games. Charlie was recalled on June 30 and became the Phillies' regular third baseman.

He played in 84 games (79 starts) for the Phillies and hit .258 with eight homers and 43 RBIs. On July 28 he hit a home run into the left-field upper deck of Veterans Stadium, off the Pirates' Rick Reed, only the 34th time it had been done. He homered in three straight games (July 28-30). On August 28 at San Francisco, he set a career high with four RBIs.

Charlie was a three-sport athlete (baseball, basketball, football) at Forrest County Agricultural High School (Brooklyn, MS). He was named All-State in baseball and basketball in 1983. Charlie was a member of the Hattiesburg, MS team that reached the Little League World Series in 1977.

His hobbies include dancing, swimming and hunting."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

1992 Profile: Mike Stanley

"When the Yankees signed Mike Stanley to a minor league contract in January, they knew exactly what they were getting- a tough veteran who perfectly fits the mold of a back-up catcher.
In more than five seasons with the Texas Rangers, the 28-year-old provided solid defense and occasionally a surprising bat. Last year alone he hit .375 (3-for-8, six RBI) with the bases loaded and eight of his 25 RBI were game-winning.
In '91 Stanley hit just .249 in 91 games, but he batted .325 over the last 29 games of the season. Throw in 34 walks and Stanley posted an impressive .372 on-base percentage. The Yankees need Stanley as a complement to starter Matt Nokes and as insurance for younger catchers Jim Leyritz and John Ramos.
'We feel Mike can fit in here,' Yankees GM Gene Michael says. 'I liked him when he was with Texas and I'm glad we've given him an opportunity to help us.' "

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"Mike played in 95 games in 1991, hitting .249 with three home runs and 25 RBIs. He walked 34 times and had a .372 on-base percentage. 17 of his 45 hits were extra-base hits, including a career high 13 doubles.
He hit .375 (3-for-8, 6 RBIs) with the bases loaded. He hit .277 against left-handed pitchers and .281 at home. Over the last 29 games of the season, Mike hit .325. Eight of his 25 RBIs were game-winning. He made 34 starts behind the plate, five at first base, four at third.
Mike became a free agent on October 14 when he refused an assignment to the minors. He was signed by the Yankees to a minor league contract for the 1992 season on January 21.
He was selected by the Rangers in the June 1985 free agent draft in the 16th round. He started that season at Salem and hit .556 in four games, was sent to Burlington on June 26 and hit .310 in 13 games, and was promoted to Tulsa on July 11 and hit .309 in 46 games.
Mike began the 1986 season with Tulsa and was recalled to Texas on June 26. That day his first major league hit, a double, came against Seattle off Steve Fireovid. He began the 1987 season with Oklahoma City of the American Association and was recalled by the Rangers on June 2. At the time of his recall Mike was hitting .335, was leading the league in RBIs (54) and was tied for the lead in home runs with 13.
He started 54 games for Texas behind the plate, more than any other Ranger catcher in '87. He hit a pair of grand slams including the first pinch-hit grand slam in club history on June 27 against Minnesota off Jeff Reardon. Mike's other slam came on July 3 off Cecilio Guante at New York. He missed most of September with chickenpox and pneumonia.
1988 was his first full season in the majors. Mike began the season as the Rangers' regular catcher and started 44 of the club's first 88 games through July 15. A pulled left hamstring put him on the disabled list from July 23-August 13. He made just four starts behind the plate over the remainder of the season. He caught a total of 64 games and finished with a .991 fielding percentage.
Mike played in 67 games in 1989, hitting .246. He made 34 starts with the Rangers overall, including 18 of the last 28 games. After having only three RBIs in his first 48 games, Mike knocked in eight in his last 19 to close out the season. He spent time on the DL (August 19-September 2) with a strained left knee.
He spent the entire 1990 season with Texas, hitting .249 with two homers and 19 RBIs. He played a career high 103 games and tied his career-best with eight doubles.
Mike's best stretch came from June 17-August 31, hitting .350 (28-for-80) and raising his average from .177 to .264. He broke his left little finger in batting practice on July 21 but did not miss any action.
A versatile player, Mike made 41 starts at catcher, nine as the designated hitter, three at third base and two at second. In 63 games behind the plate, he had a .985 fielding percentage.
Mike played four seasons for the University of Florida. He was selected as the All-Southeastern Conference catcher in 1982 and 1984 and was named to the SEC All-Academic team in 1983.
He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale where he starred in both baseball and football. He was all-state and team MVP in both sports as a senior. He also played Little League, Senior League and American Legion baseball.
Mike enjoys fishing and golf."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

1992 Profile: Steve Farr

"The free-agent signee returns for his second season with the Yankees after adequately replacing all-time saves leader Dave Righetti in his first year. Farr recorded a career-high 23 saves in 29 chances and now has a career total of 73 saves. He's a rugged competitor who insisted on pitching the final month despite a sore shoulder.
Farr makes up in finesse what he lacks in velocity. He works the corners extremely well and helps himself greatly by pitching inside. He allowed only seven of 30 inherited runners to score and retired the first batter he faced on 39 of 60 occasions. Farr limited right-handed hitters to a .204 average.
Born in Cheverly, Maryland, Farr began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Pirates and pitched seven-plus seasons in the minors before breaking in with Cleveland in 1984."

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

"As the last line of defense, there were few better relievers to rely on last season than Steve Farr.
Known as the 'Beast' from his days as a Kansas City Royal, the right-handed reliever was the consummate closer. Farr was one of four Yankee relievers to appear in 60 or more games and his 23 saves were a career high. They were also the most for a Yankee right-hander since Goose Gossage saved 30 in 1982.
Farr's reputation as a fierce competitor was in evidence the entire season. With inflammation in his pitching shoulder the final month of the '91 season, the reliever could have packed it in and gone home. But instead, he played.
'I understand the big picture. They have six million dollars invested in me. But I was here to play six months and I wanted to play the last month of the season,' Farr says.
Some numbers from the '91 season indicate his true measure of success: opponents' batting average was just .219 ... he allowed one homer on the road all season ... he had a scoreless-innings streak of 28 innings, longest of his career.
Sometimes numbers speak for themselves."

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"Steve appeared exclusively in relief in 1991, assuming the role of closer.
He pitched in seven games in April and was 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA with one save in as many chances. His first save as a Yankee came on April 13 at Kansas City as he pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in a 9-8 win. He finished the month with three scoreless outings lowering his ERA from a season high of 5.68 on April 22 to 3.72.
Steve appeared in 11 games in May and posted a 2-0 record with a 1.98 ERA and one save in three opportunities. On May 10 he saved a 5-3 victory over Oakland, ending the Yankees' 16-game losing streak against the Athletics. Farr earned his first win as a Yankee in his next outing, on May 12 against Oakland (1.2 IP, 3 K).
June was his most successful month, with Farr not allowing a run in 12 appearances while posting eight saves. He had saves in his first four games of the month (June 2-9). His longest outing to date came on June 16 at Texas (3.0 IP) in a 4-3 loss. Steve earned saves in his final three appearances of the month (June 25-30). He started June with a 2.70 ERA and ended at 1.67.
Steve saved consecutive games on July 2 and 3 against Cleveland and pitched a scoreless inning on July 6 against Baltimore. At the break he was 2-1 with 12 saves (14 opportunities) and a 1.56 ERA.
He continued his scoreless streak in July, as he did not allow a run in nine outings. Steve saved a pair for Jeff Johnson on July 13 at California and July 19 at Oakland. He saved six games in the month and through July had 16 saves in 18 chances. He lowered his ERA from 1.67 at the start of July to 1.36 at the month's end.
August was Farr's worst month of the season (1-3, one save, 6.75 ERA). He had a scoreless streak of 28.0 innings snapped on August 4 at Detroit when Tony Phillips hit a solo homer with two out in the 9th inning; it was the only road homer he allowed all year. Steve rebounded in September, not allowing a run in nine appearances (9.0 IP). He set a career high in saves with this 21st on September 27 at Cleveland. After the break, he was 3-4 with 11 saves in 15 situations and a 3.03 ERA in 27 appearances.
In 1991 Steve was part of a quarter of Yankee relievers (along with Cadaret, Guetterman and Habyan) who each notched 60-plus appearances, the first time more than two Yankee relievers had accomplished the feat in one season. He averaged 1.1 innings per outing.
Farr set a career high with 23 saves (10th in the AL) in 29 opportunities. His previous best was 20 in 1988. It was also the most by a Yankee right-handed pitcher since Rich Gossage had 30 in 1982. Farr's save total ranked 19th on the all-time Yankee list. Over the 1989-91 seasons, he converted 62 of 78 (79%) save opportunities.
Opponents hit .219 against Farr. Right-handed batters hit .201 with two homers, left-handers hit .241 with two homers. He was 3-3 with 12 saves and a 2.56 ERA at home, 2-2 with 11 saves and a 1.72 ERA on the road. Steve had 12 appearances of more than one inning (27.1 IP) with a 3.29 ERA. He pitched one inning or less in 48 games (42.2 IP), with a 1.48 ERA. He finished 48 games, 10th in the AL.
Steve had a scoreless string of 28.0 innings, the longest of his career. It was the longest by a Yankee in '91 and the longest overall since Lee Guetterman's record-setting 30.2 to start the 1989 season. Steve's covered 24 games, starting May 29, and during the streak he allowed only 11 hits and one extra-base hit while walking only two, striking out 21 and recording 14 saves.
He signed a three-year contract with the Yankees as a free agent in November 1990. The contract extends through the 1993 season.
A member of the Kansas City Royals in 1990, Steve had perhaps his finest season in the majors, posting a 13-7 record with a save and a 1.98 ERA over 57 appearances (second most on the club), including six starts. He led the club in wins, and his wins, ERA, innings (127.0) and strikeouts (94) were all career bests. Opponents hit .220 against Steve.
He was 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA as a starter and 8-6 with a save and 2.19 in relief. He was used in save situations only twice all year and his one save came on August 9 against Chicago. Of his relief appearances, Steve had 12 of more than 2.0 innings and had a 1.21 ERA in such games (37.1 IP) as opposed to 39 appearances of 2.0 innings or less in which he had a 2.83 ERA (54.0 IP).
Farr made his first start on June 10 at Oakland and took the loss (5.0 IP, 3 ER); the start was his first since making two starts in his final two 1989 appearances. His July 3 start against the Yankees resulted in a win. He had a stretch after the break from July 13-August 26 where over 16 games he allowed just five earned runs over 38.0 innings pitched for a 1.18 ERA, lowering his overall ERA from 2.51 to 1.98.
His other three starts were his final games of the season (September 17-29) and all three resulted in wins. Included was a complete game shutout against California on September 23  (9.0 IP, 5 H)- the complete game and the shutout were both career firsts. Overall in those three starts, Steve allowed just one earned run (a Larry Parrish homer in the final outing) over 21.1 innings, lowering his ERA from 2.30 to a season ending 1.98.
Steve was 9-2, 1.37 in 37 games at Royals Stadium; 4-5, 2.64 on the road; 11-3, 1.63 at night, and 2-4, 2.64 in day games. His 49 career saves as a Royal are fourth most in their club history behind Dan Quisenberry, Doug Bird and Jeff Montgomery.
In 1989, Farr was 2-5 with 18 saves and a 4.12 ERA over 51 games, including two starts in his final two appearances. The 18 saves tied Jeff Montgomery for the club lead, with eight coming in one-run games and seven in two-run games.
Of his 49 relief appearances, he started the inning 41 times. Overall, he was successful in 18 of 22 save situations. All four blown saves came as a result of having allowed a home run. He finished 35 of the first 37 outings in which he appeared, none commencing earlier than the eighth inning.
Steve opened the season as the bullpen closer and was successful in each of his first ten save situations. Through his first 26 outings he had 15 saves and a 1.95 ERA. Included was a stretch from June 15-July 22 where he struck out at least one batter (15 total) in 12 straight games. Steve's only relief win came on July 30 against Baltimore (2.0 IP).
He spent time on the disabled list as he was placed on the 15-day DL on August 23 (retroactive to 8/21) with torn cartilage in his right knee. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his knee and was activated on September 13. Farr started on September 24 against Seattle, only his second start since 1985, and picked up the win (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER). In his two starts he posted a 1.50 ERA (12.0 IP, 2 ER), fanning 10 batters along the way.
In 1988, his first full season in the majors, Farr established himself as the Royals' closer in the pen. He led the staff, and established a personal best, by appearing in 62 games, eighth best in Royal history. He did not register his first save until May 16, yet finished with 20 saves to tie for seventh best in club history. Steve was successful in 20 of 25 save situations.
Steve joined the Pirates organization when he was signed as a free agent in December 1976. From 1977 through 1982 he pitched for five different clubs in the Pittsburgh farm system, appearing in 142 games, and was 35-39 with 11 saves and a 4.28 ERA. Of those 142 games, 76 were as a starter. Steve had an amazing 23 complete games, 36% of his starts.
He spent the 1983 season with the Pirates ' AA club Buffalo of the Eastern League while being traded to the Cleveland organization on June 8 for catcher John Malkin. He was 13-1 with a league leading 1.61 ERA. Steve was named to Baseball America's Class AA and Eastern League all-star teams.
Steve started the 1984 season with Cleveland's AAA club at Maine, going 4-0 with a 2.60 ERA over six starts. He earned a promotion to the Indians on May 14, appearing in 31 games (16 starts) for the Tribe. He was 3-11 with a 4.58 ERA.
In 1985, Steve was signed as a free agent by the Royals on May 9. He started his season at Omaha and pitched brilliantly, posting a 10-4 record with a league leading 2.02 ERA over 17 games (16 starts). He led Omaha in wins, ERA, complete games, shutouts and strikeouts.
Steve made his first appearance in a Kansas City uniform on August 8 as a starter against Detroit and was not involved in the decision in a 6-4 Royal win. He picked up his first win as a Royal on September 6 against Milwaukee in a 7-1 Kansas City win- the victory marked Steve's first major league win since August 13, 1984. He notched his first save as a Royal on September 25 at Seattle.
He appeared in two games in the American League Championship Series, both in relief. He hurled 4.1 innings of 2-hit ball in relief in Game 3, picking up Kansas City's first win in the ALCS. He did not pitch in the World Series.
1986 was the first full season in the majors for Steve and he established his mark as an effective reliever. He tied for second on the club with 56 games pitched and posted the club's second best ERA (3.13). He was 7-0 with four saves and 2.23 ERA at Royals Stadium.
Steve was named the Royals' pitcher of the month for both May and June. He did not pitch after September 16 because of a sore shoulder.
He spent most of the 1987 season in the bullpen, appearing in 47 games which tied him for second most on the club. He had a then career high 88 strikeouts which also led the bullpen. He had two brief stints at Omaha: from July 31-August 13 and from August 30-September 4.
Steve graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. He was a catcher and pitcher at DeMatha, lettering in baseball. He attended Charles County Community College (LaPlata, MD) and American University (Washington, DC). Steve went to American U. on a scholarship and played baseball at both schools.
Steve played Babe Ruth and American Legion ball as a youngster. He helped his team to the 1972 Babe Ruth World Series, held in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Steve enjoys cars and credits Jamie Quirk with helping his career."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

R.I.P. Mike McCormick

R.I.P. Claudell Washington

1992 Profile: Danny Tartabull

"Free agent KC outfielder Tartabull became a Yankee in January with a five-year $ 25.5 million contract after a remarkable offensive season. His .593 slugging percentage led the majors, his 31 homers almost doubled the total of the runnerup on the Royals, Kirk Gibson (16), and his 100 RBIs were 36 more than runner-up Brian McRae's total. Tartabull also led the club in hitting (.316) and on-base percentage (.397) and made his first appearance in the All-Star Game.
He was acquired by the Royals from the Mariners for pitchers Scott Bankhead and Steve Shields and outfielder Mike Kingery prior to the 1987 season. The son of former major league outfielder Jose Tartabull, Danny was born in Miami. He was a third-round pick of the Reds in the 1980 free agent draft."

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

"There are few players in the majors today who wield as powerful a stick as Danny Tartabull. One man does not make a team, but the former Kansas City Royal will undoubtedly help improve this one.
It was no surprise the 29-year-old right fielder was named the Royals' MVP last season after hitting .316 and collecting 31 HRs and 100 RBI, all team-highs.
While most fans think of Tartabull as a major offensive force, the Yankee free agent is most proud of his improvement on the defensive end.
'I've worked very, very hard to improve myself in the outfield,' Tartabull relates. 'I've made great strides in my defensive game. I think I take more pride in that than in my offensive game.'
Yankee fans can now take great pride in calling Tartabull one of their own."

-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook

"Tartabull was the top offensive player for the Royals in 1991, leading the club in almost every category. He led the team in batting average (.316, 10th in the American League), home runs (31, tied for 6th in the AL), RBIs (100, tied for 8th in the AL) while finishing second in doubles (35) and walks (65). Tartabull finished ninth in the AL in on-base percentage, tied for sixth in extra-base hits and led the majors in slugging percentage (.593). He also had the third-best RBI ratio (4.8 AB/RBI) and third-best home run ratio (15.6 AB/HR) in the AL.
He became the first Royal to have two 30-home run seasons and the third Royal to produce three 100-RBI seasons. He had a .300-30-100 season for the second time in his career. Danny twice earned Player of the Week honors and was Kansas City's Player of the Month three times (June, July and September).
On June 12 at Baltimore, Danny had a career high six RBIs. He had a season best 12-game hitting streak from June 22-July 3, raising his average from .294 to .319- he went over the .300 mark on June 22 and never dropped below.
Danny belted a career best three home runs in one game on July 6 against Oakland; he also had two two-homer games, June 12 at Baltimore and September 3 at Chicago. He was the Royals' lone representative in the '91 All-Star Game, starting as the designated hitter. He hit his seventh career grand slam on August 14 at Yankee Stadium, off Steve Farr.
He hit .314 with 13 home runs and 35 RBIs at home, .318 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs on the road. Against left-handed pitching he batted .296 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs, against right-handers .325 with 23 homers and 78 RBIs. Tartabull was consistent all season long, hitting .320 with 20 homers and 59 RBIs in the first half, .300-11-41 in the second half. He hit .347 against the East with 13 homers and 51 RBIs. He had four outfield assists for the season, giving him 34 for his career.
Tartabull signed a five-year contract with the Yankees as a free agent on January 6, 1992. The contract extends through the 1996 season.
Selected in the 3rd round of the June 1980 free agent draft, Tartabull hit .299 in 59 games for Billings. With Tampa in 1981, he was named Florida State League Player of the Year. He led the league in batting (.310), doubles (28) and finished fourth in home runs (14), triples (10) and RBIs (81).
Danny was the youngest player in the Eastern League in 1982 at the age of 19. He was among the league leaders in walks (3rd with 89) and home runs (9th with 17). Danny was named the second best prospect in the league and the seventh best prospect in the Reds organization by Baseball America.
In 1983 he was selected by the Mariners from the Reds in the compensation pool draft as compensation to Seattle for the White Sox' signing of free-agent pitcher Floyd Bannister. Tartabull spent the entire 1983 season at AA Chattanooga where he hit .301 with 13 homers and 66 RBIs, finishing second to Ivan Calderon on the team in most major offensive categories, and was named Topps National Association Player of the Month for September.
In 1984, Tartabull was recalled from Salt Lake City on September 6. At the time he was hitting .304 with 13 home runs and 73 RBIs. In his first big league at-bat, September 11 against Texas, he collected his first hit, RBI and game-winning RBI with a pinch-hit run-scoring single with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning off Dave Schmidt.
With Calgary in 1985, Tartabull hit .300 with a league-leading 43 home runs and 109 RBIs. He played in 19 games for Seattle and hit .328. He hit safely in his first three games after his September 1 recall and his only home run came on September 16 at Kansas City off Danny Jackson. He posted an on-base percentage of .406 and a .525 slugging percentage.
Tartabull started on Opening Day for Seattle at second base in 1986. He was hitting .355 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in the season's first eight games. He began feeling weak and his batting average fell to .235, with six homers and 22 RBIs in 31 games, by the time he was sidelined. Danny went 4-for-5 with two triples and two RBIs on May 13 against Milwaukee to raise his batting average 16 points but was placed on the disabled list the next day.
He missed 16 games due to vitamin deficiency anemia. After being reinstated from the DL on May 31, Danny was moved to left field and became the Mariners' regular right fielder on June 23.
Danny finished second on the club in homers (25) and RBIs (96) and hit two grand slams. He placed fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting behind Jose Canseco, Wally Joyner and Mark Eichorn.
He was traded to the Royals in December 1986 with pitcher Rich Luecken for pitchers Scott Bankhead and Steve Shields and outfielder Mike Kingery.
In his initial season for the Royals, Tartabull became only the second player in club history (George Brett, 1985) to compile a .300-30-100 season, finishing the season with a .309 average, 34 home runs and 101 RBIs. 18 of his 34 homers either gave the Royals the lead or tied the score. He led the team in homers, RBIs, total bases (315) and slugging percentage (.541) on his way to being honored as Royal Player of the Year.
Tartabull tied for third in the league in home runs and was ninth in hits and tenth in slugging. His home run total was the most ever by a Royals outfielder, eclipsing Amos Otis who hit 26 in 1973, and he tied for the second highest homer output in club history (Steve Balboni, 36 in 1985, John Mayberry, 34 in 1975).
He slugged his third career grand slam on October 2 against Minnesota off Frank Viola. His 100th RBI of the season came on October 3 off Minnesota's Bert Blyleven.
In 1988 Danny became the third player in Kansas City history (along with Mayberry and Brett) to record back-to-back 100-RBI seasons as he drove in a career best 102. He led the Royals in home runs with 26 and was among the league leaders in homers (tied for 8th) and RBIs (7th). He also tied for eighth in doubles (38) was ninth in slugging percentage and seventh in extra-base hits.
Danny led the league and set a Royals record by belting three grand slams, connecting at Texas on May 15 (off Charlie Hough), against Baltimore on August 11 (off Jay Tibbs) and at Seattle on September 20 off Terry Taylor.
He was selected as the Royals' Player of the Month for September after driving in 21 runs with a .304 average. He notched a career best five RBIs in one game in the September 20 game at Seattle.
Tartabull finished 1989 with a .268 batting average, 18 home runs and 62 RBIs- the homer total was second on the club. He opened the season with a career best 13-game hitting streak, batting .413 during the streak. He logged two stints on the disabled list, once with a bruised left knee and the other with a pulled groin muscle. Danny hit his 100th career home run on July 30 against Baltimore.
Injuries limited Danny to 88 games in 1990, his fewest in the big leagues. He still was able to hit 15 home runs and drive in 60 runs.

He led the club with a .433 batting average in spring training and belted a round-tripper on Opening Day. He suffered a tear of the right plantaris muscle while shagging balls prior to the second game of the season. Danny was placed on the 15-day DL on April 12 and did not return until May 18.
Danny had a season high 12-game hitting streak from June 7-19, raising his average from .132 to .255. He hit his third career inside-the-park home run on June 28 at Seattle off Russ Swan. He tore his left groin muscle on July 13 at Boston and had a second stint on the 15-day DL.
Activated on July 31, Danny socked two home runs in a game for the fifth time in his career on August 4 at Baltimore. He homered on three consecutive days, August 28-30, and matched his career high with five RBIs at Seattle on September 2.
Danny is a 1980 graduate of Carol City High School in Miami. He played on the 1979 American Legion national championship team as well as the gold medal-winning team at the National Sports Festival in Colorado Springs.
Danny is the son of former Kansas City A's and Boston Red Sox outfielder Jose Tartabull and the brother of former Mariners farmhand Jose Tartabull, Jr."

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

Led Florida State League third basemen in errors (29), 1981.
Named Florida State League Player of the Year, 1981.
Led Pacific Coast League shortstops in double plays (68), 1984.

Led Pacific Coast League in home runs (43), 1985.

Led Pacific Coast League in runs batted in (109), 1985.

Led Pacific Coast League in slugging percentage (.615), 1985.
Led Pacific Coast League in total bases (291), 1985.
Led Pacific Coast League shortstops in errors (35), 1985.
Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Year, 1985.
Led American League in game-winning RBIs (21), 1987.

Led American League in grand slams (3), 1988.

Named American League Player of the Week, June 10-16, 1991.

Named American League Player of the Week, July 1-7, 1991.

Led American League in slugging percentage (.593), 1991.

-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide

FOR DANNY TARTABULL, DESTINY AWAITED
"Danny Tartabull is not joking when he says that he does not remember his first appearance in a major league baseball stadium.
'I was too young, too small, still in Pampers,' said Tartabull.
He was not lying about the Pampers part.
Tartabull's first baseball uniform had 'Kansas City A's' inscribed across the front. He wore the A's jersey as a toddler in father-son games in Municipal Stadium in K.C., which has since been razed.
Tartabull was born on October 30, 1962, soon after his father, Jose, had completed his rookie season with the K.C. A's.
Danny entered this earth not with a silver spoon in his mouth, but with a bat in his hands. The bat, however, would mint Tartabull gold. He signed a five year $25.5 million contract with the Yankees on January 6.
Tartabull was destined to be a baseball player.
'I've always been in a baseball environment,' he said. 'As far as I can remember I've always been around clubhouses.'
He would travel at times with his father, who later played for the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A's, as a youngster. He said he would be a pest in the clubhouse and often sneaked away with bubble gum.
'I've always had a glove,' Tartabull said. 'I've always had a bat. I've always played the game. That's all I've ever known.'
While he literally came crawling into baseball, the Yankees hope he will be running- or more precisely, trotting around the bases after 30 or more home runs this season.
Tartabull grew up in Miami, a 1980 graduate of Carol City High. He caught the attention of scouts when his 1979 American Legion club won the national championship. He was a member of the gold medalist team at the National Sports Festival in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
'You feel like you're on top of the world, that nobody can beat you at that age,' Tartabull said. 'I hope to have a high feeling this year going to post-season play and winning it all.'
He was a third-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 1980. The Reds shipped him to Billings, Montana. In 1981, Tartabull's career began to blossom. He led the Florida State League in hitting (.310) and doubles (29). He finished fourth in home runs (14), runs batted in (81) and triples (10). He was named the league's Player of the Year.
The next year, Tartabull was 19, and the youngest player in the Eastern League.
'I felt I should have had an MVP year in '82,' he said. 'I didn't have it and expectations were down.'
Tartabull hit .227, by far his lowest average in a dozen seasons of professional baseball, but he still clubbed 17 homers and drove in 63 runs as a second baseman.
'It was a learning experience. I kept it in the back of my mind. It helped me excel. It made me eager to start the '83 season and do better, which in fact I did.'
Tartabull, however, moved to the Seattle Mariners farm system that year. On January 20, 1983, the Mariners chose Tartabull in the compensation draft pool for losing Floyd Bannister to free agency.
'When they called me I thought they were joking to tell you the truth,' Tartabull said. 'I was expecting to be in the Reds' big league camp in Tampa, but the Reds did not protect me on the 25-man untouchable list.'
The next three seasons Tartabull would hit .301, .304 and .300 at Chattanooga, Salt Lake City and  Calgary, respectively. In 1985, his last year in the minors, he led the Pacific Coast League with 43 home runs.
Tartabull made his major league debut at age 21 on September 11, 1984 for the Mariners.
'My first major league at-bat, I got the game-winning hit,' Tartabull recalled. It was a run-scoring pinch-hit single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning against Texas. That would start a trend. Three of his first four RBI were game-winners. In 1987, with the Kansas City Royals, he would lead the majors with 21 game-winning RBI.
Tartabull's first major league home run was September 22 at Chicago off LaMarr Hoyt, who had won the American League Cy Young Award in 1983.
Tartabull finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1986, behind Jose Canseco, Wally Joyner and Mark Eichhorn, but it was his last season with the Mariners.
Seattle dealt Tartabull to the Royals in a five-player trade at the 1986 winter meetings. There is no question who got the better part of the deal. The Mariners received pitchers Scott Bankhead and Steve Shields and outfielder Mike Kingery. The Royals received a power-hitting outfielder, who would hit 124 homers and drive in 425 runs the next five years. In 1987 and 1991, he was selected the Royals' Player of the Year.
Only five players- Tartabull, George Brett, Steve Balboni, Bo Jackson and John Mayberry- have hit 30 or more home runs in a year for the Royals. Tartabull is the only one to do it twice- 31 in '91 and 34 in '87. He joined Mayberry and Brett as the only Royals to drive in 100 runs in back-to-back seasons, 1987-88, and is the only Royal to have two seasons of .300-30-100 (1987 and '91).
Danny was named to the American League All-Star team, as the starting designated hitter, last July. On July 6 he hammered three home runs off Oakland pitching in a game the Royals eventually lost 9-7.
But Tartabull was in his final year with the Royals and would become a free agent after the season and then become a Yankee.
'Actually, I did dream about playing in Yankee Pinstripes as a youngster,' Tartabull said. 'Especially coming from the East Coast everybody dreams of playing for the Yankees, being part of their tradition. I most definitely did.'
That, however, did not appear to be a reality. Several clubs talked to Tartabull, but the Yankees were not among them. The California Angels and Texas Rangers were the finalists for his services.
Then the Yankees belatedly entered the scene with GM Gene Michael and executives Joe Malloy and Hal Steinbrenner flying to Los Angeles to negotiate with Dennis Gilbert, Tartabull's agent.
'It really surprised me,' Tartabull said. 'They were a late entry, a darkhorse, but very persistent. They were wanting to make a deal. It really impressed me. We were down the line with other teams, but I was not ruling anybody out. We wanted to listen to what the Yankees had to offer.'
After receiving a five-year contract from the Yankees, he canceled a trip to Dallas to meet with the Rangers, and a meeting with the Angels, who are within driving distance of Tartabull's southern California home.
'The Yankees just came in and blew us away,' Tartabull said.
He added he never became discouraged as the negotiations seemed to stall with other clubs.
'I was very patient,' he said. 'I knew the right deal for Danny Tartabull would come along.'
Some might suggest the pressure of playing in New York might be a disadvantage. But playing in the spotlight and the media capital could be a perfect fit for Danny Tartabull.
'I think what makes Danny Tartabull tick is pressure,' Tartabull said.'When the pressure is on me I thrive on that. If I go out and play Danny Tartabull baseball and stay within myself, that should be enough.'
He hit .371 last season with runners in scoring position, a prime example that he likes to be at the plate in pressure situations. One of those hits was a grand slam at Yankee Stadium in the 11th inning off Steve Farr, a former and future teammate.
A shortstop in high school, Danny played there in the minors but was switched to second base. He was the Mariners' Opening Day second baseman in 1986. He played a couple of games at third base and a dozen in left field before he was moved to right, which is where he has remained.
'I've worked very, very hard to improve myself in the outfield,' Tartabull said. 'I've made great strides in my defensive game. I think I take more pride in that than in my offensive game.'
The Yankees, however, are paying Tartabull, who is 29, to produce offensively the next five years.
Let's compare Tartabull's 1991 statistics to Bobby Bonilla, a free agent the New York Mets just paid more money to sign.
Tartabull hit .316, 10th highest in the American League. Bonilla hit .302 last year for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tartabull's .593 slugging percentage was the highest in the majors. Bonilla had a .492 slugging percentage. Tartabull hit 31 home runs, Bonilla 18. Both drove in 100 runs. Tartabull had 69 extra-base hits, one more than Bonilla, although Danny played 25 fewer games because of injuries. Tartabull had an on-base percentage of .397, Bonilla .391. Tartabull totaled 287 bases, Bonilla 284.
'When you look at my numbers and Bonilla's numbers, you see my numbers are far better,' Tartabull said.
But he is not jealous that Bonilla will be paid more.
'Twenty-five point five million dollars is not to laugh at,' Tartabull said. 'I'm very happy. It's very gratifying. I'm very content, satisfied, tickled, a lot of adjectives.'
Playing for five million dollars a year was too farfetched a dream as a teenager.
'I don't think anybody dreamed that could happen at that time,' Tartabull said. 'I don't think three years ago anybody dreamed of making five million dollars. This year I'm going to live it.'
And he believes he is joining a winner.
'I think we- the Yankees- are not far away,' Tartabull said. 'The East is definitely not as strong as the West Division. We're just a couple of moves away. I think we're close.' "

-Alan Eskew, Topeka Capital-Journal (1992 New York Yankees Scorebook & Souvenir Program)