1993 Profile: Paul O'Neill

"He did not play up to his capabilities last year and was dealt by the Reds to the Yankees for Roberto Kelly last winter. His former manager Lou Piniella always expected more from him and was often at odds with the right fielder. O'Neill's home run production was cut in half from 1991, but his total of 14 was good enough to lead the Reds. He led the Reds in games and walks (a career high 70). He started hot, batting .319 with seven homers and 31 RBI over the season's first two months.

O'Neill ranked third in the National League in outfield assists with 12 and led NL outfielders with a .997 fielding percentage. He made one error in 304 chances.

Born February 26, 1963, in Columbus, Ohio, he was a pitcher in high school and was the Reds' fourth pick in the 1981 draft. In the 1990 NLCS, O'Neill batted .471."

-Tony DeMarco (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) and Tom Pedulla (Gannett Newspapers), The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1993 Edition

"The first thing that attracts you to Paul O'Neill is the size. 6-4, 215 pounds. The second thing that attracts you is that he bats from the left side of the plate. The third thing is the numbers. Home run totals for the Cincinnati Reds: 16, 15, 16, 28 and 14.

That was in Riverfront Stadium, which doesn't put a premium on left-handed hitters like Yankee Stadium does. The Yankees were willing to trade the talented Roberto Kelly to the Reds for O'Neill because they expect those home run totals to rise in the Bronx.

Don't think that the Yankees obtained the left-handed slugger just because he hits home runs. O'Neill, a 1991 National League All-Star, comes with other attributes: a howitzer for an arm. Excellent defensive skills. An average of 148 games played over the last three seasons.

Still, it's that bat, that left-handed power, with which Paul O'Neill is going to rise or fall as a Yankee. And it's a fact that all the great Yankee teams, all the championship Yankee teams, have had one thing in common: left-handed power hitting."

-The New York Yankees Official 1993 Yearbook

INTENSITY, THY NAME IS PAUL O'NEILL

"Paul O'Neill is intense. To put it mildly.

Ever see the outfielder's face after he makes an out on a pitch he feels he should have ripped for a base hit? Or, worse, after he's been called out on strikes? It's a good thing we all can't read lips.

See that cracked batting helmet over in the corner? Or the bat the batboy had to chase halfway up the foul line to retrieve? O'Neill's.

How about the way the other Yankees shift nervously in the dugout after a particularly bad O'Neill at-bat? They know their teammate is headed back to the dugout with an attitude, and no person or piece of equipment is safe?

First base coach Frank Howard, who brings myriad baseball skills to his position after 35 years in the game as a player, manager and coach, has mastered a new one this season- the one-bounce catch of O'Neill's batting helmet after the outfielder crosses first base upon making the final out of an inning with runners on base.

And there's no guarantee of a picnic even when O'Neill gets a hit or drills a home run. Before he's back to the dugout the players already know that the bloop single should have been a line drive. The single to left should have been a double in the gap. The 350-foot homer should have gone 405.

Paul O'Neill always wants to do better.

'It's become a standing joke with the guys,' says shortstop Spike Owen, who played against O'Neill for several seasons in the National League. 'Paul comes back to the dugout and the blooper should have been a bullet. Or he should have pulled the ball better or he should have done something different. He's such a competitor.

'He makes us laugh just watching his reactions. Of course, sometimes you have to stand clear. He keeps you on your toes.'

It's just the way O'Neill is. He has strived to be his best since his boyhood in Columbus, Ohio where he was the youngest of six children, six of them boys. As his sister, Molly O'Neill, who writes for the New York Times, wrote three seasons ago when Paul was about to appear in the World Series with the Cincinnati Reds, her little brother 'has been playing baseball all of his life since he was two years old. He had to. His brothers would have used him as a base if he hadn't learned how to swing a bat.'

So Paul learned not only how to swing, but, more important, how to compete. And he grew to be 6-4. His older brothers may have carved a name for the O'Neill family in the Central-Ohio Little League, but Paul made sure the family name and its reputation in the Columbus area were etched in stone.

Until coming to the Yankees in the November trade which sent Roberto- now Bobby- Kelly to the Cincinnati Reds, O'Neill had been one of the Midwest's best-kept secrets. In six years with the Reds, O'Neill compiled a .259 batting average and averaged 16 homers and 69 RBI per season. In addition, he played a stellar rightfield and helped the Reds to the World Championship during the 1990 season when he hit .270 with 16 homers and 78 RBI.

Now he's a  Yankee, a quiet midwesterner who still makes his home in his native Ohio, and fancies himself a baseball player, not a team spokesman. To say O'Neill has kept a low profile in his first season in the Bronx would be an understatement. In this town, only cockroaches keep lower profiles.

He'd prefer his actions- his sweet swing, rifle arm and good glove- do all the talking. So far in 1993, they have spoken volumes. Through the middle of June, O'Neill was hitting .324. A power surge- he had just one homer in his first 110 at-bats this season and added seven more in his next 100- had catapulted him to rank among the team's leaders in both home runs and RBI.

A good showing, but not a great one for the hard-to-please outfielder. It is also something he would prefer not to talk about.

'There are things I'm happy with and things I'm not,' he said in summing up his first half-season in PInstripes. 'I don't like to go into it in much depth. The end of the year is the time to look back. There are two halves to the season and there's always another game tomorrow. So much can change. It's silly to look back at this point.

'It's easier just to go out and play, keep your mind on the game and not on the other little things.'

One of those little things- and one of the things O'Neill hasn't liked about the 1993 season- is his role as a platoon player. Before Danny Tartabull went on the disabled list with a bruised kidney in May and Randy Velarde ended up there with a fracture in his left pelvis a week later, O'Neill had been splitting time in leftfield with the right-handed hitting Velarde.

'It didn't bother me, but it did surprise me,' said O'Neill, who had played against all pitching during spring training as he adjusted to leftfield, a new position. 'But there's no reason to fight those things. We're winning.'

When Tartubull went down, O'Neill moved over to right field and played every day- against left-handers and right-handers- and hit .312 (24-for-77) in full-time duty, dropping his batting average from .336. Against left-handers, he had nine hits in 43 at-bats (.209).

'The more you play (against lefties), it becomes just another at-bat,' he says. 'If you just do it once a week or once a month, you may bear down too much, try too hard.'

Yankees manager Buck Showalter doesn't like to use the word platoon when discussing his selective use of O'Neill. Because Showalter would occasionally use him against lefties- even before Tartabull and Velarde were injured- the manager said he didn't think it was a platoon. But if it looks like a platoon and smells like a platoon, that's exactly what it is.

Former Yankees manager Lou Piniella platooned O'Neill in right field when he managed him in Cincinnati. He said resting O'Neill against certain left-handers was the way to go.

'He can't hit all lefties, but some he can,' said Piniella, now the Seattle Mariners' manager. 'For the real tough ones, I got him out of there. If you have a good right-handed bat to give Paulie a night off from time to time, there's nothing wrong with that.'

Although he has had his problems with lefties this season, two of the most memorable hits O'Neill has gotten as a Yankee came against southpaws, and both came in a thrilling 9-7 win over the Boston Red Sox on June 15. In fact, they both came in the fifth inning.

Trailing 5-0, the Yankees erupted for eight runs in that inning, sending 13 men to the plate. Mike Stanley started the comeback with a solo homer off Frank Viola. O'Neill followed with a single. Two outs later, he was still at first base. But then Pat Kelly became the first of eight consecutive Yankees to reach first base.

In the middle of all that and with the score tied at 5-5, O'Neill got up again and ripped a two-out single down the rightfield line off Red Sox reliever Joe Hesketh, like Viola, a lefty. Who knows? It could prove to be one of the hits that make the Yankees' season. That night's win raised them to nine games over .500, the furthest above that mark the team had been since the end of the 1988 season.

Even O'Neill had to be happy after that, right? Content maybe. But certainly not satisfied. And he makes no apologies for what some would consider his ultra-intense approach to the game.

'I think there has to be some intensity to go out and play well,' O'Neill says. 'It has become something of a joke with the guys. But when I get a hit or a home run, I'm happy.'

He's happy, too, but not content with the Yankees' spot in the American League East standings. To O'Neill, second place is no place and that is where the Yankees have been for much of the season.

'We're getting to a point where it's time to get it going. To get where we belong, and that's first place,' O'Neill says. 'This is the time of the year where you're starting to see who has a chance. This is what makes it fun.'

Until the Yankees win a World Championship, O'Neill will not rest. It's likely that he'll play every day, too, moving back to leftfield when Tartabull is fully healthy. Velarde is not expected back until well until July.

It's also likely that O'Neill, a seemingly carefree, smiling guy away from the field, will continue to snarl, to grimace, to flick his bat and batting helmet away in disgust following each at-bat he does not approve of. A shin pad he wears while hitting since fouling two balls off his left calf in early June has also become a handy projectile.

'It's hilarious,' says Stanley. 'He seems like he's never satisfied. I like a guy who strives to do more, but he could be a little easier on himself.'

O'Neill? Not a chance."

-Don Burke, Newark Star-Ledger, 1993 New York Yankees Scorebook & Souvenir Program

"O'Neill was obtained with first baseman Joe DeBerry from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfielder Roberto Kelly in November of 1992.

In 1992 he hit .246 with 14 home runs and 66 RBIs. He led the Reds in homers, games played (148) and walks (77). His walk total was a career best. He ranked second on the club in RBIs to Barry Larkin and ranked ninth in the National League in walks and fifth in intentional walks (15).

He hit .319 (7 HR, 31 RBI) over the first 49 games of the season (through June 5). He was hampered in the second half with a sore right wrist and sore hand, the result of a check swing on July 29 at San Diego that caused the damage. He hit .282 (22-for-78) over his final 20 starts.

Paul hit .225 (39-for-173, 2 HR, 26 RBIs) against left-handed pitchers and .257 (83-for-323) against right-handers. He hit .237 (6 HR, 33 RBIs) at Riverfront Stadium and .255 (8 HR, 33 RBIs) on the road. Paul hit .231 on turf and .281 on grass. He was ejected once, on July 1 at Houston by Mike Winters for arguing balls and strikes.

An excellent defensive outfielder, O'Neill led the NL in fielding percentage (.997), making just one error in 304 total chances. He had led NL right fielders in fielding in each of the last three seasons. He led the club and ranked third in the league with 12 assists.

Paul stole his six bases in nine tries and in his career has 61 stolen bases in 94 tries.

He signed a three-year contract in February 1992. The contract extends through the 1994 season.

In 1991 O'Neill led the club in home runs (28), RBIs (91), doubles (36) and walks (77) while also setting career bests in every category. He ranked second on the club in games played (152) and at-bats (532), also career bests. O'Neill ranked tied for third in the National League in doubles, tied for third in extra-base hits (64), tied for seventh in homers, seventh in homer per at-bat ratio (1:19 AB) and tied for eighth in RBI per at-bat ratio (1:5.8 AB).

Paul homered in three consecutive games, April 26-28, against the Cubs- overall he hit six home runs and drove in 14 runs against the Northsiders in 1991. He had a career game at Wrigley Field on May 11, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two homers, six RBIs, three runs scored and 12 total bases. The total base total is still a career best while the home run, runs scored and RBI totals match career bests.

He was named to the National League All-Star team as a reserve. On July 28 at St. Louis, he notched his 500th career hit, an 8th-inning double off Lee Smith. O'Neill had a two-homer against the Dodgers on August 8, and for the second time in the season, homered in three straight games, September 13-15, this time against the Astros. The circuit clout on September 14 was the third of three consecutive Cincy home runs in the 4th inning (after Mariano Duncan and Hal Morris).

For the season, O'Neill led the Reds with 13 outfield assists. He was ejected twice.

In 1990 for the World Champion Reds, he hit .270 with 16 home runs. Paul had a career best 11-game hitting streak (13-for-44,.295) from August 21- September 2. His season also included a pair of two-homer games and three four-hit games. O'Neill also hit five home runs off San Francisco's Don Robinson.

The Reds' leading hitter in the National League Championship Series against Pittsburgh, O'Neill hit .471 (8-for-17) with three doubles, a home run, four RBIs and a .824 slugging percentage. He threw out a pair of runners from right field (Sid Bream at second, Andy Van Slyke at third). He was 1-for-12 with an RBI in the World Series against Oakland. Paul combined to hit .310 (9-for-29) in postseason play.

He was the Reds' fourth-round choice in the June 1981 free agent draft. He was scouted by Gene Bennett. In his first year of professional ball O'Neill hit .315 for Billings of the rookie Pioneer League, the ninth highest batting average in the circuit. Playing for Cedar Rapids of the Class-A Midwest League in 1982, he hit .272 with eight home runs and 71 RBIs.

Paul spent the majority of the 1983 season at Tampa (High-A Florida State League) where he hit .278 in 121 games; he hit .279 in 14 games for Waterbury of the Double-A Eastern League. In 1984, O'Neill was voted by Eastern League managers as the best prospect in the league. He hit .265 with 16 homers and 76 RBIs for Vermont of the EL. He finished in the top five in doubles (31), game-winning RBIs, home runs and total bases (215), leading Vermont to a league championship.

In 1985, Paul led the AAA American Association in doubles (32), hits (155), games  (137) and at-bats (509) while hitting .305 for Denver. He earned a spot on the American Association All-Star team and was voted by the loop's managers as one of the top prospects in the league.

The Topps Player of the Month for May, O'Neill made his major league debut on September 3 at St. Louis and singled on the first pitch to him from Jeff Lahti. He was on the bench for Pete Rose's record-setting 4,192nd hit.

Paul sat out most of the 1986 season with a torn ligament in his right thumb. The injury came from making a diving catch. He played in a combined 58 games, 55 at Denver and three at Cincinnati.

One of the club's top pinch hitters in 1987, O'Neill had 11 hits (5 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBIs). His RBI total was second most among National League pinch hitters to Graig Nettles and was the most by a Red pinch hitter since Jerry Lynch in 1961 (25).

Paul started the 1987 season with the Reds. His first two major league home runs were pinch-hit: on May 9 against Philadelphia (Kevin Gross) and three days later against the Mets (David Cone); they are his only pinch homers to date.

He made his professional pitching debut on June 19 at Atlanta, pitching two innings in a 16-5 loss to the Braves. He allowed three runs on two hits including a three-run homer by Ozzie Virgil. Paul registered two strikeouts, Ken Griffey, Sr., and Jeff Dedmon.

He spent July 3-18 with AAA Nashville. Upon his return to Cincinnati he started 32 games at all three outfield positions and first base. He hit .329 in his final 29 games.

In 1988, O'Neill ranked second on the club in RBIs (77) and third in home runs (18). He homered in three consecutive games against the Dodgers. Paul had his first career five-hit game on June 8 at San Diego, the only one by a Red in 1988, and on September 30 had his first career two-homer game against Atlanta (both off Rick Mahler).

O'Neill hit .276 with 15 home runs and 74 RBIs in 1989, playing in 117 games. His season started promising but was cut short due to injury.

On Opening Day against Los Angeles, Paul went 4-for-4 with a three-run homer. On June 7 against San Francisco, he hit two home runs and drove in six; included was his only grand slam to date (off Jeff Brantley). On July 20 at Montreal, Paul fractured his left thumb diving for a ball in the outfield, missing six weeks. At the time he ranked third in the National League in RBIs, sixth in home runs and eighth in both hits (118) and slugging. He returned to the team on September 1 and for the year stole a still career high 20 bases in 25 attempts.

O'Neill graduated from Brookhaven High School in Columbus (OH). He was primarily a pitcher in high school, earning All-State honors in baseball and basketball, also playing football. He played American Legion, Babe Ruth and Little League ball as a youth and grew up a Willie Mays fan.

Paul's father, Chick O'Neill, played minor-league baseball. Paul enjoys golf and music and is a Rolling Stones fan. A direct descendent of Mark Twain, he list Pete Rose's 4,192nd hit as one of the most dramatic moments he has witnessed."

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

Led American Association with 19 outfield assists, 1985.

Led American Association with eight double plays, 1985.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

Paul Andrew O'Neill (OF)     #21

Born February 25, 1963, in Columbus, Ohio, resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Height: 6-4, weight: 215. Bats left, throws left.

Married, Nevalee (12/29/84), and father of Andrew (4) and Aaron (4 months).

Major league service: 6 years, 47 days. Opening Day age: 30.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

R.I.P. Mario Guerrero

R.I.P. George Frazier

1993 Profile: Kevin Maas

"The power seduces. Awesome power. The kind that produces home runs that pull you out of your seat.

And that swing. Sweet swing. That Yankee Stadium stroke.

Don't forget that physique. And the clean-cut good looks. And that pleasant demeanor.

Kevin Maas has it all to be a superstar, a Yankee in the tradition of Mantle, Maris, Murcer and Mattingly. The first five M's.

After a brilliant 1990- hitting his first 10 major league home runs quicker than any player in history and then 21 homers in just 254 at-bats- it all declined.

He hit 23 homers in 1991, but that was in 500 at-bats. Two more homers in 246 more at-bats. He also struck out 128 times.

Last year was worse. Reduced to part-time duty, Maas hit only 11 homers in 286 at-bats and knocked 25 runs, down 58 from 1991.

'It all happened so fast,' Maas says. 'In a three-monrth period, I went from Triple-A player not many people knew about to a national figure in terms of being a left-handed power hitter with the New York Yankees.'

He's still young. Just 28. And it's hard to give up on that power. Awesome power. And that swing. A Yankee Stadium swing."

-The New York Yankees Official 1993 Yearbook

"1992 was a season that started out promising. Maas hit .344 with two homers and seven RBIs in April. His first home run was a pinch-hit homer in his sixth game on April 20 against Cleveland, off Brad Arnsberg. It was his first career pinch-hit home run. He had a game-winning RBI on April 22 at Chicago, stroking a 9th inning single off Scott Radinsky. In April he appeared in 15 games making starts at first base (3) and designated hitter (5).

Kevin followed April by hitting .267 with four homers and eight RBIs in 60 at-bats in May. On May 30 at Milwaukee, he went 2-for-3 with a home run off Chris Bosio, raising his batting average over .300 (.307) for the final time in 1992.

As Kevin continued to produce, he was given more at-bats. Over 82 at-bats in June, he hit .232 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. From June 24-26 he hit homers in three consecutive games. On June 24 at Kansas City, Maas homered off Rick Reed; on June 25 at KC he hit a three-run game-winning home run in the 7th off Mark Gubicza; and on June 26 against Chicago he homered off Kirk McCaskill.

Through June 26 and 163 at-bats, Kevin was hitting .282 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs; from June 27 through the break he had just three hits in 34 at-bats, dropping his first-half numbers to a .249 average, 10 homers and 27 RBIs. He hit just .167 in July, yet hit his 11th and final homer on July 19 at California (Steve Frey), his only 1992 homer off a left-hander.

Kevin rebounded to hit .270 in August in 37 at-bats. He made his only start of the year against a left-hander on August 27 at Minnesota (David West). He hit .286 in September/October, getting four RBIs in 21 at-bats. Over his final 10 starts Maas hit .297 and had 16 hits in his final 50 at-bats (.320). He hit .247 with a home run and eight RBIs after the break.

Kevin made his 69 starts at designated hitter (54) and at first base (15) and overall played in 62 games as the DH. In 1992 he made two errors in 148 chances at first base, good for a .986 fielding percentage.In his career he has been DH in 189 games, ranking him third on the all-time Yankee list behind Don Baylor (403) and Lou Piniella (222). His 214 at-bats as DH last year ranked 11th in the American League. Maas hit .368 (7-for-19) with a home run as a pinch hitter, posting the highest batting average in the league with 19-plus pinch at-bats.

He reached safely in 49 of his 69 starts (71%); he hit .211 at home and .278 on the road; he hit .280 in night games and .165 in day games; he hit .185 against left-handers and .285 against right-handers; and he hit .304 on turf. He was 23-for-83 when leading off an inning and had 17 multi-hit games.

Maas drove home nine of 18 runners from third base with less than two out and was 1-for-5 with three RBIs with the bases loaded. 13 of his 35 RBIs came with two out and 12 of his RBIs came from the 7th inning on.

He hit 11 home runs in 1992 and now has 55 in 1,040 major league at-bats, or one every 19 at-bats. He hit his first 10 home runs in 163 at-bats (1:16 AB) and his last homer in 123 at-bats. When Kevin hit homers in three consecutive games in June, it marked the first time in his career he accomplished the feat. In 1992 he hit one homer against a left-hander and 10 against righties; he hit seven home runs at home, four on the road; four in day games, seven in night games; and eight were solo, two were two-run homers and one was a three-run homer.

Kevin's longest homerless drought was 80 at-bats to end the season; the longest of his career was 90 at-bats in 1991. He has at least one career home run against every American League opponent and has homered in every AL city except Boston and Chicago.

He signed a contract for the 1993 season.

In 1991 Maas showed signs that his power in 1990 was no fluke, spending his first full season in the majors.

Maas hit .231 for the month of April, hitting both of his home runs in his first 17 at-bats while starting all 17 games. He hit his first homer in his second plate appearance on April 8 off Frank Tanana at Detroit, the Yankees' first homer of 1991. On April 12 at Kansas City, he hit his first major league triple in his 264th big league at-bat.

He had his first career four-hit game on May 8 at California, pushing his batting average to .300.  

Kevin had his most productive month in May, hitting .300 with seven homers, 11 RBIs, 18 bases on balls and 20 runs scored. His home runs came in bunches, as he hit the first four in 25 at-bats and the last three in 25 at-bats. He led the AL in bases on balls as late as May 25. He hit fourth in the batting order in the club's first 31 games of the season (through May 16) and in 40 of the first 41 games.

He hit four home runs in June. Hitting .252 with 14 homers and 34 RBIs at the break, Kevin went into a career worst slump after the break; he had a streak of nine games when he went 0-for-29. For July, he hit .151 with a home run and .158 in August with four home runs.

Kevin had a season best eight-game hitting streak from September 20-27. He stole home on September 22 at Boston on the back end of a delayed double steal with Matt Nokes. Kevin was 4-for-14 with a pair of homers in October. He hit the club's last homer of the season in the last game on October 6 at the Stadium off Jeff Shaw of the Indians.

Over his final 13 games, he hit .333 (15-for-45) with four home runs and six RBIs. He hit .191 with nine homers and 29 RBIs after the break.

For the 1991 season, he hit 23 homers. Maas became the first Yankee to hit 20+ homers in his first two major league seasons since Tom Tresh (20 & 25) in 1962 and 1963. He hit nine homers off left-handers, 14 off righties; he hit eight homers at home, 15 on the road; he hit six in day games, 17 at night, and he hit 15 solo homers, four two-run homers and four three-run homers.

Kevin's longest homerless drought was 90 at-bats. In 1991, he was the only left-handed hitter to hit a home run off Cleveland's Greg Swindell. He homered in consecutive games three times and had a multi-homer game, October 6 against Cleveland, off Charles Nagy and Jeff Shaw.

He was 2-for-8 with seven RBIs with the bases loaded. Kevin ranked fourth in the American League for the ratio of fewest grounded into double plays, hitting into one every 125 at-bats. He tied Mel Hall for the club lead in two-out RBIs (27).

He played 36 games at first base and made six errors, for a .983 fielding percentage. He was the designated hitter in 109 games and his 370 DH at-bats ranked ninth in the league. 

Maas played winter ball in Venezuela, hitting .367 with two homers and 12 RBIs over 18 games. 

In 1990, Maas established his mark as having a swing built for Yankee Stadium. He finished a brilliant rookie season with a .252 batting average, 21 home runs and 41 RBIs. He was runner-up to Sandy Alomar, Jr., in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.

He started the season in Tampa on injury rehabilitation for 1989 knee surgery, then reported to Columbus on April 29. Maas was with the Clippers until he had his contract purchased by the Yankees on  June 28. At the time of his promotion he was hitting .284 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 38 RBIs. He had a .390 on-base percentage and a .582 slugging average.

Kevin was put into the lineup immediately, making his debut as a starter (designated hitter) on June 29 at Chicago. He went 1-for-3 getting his first major league hit, a single off Jack McDowell in the 4th inning. He hit safely in his first three games (3-for-10) and hit his first home run on July 4th at Kansas City off Bret Saberhagen. Kevin hit home runs in three consecutive games (July 23-25 at Texas) to become the first Yankee rookie to do so since Steve Whitaker from August 26-28, 1966.

He had four home runs over the final 12 games of June. He hit .270 in for the month with eight home runs and 15 RBIs.

Kevin had another productive month in August, hitting .260 with eight home runs and 15 RBIs. He went 2-for-4 on August 11 to bring his average to .282 but hit .238 over the remainder of the month.

Reaching a number of major league records with his home run power, Maas set the MAJOR LEAGUE record for fewest at-bats (77) to reach 10 home runs- the old record was held by George Scott who hit 10 in 79 at-bats for the Red Sox in 1966. He set the MAJOR LEAGUE record for fewest at-bats (110) to reach 13 home runs- the old record was held by Sam Horn who hit 13 in 123 at-bats for Boston in 1987. He set the MAJOR LEAGUE record for fewest at-bats (133) to reach 15 home runs- the old record was held by Wally Berger who hit 15 in 135 at-bats for the Boston Braves in 1930. Maas tied the MAJOR LEAGUE record for most home runs (12) in his first 100 at-bats with Dave Hostetler, who hit 12 in his first 100 for the Texas Rangers in 1982. He finished first in the American League and second in the majors for most home runs by a rookie, behind David Justice of Atlanta who hit 28.

Maas and Mattingly started together 18 times and in those games combined to hit .331 (45-for-136) with seven homers and 22 RBIs. Maas hit .359 (23-for-64) and Mattingly hit .306 (22-for-72). For the year, Maas started 70 games (1B-53, DH-17).

The Yankees' 22nd pick in the June 1986 free agent draft, Kevin was signed by Yankee scout Bill Livesey and recommended by Yankee scout Greg Orr. He played 28 games with short-season Class A Oneonta, where he batted .356 with 10 doubles and 18 RBIs in his first professional season.

He spent the 1987 season at 'A' Ft. Lauderdale of the Florida State League where he batted .278 with 28 doubles, 11 home runs, 73 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 108 strikeouts. He played 76 of his 116 games at first base but was named as the designated hitter on the Florida State League All-Star team. He was added to the Yankees' 40-man roster in November of 1987.

He started the season with 'A' Prince William of the Carolina League and batted .296 in 29 games with seven doubles, 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. He was promoted to AA Albany-Colonie of the Eastern League on May 13, where he finished the season.

Kevin was named to play in the mid-season Eastern League All-Star Game and was selected as the first baseman on the postseason Eastern League All-Star team. He was named Topps Minor League Player of the Month in the Eastern League for August, when he batted .243 in 31 games with 20 runs scored, six home runs and 16 RBIs (including four game-winning RBIs).

He batted .263 in 108 games at Albany with 66 runs, 14 doubles, 16 home runs and 55 RBIs. He finished third in the Eastern League in home runs and third in walks (64). Kevin's combined 28 home runs at Prince William and Albany led the Yankee farm system and he was named the 1988 Yankee Minor League Player of the Year.

Maas spent the entire 1989 season at Columbus. He hit .320 in 83 games (third best on the club) with 23 doubles, six home runs and 45 RBIs. 31 of his 93 hits (33%) went for extra bases and his .474 slugging percentage ranked second on the team. He played 43 of 83 games as an outfielder but was named to the International League All-Star team as a designated hitter.

He was on the disabled list twice in 1989: from April 18-May 1 with chicken pox, and from July 28 through the end of the season as he underwent arthroscopic surgery on August 16 to have ligaments in his right knee repaired. He injured his right knee rounding first base on July 26.

Kevin graduated from Bishop O'Dowd (CA) High School and earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He was voted the 1991 'Good Guy' award by the New York Press Photographers Association."

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide

Named to Florida State League All-Star team (designated hitter), 1987.

Named to mid-season Eastern League All-Star Game (designated hitter), 1988.

Named Eastern League Player of the Month, August 1988.

Named to postseason Eastern League All-Star Game (first baseman), 1988.

Named to International League All-Star team (designated hitter), 1989.

Set major league record for fewest at-bats to reach 10 home runs (77), 1990.

Set major league record for fewest at-bats to reach 13 home runs (110), 1990.

Set major league record for fewest at-bats to reach 15 home runs (133), 1990.

Tied major league record for most home runs in first 100 at-bats (12), 1990.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide

Kevin Christian Maas (1B-DH)     #24

Born January 20, 1965, in Castro Valley, California, resides in Castro Valley, California. Height: 6-3, weight: 209. Bats left, throws left.

Graduated from University of California at Berkeley.

Major league service time: 2 years, 98 days. Opening Day age: 28.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

1993 Profile: Bob Wickman

"The secret of Bob Wickman's pitching success is not recommended for youngsters aspiring to pitch in the major leagues, or any other level for that matter. You may read this but definitely do not try this.

When he was two years old, Wickman lost the tip of his right index finger when he tried to free a pet cat from some farm machinery. And therein lies the secret of a sinker that enabled Wickman to progress to the major leagues after less than three seasons in the minors.

'I have very little pressure from the cut-off finger,' Wickman explains. 'I use it as a guide basically. I throw everything off the middle finger. It gives me a natural sink on the ball.'

That sinker helped Wickman impress the Yankees brass when he was called up last August 23 and won six of seven decisions after winning 12 games at Columbus.

Up to now, Wickman has been known as the 'throw-in,' a bonus to sweeten the pot when the Yankees sent Steve Sax to the White Sox for Melido Perez. But if his September showing is a portent, that deal may one day be known as 'the Bob Wickman trade.' "

-The New York Yankees Official 1993 Yearbook

"Wickman was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in January of 1992 along with pitchers Melido Perez and Domingo Jean in exchange for second baseman Steve Sax and cash considerations. He has taken the accelerated path to the majors, and in 1992 showed that he is a capable pitcher at the major league level.

He started the season at AAA Columbus and ended the season in Pinstripes. Wickman had his contract purchased from Columbus on August 23. At the time of his recall he sported a 12-5 record and a 2.92 ERA (157.0 IP, 131 H, 55 BB, 108 K) [1.19 WHIP]. He also had two complete games and a shutout to his credit.

Immediately placed in the starting rotation, after just 23 AAA stars and 20 AA starts, he made his debut on August 24 against Milwaukee. He did not earn a decision in a 9-8 Yankee win, as the bullpen blew a save chance when Bob left the game leading 5-4 in the sixth inning. Bob earned his first win in his next start, August 29 at Minnesota. He pitched eight innings with Farr getting the save. He endured a 23-minute power outage in the Metrodome after the top of the third inning.

He finished the season with a three-game win streak. His final start came on October 2 at Boston, with Bob allowing one run over six innings in a 6-3 Yankee win. Overall in Pinstripes, he was 6-1 with a 4.11 ERA in his eight starts.

Wickman posted five wins in September/October, tied for second most in the majors (with five others) behind Cal Eldred's six. Wick started the season 3-0, as did his teammate Sam Militello. His 6-1 start to the season was the best by a Yankee starter to begin his career since Tom Morgan started 8-1 in 1951; as Morgan's second win was in relief, the last pure starter to start better was Whitey Ford, who started 9-0 in 1950.

Steve Farr saved five of the wins and Greg Cadaret saved one. Matt Nokes (6 games) and Mike Stanley (2 games) caught when Bob pitched. He was supported with 50 runs (6.3 runs per game) and the team hit .307 with 11 home runs when he started. His ERA in innings 1-3: 4.88 (24.0 IP, 13 ER); innings 4-6: 3.68 (22 IP, 9 ER); innings 7-9:2.08 (4.1 IP, 1 ER). The Yankees were 7-1 in Wickman's eight starts.

He was 2-1, 5.09 ERA in his four home starts, 4-0, 3.29 in his four road starts. Left-handed batters hit .281, right-handers, .265. Bob handled 10 chances without an error. Between Columbus and New York he led the organization in wins (18).

In Columbus in 1992, he had a sensational first season in AAA. Wickman was a last-minute addition to the Columbus roster on April 9 when Wade Taylor was placed on the DL. He led the Clippers in innings pitched (157.0), was tied with Militello for wins (12) and was third in ERA (2.92). Columbus was 14-9 when he started and the International League hit .227 against him. He made 18 quality starts.

Wickman pitched two scoreless innings in the All-Star Game. He was the International League's Player of the Week from June 7-13 following a complete-game 3-hit shutout of Syracuse. He was the Yankee organization's Pitcher of the Month for May (6-0, 1.91) and August (3-0, 1.51), and the Topps International League Player of the Month for June (3-1, 1.67).

Wickman owns a minor league career mark of 32-19 with a 2.75 ERA. He signed a contract for the 1993 season.

The White Sox' second-round choice in the June 1990 free agent draft, Bob was signed by scouts Phil Rizzo and Lon Snipps. In 1990, his first year of professional baseball, he pitched for three clubs, combining to go 9-3 with a 1.62 ERA over 13 starts. He pitched better as he progressed, going 7-2 with a 1.38 ERA with three complete games in nine games started at Class A South Bend.

Bob started the 1991 season at Class-A Sarasota and finished at Class AA Birmingham. He earned his promotion from Sarasota after making just seven starts, going 5-1 with a 2.05 ERA. At Birmingham, he was 6-10 with a 3.56 ERA with four complete games over 20 starts.

Bob attended at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played three years of baseball, and is the first player from UWW to reach the majors. An all-conference hitter and pitcher, he is working toward a degree in elementary education. He enjoys hunting, fishing and video games in his spare time.

Bob played baseball, basketball and football at Oconto High School. His father, Willy, played semi-pro football.

Bob is missing the tip of his right index finger, caused by a farming accident when he was just two years old. He caught the finger in a compressor."

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

Named International League Pitcher of the Week, June 7-13, 1992.

Named to International League mid-season All-Star team, 1992.

Named to Baseball America AAA All-Star Team, 1992.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

Robert Joe Wickman "Bob" "Wick" (P)     #27

Born February 26, 1969, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, resides in Abrams, Wisconsin. Height: 6-1, weight: 212.  Bats right, throws right.

Married, Sue (10/24/92). Attended University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Major league service time: 43 days. Opening Day age: 24.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

R.I.P. Vida Blue

1993 Profile: Jim Leyritz

"He has become the Yankee of all trades. Don't ask catcher/infielder/outfielder Jim Leyritz, unless you have a few minutes to spare. He can play them all and contribute while doing so.

Since playing his first game in a Yankee uniform in 1990, Leyritz has made his mark as a fiery competitor. The 29-year-old product of the Yankee minor league system showed off his versatility in a productive way last season playing five different positions (catcher, first, second, third and rightfield) plus designated hitter. But in his heart, Leyritz will always be a catcher first.

'If you look at what I did when I was back there (catching), the results were good. I can be an offensive catcher and play defense. There is not much of that around,' he says.

Yankee fans have grown to love his spirited play and all-out hustle on the field. Rarely does Leyritz leave a game without dirtying his uniform.

Despite collecting just 144 at-bats in 1992, Leyritz connected for seven home runs and had an uncanny ability to drive in key runs.

'With the amount of at-bats I had, if you take that production over a full year, there would be good numbers,' he adds.

Leyritz is proving to be quite a catch."

-The New York Yankees Official 1993 Yearbook

"Once again in 1992, Leyritz showed his versatility, seeing action at five positions, plus designated hitter. He hit .257 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs in 144 at-bats and 63 games.

Leyritz appeared in five April games, making two starts, both behind the plate. On April 6 at Toronto, he hit his first home run in his sixth at-bat of the season.

He made the most of his limited playing time in May, hitting .409 (9-for-22) with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs. His big game came on May 4 at Seattle, going 3-for-4 with a home run (off Russ Swan) and a career best -tying four RBIs. Jim was hitting.367 with three homers in 30 at-bats through the end of May.

On June 13 at Cleveland, he hit a game-winning sixth-inning home run (off Dave Otto), then on June 18 at Boston delivered a game-winning sacrifice fly in the 7th, both times winning the game for Melido Perez. Jim went 3-for-4 on June 24 at Kansas City, making his second career start in right field.  He was hitting .303 on July 1, the last time he would be hitting .300 during the season, hitting .263 with five homers and 16 RBIs at the break.

Jim hit just .108 in July, then .233 in August. He had a season long five-game hitting streak from August 29-September 14. He rebounded at bat in September, hitting .462 (6-for-13) with a pair of homers, raising his batting average from .237 to a season-ending .257. His home runs came in back-to-back games against Kansas City (Mike Magnante) and Chicago (Wilson Alvarez). Jim hit .250 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 64 at-bats after the break.

Leyritz hit his seven home runs in 144 at-bats (1:21 AB) after hitting five home runs in 380 major league at-bats (1:76) prior to 1992. He reached base safely in 32 of his 42 starts, hitting .273 (35-for-128) with seven homers and 23 RBIs. 13 of his overall 26 RBIs came with two out in an inning and he reached base leading off an inning 15 of 37 times. Jim drove in seven of eight runners from third base with less than two out and was 2-for-9 with seven RBIs with the bases loaded.

He started 42 games overall in 1992 (DH-26, C-13, RF-2, 3B-1) and also played first and second. He made one error all year, as a catcher, throwing out nine of 24 runners attempting to steal (38%). The Yankees were 3-10 when he started behind the plate and the pitching staff's ERA was 4.51.

Jim hit .278 in night games. He hit .245 with five homers against left-handed pitchers and .286 with two homers against righties. He hit .351 (13-for-37) on turf.

Jim signed a contract for the 1993 season.

Leyritz spent time with both the Yankees and the Columbus Clippers in 1991. He started the season with the Yankees before being optioned to the Clippers on May 17.

He appeared in 11 April games, made three starts and went 1-for-12. He was the Opening Day catcher on April 8 at Detroit- his other two starts were at third base. Jim's only hit in April was a pinch single on April 10 at Detroit off Walt Terrell.

May was no better offensively. Leyritz started eight games, all at third, and hit .094 (3-for-32). All three hits came in back-to-back games, May 5-6 at Seattle.

With the Clippers Jim played in 79 games and hit .267 with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs. Upon his recall to New York on September 16, he played in 10 games (9 starts) and improved his offensive numbers dramatically. He hit .303 (10-for-33) with four RBIs after the recall and in the field did not make an error.

Overall for the Yankees in 1991, Jim played in 32 games of which 20 were starts at catcher (3), third base (16) and DH (1). In his two stints he combined to .181 with four RBIs. With the Clippers, he played second base (1), third (21), shortstop (1) and caught (34). He hit .316  (6 HR, 21 RBI) after the break, .321 (9-for-28) in the playoffs and was tied for seventh in the Yankee organization in home runs (11). Jim spent a week on the disabled list (June 24-July 1) with a sore arm while at Columbus.

A versatile player for the 1990 Yankees, Jim played third base, outfield and caught while hitting .257 with five home runs and 25 RBIs.

Jim started the season with the Clippers and had his contract purchased on June 8. At the time of his promotion he was hitting .280 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs over 59 games. With the Clippers he saw action at first base, second base, third base, in the outfield and at catcher.

He made an immediate impact, making his major league debut as a  pinch hitter on June 8 at Baltimore- he had a two-out 9th inning RBI single off Gregg Olson to tie the score at 4-4. Jim's first start came at third base on June 10, also at Baltimore, going 2-for-3 with a double. His second pinch-hit at-bat came on June 13 against Boston, resulting in a single off Roger Clemens.

From June 18-27 Jim hit in nine straight games (.412, 14-for-34). On June 30 at Chicago, he went 3-for-5 with his first two major league home runs (off Melido Perez and Ken Patterson).

From June 19-July 2, Jim hit .400 (20-for-50) over a 13-game period, raising his average from .250 to .351. He hit .343 in June. At the break he was hitting .313 with two homers and eight RBIs.

Jim's batting average tailed off after the break  From July 12-August 27 he started 42 of the clubs 47 games at third base.

He hit .262 in August. He hit in five straight games from August 22-27 before spraining his ankle running out a ground ball on August 27 at Baltimore. He did not start the next six games before starting on September 3. He started 24 games in August, all at third.

On September 6 against California, Leyritz was ejected after hitting an apparent first-inning two-run homer down the right-field line off Mark Langston. The ball was initially called fair by first base umpire Evans and then reversed by third base umpire Welke. Jim was ejected by home plate umpire Coble, with Mike Ferraro and Stump Merrill also getting thrown out. His fifth home run came on September 19 at Toronto, a three-run shot off Jim Acker.

For the season, he started 85 games at third base (67), catcher (10), left field (7) and right field (1).

Jim made 13 errors in 1990 (3B-11, C-1, LF-1). His error in left field came on July 1 at Chicago, allowing the winning run to score in Andy Hawkins' no-hitter. The ERA of the Yankee pitching staff was 3.77 (74.0 IP, 31 ER) with Jim behind the plate. He threw out two of four base stealers and allowed four passed balls.

12 of his 25 RBIs came with two out. He hit .291 against left-handed pitchers.

Jim was signed by the Yankee organization as a free agent by scout Bill Livesey on August 24, 1985. He began his pro career in 1986 with the Oneonta Yankees [short-season A New York-Penn League] and batted .363 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 23 games. Jim was promoted to Ft. Lauderdale where he batted .294 in 12 games with a double and a triple.

He spent the 1987 season at Ft. Lauderdale and batted .307 in 102 games with 22 doubles, six homers and 51 RBIs. He played in the Florida State League All-Star Game and led FSL catchers in assists (76), double plays (7) and passed balls (25). Jim spent the 1988 season at Albany (AA) of the Eastern League where he batted .241 in 112 games with 18 doubles and 49 RBIs.

Jim spent the 1989 season with Albany. He led the league in hitting (.315), on-base percentage (.423) and hit-by-pitches (9), ranked second on the team in hits (118) and RBIs (66) and had 10 home runs and 18 doubles. Jim had a five-hit game and was named to the Eastern League All-Star team (as a utility man). He played 67 of his 114 games as a catcher. A versatile player, he played three positions from 1986-89 (C-268, OF-30, 3B-17).

He attended Middle Georgia Junior College and the University of Kentucky. He played one year of baseball at Kentucky and hit .327 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs for the Wildcats. At Middle Georgia, he hit .387 with 17 homers and just 10 strikeouts in 231 career at-bats. Jim played Connie Mack and Babe Ruth baseball in Cincinnati.

Jim is involved with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization and the Harlem Kids organization."

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide

Led Florida State League catchers in assists (76), 1987.

Led Florida State League catchers in double plays (7), 1987.

Led Florida State League catchers in double plays (25), 1987.

Named to Florida State League All-Star team (catcher), 1987.

Tied for Eastern League batting title (.315), 1989.

Led Eastern League in on-base percentage (.423), 1989.

Led Eastern League in being hit by a pitch (9), 1989.

Named to Eastern League All-Star team (utility man), 1989.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

James Joseph Leyritz "Jim" "Ritz" (C)     #13

Born December 27, 1963, in Lakewood, Ohio, resides in Plantation, Florida. Height: 6-0, weight: 190. Bats right, throws right.

Married, Andrea (11/11/89). Attended Middle Georgia Junior College and the University of Kentucky.

Major league service time: 2 years, 6 days. Opening Day age: 29.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide