Ah shucks, fellows thanks! Praise from the Praisworthy is Praise indeed. In other words, I sure appreciate hearing from you, the guys who have done this so well already.
Oh, yeah it is that Casey Blake. But, thats a long time from now.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
Ah shucks, fellows thanks! Praise from the Praisworthy is Praise indeed. In other words, I sure appreciate hearing from you, the guys who have done this so well already.
Oh, yeah it is that Casey Blake. But, thats a long time from now.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
Ralph Houk welcomes Sparky Lyle in Baltimore, Opening Day 1970
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
The Home Opener April 5 1970,
67,000 fans pack the fabled Ballpark in the South Bronx. Even Mike Burke is thrilled at the turnout. We have held our ticket prices this year while over at Shea the Mets, coming off their World Series win, have jacked their prices up. I don’t blame them.
Following out opening day victory in Baltimore, Stan Bahnsen and Fritz Peterson were shellacked in the next to games a 10 -0 embarrassment and a 16-9 slugfest. With a day off, Mel Stottlemyre is ready to go again. The Tigers put Jerry Robertson on the mound for his first start of the year. The Tigers are just a year away from their 1968 World Championship, and a lot of that team is here today.
As Bob Shepard introduces each player, I get a chill, even though I sit in the warm sun in the Owners Box Seats. This is MY team he is introducing. CBS owns them but they are still my team.
After a scoreless first, Mel can’t get his sinker over and walks Bill Freehan and Kevin Collins, Jim Northrup makes him pay with a 2 run double. 2-0
Bottom of the 2nd the old stadium shakes as Curt Blefary homers with Roy White aboard. Then following a Ron Woods walk and Mel’s sac bunt, Frank Baker singles through the left side scoring the go ahead run. 2-3
Top of the 3rd and Mel is laboring, Al Kaline singles and Mel hits Norm Cash with a pitch. The wildness continues with a walk to Willie Horton and Bill Freehan laces single to center, Woods comes up throwing and holds Cash at 3rd. But Collins grounder to first brings Cash in as Belfry elect to go to second with the ball. Mel gets Northrup to bang into a 5-4-3 double play. 4-3
With Mel due up in the bottom of the 4th Ralph tries to nurse him through the top of the inning so not to burn an extra pitcher. It doesn’t work and as Dick McAulif, Kaline, Cash and Horton stage a two out rally for 2 runs. 6-3
Mel’s day is done as Len Boehmer pinch hits for him in the bottom of the 4th and strikes out.
Ralph brings Sparky Lyle in, (I thought he was our closer) and Lyle rights the ship in the 5th, but when he puts 2 men on in the 6th Ralph summons Joe Verbanic. (It appears the Major does not trust Sparky yet.) Willie Horton greets Verbanic with a single to drive in the 7th Tiger run. 7-3
Verbanic atones for his pitching by driving in Jake Gibbs with an RBI single to center in the bottom of the sixth, but is thrown out a second when the throw home is cut off. 7-4
In the top of the eighth Verbanic gives up 2 more runs as the Tiger stage another 2 out rally, that looks a lot like a replay of the 4th inning. 9-4
Bottom of the Eighth and Les Cain is brought in by Tiger manager Smith. The Yanks pounce on him with singles by Blefary and Munson, a Ron Woods walk and Frank Baker’s 2 run double.9-6
But that’s how it ends as the Yanks go quietly in the ninth.
I trudge back to my office, and wonder if I need to talk to Ralph about the way he is using the Bullpen. No, he’s the manager. I have enough other things to worry about.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
April 7, 1970
After a short homestand the team is flying to Oakland. With six games in the books we are at .500, The last two games of the Tiger set were fabulous and exciting. Stan Bahnsen faced “the fat man” Micky Lolich in game 2 of the set. In a classic 4-3 win. Ron Woods, making the most of starting, had a triple into the monuments in center, scoring Munson, then Bahnsen lifted a flyball just far enough to get him home. Horace Clarke drove in Munson and Cater in the eighth for the winning runs.
Ralph used Lindy McDaniel to close again. He gave up one run. But, that was all. Hmmm.
In the rubber game Fritz Peterson outdualed former 30 game winner Denny McLain. Roy White drew a bases loaded walk in the 8th for a go ahead run. McDaniel closed again! And we won, so how can I complain.
Max Patkin stopped in to see me today. Max is the rubber-limbed clown that dresses in a phony baseball uniform with a ? instead of a number and fools around between innings, doing exaggerated warm-ups, fake slides into bases, imitations of players, and argues with the umps. (he’s got Ralph’s hat kicking routine down cold.)
“A.G., I know things are a little crazy with you just takin’ over and all.” Max starts, “But, nobody has contacted me to book me for this year. A lot of dates in August are already gone and I know by then you’ll need something to draw the fans in.”
“You know Max,” I say, “I think we won’t be needing your services this year.”
“What?” Max exclaims, “Look if it’s about money, I can hold my rate to last years figure…”
“No Max,” I interrupt, “It’s not the money, we are going to be in the race in August, and September too, if I have anything to say about it.”
“OK, A.G.” Max says standing and chuckling, “I saw that trade you made with Boston, you better leave the clowning to me. You got my number when you need me.”
“Goodbye Max, and have a good year.” I said
Vigilante
I know this is a little late, but as a Red Sox fan, I feel it is my duty to do this:Originally Posted by OldYankFan
In other news, I'm really enjoying this so far. It's got a great backstory, which makes it that much more interesting. Keep up the good work!
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
April 18 1970
The schedule maker must hate the Yankees. Immediately following the Tiger series in New York the team flew to Oakland to play the next day.
With no day off and a 4 hour time difference the Yanks were extremely lethargic. Rookie Dave Pagan’s first start of the year in the opener was a 10-1 disaster. Pagan gave up 3 runs in 4 innings, Sparky Lyle, working middle relief again, was pounded for 4 runs without recording a single out. The 3 runs scored off Klimkowski were just icing on the cake. Thurman Munson’s first homerun was the only bright spot in a dismal day.
The next day the defense deserted the Team, Horace Clarke and Gene Michael each made 2 errors and Lindy McDaniel threw 2 wild pitches in one inning. McDaniel lost the game with out giving up an earned run. The Final Score 7-6
Stan Bahnsen salvaged the final game, Lindy McDaniel earned his 4th save of the year, and Bobby Murcer went 3 for 4 with a homer (his fourth). Murcer is hitting .444 at this early juncture, Stick Micheal, .455, and Curt Blefary .409 ,on the other hand there is Horace Clarke .179, Jake Gibbs .158, Roy White .222, and Ron Woods .231.
With a day off to fly home and rest, the team got ready for the weekend series at home against Boston.
Bad news, Stan Bahnsen spent the day off moving furniture around his house and sprained a finger, he’ll be out 2 weeks. Stan apparently got a chair in the shape of a Baseball Glove. He caught his finger in the webbing as he was setting the darn thing down. “Marone, what kind of luck is that.” I put him on the DL and recalled that kid Ron Guidry from AAA Syracuse. I don’t want Guidry to stay with the big club, but one start could give him a taste.
Fritz Peterson tosses a complete game in the opener, outdualing Sonny Siebert 2-1, Curt Blefary drives in the first run and Roy White lines one over the fence down the leftfield line for the other.
The Press has a field day when Pete Ward hits a two run homer against Dave Pagan in the Sunday Matinee Game. A huge crowd of 65,000 are on hand for Cap Day. Wards heroics help the Red Sox to an exciting 5-4 win.
Ralph starts Joe Verbanic against the powerful Red Sox in the final , deciding to hold Guidry off for the much weaker Washington Senators who come in next..
Verbanic get murdered, grooving a 3-0 fastball to (you guessed it) PETE WARD for a 2 run homer. Rico Petrocelli hit a homer and a double, and Jake Gibbs, maybe the slowest guy on our team, missed a sign and was caught stealing. 8-0 is the final. The newspapers roast me alive on the Lyle - Ward deal again. Johnny Carsen actually mentions the deal in his monologue, saying that Red Sox have finally got even for Babe Ruth.
Washington first in War, First in Peace and Last in the American League. An old joke I know, but, still true today. We get our first sweep of the Season. Ron Guidry looks pretty good, for a kid, in a 5-2 win in the opener. Fritz Peterson pitches his 2nd straight complete game, shuting out the Senators in game 2, and Dave Pagan gets his first career win in the 3rd game, 7-1.
We are 8-7 on the year, and we are hitting a fairly robust .276 as a team. But the Red Sox have come out on fire and are 12 and 3! Pete Ward is the toast of Beantown.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
Stan Bahnsen and his ill fated chair.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
April 25 1970
After our home-stand and sweep of the Senators, the team flew to Milwaukee. Since this is our very first trip to Milwaukee, I decided to accompany the team. I get our traveling Secretary, Bruce Henry, to book me a later flight so I arrive near game time. The Milwaukee Brewers were the Seattle Pilots last year, after one miserable season in Seattle the team was bought by some guy named Selig and moved to Milwaukee. They have a pretty good hitting team, and a questionable pitching staff, except for young Jerry Bell.
I am now convinced that Baseball should not be played in Milwaukee in April, the temperature at game time was 45 degrees, and this was a day game. 16,000 or so brave souls shivered through almost 3 hours as the Brewers beat Mel Stottlemyre 7-2 with Marty Pattin going all the way for the Brew Crew. Celerino Sanchez had 2 doubles for us as about the only bright spot in the line-up. Sanchez has adjusted well to American League pitching and is hitting an impressive .321. Celerino has become a regular post-game guest of Buck Canel, who does the Spanish language broadcast of Yankee games for WADO in New York.
This kid, Guidry, is trying to make it hard for me to send him down when Bahnsen comes off the DL. He won his second game in as many starts 6-5. Sparky Lyle picked up his second save. Danny Cater and Ron Woods homered to support Guidry’s efforts. I bought a heavier coat today and I’m glad I did. Game time temperature was 40.
Game 3 and even I almost did not stay for it all, Game temp was 36, (why couldn’t this Selig guy been from Texas). Fritz Peterson took the loss in a 6-3 chiller. Jake Gibbs and Stick Micheal weren’t just cold, their bats are freezing. Stick is hitting .214 and Gibbs is down to .143.
While the scheduler made us fly to Oakland and Play the same night, he gave us a day off to ride the 60 miles from Milwaukee to Chicago. Go figure.
Ralph and I had some free time in Chicago so we had dinner with Gene Woodling, Ralph’s old teammate, who does scouting for us in the Midwest. Surrounded by Ralph’s cigar smoke we talked a while about some of the prospects that Woodling has been scouting, then the 2 old timers swapped stories about the Yankee glory days, they could go on for hours just about Casey Stengel.
Ralph has been using the days off to skip Dave Pagans spot in the rotation, so Mel is back on the mound in the opener in Chicago. Horace Clarke throws one into the dugout in the first inning opening the flood gates for 4 White Sox runs. A Bobby Knoop home run in the fifth ends Mel’s day. Jack Aker gets lit up like a Christmas Tree, final score 10-4
Guidry is the beneficiary of a 15 run out burst in game two. The Yanks pound out 7 doubles and 2 homers (Munson and Sanchez). Guidry allows just 2 runs as he goes all the way. He is now 3-0 in just 3 starts.
The righthand hitting side of Ralph’s Platoon system is hitting much better than the left hand side. Munson .364, Blefary .340 and Danny Cater is hitting an astounding .529, of course since these 3 only start against lefthand pitching they have limited at bats.
Meanwhile, Pete Ward went 3 for 4 against Twins, and the 1st Place Red Sox are hitting .309 as at team.
The finally of the series had Fritz Peterson in a 3-2 duel with Joel Horland, until Buddy Braford hit a 3 run homer in the 7th. Final score 6-2 White Sox.
We went 2-4 on the road trip and slipped under .500 again, maybe I’ll stay home the next time.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
April 30, 1970,
On the Flight home from Chicago I sat with Ralph on the plane.
“Ralph, what is the one thing you need to get this team to the next level?“ I asked.
“Just one thing?” He laughed.
“Look Ralph, I can only do so much, we have a number of holes on the team, but I only have so much to work with in a trade situation,” I said “ What is on the top of your priority list?“
“Well,” Ralph mused puffing on his cigar, “When Bahnsen, comes off the DL, the starting rotation will be back, we will have to decide if Guidry or Pagan, goes down.“
“Yeah,” I said, “I thought that would be an easy call, but Ron is making it tough.”
“The Bullpen is strong. McDaniel, Aker, Lyle, Klimkowski,” Ralph said thoughtfully, “They give me a lot to work with. We can always use another strong arm…”
“But?” I prompted.
“But, I think we need left hand power,” said Ralph. "The righthand platoon is stronger. I need somebody to bat behind Murcer, somebody who can zero in on the short porch in right.”
“Yeah,” I said “ I agree, at what position? We have Ron Blomburg at AAA he could fill the bill but I don’t think he is ready. We are weak up the middle so a centerfielder, or catcher? We certainly aren’t going to find a power hitting short stop of second baseman.”
“You know, I have been thinking of moving Bobby Murcer over to center. A corner outfielder might be easier to find.” Ralph mused.
“OK, a lefthand power hitting outfielder or catcher.” I said “Let’s see what I can do.”
When we returned to New York, I called Clyde Kluttz , our Director of Player Development, he heads up our scouts.
“Clyde, Ralph says we should go out and find some left hand power, Outfield or Catcher. Call your guys and get me some ideas.” I told him.
“I’ll get back to ya., A.G.” Clyde growled and hung up.
The Orioles are back in town, trailing the Red Sox by ½ game. Dave Pagan and Jim Palmer, not a promising match up. It turns out to be an exciting game. Down 6-3 going into the bottom of the ninth we rally against a visibly tiring Palmer. Earl Weaver must figure a tired Palmer is better than anyone in his bullpen. Sanchez singled to lead off, after Blefary struck out Gene Micheal walked. Earl had seen enough, at last, and called on Eddie Watt. Watt walked Frank Baker who was pinch hitting for Lindy McDaniel. Horace Clarke singled in Sanchez and Micheal. With the tying run at third and one out the big ballpark was raucous and wild. And then it was silent as a tomb as Jake Gibbs hit into a 5-4-3 double play. The Orioles move into 1st place. 6-5
Game two and Mel Stottlemyre finally gets his first win, the righthand platoon line-up drills 10 singles and draws 6 walks, Sparky Lyle gets his 3rd Save. 4-3
Game three, Ron Guidry pitches seven strong inning before being lifted for a pinch hitter with the score tied at 2 each. In the bottom ninth 2 outs, score knotted at 3 apiece, Stick Micheal triples in the gap. Curt Blefary, pinch hitting, bounces one through the hole for the winning run. 4-3 with Lindy McDaniel getting the win in relief.
So the Orioles leave town back in second place and we are back to .500 and on the road to Cleveland.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
May 7 1970,
As the team flew to Cleveland, Clyde Kluttz dropped in to give me the low down on Left Handed power that I could consider.
“First,” Said Clyde, “Forget about any Catchers, there aint really nobody out there that have any more power than Jake Gibbs, and Jake sure doesn’t have too much.”
“Figures,” I said.
“I do have a nice list of outfielders,” He said pushing the paper across the table.
I looked it at the list. “We can forget about half of the guys right off the bat. Tony Oliva, Yaz, Reggie Smith, Willie Stargell, Billy Williams, and Reggie Jackson , they are all big stars on their teams. We could never pry them away and even if their teams were interested in trading them we don’t have enough to give.”
“Mack Jones and Allan Lewis are probably too old.” Said Clyde.
“That leaves us with Johnny Briggs of the Phillies, Ken Harrelson and Graig Nettles of the Indians, Johnny Calison of the Cubs and Rick Monday from Oakland.” I said.
“Brigg’s contract is up at the end of the year,” Clyde told me. “You might get him cheap but lose him at the end of the year. Monday is the best fielder of the group, the only legit centerfielder, Calison has a rocket arm, I heard the Phillies are after him. Harrleson and Nettles are both playing left field in Cleveland. Nettles just went on the DL, just for 2 weeks. Maybe an opportunity there?”
“Thanks Clyde.” I said. “Great Job, I’ll start making some calls.”
Rick Monday was my first choice, but Oakland was after front line pitching not prospects. I had nothing to satisfies them.
The Cubs knew that the Phillies had an interest in Calison, they would not commit to anything until they heard the Phil’s offer.
“Well” I thought, “Maybe I’ll join the team in Cleveland and talk to the Indians face to face.
Game one in Cleveland. Municipal Stadium is know as the "Mistake on the Lake", 22,000 fans seem lost in the giant ballpark. Fritz Peterson seems lost also. As I watch him get pounded, I briefly rethink the trade for Rick Monday. Ken “Hawk” Harrleson is playing leftfield for Cleveland. He goes 2 for 5 with both hits being doubles. The one double his down the left field line the other to right center. His 3 outs are all ground outs to short and third. It does not appear to be enough of a pull hitter for what we want. Maybe those 3 years in Fenway, got him thinking about going toward the green monster.
Game 2, Dave Pagan vs “Sudden” Sam McDowell. Pagan has a 2-1 lead until the 7th when Vada Pinson hits a three run homer. McDowell’s control deserts him in the eighth, walking the bases loaded. Al Dark summons Dennis Higgens and Celereno Sanchez singles in 2 runs. Ron Wood’s sac fly brings in Danny Cater and that’s all the Yanks need. 5-4 Young John Cumberland picks up his first win in relief. “Hawk” Harrleson was used as a defensive replacement at first base. Strange.
Game 3, Mel Stottlmyre and Vince Colbert. Mel pitches well, so do Cumberland and Lyle in relief. Mel gets the win, Lyle his 4th save. 4-3 Harrleson again plays first replacing Gomer Hodge he draws a walk in one plate appearance. Honestly “Hawk” does not seem to fit our needs. Why is Dark playing him at first instead of the outfield? He did not pull the ball once in 3 games.
I have lunch with the Indian’s GM the next day, while our team heads home for a 3 game set with Minnesota. After the usual niceties, I get down to business.
“Tell me about Graig Nettles… uh his injury.. I mean.”
Gabe Paul the Cleveland GM chuckles, “Not very subtle, A.G.. It’s not too bad, he’ll be out for about 2 weeks more, disk in the neck. Why you interested?”
“We could be. We’d have to have him checked out.” I said
“Of course.” Gabe said “Look, we need an outfield prospect and cash.”
“Let our doc have a look at Nettles.” I said “I’ll get back to you.”
I caught up with the team back in New York but missed Ron Guidry’s 4th win. 8-2
In the second game, Fritz Peterson out pitches Jim “Kitty” Kaat. Munson drives in one run, Ron Hansen 2 more for a 3-1 win.
63,000 come out to see us going for the sweep in game three. Dave Pagan gives up 5 in 6 innings. Dave Boswell give us fits. Celereno Sanchez raises his average to .370. But, it’s a 7-4 loss.
We are 2 games over .500. The Red Sox and Tigers are Tied for first at 20 - 11
Last edited by OldYankFan; 03-28-2009 at 04:50 PM. Reason: spelling
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
May 12, 1970
The team is hustled out of the stadium and straight to the airport. They have to play Anaheim tomorrow, if I ever meet the guy who drew up our schedule I am going to kill him.
I call Clyde Kluttz in again. “Clyde,” I said “We have less than a month till the amateur draft. I want you and the boys to concentrate on those kids. I want some good information.”
“We could use a couple of more scouts,” Clyde said “The more good eyes, the more kids we can see in person.”
“OK Clyde”, I agreed “Cloyd Boyer, you know Clete’s brother, in Missouri , Luis Arroyo in Puerto Rico, and Tommy Morgan in California all have called me looking for a job. Get them on board and one or two more. I got to let Mike Burke know we have to increase the scouting budget.”
“Look while your sticking you head in the Lions Den,” Clyde said “Our farm teams need a little support too, a couple special instructors would help a lot.”
“Sigh, sure, he can only kill me once, right?”
Surprisingly, Mike Burke was in a good mood when I got to his office.
“Would you look at these attendance figures!” he shouted “We are more than double where we were last year, at this point.”
“Well," I said "that could free up a little cash for the scouts and the farm system.” I said.
“Sure, Sure.” He waved at me distracted. “What ?!?”
Too late, I was out the door and heading for my office.
Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer on WPIX TV with the game from Anaheim. Mel Stottlemyre against young Ed Figuroa, the ball is flying as neither pitcher has much. With the score tie at 6 in the eighth, Ralph inserts Lindy McDaniel, who gets his head handed to him. Final score 11-7
Game two of the four game set. Young Ron Guidry and young Rudy May. Both the youngsters are on target and the score is tied at 3 going into the ninth. When Ralph sends Horace Clarke to Pinch hit for Guidry, all Hoss’s at bat accomplishes is getting Guidry out of the game. John Cumberland gets one out before former Yank, Rodger Repoz, lines one over the left field wall. We lose 4-3
Next day, I get the report on Nettles’ physical. Looks like he’ll be out for 4 more weeks but the doctor says no permanent damage. I call Gabe Paul and make the deal, 19 year old Outfielder Darryl Jones, and $170,000 for Graig Nettles. Hopefully in a month we will have some more lefthand power in the lineup.
I get some bad new from Syracuse, young Rob Gardner, who was on the short list for pitchers to call up, is down for 4 months. Which is pretty much the rest of the season.
Good news, Stan Bahnsen comes off the DL. I decide that Guidry has been too good to send down, so I have Dave Pagan report to Syracuse where he can pitch regular. I also have Ron Woods and his .231 average to head to Syracuse. Ralph is already using Murcer in center. Until Nettles is ready, let’s see what our former #1 Draft Pick, Ron Blomburg can do, he gets the call up.
Game 3 in California, Fritz Peterson looks like he is still in the wrong time zone.
6-1 Angles, and like that we are under 500 again.
Game 4, Stan Bahnsen back in action. Stan is rusty, but the team bails him out with 15 runs. Murcer and White both homer, Sanchez gets 2 hits in 6 at bats and his average drops to .368. Munson and Baker each have 3 hits. Final 15-8
We are back at .500 as the team flies cross country once again, have I mention how much I hate the schedule maker?
Great dynasty keep up the good work!
Registered User
This is one of the best I have read.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
I apreciate that. Thanks.
GM 1970 & 1959 Yankees
Wow! I don't know what to say. Hope you keep reading.
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