 Bullet Bob Turley
Starting Pitcher Right-handed; Mid-90 mph Fastball; New York Yankees 1955-1962
Bullet Bob Turley, 6ft 2 inches, 215 lbs, was traded to the Yankees in the winter of 1954 from the Baltimore Orioles. In 1954, he led all AL hurlers in strikeouts and was the main man in a 18 player trade. In 1955, his first full season in a Yankee pinstripe, Turley, with his' mid-90 mph fastball went 17-13, a 3.06 ERA. The next two seasons he battled arm stiffness but did managed to go 13-7 in 1957.
Bob Turley's fastball was humming for Casey Stengel in 1958, he won the Cy Young Award by going 21-7, .750 pct, 168 K's, he started 31 games, completed 19 and hurled 6 shutouts. Bob Turley pitched in 5 different World Series with the Yankees from 1955-1962. His WS record: 53 innings, 4-3 record, 3.19 ERA. "Bullet Bob" Turley career: 101-85, 24 shutouts, 3.64 ERA, 1265 strikeouts in 1713 innings.
 Pitcher. Bob Grim
Pitcher; New York Yankees 1954-1957; Rookie of the Year
Bob Grim was an instant news maker in his rookie season with the New York Yankees. He was voted the 1954 Rookie of the Year by becoming the first Yankee rookie to win 20 games since 1910. His 20-6 record 3.26 ERA included eight games won in relief. In 1955, he saved Game 1 of the World Series but was the losing pitcher in Game 5, allowing three Dodger home runs.
Bob Grim relied on his' fastball and threw a hard slider, which eventually injured his' pitching arm and limited his pitching chores. After that, he was used mainly in relief and was traded by the Yankees at the end of 1957. In his' career he recorded a 61-41 record. baseballhistorian.com
 Pitcher, Yankees - Tom Morgan
Pitcher, Starter & Reliever; New York Yankees 1951-52, 1954-56
Tom Morgan joined the Yankees in 1951, and the first few seasons was mainly their fifth starter, starting on average 15 games per/year. He was 9-3 in 1951 and 11-5 in 1954. Beginning in 1955, Tom Morgan was manager Casey Stengel top middle reliever. He pitched in 40 games in 1955, 72 innings, 3.25 ERA, picked up 10 saves and recorded a 7-3 record.
Morgan pitched on four Yankee pennant winners and was highly effective in saving key games in late September. Tom Morgan was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in early 1957 and pitched on various teams until 1963.
Spec Shea World Series 1947
Starting Pitcher Right-handed; New York Yankees 1947-1951
Few Yankee fans who were around during the late 1940's and early 1950's can forget Frank 'Spec' Shea and his brilliant rookie season in 1947. With a blazing fastball, wicked slider and good change-up, he posted a 14-5 record and when the Yankees won the pennant, he won two World Series games.
However, a recurring sore neck that the New York doctors couldn't get a handle on, limited 'Spec' Shea's pitching performances. None-the-less, despite constain pain he was a well-known starting pitcher. In the Yankees' pennant winning year of 1951, he pitched in 25 games, started 11, completed 2 and posted a 5-5 record with a 4.33 ERA. After the season's end, Shea was traded to the Washington Senators where he pitched 4 years.
 Tom Gorman
Pitcher, Starter and Reliever; New York Yankees 1952-1954
With 'Whitey' Ford in the U.S. Military, Tom Gorman made his major league debut in 1952 as part of manager Casey Stengel's 'new-look pitching staff'. Gorman went 6-2, .750 pct., appeared in 12 games, stated 6, and hurled a complete game shutout.
With the return of 'Whitey' Ford in 1953, Tom Gorman joined the Yankees' bullpen and was one of the AL's leading relievers. Gorman's intimating mannerisms on the mound to go with a rapid fastball enabled him to collect 6 saves in 40 appearances and post a fine 3.39 ERA. He seemed to hold the team's bullpen together and was a big force in the Yankees winning the pennants in '52 and '53. In 1954 he relieved in 23 games, 36 2/3 innings with a 2.21 ERA. None-the-less, he was traded away after the 1954 season. baseballhistorian.com - All Rights Reserved - Tom Gorman NY Debut
Yankees Bob Kuzava
Pitcher Left-handed; New York Yankees 1951-1954 Born: Wyandotte, Michigan on 5/28/1923
After being acquired by the New York Yankees in June 1951, the 6-year major league veteran complied a 8-4 record by starting 8 games and with 15 relief appearances. Although, Kuzava appeared only once in both the '51 World Series and '52 WS, he collected a save in each appearance. Stengel sent the big 6-2, 200-pounder into Game 6 of the '51 WS with the bases loaded and no outs, Yankees leading 4-1. He got the first two New York Giants' batters out on two sacrifice flies and got the last out on a line out to Hank Bauer, who made a diving catch, and the Yankees won the championship again. In Game 7 of the '52 World Series , Stengel brought in Kuzava again with the bases loaded, one out. Kuzava got Duke Snider on a pop-up to third. Then, Jackie Robinson hit a Texas-League double to right that scored 3 Dodger runs. Kuzava then proceeded to hold the Dodgers scoreless in the 8th and 9th innings and the Yankees collected another World Series' ring. =========================================================== New York Yankees Baseball History ===========================================================
 American League 1956 Batting Leaders
Mickey Mantle assaulted American League pitchers in 1956, winning the coveted 'Triple Crown' - by leading the league in batting average, home runs and RBIs
Batting Leaders -American League - 1956
Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees .353 ..... Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox .345 ..... Harvey Kuenn, Detroit Tigers .332 ..... Charlie Maxwell, Detroit .326 ..... Bob Nieman, Baltimore Orioles .320 ..... Minnie Minoso, Chicago White Sox .316 ..... Jackie Jensen, Boston Red Sox .315 ..... Al Kaline, Detroit .314 ..... Gil McDougald, Yankees .311 ..... Pete Runnels, Washington Senators .310 ..... Vic Power, Kansas City A's .309 ..... Ray Boone, Detroit .308 ..... Bill 'Moose' Skowron, Yankees .308 ..... Yogi Berra, Yankees .298
 1956 Final Standings
The Yankees bolted in front right from the start of the season and won another AL pennant under Casey Stengel's leadership. The Brooklyn Dodgers won the NL pennant by one game over the Braves.
Final Standings:
American League: New York Yankees 97-57, .630 .... Cleveland Indians 88-66, .571 9 GB .... Chicago White Sox 85-69, .552 12 GB .... Boston Red Sox 84-70, .545 13 GB .... Detroit Tigers 82-72, .532 15 GB .... Baltimore Orioles 69-85, .448 28 GB .... Washington Senators 59-95, .383 38 GB .... Kansas City Athletics 52-102, .338 45 GB National League: Brooklyn Dodgers 93-61, .604 .... Milwaukee Braves 92-62, .597 1 GB .... Cincinnati Reds 91-63, .591 2 GB .... St. Louis Cardinals 76-78, .494 17 GB .... Philadelphia Phillies 71-83, .461 22 GB .... New York Giants 67-87, .435 26 GB .... Pittsburgh Pirates 66-88, .429 27 GB .... Chicago Cubs 60-94, .390 33 GB
Perfect Game... Don Larsen
Larsen Pitches Perfect Game... World Series 1956
Don Larsen created headlines news on Oct 8, 1956 by having the best day of any pitcher in the history of baseball. The baseball world watched the same two clubs battle for the second year in a row in the World Series - the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees. The Dodgers, possibility baseball's best hitting club at the time, beat the Yankees in the '55 World Series and the odds-makers figured the "Bums" would win again. The Dodgers had a line-up of compelling hitters: Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Junior Gilliam and Pee Wee Reese. Larsen, who went 7-12 in 1953 with the old St. Louis Browns, his first major league season, was 3-21 in '54 when the Browns moved to Baltimore. He was traded to the Yankees in '55 and in 1956 collected a 11-5 record, 3.26 ERA as a spot starter and reliever. Casey Stengel decided Larsen "was my go to guy" and called on him to start Game 5. The 6'4", 225-pound, right-hander using the barest of windups, set down hitter after hitter. By the 6th-inning everyone in the crowd of 64,519 at Yankee Stadium knew what might happen, they just couldn't believe the perfect game would continue. By the time the 8th-inning, Larsen's every pitch captured the attention and brought a roaring ovation said to be "unequaled in Yankee Stadium history." In the top of the ninth, Larsen later told reporters, "I was so weak in the knees out there in the ninth inning, I thought I was going to faint. I was so nervous I almost fell down. My legs were rubbery and my fingers didn't feel like they were on my hand. I said to myself, 'Please help me out, somebody." The ninth inning unfolded with Furillo flying out. Campanella grounded out to short. Then pandemonium set in - Dale Mitchell, the eight toughest man to strike out in baseball's long history, took a third called strike - Larsen had pitched a perfect game... no-hits, no-runs, no one reached base...and in the World Series!
 Yanks beat Bums 1956 World Series
The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 4 games to 3
The Brooklyn Dodgers faced off with the New York Yankees for the 6th time in 10 years.
Game 1, the Dodgers won 6-3 behind the 9-hit pitching of Sal 'the Barber' Maglie. 'The Bums' Gil Hodges hit a 2-run and Jackie Robinson a solo homer. Yankees' Mickey Mantle whacks a 2-run homer and Billy Martin a solo homer; Whitey Ford takes the loss. Game 2, with the Yankees up 6-0, led by Yogi Berra's grand slam, the Dodgers rally to win 13-6. Duke Snider smashed a 3-run homer. Game 3, Whitey Ford pitches again and leads the Yankees to a 5-3 win, aided by a 3-run Enos Slaughter homer. Game 4, Yankee starter Tom Sturdivant hurled a complete game 6-hitter, 6-2 victory at Yankee Stadium. Mantle homers again, and Hank Bauer lined a 2-run home run. Carl Erskine is the losing pitcher. Game 5, Yankees' Don Larsen hurled a perfect no-hitter, 2-0 win, backed by a backhand running-catch in deep left center by Mickey Mantle, who also hits another home run off loser Sal Maglie. Game 6, although not perfect, Dodgers Clem Labine shutouts the power-packed Yankees 1-0 in 10 innings. Bob Turley got the loss despite allowing only 4-hits. Enos Slaughter misjudged a fly ball with 2-outs to set up the winning run. Game 7, The New York Yankees pounded the Dodgers 9-0 at old Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Yogi Berra hit two 2-run homers, Bill 'Moose' Skowron hit a grand slam, and Elston Howard a solo-blast. Johnny Kucks pitched a complete game 3-hitter to bring the New York Yankees another Championship Ring. In the Series: Yankees Yogi Berra batted .360, 3 Hrs, 10 RBIs; Mantle hits .250 but lined 3 homers, 6 RBIs and Enos Slaughter hit .350. The Dodgers are led by Gil Hodges, who hit .304. Despite all the hitting, the 1956 Series is best remembered for Don Larsen perfect pitching gem - a no-hitter, and no one reached base. baseballhistorian.com - Archives
1956 New York Yankees
As the movie said 'the Damn Yankees' Win Again
This was the hey-day of the New York Yankees, attracting sold out ballparks wherever they played. Dressed in Yankee pinstripes, 'Whitey' Ford, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra were the gleam of Casey Stengel's 'Damn Yankees'. The renewel of the Chicago White Sox brought hopes to the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Detroit Tigers to unseat the seemingly invincible Yankees. But, although, those four teams played well over .500 ball, the Bronx Bombers would not yield to their opponents. Determined to win another pennant, the hard playing Yankees finished the season at 97-57, a full 9-games ahead of the 2nd place Indians (88-66). The White Sox were third with 85-69, 12 games behind, the Red Sox ended 84-70, 13 games out, and the Tigers, although, in 5th place, posted a sparkling 82-75 record. baseballhistorian.com
 Yogi Berra
Most Valuable Player, 1951, 1954 and 1955; Catcher RH; New York Yankees 1946-1963
Baseball History
Yogi Berra, superstar of baseball, is known to millions who do not even follow baseball. Lawrence Yogi Berra was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1951, 1954 and 1955. The squatty, 5 ft 8 inch catcher was perhaps the best all-around player in the last 50 years. He certainly ranks as one of the greatest clutch performers the game has ever known. Berra played in every All-Star game from 1948-1962 and helped lead the Yankees to 14 pennants. Yogi Berra's handling of young Yankee pitchers during his tenure turned many average pitchers into mound stars and caused manager Casey Stengel to remark, 'To me, Yogi Berra is the greatest catcher, a great man. I am lucky to have him and so are my pitchers'. =============================================== New York Yankees Baseball Players |
