1966 New York Yankees season
Encyclopedia
The New York Yankees
season was the 64th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 70-89, finishing 26.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles
. New York was managed by Johnny Keane
and Ralph Houk
. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. Keane managed his final MLB game in early-May, and died the following January at the age of 55.
The Yankees finished in 10th place, although arguably a "strong" tenth. It was the first time they had finished in last place since 1912
, their last year at the Hilltop
.
On September 22, paid attendance of 413 was announced at the 65,000-seat Yankee Stadium
. WPIX announcer Red Barber asked the TV cameras to pan the empty stands as he commented on the low attendance. Although denied the camera shots on orders from the Yankees' head of media relations, he said, "I don't know what the paid attendance is today, but whatever it is, it is the smallest crowd in the history of Yankee Stadium, and this crowd is the story, not the game." By a horrible stroke of luck, that game was the first for CBS executive Mike Burke
as team president. A week later, Barber was invited to breakfast where Burke told him that his contract wouldn't be renewed.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
season was the 64th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 70-89, finishing 26.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles
1966 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing first in the American League with a record of 97 wins and 63 losses, nine games ahead of the runner-up Minnesota Twins. It was their first AL pennant since 1944, when the club was known as the St. Louis Browns. The Orioles swept the NL...
. New York was managed by Johnny Keane
Johnny Keane
John Joseph Keane was an American manager in Major League Baseball. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and known as a patient manager of young players, Keane participated in one of the strangest turns of events in baseball history in , his final season at the helm of the St...
and Ralph Houk
Ralph Houk
Ralph George Houk , nicknamed The Major, was an American catcher, coach, manager, and front office executive in Major League Baseball...
. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. Keane managed his final MLB game in early-May, and died the following January at the age of 55.
The Yankees finished in 10th place, although arguably a "strong" tenth. It was the first time they had finished in last place since 1912
1912 New York Highlanders season
The New York Highlanders season was their tenth in New York and their twelfth overall. It was the final season for the "Highlanders", before evolving exclusively into the "Yankees". It was also their final season playing their home games at Hilltop Park. The team finished with a total of 50 wins...
, their last year at the Hilltop
Hilltop Park
Hilltop Park was the nickname of a baseball park that formerly stood in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. It was the home of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club during 1903-1912 when they were known more often as the "Highlanders"...
.
On September 22, paid attendance of 413 was announced at the 65,000-seat Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. WPIX announcer Red Barber asked the TV cameras to pan the empty stands as he commented on the low attendance. Although denied the camera shots on orders from the Yankees' head of media relations, he said, "I don't know what the paid attendance is today, but whatever it is, it is the smallest crowd in the history of Yankee Stadium, and this crowd is the story, not the game." By a horrible stroke of luck, that game was the first for CBS executive Mike Burke
E. Michael Burke
Edmund Michael Burke was a U.S. Navy Officer, O.S.S. agent, C.I.A. agent, general manager of Ringling Bros...
as team president. A week later, Barber was invited to breakfast where Burke told him that his contract wouldn't be renewed.
Offseason
- November 29, 1965: Rich BarryRich BarryRichard Donovan Barry is a former professional baseball player. He played 20 games in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1969, primarily as an outfielder. Originally signed by the New York Yankees in 1958, Barry played 11 seasons in the minor leagues before reaching the...
was drafted from the Yankees by the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 1965 minor league draft. - January 14, 1966: Doc EdwardsDoc EdwardsHoward Rodney Edwards was a backup catcher with the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, and the Philadelphia Phillies over parts of five seasons spanning eight years...
was traded by the Yankees to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Lou ClintonLou ClintonLuciean Louis Clinton was a Major League Baseball outfielder who batted and threw right-handed, spanning 8 seasons, debuting in and playing his final season in , during which he played for five American League teams in the 1960s: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles/California Angels, Kansas City...
. - January 29, 1966: Darrell EvansDarrell EvansDarrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball...
was drafted by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft1966 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1966 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :A January free agent amateur draft was added for the first time in 1966. Ninety-five prospects were selected in the regular phase and 102 in the secondary phase of the...
(Secondary Phase), but did not sign.
Notable transactions
- May 3, 1966: Al ClosterAl ClosterAlan Edward Closter is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1966 and 1973, pitching in a total of 21 games....
was purchased by the Yankees from the Washington SenatorsTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. - June 7, 1966: Joe PactwaJoe PactwaJoseph Martin Pactwa was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels during the season. Listed at 5'11 185" lb., Pactwa batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Hammond, Indiana....
was drafted by the Yankees in the 18th round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft1966 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1966 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :A January free agent amateur draft was added for the first time in 1966. Ninety-five prospects were selected in the regular phase and 102 in the secondary phase of the...
.
Roster
| 1966 New York Yankees | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 126 | 410 | 105 | .256 | 6 | 35 | |
| 1B | 152 | 585 | 149 | .255 | 31 | 83 | |
| 2B | 149 | 610 | 153 | .251 | 7 | 42 | |
| 3B | 144 | 500 | 120 | .240 | 14 | 57 | |
| SS | 96 | 312 | 83 | .266 | 6 | 28 | |
| LF | 151 | 537 | 125 | .233 | 27 | 68 | |
| CF | 106 | 333 | 96 | .288 | 23 | 56 | |
| RF | 119 | 348 | 81 | .233 | 13 | 43 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115 | 316 | 71 | .225 | 7 | 20 | |
| 62 | 182 | 47 | .258 | 3 | 20 | |
| 80 | 159 | 35 | .220 | 5 | 21 | |
| 54 | 117 | 25 | .214 | 4 | 16 | |
| 27 | 69 | 15 | .217 | 4 | 5 | |
| 25 | 58 | 9 | .155 | 0 | 2 | |
| 13 | 39 | 8 | .205 | 0 | 2 | |
| 14 | 23 | 5 | .217 | 0 | 3 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 251 | 12 | 20 | 3.80 | 146 | |
| 34 | 215 | 12 | 11 | 3.31 | 96 | |
| 30 | 200 | 10 | 11 | 3.56 | 152 | |
| 23 | 124.1 | 7 | 7 | 4.15 | 85 | |
| 24 | 120.1 | 3 | 8 | 2.69 | 65 | |
| 4 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 3.52 | 16 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 73 | 2 | 5 | 2.47 | 43 | |
| 12 | 44.2 | 1 | 2 | 4.84 | 22 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 3.21 | 79 | |
| 52 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 3.61 | 58 | |
| 42 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 2.64 | 50 | |
| 44 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3.00 | 57 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.97 | 7 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 |