1974 New York Yankees season
Encyclopedia
The New York Yankees
season was the 72nd season for the team in New York and its 74th overall dating from its origins in Baltimore. The team finished with a record of 89-73, finishing 2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles
. New York was managed by Bill Virdon
. The Yankees played at Shea Stadium
due to the ongoing renovation of Yankee Stadium.
and Gabe Paul
sought to hire former Oakland Athletics
manager Dick Williams
, who had resigned immediately after leading the team to its second straight World Series
title. However, because Williams was still under contract to Oakland, A's owner Charlie Finley sought to block the move, the subsequent legal wrangling prevented the Yankees from hiring him. On the first anniversary of the team's ownership change, the Yankees hired former Pittsburgh Pirates
manager Bill Virdon
to lead the team on the field.
and former teammate Whitey Ford
were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
together in , Mantle in his first year of eligibility, Ford in his second. Ford's number 16 was retired as well. Although Ford wore number 19 in his rookie season, following his return from the army in , he wore number 16 for the remainder of his career.
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 72nd season for the team in New York and its 74th overall dating from its origins in Baltimore. The team finished with a record of 89-73, finishing 2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles
1974 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing first in the American League East with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses...
. New York was managed by Bill Virdon
Bill Virdon
William Charles Virdon is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days as a center fielder for the St...
. The Yankees played at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
due to the ongoing renovation of Yankee Stadium.
Offseason
The off-season became controversial when George SteinbrennerGeorge Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
and Gabe Paul
Gabe Paul
Gabriel Howard Paul was an American executive in Major League Baseball who served as general manager of three teams and, perhaps most famously, as president of the New York Yankees under George Steinbrenner during the 1970s....
sought to hire former Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
manager Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
, who had resigned immediately after leading the team to its second straight World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
title. However, because Williams was still under contract to Oakland, A's owner Charlie Finley sought to block the move, the subsequent legal wrangling prevented the Yankees from hiring him. On the first anniversary of the team's ownership change, the Yankees hired former Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
manager Bill Virdon
Bill Virdon
William Charles Virdon is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days as a center fielder for the St...
to lead the team on the field.
Notable transactions
- December 6, 1973: Jim MasonJim Mason (baseball)James Percy Mason , is a former Major League Baseball shortstop, who played nine seasons in the major leagues, from 1971–1979, for the Washington Senators, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Montreal Expos.Mason was a member of the Yankees during the 1976 World Series against...
was purchased by the Yankees from the Texas RangersTexas 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...
. - December 7, 1973: Lindy McDanielLindy McDanielLyndall Dale McDaniel, known as Lindy is a right-handed former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 21-year career from 1955 to 1975. During McDaniel's career he witnessed approximately 3,500 major league games , had more than 300 teammates, and played under eight different managers...
was traded by the Yankees to the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
for Lou PiniellaLou PiniellaLouis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
and Ken Wright. - December 10, 1973: Hal LanierHal LanierHarold Clifton Lanier is a former infielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. From through , Lanier played for the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees...
was released by the Yankees. - December 11, 1973: Ron SwobodaRon SwobodaRonald Alan Swoboda is a former Major League Baseball outfielder best remembered as a member of the Amazin' Mets.-MLB debut:...
was released by the Yankees. - January 9, 1974: Ken PhelpsKen PhelpsKenneth Allan Phelps, nicknamed "Digger", is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman. During an 11-year baseball career, he played from 1980-1990 for six different teams, but he played primarily with the Seattle Mariners...
was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft1974 Major League Baseball draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :With the number one pick of the June regular phase, San Diego tabbed infielder Bill Almon from Brown University, one of six shortstops selected in round one...
, but did not sign. - March 19, 1974: Jerry MosesJerry MosesGerald Braheen Moses is a retired American professional baseball player. A catcher, he signed a bonus contract with the Boston Red Sox in and spent his early Major League Baseball career with the Bosox, but over the course of his nine years in MLB Moses would play for seven different teams...
was traded by the Yankees to the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
as part of a 3-team trade. 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...
sent Walt WilliamsWalt Williams (baseball)Walter Allen Williams is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Houston Colt .45s , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , and the New York Yankees .-Early life:Williams was nicknamed No-Neck due to his relatively short stature...
and Rick SawyerRick SawyerRichard Clyde Sawyer is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Sawyer pitched in all or part of four seasons in the majors, from until , for the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.-Sources:...
to the Yankees, and the Tigers sent Ed FarmerEd FarmerEdward Joseph Farmer is a former Major League relief pitcher with an 11-year career from - and -. He played for the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Oakland A's, all in the American League, and the Philadelphia Phillies...
to the Yankees. The Tigers sent Jim PerryJim Perry (baseball)James Evan Perry, Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched for 1959-1975 for four different teams. During a 17-year baseball career, Perry compiled 215 wins, 1,576 strikeouts, and a 3.45 earned run average....
to the Indians.
Regular season
- August 25, 1974: Nolan RyanNolan RyanLynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
of the California Angels1974 California Angels seasonThe California Angels season involved the Angels finishing sixth in the American League West with a record of 68 wins and 94 losses.- Offseason :...
struck out Sandy AlomarSandy Alomar, Sr.Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Sr., or in the Spanish naming system Santos Alomar Conde is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , California Angels , New York Yankees , and Texas Rangers . Alomar was a...
of the Yankees for the 1500th strikeout of his career. Ryan and Alomar had been teammates at the beginning of the season, but Alomar had been sold to the Yankees on July 8. - September 7, 1974: The Yankees' Graig NettlesGraig NettlesGraig Nettles , nicknamed "Puff", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos .Nettles was one of the best...
hit a home run against the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. The next time up, he hit a broken-bat single. Tigers catcher Bill FreehanBill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
scrambled for the six superballsBouncy ballA bouncy ball, power ball or super ball is a popular polybutadiene rubber toy ball which rebounds proportionally to the amount of force used when thrown at a hard surface. The first such ball was the proprietary Super Ball. The Sky Ball is an example of another bouncy ball...
that came bouncing out. Nettles was called out on the single, but his solo homer was allowed and the made all the difference as the Yankees won 1-0.
Hall of Fame
Mickey MantleMickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
and former teammate Whitey Ford
Whitey Ford
Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent his entire 18-year career with the New York Yankees. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.-Early life and career:...
were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
together in , Mantle in his first year of eligibility, Ford in his second. Ford's number 16 was retired as well. Although Ford wore number 19 in his rookie season, following his return from the army in , he wore number 16 for the remainder of his career.
Notable transactions
- April 26, 1974: Fritz PetersonFritz PetersonFritz Fred Peterson is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers from 1966 to 1976...
, Steve KlineSteve Kline (right-handed pitcher)Steven Jack Kline is a former starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1970 through 1977. Kline batted and threw right-handed....
, Fred BeeneFred BeeneFreddy Ray Beene is a retired American professional baseball player. Beene was a right-handed pitcher who played in the Major Leagues between to . He was listed at tall and ....
, and Tom BuskeyTom BuskeyThomas William Buskey was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for eight seasons. He played for the New York Yankees from 1973 to 1974, the Cleveland Indians from 1974 to 1977, and the Toronto Blue Jays from 1978 to 1980. He died in Harrisburg, PA from injuries involving an auto accident on...
were 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 Chris ChamblissChris ChamblissCarroll Christopher Chambliss is a former Major League Baseball player who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...
, Dick TidrowDick TidrowRichard William Tidrow was a Major League Baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets from 1972 to 1984. He was primarily known as a setup man, or pitcher before the closer; however, on occasion he would also start games...
and Cecil UpshawCecil UpshawCecil Lee Upshaw Jr. was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a nine-year career...
. - May 4, 1974: Mike PazikMike PazikMichael Joseph Pazik is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the Minnesota Twins....
and cash were traded by the Yankees to the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
for Dick WoodsonDick WoodsonRichard Lee Woodson was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees . Before the 1965 baseball season, Woodson was signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent to play in their Minor League Baseball organization. Woodson was listed as 6'...
. - May 31, 1974: Horace ClarkeHorace ClarkeHorace Meredith Clarke was a Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres from 1965 to 1974....
and Lowell PalmerLowell PalmerLowell Raymond Palmer is a retired American Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round of the 1966 amateur draft . He played for the Phillies , St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians , and San Diego Padres...
were purchased from the Yankees by the San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. - June 5, 1974: Dennis SherrillDennis SherrillDennis Lee Sherrill is a former Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. After being the Yankees' first round pick in the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft, he played just five games in the major leagues, two in and three in...
was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft1974 Major League Baseball draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :With the number one pick of the June regular phase, San Diego tabbed infielder Bill Almon from Brown University, one of six shortstops selected in round one...
. - June 15, 1974: Rudy MayRudy MayRudolph May, Jr. is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos...
was purchased by the Yankees from the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. - July 8, 1974: Sandy AlomarSandy Alomar, Sr.Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Sr., or in the Spanish naming system Santos Alomar Conde is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , California Angels , New York Yankees , and Texas Rangers . Alomar was a...
was purchased by the Yankees from the California Angels. - September 29, 1974: Jesús FigueroaJesus FigueroaJesús Maria Figueroa is a former Major League Baseball player. He played in the 1980 baseball season with the Chicago Cubs. Figueroa batted and threw left-handed....
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees.
Roster
| 1974 New York Yankees | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 110 | 400 | 97 | .243 | 6 | 43 | |
| 2B | 76 | 279 | 75 | .269 | 1 | 27 | |
| 3B | 155 | 566 | 139 | .246 | 22 | 75 | |
| SS | 152 | 440 | 110 | .250 | 5 | 37 | |
| LF | 140 | 518 | 158 | .305 | 9 | 70 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 121 | 26 | .215 | 1 | 7 | |
| 27 | 67 | 14 | .209 | 2 | 10 | |
| 43 | 53 | 6 | .113 | 0 | 3 | |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 281 | 19 | 15 | 3.07 | 157 | |
| 8 | 56 | 5 | 1 | 2.41 | 17 | |
| 4 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 3.46 | 6 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 49.1 | 1 | 3 | 5.11 | 39 | |
| 3 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 | 4.70 | 5 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2.70 | 10 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6.35 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.18 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.20 | 0 | |